The imports and exports were,— In the years ending the 5th of January, there were imported into Great Britain from Berbice, of rum, 1810. 1811. 1812. 1813.
Gallons, 20,355 6l931 1866 28,139 And, in the year ending 5th January 1813, there was imported of sugar 9084 cwts. In 1809, the ex portation of cocoa from the colony amounted to 17,665 cwts. and, in 1810, to 22,582 cwts. In the former year, the exportation of cotton was 1,874,195 lbs.; and, in the latter year, 1,656,057 lbs.
The colony of Berbice was founded in the year 1626, by a merchant of Flushing, to whose family, in 1678, it was granted as an hereditary fief. 'Three fourths of it, however, were, not long afterwards, given to Van Hoorn and Company, in consequence of their discharging a heavy -contribution levied on the colony by some French privateers. The new proprietors -being allowed by the Dutch East India Company to import. a certain number of negroes.an. nually and obtaining other privileges, it oveatly extended the cultivation of sugar, owe, and indigo ; but they were restricted from exporting the produce of to any port not within the province of *Hand. In 1763, an insurrection happened among the slaves of Berbice, which was quelled chiefly by the assistance of the Indians, and the English from Barbadoes. In 1796, the colony ca pitulated to the British ; but it was restored to the • Dutch by the peace of Amiens. In 1803 it was again
reduced, and its possession was confirmed to Britain by theof Paris. In consequence of the Lords of the learning that the loss of slaves on the Crown estates from the year 1803 to 1810, had been at the rate of 26 per cent. they appointed, in 1811, commissioners for the management of these estates, who were especially directed and empowered to maintain and protect the negroes, and to reward and encourage industry among them.
By an act of the British Parliament, passed in the 56th of George III. (1816), cap. 91, Berbice is placed on the same footing in relation to the regulations of trade, as the British West India Islands. The sub jects of the King of the Netherlands, who are pro prietors in Berbice, may import into it from the Ne therlands the usual articles of supply for their estates, but not for trade ;—wine imported for the use of their estates, to pay a duty of 10s. per ton. The Dutch proprietors may export their produce, but not to Britain; both exports and imports to be in ships be longing to the Netherlands,—the duties to be the same as those payable by British proprietors.