The Case of the British Sugar-Colonies

£3,000 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

Two scarce, anonymous works published in the lead up to the passing of the 1733 Molasses Act: the first is a strident defence of the British Sugar Trade, the second is a bill which seeks to legislate some of these protectionist measures . In a bid to deter American consumption of sugar from non-British colonies, the Act levied a charge of sixpence per gallon on molasses imported from French, Spanish, Portuguese, or Dutch holdings. Though in practice this was often ignored, and indeed replaced in 1764 by the Sugar Act, it’s worth noting that the cost of sugar from British plantations was far higher than that from the French, and that this act would have a substantial impact on the colony of New England . British Prime Minister, Robert Walpole, had the difficult task of trying to balance the interests of two of his most important colonial groups. Published at a time when the plantation economies in the Americas were becoming increasingly profitable, The Case of the British Sugar-Colonies , argues that support for them should be proportionate to the advantages Great Britain receives. The first page lists the benefits of the trade, namely, prosperity through the sale of sugar surplus to British requirements. The author notes that this is allowed for the purchase of “Woollen and other Manufactures, Wearing Apparel, Household-Goods” made in Britain herself and supports multitudes of British sailors and her ship building industry. It concludes by saying: “And as the Interest of the

• Year: 1732

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