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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 r L .<\i-- ; M] Subje I i-ORD PR h A '** i^^^ '' **" '■ -V'^~ T T E r, FROM • ■'■^•••■f . .j^.iJ AN AMERICAN Now reiident in London*. ,.^ , ,>^:%H»f^ ^ v.* .v''- . Subjedl of the Reflraimng Proclamation j AND CONTAINING S f R t C T U R E S '■ ' '". ■' » ' V? ' "f^* '' ■'1 ..r t =■ '■ ■' 'V • -t Lord Sheffield's Pamphlet on the Commerce ..•%.v of the American States. fKr ^£^^ 5^^*' \ V- i'-Vii'i LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. STOCKDALE, OPPOSITE BURLINGTON-HOUSE, PICCADILLY. MDCC LXXXIV. ■ ■/■ . ■<■ . , ....-- ^.^^ 1 • ^ Price IS. 6d, ] i BS L E T T E R^ c. SIR, i H E fecefHon of fo confiderable a part of the Britlfh Empire, as now con- ftitutes the United States, and the general acknowledgment of their independance by the powers of Europe, muft point out a very important asra in the hiflory of man- kind. The caufes that led to this great revolu- tion, and the operations that infurcd its fucc.efs, will hereafter afford abundant matter for the pen of fome able hiflorian, 'B The ( := ) The immediate cffcds that it miifl have "i on the Syftcm of European Politics, form a very ferious fuhjedr of prefent enquiry and contemplation; efpccially, as nations begin to be convinced of the futility of becoming great by conqueft, and more inclined to abandon the cruel fyftem of war, in order eifedually to enrich them- fclves by purfuing the peaceful line of commerce. The United States, flretching through fuch a variety of climates, abounding in fuch various produdlions, and affording fuch a vaft field for the confumption of European manufaftures, mufl naturally have a very intimate and adtive commerce with the different States of Europe. From adventitious circumftances, pe- culiarly favorable to Great Britain, no na- tion I .4 ;t I ( 3 ) tlon pofTciTcs opportunities of fo cflodlu- ally promoting tliis connexion; and from her dependence on connncrce, for the fup- port of her power and importance, no na- tion is fo pointedly interefted in the im- provement of thefe advantages. J She has already brought her aff.urs to the brink of ruin, from continuing too long a Have to impofture and deluficn. It is time to recover her from her lethargy; this perhaps may prove a difficult tafk, a« ignorant and interefted writers are ftill en- deavouring to impofc their ill-digefled and pernicious fyftems on the public mind, and to imprefs fentiments, whlch,,if adopt- ed into the politics of this country, would be entirely fubverfive of a commer- cial connedion betwixt Great Britain and the United States of America. B:?i Ifhall ( 4 ) I fhall fubmit my opinions on thU fub- jcdl, to your confidciation, and have little doubt of a coincidence of fcntimcnt. You mufl remember that after the con- clufion of the war, a Bill was introduced into the Houfe of Commons, by Mr. Pitt, (then Chancellor of the Exchequer) in order to ferve as a temporary regulation for the trade of the United States. In perfedl conformity with the fpirit of this Bill, it was expeded a permanent coh- nedion betwixt the two Countries, would be formed by treaty j it had in view a fyf- tem of liberal interco&rfe, and was receiv- ' ed in America with univerfal approba- tion, as the harbinger of returning af- fedions. i ■"i s ■i 1 Under a firm perfuafion that Great Bri- tain would perfevere in the line of con- dud. ( 5 ) tvl! s I i I dut'T:, tliat this Bill prcfctlbcd, the United States opened all their ports to Britifli flipping, anJ received tlieni, without any- other itflriiilioni: tl^.an thofe, which vcf- fcls belonging to their own citizens, were cxpoltd to. A char.^-c of niiniflry foon after took ■ place, and likcwiPi a cliange of meafiircs ; the advocates for the American war com- pofed a part of it; the cfFeds were fooii vifible^ a Proclamation, virtually re- draining all intercourfe betwixt the Uni- ted States and the Well: Indies, except in Britifli flipping, made its appearance. This meafure was in every refpe<5t Im- politic and unwife, as it was natural to imagine that it would make unfavorable impreffions in regard to the views of Great Britain, that would remain long, and af- fed ! C 6 ) fcil deeply; and would have a ttjidency to convince the United States that the fame fyflem of infatuated councils, that fevered the two countries afunder, flill had .an afcendcncy in the BritiHi Cabinet, and was likely to continue an inlupcrablc bar- rier to a free and unreflralned connexion. I if V i ■ Much about the fame time Lord 5hef- • field publifhed a pamphlet, which was in- tended tojuftify the prudent precaution • of fuch mealhres, as e/ltntially necclTary to .