la ^. .0 y^"^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) m?- J 1.0 I.I Ik HO ys UL lu 1^ ■ 2.2 ■it 2.0 IL25 Ml 1.4 I m liJ4 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STRSET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) •72-4503 ^- CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/ICIVIH ColSection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Notas techniquas at bibliographiquas Tha Instltuta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy available for filming. Faaturas of thia copy which may bo bibliographically unique, which may alter any of tha Images In the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checiced below. D D D D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommag^a Covers restored and/or iaminatad/ Couverture restaurte et/ou peliicul^e I I Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartas giographiquas en couleur □ Coloured inic (i.e. other than blue or black}/ Encra da couleur (i.e. autre que bieue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ RailA a\ '^ d'autras documents Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serrde peut causer de i'ombre ou de la diatortion la long de la marge intirieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certalnae pages blanches ajouttos lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte. mala, lorsque ceia itait poasibia, ces pages n'ont pas 6t4 fllmtes. Additional comments:/ Commentbires supplimentairas: The tot L'lnstiiut a microfilm* le meiileur exemplaira qu'il lui a 6tA poaaibia da se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaira qui sont paut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographiqua, qui peuvent modifier ukie image reproduito. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mAthode normale de filmage sont indiqute ci-dessous. I j Coloured pages/ \/ D Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^es Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurias et/ou peliicul6es Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages di^oiories, tachet^es ou piquias Pages detached/ Pages ddtachies The pos oft mm Ori| beg the sior othi first sior or II Showthrough/ Transparence I I Quality of print varies/ Quality inigaia de i'impression Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel suppiimentaira Only edition available/ Seule Edition diaponibla The she TIN whi Mai diff ant beg rlgh reqi met Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been ref limed to ensure the best possible imago/ Les pag&s totalament ou partieilement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une peiure, etc., ont 6t6 filmies A nouvaau de fa9on d obtenir la meiiieure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux da rMuctlon indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X TtM copy filmed here has b«an raproducad thanks to the ganarosity of: National Library of Canada L'axamplaira film* f ut raproduit grAca i la gAn^rositA dc: BibliotSidque nationaia du Canada Tha images appearing here are the best q- ality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Las images suivantes ont it6 reproduites nvec le pius grand soin, nompte tenu de la conditio at de la nattetA de i'exemplaire film6, et an conformity avac las conditions du contrat de fllmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impic:- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated Impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimte sont filmAs en commenpant par le premier plat et en torminant soit par la dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'iliustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmte en commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'iliustration et en terminant par la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboies suivants apparaftra sur la dernlAre image de cheque mirrofiche, seion le cas: le symbols — •i* signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too ierge to be entirely included in one exposure ure filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cart«i>s, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A des taux de reduction diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est fiimA d partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche d droite. et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'Images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 i. 2 9 4 5 6 ■--■■-' '■■■■■ -^ * ■'UBNlWSWlWK*' J.P.BRISSOT, >y?n^?t/it?/^^/7^^/J i " '^ e^TL l/fe 3/^ 0/ ySc/e/^€'c //^^. P»Hi»he I ?:t -i *' k:*..i #,-'« ' \> .'* .iiSsi". # W \ . >. tfM> ' /. y . J >ri J^ - T ui .*?;f td^n ?: ^H-|- n^H"':Ho*^' r i' .-.. f .-4&*i'.-v-«<8P*- -S»»;jimj»«!., <-»lt*ia >! A ' 'w THE COMMERCE OF AMERICA WITH EUROPE} PARTICULARLY WITH FRANCE AND GREAT BRITAIN; COiMPARATIVELY STATED, AND EXPLAINED. SHEWING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION ., TO THE INTERESTS OF FRANCE, AND POINTING OUT THE ACTUAL SITUATION OF THE UNITED STATES of NORTH AMERICA, IN REGARD TO TRADE, MANUFACTURES, AND POPULATION. bv J. p. BR IS SOT DE Warville, AND ETIENNE CLAVIER E. TRANSLATED FROM THE LAST FRENCH EDITTON, Revifed by Brissot, and called the SECOND VOLUME of his View of America. WITH THE LIFE OF BRISSOT, AND AN APPENDIX, SY THE TRANS LA TOP, LONDON: PRINTED FOK. J. S. JOaDAN, N° l66, FLEET'STREET. M DCC XCIV. ^ J J w A i : a,-!T 10- -nr L(* .^ ^ #. • ^1 '1 I JukiCJl i»l.. f'i. ■1 ,: gjs^j g 4 b ; . J jlllvli/iO 'io 5-;^».»^fiy i.'ll '■'' »JjO»i a^,'.v I I.J ■^' ♦. 'f.p) '*«J l"!}..! '^Jtfl '"- ,'f );.:i5/j' 'D /;r >'>7w.f i.> ».-■ ti j...'j» f *. !■ IfcH v'. t). yfi ♦ mV' 4 -J J i '.- ;i i I'V ) /»n iij>/i nj, a> )')p NvnV Vi \ . J» '>t!l t; / * , i ; ! ) rtii V »' V J ♦ >«> .i tvo .Ifi juai^«.1'^. ifeV* ) I ' *i , !• :.i: .; i. >; 1l3l a.\K tfJ^ >> ttHtkiii ^i^'ii i^* V )f)io; 'j.>v*« *»b#:; ^»:i) tjiK •■?i[)jO/rJo ^d? n;,v, I: 'tj ;>/ jj. .hmt'ff u) yy^Udo «»r >T ^■t ( ;! if' ^ 'm A SKETCH .% OP THI L I F E '/ 92aJ^ or J. P. B R 1 S S O T, Br THi Editor H E was born at the village of Ouarville, near Chatres, in Orleannois, on the 14th of January 1 754. His father was what the French called a Traitiuri that is, keeper of an eating houfe or an ordinary. He was intended for the pro- feflion of the law, and was articled to an Pt« tomcy for that purpofe. But he grew difguil- ed with the chicane and turpitude he was daily obliged to witnefs, and therefore, after the five years of his articlefliip were expired, he left Chatres, and went to Paris. a 2 An -* 1 ir SKETCH OF THE LIFE • . - ,« . An accident one night at tlic theatre at Paris placed him in the company of <\i\ Rnglifli gentleman. They hecanie intimate, and from this gentleman he ohtaiiied fomc knowledoje of the Englifh language j., which he afterwards improved by a refidence in jLondqn. > He had received a regular clafTical education, and a 'quired, by ftrh^t ajiplication, a tolerable knowledge of the German, Italian, and Spanifh ' languages, fufficicnt to confult the authors who have written in ; thofe: language^. .On his ^r-^ rival at Paris his ficfl ftudy was jurifprudei^ce. with an Intention of becoming an advocate ii\ parliament. No fcience however ef^aped his attention. He attended ledlures and expe- riments in every branch of fcience ; wherein . .(if his active genius found ample exerclfe. Chy- rpiftry was his favourite objcd of purfuit ; but • " 'ft }^ his circumftances were too limited to indulge much in it. The fmall patrimony, which he inherited from his father did not exceed forty pounds per anuuni. la -» «: la the. year. 1777 he made his firfl: tour to I^ondon. During his ftay in London he be- came engaged in the condudl of a French nevvf- paper, at that time c.allcd the Courier de i" Europe, but fince the Courier de Londres. Some mif-. untlerftandiug having happened concerning the (lamps (at the Aamp-ojiic^ French Court offered a thoufand pounds (looo Louis) reward. Briflbt, inftead of proceeding direflly to Paris, flopped at Boulogne, and refid- ed there with his mother-in-law ; here he re- folved to continue his publication on the origi- nal plan. Du M knowing that Pelleport was ;i^' OF J. P. BjlISSOT, •» IX wiis the-^ntKor of the ofFenfivc pamphlet; and that Bfiflot and Pclieport were intimate; to>< folved to obtain 'the reward, and o-ratify his re- fentment^ He applied to Pellcport, olFeriiig him the fuperintendanrre of a publication to. be carried on at Bruges (near Oftend),. the falary of which was to be two hundred pounds per annum. Pelleport accepted the olTer. But it was neceflary to flop at Boulggiic, where fbme final arrangements were to.be made. In the morth of July Pelleport embarked forBouIognq with Captain Meredith. But the moment he landed, he was feized by the .officers of the Police, who put him in chains and carried him to Paris, where he was fent to the Baftile. Du M — — was an agent of the Police of Paris. Information being given to the Police, ♦ that BrifTot- was at Boulogne, and that he Was the intimate friend of Pelleport, he was immedi-4^ ately taken into cuilody, carried to Paris, and committed to the Baftilc. However, it is cer^; tain that -BrifTot never wrote any thing againft ••^\ either ■ 1 J '■t '■,> -JL SKETCH :j0F THE llFE either; tbeKiiv^. or ij^ueeii of Fwace. Her %w^.^ncci:e in bis abhorrence of the j^\kitzty and ndefpotic principles of the French govern- fiptcnt, bill with reipedl to the private eondiidt of the King and Queen he never beftovv'ed the fjTial left . attention upon it. In this magazine of human, vid^ims he continued about fix weeks. His wife, applied to Madame Genli^ in his fa* your^iliiKl^^Madamc Genljs pioft g^nerpuily made A point of it with the Duke de. Chart r€.$ to ob- itaiii 'his liberty. The Duke de Chartres's in- terference does not appear by any docupient j Init Briiibt's acquittal of the charge brought figainfi- bim, appears in the following report of his examinatjonv made to the French .miniftef, M* Breteiiil, on tke 5th of September. ^ ,, . 5^irThe Sieor iBciltQfc4^ Mf^pville '^as Convey- *• ed to the Baflilc on the day.after ;thc Sieur *• de Pdleport> v^'ho was arre(lediat;3ouloHntmj' office, frorti WheAw one bf ♦* t'hefe IMs ilTuea, gave ftrength t6 {\ifpk:iorisF; ** but this- iatteftaitidn, tranftnitted from L<>n- " don, h deftitute of authetitiGity 5 aiid the ** SfeiirBrliTot de Warvilk, wfeK> ^has Very ^- ** tisfaftorily anfwered to- tti* hiterwgatories ** which were put to him, att-fibim* his't:rimi- " nation to the animofity of^«h«ttw&Jwhom he ^* .ohceivcs' to ha^e' plcJtted Jfgiinlft liim^ in •* London, The Sieur Bnflbt de Warville is' a ^* msln of talents, airtd of letters ; he^appears to *« have formed fyftems, and ta JenterUinncxtra- " ordinary principles ; but it is certain that^'for *« the laft fdveii of^ eight months, his connec- tions ^ith the Sieur ^e Pelleport had ceaied, a^id that he employied himfelf folely iipon a peri6dical paper, which he obtained permif- **(iorf'td circulate and fell in France, after ^•■hai^iffg fubmitted it to the exan;iiiation of a -^•lic«nfer.^'-" -^'^^- ' ^ ' 9i/hC;V^^,^ moll .zcabij^ advocate. In a fpft^hh.whipfe Jac dtlivered, in the, Aflfembly in ^H^:^ 4:7Sl*3 -tfeet^P *<«.% ftfoi^g. Uaif;5>jf philan- :«Pf tbifi^'ip^f5ch ^be follavving is* a fbprt exr t|fa6t;y*^(youba.vc beard ofcnormitie^tbat freczo, you vfitih Jwrr^ ; buj:^ Phalaris fpoka fjfjt of bi;) . brazei), buU» be lamented onlytbe dagger that * ' ■■ ■ . . .1 . . . J ' bis own cruelty bad raifed againft him. The cdjgniftf have related inftances of ferocity ; but give me^ fai4 be, an informed brute, anjd I will fbon make a ferocious moufter of him. It was a white man who firft threw a negro into a burn- ing oven : who dafbed out the brains of a child in the prefence of its father : who fed a. flave with its o.wn proMr fieib, Tbefc ?re the mon* fiers that ba,ve to account for the barbarity of the r^yplted favages.— Millioi^s o^ Africans h^vc perifhed t\-u>i<} fi OF J- P. BRlSfr6TT 3t : xy ficnflicd on this foil of blood. Tdu^brwiVal every ilep, the bones of the iiihab1ti(t?t^^$ilt^ nature has given to thefe i(l4nd$r«rt^'J^tt (hudder at the relation cf thejr vengetiiH^* ' M^ this dreaaful ftruggle the crimes of the WHitiiir' are yet the tno(k horrible. They are rhe d$>- fpring of defpotifrt) : whilft thofe of the Stacks originate in the hatred of flavery, and the thifft of revenge. Is philofophy chargeable with jEefe horrors ? Does fhe require the blood of the coionifts ? Brethren, flic cries, be juft ; be beneficent ; and you will profper. — Eternal fla^ very muft be an eternal fource of crin:ie$ ;— diveft it at leaft of the epithet eternal i for ah- guiih that Kiiows no limitation of period' c^iii oiily produce defpair.'? ^ ^^^""* ■'' ' Upon the abolition of the Frencti moriarc(jj% in the month ofSeptembef 1792, the Legifla- n^l^'Aflcmbly diflbjved itl^ln The'^ifllru^ ^^ fion bein^Mavedr^^ the'aboli^iclh Bfrfie Kiii^ rney conceived that it was the luherenr right o| the people to cboofe a new ^gp'reieiiiauon, m Oj.:i!iViq ' .■■•-'- order XVi SKETCH OP THE LIFE wdei* to frame a new conflltution, fuitfd t6 \he wifhcs of the people, snd to the neccflity of jthc efxiflifvg cirtumftances of the times. In •this general efe6lton Briflbt was defied one of the 'deputies from the department of Eure and Loire. His abilities and talents became every day more confpicuous. He was chofen the Re- porter of the Committee Oi Public Safety ; in which fltuation he conducSled himfelf without reproach,' until the treacherous condu(fl of Du- moufier threw a fufpicion on the whole of the Gironde party. '. * ' ' - - ». - Although affailed on all fides by his enemies, his character afperled and depreciated by the bafeft^-of calumnies, Briflbt fliewed himfelf confident with his public principles of philan- thropy. " --' "' ■■ ''"i '• '■''>'■♦• ^'"^ ''- '^ In the dreadful maffacrc of the 3d of Sep- tember, his opponents, particularly Du M — — , fought every opportunity to accomplifh his deftrudion, oy accufing him of behig a princi- pal infligator of thofe horrors. And it muft' bfc ' ^ ^ 7 owned, i% ttJ « OF J. P. BRTFSOT. XVII bvvned, that thefe repeated and continued ca- lurtihier weakened him in the public edeem. Du M was perfedljr acquainted with the Englifh method of writing a man down. ** When Condorcet moved for the abolition of royalty, Briffbt was filent. *"' When the motion was made to pafs fentcnce J. of death on the King, Briflbt fpoke and voted for the appeal to the primary aflemblies. -■■» *t When Fayette was cenfured, Briflbt defend- cd him. ;, When the Duke of Orleans (M d* Egalitc) was cenfured, Briflbt defended him. The two firft feem to have arifen in princl- pies of humanity, x The two laft, unqueftionably, arofe in the flrongeft ties of gratitude and friendfliip. ill A confcientious man cannot fufFer a more fe- vere affliflion, than when his private honour places him acrainft his public duty. ; ' ^ , '^■5»r / f(r-i^ :9^'f-fU^'' ^.t. "f^ ;%.4-^- £.'---- ■ ■/ i^T- * -^^-^ .^^»/ b ^^ xViii SKETCH OF THE LIFB f ^ *'♦• Of BRISSOT's WRITINGS^ y . ■ AND PARTICULARLY OF THIS ^\ORK. Upon the fcttlemcnt of the American govern- ment after the war, he became an enthufiaftic admirer of the new conftitution of that great country. But fome French perfons, who had been in America, and were returned to France, had publifhed their thoughts and opinions of America, in a manner that was nothing (hort of illiberality. The reader will find the principal names of thefe writers in the thirty-fecond chapter of the firft volume. BrifTot was fired 'vith indignation at this treatment of a people, whom he conceived could not in any wife have delerved fuch reproach ; and, imagining that the general peace of 1783 had opened an ho- nourable and free commuication of reciprocal commercial advantages between America and France, he wrote t/jis volume with the view of liipporting and eftablifliing that primary idea, or '-^ h M .*' ,*■ *.■; ., OF T. P. BRISSOT. XJK ..J I or /^fory of a French commerce with the United States. ... Upon this point it is no more than ordinary can- dour to obferve, that all which Briflbt recom- mends, explains, or relates, concerning a French commerce with the United States, applies equal- ly, and in fomc points more than equally, to the Britifh commerce with them. Every Bri- tifli merchant and trader may derive fome advantage from a general view of the principles which he has laid down for the eftablifliment and regulation of a reciprocal commerce between France and America. The produce and manu- fadlures of England are infinitely better fuited to the wants of America ; and therefore all his theory, which is diredled to the welfare and im- provement of France, muft ftrongly attach the attention of the BritiQi merchant and mechanic ; who, in this great point, have not at prefent any fuperiors, but have feveral rivals. Briflbt's ambition was to make France the greateft and mod powerful rival. And every candid perfon b 2 mufl: XX SKETCH OF THE LIFE ' ' • ■■ < muft allow that he dcfcrvcd much credit of his countrymen for the progrcfs he made, in this firft attempt, to open the eyes of the French nation to profpe^ls of new fources of advantage. All that is further neceflary to fay of this work, is faid by Bi^iflbt himfelf in the introduction, from the tenth to the twentieth pages. In the laft French edition of BrifTot's Travels in Ame- rica, publifhed by himfelf, about feven or eight months before his decapitation, this volume is placed the laft of that work. We have followed the Author's arrangement, and collated the whole by the laft Paris edition. Of the preceding volun>c, entitled ** New Travels in the United States of America," we have nothing to add ; the whole of the French edition is now before the reader. Of Briflbt's other works it is proper to men- tion the following. • , T/je Theory of Criminal Laws^ in two vo- lumcs, — Although M. la Cretelle, at the con- clufion of his Eflay on the Prejudices attached to , ' Infamy, A ' OF J. P. BRISSOT. XXI ^ New " we rench men- -i^ -f 'a lafamy, fpeaks in flattering terms of this work, for he fays, that it exhibits an cxtenfiblc know- ledge, and (hews the writer's ambition afcends to great principles ; yet to thofe perfons who have read Beccaria's Eflay on Crimes and Pu- nilhments, it will not appear that Briflbt has added much novelty to the fubjedl. : fT/ji-' 'Neccffity of a Reform of the Crim'mai Laivs* What Reparation is due to innocent Perjons uh- jufly accufej. . , • , ^^ Thefe were two difcourfcs which were crown- ed by the Academy of Chalons fur Manie, and were printed in the form of two pamphlets. The minifters of Louis XVI. were a good deal offended at the principles they contained, and they forbid the Academy propollng the difcuf- ilon of fimilar fubjeds at any of their future meetings. This check fervcd but as a flinaujus to Brif. fot to continue his fubje£l. He therefore, in two years afterwards, publifhed his Phihfpphi^ cal Library of the Criminal Laws. This work is * b 3 now ^ ^ xxu SKETCH OF THE LIFE if now len volumes, Briffbt's view in this work was, to difFufe and explain thofe grand princi- ples of freedom which produced the revolution in England in the year 1688, and the revolution in America in the year 1775. Before the dif- folution of the monarchy in France thofe prin-" ciples were almofl unknown to the French, and are ftill almoft unknown to the other parts of Europe. But as feveral of the monarchs of Europe approved of the American revolution, it may be prefumed that their fubjedls will not long continue ignorant of the motives and grounds of a meafure which was honoured with the patronage of their fovereigns. This circum- ilance alone fhould convince the EngUih, that many of the powers of Europe behold with pleafure the diminution of their greatnefs and confequence, and that very few of thole powers are ever friendly to them, except during the time they are receiving a bribe, by virtue of an inftrument, commonly called a fubjidmry freaty^ • , -/ - ^ • "" " •» ■■■.Of ^ .•L ► ' XXV favour ; and thfe work went on as far as twelve numbers, or two volumes. After which it was prohibited ; not more to the authoi's mortifica- tion than to the injury of his pocket. M. de Vergennes, who was at that time minider of ' France, had fo flrong a diflike to every thing that was Englifh, that he would not endure the fmalleft commendation upon any part of the Englifh conftitution, or commerce, to be pro^ mulgated in France. He had begun to dilco* ver, that the favourite idea of his mafter, of feparating the Britifli colonies from the Bri- tifli empire, might lead to an inveftigation of the principles of government at home, and prove extremely dangerous to a defpotic monarchy, Notwithftanding he was thus diilippointcd a fecond time, he ftill purfued his defign 5 but under a fecond change of title. He publifhed two volumes under the title of PhUofcphkd Letters on the Hiftory of England. The title did not attach the public attention ; becaule fwo volumes under a fmular name had been :> 3 publifhed * V •v« XXVI SKETCH uF TH^i: LIFE 1 .i 1^ i 1 P 1 1 1 publiflied in London, and had with fonie art been impofed on the public, as the produdlion of Lord Lyttelton ; but they were written by Goldfmith, in fupport of tyranny and arifto- cracy. , Every circumftance of cruelty and oppref- fion met with the obfervation of BrifTot. When the late Emperor Jofeph was punching Horiah, the leader of the revolt in Walachia, and ilTu- ing his (hocking edidt againft emigration, Brif- fot addrefl'ed two letters to him upon thofe fub- je£ls, which were read throughout Germany. In one letter he affirmed, that Horiah was juf. tified in his revolt : in the other he held, that a privilege to emigrate from one country to another was a facred right derived from na- ture. V. . . - .-. " :. " He was an enthufiaft in his admiration of the American revolution, and of the condu£l of the Americans in Hiking every thing to eman- • cipate themfelves from the tyranny of Great Britain. Upon comparing the new conftitu- • 7 ' ' tion 'W OF J, P. BRISSOT. xxvii tion of America with that of England, he changed his opinion of the latter — ^e ceafed to approve of it » ■ \'' ' Some French gentlemen, who had vifited Ameriea, having, when they returned to France, k written fome fevere remarks on the Americans, Briflbt defended the Americans, particularly in his book called A Critical 'Examination of the travels of the Marquis of Chatelleux, But as this work has been already mentioned in the preceding volume (fee chapters 31 and 32), it is not neceflary to fay any thing more of it here. ' '•" It muft never be forgot, that during the pe- riod of the French monarchy there were more intrigues always going on in the French court than in any court in Europe. At this time (the year 1787) the court was full of in- trigues — libidinous as well as political ; for though the King had no miftrefles, the Queen ,' had her favourites, and her party. Necker was ^jifmifledj and Calonne was appointed by her in- • A fluence. ^ XXViu SKCTCH OF TH12 Li: E fluence. Montaioriii fucceedcd Vcrgenncs, and the Duke of Orleans was at the head of the party that fought the overthrow of the new mi- niftry. When Calonne aflencibled the Nota- bles at Verfailles, Briflbt publiflicd a pamphlet entitled No Bankruptcy ; or Letters to a Creditor —^ qf the State concerning th Impojibilty of a Na- ^ iimal Bankruptcy , and the Means of reforing Cre^ dit and Peace * This pamphlet j which contain-- cd many fevere obfervations on Calonne's mea* fures and plans, and fome arguments in fup» port of certain privileges claimed by the- people, the Duke of Orleans was highly plcafed with. He made inquiry after the author, for the tra£t was anonymous, and having difcovered him, he ordered his chancellor to provide a fituation for him. He was made fecretary- general pf the Duke's chancery. This did not fave him from minifterial rcfentment. A lettre de ca- chet was made out again ft him, but having notice of it, he inftantly efcaped to the Nether- lanc}^. He was fo^feveral months editor of the : , Courier ■id m ' ii"| I ''> .■ ^ rf^^l OF J. P. BRISSOT,- XXIX Courier Belgique, prmted at Mechlin. It was during this voluntary exile that he formed "his project: of vifiting America. He communicated his dellgn to the Philanthropic Society of the Friends of the Negroes at Paris, and was by them afllfled and recommended to feveral pcrfoils in America. The produce of this vifit to Ame- rica was the firfl: volume of this work, written upon his return to France. The French minif- try being changed before he left Europe, he embarked at Havre de Grace in the month of June 1788. Intelligence having reached him in America of the rapid progrefs liberty was making in France, he returned to his native country in 1789, in a confidence that his labours might become ufeful to the general intereft. ' His firft publication after his return (except the preceding volume of his Travels in Ame- rica) was j4 Plan of Condutfjor the Depiiti^ of the People, ' ,:V'u^. /' '■ ' -V His knowledge and admiration of America naturally iiJlK- XXX SKETCH OF THE LIFE naturally produced a friendfhip with the Mar- quis de la Fayette, who introduced hitn into the club of the Jacobins. We (hall pafs by the feveral fleps and mea- fures of the revolution ; for to give an account of all Briflbt's concern therein, would be to write a large volume upon that event only. But the mention of a few circumftances which are attached to Briflbt peculiarly, is indifpen-* fable. , t By theintereft, orrather influence, of Fayette he was made a member of the Commune of Pa- ris. He was agent of the Police, and a mem- ber of the Committee of Infpedion at Paris ; and afterwards a reprefentative for the depart- ment of Eure and Loire. ^ " He commenced a ncwfpaper, which he call- ed Patriote Fr^.ifais ; in which he conftantly defended the conduct of la Fayette. He atach- ed himfelf to the party called the Girondins. To the Englifh reader this name may re- quire fome explanation. The warm and moft ' ^ . . violent 4 ', * '•. r ^^ i OF J. P. BRISSOt. ^ -^; xxxi violent of the National Convention, having gained the confidence and fupport of the city c^ Paris by various arts, but principally by de- claring, upon every opportunity, that Paris mufl: conftantly be the place in which the Na- tional Reprefentation mud hold their delibera- rations ; to balance againft this power of Pa- ris, Condorcet, Petion, Vergniaux, BrilFot, Ifnard, and others, all members of the Con- ventioiy, endeavoured to gain the commercial cities in their intereft, Bourdeaux was the prin- cipal of thofe cities which joined them ; it is fituatedon the river Garonne, locally pronounc- ed Gironde, which being the center of a de- partment, named from the river, the appella- , tion of Girondids was given to the whole party. The whole was a druggie for power : there was no other objeifl whatever. It is a foolidi, and an idle aflertion, in thofe who fav, that Briflbt and the party had engaged in a plot to reftorc the monarchy of France. Whatever their opinions might have been in lome of the early xxxuv SKETCH OF THE LIPE '♦ early ftages of the revolution, perhaps from an appreheiifion that the people of France might hefitate at an abrupt propofition of a republicaa government, they were unqucftionably inno- cent of the charge, at the time it was made. Here follow, however, the documents as pub- lifhed by authority, in juftification of the exe- cution ; which, like all othe. ^nte papers, in every country, confifts of the bed: apology, or mod colourable pretence, for a thing that has been done by order of government. Report again fl Brissot, and the other arrejlcd Deputies \ made O&ober i^^ ^793* ■ The Citizens of Paris, being informed that Amar was to prefent his Report from the Com- mittee of General Safety this day, filled the galleries at a very early hour. As foon as he appeared at the Bar, the ap- plaufes were lb loud and continued that he was unable t/ OF r* P* 3RISS0T. , XXXlll unable to begin for more than a quarter of aii hour. .^PJjj r^ ;r,j, •,•;•{ , j^., ,. f .,. ^ ^- ■, ^ . ,^^.^ At length, anaidft the mod profound filcnce, he read his report. .. , ^ He began by dating, that, before he pro- ceeded to the report which had been expeded with fuch impatience, and would amply recom- pciife the unavoidable delay that had prevented a more fpeedy gratification of the wiihes of the people, he was commanded by the Committee of General Safety to requefl: that none of the members of the Convention fhould be allowed to go out till the Decree of Accufation had been adopted. This requefl: was immediately complied with, and a decree being pafled, the Prefident gave orders to the Commander of the National Guards to allow no Members to so beyond the Bar. ' • r Amar then affirmed that the gigantic arm of treafon had been uplifted to ftrike the reprefen- tative majefty of the people, and to level with the ground the unity and indivifibility of the I Vol. II. c French ttxiv SKEten <5» tH8 L!VE li*rcnch Republic, — Thfc arm ortreafon >a(3 bfcfrfi nerved and fupportcd by the united energies to complete that treafon which faved the almpft ruined army of the Pruflian defpot. Du- mourier came fuddenly to Paris to concert with BriiTot^ Petion, Guadet^ Geafonne, and Carra, the xllv SKETCH OF THE LIFE the perfidious expedition into the Auftrian Ne- therlands, which he undertook when the Pruf- lian army, wafting away by contagious difor- ders, was peaceably retiring — while the French army was burning with indignation at the in- adlion in which they were kept.' ^ ^'11 '"•^•^^ ' * ' It was not the fault of this faction, if the motion often made by Carra to receive Brunf- wick at Paris was not realized. He meditat- ed, in the beginning of September 1792, to de- liver up this city, without means of defence, by flying beyond the river Loire, with the Legif- lative Aflembly, with the Executive Council, and with the captive King. He was fupported in it by Roland, Claviere, and le Brun, the creatures and inftruments of BrifTot and his ac- complices. ' • ' But thefe perfidious minift:ers, having been threatened by one of their colleagues to be de- nounced to the people, it was then that Carra and Sillery were fent to Dumourier, to autho- rifq this General to negociate with Frederick 1 ... v., William, OF J. P. BRISSOT. ,y \\V William, to enable this Prince to get out of the kino^dom, on condition that he Ihouid leave the Netherlands without the fufficient means of defence, and deliver them up to the numerous and triumphant armies of France. ' '' v' ^ The calumnious harangues that were made in the Tribunes were prepared or fandlioned at Roland's, or in the meetings that were held at Valaze*s and Petion's. They propofed to fur- round the Convention with a pretorian guard, under the name of Departmental Force, which was to be the bafis of their fcederal fyflem. la the Legiflative AlTembly they meditated a flight beyond the Loire, with the Aflembly, the Exe- cutive Council, the Royal Family, and the pub- lic treafure, Kerfaint, at his return from Se- dan, dared to propofe this projeft to the Exe- cutive Council ; and it was fupported by Ro- land, Claviere, and le Brup, the creatures and inftrumentsofBriflbt. , The fadion drove to put off the judgment of the tyrant by impeding the difculTion. They appointed skutctt af THE Lift t, I •r appointed acoramifTion of twenty-four mennbers to examine the papers found in the Thuillercs, in the guilt of which fome of thefe members were implicated; and they endeavoured, in concert with Roland, to conceal thofe which tended to difcover their tranfadlion with the court* They voted for the appeal to the people, which would have been a germ of civil war, and afterwards wanted a refpite to the judgment. They inceffantly repeated, that the Conven- tion could do no good, and that it was not free. Thefe declamations mifled the departments, ancl iiiduced them to form a coalition, which yyas near being fatal to France. * , , .,,. They patronized an incivic piece, entitled Vamides Loix, , ,. . On the 1 4th of January, Barbaroux and his friends had given orders to the battalion of Mar- feillois to furround the Convention. .: Oh the 20th, Valadi wfote to the other De- puties — *' To-morrow in arms to the Conven-* tion— • » -r- ^,^OF J. P. BPvISSOT.jj, xlvu t'lon — ^he is a coward who docs not appear there." i^ifrL'f: ••> LM"'? *fl(? 7fJlJl IflJ :ni:in Briflbt, after the condemnation of Louis Capet, cenfured the Convention and threatened France iiv'ith the vengeance of the European Kings* When it was his objed to bring on war^ hefpokc in an oppcfite kni'e, and treated the downfal of all thrones, and the c onqueft of the univerfe, as the fport of the French nation. Being the organ of the Diplonaatic Committee^ compofed almoft entirely of the fame fa6lion, he propofcd ivarfuddenly againft England, Holland, and all the powers that had not then declared them- lelves. " ■•^' -:'■'■■- •■' "• '-^ ■• ■-! -) :;':'- This fa(^ion a£led in coalition with perfidious Oenerals, particularly with Domourier. Gea- fonnet held a daily correfpondence with him : Petion was his friend. He avowed hinfifelf the C unfellor of the Orleans party, and had con- nexion with Sillery and his wife. - After the revolt of Dumourier, Vergniaud, Guadet, BrilTot^ aad Genfonne, wilhed to ;- yi .i.^ juflify klviii SKETCH OF THE LtFE '«!!!i juftify his condud to ihe Committee of General Defence, aflcrting that the denunciations mado againft him by the Jacobins and the Mountain xverc the caufe of his conduct ; and that Du-* niourier was the protestor of the /y^W part of the Convention. This was the party of which PeCion, Briflbt, Vcrgniaud, &c* were the chiefs and the orators, j ; v- . ; . - i,;. When Dumouriei" was declared a traitor by the Convention, Briflbt, in the Patr'tote FranfOtfe^ as well as other writers, who were his accom- plices, praifcdhim, in defiance of the law. As members of the Committee of General Defence^ they ought to have given information relative to the preparations that were making in La Vendee, The Convention, however, "^as riot lAaae ac** ' quainted with them till the war became ferious. They armed the Sedions where Ariftocrdfcy reio'ned, againfl: thofe where public fpirit was triumphant. '• ;r .;.';;,, ?..!:/:, "'■/^'^ ■"•"V They affedled to believe that a plot was me- • dltated by the Republicans againft the National ^•!'* ' Convention, OF J. P. BRISSOT. xlix Convention, for the purpofe of naming the commifiion of twelve, who, in an arbitrary man- ner, imprifonccl the ma<>i(lratcs of the people, and made war againft the patriots.' Ifnard developed the views of the confpiracy, when he ufcd this atrocious cxprcilion : ** The aflonifhed traveller will feek on what banks of the Seine Paris once ftood." The Convention diflblved the commiirion, which, however, re- fumed its fuu6lions on its own authority, and continued to a<5l. The fadion, by the addrefles which it fent to the departments, armed them againft Paris and the Convention. The death of numbers of pa- triots in the fouthern departments, and particu- larly at Marfcilles, where they periflied on the fcafFold, was the confequence of thofe fatal di- vifions in the Convention, of which they were the authors, — The defection of Marfeilles foon produced that of Lyons. This important city became the central point of the counter-revolu- tion in the South. The republican municipa- VoL. II. d lit/ 1 SKETCH OF THE LIFE iity was uifperfed by the rebels, and good citi- zens were maflacred. — Every punifliment that cruelty could dcvife to increafe the torments of death was put in execution. The adminiftrative bodies were leagued partly with Lyons, and partly with foreign Ariftocrats, and with the Emigrants difperfed through the Swifs Cantons. The cabinet of London afforded life and -energy to this rebellious league. Its pretext was the anarchy that reigned at Paris — - its leaders, the traitorous deputies of the An-* vention. ■ •' 4. '■■ ' ^ ' '' ■>->« .