2009-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/31/2009
Extract "The Crisis of the Sugar Colonies; or, an Enquiry into the Objects and probable Effects of the French Expedition to the West Indies; and their Connection with the Colonial Interests of the British Empire. To which are subjoined, Sketches of a Plan for settling the Vacant Lands of Trinidad." 7p. octavo, 1802, and reads in small part: "...The importance of our colonial possessions in the West Indies needs no illustration from us. The prevalence of jacobinical principles has unfortunately not been confined to Europe; but still threatens to shake the foundation of established governments in every part of the world. Those principles have at length reached the feelings, and shaken the minds of the Negroes employed in the European settlements; and essential changes in colonial governments are the menaced consequences...It is not impossible even, that if a sanguinary contest should be long maintained between the Mother Country and her black Colonists, the breach like that between Great Britain and America may grow too wide to be closed, and a final separation may be the issue; and though this would be a case pregnant enough with danger, yet an independent Negro State, would certainly be a less terrible neighbor to the British Sugar Colonies, if irreconcilably hostile to France, than if under her influence, and willing to promote her views..." Much more. VG. By far the most successful West Indian colonies in 1800 belonged to the United Kingdom. After entering the sugar colony business late, British naval supremacy and control over key islands such as Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados gave it an important edge over all competitors; wile many lost their shirt, some made enormous fortunes, even by upper class standards. This advantage was reinforced when France lost its most important colony, St. Dominique, to a slave revolt in 1791. The British islands produced the most sugar, and the British people quickly became the largest consumers of sugar. West Indian sugar became ubiquitous as an additive to Chinese tea. Products of American slave labour soon permeated every level of British society with tobacco, coffee, and especially sugar all becoming indispensable elements of daily life for all classes.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.