-the future wealth and power of Great Bri- , tain 5 it is faid to have had a very ferious efFejil: on the minds of the people In Eng- land, the majority of whom, as in all countries, are more prone to receive the opinions of others, than be at the trouble of furnilhing arguments for themfelves. '4 'I 3 i ■■*'., Howerer. J. .» ( 7 ) However, It will not be dlfUcult to prove, that his rcafoning is extremely riinily and fiillaclousj entirely remote from the principles of commercial Icgi- flation, and fupportcd on a fyPicm of ac* knowledtrcd error. Previous to entering on a refutation of Ills dodrine, it will be necefiary to pre- mife fome few refledlions, on the advan- tages that the Weft India Iflands will de- rive, from being indulged in an inter- courfe with the United States, from which the adoption of Lord Shetiicld*s fyftem would entirely exclude them. I « I The foil, the climate, and confequent- ly the produdtions of the United States, are fo various, that they can furnifli al- mofl every article that the wants and con- veniences of the iflands can require i and from ( » ) from circumflances of local fituation, caa fupply them more abundantly, more ex- pediuoufly on better terms, and lefs fub- jcdl to contingencies, than they can be procured from Europe-, infomuch, that the Weil India Planters have always re- garded a commercial connedtlon with the United States as ellcntial to the well-be- ing and Improvement of the illands, and have deprecated the lofs of it, as a mofl fatal blow to their ilourifhing exiftence. I^ The articles which the Colonift in- difpenfably ilands in need of, ar'^ flour, bifcuit, Indian corn, rice, beans, peas, potatoes, fait beef, pork, cheefe, butter, beer, cod and other kinds of fait fifh, whale oil, candles, tal!ow, foap, to- bacco, naval flores, liorfes, poultry, live cattle, bar iron, building wood of all kinds, frames of houfes, mafts, fpars, hogfliead M : ^-TTiitwEggaatfi B ie f j iig aa ti J a t ( 9 ) hogfhead flaves, heading, flilngles, plank both pine and oalc, Sec. The United Slates can, not only abun- dantly, and at all times, fupply thefc articles, but can furniih them on far more moderate terms, than they can be imported from Europe, Experience has proved, that no food is fo cheap and nourifliing to the flaves as Indian corn, of which there mull ne- ceflarily be a regular and frequent fup-* ply, as it will not keep but a Hiort time, expofed to the extreme warmth of the climate. Small vefTels are generally em- ployed in furnifl^ing thefe fupplies, as well as live ftock and other articles of provifions, which could not afford to na- vigate with cargoes of fuch little value, C if :| t 10 ] if It was not for the quicknefs of the voyage^ and the certainty of a return freight of Wefl India produce. Thele arc not objects of fufficient importance for European vcflcls ; for large quantities would frequ(_iilly overflock the market, and confequently be expofed to perifli in the hands of the importer. K I H But there arc particular times when the dependance of the Wefl Indies on the United States, is more pointedly obfcr- .vable. After a hurricane, that aweful and' tremendous convuhion of nature, that fo frequently happens in the tropical cli- mates, that levels wirh the ground all the buildings and improvements of a pla- tation, deftroys the provifions, and ex- hibits throughout the whole country, the wildefl: marks of ruin and devaflation : Where '4 m \w ( «I ) Where is the alTrightcd planter to look for luccour and aiilihmcc ? Plow is be to repair his lolFcs, promptly and effectu- ally ? He mud give himfelf up to defpair, if his only reliance is on European fupplies ; but he feels a confolatlon when he confi- ders his vicinity to America , which, though but a foiler mother, adting like a natural parent, liics to his relief. After thefe terrible calamities, which have threatened all the miferics of famine, he has often found, from experience, that flie has poured in fuch abundance, as to have reduced the prices of provilions, much lower than they even were previous to his misfortunes. The ( I» ) The advantages which this commerce prefcnts are founded on the broad bafis of reciprocal Interefts, and a mutual ex- change of necelury commodities. The United States, in return for the fupplles they furnifli the iflands, will re- ceive their produdllons, feveral of which, as rum and molafles, may be called the ex- crefcencies of their exports, and without recourfe to American confum.ption, would be in very feeble demand for the European market. .3 I But fliould no encouragement be given to the planter, to aid the natural vigor of the foil, by the facility with which he may procure his provifions^ and iliould t?je iflands be deprived of the advantages which their local fituation affords, by having i ( 13 ) having tlie channel through which their fupplles arc to be procured, ftopped up, or confined in too narrow bounds, they will not only individually fuffer, by being of- ten expofed to a calamitous fcarcity -, but the Mother Country mull finally be fen- fible of the pernicious effeds of fuch re- ftri^lions. For the body politic, like the human body, has a fcnfe of feeling, in its remoteft extremities. Nothing fuffers fingly by itfelf — there ** is a con fen t of ** parts in the fyflem of both, and