^v*-'*^^ ^vu^»r^ Whilft they made this powerful diverfion in favour of the tyrants united againft us. La Ven- dee continued to drink the blood of the patriots. Carra and Duchatel were fent to this depart- ment in quality of Deputies from the National Convention. ' ^ '■'■ '•'" •* * > '^Jj'*^? • Carra publicly exhorted the adminiftrators of the Maine and Loire to fend troops againft Paris. Both thefe deputies were at the fame • ' ■ time ' M\' OF J, P. RRISSOT. 11 time connedcd with tlie Generals of the com- bined armies. • ; . - - . , Couflard, fent alfo as a commiflioner, carri- ed his treafonahle projeds to fuch a length, as even to furnilii f"jppUcs of provifions and (lores to the rebels. — The miflion of the aa;ents of this faclion, fent to different parts of the repub- lic, was marked by fimilar traitorous mea- fures. r:«..;,. ;. , Perhaps the column of republican powe- would ere this have meafured its length upon tm ground, if the confpirators had preferved much longer their inordinate power. — On the lothof Auguft the foundation of the column was laid, on the 31 ft of May it was preferved from deftru£lion. The accufed publifhed a thoufand feditiousaddrefTes, a thoufand counter- revolutionary libels, fuch as that addreffed by Condorcet to the department of the Aifne. Thev are the difgraceful monuments of the treafon by vyhich they hoped to involve France in ruin. •^, 'y,^y,_. . , .-'-»* .; f.! ., ■ d 2 Ducri lii SKETCH OF THE LIFE Ducos and Fonfrede formed the flame of the ^•ebellioii, by their correfpondeiice and their fpeeches, in which they celebrated the virtues of the confpirators. ' .. • ■ Several of thefe confpirators fled, and difperfed themfelves through the departments — They eftabliflied there a kind of National Convention, and inverted the adminiftration with independ* ent powers — they encircled themfelves with guards and cannon, pillaged the public trea- furies, intercepted proviiions that were on the road to Paris, and fent them to the revolted inhabitants of the former provinces of Britanny. They levied a new army, and gave Wimpfen, degraded by his attachment to tyranny, the command of this army. -^ - They attempted to effedt a jun£lion with the rebels of la Vendee, and to furrender to the enemy the provinces of Britanny and Nor- mandy. They deputed aflaflins to Paris, to murder the members of the Convention, and particular- 8 ly / rr OF T. P. BRISSOT. 1 , . •• lit \y Marat, whofe daflru^lion they had folemnly fworn to accomplifli. — They put a poignarJ into the hands of a woman who Was recom- piended to Dupcrret by Barbaroux and his ac- complices. She was conveyed into the gallery of the Convention by Fauchet. — The enemies of France exalted her as a heroine, Petion pro- nounced her apotheofis at Caen, and threw over the blood- ftained form of affaffinatiou the fnowy robe of virtue, Girey Dupre, the colleague of Briflbt, in the publication of the Patrioie Franfais, printed at Caen feveral fongs, which invited, in a formal manner, the citizens of Caen to arm themfelves with poignarus, for the purpofe of flabbing three deputies of the Convention, who were pointed out by name. Briflbt fled with a lie added to his other crimes. Had he gone to Switzerland, as the falfe paflTport flated, it would have been for the purpofe of exciting a new enemy againft France. d 3 Rabaud liv SKETCH OF THE LIFE Rabaud St. Etierre, Rebecqui, Duprat, and Antiboul, carried the torch of fedition into the department of le Gard and the neighbouring departments. — Biroteau, Rouger, and Roland, projeded their terrible plots in Lyons, where they poured the ample ftream of patriotic blood, by attaching to the friends of their country the appellation of anarchifts and monopolizers. At Toulon thefe endeavours were fuccefsful, and Toulon is now in the hands of the Englifh, The fame lot was referved for Bourdeaux and Marfeilles. — The reigning fa£lion had made fome overtures to Lord Hood, whofe fleet they €xpc6led. The entire execution of the confpi- racy in the South waited only for the jundtion of the MarleiUefe and Lyonefe, which was pre- vented by the vidory gained by the Republican army which produced the redudion of Mar- ieillea^ ■ The meafurcs of the confpirators were exad- ly fimilar to thofe of the enemies of France, and particularly of the Englilh. — Their writings differed * "*. ■'^ OF J. P. BRISSOT. Iv difFerfd in nothing from thofe of the Enghfh minifters, and libellers in the pay of the Endifh miniflers. ^ ^ o • Mr. PITT ^ Wifhed to degrade and to diflblve the Convention. .. He wiftied to aflaffinate the members of the Convention. He wifhed to deftroy Paris. He wi(hed to arm all na- tions againfl: France. In the intended partition of The DEPUTIES Attempted to do the fame. The deputies procured the afTaflination of Marat and Le Pelletier, The deputies did all in their power to produce this efFe(St. The deputies obtained a de- claration of war againft all na- tions. Carra and BrifTot entered France, Mr. Pitt wifhed to into a panegyric of the Dukes procure a part for the Duke of of York and Brunfwick, and York or fome other bra,nch of even went fo far as to propofe his mafler's family. He endeavoured to deflroy our colonies. .'I ^hem for Kings. The deputies have produced the deflruiilion of the colonies. Briflbt, Petion, Guadet, Genfonne, Vergniaud, Ducos^ and Fonfrede, diretited the meafures relative to the colo- nies, which meafures reduced them to the mofl lamentable iituation. '^ ^ u.yA%i. . . d 4 Santhonax Ivi SKETCH OF THE LIFE Santhoiiax and Polverel, the guilty Commif- fioaers who ravaged the colonies with fire and fword, are their accomplices. Proofs of their corruption exift in the correlpondence of Rai- moiid, their creature. - ^- ' ■ Of the numerous fails of which the fadlion are accufed, fome relate only to particular indivi- duals: the general con fpiracy, however, is at- tached to all. ' i,-. ui Jb ,vi. ■ •■) ■ Upon this ad of accufatlon they were tried before the Revolutionary Tribunal, on the 30th day of Odober, 1 793. When the act of ac- cufation was read to them in the Court, they refufed to make any anfwer to it, unlefs Ro- berfpierre, Barrere, and other members of the Committee of Safety, were prefent, and inter- rogated : they infifted upon thofe members be- ing fent for ; which being refufed, and they ftill refufing to make any anfwer, the Judge ftated to the Jury, that from the aft of accufation it refulted that, '.,..,. I. There -* "♦- ,<-- » OF J. P. BklSSOT. Ivii I. There exifted a confpiracy againft the uni- ty and indivifibility of the Republic, the liberty and fafety of the French People, ., . ,^ ^ IL That all the individuals denounced In the adt of accufation are guilty of this confpiracy, as being either the authors of, or the accom- plices in, it. > , .,,,,, i,^V-,.»> The Jury of the Revolutionary Tribunal, to whom thefe fad:s v^ere fubmitted, brought in their verdidl at eleven o'clock at night, on the 30th of Odober, againfl:, BRISSOT, /! 4 ''■ * ' Vergniaud Genfonee Duprat '«> Valazc Lehardi Ducos Fonfrede Borleau Gardien Duchatel '>■;{. ft' ■(' Sillery ' Fauchet Duperret La(burce Carra Beauvais ' Majnvielle f* Antiboul Vigee, and Lacaze, ^■ K>i!KC U rr3 . who were declared to be the authors and ac- complices of a confpir'acy vi^hlch had exifted againfl the unity and indivifibility of the Re- ' ' ^i J public. I mi .*4' 1 m ''1,4 ■ 1|3 Iviii SITETCH OF THE LIFE public, and agalnft the liberty and fecurity of the French people. " ' • The Prefident of the Revolutionary Tribu- nal immediately pronounced the fentence de- creed by the conftitution :^-That they fhould fuifer the punifhment of death — that their exe- cution {hould take place on the fubfequent day, on the Place de la Revolution — that their pro- perty fhould be ':onfifcated, and that this fen- tence {hould be printed and pofted up through- out the whole extent of the republic. ^'• As foon as the fentence was pronounced, Valaze pulled a dagger from his pocket and tab- bed himfelf, — The Tribunal immediately or- dered that the body fhould be conveyed on the morrow to the Place de la Revolution^ with the other deputies. ' ^ ' ^ v ^ At eleven o'clock in the forenoon, on the 31ft, the execution took place. — The flreets^ were lined with foldiers, and every precaution taken to prevent the difturbance of the public tranquillityi ; .1. Duchatel, OF J. P. BRISSOT. lilC Duchatel, Ducos, Fonfrede, and Lehardi, prefcrved a firm and undaunted air, and furvey- ed the engine of death with a conipofed and unruffled countenance. • The dcpoi tment of Briflbt was manly — he picfcrved a fixed filence, and fubmitted his head to the guilotine, after furveying fledfaftly, for a few moments, the Deputies, to whom, how- ever, he did not fpeak. Silltry diluted the people with much refpedl, and converfed a (hort time with his confefTor, as Jid Fauchet. — Lafource died in a penitential manner. — Carra, Vergniaud, Genfonne, Duper- ret, Gardien, Duprat, Beauvais, Mainvielle, Lecaze, Boileau, Antiboul, and Vigee, died with firmnefs, and with the exclamation of " Vhe la Republiqiicr — ^T'he execution was concluded in thirty-feven minutes. . ! ' \ , - ■ • . CONTENTS. ^il . 1 V I » 1 • f ! i. ''.■■ ■--,'.- ^t9<-'^ 4^ ( « . ♦ -,*. J ^ •*-•. 4. ' 'EiJ-M/'I -,") ,i if " 1 ' !.>*(-<- ■' ;; ■'?■. • -v-^i •'*)' ;v;;7; fc i-l m^ lit: > ». .'.*■;< . 'j')'.-'t > ■'■ i < »' ■'". » ^iir<^^ K TV (-. '1 CONTENTS. I NTRODUCTION CHAP. I. Of External Commerce ; the circuinftances wlilcli lead to it, and the n.eans of affuring it to a nation •C II A P. 11. Of External Commerce, confidered in its means of ex- change, and its balance CHAP. III. Application of the foregoing general principles to th» reciprocal Commerce of France and the United States . - - - C H A P. IV. That the United States are obliged by their prefent nc- ceflities and circumftances to engage in foreign Com- merce - , - ' " CHAP. V. " Of the Importation to he made from France into the United States, or of the wants of the United States and the produdlions of France which corrcfpond thereto icwr ■■■;■•■. /. Vis i 21 3t 5* 64 9* Si-CTIOiV / ( Ixii CONTENT I. tV' 11:: :»■ ■'1 if Section I. Wines - - • Section II. Brandy - • • • Section III. Oils, olives, dry fruits, Sec, • Section IV. Cloths • • '• Section V. Linens - ^ *• • Section VI. Silks, ribbons, filk ftockings, gold and fjlvcr lace, &:c. - - Section VII. Hats Section Vlll. Leather. Shoes, boots, fajdles, &c. Sectio'. IX. Glafs houfcs - • Section X. Iron and Steel Section XI. Jewellery, gold and lilverfmiths' arti- cles, clock work, &c. Section XII. Different forts of paper, ftained paper, &c, - - - Section XIII. Printing - ' - Section XIV. Salt - ' - Sectiom XV. General confiderations on the Cata- logue of French importations into the United States - - -. - CHAP. VL Pajf. 93 107 116 '35 141 142 147 161 166 170 174 176 Of the articles which Independent America may furnirti in return for importations from France - 178 Monfieur Calonne's letter to Mr. JefFcrfon the Ameri- can Minifter at Paris ,j, ,, .- - ibid. Exports OF America '- - 186 Section COKTIMTS. Section I. Tobacco - '• •■•'«>' Section II. Fiflicrics, whale-oil, Bcc. Spermaceti candles . - - Section III. Corn, flour, Sec. ..i i- • Section IV. Mafts, yards, and other timber for the Navy - - • ■ Sfction V. Skins and furs - -• • SECTION VI. Rice, indigo, flax-feed Slc rioN VII. Naval llores, fuch ai pitch, tar, and turpentine • •. . ^ Section A' III. Timber and wood, for carpenters and coopers work, fuch as fliaves, cafli heads, planks, bi^nrdb, Sec. - - . - Section IX. Vcffcls conflru£led in America, to be fold or freighted Section X. General Confulerations on the preced- ing Catalogue of importations from the United States into France Conclusion, and Reflc(flions on the fituation of the United States _ . _ Appendix ; confifl:ing of authentic Papers, and illuftra- tions, added by the Editor XIII Page. i8j 191 201 209 212 2JS 221 224 226 236 247 261 262 Return of the Population of the United States Ditto of tlie Territory fouth of the river Ohio Dr. Franklin's Obfervations on the Population of America - - - - 265 Captain Hutchins's Account of the Weftcrn Territory at 8 Thoughts on the Duration of the American Common- wealth ,, - . - - . 2 f I . Mr. .*■ . •..-;■■ ..,..« ■,;■ y*; ' * m mi !■ m: 1 -r . , > ^2 fic: •■.-.- ■I..; •'•' ' o I •I .? ■T- i':,';.'.n.:)'^ ■- '■? i;:.s'f3-:;:A Cw mH^';'-. iT llfTR6T)UCtl0N, "•5^ : I ♦->■ INTRODUCTION, By J. P. BRISSOT de Warville. • H TH E Court of Great-Britain had no fooner figneu the Treaty acknowledging the Inde- pendence of her late Colonies in North America, than her merchants and political writers fought the means of rendering to her by commerce an equi- valent for her loffes by the war. ; f . , .> LOid Sheffield has predidled, in his Obfervations on the Commerce of America, "that England would always be the ftorehoufe of the United States ; that the Americans, conftandy attraded by the excellence of her manufad^ures, the long experienced integrity of her merchants, and the length of credit, which they only can give^ would foon forget the wounds which the minifterial defpotifni of London, as well as the ferocity of the Englifh and German Huellites, had given to America, to form with it new and dur- able connexions *." • Tkefe are not Lord Sheffield's words. They are M. BrifTot's ; and contain his defcriptlcn of Lord Sheffield's fuppofed fcntimer.ts, from a perufal of that Nobleman's Obfervations on the Commerce of America. Edit, Vol. II. ' JS^ ■ ' • Thfs t i 'h I I ■♦lit 2 INTRODUCTION, This politician was the only one who appeared hi that career; others followed it [Dr Price, &c.] ; and the debates, which the new regulations of com- merce propofed for America, produced in Parlia- ment, prove that the matter was known, difculTed, and profoundly examined. The Englilh nation refembled at that time a man who, coming out of a long delirium (wherein he had broken every thing that he ought to have held moft dear), eagerly flrives to repair the ravages of his infanity. As for us, we have triumphed, and the honour of the triumph is almoft the only benefit we have reaped* Tranquil under the fhade of our laurels, we fee with indifference the relations of commerce which na- nature has created between us and the United States ; — whilft, to ufe the language of vulgar policy, the Englilh, of whom we are jealous as our rivals, whom, we fear as our enemies, ufe the greateft efforts to make it impoifible for us to form new connexions, with our new friends. That the Engllfli will fucceed, there is no doubt, if our languor be not foon replaced by adivity ; if the greateft and mod generous faculties, on our part, do not fmooth this commerce, new, and con- fequentl/ eafy to be facilitated : finally, it our igno- rance of the ftate of America be not fpeedily difli- pared by the conftant ftudy of her refources of ter- ritory. i. ' INTRODUCTION. '0 ritory,. commerce, finance, &c. and affinities they may have with thofe of their own. Our ignorance ! This word will undoubtedly (hock, — for we have the pride of an ancient people : We think we know every thing,^have exhaufted every thing: — Yes, we have exhaufted every thing; but in what ? In futile fciences, in frivolous arts, in modes, in luxury, in the art of pleafing women, and the relaxation of morals. We make elegant courfes of chemiftry, charming experiments, deli- cious verfes, ftrangers at home, little informed of any thing abroad : this is what we are; that is, we know every thing, except that which is proper for us to knozv *. '■„'.• ■ It would be opening a vaft field to fliew what is proper for us to know, therefore I will not under- take it, I confine myfelf to a fingle point : I fay that it concerns us eflentially to have a thorough knowledge of the ftate of America, and that, never- • • This aflerdon will perhaps appear fevere ard falfe, even to perfons who think that we excel in phyfics and tlie cxaA fciences. But in granting this, is it thefe kinds of fciences to which a maa who reflefts ought at firfl to give himfelf up ? Does not the ftudy of his focial and civil ftate more nearly concern him ? Ought not this to intereft him more than the number of ftars, or the order of chymical affinities : — It is, however, the fcieucc of which we think the lead. We are paflionately fond of poetry : wo difpute ferioufly about mufic ; that is, we have a great confi- deration for playthings, and make a plaything of our afF.iirs. B 2 thelefs. 4 INTRODUCTION. thelefs, we have fcarcely begun the alphabet whicfi leads to it. What I advance has been faid before by Mr. Paine, a free American, and who has not a lit- tle contributed, by his patriotic writings, to fpread, fupport, and exalr, among his fellow countrymen, tlie enthufiafm of liberty. I will remark, fays he, in his judicious letter to the Abbe Raynal, that I have not yet feen a defcription^ given in Europe, of America, of wkich the fidelity can be relied on* ■ r - " In France, I fay it with forrow, the fclence of commerce is almoft unknown, becaufe its pradlice has long been difhonoured by prejudice ; which prevents the gentry from thinking of it. This pre- judice, which is improperly thought indeftruClible, becaufe the nobility arc improperly thought one of the neceffary elements of a monarchical conftitution ; this would alone be capable of preventing French commerce from having adlivity, energy, and dig- nity, were it not to be hoped, that found philofophy, in deflroying it infenfibly, would bring men to the great idea of ejlimating individuals by their talents^ and not by their birth: without this idea there can be no great national commerce, but ariftocratical men will abound ; that is, men incapable of conceiving any elevated view j and men contemptible, not in a flate to produce them. Finally, another prejudice, quite as abfurd, which has been combated a thoufand times, and is always , ^ ^ predominant. INTRODUCTION. f predominant in France, withholds from the eves of the public precious memoirs, and interefting difcuf- iions, which would iaform France of her ioterefts. Who is ignorant that it is to the freedom of de- bate and public difcufTion that England owes the fmgular profperity which, till lateU, has followed her every where, in commerce, in aris, in manuf:ic- tures, as well abroad as at home ? a profperity which (he may enjoy in fpite of the faults of her minifters ; for none but thefe have ever endangered it : and ir is to the freedom of debate that Ihe has often owed her falvation from ruin. Who doubts that this liberty would not produce the fame happy effects in France; — that it would not deftroy falfe appearances ; — :hat it would not prevent the deftrudive enterpnzcs of perfonal intereft ; — that it would not alarm mif- chicvous indulgence, or the coalition of people ia place with the enemies of the public welfare ? Go- vernment feems at prefent to do homage to this ii.. fluence of the freedom of difcudion. At length, it appears to relax of irs fcverity in the laws of the prefs ; it has fuffcrcd fome (hackles, which re!lrain- ed difcuflion, to be broken, efpecially in political matters. But how far are we ftill from feeling the happy effeds of the liberty of the prefs, rather grant- ed to public opinion, than encouraged by a real love of truth. By what fatality are energetic difcourfes of truth jneffeclual ? This ought to be pointed out ; go- B 3 vernment I € INTRODUCTION. vernment itfelf invites us to do it ; the abufcs which render information ufelefs in France, ought to be laid open. m It is becaufe the liberty of thinking and writing on political matters is but of recent date. Becaufe the liberty "of the prefs is environed with many difgufting circumftances ; and that an honefl man who difdaiiis libels, but loves franknefs, is driven from the prefs by all thofe humiliating for- malities which fubjed: the fruit of his meditation and rcfearches to a cenfure neceffarily arifing from ignorance. It is becaufe the cenfor, indituted to check the elevation of a generous liberty, thinks to flatter au- thority, by even exceeding the end propofed; fup- prefTes truths, which would frequently have been re- ceived ; for fear of letting too bold ones efcape, with which he would have been reproached, multi- plies obje<5lions, gives birth to fears, magnifies dan- gers, and thus difcourages the man of probity, who would have enlightened his fellow citizens ; whilil this cenfor fandtions fcandalous productions, where- in reafon is facrificed to farcafms, and fevere mora- lity to amiable vices *, It * We may put in the rank of thefe produftions which dilhonour the ceiiforfhip, the comedy of Figaro, a fcandalous iarce, wherein, under INTRODUCTION. 7 It is bccaufe there are but few writers virtuous enough, fufficiently organifed, or in proper fituations to combat and furmount thefe obftacles. Becaufe thefe writers, few in number, have b\it little influence; abufes weakly attacked and flroLig- ly defended, refill every thing which is oppofed to them. Becaufe the necefllty of getting works printed in foreign prefl!es, renders the publication difficult. ; but few of them efcape from the hands of greedy hawkers, who monopolize the fale, to fell at a dearer price, who pod the myftery, and afalfe rafity, to fell deal for a longer time. Becaufe thefe books are wanting in the moment when they would excite a happy fermentation, and direct it properly, in giving true principles. Becaufe they fall but fucceflfively into the hands of under the appearance of defending morality, it is turned in!o ridi- cule ; and wherein great truths are difparaged by the tontempt- ible dialcgiil who prcfents them ,• wherein the end feems to have been to parody the greateft writers of the age, in' giving their lan- guage to a ralcally valet, and to encourage oppreflion, in bring- ing the people to laugh at their degradation, and to applaud them- felves for this mad laughter: finally, in giving, by culpable im pofture, to the whole nation, that charadler of negligence and levity which belongs only to her capital. B4 well- 1 I 9 INTRODUCTION. well-informed men, who are but few in number, in the fcarch of new truths. Becaufe the Journalifts, who ought to render them a public homage, are obliged, through fear, to keep filence. Becaufe the general mafs, abandoned to the torrent of frivolous literature, lofes the pleafure of medita- tion, and with it the love of profound truths. Finally, becaufe truth is by this fatal concurrence of circumftances never fown in a favourable foil, nor in a proper manner ; that it is often ftifled in its birth ; and if it furvives all adverfe manoeuvres, it gathers ftrengih but flowly, and with difficulty; confequently its effedts are too circumfcribed for in- ftruflion to become popular and national. Let government remove all thefe obftacles ; let it have the courage, or rather the found policy, to ren- der to the prefs its liberty, and good works, fuch as are really ufeful, will have more fuccefs ; from which there will refult much benefit. Does it wifh for an example ? I will quote one, which is recent and well known : the law-fuit of the monopolifing merchrxnts againft the colonifts of the fugar iflands. Would not the laft have, according to cuftom, been crulhed, if the difpute had been carried "^f..^ INTRODUCTION. ^ carried on in obfcurity ? They had the liberty of fpeech, of writing, and of printing; the public voice was raifed in their favour, truth was triumphant i and th'' wife minider, who had permitted a public difcuflion that he might gain information, pro- nounced for humanity in pronouncing in their fa- vour. ^ Let us hope that this example will be followed ; that government will more and more perceive the immcnfe advantages which refult from the liberty of the prefs. There is one which, above all others, ought to inJuce it to accelerate this liberty, becaufc it nearly regards the interell: of the prefcnt moment : this liberiy is a powerful means to eftablilli, fortify, and maintain public credit, which is become, more than ever, necellary to great nations, fince they ; have flood in need of loans. As long as the at- tempts of perfonal interefl: are feared by the obfcu- rity which covers them, public credit is never firmly 1 eftabliflied, nor does it rife to its true height. It is no longer calculated upon the intrinfic ftrength of its refources, but upon the probability, upon the fear of the diforder, which may either divert them from their real employ, or render them ftcriie, Th« li- berty of the prefs keeps perfonal intereft too much in awe not to fetter its meafures ; and then public credit fupports itfelf if it be eftablilhcd, is formed if it be dill to be conftituted, and fortifies itfelf if it has been weakened by error. ' ■■- ■ Full i \ f -aiic*;*' ■^ r, m^ 1)1 rO iNTRODUCTIO^y. Full of thefc ideas, as well ns the love of my country, and furmounting the obftatks to the liber- ty of printing, I have niiderraken to throw loiiic light upon our commercial alTinuics with ihc United States. This objecft is of the greiteil im[^o.tance r the quedion is, to dcvelope the iminenfe advantages which France may reap from the revolution which ihe has fo powerfully favoured, and to indicate the means of extending and confoliduting them. It appears to me that all the importance of this re- volution has not been perceived ; that it has not been fufficiently confidcred by men of underdanding. L.t ir, therefore, be permitted me to confider it at pre- fent, I will not go into a detail of the advantages which the United States muft reap from the revolution, which affures them liberty. I will not fpeak of thai regeneration of the phyfical and moral man, which muft be an infallible confequence of their conftitu- tions ; of that perfe \ / - * Thefe are the advantages which France, the world, and humanity, ow€ to the American Revolution; and when we confider them, and add thofe we are . . obliged INTRODUCTION. |J obliged to let rcmiiii in obfcuritv, wc are far from regretting the cxpcnccs they occafiuned us. Were any thing to be regretted, ought not it to vanilh at the appearance of the new and immenfc commerce which this revohition opens to the French ? This is the mofl: important point at prcfent for us,— that on which we have the lead information, which confccjuently makes it more neceffary to gain all we can upon the fubjed ; and fuch is the objed of this work. In what more favourable moment could it appear, when every nation is in a ferment to extend its com- merce, feeks new information and fure principles ? The mind is inceflantly recalled in this book to the nature of things, the firft principle of commerce.— At a time when people, which an ancient rivality, an antipathy, fo falfcly and unhappily called natural, kept at a diftance one from the other, are inclined to approach each other, and to extinguilli in the con- nexions of commerce the, fire of difcord ; this work (hews that ihefe rivalities mult be effaced by the im- menTity of the career which is opened to all. — At a time when all the parts of univerfal policy are en- lightened by the flambeau of philofophy, even in go- vernments which have hitherto profefled to be afraid of it, the author of this work has let flip no oppor- tunity of attacking falfe notions and abufes of every kind. , • Never 14 INTRODUCTION. Never was there a moment more favourable for publifliing ufeful truths. Every nation does not only do homage to commerce, as to the vivifying fpirit of fociety ; but they employ in the examina- tion of all thefe connexions and affinities, — that lo- gic of fads, vvhofe ufe charadterizes the end of the preftnt century, — that art truly philofophical, of confidering objtds in their nature, and in their ne- cefTary confequenc^s : — never had well-informed men more contempt for thofe chimerical fyllems folely founded upon the fancies of pride, upon the little conceptions of vanity, and upon the prefump- tion of the falfe political fcience, which has too long balanced the dcftiny of States. Never were fo many men feen united by the fame defire of an univerfal peace, and by the convidion of the misfortune and inutility ci hateful rivalities. At length it appears, that men perceive that the field of induftry is infi- nite ; that it is open to every flate, whatever may be its abfolute or relative pofitions ; that all ftates may thrive in it, provided that in each of them the fup- port of individual liberty, and the prefervation of property, be the principal end of legiflation. f'M This work dill concurs with the patriotic views which the Sovereign of France manifefts at prefent : h'j meditates important reformations. He direds them towards the happinefs of the people ; and con- fulfs the moft refpedable members of this people, whom he wiflies to render happy, upon the means of infuring INTRODUCTION, I^ infuiing the fuccefs of his good intentions. There- fore, could there be a more propitious moment, to offer to the prefent arbitrators of the national prof- perity,. a work written with deliberation, on the means of eftablifliing a new commerce with a new people, who unites to an extenfive foil, and proper to nourifli an immenfe population, laws which are the moft favourable to its rapid increafe ? At fiffl: I had alone undertaken this work, de- pending on my own (trcngth and laborious refearch- es : I had colle*5led all the fadts, — all the books,— all the proofs which could be certain guides to my fteps ; but I foon perceived the impoffibility of raif- ing upon objeds of commerce a folid and ufeful theory, if it were not dire6led by the fkill which pradice only can give, and poffefled by a man whofe judgment had been long exercifed by reflec- tion, and whofe decided love of truth and the public welfare, had accuftomcd to generalize his ideas. I found this man, this co-operator, of whofe affiflance I ftood in need, in a republican ; to whom I am imited by a fimilarity of ideas, as well as by the mofl: tender attachment. 1 have permiiTipn to r.ame him, — he confents to it ; 1 have conquered his modefly by the confdcration of his intereil:, and of the law w^ich the particular circumllances of his fiti^ation impofes on him : I have pcrfuaded him, that the bell means of deftroying calumny was to make known his principles and opinions on public matters. S It :!W |6 XNTRODUCTlOrf. It is M. Claviere, a Genevefe, exiled without any form from his country, by the military ariftocracy ; ^vhich has fubtlitiited its illegal and deftru6live re- gimen to the reafonable and legitimate influence of a people, diftinguithed by their natural good under- ftanding, their knowledge, and their more fimple manners. What was his crime ? That of having defended the rights of thefe people, with a firmnefs and ability, which the implacable hatred of his ene- mies atteft ! This part does too much honour to my friend, not to confine myfelf to defcribe him in this charader, the only one which has ever been produclive of public good. M. Claviere has, during his abode in France, given proofs of his knowledge in the phiiofophical and political part of commerce. It is to his abode among us that the public is indebted for fome ufeful works on thefe abftradt matters ; works, as remark- able for their folidity of principle and truth of dif- cuflion, as for the clcarnefs and precifion of ideas ; works, whofe fuccefs proves that minds may be led to the contemplation of thefe matters, by fubftitut- ing an exa6t and clear analyfis to the metaphyfical and obfcure jargon which reftrained them from it. Finally, the prefent work will prove at once the extent of his knowledge, and that of che fincere philanthropy which animates him, even for the good of a country, where a man lefs generous would fee nothing INTRODUCTION. 