A brief sketch of the present state of the province of Nova-Scotia

“This free port bill, as it concerned Nova Scotia, was for several years confined to the port of Halifax, and proved very unequal and unjust in its operation; as all foreign flour legally imported must come through Halifax, which subjected the people of the outports and country generally not only to pay the five shillings duty, but to double freight with the profits, commissions, storage, wharfage, truckage, &c. on nearly all the bread stuff we consumed; and often the flour, which in Baltimore, Alexandria, Richmond, and other sea ports of the middle States, was purchased for five or six dollars a barrel, was sold to the consumer in the outports of the Province for nearly double the first cost. This caused a general discontent and murmuring, and acted as a direct bounty on illicit trade; many sober reflecting men, who would otherwise have scorned to have anything to do with smuggling, on viewing the monopoly granted Halifax at the expense of the country, felt a degree of indignation”

Homer, John. A Brief Sketch of the Present State of the Province of Nova-Scotia: With a Project Offered for Its Relief. Halifax, N.S.: [s.n.], 1834. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/aeu.ark:/13960/t6n01pk8g