the par- ** tial evil grows into univerfal mifchieF." For in an exadl ratio, with the rate of provifions, and other neceffaries of life, will the demand for labor keep pace, and the price of Wefl India produce, and its relative quantity, will rife or fall by thefc proportions. The planter confequently cannot afford his production s fo low, as to he h' C '4 1 be placed in competition with the French at a foreign market, except he procures his neccflaries on the bed of terms. On the contrary, Hiould the Colonies flouridi under a State of eafc ajid plenty, the Mother Country will be proportiona- bly lienefited ; for it is an invariable rule in commercial polity, that riches always centre in the Metropolis^ their diffufivc influence may be compared to the circu- lation of the blood, which is difperfed over the whole fyftem, but always returns back to the heart, the feat of life, and is only fent back by new pulfations. M 1 Should theret'bre this monopolizing fpirit, which is a mockery on the induftry of a country, give way to more liberal ideas, the adive flimulus of the planter will no' longer «? C '5 1 longer be depreflcJ. By being furni/lici with nectflaries on more moderate and eafy terms, he will employ lefs of his re- i'^en'^e, to defray the expences of his eftatei he will confequently have a refidue left to appropriate to the extejifion of his fet- tlcments, clearing and breaking up new grounds, which when brought into cul- ture, will furniih additional quantities of produce, to fupply the incrcafing de- mand. In the courfe of attaining thcfe profits to the planter, the State will greatly be- nefit, in an increafe of her revenues, by the duties laid on the furplus quantity of produce ; by the employment of a more extenfive commerce and navigation, which mull keep pace with the improving con- dition of her iflandsj and by fixing the ballance [ i6 ] ballance of trade in her favor, in propor- tion to the augmentation of her exports. Another advantage of confpicuous cha-^ radter offers itfclf 5 which is, tlie increa- fing confumption of manufa(^l:ures, which improving c .ahhllimcnts naturally occa- lion; and an incrcafc of manufactures, is always accompanied by a proportional increafe of population. Moulded by hiibit to a particular mode of thinking in regard to the commercial legiilation of the iflands, I know it will be difficult, and will require every effort of found reafoning, to break through the fyilem of prohibitory laws, cftabliflied hy the Britifli Government. But, when an in- creafe of population and of revenue, pro- grcflive opulence and ilrcngth, are to he derived '^ .) C -7 ] ^erived from the elFcdts of iibauu. this jealous fclf-obRiuding policy 5 it is to be expc'flcd, that the fpirit of fuch con- tracted cflablidimciits will not be invete- rate, and on mature confideration, will no longer be adhered to. But it is afTcrted by Lord Sheffield, that regular fupplies of provifions and nccef- faries may, with proper encouragement, be obtained from the remainder of the Britiih Colonies on the continent. Thefe vifionary fuggeftions are almofl too ludicrous to be combated, and feem intended as a political artifice, to blind the eyes of the too credulous people, and deceive them into a belief, that their re- maining territories in America are of con- fiderable value. D It <>:. [ ^3 ] It is well known, that tlie intenfenefs of the cliaKUc of Canada, with the diffi- culty of Its nr.vigatlon, Will fccircely admit of more than one voyage in the year to the Weft Indies, which require a regular and continued fupply of provifions. I iP li As for the inhofpltable regions of Nova Scotia, it will be matter of wonder, and a folace to humanity, if by the unceafing induftry of its inhabitants, it will be able to produce a futhciency, for their fuften- ance and fupport. ■ * The United States mufl therefore con- tinue to be, what they always have been, the granary of the Britilh Weft Indies; and if dired importations into them are not admitted of, recourfe will be had to indirect fupplies, through the medium of the ',,'1 W' ■^'-l.' 1 m A L 19 ] the neutral illands. All the additional cxpencc of this circuitous route, incurred, for charges of double infurance, freight, conimiflion, &c. will fall on the Colo- niil, as the confumer, without very ma- terially injuring the American merchant, who will naturally infurc to himfclf a ix* ving profit on his exports. .1 h' -iM EefiLCs, the Erinfli Government mud eflablifli a number of guarda coflas, well armed and appointed, to prevent the clan- deftinc trade that will immediately com- mence betwixt the United States and their iilands. A trade, that will find a fupport and protecftion, in every planter of the country, whofe intered will be fo imme- diately connedled with its encouragement, will noteaiily be fupprcHed. D2 Even 1 I C JO ] Even under tlie vigorous authority of military government in the French Weft Indies, not ali the wciglit of power, ex- erted fo' the purpofc, could