1 7 nothing, perhaps, but the origin and caufe of his misfortunes. Oh ! how happy am I, to have it in my power to defend my friend againft cowardly ca- kimniators, in putting him under the fafeguard of his own talents and virtues ? And is it not a facred duty for me, as the calumny is public, to publiQi the part he has taken in this work, wherein it is impof- fible not to difcover the honed man, in the man en- lightened ? The friend of mankind in the propaga- tion of the wifeft maxims ? In the thinking philofo- pher, accuftomed to a fevere logic, to purfue the in- terefts of public good, whenever the light of truth can clear up fome of its afpeds ? This is not a vague eulogium ; people will be convinced of it in read- ing the two chapters which concern the principles of commerce ; a great number of notes in which he has had a part, and efpecially the article of tobacco, which is entirely his own. In general, he will be known in ihofe new condderations which the com- mercial man of refledion only can fuggeft to the philofophical politician. The fame motive has guided us both in the com- pofition and publicat'on of this work. It was the defire of being ufeful to France, to Free America, to Humaiiity ; for nothing which pafles in the United States, neither ought to, nor can in future, be indif- ferent to humanity. America has revenged it by her revolution : Ilic ought to enlighten it by her le- VoL. IL C giflation. I» INTRODUCTION, mi .. giflation, and become a perpetual leffon to all go* vernments, as a conlolation to individuals. It remains to me now to fpeak of the fources to which we have had recoiirfe, in the order v^f this work, &c. &c. We have joined the information of intelligent per- fons, whofe abode in America lias given them an op- portu-nity of gaining Information, to that with which the public papers, the a(5ls of Congrcfs, of diiferenc legiflatures, and the different works publiflied in the United States, have furniflied us. Therefore credit may be given to all the fads which we advance. In affociating our ideas, we have flriven to give them an uniformity : we have, above every thing, endeavoured to exprefs them with that clearnefs which is fo difficult to introduce into matters of commerce and finance. The poverty of our lan- guage, and the fingularity of new circumftances which we had to defcribe, has fometimes led us to what is called neology. We muft create what we have not, and of which we ftand in need, without giving ourfelves any trouble about thofe gramma- rians, but triflingly philofophical, whom Cicero de- fcribes thus in his time : Controverjtes about words torment thefe little Greeks, more dejirous of contention than of truth *. • Ferhi controverjia iorquet Graculos bemines tontentknis iupUiores ^ua,yi veritatis. We Wc have carefully avoided certain words much tired in vuigar politics, and which give and perpe- tuate falfe ideas and deceitful fyftems. Such are thcfc exprellions ; powers Jill the jirjl charaEler, have the firjl rank, the balance of /r^//^, the ijolitical balance of Europe, &c. I'hefc words, which fllr up hatred and jealoufy, are only proper to feed petulant am- bition, and, if I may ufe the exprefTion, to put the policy of difiurbance in the place of that happinefs, Minifters, wearied of thefe words and ideas, will at- tach a greater price to real glory, — that of making the people happy. Many notes will be found in this work ; we thought it neceffary to give this form to all the ideas^ which, thrown into the text, might have obfcured the principal one. A note relaxes the mind, In fufpending the chain of the principal thoughts ; it excites curiofity, in an- nouncing a new point of view ; it forces the reader to a certain degree of attention, in obliging him to attach the note to the text, to reap any advantage from his readinir. We have in thefe notes indicated, ns often as it has been poflible, the ideas of reform which may be Ufeful to France. We hav: frequently quoted the Englilh nation and government. Let not our readers be furprifed at it. It is this nation which has made moft progrefs in the pradicc of fomc good principles C 2 of 20 INTRODUCTION-; of political economy To what nation in Europe can we better compare France ? If a rivality ought to exill between them, is it not in that which is good ? Ought not we fioni that moment to know all the good meafures taken in England ? Ought peo- ple to be difpleafed with us for mentioning thefe Lieafures ? The example of thofc who have already quoted England has encouraged us. The\r have na- turalized in France, happy inftitutions, imitated from her rival. If our critlcifm appears fometimcs roughly exprell- ed, our readers will br fo good as to confider, that friends to public welfare can but with difficulty re- frain from being mo'^ed by the afpeft of certain abufes, and from fuffering the fcntiment of indigna- tion which it excites in them to break forth. Notwithftandlng the numerous precautions we have taken to come at truth ; notwithftanding the extreme attention we have given to this work, errors will undoubtedly be found in fome of the ftate- ments, and perhaps in the reafonings. Whether they be publicly difculTed, or that we are privately informed of them, we fliall fee thefe refutations with pleafure ; we (liall joyfully receive thefe obfer- vations, and if they be well founded, we fhall be eager to retradt. This is but a fimple eflay on an important fubjed:. It may become a good work by the aid of a concourfe of lights, Paris, April i, 1787. ^ Europe f ought _^^jj| 'hich 13 ;■ now all . '-^^^1 ■t peo- fl g thefe fl already fl ave na- 1 mitated fl THE COMMERCE, &c. CHAP. I. CF EXTERNAL COMMERCE ; THE CIRCUM- STANCES WHICH LEAD TO IT, AND THE MEANS OF ASSURING IT TO A NATION. COMMERCE fignifics an exchange of pro- dudions, either by barter, or by repre- fentative figns of their value. External commerce is that carried on between two or more nations. It fuppoles in them mu- tual wants, and a furplus of productions cor- refpondent thereto. Nations, which nature or the force of things invites to a commercial intercourfe, are thofe which have that correfpondence of wants, and furplus of produdlions. This familiarity enables them to trade toge- ther, diredly or indiredly ; a dired commeK e is that which exifts between two nations, with- out the ii tervention of a third. C 3 Commerce '2t ON THE COMMERCE OF THE Commerce is iiidiredl when one nation trades with another by way of a third. This is the cafe of flates which have no Tea- ports, and yet wifh to exchange their produflions for thofe of the Indies. That nation, which having it in its power to carry on a dired: commerce with another, yet makes ufe of an intermediate one, is neceHii- rily obliged to divide its profits. However, this difad vantage may fbmctimes be compeq- fated by other confideratioiis. Such, for inflance, is the cafe of a nation which, in want of hufbandmcn and manufac- . turers, prefers that Grangers fliould themfelves come in fearch of its fupcrfluities, and bring iu exchange thofe of others ; its wants of popu- lation impofes this law, and whilft thefe confi- derations exift, it is both morally and phyfically better, that its inhabitants fhould be employed in cultivation, than become carriers of their own national productions, or of thofe of others. It is impoffible that nations which already have communications with each other, fhould be ignorant of their mutual productions. Hence arifes the defire of acquiring them in thofe where they do not exift. Hence direCl or in- diredl commerce, which is confequently the inevitable refult of the (late of things. From UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 23 From the fame principle, it is the intcreH: of each nation to render its exterior commerce di- re»5l as foon as poflible, without doing an injury to its interior trade. Direct importations, not being fubje6l to the expences and conimiflions of agents, procure things at a cheaper rate. A moderate price is the fureft means of ob- taining: an exterior commerce, the beft reafon for preference and the guarantee of its conti- nuation *. The * It Is vulgarly faid that a thing is dear when once it is above the accuftomed price ; and it is efteemed cheap the mO' ment that price isdinniniflied. By this it feems that the dearnefs of a thing is the compari* fon of its ftated, with its ufual price. The laft is determined by five principal circumftances. ift. Thecoft of the raw ma- terial. 2d. That of the workmanfliip. 3d. The want the con- fiimer has of the thing. 4th. The means he has of paying for it. 5th. The proportion of its quantity with the demand there is for it. Thefe circumftances increafe or diminifh the profit of the feller ; fometimes indeed they may prevent him from gaining at all. Circumftances which influence the moft arc fcarcity and abundance, expreilions by which the proportion between the want and the quantity of productions are defig- nated. If there be a furplus of them, they are naturally fqld at a low price. Whence it appears, that nations having great quanti- ties of raw materials, various manufactures and a numerous population, are more particularly invited to an exterior and C 4 continued p'!;] 24 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE The country which can produce and fell a th ing at the chcapeft le cDcapeit rate, is that which unites the favourahle advantages of that produdlon, whether it be with refpcd to iti quahty, ma- nufaclure, or its low rate of carriage. The advantages which render commodities and raw materials cheap, are a fertile foil, eafy of cultivation, climate favourable to the produc- tion, a government which encourages induftry, and facilitates carriage by the conflru6lion of public roads and navigable canals : finally, a population not too numerous relative to the ex- tent of country which offers itfelf to be cultivated*. The ■ Mh-''i continued commerce, becaufe they have it in their power to carry it on upon better terms. An article may be fold at a low price, and enrich him who fiirnifhes it ; as it may be fold dear, and ruin the feller. , This dtpends upon the relation there is between its value and the means of its produilion. Every nation difpofed to exterior commerce in whatfoevcr article it may be, ought therefore to confidcr two things, the price at which it can afford fuch an article, and that at which it is fold by rival nations : if it can- not equal the laft, it ought to abandon that part of its trade. * The fituation of the United States proves the laft afler- tion, which may at fii ♦^ Tight appear paradoxical ; things are cheap there, becaufe population is not in proportion to the ex- tent of lands to be cultivated. In a good foil, a man may, by his labour, eafily fupply the confumption of ten men, or even more. *. ■ ' ' UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2^ . The fame circumftances are Aill more fa- vourable to the maiiufaclure of things common, fimplc, or little charged with fafhion, if the raw material be, a natural produdiou of the country, in plenty, and eafy to be worked up ; bccaufc thcfe manufactures require but few hands, or are carried on at that leifure which agriculture affords. Nothing can equal the cheapnefs of this workmanfhip, and in general no induftry is more lucrative, or better fupport- cd on eafy terms, than that vvhi::h is employed in the intervals of repofe from cultivation ; in that cafe cheapnefs is neither the product nor the fign of mifery in the manufacturer : it is, on the contrary, che proof and confcquence of his eafy circumftances *. The mofl neccflary conditions for manufac- turing, at a cheap rate, articles complicated, or extremely fine and perfect, or which require the more. Thefe ten men may therefore be employed for exte- rior confumption. ' * Switzerland, and certain parts of Germany, offer a ftrlk- ing example of this fa£l. Merchandife is fabricated there, at a lower rate than In any other country of Europe, by means of this employment of leifure hours, and is capable of being tranf- ported to diftant countries, without lofing its orlT^inal advan- tage; even acrofs great ftatcs, where nature, left to her own energy, would be ftill more favourable to the fame manu- fadlures, iniion IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ ^^ >. .V ::^ ^' {< 4^ w^ja % 1.0 I.I £ U£ 12.0 u L25 gnu U& IH^I 1.6 Photc^raphic ^Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STMET WIBSTER.N.Y. I4SM (716) 872-4S03 %^^^ ^ % i' "i,' ^■■"■t''' mt 26 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE uiiion of feveral kinds of workmanfhip, arc a conftant and afliduous application, and a nu- merous population ; one half of which muft be at a diftance from the labours of the field, and applied to manufacture alone. Thefe manufadlures ought, according to natural order, to be the produ£lions of an excefs of population only, which cannot give its in- duftry to agriculture or fimple manufactures ; but in general they are the refult of the gather- ing together of the poor and wretched in great cities *, Thefe * Thefe manufadlures are crowded with individuals, who having no property, or hope of conftant employ in the country, cr who are reduced by the allurements of gain and luxury, run into cities, and foon become obliged to fell their induftry at a, mean price, proportioned to the number of thofe who are ia want of employ. When cheapnefe of workmanlbip comes from this afflicting concurrence of the want of money in men without employ, it is not a fign of profperity. On the con- trary, it is the refult and proof of a bad focial organization, of too unequal a divifion of property, apd eonfequently of an un- juft diftribution of neceflary employments, which compels in- duftry to change, from the fz^brication of what is neceflary and ufeful, to that which is fantaftic, forced, and pernicious. Henre it follows that wretchednefs in ajiy country is in proportion to this cheapnefs of workmanship. It is equally evident from thefe reafonings, that new and well conftituted ftates ou^ht not to defire manufadures produce^ ./♦ef{. UNITED STATES OP AMERICA, ^y The^e manufactures cannot furnifli their pro- dudions but with difficulty and uncertainty for exterior connmerce, when they are eftablifhed and fupported merely by forced means, fuch as prohibitions, exclufive privileges, &c. by which natural obftacles, not to be deftroyed, are pre- tended to be con:>bated. Countries exempt from them prevail in the end, and obtain a preference. It fometimes happens, that obflacles caufed to manfa ■ - ■ f^.*- 5 ed. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 33 c«l, although entertahied by men celebrated for their knowledge. Ill edev^, whence comes to this country the gold it pays ? It is either from its mines, and in that cafe it pays with one of its own produdlions; or it owes it to artificers who exercife their func- tions in a foreign country, and even then it pays with a produdiion which originates within its dominions. As long as a nation pays another, diredly or indiredly, with its own produ6tions, its pofition eaimot be difadvantagcous. There- fore, the unfavourable word balance, thus at- tached to the balance of an account paid in money, offers no cxa6l and nice idea of the favourable or unfavourable ftate of a nation. Gold is alfo a merchandife, and it may be convenient to one nation, according to its rela- tions or connexions with another, to pay with money, without its having, for that reafon, an unfavourable balance ag-ainfl: ir. There is but one cafe wherein the balance againft agnation can be declared; it is, that when having exhaufted its money and treafures, it remains debtor to another nation. But things could not remain long in this ftate ; fo wretch- ed a foil, unequal to the confumption and ex- change of its inhabitants, would foon be aban- doned ; this, however, cannot happen. Impor- VoL. II. . D tation ii«ilJW >■.■•■ )i« w^mmmF 34 OS THE COMMERCE OF THE tation prcfently becomes in proportion to expor- tation ; an equilibrium is eilabli(hcd, and the pretended unfavourable balance has not duration enough to give a right of fuppofing even its ex- igence. There is as little truth and juftice in faying a nation has the balance of trade in its favour, \vhen it receives in money balances due to it upon the amount of its exportations. This ba- lance, exifting for a certain time, would heap up fpecie in the country, and at length render it very miferable. This has never been the cafe, yet it would have happened if this fyftem had the lead foundation. The circulation of money depends on too many caufes, to deduce from its abundance a certain fign of a favourable commercial balance ; a thoufand combinations and events, which have no relation to that balance, draw money from abroad or fend it there ; and in general, conti- nued and various motions of commerce, the ta- bles of exportation and importation, according to which the fign of a flivourable or unfavour- able balance is regulated, are too uncertain and defective for the purpole, as well as for forming '3 judgment of the quantities of coin or riches of *a nation *. • .. . . .-_,:.. ; - Let • I will give a ftriking example pf the deficiency of thefe calculations, •v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2S Let tnc tables for comparing the exportation and importation of raw materials, and of manu- faaurcd articles, be encreafed to what they may ; let calculations, of the cftimation of a balance of trade and of the quantity of money. This example will prove that political calculators ncgledl, or are ignorant of foreign events which overturn their calculatioi^s. M. Neckar wiihed to inform himfelf (Chap. IX. Vol. 3d, of his Treatife on the Adminiftration of Finance) what was the fum brought to and prcferved in Europe from 1763 to 1777. He cftimatcs it at one thoufand eight hundred and fifty millions of livres, according to the regiftcr of Lifbon and Ca- diz, comprehending that even which entered by contraband, and he values at 300 millions of livres that which went out oi Europe during the fame interval. It will only be neceflary to quote two or three auihenticatcd fadls, to prove the infufficicncy of this calculation founded upon the regifters of Cuftom-houfos. In ftating the fum of money entered into Europe, it does not appear that M. Neckar takes account of the gold and fil- ver, which the conqueft and pofTe/fion of Bengal by the Eng- lifh, and their eftablifhments in the Eaft-Indics, have caufcd to pafs into this quarter of the world. But according to the calculation of the fecret committee, appointed by the Parlia- ment of England, to examine the ftate of Englifli pofleflions in India, the fums drawn from Bengal from 1757 to i,"7l, amount to 751,500,000 livres*. To what will it amount, if " The detail of this calculation is given in The Defcription of the Indies, Vol. I. page 249. It is neccflluy to take no- tice here of an error crept into that work, which is, that the fum total is there given in pounds Iterling, inftead of livres tournois. D 2 tliere j6 OU TWE COMMERCE OF THE let t!)e grcateft care and fidelity be employed to render thciti perfccV, the refult will never he more certain or dccifivc ; for as long as prohibi- tory there be added to It fhofc drawn from the Carnatic and from Oudt", of Which the Nabobs have the (hadow only of the pro- |Jcrtj\ from the revenue of the northern Circarf, from the theft committed on the Emperor of Mogul, from 1771 to the prefent day, of his twenty-fix million?, from the perpetual increafe of territories and revenues, from the fale made in 1773 of the R"hillas to the Nabob of Ou !c, which produced to the Englifli upwards of fifty millions^. Finidly, what will be the amount, if there be added to it the enormous fums exported from the Indies by individual, who have there enriched thcmfclves ? The fortune of Lord Clive was beyond calculation ; that of Mr. Haftings, aguinft whom a profecution is now carrying on, is calculated at thirty or for* ty millions. Another Governor has, according to fcveral vell-foundcd reports, recently paid upwards of two millions of fivres to filencc his accufers. It is true that a part of thefe immt-nre riches have been employed to defray the expences Incurred by the Englifh in guarding their poficflions in India ; that a more conrifjcrabJ? one has been fcnt into Europe under the form of merchandize j but it cannot be denied that a third part ha$ been brought in gold and filver to our continent. What is the amount of it ? This is impofTible to (late. But whatever it may be, it renders the calculation of Lir. Neckar doubtful.— 'Let the iricxhaufliblc riches ofthe Indies be judged of by one fadl, and confequently the immenfe fource from ^ Sec^Mackintofh's Voyage to the Eaft-Indics, Vol. I. page 34^-' '* .' .- - '• " ■. '• which *i I > TT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 37 tory laws, which are always accompanied by il- licit commerce, fhall cxift, it will be impolfible which the Europeans have drawn them, and by another con- fcqucnce, the money which muft have come into Europe. Nadir Schah, who cnnqucred Daly in 1740, tooic from India ubout forty millions fterung*. This money was circulated \n Pcrfia, and as that unhappy flatc is lorn byutfpotifm and con- tinual wars ''^ produces but little, manufadlures nothing, and is cnnfiqucntly debtor to exterior commerce, which comes al- moft entirely into Europe, it follows that two-thiids of the fums ftolcn from India by the freebooter Nadir, have pa/Ted over to the fame quarter. Thefe events, unnoticed by politi- cal calculators, have certainly had great and univerfal influence upon the fluduation and circulation of money. That which makes it fuppofcd that no metals come from India, is the opi- nion that their importation i<: difadvantageous. But have the freebooters who have pillaged that country for the Uft thirty yours calculated this diiadvanta^e? They drive to fecure their theft:;, unJ do not fp^culate like merchants : bulky mej<- chandize would betray them. With refpe^l to the Ihted fums of money which pafs from Europe to India, there is the fame defeiSt in tlie calculations of Mr. Neclcar. He takes no notice of th? e ents which obliged the Engliflj to remit confiderable fums to Inuia : for inflance, the two wars againll the Marratta* weic roiigioufly expen^ five, thata;:anft Hydei Ally in 176-5 was not lefs fo. A dn^ gle conflagration at Cakurta coft nearly twenty-four millions of livres, which it was neceffary to replace, yet thcfc f^ms arc far from balancing thofe which are exported from India. * See Mackintofli's Voyages, Vol. I. page 341. •» See Mr. i'apper's Voyage, at the end of that of Mackin- Coih, Vol. II. pai^e 454. D3 to TIfW» 11,111 J(iwwl)l^mi|.l(WWIM 38 6N THE COMMERCE OF THE fo know and ftate exadtly what cofties in and goes out * ; and if there be a country where no fuch laws exift f, are exa£t reg fters of the ex- ports and imports to be found in it ? And if they were, would it not be a conftraint which the private interefts of merchants would fre- quently oblige them to avoid ? Moreover, does it appear that, in thcfe gene- ral balances, which are fuppofl d to be paid in money, notice is taken of the operation of bank- ers, foreign government, and thofe who go abroad, in exporting the public fpecie ];. Know- ledge * This is a ftrong obje^lion made by the adverfaries of Lord Sheffield, to which his Lordlhip has not ratisfactorlly re- ph'ed. Nothing can be more impofing than the tables of importa- tion and exportation, and of the balance of trade in Great- Britain, publiflied by Sir Charles Whitworth. Yet fee with ^vhat facility the Count de Mirabeau reduces to twenty mil- lions of livres tournois, the ninety millions which Sir Charles Whitworth eftimates to be the annual balance ot Englilh com- merce j and truft after this to cuftom-houfe calculations. — See Confiderations on the Order of Cincinnatus, in this volume. f Such a country does, exift. There are many States among the new Republics of America, which regifter veflels as they enter, becaufe duties are paid on importation j but there are none oil exportation. X It is very probable there arc a number of particular caufes which I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 39 ledge is deceitful which is acquired from fuch confequences. ^ , , ■ . . . ; ^ » .-. But how appreciate— how eftimate the in- creafe of the riches and commerce of a nation ? —By its population. If this fenfibly augments, if eafe and the conveniencies of life become more general, if the caufcs of indigence in an incrcafing people be feen to diminifh, or are confined to inability to work, occafioned by ac- cidental illneffes ; it is evident, that the reve- nues of that nation exceed its expences, and that the balance of trade is in its favour ; for if the value of its exportation were inferior to that which infenfibly diminifli the quantity of coin in thofe nations which have the balance of trade conftantly in their favour. Were no fuch caufes to exiftv the confequence will be that fuch nations would be obliged to bury their gold and filver in the earth, to prevent its falling into difufe ; yet neither of thefe cafes happen. Therefore money neceflarily pafles from fuch countries to others, M, Cafaux has proved this to be true, with refpe£t to Eng- land, in his ConHderations on the Mechanifm of Suie:y, He there explain?, that if the calculations of Sir Charles Whit- worth be true, England ought to pofTefs at this moment about four hundred thoafand millions of livr.es in gold aqd filver, as the fole balance of her commerce from 1700 to 1775, Yet it is certain that {he is far from having that enormous fum. She has not even a fum in proportion to her population and contingencies. She fupplies that deficiency by ap imipenfe circulation of her ba.»L paper, D 4 of >•'., 40 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE 1 1 !ii; of its importation, a confiderable debt and im- poverilhnient would fooii be the confequeiices : and impoverifliment falls imnfiediately upon po- pulation. It is thefjefore by rational and well compofed tables upon this fubjeft only, that a minifter of found judgment, profound and ex- tended in his plans, will be prevailed upon to govern himfelf. It is by them he will judge of the increafe and advantages of exterior com- merce, as well as of national riches. He will be very cautious of decorating with this title the amaffing of* gold and filver, and equally fb of making it the token of riches, or of judging of their extent by the quantity of thofe metals. All fuch ideas are fordid, danger- ous, and falfe j fordid, becaufe they attach to this {\gi\ the reprefentation of produclions, and confequently the exteniion of commerce ; dan- gerous, becaufe they accuftom men to look upon gold as real riches, to neglefl the thing for its fhadow *, and make them Grangers to ' their * Could gold and filver be preferved from adulteration and the attempts of tyranny and ignorance, they would have a much better title to be confidered as real riches. Gold being an univerfal agent, he whopoflefles it may emigrate to where- ever he pleafes, and take his gold with him. This metal is therefore every thing, with nations unhappy enough to make arbitrary :iL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 41 their country; falfe, becaufe that difplay of figures announces the quantity only of money which continually difappears ; and which, when carried to a certain degree, is of no far- ther conlideration *. Enquiries arbitrary exceptions to general maxims, upon which pubh'c credit is founded. But how dearly do they pay for their igno- rance of the advantages rS public credit ! How dearly do go- vernments themfelves pay for their errors and outrages ! All their meafures are forced — nature is liberal in vain j inceflant- ly employed in repairing evils which continually prefent them- felves, (he h?s not time enough allowed her to add to our hap- pinefs. When it was faid that money had no particular coun- try, governments were emphatically told, that it was neceflary to do without great quantities of it : it will never be rejeAed till the ineftimable advantages refulting from a refpeiSt for pub- lic credit fliall be properly known. The lefs individuals love and heap up money, the richer, more enlightened, and better governed will a nation be. To be attached to money, to hoard it up, is a fign of an alarming crifis, of a deficiency of judg- ment and faith in adminiftration ; from whence comes the proof of what has been faid in the text, that * a writer who ex- tols gold as a fign of riches, and recommends it to his fellow citizens, is deceived, or has a bad idea of their fituation.' In the laft cafe he would do much better, if, inftead of preaching this pernicious doctrine, h^ encouraged government to give an immoveable ftability to national credit. ♦ It has not yet been remarked, that thoufands of millions Is a vague expreflion, and does not furnifli a complete idea. The imagination cannot exa£Hy conceive for fuch a i'um an employ which would ferve as the meafure of its power and effe(5l. It is 42 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE Enquiries on the quantity of coin arc like thole on the balance of trade. To eftabli(h both one and the other with fome degree of certain- ty, it is neceflary to aflemble notions and de- tails, of which the elementary principles va- iiifh, or inceiiantly vary*. The is known what could be done with twenty or an hundred mil-^ lions of men, but it is not known what could be efi^et^ed with an hundred thoufand millions of crowns i yet they are heaped upon paper to give an idea of power, • In general, the mafs of gold orfilver is divided into three principal parts. — The firft under the form of money, fcrves for daily and unavoidable expences. Each individual, as foon as he is charged with the fupport of himfelf and family, mult have at lead fome pieces of money for daily exigencies, and the payment of impofts. To this muft be added that fum which is refervcd for cafualiies. — This cuftom is more or lefs obferv- ed inall countries, in proportion to the probability of difaflroua events. It is impoflible to calculate this firft part — It is how- ever evident, that it ought to be in proportioi^ to the popula- tion, and to increafe with it ; and that a decreafe of popula- tion would foon take place, were many irulividuals totally dcr prived of a pecuniary contingency fufficient to procure them fuch necefTaries as cannot be difpenfed with, and which they neither make nor receive themfclves. It appeirs alfo, that this part of the coin remains in the country by reafon oj" its continued application in little fums to daily wants, and of the abfolute flagnation of that which is laid up in rcferve. The fecond part is deftined, under the fame form, to the great cpcratiom of commerce. It is equally impoffible to fix its quantity, on account of an infinity o( combinations which continually UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 4J The proceedings in the adminiftration of fi- nances are more ufeful and c^^rtain ; by laying afide the pomp of falfe riche^, and by confidcr- ing gold and fiver in a point of view relative to their continually change and caufe thefe metals to pafs from one country to another. Daily charges, cuftoms, &c. retain a partj but thefe objeils belong equally to our firft divifion. The third part coatains uncoined gold and filver, under whatever form they may have : it is, like the fecond, fubje(St to numbers of continual variations, which leave no fatisfadlory means of determining its quantity. To pretend to afcertain the quantity in the mafs, by pay- ments of uncertain commercial balances, and by the addition of fpeci*^ produced from mints fmce a new coinage has taken place, is not a more certain means, becaufe it would be equal- ly neceflary to obferve the continual action of commerce upon thefe metals, under all their forms, and of the combinacions it produces, which fucceffively arife from one another. In thus eftimating money it is forgotten, that it is an univerfal agent, which, by that charader alone, muft neceflarily change its fitu- ation perpetually ; fmce commerce has produced an affinity among men, by wants, which they have created to themfelves, of their reciprocal produflions. It is equally untbferved, that different circumftances reduce gold to the ftate of an ingot ; that r jnfequently the fame piece may pafs feveral times under the die in the courfe of a certain i>umber of years. This is a reflediion which M. Neckar feems not to have made when he ftated the money exifting in France at fo confiderable a fum. It will be known when the recoinage of the old Louis i$ finifhed, what we ought to think of his calculations. But the fum is far Ihort of 957 millions, as eftimated by that miniftcr. It is more :;.;. than 44 ON tHE COMMERCE OF THE their particular properties. They fupply our wants as means of exchange only ; they arc notes to the bearer, v»hich having every wljcro the fame value, are every where negociable. Thus they are ambulatory ; they pafs, repafs, are accumulated or difperfed like the waves of the fea, continually agitated by fucceilive winds blowing fronv every point of the compafs. To undertake to make them ftationary, would be ftriving to change their nature, to deprive them of that property from which they derive their value : this ridiculous enterprife is, notwith- flanding, a confequence of the fyftem which caufes them to be looked upon as real treafures. Their difappearaqce is dreaded, and yet their circulation is clogged, and the mind lofes fight of the ufe of the moft fimple and univerfal means of creating real riches, without which metals would be ufelefs, and confequently of no value. ■- •• ' - Or* the contrary, difdaining vulgar opinions, and feeing nothing in gold and filver but the means of exchange, but proper agents to faci- than prol?ablc, that it will never amount to more than two thirds of it. '-'• -.'■' ^ -' • •■ ■■ - "■"■ ■•■•■•■ At this moment, fourteen months after the arrt* for a new coinage, it amounts to no more than 550 millions, and every thing indicates a rapid decline. litate '"T-WV UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 45 litate it ; the mind, freed from the fear of the want of them as riches^ conceives the idea of do- ing without them as agents^ at leaft about man's perfon *. What a vaft field is this opened to in- duftry ! Thefe metals are in that cafe referved for the bed ufes to which nations who obtain them from abroad can put them to. They are fent out to feek materials for induftry, new commo- dities, and efpecially increafe the number of ci- * It is aftonifliing, that among fo many travellers who have gone over the United States of America, not one of them has given a detail of the manner of exchanging feveral necelTarles of life; they are reciprocally furniflied in the country with what they arc in want of, without the interference of money. The taylor, (hoe-maicer, &c. exercife their profeilions in the houfe of the hufbandman who has occafion for their commo- dities, and who, for the moH: part, furnifhes materialr, and pays for the workmanfhip in provifions, &c. — This kind of exchange extends to many objei^s ; each of thefe people write down what they receive and give, and at the end of the year they clofe an account confifting of an infinity of articles, with a very fmall fum; this could not be efFc^ed in Europe but with a great .deal of money. Thus it appears, that an eafy means of doing without great fums of money is given to country people by inftrudling them in writing and arithmetic ; that confequently the fovereign who (hould eftablifh fchools for the purpofe of teaching this moft neceflary art and fcience, would create a confiderable means of circulation without tne ufe of coin, and that this expence, which fcems to alarm fo many governments, is in fad one of the moft lucrative fpecu- Jations which the treafury could make, . : . . ; tizens ; 46 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE tizfcns ; of every fpccies of riches this is the moft fure and fruitful. Thus when gold is re- duced to its exa£l value, that its real ufe is known, the advantageous purpofes to which it is proper, are niorejuftly calculated. It is then perceived that paper credit may have the fame properties as gold itfelf ; and to fucceed in giv- ing them to it, nothing more is neceflary than to prcferve the moft inviolable refpedl for the principles which fupport public confidence ; for upon what bafis refts the value and general ufe of money, if it be not upon the certitude that it will be received every where in payment for things which men's wants may require, be- caufe of its conventional value ? why (hould a paper which prefents the fame conventional va- lue, the fame certitude and folidity, be refufed in payment ? I will add more — A more folid bafis than gold and filver has, may be given to paper money * : for we have no guarantee that the value of thefe metals will not be all at once diminifhed by the difcovery of new and rich * I fay, paper-money, without attaching to this expreifion the idea ef conilraint to receive it as fuch ; this obligation di- minilhes its value— I would fay paper credit, if the word cre- dit did not feem to exclude its principal quality, that of being always fufceptible, and in an inftant, of being converted into money without the leaft lofs. mines ; 3 VNITED STATES OF AMERICAi 47 mines ; we cannot calculate their quantities concealed in the earth, and men inceflantly rake np its boweis in fcarch of th^m *. Therefore in countries where precious metals are fcarce, but where lands may be fuccefsfully cultivated, banks (hould be formed, whofe operations ihould chiefly reft upon title deeds and produdlions de- pofited ; in a word, upon fuch objedls only as gold and filver fhould reprefent f. In • Why (hould not difcoveries be made m other countries. Tike that in the laft century by two (hepherds in Noru'ay, of the rich mines of Konfberg, where very conHdcrable maflcs of filver are found ? The King of Denmark has one of 5601b. weight in his cabinet. t It is not true that much gold and filver are neceflary to eftablifh banks, or create notes which may be thrown into circulation. A proof of the contrary arifes from fails con- tinually before our eyes. The multitude of bills of exchange which circulate and crofs each other in every direiy.5 . ,..:.. t,,.^ Vol. 11. E^/ ' - thod i; ■ S^ ON THE COMMERCE OF THIC thod of cflimatiiig the incrcifc qf trade,, i$ hf the incrcafe of population *• o... ..uii-mA 3d. That it is impoffiblc to judge exa£lly of the quantity of money cxirting in a country, ^Hid that all calculations on that head aiQ found- ed upon an uncertain and dcfedive bafis, be- caufe it is impoifible to collect all thetr elen^n- tary principles. ■• . • -h *, f,^:«^., ^1.