I. Overview:
In this excerpt from Thomas Tryon’s longer
work, “Letters upon Several Occasions”, he highlights the importance of
the sugar trade. Tryon gives the reader an outline of ten main points
that persuade the reader to believe in the importance of the sugar trade
both abroad and in England. Tyron immediately remarks, “First then, the
manufacturies of this excellent Juice is of much importance, than all other
Fruits and Spices imported to us” (442). He quickly explains that
this substance, sugar, affects everyone in a positive manner, unless consumed
with animal fat. Sugar not only employs thousands of people abroad,
but also in England. This “noble juice” opens many other avenues
of trade for the King. Tryon tells his audience that without this
sugar trade, England would not have experienced cocoa and “several other
Foreign Fruits and Drugs, as Tea, Coffee, etc” (443). Sugar contributes
to medicine, the use of produce, and animal markets and it surpasses the
typical high society commodities such as wine and tobacco, Tryon states,
“...yet the Premisses considered, they come infinitely short of Sugar,
since they are not only confined (as it were) within the circle of their
own Consumption” (445). He ends by lobbying for support of the sugar
plantations. He pleads that governmental aid should be sent to the
colonies and the citizens should support this action.
II. Analysis:
Thomas Tryon’s essay is applicable to Aphra
Behn’s narrative, “Oroonoko”. This essay is proof that the sugar
trade is profitable everywhere and for everyone. Sugar was so important
that the slaves were not allowed to touch it with their bare hands; Behn
tells us the slaves were only to “touch the stalk with the Dart Points,
that they may not hurt the Fruit” (41). Tryon also mentions the abundance
and variety of things that are exported to the Caribbean from England such
as copper, iron, clothing, eatables and drinkables. Behn makes reference
to the dependence on England when she describes her clothing and machinery,
“the guns also […] or these newly carried from England” (85).
In essence, Tryon lends Behn some credibility with his essay. Furthermore,
the historical details in Behn’s narrative are echoed by other essayists
of the period.
The Platonic idea of the betterment of the community is also present in Tryon’s essay. Each of the ten points is centered in what sugar can do for the people; Tryon tells the citizens that they must support the cause in the Caribbean for their own good. The sugar trade is extremely profitable for both parties and it makes each community better along with the people in the respective communities. These people need to make a conscious decision to give their support to the production of sugar, Plato writes in Republic, Book X, “we should, order our affairs in which reason deems best” (Richter 27). Reason in this matter certainly supports the trade.
III. Questions:
1. How does Behn use specific historical
details to prove her narrative is true?
2. How successful is this essay in lobbying
for support in England for the sugar plantations? And how does Tryon compare
to other writers of this period?