formerly pre- vent this fprcics of tratiic ; much Itfs can it be expeded to fucceed, where the reins of government are relatively fo re- laxed, as in the hands of the Britifh Go- vernors. Befides, Great Britain has learned, by fatal dear-bought experience, imprefTed In fuch flrong charadlers, as not to be foon and eafily effaced, that " the true art of •* governing is not to govern too much ;** and how difficult it is to rule a people by laws, that it is their intereft to refiiT:, and render nugatory. A' i M 1 ,■■> But [ «« ] But to counteraifl the force of tlic ^ore- going obfcrvations, it is alTerted by Lord She'Ticld, ami what it much more H range, that people are fo infatuated as to believe, that notwithllanding the abfolute prohibi- tion on tlie part of Great Britain, of ad- miirion ol American veflels into her idands, ^^iH that the United States will open their ports to Britilli fhipping, and freely indulge them with the liberty ol carrying uiT their produce. But he mull have a poor opinion of the force of his own arguments, which he has fo abundantly furnillied to Great Bri- tain, in favour of this felliih fvUem of monopolizing the carrying trade, if he does not believe, that they will operate fo eftedually on the minds of the Americans, as to induce them, deprived of an equali- zation .wv« ■"• I ,'■»'■ "UHlP-w^'ll H 1 *l ; i! t « ] zafion of privilege, to adopt the fame'plan; admitting that their fagacious clear-light- ed politicians had not already difcovered them. His premifes therefore are not admif- fible- -the idea they convey is an infult on common fenfe. I expelled, that in forming an eflimate of the American charader, the Englifli had been fully perfuaded, from a view oi the progrefs of their political affairs, tha they were conduded by a people who fel dom have fo widely wandered horn thei interefls. ..%)). in 'i 4 Habituated to the refinance of every oppreilive meafure, more vigilant over their national concerns, more intent on con- :M r 23 ] conncdlng the fclcnce of politics, with the elements of commerce, as forming the niofl important objccl of the flatcfman's attention — than perhaps any other nation cxifting, is it to be expccTccd, they will acquiefce in a fyflem, fo derogatory to the honor, degrading to the fpirit, and injurious to the interefls of a great peo- ple? # A moment's reflecftion mnft convince every difpaflionate enquirer, that our legi- llators are better guardians of tlie public concerns, than to fubmit to fo pernicious an intercourfe; efpecially, v/henit is con- fidered, that they are fcleded from thofe, who are the heft vcrfed in the interefls of the States, as relative to thofe of other commercial powers, and who will em- brace every advantage that nature haj given. L 24 I 1 '^ ! 'i given, or art can procure, to the improve- ment thereof. He may continue to chcrifli the delu- five idea, but I v/ill tell him in prophetic language, what will be the confequence. 1 The States, from a fenfe of common dan- ger, and common inter':ft, will more clofe- ly unite together, and form one general . iyflem of exclufive navigation, in regard to Great Britain, eflablilhed on clear, equal and determinate principles of commercial : retaliation, which will rapidly pervade the whole Union. Already has a generous . tompetition began to take place, betwixt them, which fhall mofl: cheerfully adopt, and carry into eife<^t, thofe wife and falu- tary meafures, recommended by the grand :. council of the conntrv, in order to make their ■ - -f ( 25 ) dieir fcederal union refpeiflable, and the United States, as profperous in Peace, as they have been glorious in War. I acknowledge, that fuch pubhc fpi- rited arrangemcjts will, for a time, ex- pofe fome of the States, to temporary inconvenience end diftrefs ; but after all the facrifices they have already made, will it be furprifing that they (hould ex- ert this felf-dcnying virtue ; efpccially, as it will eventually become one of the greatefl fources of their future wealth an-d importance. Such prohibitions, therefore, on the part of Great Britain, will operate like a charm throughout the country j they will ad like a fpur on the induftry of the inhabitants, and compel them to turn K their m V M ( »6 ) their attention more iininedi.itely to tlie conflruclion of Hilps, and the increafc of their feamen. The cadcrn and middle States, which froni circumfcances of local fituation and chancer, are more pecu- liarly calculated for thefe purpofes, will, by vigorous exertion, by great and in- creafiiig encouragement, in a (liort time, be enabled to furniui a fuilicient fupply. Many of their trading inhabitants will be induced to refide in, and become citi- zens of the fouthern States, and form eftablifliments therein, in order to devote themfelves to the bufmefs of furnifhing the necelTary (hipping, for the tranfporta- tion of their bulky produce. Such circumftances, fortunately combi- ning in favor of the general intereft of the republic ( 27 ) republic, will operate as a