-, , ^.^,j ,^,j,^ 4th. That metals are iK>t real riches, • m fj • 5th, That confidered as agents of exchange, it would be more advantageous to iubftitute pa»- . •• The errors In thcfc pretended balances muft be continu> ally infifted upon : confequenccs dangerous to the people are frequently drawn from them. •Financiers who pillage the kingdom* fay to Princes on pre- fcnting them thcfe fallacious calculations, '* that things are in a profpcrous way ', that commerce flourishes, that impofts may ht-' laid OH, loans tiegociated, &c. Thefe fophifms are feducing : let Princes accultom themfelves to judge of public prosperity by population, and the general eafe oi the people ; let them be eye-witnelTes of this, and miftruft a momentary appearance of profpcrity, which frequently covers profound mifcry, and thsy will not be ib often deceived. \ A King of Sardiiua paid a viGtto a part of Savoy^ the no* btlity of which had been reprefented to him as being poor and' Qtiferable ::they.came to him elegantly drefled in clothes ofce- ccii.ony, to raake'him t^ek court. At this th^King expceiTed his 6ir|arifeio one of the gentlemi^n, who faid to hira. Sire, mu9 fn'ifom pour vttre Majejle tout ct qui HQUS diimti man mus de- '%!i thy lout ce rju TiQu^ fcijfons^ ^, tNITEO STATES OF AMERICA* ^t • per credit in interior commerce, and to apply them to ufes for which paper is unfit, to wit, all the purpofes of exterior commerce. There rcfults from thcfe dcmonrtrations, that com- merce may be begun between two nations with- out the aid of money ; that the quantity a na* tion has of it to exchange for foreign produce tions is in proportion to its confidential interior eftablifhmcnts, which advantageoufly fupply its place. In three words, d good foil, paper credit^ and a government anxious to fupport it, are the true means of opening the refources of a nation, of procuring abundance of fpecie, as well as an ex- tcnfive exterior commerce. I have not confidered this cJommerce in its in* fluence upon the manners of the people } fuch a difcuflion would here be ufelefs, bccaufe what- cret* Jthat influence may be, exterior commerce is a forced efFed of the refpe«£live fituations of France and the United States, as will hereafter be made appear. I examine this matter as a politician, npt as a philofopher, and I pray the reader not to forget thc.diftiw<5lion. < K 2 C H A P, '^»* ; '.I ; '! S^ 6Ji tits, COMMERCE OP THE > , ?.. v/j i;.-.'} "KY' 'n .iX)<:'J : HV'^'li i^^- i'.h'J'Vj lT/7 ;;< !' ;:i. •.' •},)' J o' :Ti:>r ■ .1 CHAP. III. •:.)• -nr^i -i-jj )i •t APPLICATION OF THE FOREGOING GENERAL PRINCIPLES TO THE RECIPROCAL COM- MERCE OF FRANCE AND THE UNITED ■ STATES : ' -■- ' . - • ,:..;;;..-.!. > That France has every Means of procuring a great Com- nierce, and thofe which muft afTure it to her in the United States ; that her Produ(^ions are proper for them ; and that her particular intciior Circumftances oblige her to engage in this Commerce. THESE truths will not be contCiled when the fertility of the foil of France (hall be coniidered, her various and particular produc- tions, and the temperature of her climate, which favours thofe the moft limple and neceflary. Thefe advantages conftantly affure her work* manlhip at a lower price than thofe of natiops endowed with the fame adivity, but which have not the advantages of fuch favourable cir- cumftances. Her manufactures are numerous, and her po- pulation is confiderable in comparifon with that of moft other nations. Yet thefe are far from the ill ,1 VNITEi^ STATES OF AMERICA. 53 the degree tc which they may be extended ; for i^i confidcrhig Frn'ice, room for a more exten- five population is foon difcovered, and an im- menfity of means for a great numbsr of manu- fadlures, which only wait for the will of go- vernment to be cftabliftied. • '- - What other nation has more a£livity ? more induftry ? or unites to fo great a degree, all the advantages of civiUzation, and the matter and means of the moft varied and extenfive interior and exterior commerce, independent of comple- tion i What other would have been able to refifl:, for fo long a time, the chain of misfor- tunes, and repeated faults of which fhe has been the vi£lim ? The force of her conftitu- tion, rather than her apparent profperity, ought to be calculated by this refiftance. France is not what (he might and ought to be. Thei-e is no doubt but (he will become fo if (he opens her eyes to her true interelh, if unfhackling her interior (he does not negle£l her exterior com- merce, and particularly that which the United States wi(h to open with her. The produc- tions of her foil and induftry are proper for them. She can export in exchange from inde- pendent America the raw materials for which (he may have occafion. Thefe two countries may therefore carry on a dire^ commerce of ex-^ E3 changs ■■-'. I :i.i :m I \ m 54 ON THE COMMEUCE OF THff r chfjnge between thetii, arid fo much the mori^ advantageous, aa the raw materials, which muft coiiftitute it, \ybuld coft them more in any other place. Thefe truths will not be doubted when the double catalogue of the refpe^ive \yants of France and the United States^ or of their im-» portation and exportation, ihall have beej>. ex- amined. "^'^ . • . ^ r^^ > ; Intelligent patriots are of opinion, th^t it canr not be advantageous to France, in her prefent fituatipn, to engage in the comiperce of the United States. — They obferve, that her manu- fa£lures being inferior to thofe of the Englifli, fhe will be worded in the American markets j they add, that inftead of encouraging this com- merce, government would perhaps a6l more wifely by preventing the interior abufes which flop the progrefs of cultivation and induftry. -^ I an) far from denying the neceffity there may be of ftirring to reform fuch abufes, and to dired our efforts to culture and the improve- ment of manufadures ; but it is eafy to demon*^ ftate, that exterior commerce will in a very ihort time infallibly bring on fuch a reform, and that France in her prefent ftate is in the greateft need of this exterior trade. -' i- n- • Jn effecSt, an adlive and induftrious nation^ "^hofe foil is fertile, ought always to have mar- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ^^ kcts for the fale of its commodities to animate its induftry. Its culture and manufadlures would languifli if the limits of its confumptiou were perceived. It is even neceflary that thele markets fliould be fuperabundant ; that one may fucceed the other, in cafe of unfufpeded events, which might caufe a momentary cliange in the ordinary courfe of things. What caufe has thrown Ireland into fo con- tinued a ftate of languor, although one of thofe countries the mod favoured by nature, and the befl lituated for exterior commerce, if it is not the deprivation of that commerce ? An embar- raffing exuberance of productions was feared ; the cultivation of them was prefently uegledled, and this negligence increafed wafte lands. This ifland would at length have offered a fpedlacle of the moft deplorable mifery, of a complete depopulation, if^ by a reflitution of the liberty of commerce, an end had not been put to fo cruel a diicouragement which choaked induftry, by making it fear a want of markets for the vent 6' qiiflMfirt; . , '^ Certainly Tuch a new ftate cannot incrcafc Its foreign commerce before it has cleared great quantities of lands, and is become confidcrably peopled, and has a furplus of men and produc- tions* .•.■■•••.-•-- , ....-_,..,.-*.• . . . ,,w,. , i ..'■■- Such a ftate, while neceflarjr, will undoubt- edly follow this counfel. ■''''" "' But this counfel would be improper to ano- ther ftate, which, advanced in its civilization, covered with a population without property, having manufa£lunis and money in abundance ; whofe induftry and territorial riches wait for demands, and whofe culture languifhes for want of markets, A foreign commerce is necefiary to this ftate to vivify it. Such is the fituation of France ; neither foil, induftry, activity, nor the thirft of gain, is there wanting ; other pernicious caufes flacken her interior commerce. If the merchant has not a certainty oPmarkets, he does not buy nor give orders ; the manufacturer employs fewer hands, has lefs occafion for the produ£tions of the earth. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 59 earth. Languor then defcends from manufac- tures to cultivation, and diminifhes population. The reverfe will be the cafe in the fuppofi- tion of a vaft exterior commerce, and will lead to the improvement evert of our maaufadures ; for the neceffity of improving' to obtain a pre- ference will oblige manufadturers to ftudy the tafte of the Americans, and to conform them- felves to it, to vary the produ6lions of their in- duftry ; and will oblige them not to relax, that (hey may not be furpafled by rivals. It is here ncceffary to make fome reflexions pn the general inferiority found in our manufac- tures, on comparing them with thofe of the Englifh. This fad has furniflied Lord Shef- field with his principal argument, to maintain that America will always prefer the latter. It is neceflary to clear up this point, which feems pot to be well underftooJ. Manufactures of luxury, of conveniency, and of neceffity, muft be diftinguifhcd in a manner hereafter pointed out. Lord Sheffield and all foreigners agree, that France has the advantage in the lirfl clafs of manufadures *. His Lord- ....J^"^;:; ■; v.ti,n; ,■-■ . . . * r-; . .- . : ■' -^ ■ ^ fhip ^ * Our manufadlures of filk have proportionably a much greater fale abroad than that of our woollens. It is that, in- dependent of tafte, or, if yf9 wjU) of faihion, which we poffefs, ■ • and „ l<> >», if *] 1' ) .1' (5» ON THE COMMERCE OF THE ihip agrees cvea that France makes finer cloths than thofe of England ; but with rcfpcd to manufadlures of convenience, or fuch as are in- tended for the confumption of the people, wc muft, in fpite of patriotifm, agree on our part, that we are Iii, many articles inferior to the JLnglilh. This will appear by the fequel. It would be ridiculous and even dangerous to flat- ter the nation in this particular; the illufion would keep it in a ftate of mediocrity. It is for a better conftituted patriotifm to prove to the nation, that it may rife above mediocrity, and to fhew it by what means this is to be efFedted. Should any body wifh to know the caufe of this double difference between the French and Eng» li(h manufadures, it is as follows : There is in England a greater number of rnen, among the people, in eafy circumftances, than in France, and who are confequently in a Situation to choofe and pay better for fuch arti- cles as they like. It is a known fa(ft, that the common people of England, although loaded and which opens to us a great confumption, the raw material is in a great meafure one of our own produdtions ; an advan* tage which puts it in our power to furmount many general in- conveniencies, whofe efFeds are nipre fenfible upon our other articles of exportation, fuch as woollens, the produdtir)!! of which has lefs relation with the manufatSlure. " ' ' ' , ji'. with UNltED STATES OF AMERICA. ^i with taxes, are well clothed and fed * j the' rags of mifery are not found with the poul/e ati fotj-. The Engli(h manufacturer having a" greater demand for articles of neceffity, and be- ing better paid for them, can make improve- ments in his manufa(5lure. -^ '^- Should it be required to know from \Vhence conges the eafinefs of circumftances fo general in England : independent of the foil and pofi- tii^n, and the advantages of that liberty which V't {'J • The goodnefs of things manufactured is (o generally re* quifite in iLngland, that merchandizes defined for exportation are there diftinguifhed from thofe for interior confumption. There are great warehoufes wherein the fales are for exporta- tion only } the objeft of others is interior confumption. Peo • pie who judge haf^ily conclude from hence, that thofe for ex« portation are badly manufaiftured. They are deceived, the difference is in the choice of materials. The Engli/hman fpares nothing for that which he confumes. The workmanfliip Js the fame ; it would coft in general more to manufacturers to have two forts of workmanfliip, a good and a bad one, than to have one only which is good, and a manufa^ure eftablifhed upon a bad kind of workmanfliip would foon be decried. A fhoe deftined to foreign commerce is as well made as another ; but \t does not laft fo long, becaufe the leather is not chofen from the beft kind ; and fo of the reft. t A memorable expreffion of Henry the fourth of France, who, in a converfation with his favourite Sully, faiJ, he hoped to fee the time when the pooreft of his fubjeds would have it in their power to put a fowl into the pot for their Sunday's din- reigns li £l 6N TH£ COMMERCE dF TH£ reigns there, it rcfults from the confideratioU attached to induftry in the opinion of the public ; from the laws fure protedion accord- ed to every individual againft the agents of go- vernment ; and the haughtinefs and infolencc, to which they are naturally inclined (becaufe in men of flender education thefe are the ef- fect of power), being continually reprefled^ and their being prevented from trampling upon the citizen, who muft be obtii.v*^t. — ^He is obe- dient to the law, and not to him who puts it in execution *. In fine, it is the confequence of nrtt blufhing to be ^ tradefman, artificer, or workman, from father to fon. ' * - - , In France there are individuals exceflively rich ; but the people are poor. The firft have it in their power to pay extremely dear for arti- * 7%ee and 7%ou as terms of contempt are unknown in England: Sir is thcgeneral defignation of every individual. A man accufed of the greateft crimes, and who has the mofl: miferable appearance, is never fpokcn to in the fmgular num- ber when he is interrogated by his judges j and as he becomes an obje£l: of pity when he is convivSled, decent appellations, generally in ufe, are not changed with refpect to him. Can one fuppofe that this refpedl for man is prejudicial to public profperity ? Man is elevated by itj it gives him energy, and inclines him to eafe. Contempt, which in other places is af- fected for the people, leads them to mifery, and retains them in cTe3 "united states of AMERICA. ^J clesof luxury ai^d.iiucy,. which caufe an im- provemeiit of ma^iufadlurcs'of this kind. Flmc. cloths, as it has been before obfervcd, are to be found in Fiance than in England ; but their quantity is not great, becanfe there is not aa extenfive demand for thofe of the firft quality. , On the other hand, the property of the peo- ple being very inconfiderable, they pay badly^ and the confequence is, that things of coiivc- niency or neceffity are badly ma-nufaiaured for thena. wi» .■;fl /.' ,j I will not here enter mto the exanninatiou of caufes which occafion fuch a flate of things^ nor of the means of changing it. I will leave the difcuflion of fuch means for another chap- ter, but the following conclufions muft necelTa- rily be drawn from tbcfe- fajfls :/ the perfe 6 .^ good 14 dN TifE Cd^MERCE OP T^B gcx)d workmanihip by their produdtions. Charge td with the furnifhing of articles for Ameri-. (fan confumption, French manufadurers wiH ftrite to outdo their rivals ; and they can eafily accomplifll this w^en Oovertimeni jhall be wiU ling. Nature has given them the means. They will become fuperior in almoft every thing wheh once they (hall no lohget be obftinatcly counteracted. ' ' '' '^ Therefore thcf commence with the l/nited States will be the caufe of improvement \\t t^rench cultivation and induftry. Corifequently it is neceflary to eitbrace and purfuc it^ G ti A P. IV. : 'THAT THE UNITED STATES ARE OBLlOEt) bV THEIR PRESENT NECEv.'^ITIES AND CIRCUM-' STANCES TO ENGAGE IN FOREIGN COM- MERCE. , ' ,:> ; •'.. iA, \ ■•-•*•' • t;/ • ■ ■ . SOME writers, among whom iire found the celebrated Dr. Price and the Abbe Mably, have exhorted the independent Americans, if not to exclude exterior commerce entirely from their portSj at leatft to keep it Within very con- traded bounds. They pretend, that the ruiri • . 7 of ■ -fHi'-^'jpniprB II p^,,, ..IWB.I . 9.1 .V! "^WWW^fW UNITED STATES 6t AMERICA, 6> (5f republicanifili in the United States can hap- pen only from exterior commerce ; bccaufc by great quantities of articles of luxury and a fri- volous taflc, that commerce would corrupt their morals, and without pure morals a repub- 1* ^ ! /\ % ••'. rift I ^ .■•■'... «*, -»».-, '" ic cannot cxilt. • * . •* Alas ! What can the United States Import ** from Europe, continues Dr. Price^ except it *' be infedlion ? I avow it, cries the Doctor, I •* tremble in thinking on the furor for exterior *• conlmerce, which is apparently going to turn ** the heads of the Americans. Every nation *' fpreads nets around the United States, and ca- " refles them, in order to gain a preference ; •* but their intereft dautions them to beware of ** thefe fedufbions*." - -i ^ . .•; ' I am far from contradi(!ling, in its baftSy the opinion of thefe politicians. Moreover, I thinkj with t)r. Price, that the United States will one day be able to produce every thing necefl'ary • Price's Obfervatlons, page 76. See the Abbe Mably^ what he fays of thefe obfervatlons, from page 146 to page 163. See alfo what the Comte de Mirabeau has added to the Ob-^ fervations of Dr. Price, in His Reflexions printed at the end of his tranflation of this work, page 319. London edition, 1785. He haSj as a fevere philofopher, treated on exterior com- merce, and made abftraiSlion of the adiual fituation of th? Americans. Vol. II. and n tin; ill 66 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE and convenient, but I am alfo of opinion, that thefe two writers have copfidered the indepen- dent Americans in a falfe point of view ; that they have not fufficiently obferved the ftate of their circumftances ; in fine, that their circum-' Jiances and aElual wants oblige them to have re^ courfe to foreign commerce. This is a truth which I propofe to demonftrate ; for I will prove that the independent Americans are ia want of the neceflaries and conveniencies of life, and in fome ftates, of luxuries, and that their habits and nature, added to other circumftances, will always prevent their renouncing them en-^ tirely. ■-■■■' - "._^~- t ...a,.,-^ .,, ,,,,'; ..'^\'.. I will prove, that having no manufactures, they cannot themfelves fupply thefe wants, and that they can have no manufa(5lures for a long time to come. -^ - - ^^ ' . That although they already poffeiTed them, they ought to prefer to national ones thofe of exterior commerce, and that they fhould rather invite Europeans to their ports than frequent thofe of the European ftates. Finally, that by the fame reafon which makes it impoflible to exclude exterior commerce, in cafe of wants which alone it can fupply, it is equally fo to fix its boundaries. When the nature of man is attentively con- I lidered, ^I'T.T.TJ'^ar^F*'' I ' ~ : UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 6j (idered, it is feen that it inceflkntly difpofes him to render his life agreeable. If he has a pro- perty, he ft rives to improve it ; if the foil he cultivates be fruitful, and demands but little in advance, the defire of increaimg his enjoyments ftimulates him to torture his land to draw from it its various produdlions. One idea put in praftice gives birth to another ; one want fatif- fied creates a fecond, to have the pleafure of fa- tisfying this alfo. Such is the nature of man : his adivity, which leads him from defires to enjoyments, from one change to another, is the fource of what are called manufadures. A manufacture is but the means of giving to a produdlion of the earth, a form which adds to it a new degree of agreeablenefs and uti- lity. Want and defire of manufactures are therefore in the nature of man ; fo that if we fuppofed Europe entirely annihilated, ma- nufactures would foon rife up in America, be- caufe each individual ftrives to render his exift- ence agreeable by means the moft fpeedy and efficacious*. .., .. , ; -" ■'"'■■ •• c^-' - -■ '' ^^0 '"'^ - ^' ■ ^ Manufadures, '? * l^erlwps" the character' and life of fuvages, \^ho are fup- pofed ta have no manufacturers among them, will be oppofed to thefc reaforiings ? Men are deceired in judging thereby ; for thefe people, which we look upon as only one degree rc- F 2 moved r^ i 1-' M ;. «'!!■■ 6S ON THE COMMERCE OF THE Manufa£lures, like the wants of civilized men, may (as was obferved in the laft chapter) be divided into three claffes : ift. Thofe of ne- Ceffity ; 2d. thofe of convenience ; 3d. thofe of fancy or luxury. Food, and the natural exigen- cies of mankind, are comprehended in the firft clafs. ^ ■'•' '^^■'•■^ ,' t;. M j jni-otw fon-f^v f.li -j/ It is from the wants of convenience efpecial- ly, that manufadures have their origin. With- out doubt, fkins of (heep were fufficient to de- fend men from the feverities of cold ; a cabin or a hut from the intemperature of the atmof- ->i moved from a ftate of nature, work up and manufadlure the earth's produ<5liojis. Thus f. ^m their corn, before it is ripe, they extra£l a gelatinous juice, with which they make palata- ble cakes. Therefore, before the arrival of Europeans, they knew how to make fermented liquors, tools, utenfils, arms, ornaments, &c. They confined themfelves to thefej hunting took them from a fedentary life} and did not give them time enough to extend their ideas. • , . , , . The paftoral life of the Arabians has condu£led them one or two degrees farther in the art of manufa(Sluring, becaufe that kind of life affords greater leifure, and gives more unitbrm and conftant produdions. Thofe fhepherds whofe riches confift but in their flocks, and who live on milk alone, and are cloth- ed with their wool only, have a paflionate dcHre for coffee, (herbet, and fugar. The deflre of increafing their enjoyments is the caufe. Let it be therefore agreed, that man by his na- ture is inclined to enjoyment, ^ confequently to manufac- tures* a '.■> phcre ; UNITED STATES O? AMERICA. 69 phcre ; but man is no fooner preferved from one evil, than he feeks to get rid of another. Skins are infulceptible of being well joined together, ufe makes them hard ; a cabin is frequently thrown down, is confined and fmoaky ; whence arife the wants of conveniency, which are transformed into enjoyments, whofe accurtomed ufe changes them into neceffities. ^ When man has every convenience, he then thinks of ornament. Hence the wants of lux- ury ; they are entirely in the imagination, and procure imaginary pleafures only. Therefore to wear any laced clothes, or drink coffee out of a china rather than a delfen cup, is a want cre- ated by luxury or fancy. The nature of thefe three kinds of want be- ing pointed out, it is neceflary to know what thofe of the Americans are. They have the two firfl of them. Their habitudes contra£led in their infancy from European emigrants, and their commerce with the Englifli, have accuf- tomed them to the kind of life and tafte of the latter, and it is well known that Englifh indus- try has been particularly direded to neceflary and ufeful arts* The independent An>ericans, at leaft thofe who inhabit great maritim . cities, have borrow- ed fiom the Englifh a tafte for luxuries ; they F 3 feck 1. 1;, J M^ 70 ON THE COMMERCE OF IriE feek for gauzes, blond lace, filks, &c. It is however with pleafure I obferve, that if this tafte of modes has infeded London within thefe few years, its ravages have not been extended v/ith the fame rapidity in the United States as in Europe. Their fituation, auftere religion, morals, and ancient habits, their rural or marine life, prevent their feeking after elegance and drefs, and keep them from oftentation and vo^- luptuoufnefs. Although they may perhaps be changed a few degrees, the evil is not yet fen- fible, at leaft in the Northern States *. There- fore our obfervations ought principally to reft \jpon the two firfl clafles of wants. Now it is impoiUble that the Americans fliould ever re- nounce them ; they will be perpetually led and attached to them by their nature and habitudes, and by the manner in which their population is increafed. By their nature, becaufe they are men ; and it has been proved, that man is endowed with * Luxury is certainly to be found in Virginia ) and when we fpeak of luxury with refpeA to free America, it is neceflfary to diftinguifli carefully the Southern from the Northern States ; cities from the country ; maritime cities from interior ones. By thefe diftin-' • By their habitudes, becaufe, as it has been ob- ferved, they contracted that of all thofe wants, and it is well known, that a tafte for pleafurc is not to be exterminated when rooted by ha- bitude. How can it be required of man to de- prive himfelf of wine and liquors to which he is accurtomed, and in which he places a part of his enjoyments, except we would render him unhappy ? 1 will not quote hermits, fick per- fons, or philofophcrs, who have had that empire over themfclves ; but let not a like prodigy be expeded in a whole nation. An aflbciation of three millions of philofophcrs has not yet been, nor will be feen to confine themfelves to the re- gimen of Pythagoras*, or the diet of Cornaro, The fevere facrifice of tea, which the inde- pendent Americans made at the beginning of the war, will perhaps be alfo quoted. The en- thufiafm of liberty and influence of example were able, during fome time, to overcome their • It is not that we ought not to believe that one of the great means of regenerating the old people of the Continent, apd of fupporting republicanifm in the United States, would be to give to children fuch an education as Pythagoras exer* cifed at Crotona. — See the Life of Pythagoras, • ^ ■ ; ,/ F 4 habitudes; iuw-1 ^% ON THE COMMERCE OF THB habitudes*; as religious eiithufiafm has comf bated, fometimes fucccfsfully, the paflions of an hermit. But there is no caufe powerful enough to produce a like efFe6l, except in the crifis which makes the facrifice neceffary and cafy. The reafon of the dependence in which the Americans would put themfelves with refpedt to the Europeans, and the fear of diflant cor-r ruption, are motives too feeble to carry men to that point of heroifm ! It is not fufficicntly de- monftrated to them, that they cannot drink wine from Madeira without being fome day corrupted by it, and without preparing the way for great calamities. ? - ; ;.> < The manner in which population is renewed and increafed in America, does not make it pro- bable that its inhaoitants will ever be able to re-? nounce the want of European productions. A prodigious number of individuals emigrate every year from all parts of Europe to America, who carry with them wants and inclinations m * It is aflured that abftinence from tea was not every where fiithfully obferyed, which appears very probable on reflei^ing that there was a party which fai^ would have violated it. | jiave known feveral perfons whom the deprivation of tea had made ill for a long time, although they had tried illufive means, by fubflituting the jnfufion of agreeable fimples for that of the l/sa-leaf. ' which UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.^ 73 xvhlch they have from education and habit. If they find them in America, they continue to gratify them ; if they are unknown there, they naturalize them, snd it is the firft thing they go about ; for they do not fo much perceive th^ new pleafures they are going to enjoy, as thofe of which they are deprived ; fo great is the force of our firft habits and cuftoms. Remem*- brance, although frequently mixed with the cruel idea of fervitude, abandons man in tho grave only. According to this inclination, natural to all men, let the immenfe variety of wants and ap- petites be calculated which are going to tranf- plant themfelves from Europe to the United States ; and let it be judged, whether it be pof- fible to put bounds to or deftroy them. To fucceed in this, it would not only be nc- ceiTary to fhut out foreign commerce from all the American ports : American induftry muft be circumfcribed, and the fource of their wants flopped up ; it would be neceflary to imitate the Lacedemonian la\y, which ordained that no- thing ihould be worked up but with the heavy hatchet, the more effectually to banifh the lux- ury of elegant furniture. In a word, a miracle inuft be operated upon the Americans, to take fronj them all remembrance of what they have been, ■winRMP* '9mmmmwim^frfili^\r-r>mmmi'Vi ■-.Hi 74 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE been, of all they have (een, fmclt, or tafted ; and the fame enchantment muil deprive Euro* pean emigrants of their ideas ; as it would be abfurd to hope for a like prodigy, iAe force oj things J which drags the independent Americans into exterior commerc"., muft be fubmitted to*. All is reduced to two words ; America has wants, and Europe has manufa6i:ures. . > In the United States fomeof the inhabitants fill up the leifure afibrded by agriculture (in which the Europeans cannot hope to become their rivals) with an attention to manufactures. And they have others confined to the mofl neceflary arts ; conne^fled with cultivation, fifheries, and the conftruifiion of vefTels, But even thefe manufactures are but few in number, and in- fufficient for the wants of the United States, They are therefore obliged to have recourfe to Europe. It is not that they neither have, nor can have almofl all the raw materials employed * It is with regret that I write this faft, on confidering it philofophically, but it appsars to have been demonftrated po- litically. No perfon wiihes more than I do to fee the United States feparate themfclves from all the world, and in this fitu- ation to find again the auderity of the Spartan regimen, with- out its cruel principles of military difpofition. It would be a fmart ftroke in politics \ but this unhappily is no more than a dream. , \ryi : 1 f • in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 75 in our own manufactures. They have hemp, flax, and cottoii *. , But, if they had raw materials in plenty, they ought to be advifcd not to eflahlifh manufac- tures ; or, to fpeak more judly, manufa&ures could not be eftablijhed \ the nature of things or^ dains it fo. Let us difcufs this queftion, as it is an important one. ? ;- b i.m -if>jin.^^Y5 i^it There arc many reafons for men's engaging in a new country in agriculture rather than in ma- il ufadtures. There, where two individuals can caiily live together, they marry, fays Montef- quieu. The labour of the field offers to them more means of living together, of augmenting and fupporting their family, than worKing at * The four Southern States gather great quantities of cot- ton. Their poor are clothed with it winter and fammer. In winter they wear cotton (hirts, and clothes of wool and cotton mixed. In fuinmer their fliirts are linen, and their outward clothes of cotton. Women's drefs is entirely of cotton, and made up by themfelves, women of the richeft clafs excepted.; yet a woman of this clafs has a deal of cotton worked up in. her houfe, and this callico equals in beauty that of Europe. Thofe from the South furnifh a deal of cotton to the States of the North, which cannot grow it, the climate being too cold. There is fcarcely any part of the United States without good flour and faw mills. The Northern States have others for flattening iron. It is in the conftru£);ion of mills efpecially, that the Americans diftinguifli themfelves, in varying their em- ploy and utility, and in their diftribution. manufac-j vi. r. ' WH' ^'l !!iU' Mit* 76 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE xnanufa£lures : in thcfe the dependence of the workman, hio precarious and changeable ftate, his moderate wages, and the high price of pro* vifions in cities, where moft manufaflures are cftablifhed, put it out of his power to think of having a companion, and if he has one, the profpedt of mifery which (he muft have before her eyes after his death, impofes on him a law contrary to propagation, to avoid the cruelty of caufing children to be brought into the world only to be unhappy *. . . ; In a new country where land is not dear, where it requires not much in advance, or an expenfive cultivation, and is at the fame time fruitful, the number of little and happy fa- milies mull rapidly increafe. What a difference in other refpe^ts from this pure and fimple country life, where man is con- ftantly in the prefence of nature, where his foul is elevated by the fpedacle, where his phy- fical principles continually regenerate by a fa- , 111 iu» • Journeymen manufa£lurers, and in general men In a ftate cf dependence, whofe fubfiftence is precarious, and who have children, certainly love them lefs than the inhabitants of the country who have a fmall property. The paternity is a bur^ then, and confequently often odious to the firft i their children are ignorant of the foft carefTes of paternal love. What kind of generation muft arife from Aich a connexion ! ^-j,''u. 1 lubrious VVirED STATES OF AMERICA. fj lubrious air, and in reviving cxercifes, where he lives in the midft of his relations and friends^ whom he makes happy : what a difference from that to the life of manufadturers condemned to vegetate in difmal prifons, where they refpirc infedlion, and where their minds arc abforbed, as well as their lives abridged. This conduct alone ought to decide the Americans to rejeft the painful ftate of manufa£lures *.^ ; ■r ii!;. '.t. r ri ^.... .».. ;..„'u _> The labourer is happy becaufe his contrafts are with the eartk only, which gives liberally and difrntereftedly, whilft the intereft of the mafter who pays the manufa61;urer embitters the wages which he receives. c ' -'■'■' ■> " - ■' The labourer is ftill happy, becaufe he is only amongft his equals } inequality is the fourcc of malice. The fuperior is malicious ;/ m V 78 ON THE COMMERCE OF TIIK Befidcs there will be, for a coiifiJcrablc time to come, more to be gained in the United States, 1, 1 J li '. ;* ■"j'^i'u. . > 1 t ■' ', by ,1C .! ' » ''>'", ■ ,4 malicious to fupport his oppremon. The flave is vindidive to deftroy and revenge it. r .The labourer is amiable and generous, bccaufe it would be necefTary to abandon all cultivation, if there were not between hufbandmen a reciprocity of fervices and confidance. , , Perhaps it would not be difficult to prove that health and goodnefs are diminiflied in proportion to the increafe of manu- factures, cities, property, and the defertion of rurul life, and that vices and crimes are increafed in the fame proportion. , This is not the opinion of the fenAble and interefting au- Aor of the Study of Nature : " When I was at Mofcow," lays he, (Vol. III.) " an old Genevois, who was in that city, ** in the time of Peter I. told me, that fince different means •* of fubfiftence had been opened to the people by the eAab- *' lifhment of manufactures and commerce, feditions, ailaflina- *' tions, robberies, and incendiaries, had been lefs frequent than "formerly." ^ - ! But this would not have exifted, and there would have been the fame public and private virtue, if inflead of making the Ruffians manufai^rers, they had been made proprietors of lands. Hufbandmen are honeft people, fays M. de St. Perre kimfelf.