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ragement may be given, without detriment to the public service; and supposing 1000 tons so obtained, what will be the sacrifice, and what the benefit of the state?
The loss to Government by the relinquishment of the duty on hemp to the general consumer, on 1000 tons, would be . . . . . . £3500
The benefits will be as follow: 600 tons increased employment for mercantile shipping, in consequence of performing one voyage in ten months, instead of one in four months. Employment of 40 additional seamen in the navigation of 600 tons of shipping, shipwrights, ropers, sailmakers, blockmakers, anchorsmiths, coppersmiths, iron manufacturers, canvas, slops, ship chandler's stores, &c. &c. &c., to the amount of £10,000 for the cost and equipment of 600 tons of shipping, renewable every few years.
Thirty thousand pounds returned to the Colony in the produce of the mines (iron, lead, tin, and copper) of England; and in every description of its manufactures-woollens, cottons, earthenware, ironmongery, rum, porter, and ale, &c. &c. too numerous to mention.[1]
- ↑ If the benefits derived by Government from duties of excise, &c. chargeable through all the ramifications of employment in the production of £30,000 of manufactures, could be accurately calculated, no doubt the balance would be greatly in favour of a sacrifice of £3500 duty upon one thousand tons of hemp!