bond of union aaiongfl them, by occiffioning their re- ipcdtive citizens to continue to mix free- ly, and intimately together. And by making them mutually dependent ^neach otherforreciprocalfervices, will di- veil them of local attachnients, and will ir- fefifdbly impel them to become friends, to the rights and intereds of confederated A- merica. For as the prooi'Mtion of mankind depends on the intercourle of perfons of different fexes, fo do political connedions thrive only betwixt fuch countries, as fur- nifh different materials for their mutual exchange, and who foon become, from^ a fenfe oF each others wants, mutually en- leare d to each other. Yet this iiircw P oii- tician infers, that theSt:.tes will oppofeeach other, becaufe their "Aaples and their cli- E -^ mats ( 23 ) iTiate are different — forgetting the trmh of tliat political maxim, that interefl unites, from the lame caufe that it divides. :m % Therefore this fclfilli arrangmertt which appears to predominate in the Britifli Ca- binet, and which is fuppofed to be an emanation from the fame ill-fated flar, which in your political fyftem has been fa long looked up to as your poliar dire6tion> will eventually become a great advantage to the United States ; for 1 am well con- vinced, that they never will arrive to any eminence as a naval power, until their inhabitants are reduced to the neceffity of being .the exclufive carriers of their own productions, thereby encouraging mer- cantile navigation, fo as to make it become a nurfery of feamen. I fay forced, for the ailertion of Lord Sheffield, that our vef- fels ( =9 ) lels navigate cheaper than thofe of Great Britain, is not founded on i\\3: ; for whea their fpeedy decay, comparatively with thofe of the Eritilh, with the fcarcity of feamen, the much higher price of wages, and the necefTity of importing nioft of the building materials from Europe, arc takea into confideration, it will clearly be infer- red, that the latter can afford their freights, m at a much eafier rate. But Hiould the United States be com- pelled to adopt a navigation act, the pro- fpedl will then change, the demands for feamen will greatly incTcafe, their wages will be encouraQ-inir, and it will not be poflible to prev'jnt their paihng into the American fervice; for this clafs of people, as wavering and. inconilant as the element that wafts them, are attached to change of C 3° ) of climate, and arc ca lily allured by the profpeft of greater wages, or kinder treat- ment. Under the influence of the above caufes it mufl be clearly evident, that the fears of our compctiton in the carrying trade of the Weil Indies, are entirely groundlefs. Bcfides, it is not probable that the Anie« ricans will feek in forcii^n countries for freights, when ihey have not perhaps above one fourth part of the neeellary fln'pping to fupply their own demands, for tranfporting their produce to mar- ket : How abfurd and covitradjulory then arc Lord Sheffield's apprehenfions ! for it isj from a prcfuinption cf their fcarcity of iliipping, tliat he affirms that the Americans will not refuie their pro- duce to the offers of Britiili vellels; he ucknow- ( 3' ) acknowledges likewife, that the French underfcll the Britini lugars at foreign markets ; there can coiifcquently be but little danger cf the Americans being dcfirous of carrying them to foreign ports; for where will be the inducement ? In arguing againfl this fclfi/h con- traded fyftem, founded on extreme cupi- dity, and in favour of a free unreftrained commerce betwixt the two countries, I have no view of confulting the advan- tages of the United States, to the exclu- fion of thofe of Great Britain, I know it would be folly to expedl that flie would make facrifices of her interefts, to accommodate the views of the Ameri- cans, But < 3' ) Uut it fo happens, that flie cannot favor the United Siutes with an indulgence, for which thev are not able to furnifli more than a reciprocal benefit. It is expedient however to examine llill more fully, what the grand leading argu- ment that Lord Slicflicld adduces in favour of the neceflity of totally excluding them from a participation in the Britilh Wefl India trade, amounts to. He is fearful that they will thereby become the car- riers of the produce of the iflands to the place of its confumption, which will create an interference of foreign velTels, thereby Icfiening the number of feamen, and con- i'equently the jiaval force of the country. But, if in addition to all that I have al- ready faid, I anfwer, that in return for this { 33 ) this accommodation which he may cjII In- dulgent, but which I have clearly evinced to be the interefl: of Great Britain, confult- ing the welfare of her iflands, to grant. I fav, If in return for this accommoda- tion, her fubjeds may be admitted to a free ingrefs and egrefs to and from the ports of the United States j— — What reply will the advocates for this fyflem mjke ?--What will become of Lord Sheflield's reafoning, when weighed in the fcale of comparative proportion ? 