— 'And workfliops, as I have juft obferved, do not of- fer that neceffity of reciprocal fervice which gives the habi- tude of goodnefs ; they prefent intereft ftruggling againft in- tereft, rich and indolent ftupidity ftriving to cheat active indi- gence. If workfliops do not make men rafcals, they difpofe them to become fo ', they make them egotifts, infenfible, un- couth, and bad fathers. ; ; Therefore, the faCt quoted by this author does not jwrove, that UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 79 by the earth, which yields abundantly, than by manufadlurcs — and man places himfclf in that fituation where the greatcft and moft fpccdy gain is to be acquired. - As population muft, for many ages, be dif- proportioned to the extent of the United States, land will be cheap there during the fame length of time *, and consequently the inhabitants will for a long time be cultivators. ,. ^ ; , , , .j;, , ■'• ■" ^ ' . '■ ' ■ I'y ■ ••' J<- ■ '• V r. ;, .Thofe • ''■><]" I. 4 : '?;- ./. .• :.(Zl:l: r- ; - ^-•- that to prevent crimes, it Is necefliiry to eftabli/h manufac- tures ; but that it is better to have manufatflures peopled with degraded workmen, than forefts with banditti j *iis a lefler evil, but it is ftlll an evil. • v/. ,, ;(., .r'r.::,[ * An idea of the price of lands in the United States, may be formed from the following article taken from the Gazette of Philadelphia, of 9th of December 1/84: "Obfervcthat the *' ground of Pcnnfylvania begins to be dear, and that the inha- " bitants begin to emigrate to Kentucky.** — By this adver- tlfcment there are offered tc fale, " 25.000 acres of land, fituu " ated in the county of Northampton, State of Pennfylvania, " upon the Delawar. — A public road, a navigable river, f-rtile " foil, excellent for culture — meadows— places for mills-^ " great forefts— plenty of fifli- ponds, &c. at half a guinea an ** acre. " Another quantity of 25,000 acres, upon the Sufquehan* *' nah, with equal and even greater advantages, at the fame " price. — Good title deeds, — facilities of payment. — A referve " of three hundred acres only will be required in each diftri^ifc " for the maintenance of the clergyman of the parifh ;— one " hundred So ON THE COMMERCE OP THC I If !■ i 4 •^Thofe whom ambition, thirft of gain, or ig- norance, fhould incline to eftablifti manufadures^ will, from that moment, be difbandcd from it hj the dcarnefs of workmanfhip. This dear- liefs is already very confiderable *, and may be- come ftill more fo, as the caufe which occafions it muft naturally become more extended. - t What is the caufe ? It has already been inti- mated fo as to be forefeen. . .- -^^z-.i: o^ i. ic,. Cities are built in :^1 quarters fj lands are clcarf d and eftablifhments made every where. In the county of Kentucky, for inftance, where, in 1 77 1, there were fcarcely one hundred inha- bitants, there are now nearly thirty thoufand ; and thefe men have emigrated from inhabited Goafts or countries. Thus hands are taken from the commerce and agriculture of thefe laft, which is confequently the caufe of the increaf* cd price of workmanihip. !':!! I, : ijj!'. rm '4 •* hundred guineas when there fhall be fifty families, to build a •' parfonage houfe— ten guineas a year for five years, and pro* ** vifion for the fchool-mafter.'* ♦ Three, four, and five livres, are frequently paid in the cities of the United States for the day's work of a carpenter, lockfmith, &c. f This is a great evil, as will be hereafter proved, anj which will contribute more than any other to the ruin of fe-> publican (pirit. ::,•..>;. . From iir-f: ■ •■'■'»■ '■ ■ 4^ •.•y ' ■ '{ v ^I'ivf; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 8if i;: From this dtarncfs it has been concluded in Europe, that the people in America were wretched ; a contrary cooclufion ought to have been drawn. Wherever workmen govern 5 wherever they are paid a higji price, the pcopk are nf^ceffarily happy ; for it is of them that th^ varioas claflcs of workmen are compofed* On the contrary, wherever workmaOifliip is at a low price, the people are wretched ; for this cheapnefs proves, that there are mor^ work- men tha:i there is work to execute^ niore want of employ than can be fupplied. This is what the rich defire, that they may govern the work* men, and buy the fweat of th^eir brows at the lowed rate pofiible** ^ .... . It is the reveffe in America, the workman gives the law, and fo much the better, he re- ceives it too often every where elfc. ■'■■ V* ♦ To be coimneed of this truth, look at England and Friance; workmanship is very dear in London but cheap in Paris. The workman in London is well fed, clothed and paid j in Paris he is <|.uite the contrary. . . " It frequently happens," faid an American one day to me, ** that I nieet in the United States a ploughman, condiM^lLng bis ** plough and horfes, and eating a wing of a turkey and a piece <( of good white bread. I have feen, added he, a v.eiiiel arrive '< at New York, full of Scotchmen, not one of whom W98 .un«> " employed the next day.'* , . j^ Vol. IL G This ■ :f""4 i '! ..| Zi ON THE COMMERCE OF THE ^ This dearnefs of workmanfhip is prejudicial to itiaaufa(9:ures, and flill fo much the better. Thefe eftablifliments are fo many tombs which fwallow up generations entire*. Agriculture, on the contrary, perpetually increafes popula- tion. a. Y; By preventing, or at leaft retarding the rife of manufa£lures within their provinces, the Americans will ftop the decadency of morals and public fpirit : for if manufactures bring gold into the States, they bring at the fame time a poifon which undermines them. They refem- ble a number of individuals whofe nature and morals are at once corrupted : they form and accuilom men to fervitude, and give in a repub- lic a preponderance to ariftocratical principles, aiid by accumulating riches in a fmall number of hands, they caufe republics to incUne to arif- tocracy. ' • Therefore the independent Americans will do "wifely to leave to Europe the care of manufac- * There are feveral manufatSlures at Amiens, and it is re- rharked, that the hofpitals are more filled with manufacturers "than with mafons or other like artizans. A manufacturing life makes more people ill and their complaints more dange- 'rous; it is becaufe this kind of workmen becomes fooner de- -bauched, and goes fooner to the hofpital, being moftly fingle, and without any domeftic attachment. - - - . . -: - ii I i ' ;, . turing •■i. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 83 (urlng for them, becaufe (he is irrefiftibly drag- ged into manufp-flures ; and as their population and confumption mud rapidly increafe, it is not impoflible that Europe may one day confine her- felf to this kind of occupation, and that Ame- rica may one day become her ftorehcufe of grain and raw materials, of which (he will not be in need. In this cafe, nothing will be feen in Europe but cities and work(hops ; in inde- pendent America, nothing but fields well culti- vated. I will leave it to be decided which coun- try would have the mofl happy fate. ' • ^ ^^'^ Under the fame point of view, the indepen- dent Americans will ftill a6l wifely by leaving it to the Europeans to furni(h them with nccef- fary articles ; and in fcldom frequenting the cities ind fea-poftsof the ancient continent. In efFefl', an European tranfported to independent America is in the proportion of one to one hundred, and fometimes to a thoufand. — His example has therefore but very little influence ; the luxury of which he makes a parade in paffing by, ex- cites lefs confideration or refpedl than contempt and ridicule. If he leaves a remembrance of himfelf, it is foon effaced hy the general motion : there are, moreover, fome Europeans, who, (Iruck and edified by the manners and cufloms "* G 3 of r'i'll iM' liU ' .' M 84 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE of free America, have good fenfe enough to rc-^ fpe(ft and conform ihemfelves to them. It is the reverfe when an American goes on fliore in Europe, almoft alone, with his fimpli- city of manners in the midfl of a vortex of men who eftcem the eclat of exterior appearance only ; who, agitated and led by the general ton, faerifice every thing to the furor of making a great figure by the brilliance of drefs, equipage, and pomp : this American muft at firil be torn down and tormented, becaufe he finds himfelf thrown into a circle of habitudes contrary to his own. Afterwards he becomes familiarifed by little and little, and if he does not quite get a tafte for them, at leafl his attachment to a (im- plicity of life and manners is necefTarily weak- ened. Carrying back with him to his own country this difpofition of mind, he introduces it infenfibly into the minds of thofc who are about him, upon which it has fome influence— upon the minds of his children and friends. Their tafle for fimplicity becomes lukewarrn by his example, and the following age fees pub- lic virtues fall into indifference. ' '* • ^ • It will be lefs dangerous to the public fpirit of the independent Americans to admit the Eu- ropeans into theUnited States, than to go them- felvcs 8 Mb. '■*!« iu'^^ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 85 fclvcb into Europe ; from which it refults that it would be very impolitic to encourage the forr mcr to become the carriers of their exterior commerce. I have infixed upon this refjed^ion becaufs there feems to have appeared in fome States a difpofition to give premiums for diftant naviga- tion. They ought to rcflc£l, that they have but few hands, and that as few as poflible fhould be taken from culture. They are in the iitua- tion 1 have fpoken of in my principles of extcr rior commerce, where a nation gains by mak- ing carriers of others having lefs foil or employ^ They (hould alfo recolle(fl, that republican mo- rals are better prcferved in the bofom of agri- culture than upon the fea and ia foreign voy* ages, which give to men communications with^ other morals and governments. It is a general queftion in the United States, by what means it is poflible to put bounds to exterior commerce, and flop the progrefs of lux- ury : flay at home, — cultivate, cultivate, 1 will repeat to them ; this is the fecret whereby yoi> will prevent the increafe of luxury; a fecret much preferable to fumptuary laws and prohi^ bltory regulations, which fome {jtates baye \t n% leoiitemplation to make. G 3 There ^*fi!^ f 1% li vm I' '! !■ ' M i r .;:i 1 ''ij; -I' fe'' fii ii!,' Mi ^:i^^' 86 ON THS COMMERCE OF THU • There is no power great enough to fet, by regulations, fuch boundaries to e^vtcrior com- merce as will not be excesded: to circui-pfcribe it for inflance to merchandizes of convenience, without the importation of thofe of luxury. The nature or force of things only has fuch a power. That force has, as has been before explained, the union of the natural circumftances of a na- tion ; thefe circumftances alone mark the limits of commerce. A nation which cannot pay for luxuries with its awn produdion, does not pur- chafe them. The favage can only procure with his furs, brandy, gunpowder, and woollen coverings; he buys neither filks nor laces. If, therefore, the produdions of the United States be fcarcely fufficicnt to pay for the im- portations of neceffity and convenience from Europe, merchandizes of luxury will not be im- ported : if thefe be carried to it, 'tis becaufe it can pay for them. There is no merchant who likes to ruin himfclf. If, on the contrary, tne United States have productions proper for the ancient continent, in quantities fufficient to procure, by their exchange, not only the moft necefl'ary and convenient things, but even thofe of luxury, nothing can ,..;.•:. .hinder UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. By. hinder the latter from being fooner or later im-- ported, by means of exterior commerce,'^ ,. .^ In truth, to increafe demands of this nature,, the public opinion, which before treated oppro-. brioufly a tafte for modes, muft totally change,* and the particular opinions of certain fe(5ls equal-, ly yield to it. » But notwithftanding the powerful influence of opinion upon merchandizes of luxury, the fate of this kind of commerce will be more par- ticularly determined by the ilate of the indepen-. dent Americans, for when rich they will adopt- them. This fiid will appear certain, if what: has been faid on the nature of the human heart be recolIe(5ted, and its inclin.^tion to improve man's lituation, and to increafe his enjoy- ments, .; ..;; / . Tarte for a rural life alone, if the Americans preferve it, will retard the progrefs of luxury,- which fprings up in cities, from fatiety, want of fomethiug to do, and from laffitude: em-, ployment preferves the country from thofe moral ills. - ^ : . . There is one laft confideratlon, which ought' to perfuade the independent Americans to em- ploy themfelves in cultivation, and rejev^ both manufactures and exterior tranfports j which is,- P 4 that i i ml 58 ON THE COMMERCE OF THB that in wiihing to undertake every thing at once, the fcarcity of money, neceffary at leaH: for the mechanical part of thefe operations, will always be more perceived, whilll, by giving themfelves up entirely to cultivation, they will procure from their foil produdtions fufficient to pay for thefe manufadures from Europe, and to make up for the fcarcity of coin *. They • The independent Americans have but little money i this fcarcity -rifes from two caufes j firft, from the kind of com- merce they heretofore carried on with England, and afterwards ff6m the ravages of a fcven years war. As this commerce vras purely one of exchange, and that in certain flates, as Vir- ginia, the importations always furpafied the cxportations ; th^ refult was, that they could not but be debtors to England, and coi^d not draw money from that ifland. It was a kind of commercial fervitude, which th& EngHfit looked upo|i as the pledge and guarantee of the dQpendenf:e of th« Colonies upon the mother country. .. The money they had came from their illicit commerce with the Sugar Iflands and European powers. The war, af- terwards, by changing labourers int« foldiers, caufed a part of thtir lands to remain without cultivation. From that time exchanges iiicreafed and money decreafed. The JittJe of it remaining in America, came firft from nsoney carried and ex- pended there by the Englifh and French armies, and afterwards by the loans negociated in Europe by Congrefs, - ' t But k is eafy t^ conceive, after what has been (aid upon the quantity of coin, how a nation, Mchich, by an extraordinary icvokition, is all at once widely developed, its population ra- pidly UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 89 They appear to be alarmed at this ; what has been faid upon the fubjedt of money ought to remove their fears. It h^s been demonftratcd that a nation may carry on a very confiderablc commerce without its aid. It will hereafter be (ten that the United States produce many raw materials effenfially neccffary to France, and that (he can make their exports with greater advantage than thofe of any other country. Thus it appears that thefe two countries may carry on together a direct trade of exchange without money, confequently ao advantageous one ; for the exchange between them of pro- du6):ions is more lucrative than an exchange of produ£bions for money ; although this opinion may not be adopted by men in general, who at- tach a greater price to gold than to merchan- dize, and continually forget its reprefentativc value, to fubftitute for it a real one. It muft be inceflantly repeated to th.em that money would be abfolutely nothing without produc- pidly increafed, and is thereby obliged to continMal advances, for clearing of lands, for building, making of roads and canals, to pay foreign debts, moflly in fpecie, and which has no mines, mufl feel the fcarcity of money, and the reafon of it is clear : the want of it is at prefent fupplied, in Conne£ticut, by an ex- change of commoditiaf, or thefe againft labour, tions; \<] 90* ON THE COMMERCE OF THE r tlons ; that a rich people is that which, by its mduftry, incrcafes population, and has confe- quently an abundance of produdtions; that the lecret of increafing the quantity of coin con- fifts only in the art of nnultiplying neceffiry produdions, and it is this to which the United States ought to incline, without being anxious about the money which they may have at prelent or in future. ..;..., • .. Let us refume the different queftions con- tained in this chapter. ., j; -..,;. .J , <) Vi!:,0 My object has been to make it appear that the United States were forced by their necefli- ty and eircuinftances to engage in exterior commerce. ,>;>•(« ,;. , ,-■')■ : ■. •. -i .i.,ji>-;>: To convince my readers of this, I have prov-. cd that the independent Americans had wants. of neceffity, of convenience, and even forqe of luxury, which they could neither renounce nqr fupply themfelveS with. :- ^ny - . ;fy.!. v) That having no manufactures of their own, they were obliged to have recourfe to thofc of Europe: that they could eftablifh none for a' Ions: time, having: but few hands, and that cul- tivation ought to employ all their cares. That according tophyfical, political, and mo-^- ral relations, they ought to pr. rco[)le * The Virginians have given another example which proves how cafy it is to t!o vi'ithout money. Many countries near to the Ohio, having none of it, the general afTemhly re- folved, they Humid pay their quota of imports in hemp and flax, which fliould be depofited in the public magazines. f If it were wiflicd that this proje»5l (hould fucceed, it would be abfolutely neceflary to put away all poflibility of an abufe unpuniihed. It would perhaps be ncce(iary, that go- vernment fliould take no part, nor have any influence in it. This precaution will be exclaimed, againft, but let us once more caft our eyes upon England. If there be a government upon earth whofe hands arc tied, whofe ftcps are watched, whofp adions are brought to light, to public cenfure, and confcquently, whofe f(Jcret attempts are lefs to be feared by the people, it is that of England. Sec what the aftonifhing Minift'er, who is now at the head of affairs, propofes to hinder the intervention and influence of the Englifh government in the new plan of redemption of the public effedts and of their decreaf?. He infifts, that the commiflioners who fliall be charged with it, (hall be always independent of government ; that they (hall be public agents, and that no force fliall con- ftraia UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. TOJ People ill the United States, complain of a!i abufe in the commerce of the French wines, . which abule, it. is of Importance to remedy in • flrinn llicin to alienate from its o^jca the mon^y Jefiincd to pav oft' or Icflcn the public debt. ^'■' ^'■'*^ -■» ■''■ ' )' The Americans prefer, in general, the wine which is carried to them in bottles, becaufe they believe it lefs fubjecl to become (harp, or to change on the voyage. On the firft view, it feems advantageous to France to furnifh its wines \yith this envelope, becaufe it is a new opening for its glafs-ware. But if it be recol-* }e£ledj what a prodigious quantity of combufti- & 'T " UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I07 bles glafs manufaclurcs require, to the feniiblc deftrudioii of forclls, it appears imprudent to encourage a commerce which cannot but aug- ment it rapidly. At leal"!:, before it be encou- raged, it would be necellary to have very cer- tain accounts of the number of glafs nianufac- tories in the kingdom, of their confumption of wood and charcoal, of their produce and expor- tation, and finally of our forefts and mines. ' , ) I. J '> • j: SECTION II. " ^ ' »/ i t f-kt i^ « BRANDY. . «J • ( V • t • > The rapid progrefs lately made in chymiftry, has difcovered in moft of the fruits of the earth, the falts and fpirits which conftitute the eflence of brandy ; this difcovery has been turned to advantage ; there refults from it a confiderable abatement in the price of that liquor, that is to fay a very great evil ; this proves, by the way, that there are difcoveries in phyfics which Ihould not be revealed without having firft con- fidered their moral and political efFe£ls, and hav- ing indicated to government the means of pre- venting their incouvenieueies ; it alfo proves, •!: that io8 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE im *ir:i^ that a chymifl: ought not to be a chymift only, but a politician alio.', li-y-r^n .»* i 'u r- ;ijt " The brandies of France are generally looked upon as the Left, that is to. fay, the nnoft deli- cate af|d lead pernicious: therefore they ob- tain the preference with people in eafy circum- flanceSfj-^rvji^.s-t^i '\y^ -,..-.,!>> t'lh .^s ^Mipffi ryf"!'*, A great deal of brandy is confumed by the common people ; but this is counter-balanced at home and abroad by ipirits drawn from grain, o.fi"uit, or fugar. ,,,,..f.r-, ,..i« • ■.<■. i^q r U-y,>n-- Rum, which is produced from the latter, has had, and ever will have, in the United States, the preference over our brandies, by reafon of ° its cheapnefs. The Americans, efpecially the Boftohians, import melafTes from the fugar iflands and diftil it, and independently of their, confumption, they re- fell a great part of it to the inhabitants of the fame iflands, who cannot •diftil it fpr-waat of combuftibles. ^ -^ ,,,,,,,;> •' Befide rum, the Americans make (Irong fpir . Hts froi^ grain, potatoes, &c. They are in- debted for this to the Irifh and Germans who. "havei/gdne; to fettle in the United' States^ A pernicioiis prefent thofc emigrants have v made iheYnii ■'••^'^'''^'^''-''■'"^''^'•'■'•''■■'^''■' "^•''■'i'^"' ■■*'•' '•• '■'.•*.:*' s^i" "«' . •'iii If eland the cheapnefs of fpirits made? fro.m '• i'J. j2;rain,. ? UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IO9 grain; -places them within thef rfeicli^of the poorefl: man. The lowed clafles of Ibciety ufe them to an incredible excels ; and this cxcefs contributes not a little to promote that quarrel- Ibme humour which charadlerifes the Irilh, to plunge them into ftupidity, and hinder them from rifing to that degree of profperity to which the liberty of commerce they have lately obtained ought to carry them. ' ' ' ' The Americans would already have experi- enced a part of that degradation of which the excelUve ufe of ftrong liquors is the caufe, if they were not almoll: all proprietors, in eafy circumftances, and fathers of families ; if inftruc- tion and morals were not more generally pro- pagated among them than among any other people ; and, finall}^ if the quick and confidei"- able profits which workmen there obtain by the high price of workmanfhip, did not give them a f^iutary ambition which keeps them from in- temperance*."'^'-'^' --'■--- -'^ '''''^' '''''"' * The temperance of the Americans proves, that a man ts hcneft.zuhen he ii ho^py. He is neither vicioi'S nor trlminal, except whm he is wretched. What therefore is the firil caufe ' of hl^ vices and crimes? The cauCc of his wretchednefs. The want ii^ .hcdncfs the genealogyoof almoft all crimes ij^— t^ property pf vi ^ eniploy-^raufc of wVetchediiefs of the people — wretcl *•* • o o o ■"rl 1' Mm lIO <5N THE COMxMERCE dF THE Thofc of the United States *, where the peo- ple have gone from iimple and primitive man- ners, where luxury begins to reign, where fla- the caufe of drunkenncfs — drunkennefs the caufe of quarrels — of idlenefs, of mifery, of thefts.— Thefts caufe imprifortment and capital puniihments. The firft link only to which a defeiSi: of property is attach* edj renfiains to be remarked* It is not necefiary to name it. But it arifes from this genealogy, that in the actual order of things, the people being drawn into vicds and Crimes, are lefs culpable than they are imagined ; confequ«ntly, they ought not to be fo feverely puniflied, and that government (hould fupprefs too fevere pains. This truth cannot be too o^tcn re- peated, and it ought to be joined to every circumftance when opportunity offers, feeing that the lift of bloody execu- tions is every where augmented, and that narrow minds which fee the atrocity only of the crime, without perceiving its caufe, inceflantly demand blocd for expiation. There would b«5 but few fcaffolds if none but real criminals mounted them, * See Smith's Voyage to the Southern United States, where a defcription cf the life of the Carolinians is given. This author makes it appear, that they drink to excefs the ftrongeft liquors, although the climate be extremely hot. By this they abridge their lives, and appear old in the flower of youth. This is one of the caufes of the mortality among the Englifh in the Eaft Indies ; they have introduced there the ufe of wines and ftrong liquors, and they are vidims to them. The Indians make no ufe of thefe, and live to a great agcc ' - In quoting Smith, the European readers ought *o be put on their guard agaiaft Englifli partiality, which reigns through- out the work. very -:Y f UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. II! Y(^Ty ftill exifts, are daily witneffes to the ravages caiifed by the exceffive ufe of Iplrits made from grain *, A long habit is difficult, and often impoffible, to fhake off, efpecially when it procures enjoy- ments. Therefore, it is not to be expected that the Americans will ever renounce the ufe of thefe liquors. The philofopher fighs at this; commercial nations, which turn to profit the misfortunes and caprices of mankind, drive to take advantage of it. France will have the advantage -f, if fhe can reduce the price of brandies to the level, of that of rum. Govern- ment, in order to aim at this point, has already perceived the neceffity of lowering the duties on the exportation of thefe fpirits. But ought it to favour, with fo much com- plaifance, the diftillation and exportation of brandies ? I do not think fo ; this new opinion feems to be a paradox ; it will ceafe to appear im'm lO' * All brandits, except rfiofe from fugar and wfne, are pcrnl- cioiiSj efpecially when new. They cannot be drank without immediaiely difordering the body. The moil trifling excefs is fufficient to caiife death. ' - •^'' ■'- ' ' '' ' t Lord She/ricM agrees that the brandies of France are preferable to ihofe of Spain and Portugal, of which there is Jieverthelefs iome confumption in thfj United States, to. ^ .n '■11 vit ' ,]i i^ wV^'H r m 'tiiiB'^ri -t, . ' ip?fj^7V<7rriffK'r-f^-~%yi^i^fii^ag,f, %fffnr^^^rr''r^^^fT''7Vlt^V ■Ci..l;'3l 112 ON rut COMMERCE OF TPIE ' io, when it fhall have been examined with at- tention. The cli/ljllation of brandies, caufe a great decay of combu>!tible3 : one great evil in a country where combuftibles daily become more rare*. The exportation of brandy produces but little to the revenue. To encourag;e this article, it has been ncccfTary to take off the impoft, which ar prcfent is no more than five lols per hogf- hcad, whiift wine pays a dufy of at leaft an hundred ibis, and in the Bordelois from that fum to twenty-eight livres "f. Government J ii * All the provinces of France, ihofe even to which nature has refufed the means of tranfporting their wood to others, feel the fcarcity of this article. Lorrain may be quoted as an inftance. The forefts of that province decay, as it is report- ed, in the profpe£tus of a price upon pit-coal, propofed by the academy of Nanci — the dearncfs of wood is exceflive there. The caufe of this inconvenience is not difficult to affign; it is the necefTary confequence of forges, glafj-houfes, falt-pits, &c. The academy requires pit- coal to be fought for, to fefve inftead of wood. A more fimple means would be to deftroy forges and glafs-houfes, and to get iron and glafs from America. f Gov<;rnment has, fmce this work has been written, fuf- pended the duties paid by the wines of Bourdeaux and Lan~ guedoc. This fufpenfion was granted upon a remonflrance, importing wy^T tTNlTEli STATES OP AMERICA. 1 I3 Govern me. .t oiic^ht to have done the reverfe, to have reduced the duties on wines, and aug- mented thofe upon brandies. The exportation of brandies is prejudicial to the confumption of our wines, for it is the ba- fis of all made wines in countries where wine is not produced. It is put into a great quantity of water ; to which is added bav berries, cverv \vhere to be, found. Wine brandies are indif- penfable in this fabrication, no other can fupply Iheir place, becaufe they only can give to arti- ficial wines the winy tafle which is eflential to make them drinkable. " ' What immenfe gain to flrangers in this pro- cefs — and what lofs to France ! A barrel of brandy whi(i:h pays a trifling duty on exporta- ti )n, whofe tranfport cofls but little on account of its contracted bulk, may be added to five or fix !:arrels of water, which cofl nothing, and by the aid of fugared ingredients, which give colours, may enter into coa'ipecit ion with fix barrels of wine, that pay confiderable duties on l».,.Ulf!' importing that there was an enormous quantity of wines at Bourdeaux, and which the holdeis dared not export, that they might not be obliged to advance the high duties. This prove?, that impofts occafion a ftagnation. Vol. II. I exportation ; if ''I'm 1I; Ml 'fell f ' 1 ■>iH if,-* (' ' 'Mffi 1 1 - Vxi, VI'} mn iillllWII* I llUtl^UJIJ^lliJllWjIlllf If 11; t-n8[ li I li! 114 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE exportation ; and vvhofe exportation and tranf- port is very expenfive. Therefore, in diililling and exporting bran- dies, we work for the intereft of our rivals ; we give them an eafy means of doing without our wines. What folly ! Wha't would people lay of an Alchymift, who h?.ving found the philofopher's ftc le, fhould comniunicate his fe~ cret to his rivals, who woulJ m.ikc ule of it to his prejudice. And yet this operation fo prejudicial to France has been favoured by government. It encourages diftillers ; that is, it raifes up ene- mies againft the meliorating vineyards and- wines ; and efpecially againft the art of pre- ferving the latter. It would be much more prudent and advantageous to difcourage diflille- ries. In fa£l, the di filiation of brandies is for the yineyard proprietor a laft refource> which proves his ruin *• '. ! 1> '. SECT 10 ?r * In the Orleanois, fix barrels at leaft of wine are necefl'arv to make one of brandy. The wine of this country, when it is drinkable, is fold on an average at thirty livres a barrel. The fix barrels produce one hundred and thirty livres, and reduced to brandy they fearcely produce eighty. Thus the proprietor fuffers a lofs of one hundred. Brandies font abroad,, where they diminiih the fale cf wine, can. bear no exportation- 4uty»- Ihli UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. II5 »■ i-'r r ■. <• . •• SECTION III. ■■.J OILS, OLIVES, DRY-FRUITS, SzC, Thefe articles are fo many wants with the Americans of eafy fortune, and efpecially thole in the northern States. Our fouthern Provin- ces, which produce fuch delicious fruits, cannot in this refpedl fear any competition. They are alfo articles which have hitherto befl fucceeded in adventures made from Marfeilles. Moreover, all that Euro[ e will be able to furnidi of them, will find room in the United States ; they will accouipany our wines, and We can join with the fame eafe and certainty of fale, perfumeries, anchovies, verdigrife, &c. as well as an hundred other little things taken by the Englifh from Marfeilles, and of which they have created a want to the Americans. duty. Wine?, on the contrary, pay a confiderable one. Let thefe calculations be anfvvcred. The Eiiglifli theinfclves ought not to admit the brandies of France, bccaufe, in fiUhig England with artificial wines, they are prejudicial to their wiiie duty. The prohibition of brandies would, under this double afpec^, be advantageous to both countries. I 2 Lord m^ m Yi'^l » : ;'.t •i. m^ /.''^ 'I'll Il6 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE Lord Sheffield, in his work, makes Spain, Portugal, and Italy, furnilh the United States with thcfe commodities. I wifh he had been fincere enough to give the advantage to France. France is fo generally known to fell thefe pro- ductions in the States of America, that it is equally aftonifliing this writer Ihould have been ignorant of it, or filent upon the fubjedt. This fa6t, by proving his partiality, ought to put readers upon their guard againfl his afier- tions.. :i t s E G T I o ^f rv. CLOTHS. People governed l>y a free conftitution are naturally grave and deliberate. They prefer, in every thing they ufe, goodnefs to elegance, what is folid to that which is fubje61: to the caprices of mode. Therefore as long as the independent Americans enjoy their excellent conflitution, they will prefer clothes of cloth to thofe of the moll brilliant fluffs. Moreover its beauty, pliancy, ftrength, and duration, render it more generally fit for this- life UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 11 7 life in any climate vvhatfoever : cloth fccuies the body from the cxcefTes of cold as well as from thofe of heat. It refifts rain ; in a word k unites every convenience ; and if it be the iiniverfal clothing of people in a middling ftate, it offers equally to the rich, but reafonable man, a choice proper to fatisfy his tafle, and to pro- portion his expences to his means. , ■',.,■. - The manufadure of cloths is in the num- ber of thofe complicated manufactures which employ throughout the year a great number of workmen by the day; therefore it will not be fuitable to the Americans, fo long as that clafs of men which produces thefe workmen,' fhall be able to employ themfclves more ufe- fully in the clearing of lands, and in cultivatiou in generaL ,+ ., .: -.* . > ■ -/ ) >i?r v i A manufacture of woollen fluffs, proper for the clothing of the country proprietor, his fa- mily, and fervants, may, without doubt, be ai* fociated into the labours of the field ; but ma- nufad,ures of this Jcind, although very impor- tant in theipfelves, can only be applied to' coarfe and unfinifhed ftutfs. The interrupted lelfure of the peafant permits him to do nothinp* which is complicated. Card, fpin, weave, and I 3 bleach, •i ! ;tar '■i Mr. Laurens, after having received two millions, which France lent to the United States, employed a p&rt of that fum to buy Englifli cloths. Complaints were made j he anf^'cred that it was his duty to buy bcLter and cheaper cloths. I 4 United "i '* '. t ^, ^^ V- ".kVj \--«*' >i*^ \ \ M IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. ^ Si 1.0 1.1 lU lU B^ 2.0 L2^ INu 11.6 ^^ »j> -t. ^A.