It is Humbly Offered, by some Uninterested Persons, That the laying a greater Duty on Low-Wines, or Spirits drawn from Melasses than on other Spirits, or the total Prohibition thereof (which will certainly be the Effect) will be of a bad Consequence to the Nation, for the following Reasons.
I. BRANDY or Fine Spirits being only to be drawn from the Fruit of the Vine or the Sugar-Cane, viz. Sugar or Melasses; the former being Discouraged by the Prohibition of all Foreign-Brandy, the latter ought to be Incouraged, because nothing else will make Brandy that will Equalize that of France.
II. As to Wine and Fruit that is Imported, it is a very small Quantity that is Distilled; for no Man designedly brings in that which is bad: wherefore the Prohibiting the Distilling thereof, will be of great Loss to the Merchant: For at this present, there's some Quantity here which is not worth Freight and Customs; and will be less worth if Distilling is forbid.
III. Therefore, In case a larger Duty is design'd to be laid on Fine Spirits drawn from Melasses, &c. than Foul Spirits drawn from Corn; The Only Easy and Advantageous Way is, by an Additional-Duty on all Melasses to be paid at the Custom-House, which will absolutely prevent any Disputes which may be between the Excise-Officers and the Distillers about the Quality of the Spirits, and will Save to the King about 20000 l. per Annum, which will be drawn back from the Customs on Unpurged Sugars Exported: For if Melasses be so Burthened that it cannot be Distilled here, the Refiners and Distillers Trade must fall; and consequently Unpurged Sugars must be Exported to be Worked abroad.
IV. If therefore we intend totally to prevent the Importation of French or Foreign Brandy, we must Encourage the Manufactury of that of equal Goodness here; which will be a great Advantage to the Nation, by Employing our own People, and will keep our Money in the Nation; which hath been, and may be sent to France for Purchasing the Growth of that Kingdom.
V. The Discouraging the Refiners and Distillers Trade here, will be of a very bad Consequence to our Plantations (whose Burthen already is very great) and Encourage the Plantations of our Neighbours: For they are at liberty to give us what they please for our Unpurged Sugars, if we cannot Work them here; and so will consequently lessen our Shipping that are usually Employed to our Islands.
VI. This Discouraging of our Plantations will have a great Influence on Ireland, from whence they are Annually Supplied with Beef, Pork, and all sorts of Provisions in great Quantities; and also may be some Prejudice to the Guiny-Trade.