1 only wifli them to com- prehend the magnitude of the advantage. Men of weak or limited underflandings, will be incapable of extending their ideas, fo as to embrace the vafb field it opens to an enlightened mind. In the firft place, they will not afTuredly deny, that the produdions of the United States, to the tranfportation of which, from F the ( 34 ) the propofcd arrangement, they arc freely to be admitted, will furnifli twice the quan- tity of bulky materials, that the exports of tlic Weft: Indies do, and will confequent- \y employ twice the quantity of (hipping. ■ 'To (lamp convidlion in regard to the truth of this aftertion, let them take a view of the rice, indigo, and lumber of Georgia and South Carolina ; — the naval flores, lumber, and tobacco of North Ca- rolina ; — the tobacco, wheat, Indian corn, &c. of Virginia and Maryland ; — the flour, lumber, corn, and various provifions, of Pennfylvania, Delaware, Jerfey, and New York;— the fiili, lumber, live (lock, &c. of the New England States. Admit this fad, to be afcertained with fatisfa^lory prccilion, will it not be confcfT- ed, that an arrangem;.:nt, by which both countries are freely admitted to a partici- pation -_..-itJ«>i.' :li^. . ..' ( is ) patlon of each other's trade, will be highly advanta;;eous to Great Diituin. This is a pofition, as clear as any mathe- mat'cal axiom. Bcfidcs, the advantages of Great Britain may be deemed Incrcaf- ing, as the exportation of the bulky pro- duce of the United States, (in which her velTels will be employed) will augment, in proportion to the population of the coun- try j—apopulatlon, that will probably be pro- ductive beyond all examples of former ages, —multiplying like the feeds of the harveft. Whereas, on her part, there is but little room for extenfion of improvement j— -on this point her moft fiinguine friends would compound,for her being fixed and ftationary. But Lord Sheffield argues, that it would be folly to grant the Americans any par- ticular privileges and conceflions, as the F 2 treaties ■ ■iiip wiptii rwii^n^iiKvipipfvwnvii^viTnn*" ( 36 ) treaties with France, and the United Pro- vinces, in diredt terms forbid the Britiflj being put on a better looting than the in- habitants of thofe countries. The faculties of this writer niufl be flrangely perve-ted, — or his defign niufl: evidently be to delude the public mind, by giving Co falfe a conllrudion to this part of the treaties. Can it be im-^xgined, on the principles of common fenfe, that, if the French and Dutch exclude the Americans from a fhare of their Weft India trade, the United States will grant to the inhabitants of thofe countries, the fame free admillion into their Dcrts, as to thofe of Great Britain, who may permit an unreftrained participation m their commerce ? In every contrad, there is a quid pro quo, ~o^Qv\y exprefied, or tacitly implisd j— and it is not to be prefumed, that the ( 37 ) tlic mofl favoured nation can require a be- nefit, without granting a reciprocal re- turn ; it is contrary to the avowed policy of nations, which, it is well under- ftood, is founded on the broad bafis of in- terefl and convenience. The fame reafons will tend to fruftrate the hopes of Ruflia, who cannot, like the United States, give an equitable equiva- lent to Great Britain, in return for fuch great concefiions^ France has hitherto. In -ariably, by her own internal refources, fupplied her iflands abundantly, with many of the neceffarles they fland in need of, and is ilill in a capa- city to do thi f^me. With refped to other articles, (the pro- duce of the United States,) that do not inter- fere with her own exports, fhe has given free admiffion ( 38 admlfljon to them all into her Weft India poiliffions ;— and in order to gain the advantages of the rum fade, which the BritiQi hitherto have txclufively propofed, fhe has ceded particular didridls in her iflands, for the accommodation of the Americans, who may chufe to erect dif- tilleries thereon, which, for their great en- couragement, are to be exempt from taxes, for a certain number of years. The confummatc policy of her councils was never more eminently difplayed, than in this meafurc*. The aftonifhed planter, in viewing the refpedive arrangements of the two coun- tries, will wonder where the Genius of Britain, fo famed for her conamercial knowledge, has retired. * See Proclamation of the General of Martinico, pub- lifhed in the Public Advertifer. After ( 39 ) After having already made it appear that it is the intercft of Great Britain (independent of all other confiderations) to adopt the plan of an open communication between the iflands and the United States, and that it is in the power of the latter to grant more than they receive j 1 will now have rccourfe to an argument, that perhaps will have a falutary effedl on thofe, who are the mod difficult to be perfuaded j -I mean, the relative fituation of the two countries, which makes it the intereft of Great Bri- tain, more than