^' ^ o 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WfST MAIN STRUT WIBSTH.N.Y. US80 (716) •72-4503 k ^t^ % <^ :V 1" 111 120 ON THE COMMERCE OF TUE . United States. But let the Americaus undc* ceive thcmfclves ; let them not attribute to the nation the fault of a few individuals; let thena not have a bad opinion of our cloths, becaufe fome b^d ones have been fent to then:i. The fame' accident would have liappened to Englifli clotVis-if, in a like cafe, there had been Englid^ merchants avaricious enough, and fo far ftrangers to the piibHc good, as to fend tlieir refufe to the United States *. • Englifli merchants love as well as others to get money, and there are among them thofe who, for the love of gairt, would trample under foot every patriotic confideration. But the public Spirit of the generality of them puts, in England more than ell'ewhcre, a check upon the fliameful enterprizes of avarice ; ccnfequently the greater part of the merchants never abandon the national interefts in their fpeculations, nei- ther the honour of Engli(h commerce, nor the reputation of their manufactures. It is thus they are become the principal agents for furr.ilhing every fpecies of manufac^ture to the whole world. When it happens that any of them facrifice national reputation to views of private intereft, honefl patriots generally prefer accufaticns againft them before a puTslic tri- bunal, and then the culprit is not fuffered to anfwer by clan- deftine memoirs to public and fubftantial accufations; thisob- fcure and cowardly refource is held in too great contempt to be made ufe cf. There remains nothing to the culprit but filencc or falfehood ; in both cafes he is difliomured in the opinion cf the public, which afFet a of . la i of , he fix eep UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 12 J pedie Methodique, Platierc was called a man of pretenfions. The lame title was given to Dr. Price in London when he predidcd the Jofs of the Colonies. The minifterial heads of that country laughed at the prophet, but the pent proved he was right. ,.. , , ,., ^.,,,;,, ,,. SECTION y. , •' ..'. I' .( ■••- , LINENS, . ■ '."'■ / There are two principal fpecies of linen-dra- pery, which are fubdividcd into a multitude of others. , i ■ i The firft fpecies contains linen properly fo called; that is to fay, linen which fervcs tq make fhirts, (heets, table linen, and all the lineq. t piade ufe of for every purpofe of cleanlinefs. Thefc linens are made with hemp, flax, or cotton ; this laft article is employed when the two former ones are fcarce, it is fometimes mixed with flax. , , , The manner of making thefc linens is very fimple ; they arc made in all parts of Europe *. • ** ''Thofe * If there be a country where the manufaflure of linens is encouraged, it is in Ireland, particularly fince its refurre£lion jnto the political world. Parliament has eftabiifhed a cpm- mittee which is particularly employed about this manufadlure, and which grants very confiderable fuccours to manufadlurers. There m 124. ON THE commerce: of the Thofe countries where religious or political defpotifm diibourages induftry; where the nu- merous inftitutions of charity, invented to di- vert the attention of defpair from mifery, nou- rifti idlenel^ ; thefe countries are the onlv ones wherein this manufacture does not mcfit the attention of the political obferver. There is one who has obtained more than thirty thctjfani pounJs fterling from government, and whofe manufadturc cmpioys two thoufand n;cn and women, and dx hundred diil- \i I * * 126 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE none for tlicir iaduftry, which mud conftantly increafe. • It refults from thefe fadls, that the United States will always have, in proportion to the increafe of their population and culture, lefs recourfe to flrangers for that principal kind of linen-drapery whofc manufaiSlure is i'o well aflbciated with the labours of the field*. / j / Very fine linens mufl: be excepted ; they arc deflined for luxury, and the individuals em- ployed ia manufacturing them are condemned to vegetate miferably in cities, rolling perpetu- ally in the fame circle of mechanical labours f . li • The American women are reno\trned for their induftry in the condu£l of their houfes ; they fpin a great deal of wool or flax } they would lofe their reputation and be defpifed, if their whole family were not almoft entirely clothed with the cloth and linen made in the houfe : if the vhole interior of their ruftic habitation did not bear evident marks of their cleanlinefs and induflry. + Manufactures are much boafVed of, becaufe children are employed therein from their moft tender age ; that is to fay, that men congratulate themfelves upon making early martyrs of thefe innocent creatures ; for is it not a torment to thefe poor little beings, whom nature commands us to permit to take the air and their fports, until they are of riper year?, and their ftrength is become confiderable — Is it not a torment to them to be a whole day, and almoft every day of their lives, employed * UNITED 3TATF3 OF AMERICA. 127 It Is the unhappy fate of all thofe who are born ill Eunipe without property, and will udt dc- bjic thcmfclver. by domcAic lahour. ■♦iL'f-' v The United States, where laborious Hidivi- duals may with io much f^iciiity become pro- prietors, arc far from that degradation ; and if they arc wife, they will have, for a long tinac, the happiwefs not to fee fpun or woven among them, any of thole delicalc kinds of thread and fine linens, which, loUL;ht afJcr and bought up by th'i opulent, arc the real productions of European mikry. - . The fecond fpecies of linens contains what is more properly called hiien-drapery ; that 13 - J: employ^] at tire fame work, rn an obfcirre and mfciled prifon ? A'lull not the wearincfs and vex;itif)n v/hich they fuller, ob- Hrucl: tlie opening of thtir phyricul nnd intellcilual facultief;^ and fhjpify them ? Mufl: not there reMt from this a degene- rate fiicc, inclined to nutom. conifm and flavery? For mofi' njanuriclnres rc(]iiire no cl!ii?r than mechanical labours, whicb a machine would perform a'; well .-vs a nv.n. It is therefore rmpofiJMe that a man condeir.ned to this^kind of employ fhoidtT.ijrc? ; tl'.ey arc too far advanced to retr-^u ; but to hinder the Americaiw froai ever f.ilkjkvinjj the fain.* curecTr ,^ « • I m I! i f V 128 ON TIIK COMMERCE OF TltE to fay, cloth made of thread of different colours, Avhether flax or cotton ; or thcfc two fubflanccs mixed with others. The greater part of this drapery requires too comphcated a procefs, too varied an apparatus, too continued a labour, to be manufadtured otherways than in thofc particular eflablidi- ments, fituated from neceflity in the neigh- bourhood of cities, and which have no affinity with a rural life. Thc«art of making well the tiflue, of mixing the colours, of contrafting them, of imaginary agreeable dcfigns, of preparing the linen when it is finifhed, &c. this art extenfive, varied, and delicate, requires :he greatefl attention. . The moft important thing is to do a great deal in it at a little expence, and it is the point to which the Engli(h are arrived, with refpedl to that kind generally known under the name of print- ed callico. This will be for a long time a confiderable article of commerce, between Europe and the United States, which confumes a great deal of it ; and it is an article wherein French induftry, left to its natural force, and not being reftrained by any obflacle, need not fear com- V UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 129 competition*. In this, as in mofl: other- articles, the mture of tilings is entirely in favour of Frapce, and fucccfs depends wholly on the will of her c'ovcrnment. In the year i 78:5 the government of France invited, hy an arret, forcifrn manufacturers of thefe linens to come arid ll'ttle in France, Ikit this invitation is not made in terms fuf- flcicQtly clear, or flattcrinc^, to induce flrangers to come and fettle amongll us ; efpecially not fuch as have a little energy and elevation in their characters, and it is of thefc alone that wc are in need. . • Among diiferent favours granted them, there is one wiiich entitles them to the enjoyment of their Jiate or profe/fion^ and of their uja^es ; in ^;H ; % iiil Lii * Lon' ShcffielJ maintains in his v/crk, that France has not even linen enough for her own confumption. A com- mercial dictionary, printed at Lyons in 1763, aflures on the contrary, that France (ends a great deal abroad. If the com- piler of the didioniry fpoke truth, he might be anfwered ac- cording to the author of Lcs Etudes de la Nature — " Of " what ufe i? it to a ftate to clothe foreign nations, whea " ones own people are quite naked?" — Thefe two writers may be made to agree, by faying that France, reftored to her energy, would eafily furnilh linens to foreigners and her own citizens, and that various interior caufes have hitherto pre- vented her from doing it. Vol. II, K that INI I i I30 ON TilE COMMERCE OF T H ii that v<'h'ich Jhull not be contrary to tU la^j::iof the But whut figiilflcs all the Viiguc cxprcflions cf enjoyment, of llatc and prntcfuon, liberty and iii'agcs ? What State is here i'pokcu of? Is it of the political, civil, religious, or domeftic flatc ? Englilhiuen, independent Americans, have a political Aate, a political liberty, that is, a right to take part in the adminiflration of public afR\irs ; is this flate undcrflood ? Is the liberty of having a temple for communion, for marriage according to that communion, undcr- Aood by the liberty of ufages ? Why ^re iiol; thefe ulagcs I'Secified ? .,:,., , .. AikI above all, what flgnifies thcfe words, in that ivhwh Jhall not he contrary to the {avjs of the kingdom. If they convey a clear meaning, do * not they completely deftroy the preceding fa- vours granted ? or, at leall, do not they leave a great uncertainty upon that which is or is not crranted : Why is not a language clear and without cvafion made ufe of, cfptcially in treating with Grangers ? Inftead of an equivocal jargon, dan- gerous in its nature, becaufe it produces mif- trul>, and may give an opening for deceit, why not fay to them in clear term ., '** If you come Within .UKITED CTATHSOF AMI- RICA. I3I ■v/itliin our ftatcs accompanied by your wivc\; arul children, — if you brint^your manufacluics, •if you crtablKh yourfclvcs uinong us, yuu fhall enjoy all the rights of our iubjcds ? Thcfe •rights arc, to polVefs property in the fulleft Ic- curity, and not to be deprived of it but b} the •Jaws, tribunals, tVc. if you lix your abode among us, your children will, without obflacle, be your hcii. : you (lull alfo preferve your re- ligious opinions. When th'Te fliall be a ccrtaia number of you, you (liall have a temple wherein to worfliip, according to your own manner, the Evcrlafting Father ; and you fliall have niinif- tcrs, and hold afl'emblies ; (liall intermarry ac- cording to your rules, 8zc. If P"'rance be not agreeable to you, nothing, abfolutely nothing, fhall h,inder you from leaving it, and carrying with you your riches." It Ihall be told that all this was meant to be laid by the arret : it was neceflary then to explain it clearly, and why were thefe obfcurc words added, — in that which Jhalj, not be contrary to the laws of' the kingdom ? How fliould a German, an Italian, an Eng- lifliman, who fhould be tempted to eftablifh themfelves iiT France, be acquainted with your ancient laws and ordinances ? Will they turi^ over your innumerable folios? Certainly they will K 2 not. * ii ' I*; a 132 ON THE COMMERCE OF TITE not, they will fl:ay at homc^ you will thcrcforq have Hiilcd in your intentions. On the other hand, do not tlicy know that a century ago, and even llncc that time, thoufands of ordinance^ were, and have been made agalnii t'le Calvi- nifls, and that thcl'e ordinances are not yet re- pealed?. Ought not they to he afraid that theie would be brought forth agalnft them if they give the Icail: oiTcnce ? Thjy will remain at home, and once more you have miiTed your aim. It is the more necedluy for monarchies not to dlfiruife under a captious form the advan- tages by which they feek to entice ftrangers \ as free dates, fuch as Ireland and independent America, do not fubjccl emigrants to any capi- tulation or conflraint : they ofter them all the rights of citizens the moment thev fet their feet on fvee ground : and what rights ! In Ircr land that of voting at eledions; in the United States, that of being elei6led themfelves ; and confcquently the moft feducjng right, becaufe it is the mod proper one to maintain the digni- ty of a man who has dignity ; the mofl proper to give it to him who has it not. When a nation perceives the neceflity of en- ticing firangers to Icttle in it, nothing ought to be 'T^r^-f tJNiTED STATES OF AMERICA. I33 l)fe fparcd, elpecially in ftates flir advanced in civilization. It is a means of regenerating morals, if it be poffible to rep;enerate them, and efpecially to encourage itidufl^ry : for in order to exift in a flranoe land, and to c;nin in it con'idcration and confidence, emigrants are forced to have good morals, probity, and exactitude. Their example cannot but have a falutary influence upon the nation which receives them into its bcfom, Otherwiie, having opinions, habitudes, and knowledn"::, different from thofe of that nation, they may help it to break its bad cufloms, to give it a greater extent in its views, more cof- mopolitifm, or of that character proper for ap- proaching nations to each other, and for dimi- nifhing national antipathies. When the advantages which a country ac- quires by ftrangers who fix themfelves in it are coniidcred, it is aftonlfliing to fee governments think fo little about them, and frequently not to refpciTt their rights. They ought, on the contrary, to protect a ilranger fo much the more as he feems lefs fupported by the laws than a citizen ; that he is unacquainted with them ; that he may eallly be the vidim of arti- fice and chicanery ; that it frequently happens K 3 that m •i'i hi-; i fi 154 ON THE COMMERCE OF TlfE that he does not underftand the language IV finally, that being alone, he has neither family,- friends, nor patrons* - '. • «. ,, ., i-- ,, In this fituation, the flranger ought to be environed by the fafe-guard of a particular ad- miniflration, which fliould watch over his fafety ; but it is the r^ verfe of this in many ftates*". '' ' ' " ' ■' ^ Thus whilfl: we fee in ihofe flatcs who un- derfl:and their interefts better, Frenchmen dirciSl- the greatefl part of their manufadures, few Urangers arc (een to come and eflablifh them- felves amono-fl: us. I could quote, as a proof of what I advance, known fa6ls, quite recent ; but I will not write a book upon every article of exportation ; I will- confine myfelf to fayuig that grcal liberty, and' • If a'fFraftger be fufpected, few examinations are made, he is arrefted-— liberty is left to a citizen, or at lead he is treated mildly ; the flranger is imprifoned : the fabaltern, in^ folent by reafon of the indifference of his fuperiors, treats him with fevefity : for what i« there to fear from him? Is the' word with them all, — fct ai: liberty — will that ftranger go and- make the temple of chicajie ring with his complaints ? He fears, left it may be a new foreft,— he flies, .curfing that in^ liofpi table country* » . . .•si >w tJNITED STATES OF AMEUICA. 135 jevo regulalhns*, are the two befl: means of im- proving the linen manufadures in all countries, as well as in France. i . ■', '*{' u 1: !-";! ♦!< f , /i s £ c Ti fc>^ vi. ^ "' '; ■ 'f •■ . ...... ;_. iji ^ "■•''• ' filLKS, RIBBONS, SlLK-STOCKINGS, GOLD AND ; . SILVER lace', &C. . ' There ari upwards of feventy thoufand looms and frames employed in thefe articles, and one half of the filk made ufe of is produc- ed in the kingdom. The other dates of Europe, except Spain and Italy, are obliged to procure from abroad the whole of the filk necefl'ary for the manufadlures m * I mirlit quote, as a proof cf v/hat I have fald In the^courfe of this work, that even the regulations which appear favour- able to induftry, are prejudicial to it; the new arret palled in favour of French linens, fubjecls them to a (lamp duty, under the pretext of preventing fraud. The duty appears moderate, yet the manufatSlurers are fenfibly injured by it ; moreover it reflrains them, in fubje■■ 'i 40. hi i3& iN THE COMMERCE OF THE bo very Gonfiderable there*, if America takesll advantage of that opening to which nature calls her. Ribbons excepted, the reft are proper for great cities only ; where vanity being iiicellantly excited, makes drefs a defirable and almort: ne- ceflary objcdl. But thele great cities will, without doubt, be very rare in the United States. It is ftill more certain that the con- fumptiou of ][ilks does not, at prefent, form ' ' ,* ' " cheapnefs : to have a preference of falc, it is ncceffary to *' fell at a lower price j the wages of workmen muft tiierc- ** fore be moderate, and they muft gain no more thian will •* find them in rieceflai ies : the workman muft never be fuf- ** fered to enrich himfelf. In becoming rich, he becomes ** difficult, exaflirig, enters into combinations, impofes laws, " becomes difllpated and idle, he caufes the price of work- ** manfhip to increafe, and manufadtures to fail." Thus rich /luffs ought to he watered with the tears of the workman whs manufaSiures them. ■' " '" * ,' ' '.. 1 ('..r--. ;/ Ought not this laft phrafe to difguft the free Americans for ever with the mania of manufadlures of luxury?— ^Let them reflet, that to fupport the filk manufadures of Lyons, the fame author propofes to the king of France, to facrifice his tafte for fimplicity of drefs, and to wear brilliant clothes, &c. * Lord Sheffield fays, that it is not the fifth part of Lidian filkSj &c* but what fignifies this calculation ? The country which confumes the greateft quantity of filk ftuffs, does nr;, perhaps, confume the twentieth part of that which Lord "Shef- field means by Indian filks. there trNITErt STATES OP AMERICA. ij^ there a confiderable article; that it will aug-» meat but very flowly, and in a manner almoHi kitenfible. The Americans oudit undoubted- ]y to be congratulated upon it. Their man- ners will be good and fimple as long as they do not contra: ;, fj'ii"*f: Although a fine hat he called a heaver, it docs not follow that Canada and the United Northern States arc more hivonrable to the fabrication of hats than France. Hats, purely of beavf'-, do not wear well, and are inconveni- ent on account of their weight. The fineil:, handfomcfl, and heft hat3, contain but little o^ the fur of that animal, which we efteem at too high a price, when we think of the lofs of Ca- nada. Wool, the furs of the hares and rabbits ; the hair of goats, which is in fa(5t wool, and camels hair, are more neceflary for making of hats than the fur of beavers. ,, . . The few hats of beaver made in the United States, will be fufficieut for their confumption. — The Americans muft, however, be incef- fantly told this great truth, that manufadlures are not proper for them except in thofe articles which are immediately aflbciated with agricul- ture, and which facilitate its operations. That of hats is not of this kind, Europe .;.;■;;-; - »;■'.. I4« ON TlfE COMMERCE OF TFiB Europe will therefore fiiriufh hats to tlie Americans. And of what great importance is this ohjcdt, when the rapid incrcafe of their po- pulation i? confidued ? It may be affirmed, that every nation capable of fending them out mer- chandize, will fend them hats; hut thofc of France will have the preference. This manv.- fadure had there its origin. The Trench alone have carried it cllewhere, like many other things, but it has never ceafed to improve in France. , > French hats are always the heft fulled and dyed, and the moft agreeable. When govern- ment fhall have refolved to do for wools that which it has done for mulberry trees, the ma- nufad^ure of hats will be fo much the more ad- vantageous, as we fhall be lefs tributary to fo- fcigners for the articles employed therein. .<■, \)'i )' ■■"' SECTION VUI. ' - ' , LEATHEii, ., , 4,)^i $HOES, BOOTS, SADDLES, &:C. I ' To what caufe ought the great Superiority of Englifli leather to be attributed over ours ? Why is there in this leather- \york of all kinds that VKITED STATES OF AMERICA. I4J that ncatnefs, that icduciiig appearance, which \vc have not yet approached ? It muft be re- peated, that ill Eiiglaiid mca hon i;» the pio- feflion of a taiuier, and pndc thcmfclves upon it, whilil it is the contrary in France. An Enghdi tanner, fjioemak'-T, or faddlcr, does not quit hi» trade when he is rich; but makes his riches icrve, in proportion as they augment, to give luftre to his profciiion, to multiply his work (hops, to extend his affairs, to become im- portant even in the article which has furniihed him ihe means of doing it. The leather which comes from the tanneries whufe owner is in eafy circumrtances, is always well prepared, becaufe he cjin advance fams of money, and give to hides the time neceflary for their progrefs through his t'ln-yard. A poor tanner is always preflcd by his wanting to take the leather out oP the tan-pit, where it is necefTary it (hould remain a long time to acquire a good quality. In general, it is impolhble with this penury, unknown to the Englifli, that there fhould be time to manufadure or fabricate good merchan- dize. Thofe who employ the leather, acquire no reputation in their profefiions but in propor- tion to great provifions made before hand, which puts it in their power to furnilh nothing but leather .11 14^;, ON THE COMMERCE OF THE leather improved by bcin^ kept. It will be aikcJ, how the wholcfale dcnlcrs manage when they begin bufiucfs? They fiiKl credit, if in their apprciiticelhi!).', which precede their tfla- bliihmcnts, they have acquired a good reputa- tion *. ^ This • • \Vc may read'.!'/ perceive, that this hnpc of ^eIn^; f)me day well cflii'oliilicd with great faccours, is worth all the bonks vi morality. The cngravinj,5 of Hog.utii, \vi)iih lepidcnc the fdtc of the idle apprc^ntlcj, paint, to t!ic lif*, i'ngiifli manners. The irucrjtion of thi; vvorlcr.ian is not to b.-come Sicretiire dit Roi\. He mnrrics the daught.-r of the good mafter who has brought hinn up, and fucceedi him in the fame bafincis which ho has conrributcd to cxten'd. It is not that the French tanner, who barters his profcfllon aixaind a brevet of Secretaire du Roi, or commifikry of war, ou'xht to be blamed. He reafons well. He fees that no confideration is attached to talents and induftry, and he delays not to buy himfclf a title. It is therefore wrong to jolce merchants and artlzans, who, for money, get themfelves cn- rc^Iflered in a privileged clafs. It is an evil to the ftate, but it is not tlie f lult of thofc who purchafe. The fault is due to the kind of difgrace from which government has not yet de- livered the ignoble. It ought to be obforved here, how fatal the fpeculation which eftublii^cd this order of things has bejn to the nation. To procure money, offices were created ; which, by ennobling, induces the ignoble to purchafe them ; they are difgufted witl^ ji A petty title of bought diftinf^ion, which, in the lan- guage of ridiculous pride, is conltrucd into nobility. thei^ "T"TT TT nv^^"^^*^^^^ ■▼'»' UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. M5 This credit Is then fupported, not only by the certainty of fuccefs, but alfo by that of feeing them become a conftant means of con- fumption. r i • ' -. . •. • Such is the art of the Englifh to fiipport and increafe their commerce in every thing, and every where. If we could put it in pradicc, all our commodities of leather would foon equal the perfection of theirs, (ince we do not other- wife want materials. Their being beforehand with us, ought not to difcourage any body, but it is neceflary to the fuccefs of this rivality, that government flbould deliver the tanners from the (hackles with which they have fet- tered them*, and fupprefs or diminiih the enormous their fituation by being difhonoured, and for a (ew millions of livres, which this pitiful operation flowly procures, commerce is ruined by having its capital diminifiicd : that commerce, which, by being fupported, would continually produce mil- lions to the ftatc. • Two caufes have Angularly contributed to ruin the tan- neries in France. The confiderable duties impofed fuccef- fively upon leather, (fupprefled afterwards in part through, prudence) and effentially the fevere infpedlion that the comm'ts (in this cafe a kind of excifeman) may make every hour of the day and night at the tanners. Nothing difgufls a man, who has feme energy, more with his profeifion, than this dif- VoL. II, L graceful tm^ 14^ ON THE COMMERCE OF THEl enormous duties with which the tanneries are loaded*. , . SECTION graceful fervitude, than the fear, than the conftraint which arife from the idea of being difturbed at every moment, by his firefide, by contemptible fatellites who live on the mifchief only which they do, and v/hom the certainty of impunity^ in- terefl:, and habitude, render unmerciful, infolent, and frequent- ly perjured. ' < • . . • ^ ^ Confiderablc proceffes have been feen to arife from thcfc vifits, and very rich tanners to quit a profeflion which pro- mifed them nothing but tormer>t, anguifli, lofs and law fuits. It will be a long time before the evil which the farm has done to the tanneries be repaired. Interefted men, who think to confole us for real evils, which we fuffer, by thofe which the)* fuppofe among our neighbours, fay, and repeat, that the fame vexation of commis and of cuftoms, produce in England the fame tTedts. This may fometimes happen, but there is a law to punilh them, without a hope of pardon, when they overleap the boundaries prefcribed to them. And thefe boun- daries are much more contra(Sled than ours, which the follow- ing fa(5t will convince us. Two officers of the excife, having taken it into their heads to follow a man carrying a hamper of wine to the houfe of a particular perfon, entered with him in contempt of the law J the mafter of the houfe called forae conftables and charged them with the officers : they were taken before Alderman Hamett, who read the a6l of Parliament to the culprits, and fent the.n to prifon, for having violated the rights of citizens. Mercure politique 1786, p. 286. * The following is a lift of duties pa?d on leather, whether it be French or foreign j and it muft be here obferved, that the .^wV'i"*i^W^^n--5*7J'M^,'r'"''r!l-^:'--'^v' ■' " w*-."l'-fwi ' ^1^ ITNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I47 \ .'' Uitf'j I <1 i-.ii SECTION IX. GLASS HOUSES. »■ . .' i Engllfh glafs ware is brought to great per- fedioD, and England makes it a great objedl of ,.,,., , .; . exportation. the leather of France is far from fupplying our wants. We get the greateft part of that which we confume from the Spanifh and Portuguefe colonies, from the Levant, and from the coaft of Barbary. Green leather, French or foreign, pays on livres fcls entering the kingdom by the hundred weight i 5 Leather worked up or tanned, pays after- wards the following duties Leather and fkins - 2 f« per pound Goat fkins - 4 Ten fols per pound, which gives more up* on leather . - i Goat fkins - - 2 General average - 46 and by the hundred weight - - 22 10 Cuftom to the general farm --20 Total 25 15 Leather and (kins pay a duty of a third of their value. L 2 When ;1I 1 ■1 4'|B hH'' i^l i|M|i; tlB 1 148 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE exportatior. America ought to prefer Englidi glafs to ours, becaufe we ourfelves prefer it to When in 1759 a duty was impofed, the king ordained that thefe two fols upon leather and fkins, and the four fols upon goat Ikins, Ihould be reimburfed to the manufacturer, when he fliould have fent his merchandize abroad. But adminiftration demanded and obtained leave to reim- burfe two-thirds only. Since that time there has oeen a new import often fols per ^und, which makes the duty one fol more upon leather, and two fols upon goat (kins. This new duty has completed the ruin of the tanneries. There is another abufe, which merits to be obferved. It IS that the adminiftration receives its duties undiminiihed up- on leather half rotten, fcraped or tanned. After thefe fa6ls, it may be comprehended, that the tanners in France are reduced to a fmall number, and are in general miferable. * Jn hnportant note relative to the article of leather. The note on the duties paid on leather, is true with refpe£l to the reality of the duties j but wc have been convinced, fince the note was printed, that a middle price cannot be fettled between hides, and calf and goat^fkins. There are at leaft two hundred of the two firft for one of the laft. We have been equally convinced, that the hundred weight of (kins bought at thirty-feven livres, and fo!d after the tanning at fix- ty-four livres, fixteen fols, produces to the tanner a profit of no more than five livres fi\'e fols. This eafily explains how the tanners have been ruined. Tran»lator. that UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN 1 49 that of our own manufa6tory, common bottles excepted, which we make better, and which arc of a finer glafs than that of the Enghfh. But although this opinion may hurt the intereft of thofe who have fuch eftablifliments, it is necef- fary to fay, that France, far from encouraging them, ought to wifh for their deftrudlion. This kind of manufadlure deftroys combufti- bles, of which the rapid progrefs is alarming, when it is compared to the flownefs with which they are produced. The EngliOi, feated upon their coal mines, are little uncafy about the voracity of furnaces wherein glafs is melted; but although it be faid that we have the fame advantage, it is ftill permitted to doubt of it. And moreover it is not fufficient to have immenfe coal mines un- der foot, it is neceflary to be able to work them at a little expence. Glafs manufadories, placed within the reach of mines, (hould not be too far diftant from the fea, for the tranfports be- coming expenfive, would give to the Englifli an advantage over us, who from every part of their ifland can eafily get to the fea. Finally, our own confumption of glafs- ware, much greater than that of the Engliih, may already be too confiderable, if it be compared with the L ^ . means ^i 3 w 150 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE means to which the ever growing fcarcity of combuftibles reduces us *. ^ To be fully convinced that we ought not to put glafs-ware into the lift of articles of expor- tation to America, it is only neceffary to refled 'ipon the lituation of the United States. They have immenfe forefts to clear, confequently it is highly proper that they fhould eftablifh glafs manufadories, and increafe th';m as much as poffible. The labour employed to deftroy the woods for the clearing of lands, at the fame time that it difpofes the land to cul- ture, will ferve for the produdlion of a very ex- tenfive objc6l of manufadture, therefore the utility of this deftrudion is double to the Ame- ricans "f. It cannot be doubted, that this con- fideration * The fcarcity of wood, which begins to be manifeft, be- comes fo much the more alarming, as combuftibles which have been attempted to be fabftituted for it have not fucceed- ed, and that luxury and population naturally irclined to in- creafe, efpecially with commerce, the confumption of com- buftibles will be doubled. f This is what is done in New Jerfey for the forges. It is impoflible, fays the author of the Cultivateur Americain, to travel acrofs this province without meeting with fome little iron forges. If a proprietor has a great marfh full of wood, and that he wiflies to clear it, he begins by making a dyke at Pfje extremity to ftop the w^ter of the rivulets which rua aqroOk '^rTT''VA". .'^V - Yj- : ■>r -fiTuifafiv ,' UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I5I fideration will ftrike them, that they will one day conceive the project of furni(hing Europe with glafs-ware, of adding this article to thofe which they can exchange for fuch European productions as are improper for little States to cultivate or manufa(5lure within themfelvcs. It can be no more doubted, that France will gain greatly by feeing her glafs manufadories de- ilroyed by thofe of the Americans, who will fell us glafs-vyare in exchange for our wines, cloths, printed linens, (ilks, &c. In the mean time, it would undoubtedly be a falutary mea- fure, to open the kingdom to the importatiori of foreign glafs, '!*t* im SECTION X. i'»''i ';*« IRON AND STEEL, The confumption of thefe two articles is im- menfe in the United States ; the fingle article acrofs it. He fixes in this water the wheels neceffary for the manufadture of iron, &c. And in a fmall number of years the traveller, who had feen in paifing by nothing but a vaft pond full of trees thrown down, and had heard the noife of hammers and anvils, fees well enclofed fields, vaft meadows, L 4- of m Hi i 152 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE of nails amounts to confiderable fums. This will not appear extraordinary, when it is re- membered, that all the houfes, all the enclo- fures of the Americans, are of wood, that they build a great number of (hips, which require frequent reparations. It is the fame with refpsdl to faws, (hovels, hoes, and in general all the inftruments necef* fary to agriculture and navigation. The Americans are fingularly curious in the choice of the firft neceffity. They have there- in the general tafle of the Engli(h ; they will have that only which is good. On comparing thofe which they make themfelves with the tools made in France, it muft be acknowledged that we are far from that perfeflion at which they are arrived in them : this perfection is owing to the eafe of the labourer, and to the confederation attached to agriculture. Imper- fection is a neceflary confequence of reftraint and difhonour. The Americans have attempted to make iron and fteel. Many manufactories have been fet Up at New York, in New Jerfey, and in Pen- fylvania ; it is true that thefe manufactures are few in number, but they will necefTarily increafe for the reafons which I (hall hereafter give. England T^'V UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I53 England heretofore exported a coiifiderable quantity of iron and fteel * : her mines not having yet furnifhed iron proper for certain iii- flruments, (he had recourfe to thofe of Ruflia, and efpecially to thofe of Sweden, whofe iron and fleel are mod elleemed. She did no more with regard to America than {land between Her and others, and this circuit augmented the ex- pences of the colonift, without procuring him any benefit. This will exift no longer, be- caufe the Americans are about to trade diredly with the Swedes and Ruffians. Lord Sheffield calculates, that one year with another England imported 50,000 tons of fo- reign iron, of which from 15 to 20,000 was * To favour the exportation of thefe articles, the parliament had forbidden all the eftablifiiment of mills and other machines in the United States for making of ft eel. See 25 Geo. II. ch. 29, fed. 10. It may be judged by this circumftance to what a point the mother country, or rather the monopolizers, can carry avarici- oufnefs } fince the Americans were forbidden to enjoy thofe advantages which nature had thrown before them. Mono- poly refpefls nothing. When thefe attempts are confidered, ought we to be furprifed at the eternal mifunderftanding be- tween colonies and the mother country, a mifunderftanding which finifties either by the ruin of the former, or their fepa- ration from the latter. afterwards m 154 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE afterwards exported to the colonies cither in its natural fbte or worked up. The profit to the mother country was, ac- cording to his Lordfhip, i2,ooo,oco livrcs, or thereabouts. During the war, and (ince the peace, fome exports of this kind have been made from Fnnce to the United States ; but they did not fucceed. Accuftomed, according to the prin- ciples of monopolifers, who have hitherto di- reded our foreign commerce, to furnifh our colonies with brittle uteniils, and otherwife very imperfed, our merchants were willing to treat the independent Americans like their flaves in their iflands*; and the Americans refufed our ♦ The Chamber of Commerce of Marfeilles, in an inftruc* tion very well drawn up, addrefTed in 1784 to the merchants, had recommended them to a£l contrarily — '* RecolleiSI:," faid it, *' thftt you have not ignoran*: or enflaved colonics to treat " with, but a free people ; and, confequently. rapidly tending " to perfection. If you wifli to fucceed, a<3: with fidelity, " upon extended and liberal views," &c. &c. I have not read this inftrudion. A man of letters, who has refided a long time in the country, has given me the ideas of it, which I have related. We mud not be furprifed to Hnd in the merchants of Marfeilles intelligence §n commerce fo rare £ny where elfe, Lefs (hackled, commerce rauft offer more folid ideas, Th« UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I55 our merchandife. They laid, that we did not even know how to make nails ; and, in ftridl truth, they were right in their afTertion. They preferred the iron and fleel of England, al- though the duties on exportation increafed their dearnefs. .