that of any other Euro- pean power, to be pointedly conneded with the American Slates. Let a moment's attention be paid to this fubjed", and let the inference be fairly and ^Ifpaflionately drawn. Great Britain, by the fuperior /kill and induftry of her inhabitants, and fjme ad- ventitious I1li-«W''I1«I'I'I«I INIW ( 40 ) ventltlous clrcumftances, has carried many of her manufadtures to a degree of per- fedion and cheapnefs, which no other country in Europe has arrived at. Confidering the inferior flate of her population, compared with fome of her rival nations, and the very Hmited extent of her territory, it mufl be confcfTed, that a confide.. part of her revenues, to fup- port the immenfe load of debt (lie has in- curred, mud be drawn from this fource— - from the induilry of her people. I The United States at prcfent offer three millions of inhabitants, rapidly increafing in numbers, all of whom confume more or lefs of Britifh manufadures, — the pro- dudions of art and induflry j — in return for which, they give the raw materials, — - the produce of agriculture, in their native ftate. How i ( 41 ) How infatuated muft the councils of your country be, which could tend but for a moment, to difturb fo beneficial an in- tercourfe ; or fufpend the fwects of fo lucrative a commerce ! T'je United States have as yet laid no impofitfons on the importation of Britifh manufadlures, that can have any tendency to restrain the confnmption of them ;■ and many reafons of confpicuous weight and importance continually offer, in fa- vour of eftablilhing fuch duties ; — for by operating as a fumptuary law, fuch a meafure would be of confiderable fer- vice to a young country, by reprefnng the defire of foreign luxuries, which have al- ready been poured into America, in fuch abundance, that the States begin to fufFer, from not having fufficient produce to remitin payment j which turns the balance of G trade ( 42 ) trade greatly againft them. — Bcfidcs, fuch reftridions wifely impofed, tend to fli- niulate and encourage a fplrit of induftry amcngn: the people, to aim at fimilar improvements. But iliould the impolitic condud: of Great Britain precipitate the adoption of this meafure by the refpcdtivc States, where are her growing refources to counteract the effedls of this failure of internal in- duftry r — for it is univerfally agreed, that no country is more depr ident on foreign demand, for the fuperfluous produce of art and Induftry s — and that the luxury and extravagance of her inhabitants, have already advanced to the ultimate point of abufe, and cannot be fo increafed, as to augment the home coufumption, in pro- portion to the decreafe that will take place on a diminution of foreign trade, . . What I ( 43 ) What then will become of all thofe ufe- ful hands, that were employed in fupplyin the great demand ? or o Recoile6t the cries of fufTering thoufands, at the time of tlie non-importation agree- ment J — thefe people, in their own de* fence, will emigrate to America. Such a fyflem of condud: perfevered in, will operate in favour of the United States, as effedually, as the revocation of the ediift of Nantes did in behalf of the proteftant countries of Europe 3 — by holding up America, as the mofl defirable refuo-e for the property, arts, and manufadures of Great Britain to retire to j a country where civil and religious liberty are up- held in all their purity, where, by the exertion of a few years of honeft induflry, an emigrant is morally fure, of being fur- G 2 nifhed as there will be a con- ftant fucceffion of emigrants from different parts of Europe, who have no decided preference in favour of the fafliion or qua- lity of Britifh manufadures, and who, by mixing with the mafs of the people, will gradually effcdt a change in their taile. — Already do the Americans begin to com- plain, that the Britifh manufadures are flighted. ■TJ^^WWPIP* ( 46 ) flighted, and inferior in quality to their ulual ftandard j — and it is well known, that many of the coarfe kinds of fluffs, made at Norwich, Coventry, Spitalfields, and other fadlories, are fhamefully deficient in length, whilfl: the Dutch, Flemifli, and French, ufually give a generous furplus in their meafures. But if the aflertions of Lord Sheffield- were founded on truth, what fhould be the condudl: of Great Britain ? Surely no circumf^ance can be more fa- vourable to the aggrandizing a nation of induflry, than the pofTefiion of a foreign trade with a country, which does not fup- ply its own wants, and in which, the con- lumers of manufactures, that llie furnifhes, are continually increafing. Sur- 11 ( 47 ) Suii'oundcd by rival nations, whofe in- tercfls are oppofed to hers, does flic con- lidcr the duties that arife out of fuch a con- nexion ? They fliould prompt her to faci- litate, by every method in her power, the means of making remittances, in return for the manufadures flie furniflied j— not by prohibiting the fale of American veflels which are fent to England for the pay- ment of Britifli debts ; — by opening her ports for the importation of American produce free of duty ; — not by laying fuch heavy impofitions thereon, as to oblige the merchant to fcek a more friendly market; — and by cultivatiu^ an intercourfe, pointed- ly intimate, with that country ;— -(for this is the vernal feafon, when the feeds of future connection and intimacy with Ame- rica are to be fown and cultivated;) not by fliowing evident marks of pleafure and ( 48 ) and fatlsfadion at every fabricated account of the diflrefTes of America. It would be unneceflary to follow Lord Sheffield through the tedious detail of ar- ticles that he has enumerated, as conftitut- ing the wants of the Americans, the great- eft part of which, he alTcrts, they mufl abfolutely procure from England ; the fallacy of this account can only be dif- covered by a perfon who is acquainted with the nature of the American trade, and the relative quality and price of foreign ma- nufadlures. To oppofc alTertlon to ailertion, would not be fuflicient to operate convldion on the public mind ; but furely, one who can ferioufly place the articles of filk, laces, and fait, amongft the number of thofe, which Great Britain can enter into compe- tition ( 49 ) tition viMh other, countries, in fupplylng America with, mufl either be very igno- rant of his fubjcd:, or extremely partial to his own country. (. On a fair and candid confideration of the foregoing refledtions, I think you will be perluadcd, that the beautiful profped that Lord Shcfljtld has painted to the eyes of his enraptured countrymen, of the increaf- ing conftquence of Great Britain, from his pleafing Arcadian plans, will, without great care taken to prevent it, and by purfuing a fyftem diametrically oppofite to what he has formed, difappear, like the dancing vifion of a mifty evening. He reafons, as if the trade of America muft irrefiflibly be confined to its former channel; \\hereas I can allure him, that, freed from the con^roul of your Navigation Adt, and all the fetters of commercial re- H flraint. ( 50 ) flraint, It will expand itfelf, as far as feas can carry, or winds can waft it. He forgets the energy of this young Country, that he is devoting to fuch humi- liating rcftridlions ; he forgets, that It exhibited, whiifl in its cradle, fuch marks of firmnefs and vigor of conftitution, as, like young Hercules, to crufli the ferpent, that w^intonly attacked it. He does not reccllc6l, that it is in the power of the United States (if provoked to it) to have recourfc to recrimination and mutually ill ofiices, and to eflablifli refliic- tions fimilar to thofe Great Britain may impofe, wliich will be relatively fu- more prejudicial to her trade and commerce. An impartial difpaffionate Englifliman, fully weighing the rcaibns alledgcd againfl the ( 5' ) the adoption of Lord Sheffield's refLralnuig fyflem, and cordially attached to the inte- refts of Great E-itain, will deprecate the fatal rneafure. An American, in the fame temper of mind, looking forward to the future prof- perity and puwcr of his country, and con- templating the tei dency of iJus fyftcm to- wards ftrengthening the union of the States, and making it indifToluble, will not hefi- tate to acquiefce without a murmur, to the exiflence of thefe reftriuning regulations : — the only objections that :an arife, will come from thofe, who, too attentive to tempo- rary inconveniences, do not confider and contraft them, with the many advantages their country will eventually derive t — who do not conlidcr, that the moie trade and in- tercourfe the United States will have with Great Britain, the gi eater will be the im- portation • 4-. . portatlon of Britidi manufad:ures, and the* , . more It will tend to iinpoverilh and weaken them, and in the fame proportion, con- ■■ , tribute to her aggrandizement and power. Harley-Stieer, Cavendifh-Sqiiare, Dtxember ^i6tb, 1783. ...I , ^his Day is pullijhed in 05favo, containing near A COMPLETE and AUTHENTIC DETAIL of the feveral DEBATi.Sin rbc HOUiEof COM- MONS on the EAST-INDIA RiU, on Thurfday the 27 th of November ; on Mortda^ the id of December ; and on, Monday the 8th of December : Tofrethcr with authentic Copies of the two EAST- INDIA BILLS ; the Arguments of Counfel againft oneofthem ; the feveral Fapcrs containing a true State- ment of ths Company's Aftairs ; Lilis of the Divifions, of the Abfentce^, and of thofe who retired before the Diviuons commenced, *^^ As feveral paltry Compilations qn the fame Sub- je6J are now in Circulation, the Public are hereby cau- tioned a2;ainft the Impofiiion ; and thofe who ar .■ (i(;li- ro IS of being furrifhed v/ith the only Genuine Account of the Debacc's on the I. dia Bill, are rcqutfted to he careful to afk for S tockdale's Complete and Authentic Petail. Printed for J. Stocfcdale, oppofite Biirlirigton" hlGufey Piccadilly. ■ ■'■Mi i-\-A-. ■■-■^ -""'^^^^ii'mmmmm ^^^iK^mmmmmmm be ' en ri- r. M. ?'i ■'■ ir ■ V" Of I- ■ ■ V he V '» >, ■¥? ift e- le >t )- 1- It )e ic ' i'i-/ ■^'