^ It is probable enough that the Englifh legif- lature will fupprefs them, according to the ad- vice of Lord Sheffield ; and this, joined to the benefit of the oeconomy procured by the difco- very of Lord Dundonald, and of Meflrs. Watts and Boulton, for heating furnaces at half the common expence, will undoubtedly produce a reduction in the price of iron. This diminution is one of the caufcs which muft necefl'arily hinder us from attempting a rivality in this particular with the Engli/h ; but there is another, which is ftill more dcci- five. In fa6l, the obfervations made heretofore up- on the neceffity of deftroying our glafs manu- fadlories, apply naturally to that confiderablc branch of iron- work, of which the workmanlhip is the leaft expence, and which requires a great The Tame energy is found in an excellent Memorial on the Franchifes of this city, lately puMifhed againil: the general farm, and of which we (hall have occafion to fpeak. quantity i^6 ON THE COMiMERCE OF THK cjuantity of combuftiblc materials. The United States are obligred to dcilrov their immenfc fo- refh : France ought, on the contrary, to think of re-producing hers ; therefore, the founderies and forges will offer in Annerica the advantage of turning to profit woods, which, without thefe manufadlures, it would be equally necef- fary to burn : whilft in France, wood and char- coal, becoming every day more fcarce and dear, renders thele cftablifhments more expenfive. Now, as the abundance in which iroa mines are everywhere l^nd*, makes the price of iron depend almoft entirely on that of combuf- ,tibles neceflary to melt it, it is evident that the United States have over us, and even over the Englilh, a confiderable advantage. Moreover, forges are a part of the equipage neceflary to country labour ; for, if it were ne- ceflary to feek at a difl:ance the utenfils of agri- culture, the progrefs of clearing of lands would foon be flopped — the productions would not pay the expences. Thefe would ftill be increafed by the repeated neceflity of fubftituting new utenfils to thofe which there would be no means * It is now proved, that there are many of them in Ame- rica. Mines of tin, and of very good copper, have alfo been difcovercd there. of V UNITED STATES Of AMERICA. I57 of rcpairii^g. As foon as a people have mines of iron; as loon as they arc led by the nature of things, and by ncccflity, to cftablini foiinderies and forges, it ib not a long time before they re- nounce all foreign aid in the articles of iron*; therefore, the Americans are, as I have obferv- cd, already provided with theie eftablifliments: and as Englilh induftry has cftabliflied and di- redled them, they are all at that degree of per- fection which we have not vet attained. Let it be remarked, that thefe manufactures beinof joined to a life of asrriculture, and carried on in the mid ft of it for its ufcs, can have none of the pernicious influences which ought to be feared in thofe complicated manufad:urcs which are obliged to- be concentrated in the in- clofures of cities, whofe deftru6tive employ ex- haufts the natural ftrength of men, by corrupt- in e their morals. * Perhaps nails muft be excepted. Their price will be a long time in Europe lower than in America. If, as Mr. Smith aflerts in his Trcatife on the Wealth of Nations, a young man of twenty years of age can make 2,400 nails a da)*:, let it be judged to what a degree of chcapnefs loiv-priced workmanfhip ought to reduce them ; therefore, wherever workmanftiip is dear, nails cannot be made. . Yet we read in the American Gazettes, that there has been eftablifhed in one cf the States a manufadure of nails. Will this fucceed?— !f uturity will fliew us. Therefore, i.i.^ 158 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE Therefore, to rcfumc this article — far frofn encouraging the exportation of iron nnanufac- tured in France, we ought, for our own inte- rcft, to encourage the importation of foreign iron, bccaule manufadures of this kind take away combuO:iblcs from things more preifingly wanted, and from lefs deilruclive manufac- tures, where workman fliip produces a greater profit. This, however, is not the cafe with every article of curiofity of iron, fteel, or copper work, wherein the workmanfhip exceeds the other expences. They belong to that weak organifation which the Americans ought not to envy. But it muft not be difiimulated, that a competition with the Englifh will, on this head, be difficult to maintain : their great abi- lity and addrefs in the diftribution of work and different proceffes, the invention of which has not been conftrained by any error * or falfe view of 1 ♦ Thofe falfe views cannot be too much deplored— thofe narrow ideas — thofe fears of ignorance, which fnatch from the hands of induftry the happy inventions which are proper to enrich a whole nation ! Who can calculate the riches that England owes to the fole application of the coining-mill, or engine and dye, whofe free ufe has been left to all the manu- factures which it was capable of improving in accelerating their \ r •^,^^'^"■■"11^" ^'! ,)« 1 I I Jill '•^'f UNITED STATES OF AMEUICA. i $^ of the adminiftration of England, gives them over us a confiderablc advantage ; yet it is not impoflible .) h. •1 ' 1 their efFcdls ? How many proceedings more Ingenious and expeditious has this machine produced ? Happily for England, there have not been found in her bofom thofc able minifters, who, feeing that this machine is of ufe in making money, have drawn frum it the profound confrqucnce that every one would make falfe money if the free ufe of it were permitted : as if it was pofliblc to make falfe money for a long time ; as if the more general ufe of the machine did not awaken the public, and even private intereft, and render them more attent'"* to abufcs which might be committed; ns if its ufe wouiu ;Kt produce much more benefit to the revenue, than it could de- prive it of by the falfe coinage of money, which can never be cither extenfive or danQ;erous.— When therefore will thofc who hold the reins of empire calculate like ftatcfmcn ? It is true that at prefent artifts are permitted to have mills, &c. by conforming thcmfelves to certain formalities, — always formalities I No other are required in England than thofe of being able to pay the expence of the machine, — and has Eng- land .perceived from it any pernicious cfFe6ts ? Has falfe mo- ney overturned public order, impoverifhed the nation, or di- mini(hed her revenues? With what difficulty has the invention ©f the coining mill made its way into France ? It is due to an induftrious French- man of the fifteenth century, named Briois. Perfecuted for this difcovery, he was obliged to take refuge in England j the Englifh received him favourably, and put his invention into execution. Another Frenchman of the name of Warin, of the laft century, wilhed to procure the advantages of it to his countrymen, he experien'^ed a like abfuid perfeculion ; and without ■f' i I if t6a 6M T»E COMMERCE OP THE • impoffible for us to balance it, for this diftribu* tion of work and proceedings are neither fecrets nor fuperior to French induflry. Let govern- ment adopt and follow the trivial maxim — * Who vi'ill have the end vv'ill find the means.' Let it in confequence not interdict any of the means, and this induftry will not have to envy the fuccefs of o.t rivals. '^. /--i - •*.,;,;„« -i Ti- ; -\^ • " 'y:i > . without the fupport of the Chancellor Sequier, he would have failed in his attempt. — I do not allow myfclf to fpeak of the perfedlion to which M. Droz pretends to have brought the coining mill at prefent; but by the vexations he fufFers, it may be judged that he has in fadl (implifled that machine, that he has rendered fewer hands neceflary, and the coinage of mo- ney more perfect and expeditious j two advantages very pre- cious in this art, as the expences of it cannot be too much reduced, and the exaditude and perfedion of the ftamp of money are the fureft means of difconcerting coiners. What fatal genius k it therefore which purfues induftry in France ? That of companies, of corporations, of privileges. As foon r*'^ a happy difcovery attacks their profits, they employ 'even the bafefl: means to defend them ', intrigue, falfehood, feduc- tron, are all legitimate with the people which compofe thofe alTociations, whilft the man of genius, {landing alone for the moft part, and who attaches too great a value to his time to proftitute it to thefe manoeuvres, generally experiences the tnoft humiliating difgufts. V SECTION tr^TTr.n STATES OV A:.IER!CA. i6i m SECTION xr. Ifi Jewellery, gold and silversmiths ar- ticles^ clock-work, 6cc, If the inbabitanls of the United States con- centrate their labvours and pleafure in a life of hulhandiy; if tlicy contiiiue to fcek happiiT^fs, not in pomp, but in nature hcrfelf, aiid in a finfiplicity of manners ; in that fimplicity which naturally produces eafc, and the population and profperity of Hates ; they will not feek after, but difdain plate and jc\Vels, to vvhich we at- tach fo great a price. They will referve pre- cious metals for miiits and commerce. It is not however to be prefumed, that thi3 order of thin^-s fhould loni; fubfift in grreat ci* O CJ o ties, and efpccially in frequented ports : Euro* pean tafte and wants prevail in America*, and French indullry ought to be anxious to fupply * Plate Is ufcd in the Southern States — ms'^-nificence Is fecn there i on which account, trarellcrs h^.ving but little ph;- lofophy, (jieak highly of them : — but obferve what is attached to this luxury, — flavery rsigni in the Southj avA there are many poor.— There are none in the Northern Stales, — no plate is there ufed. Vol* II. M ihclr ■V. 1^2 ON THE COMMERCE Off THff their confumption, feeing that the French can tmderfcll the EnglKh in tbefe articles. Bui it is probable that the plated ware (cop- per plated with filver) invented in England., Will take place in the United States of that of filver plate, aa painted paper has replaced there *nuch more expenfive hanging : this new fort ©f plate has for ufe aU the advantages of the ©ther, and coils a great deal lefs. Hov^ comes it that the Engliih are already fo advanced in this branch of induflry, wbilft there cxifls in France but one or two manufadtures "^here copper is^ plated on one fide only and fil- ver^d over on the other ? How have the Ens:- lifh already carried this invention to fa high a degree of perfedlion ? How have they made of it a matter of cxtenfive commerce, whilft we are reduced to the two manufaduTes wherein fto progfefs is {ten, and where the inferiority ©f the workmanflirp difgufts thofe who would otherwife End it to their advantage to make ufe ©f this kind of plate ? Thefe manufa£lures have an exclufive privr- le whofe illufion is fliewn by the nioft trifling obfervation, or oufs, in following a contrary plan. . Again, was it apprehended, that coun- terfeit crowns would be made my millions ; as a facrifice is made to this fear of an induftr/ which would certainly produce many millions pf them ? Thus when we confider all thefe articles^ wherein trifling confiderations (hall be our in- duftry, and condemn to mediocrity our means of profperity ; when we thence turn our at- tention towards the different fpirit which go* verns Englandi it is aftonifliihg that induftry ftill exifts in France, and that the nation does not fall into floth^ and remain there. Let us give thanks unto nature, who has richly gifted Us, and her guardian ftrength has hitherto de- monftrated itfelf fuperior to the malignant in- fluence of the falfe fcience of our adminiftra* tors*. Shall • A cUriouis and more ufeful fl'ork would be, a faithful and more rational hlftory of all the errors into which the rage of Ma I'egulating ■ .1 "p.-n mi.JF", f.FT"'' " " ■ \ fwfm.fm ' 1 1' J 264 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE ' Shall we remain behiiid the Englifl-i and Svvifs' in clock-work? The Americans mufl: have watches ; this admirable invention carries with it luch a degree of utility for even the poor claii'es of fociety, that it ought r^.ot to be con- fidered as a fimple acquifition of luxury, efpe-. ciallv in the United States, where the diflance of habitations one from another make the necef- f\ty of it more fully perceived. - - But watches muft be made good and at a cheap rate; thefe two conditions will liffure them a prodigious fale wherever civilization exifts; time is there a precious property, and its price renders the inflrument neceflary which divides it : they will be made good and at regulating and prohibiting has thrown adminiftration. It h very probable that the refult would be, that Frerxh commerce has always profpcred, in proportion to the inexecution of re- gulations ; that in caufing them to be rigoroufly executed, foreign comn-;erce has been favoured and enriched. The fpirit of invention and induftry which our prohibitory regimen has developed on foreign nations, was never perhaps fufpefled j neither the innnineiable quantity of workfhcps which are there conftrucStcd, in proportion to' the multiplication of ex- clufive privileges in France. Thus, that of the India Com- [)any has made Switzerland like the Eaft Indies, for the ma- nufaflure cf mullins, and plain and paintqd linens. ■ a cheap fw^w^r^T' 'y ■' ' •S^.y^.-WfTiTTT--'-- '"V? UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 165 a clieap rate, when able artifts are confult- ed •*. This fpecies of manufaifture will always be- long to great cities, where the cxctfs of popu- lation keeps workmaiiflilp at a low price, where the difficulty of fubfifting enflaves that crowd of weak and indolent beings which are under the law of the ricli undertaker. The United States are far from fufFering this difficulty of fubfiflence, this exccfs of population ; they are therefore far from thele roanufatlures. * Paris has produccJ fome very diftinguiflied ones j riiey hoiiouied their art bec^ufe they had irreat feiife and ingenuity, and had been well inftruCced ; but uieir pupils, for the molt part Itrangers, and not having the fame mt ^ns of gaining con- fideration, were afraid of our injudicious manner of defpifmg the hands which work at mechar.ical employments, and quit- ted the country. We have a; prefcnt a Swifs, M. Brequef, whofe talents are equal, if not fup -rior, to thofe of the moft celebrated Englilh watch-makerc>. Happily for us, his cha- radler, his elevated views, his obliging zeal, command refpetft in feme meafure, and place hrm above prejudices. Let go- vernment confult him, and he will foon indicate certain means whereby France may have a national manufacture of cloclc and watch-work. . We are informed that he has prefented to the Miniftry a profound memorial upon this fubject, - • i i M3 SECTION 1^6 ON THE COMMERCE Ot TIlR SECTION XII. pIFFERE^JT SQRTS OF PAPER, STAIN^l^ PAPER, Sec, This ufcful produiftion from old rags, thrown. pfF by people at eafe, and gathered with care ipy the indigent, is daily improved jn France *. * ' The * The manuf4(^urq of M. M. Johanrioif d'Aunonay, pro- duces finer paper than any other mariufa£lurc in Europe, and the proof is fimple.— There is more demand from Ruflia, England, and Holland, for this paper than the maniifa£lurer Can furniftl ; this fcafccnefs of paper d'Aunonay explains, for why, QUI* fhopkeepers ftill get paper from Holland. To di- piinifli this fcarcity, thefe good citizens have generouOy offer- ed to communicate their proqcfs to all the manufadlurers of paper in the nation, and icyen to form fchools, wherein the art of paper -niaking may bp taught. Many perfons have profited by thefe offers ; the States of Burgundy have lately fent three pupils— -Thefe manufa6liirers have proved that it was not more expenfive to make good and excellent paper ^han that of a middling quality. M. Le Clerc, who has a great paper manufadlory at Eflbne, found with concern, that; Jiis manufactory coft him a great deal, and produced bad paper only: he communicated his regret to M. Johannot ; the lat- ter went to Eflbne and prodifced good paper with common pafte. This was certainly a great fervice done to France, and Si good example given to the fordid avarice of monopolizers, who. . UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. iSj The Englifh themfelves buy our paper for printing, and our writing paper will not be long unequal to theirs, if it docs not furpafs it*. . But if there be an objed of commerce for which Europeans need not fear a reciprocal competition ; if there he an article which offers to all European manufaiilurcs a certain and lu- crative employ, it is that of paper: the con- sumption will always be equal at leaft to the production, and its luimerous ufes infure a ftill greater coufum|)tion, in proportion as popula- tion, commerce, and knowledge, ihall iacreafe* .^t who, not being able to do and embrace every thing, hinder others from^ ing it. May thefe generous patriots receive that honour which they d^erve : may their example be fol- lowed every where and by all. This will be to them a more flattering eulogium, a more jbrilliant and lafting recompenfe than cordons and ribbons, uwworthy of true merit, bccaufe they are frequently the price of intrigue, and the ornament of mediocrity. The pleafure of wellrdoing, and the fufFrages of honeft men, are pure and unchangeable recompenfes.— The artift who does not know how to con^e himfelf to thefe, will never do any thing which is great. * Rags are more fcarce, and confequentJy dearer, in Eng- land than in France, and they arc articles o^ illicit commerce between the two couiitrjes. There are very fevere laws againft this commerce, but it is, and ever will be, carried on, as long as there (hall be any thing to be gained by it. M 4 Every 2 68 OM THE COMMERCE OF TUK ' Every luition ought therefore to obl'ervc with^ out jc;alou{y, that each country llrivcs to have withiii itfelf manufaclures of this kinJ. The Americans cannot however enjoy this advantage for a long time to come : beCdes the clearncfs of workmanihip, their population can- not furnifh them old rags in quantities futfici- ent to eilabliOi paper mills whofc pro'Tudtions would' be equal to the confumption of the ialia- titants. Will their population ever furiiiih ihem with this fufHciency ? Tiiis is a queflion difficult to refolvc, In fa6l, in propoition to the know- ledge which nations may acquire, and to the liberty of the prefs, which may be enjoyed iri America, a prodigious quantity oC paper muft be confunGcd there ; but can the population of this country produce rags in the fame propor- tion ? It cannot reafonably be hoped that it will. It is therefore probable that the Ameri- can markets will not for a long time be provid- ed with any other than European paper, anci that this will find a place there*. * Rags are exceffively dear in Anieiicn : but the time i^ arriving when, by an increafe cf population, they will become plenty. In Pcnnflvania they already make very good pa- \ , ,- •'•"Tm .^^y^r"- ^-rw-r-w^'wr^-r—n-^r' •'^if UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 169 But fince the ufc of paper is lb advantageous to iiieu, iuicc it is lo varied, it behoves every nation to look upon foreign confunnption ;is a fupplement only, as an open port in the cale of a fuipcndon of interior commerce. It behoves every nation to keep paper at a moderate price within itfelf, and to attain this end, means muft be thou *' Sentinels which watch •ver ** public liberty and the prefervation of truth.'* + Ho we ver J confiderable works are fometiracs printed in ^he United States, and of which the edition is carefully enough correfted. — I have feen, for inftance, the Memoirs in Quarto of the Academies of Bofton and Philadelphia, of the laft year, which mi ■i: m X //: r i^f ' ' •mwmj^nrmfw'miiiw " '■ ■' I'J^T ' ~P^' 172 ON TIIK COMMfCUCr OF TIIR The furnKh'mc]; of books of Icicncc and amuiemciit mull thcteforo ir ' ': a confidcrablc object of importation into the United States. It is for France to appropriate to hcrftif this commerce, and to encourage the imprcllion of En^Jifh books. Our workmanfhip being cheaper than . *■ of England, and the En^Ufh making ufc of our papct:, our binding bring lefs expcnfivc, \vhy fhould no! -U tiie books in which ihe Ame- ricans ll:and in need of be printed in France ? It will be laid that wc do not enjoy the li- hex'^y of the prcfsj-rbe it fo : — But it is only with refpcd to our boi^iva '• j lor uiiduubtcdiy • the vn'rh proVfs at the fame time tlmt free America is not lb totally without typograihual t-ilriblilhaieutr, ami ihat the in- l^abitant^ are not 4II fucU iJioLs ui a piijucliccd Gt^rinafi creauicu ilicy vvcrc. * Under the reign of Louis XIV. whofo ambition extend- ed to every tiling, it was fcriouily attempted to make the French language uaiverfal. This abfurJ luctcnfion was ridi- culoufiy fupported by the tyranny exercITed upon books and auLhors. This tyranny could not but produce bad ones, zncji confcquently difguft Grangers. Happily fiulation^ and clearing ot lands ? It is efpecially for this future ftate of thiuj^s that France ought to prepare her means. Let it he alfo obferved, that this commerce employed feven or eight hundred vefTels, and about ten thoufand failors. Ought France to let (lip fo important a com- merce, and a means fo natural of I'upporting her marine ? For without commerce there can be no marine. Has not (he, in the richnefs of her foil, in a variety of her manufadures, in the low price of her workmanfliip. in the induftry and tafte of her inhabitants, in her population, and in the fituation of her ports, an infinity of means., fufEcient to eftablifh in America a folid and extenlivc commerce ? It muft be continu- ally repeated, that if it be wiflied that peace fliould reign upon the earth, the words prefer* ence and competition^ which are frequently fig- nals of difcord, muft be ufed with circumfpec- tion. Why (liould there be any jealoufy with rcfped to this commerce ? In the courfe of time,' independent America will offer a field wide enough for all the European manufac- tares, •-^--''j-- i •" ^- • , — Vol. ir. N CHAP. m- 178 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE ■ ' ;> v.f^/ ; . ■'.; ,1 «"*\;:".; '!^.r■^^ ;?♦■■!, a. '» CHAP. VI. -'» . :'^».« .^ . - ,, f . Fontainbleau, 22d O6lober, 1786, SIR, v^ ..,-:... ^ / The King's intention being to favour as much as poffible the commerce of the United States, I have the honour to commuiiic^ite to you fomc difpofitions made for that purpofe. 7 ! By Uifiy '.^»iiP"->'"l'*»f'l'- . "•'W™ry^r. tNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 1 79 By a letter of the 9th of January, 1784, to the Marquis de la Fayette, I informed him, that inftead of two free ports, promifed by the treatv to the United States, the king had deter- mined to grant them four, which has been ef- fected ; and I promifed him to confider the cuf- toms and duties on importation and exportation which (hackle commerce ; obferving to him, that thefe objeds required confiderable applica- tion ; they have not yet been completed. By another letter, I informed the Marquis, that his. Majefty had fupprefled the duties on the exporta- tio»of brandy, a meafure which he hoped would be ufeful to American commerce ; I aflured hiin alfo, that the duties of the king and admiralty, payable by an American veflel on its arrival in a port of France, (hould be diminifhed ; and af- terwards that fuch of them as remained, fhould be reduced to a llngle duty, to be regulated ac- cording to the number of mafts or draught of water, and not according to the too uncertain eftimation of gauging. This reduction requires an exadl knowledge of all the duties received in •the ports, and ^ they are of various fpecies, the ftate which I ordered to be drawn up of them has not yet been given in. You know, Sir, the king has charged a par- . , N 2 ticular y n- / ■ T'»r, IL .l(^JI^|p^ipjl^ii(K^pi^l«lI,l«W^^|^|(]|),Jil, > m ii 180 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE ' ticular committee, to examine our commercial connexions with the United States, and that the Marquis de la Fayette has laid before it a projeft analogous to the ideas contained in your letter to the Count de Vergennes: but you muft perceive, how imprudent it would be to hazard, by a change of fyftem, the produce of a branch of revenue, which amounts to twen- ty-eight millions of livres, without falling upon any ohjed of the firft neceffity. After an am- ple difcuffion of every thing which might at prefent favour the importation of tobacco from America to France, it has been decreed, «ot that the agreement made with Mr. Morris fhould be departed from, but that, after the ex- piration of it, no other of the fame import fhould be made; and that in the mean time the Farmers General (hould be obliged to pur- chafe annually about fifteen thoufand hogfheads of American tobacco, coming diredly from the United States in French or American ftiips, at the fame prices as ftipulated in the contra^fl made with Mr. Morris. ' - • ^ You will recoiled. Sir, that whilft the de- mands which had been made, for whale oil were under confideration, the Marquis de la Fayette made a private arrangement with M. Sangrain, • ' • permitting ■ T^Vftr'^.^^^ — 'r*'^ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. l8[ permitting him to receive as much of that arti- cle as fhould amount toeie;bt hundred thoufand livres tournois, and that I had granted paffports to exempt this firft quantity from all duties whatfoever, M. Sangrain made afterwards an agreement with the merchants of Bofton for whale oil, to the amount of four hundred thou- f-and livres a year, for fix years, for which his Majefty has promifed the fame favours as en- joyed by the Han{e towns. This manner having lately been examined under a more general point of view, the admi- niftration, to which the committee has made its report conformable to the requeft of the Marquis de la Fayette, and to your opinion, re- lative to the entire abolition of all duties on oils, has difcovered that it cannot confent to it for the prefent, on account of engagements entered into with other powers. All that could be done was to infure, for ten years, whale oil, fpermaceti, and every thing comprehended un- der thefe denominations, coming from the United States in French or American fhips, the lame favours and moderation of duties as are enjoyed by the Hanfe towns. His Majefty hopes commercial connexions between the United States and France will - , N 3 become ^ ■ ni m m i ■I 182 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE become extenfive enough to engage him to con- tinue the efFe6l of this provifionary decifion ; and as it has been obferved in the committee, that a confiderable duty was paid upon the making of the moft favoured whale oils, and even upon national ones, his Majefty confents to abolifli this duty with refpe6t to the former, and upon fpermaceti coming immediately from the United States in P>ench and American Ihips; fo that fpermaceti and thefe oils will have to pay, for ten years to come, no more than feven livres ten fols, and the ten fols per pound, for all manner of duty ; the laft augmentation of ten fols per pound to ceafe in 1790, It has been determined to gain particular in^ formation upon the confumption in France of rice from Carolina, and that encouragement fho\ild be given to the exportation of that ar- ticle. ' Upon the reprefentations which have been made, touching the confiderable duties paid on the entry of pot afh and pearl a(h, as well as relative to thofe of beaver Ikins and fur, and raw hides, his Majefty has fupprefled all the duties on pot alb, — on the fur and Ikins of beavers, — and on hides, coming raw from the United States, on board American or French veffels. . He "WMii"iiiffii>n UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. l8j He will alfo confider of proper encouragements to be givqjx^o every article of the ikin and fur i trade. -..,**>; ^►'^ •# .^f His Majefty has equally confented to free from all duties mafts and yards of every fpe- cies, red cedar, green oak, in (hort, all tim- ber proper for the conftrudlion of veflels, com- ing from the United States in French or Ame- rican fhips. liie comn^ttee having alfo reprefented, that there was a duty of five per cent, upon the pur- chafe of veflels built abroad, and that this duty was prejudicial to the fale of American veflels, his Majefly has taken this into his confidera- tion, and exempted the purchafe of all fliips, which fliall be proved to have been conftruded in the United States, from every duty of the kind. Trees, fmall flirubs, and feeds of trees alfo, pay high duties, which his Majefly has agreed to aboli(h upon fuch as fli^ll be fent from the United States to France, on board French or American fliips. ,, . It having been reprefented, that the State of Virginia had ordered arms for its militia to be made in France, it has been determined, that the prohibitions which have hitherto hindered N 4 the # II m m ^^■-4 w 184 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE the exportation of arms and gunpowder, as well as the duties required in cafes of particular per- mifTiors, (hould be aboHihed, and that when- ever the United States fliall wi(h to have from France arms, fufils, and gunpowder, they fhall have full liberty to do it, provided it be in French or American (hips, and that thofc arti- cles fhall be fubjedt to a very moderate duty only, folely for the purpofe of calculating the expo rtatio Lis, # Finally, his Majefty has received in the fame favourable manner the demand made to the committef; to fupprefs the confiderable duties hitherto paid on books and paper of every kind. His Majeily fupprefles all duties on articles of this kind, deftined to the United States, and put into French or American veflels. It is with plcalure, Sir, I announce to you thefe difpofitions of his Majefty, which are a new proof to you of his delire to unite clofely the commerce of tlie two nations, and of the favourable attention he will always give to pro- poficions which fhall be made to him in the name of the United States of America. 1 have the honour to be, with a fincere at- tachment, Sir, Your very humble and very obedient Servant, (Signed) DE CALONNE. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 185 Your nation, Sir, will undoubtedly fee, with pleafurc, the facilities the king has juft givcii to the exportation of the wines of Bourdeaiix, Guienne, and Touraine, and the fupprefiions of duties* granted to that cfFe<51, by different Arrets of Council, with which the Marquis de la Fay- ette will be able to acquaint you. Ti-wwyBi'" ' :%.t 'M »"?.. # w EXPORTS iS6 ON THE COMMERCE OF TIIS A'"m'* tf^ I'i P(^t ♦:... lAi; ii.^ ' • •'■, '■ ' ■-*• n ,'j"«i'nH: EXPORTS OF AMERICA.., ■»' ','■ . ¥ I WILL treat but of a few of the articles which America furnifhes, on account of the attention which they all merit. ({$" SECTION I, TOBACCO. Of all the articles which France may pro- cure from the United States, tobacco is the mofl important one to the inhabitants of the two countries. If it cannot be claflTcd with our mod urgent neccflities, it follows them fo clofe, that excepiing cafes wherein the ufe of it ex- cites difguft, the deprivation of it ordinarily difcovcrs the laft degree of mifery. ' We mufl: not be furprifed at its general ufe. The man greedy of fenfations, has found one lively F ■ ^# If . f UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 187 lively enough in tobacco : it is perhaps the only one which he can enjoy at plcafure without in- juring his health, diminifliing his ftrength, '^r fulpcnding his work or meditations. Tobacco awakens the mind agreeably, and obfervers who have remarked the innocent pleafure, the fpc- cies of inftantaneous comfort, which a little to- bacco procures to a poor man, borne down by the weight of afflidion, have always wifhed that fo fimple an enjoyment (hould be improved and become lefs and lefs expenfive ; and they cannot reflect without horror on the crime of that flfcal induftry, which, hardened by mono- poly to increafe its profits, adulterates fnuft'fb much, as to make it pernicious to health. The confumption of tobacco mud: therefore become more and more confiderable, and the commerce of this leaf, already very important, cannot be decreafed but by the diminution of its cultivation; which the policy of America will never permit. The cultivation of tobacco is by no means proper for the European States, which have ac- quired population enough to apply another kind of cultivation to all their good lands. It is true the Alfaciens cultivate a little to- bacco, and they boaft of it ; but they would make 1 ', .4 1 • • 1 , ("1 •'I J * ii hM '■'J. ^ J 88 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE make a greater profit if they cultivated their lands for provifions. Thi3 experience is deci- live for France, where none of thofe rich lands cxifi: which are fo well known in America. It is therefore the intereft of France to get to- bacco from abroad, but it mud be paid for by her manufadlures : Ihe may enjoy this advan- tage more fully with free America than with any other country. I will not repeat the rea- Ibns of it ; I will obferve only, that the free Americans, having an immenfe extent of lands which cannot be cleared but in the courfe of feveral centuries, muft have, for a long time to come, tobacco to fend to Europe, fince this production pays with ufury the expences of clearing. It is true, that the cultivation of tobacco in America muft be farther and farther from the fea, and that the expences of carriage may be- come confiderable. But different confiderations place this epocha at a diftance; firft, in cultivating tobacco in none but abfolute new lands, the cultivation is much lefs expenfive, and the produce confider- ably more abundant ; confequently it will coft much lefs in a new foil than when the foil re- quires more labour and manure. Secondly, America, ' J', ^ih ';;■?«»■■■ ''7?77TTf^''' UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 189 America, interfe^ted in every direction by rivers and lakes, has infinite refources for rendering water carriage every where eafy, and confe- quently never cxpenfive. It is eafy to multi- ply canals, and confequently communications : no part of the world is io much favoured in this refpeft as America. Thirdly, The banks of the Ohio and the Mifliiflippi offer immenfe lands to be cleared; the Ohio falls into the Miffifllppi., which falls in its turn into the fea : thefe two rivers are almoft every where navi- gable, and the lands near them produce already excellent tobacco, and will continue to do io for a long time*. Fourthly, If the price of * It is iinpo/Tible to view, without indignation, that narrow policy of Spain, which would fliut out the Americans from all communication with the fea by the Miififfippi. How is it, that (he cannot perceive, that her mercantile interefts invite her, on the contrary, to favour this navigation, by erecting (lore houfes upon the banks of this river near to its mouth ? Is (he ignorant of the advantages of depofitories ? And with refpefl: to her political intere(?', is there a greater one for her in thefe countries, than to make herfelf immediately nece(rary to American eftabli(hments, within the reach of the Ohio? Muft (he wait till they adopt other means ? What will be gained by creating difcontent among a free people? If it be wiflied that thefe people (hould not become powerful, they muft be deftroyed j and if this barbarity belongs not to the eighteenth century, it is nece(rary to make friends of them. Expedients in politics are childi(h and vain. S tobacco n mm lr;|,.'; > tl^V f5ni[jjBfli7|W»j^^!FipiB!pp(Kfw 196 ON tHE COMMERCE OF TttEl ' tobacco (hould be increafed, France would not feel the difference, if the free Americans, pre- ferring the culture, continued to want Euro- pean manufactures, and gave the preference to thofe of France. According to this lyftem, the exchange of merchandize, manufa(flured in France for the produdions of the foil of Ame- rica, may be ftill made with advuiitage, if even thefe produ6lions were fold in France below the firrt cod in America. We have Ions feen the French commerce of the Levant produce great profits, although the merchandize brought in return was fold at a lefs price in France than it coft at the place where it was produc- ed. This circumftance ftill exifts. . - Therefore the fpeculation, moft to the inter- eft of France, is to take as much tobacco as fhe can confume from the Americans, and pay for it with her manufadures *. . , * The tobacco leaf, of which the farmers general had the entire monopoly, or exclufive fale, produced to the king a clear nett revenue, annually, of between twenty-eight and twenty- nine millions of iivres. ,.'. ■ ■ n ■;"!■ •;-: K-fiV 1';. r.i. • >.'. K^a GECTION ill'', ■'"'SpvW''.7(?j:?>'*'^" 'a:":-' UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 19! »\\ , ■• - ,•■■''••-1 ■■ ■ '. ..» '-■»'■■,: ■^•■ ,!fi'. '.'""i- ^'i •*' SECTION 11. FISHERIES, WHALE OIL, &C. SPERMACETI '' ■ "'' ' ■■ ' CANDLES. ' ' ' ' .' ''■""■ 7;«ni -myi Among the articles of fubfiftence which na- ture has liberally given to men, fi(h is one of the moft abundant, the moft eafy to be procur- ed, and the moft proper to prefer ve their health and ftrength*. By what fatal privilege is this food confined in France almoft to the rich ? Why does not fifli abound in all places, where this tribute of the fea can be received in its ori- ginal ftate, and without being charged with the expences of too long a carriage ? Since it is fo well known, that it is advantageous to a ftate, and to every clafs of citizens, to procure an abundance and a variety of eatables, let them come from where they will, or of whatever , M p f-: * Such is the powerful influence on population, of the abundance of articles of fubfiftence, and efpecially that of fiih, that it is principally to this article of life that the empire of China owes the incredible number of its inhabitants, nature 'III f. fl I . .' * j Ui ■ H \t«. -r/f-iTi-'— •^Ip': 192 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE nature they be, provided they be cheap and wholefome; why is this political rule departed from, with refpedl to fifh, to that aliment which nature produces every where with iuch fecundity ? Whatever may be the motives ■which may repel it, by an overcharge of duties, they can proceed from nothing but a culpable Ignorance. Fully convinced of the benefit which muft refult to mankind from an abundance of provi- fions, and from the facility of producing this abundance, in receiving from each nation the fuperfluity which nature has given it, I (hall take great care not to copy the narrow fyftem of Lord Sheffield with refped to fifheries.— His Lordfhip agrees, that the independent Ame- ricans have, for the great fiftiery, natural ad- vantages, with which it is impoffible for the Europeans to contend. In fad, the Americans are near that part of the Atlantic where great fifh abound; therefore their fifhery mufi: be lefs expenfive to them. If accidents happen, they are foon repaired; all their operations are more prompt and furej having a better knowledge of thefe fcas, they are expofed to lefs rilks than Europeans : final- ly, their proximity to the fifheries, aflures them provifions UNITE!) STATES OF AMERICA. 1 95' provifiops more frefli*, and puts it in their ^ower to renew them more frequently; con- fequently their filhermen enjoy more conOant health, and have older officers and lailors aniong them : thefc are ineftimable advantages to Ame- rica. !>.l I ). The EnjliHi have very few of thefe advan* tages ; the French fcarccly any. — But ought we to conclude with Lord Sheffield, from this- order of things* that American (\(h fliould be charged with duties, in order to fupport the national fifhery, againft this competition ; the liaturie of things dictates to France more wife and advantageous means.-— Fifh is nourifliingi ^-^whatever is rtourifliing is prolific : if the Americans fi(h at lefs expence than the French ^ fo much the better for the laft ; fifh will be more abundant, and at a lower price in France^ Let France open her ports ; tlie Americans will bring fifli into them, and will pay themfelves with either the productions of the foil of France, * * Such is the advantage of the American?;, that they fur- nifli provifions to the fedentary fifheries of tuc Engliih. Ac- cording to Colonel Champion, the provi lions of Europe are more dear, and not fo good } the difference in favour of the Americans is in the proportion of four to \<;.s^7i \ arid it can- not be othef wife* . .. y. .V Vol. IL O * or ^^1 I •I jg4' o-K THE commerce: of tirci or of her induftry ; and the population to vvfiicJ* this abundance and cheapnefs are favourable will increaie the productions o( French induf- try. . ' Moreover, it is ncCefTary, either to renounce exterior rommerce, or to con Tent that there fhall be fomething to exchange on both fides. To wiQi to eftabliO> and encourage a com- merce with a foreign nation, and not to leave it to the care of furnifhinf^ tliat which it col- leds with the greateft facility, is a manifefli cohtradi£tionr The enlightened policy of com- merce is not to invade all the branches of it, but to do nothing but that which can be done better and cheaper than any other. Therefore, fince the Americans have fifli oa their coafts, fince they are in the neighbourhood of New- foundland, leave to their induftry that branch which nature has given to tbem in preference ; let us not difpute it wrth them; firft, becaufe it would be in vain to do it, and in the next place, becaufe France may reap, without fi(h- ing, more advantageoufly the fruit of the Ame- rican fifheries* " But," fays Lord Sheffield, •* failors muil •' be found for the navy ; and the fiiherics are ^•* the nurferies for them ; therefore, the fifli-' a ene* rf- VNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I95 ** eries mufl be fupported ; and no fifh coa- •* fumed but that which we take ourfelves; 011 •' which accourlt premiums are neceflary.'* There is no doubt but failors are formed iii the fiflieries, but it is not in throwing nets or hooks, in curing or preparing firti, that this U done; it is by a frequent and long exercife on board veflels in laborious tnanceuvres, in living, fo to fpeak, among rocks, and in feas, which the vi- cinity or nearnefs of oppofite coafts tnakes con- tinually dangerous : now this exercife of vigi- lance, agility, and intelligence, is performed by the failor in coafting and fifliing on the coafts of his own country. Let coafting be frequent, and let not this fidiery be dlfcouraged in Francej, and it will not be neceffary, in order to form failors, to fend them fo far to take fiQi, which they cannot bring to Europe without great ex* pence : by which the confumption is confe- quently limited, and which deprives us of the ineftimable advantage of receiving ill abundance, that which the independent Americans can take at much lefs expence. Without doubt the exetcife of the fidieries of the North forms intrepid failors ; and this painful life mud be confented to* But when nature has placed men in a climate where they O Ji have ..« 1^6 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE have but a few fteps to make to the interior of the country*, to find an occupation exempt from dangers and lei's fatiguing; when they can get their bread upon land, under a clear and calm Iky, if he reafons, how will he be engag- ed to trufl: his. life to boards, and to brave icy feas, to expofe himfelf during the fincft months in the year to perpetual ftorms, which aflail thefe fi(hing banks, fo frequently Gained, by means of the moft fatal errors, with European blood? - It will be anfwered, by premiums f, by pri* vileges, * The French fifh but a part of the year j moft of the fifliermen are day labourers, employed on land, which they leave in the month of February, and return to it in July. + England gives confiderable premiums to her fifhermen. —But the inconveniences and abufes of the firft premiums, render them of no effect. Thefe abufes are chiefly as follows : The fifliing vefltsl muft goto a certain port; the equipage muft pafa in review before fbe Officers of the Cuftoms j the ftiip muft eomplete her cargo, or remain three months at fea to do it : — fo that if in the firft week fhe procured nine-tenths cf it, file would be obliged to keep the fea for the other tenth. The fhip can take no inftruments but thofe proper for the fi(hery, to v/hich the premium is applied; the cargo cannot be difchargcd but in a certain port ; there are general formalities to be obferved with refpecSl to the fait which (he carries out and brings home ; the owners are expofed to vexations from Cuftom-houfe Officers, to law fuits which they are obliged to carry i or of empt \f can : and 'e icy outbs afl'ail d, by opeau )y prU ileges, ft of the ich they uly. hermen. em'rums, "ollows : equipage ims ; the ths at fea lie-tenths Her tenth, r for the annot be jrrTialities arries out ions from obliged to carry UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 197 vllcges, and by prohibitions or overcharges of duties, which are equivalent to prohibitions on foreign indiiAry, But it mufl not be forgotten, that articles of fubfiftence are here in qucftion, that thofc forc- ed means make them dearer, that their con- fumption is then hmited, and their etie6l re- trained ; that in forcing nature in this manner, is doing it at the expence of population, for by this barbarous regimen, men are deflroyed in- ftead of being produced, whilfl permKHon to bring into fea-ports the fifh of thofe who have nothing better to do than to take it would in- fallibly increafe population. Moreover, to whom are thefe premiums and all other favours, with which it is wifhed to combat the nature of things, diftributed ? Does the individual of whom it is intended to make a failor enjoy any advantage from them? Let not men be deceived in this, they arc the prey carry on in courts of juftice, far from their refidence. — JuJge if a poor fifherman can expofe himfclf to thefe inconvenien- cies; this is what has caufed fiOneries to d(;c]ine, efpecjally thofe of .Scotland.— It is what has given fo much af:endaiicy to the Dutch, who have no premiums. It is that which has rendered premiums ufelefs. Other Governments adopt this method of giving premiums: the fame difficulties are attached to them, and yet people are aftoniihed that things go not on better, • " 3 of ■i' m i^: m ■Jju IpS ON THE COMMERCE OF THE of the navigator, who goes not out of his clo- fet but to walk about, and who direds his fteps fometimcs toward the fea fide. He begins by taking his own fliare, and be perfuaded that the wages which he offers to thofe whom he cnriploys to condu6l his perilous enterprize arp parfinaojiioufly calculated : therefore the end is aot attained. If there be ^n abfolute want of failors who have pafled tjieir noviciate about the Banks qF Newfoundland, and in the North feas, there is a more fjmple and fure means, lefs expenfivq, and wha^ is more important, one which is ex- empt from deftru(£liye confequenccSj to form them. Choofe from hpneft families young, robuft, and intelligent met] ; infure to tpem a perfonal recompenfe if, after a certain number of voyages on board filhing vefTcls, they hving certificates of good behaviour, and of experience acquired by practice. Objige them to go on board vefTels belonging to nations or cities, to which thefe difficult filheries are a neceffary re- fource, It is there they will acquire real knowledge. Thefe, added aftervyards to failors exercifed in the qoaftin^; and in the fiflieries on their own coafts, will form for the navy expe- rienced failors. ff7ja/e oil belongs to the fifheries: it is ano- VI VMITED STATES OF AMKRICA. §99 thcr great article of commerce with the United States. All oil of this denomination is not jn-oduccd by whales only ; great quantities of il is drawn from feals, and other fpccics of fifli. The life of this oil is much reftrained in France*: thr a llinitetj time ; but dur- ing this tinnc the independent Americans arc to enjoy, with refpciSt to their oils, all the advantages given to the moft favoured nation*; and this favour, joined to all their other advan- tages, cannot fail to give them a great luperio* rity in this branch of corpmcrce, as beneficial to France as to them, The white of the whale mufl be added, and the candles made with this fubAancc ; they arc known by the name of fpermaceti candles, and ferve inftead of very fine bougies or wax can- dles. The American Colonies exported of thero, according to Lord Sheffield, to the amount of five hundred thoufand livrcs tournois, in the years 1768, 1769, and 1770, calculating thefe candles at thirty-two fols a pound. It is pro- bable, that thefe would be better made ii^ France. * Such are the duties on whale oil, &c. paid in France, a(>. pording to the tarifs of 1664, and 1667 j whale bone, cut and prepared by the French, thirty fols per cwt. fins three livres per cv/t. a barrel of oil of five hundred pounds weight, thiC3 livres. — Whale bone from foreign fifheries, pavs in the firlt inftance, nineteen livres, in the fecond, thirry livres, and twelve livres in the third. The Hanfe Towns pav nine livres jin the firft initance, and feven livrcs tea fols in the third. — It 1^ tl^is lad duty which the Aii^ericaii oils now pay. SECTION Hi ll 202f pN THE COAfMERCE OF THB © Li SECTION III, CORN, FLOUR, kc. \m Ik, Ik ite Foreign corn and flour enter France on payii.g a duty too inconfiderable to make any ienfible increafe in their price. The principles laid down in the preceding article, with refpecl to articles of fubtiftence, muft: be adopted for tll|§ commodities of corn and flour. The corn merchant, the moft nfeful of all merchants (whatever the vulgar, who, from a want of information, confounds a dealer in corn with a monopolifer, may think of him), fears arbitrary exceptions, fudden prohibitions, and unexpcded flrokes of authority. This flate of uncertainty prevents the folid eftabliihment of the true fyilem of liberty, whence refult innu- merable iuconvenieneies, which no other fyf^y tem would bring on provided it were fixed, and that it afforded .a certain bafis of calcuhi- tion. But how cpuld a legiflation for corn be form- ed which fliould not be one of liberty, and which fliould neverthelefs aflord a like balis ? -••;=:> 1 his ]] :<'»■ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ^QJ This is impoffible : feeking, firft of all, the parr ticular rules for every cafe, when thefe are of a nature not to be foreieen, is feeking for a chimera. Not to fall into contraditftion it is neceflary to choofe between arbitrary power and liberty. — But that which is arbitrary prefents nothing but a perfpcdive which is naturally difcourag- ing. No property is lafe under this lyftem : when it exifls, the merchant and the cultivator are obliged to hazard their property in a lottery, of which the chicaneries cannot be calculated ; for it is neceflary to forciee the falfe informa- jtions, errors, and manoeuvres, of an intereft dif- ferent from their own, and even from that of the public, the attempts of power, &c. ; and if all thefe confiderations oudit to enter into the islements of their calcuktions, how can they found hopes on fuch a variable bails ? Liberty confifting, on the contrary, in the choice which every one may make of that which is moft agreeable to him, according to the circumftances of the moment. This is a general rule; it is applicable to every cafe, and the hope of gain is /tf com- modifies wiiS naturally formed. We have not, like the Englith, the happy liberty of making words : thtir language becomes more rich, their elocution rapid, and we lofe outfclves in long circumlocutions, to de- fcribe a thing of which we want the name ; an inconvenience more pernicious to inftrudion than is believed. This re- mark is not at prefent ill timed : it is to thoft^ who condudl affairs, who live amon;^ them, vvhofe vocation it is to treat there- on, to crcite words which explain them clearly and properly. corn 'is m >-^l 'i!;v-.*i * •! gy .: .'it km i 4o6 O^ THR COMMEllCE OF THE corn would be always ready to be tranfportedi to the pLice where the beft price was to be had for it. Thele free ports being dcpofitories where articles neceflary to the United States would be colle6led, the commerce of corn would thereby acquire a continuation advanta- geous to the two nations: — advantageous to America, becaufe the certainty of a place of depofit, lafe and little expenfive, would caufe grain to be fent more frequently ; advantage- ous to France, becaufe, belides the continual pofleilion of an important commodity, and which would guarantee it from every manaeu^ vre of interior monopoly, thefe depolitories would furnifh the means of a coafting trade, almoft continual, from the north of France to the fartheft ->art of the Mediterranean. France does not grow all the corn fhe confumes*; (he is obliged to get it from the north, from Sicily, and the coafts of Africa ; * This is a f&L^y though contrary to the common opinion. Another fa<5t, which proves the ncceffity of admitting corn at a low rate, fuch as the corn of America is, that three- fourths of the inhabitants of the province of Beauce, which produces fuch fine corn, cat black bread and no other, and of which they have not even enough. What mufl this fcarcity be in other provinces where no corn is grown ? that I » V. r ''Hi " 17NITED STATES OF AMERICA. io/ that of the United States ought to be more pro- per for htT, for two reafons : Firft, it mud be cheaper, being the produce of a cultivating peo- ple. Secondly, the people have more various and general wants of frefli provifions than the fouthern countries of Europe, The American may receive wines, fine oils, and fruits of FVance, in exchange for his corn. The Neopolitan, the Sicihan, and the African, cannot be paid in the fame manner. Finally, there is another confideration favour- able to the importation of American corn : it may eafily arrive at Honfleur* ; there it may be ftored up, and undergo all the procefilf, ne- ceffary to its prefervation ; procciicb which are become very iimple and little expenilve-j*. Thefe * I quote Honfleiir, bccaufe this port, from various cir- cumftance-^, ufelefs to mention here, is defti ned by nature to become the depofitory of a great commerce, and that efpe- cially of the United States wi:h France, The project of making it a free port has been under confideration ; and it IS to the greateft Intereft of France that this projeed in fuch a rtianner as to ht entirely remoieJ. This operation, per- formed once a fortnight, in proper weather, needs only to be Repeated a cert,iin number of fiimesi after which the corn may ■\''''i I'.f 1 m 'I ;'I m. m 2o8 ON THE COMMERCE OF TIlE Thefe eftablifliments would keep np a confiJet^- tble quantity of foreign corn within the f'"::ch of the capital, a greater advantage than may be imngined. There are ftill other motives which ought to engage the French to encourage the importa- tion of American corn. They have need of it for the vaft maQ;azines which the land and fea forces, and frequently fcarcity, oblige them to keep ftorcd. What fliould hinder Government from form- ing magazines of American corn in the French fugar iflands, which tempefts, conflagrations, and other unforefeen accidents, expofe fo fre- quently to fi\mine, becaufe contra(fted victual- ling is carried on by monopolifers, who fend but little in order to fell dear ? may be left in a heap, without fear of its heating. Experi- ments of this iclnd have been carefully made. The method cf preferving corn ufed at Geneva may be quoted : The go- vernme.it has eilablifhed one of its greatcft revenues in the fale of corn to tlie people, and its interefl. has, confequently, led it to improve the art of preferving this commodity. Be- fides, in depofitories deflined u holly to the corn dealers, thd fame corn never remains long enouf^h to render its preferva- tion difficult. There is fome reafun to believe that the falC air of the fea is favourabl',- for it. SECTION f'f; » I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 209 S E C T I O N IV. MASTS, YARDS, AND OTHER TIMBER FOR THE , . . NAVY. France, like other European ftates which have a royal navy and fleets of merchant fhlps to keep in repair, imports timber from Livonia and Ruflia, This general magazine begins to be exhru/lcd; the quality of its mafls is not fo good as formerly. This commerce is, more- over, attended with the difad vantage to France of requiring confiderable remittances of money, without reckoning the inconveniences of a dan- o gerous navigation, frequently interrupted by ice ; alfo the competition of feveral nations, which their proximity anr". many other circum- ftances naturalize, fo to fpeak, in the ports and feas of the North ; advantages which the French cannot have. Thefe confiderations ou2:ht to determine France to turn her attention to the United States, to procure from them the timber necQC- fary for her navy, and maft timber eipecially. 'here is but one obje6lion to this, and it arifes )m prejudice. It is pretended in France, that IVoL. II. P the 1 !";,■ m % 'm-' 210 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE the quality of American timber is very much inferior to that of the Baltic. Some people go fo far as to maintain that it is improper for the conftru6lion of veflels. I have reafon to believe that this judgment is not only hafty, but dic- tated either by ignorance, or the partiality of perfons interefted in the Baltic timber. It is not in the laws of nature, that immenfc countries, whofe afpe£ls are as varied as thofe of Europe can be, and in whofe foil there are the fime diverfities, fliould produce no timber but of a quality inferior to that of the timber of Europe. Better directed inquiries, and a naore atten- tive examination, will foon deftroy this preju- dice againft the quality of American timber; a prejudice fo much the more difagreeable, as it would deprive the commerce between France and the United States of an article important to the two nations. If France will inform herfelf ferioufly of this matter, let her confult even the enemies of America; let her confult Lord Sheffield, fo moderate in his eulogiums, when it is neceflary to give them to the independent Americans. His Lordfliip fays exprefsly, " that the nego- " ciators of the treaty of peace, who have ceded *« the |ft, iWm. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 211 " the tcriitory of Penobfcot, co the eafl: of ** Cafco bay, belonging to Great Britain, de- '* ferve the fevered: cenfure ; as this country " produces, without contradidion, the beft ** timber. The coaft," adds his Lordfhip, *' is covered with timber proper for navigation " and other ufes, and in quantities fuificient to *' the wants of Great Britain for centuries to ** come. The white pine, known in England ** by the name of the Weymouth Pine, or *' the Pine of New England, abounds in this *' territory ; it is inconteftably the bed for " mafts, and grows there to a prodigious " height." This is confirmed to us by men who have travelled and refided in the United States. Thefe men affiire us, that the States produce all kinds of timber of which we are in need, and that the white pine of the Conneclicut, Penobfcot, and Kennebeck rivers is, at leaft, equal in quality to that of the north of Europe. The (hip-builders of Philadelphia efteem it fo much, that they begin to make ufe of it for fide planks above the furface of the water. Green oak, of which there are fuch fine fo- refts in Georgia, unites the moil: precious qua- lities; it may be procured frooi St. Mary's, P2 of fir I'*: ill 'I i ' -i.i Hn f'i •'■!•■ 'I • if m ii '.H 212 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE of a more coniiderable fcantling than that which comes from the Levant and the ifland of Corfica; it is compa(5t, the worms never at- tack it, and its duration is unequalled. The green oak of Carolina is the hardeft timber known ; — the vefl'els built with it are of a very long duration. 1 . . SECTION V. ."> SKINS AND FURS. In this trade Lord Sheffield looks upon the United States as dangerous rivals to Canada ; and it is not without reafon that his lordfhip is of this opinion. The proximity of the great eftablifliments which the independent Americans form at pre- fent at Pitfiurg/j, and in many other places of their pofl'effions beyond the mountains, muft infenfibly give them great advantages in this commerce, and make them partake with Cana- da a large fhare of the profits. In fa(Sl, the regions fituated between the wa- ters of the lake Ontario, and thofe of the Mif- liflippi, interfedled by the numerous rivers which fall into the South and North-Weft of La/:e UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 21} Lake Erie^ of the Michigan, and of the Superior^ as far as the Ouifconftng^ ^ and even to the lac des bois ; the great undertakings in which the Virginians are at prefent employed, to improve the navigation of the Potowmack, to the foot of the Alle-Gheny; the probabihty of another communication with the ultramontane waters, by means of the weftern branches oi the Suf- quehannah ; without omitting the facility with which the inhabitants of the ftate of New York went to Niagara before the war, in going up the Hudfon*s river from their capital to Albany, beyond that of the Mohawks, croffing the little lake of Oneida, and by means of an eafy carri- age going down the river of OJwego, in the mouth of which the Ontario forms an excellent harbour ; all thefe rcafons, and many others which relate not only to geography, but to climate, proximity, &c. muft in a few years put the Americans in pofl'elHon of the greatelt part of the fur trade, Thefe advantages will be ftill more certain, when the Englifh (hall have evacuated the forts * A great river which falls into the MiiHflippi, at fever\ hundred leagues from the Tea. P3 of 'm. 1 ■m n ""'■:% '>* U ''*'■'% 1 I •i ^m ^ ^ ^ '«.^. IM'AGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I |25 ' Im l.i u 1^ IHnas III— m-^ III l-^ ^^. Va 7 > /T' Photographic Scmces Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREIT WiB.STIR,N.Y. M5M (716) •73-4503 '^ ) 414 ^^ "^^^ COMMERCE OP THE of Niagara*, the great eftablifliment of the ftreight-f , and that of the Michillimakinack J. The annual Tales in London of furs from Ca- nada, produced, in 1782, four millions feven hundred thoufand livres tournois, fomething more in 1783, and in 1784 they amounted to upwards of five millions. All thefe furs are paid for with Englifh manufa(^ures, and the fourth part is prepared in England, by which their value is doubled. Now this rich com- merce, carried on by way of Quebec, will cer- tainly fall ^s foon as the forts and the countries which they command (hall be reftored to the Americans. It is from this confidcration that the reftitution of thefe forts is withheld ; to the period of which the Englifh look forward with pain. , ' ,: .■: . .,. , i .,,■ J I ', r 1 * A very important one, which commands the fpace of the thirteen leagues which feparates the lakes Erie and Ontario. t A city founded by the French, on the height of St. Claire, which carries the waters of the lakes Michigan and Huron into the Erie. % A fort and eftablifhment at the point, in the ifland of this name, which commands the paflage of the falls of St. Mary, through which the waters of the upper lake fall into thofe of the Huron, SECTION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 21$ M :i[[i SECTION VI. RICE, INDIGO, FLAX-SEED. It IS not poflible to fpeak of American rice without thinking of the pernicious inconveni- ences which its cultivation produces. The wretched flaves who cultivate it, obliged to be half the year in water, are expofed to fcrophu- lous diforders and a premature death. It is faid, that this confideration prevents the flates, wherein rice is produced, from aboliftiing fla- very. Free men would not devote themfelves willingly to this deftrudlive labour*. Were this even true, and that in the fyftem of liberty means could not be found to recon- cile this culture to the health of the labourers, a fufficient motive could not be drawn from it to condemn to death, or to cruel difeafes, a part * Rice is cultivated in Piedmont and in Italy, by people who have no habitations, and are known by the name of 6an> ditti, the fruit of the bad political conftitutions of that part of Europe. When thefe Banditti have finiflied their work, the Sbirres conduft them to the frontiers, for fear of the diforders to which their inaction and mifery might incline them. P 4 of iii m \'\\ 11 .■w'li ft i N 21 6 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE of our fellow creatures, born free, equal us*, and wit(i an equal right to live. Were the culture of this commodity even abfolutely ne- ceflary, this neceffity would give us no right over the lives of negroes, or it would be the effc^ of a flate of war; for fervitude was never a riofbt. * They are of a different colour from that of the Euro- peans ; but does the quality of man depend on colour ? Are not the negroes organized as wc are ? Have not they like us every thing wh'ch belongs to the production of the fpecies, to the formation of ideas, and to their development ? If their ^ blac': colour ought to have any moral effect, to have any in- fluence over th:ir fate, or to determine our conduft towards them, it fhould be that of inducing us to leave them where they are, and not to force them away from their country ; not to punifh them by the moft barbarous treatment on account of their colour; not to drag them into a foreign land, to con- demn them there to the viie and painful life of animals. Do they come and offer themfelves voluntarily as flaves? Do they afk to leave thofe torrid zones, wherein nature Teems to have circumfcribed them by their colour, as (he has done by u§ in tnore temperate ones by our white compl xions ? Their VI ants being (eWy keep them in ignorance; we add every thing capable of changing it into imbecility^ and we argue upon this degradation, of which we are the culpable authors, to tranquillize ourfelves on the juft reproaches which nature nwkes.us ! Can we boaft therefore of our knowledge, as long as it remains an accomplice in thefe horrors? See on this fubjecSI, Pexamsn critique des Voyages^ de M. de Chaftelux. There t! UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Zlj There is a fpecies of dry ric^ no way dange- rous to cultivate. Moreover the example of the Chinefe and the Indians, among whom the culture of rice makes not fuch ravages, ought to make us hope, that in imitating them life and health would be rcftored to men, of which we have never had a right to deprive them. After having conlidered this produ• ' »• FLAX-SEED. North America fent to England and Ireland, during the years 1768, 1769, and 1770, fiax- feed to the amount of two millions and. a half of livres tournois; — it was all confumed in Great Britain. The advantage of paying for this feed with Irifli linens, gave it the prefer- ence to that of Flanders and the Baltic. Flax- feed 220 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE feed from thefc countries is, moreover, very dear. —,'■•'■■ ■ ^ *■■ ' >> ■ : : It is the bufinefs of thofe French merchants, who may be interefled in the commerce with the United States, to confider what advantages they may derive from this commerce. If the culture of flax becomes cxtenfive in France, fo- reign feed ought t j be preferred for two reafons : —the quality of the produdlion is improved by at, and there is more advantage in fpinning flax in peopled and induQrious countries, than in letting it ripen to gather feed. It appears, that ilax-feed comes not in abundance, but from countries where there are not hands fufficient to fpin, or give the fir ft preparation, even to the flax they produce ; it is then proper to cul- tivate it for its feed, which becomes a confider- able article of commerce : as long as this ftate of things fubfifts, it rnuft alfo be proper for peopled countries to get flax- feed from abroad. Flanders feems to bean exception; but the exportation of flax is there prohibited, for the purpofe of encouraging fpinning, &c.j in this cafe Flanders, being a country very proper for the cultivation of flax, may leave to many cul- tivators of this plant no other refource than the commerce of the feed. It is probable, that if the i.,^j* ■»«*■*' >-v:"*^-^ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 211 the flax could be fent from Flanders, after the firft preparation for fpinning, nobody would think of gathering the feed. ;^ , - 'V '■■ 'A «'»% ( m SECTION VII. .'I NAVAL STORES, SUCH AS PITCH, TAR, AND TURPENTINE. , .* ' Before the emancipation of America, England received confiderable fupplies of thefe articles from America, particularly from Carolina and the fouth. The quantities of thefe articles amounted annually, during the years 1768, 1769, and 1770, to twenty- feven thoufand feven hundred barrels of pitch; eighty-two thoufand four hundred barrels of tar; and twenty-eight thoufand one hundred of turpen- tine: the whole amounting, in the port of exportation, to one million two hundred and twenty-eight thoufand livres tournois. : y.' >> ■' ■ J l I M|-U SECTION" 224 ON THE COMMERCE OF THB SECTION VIIL TIMBER AND WOOD, FOR CARPENTERS AND tOOPFRs WO K ; SUCfl AS STAVES, CASK- HEADS, PLANKS, BOARDS, &C. France as well as England ought to be, for their own interefts, engaged to favour the im- portation of thefe articles, of wlich the United States can furnifh fuch grt-at quantities. , Timbtr fails in France, and will become more and more fcarcc; population deftroys it: — yet timber muft be found for houfes, mills, &c. — hogfheads mud be made for fugars; calks and barrels for wine, brandy, &c. Thefe articles of timber are principally furniflied from the North to the ports of France — but they be- come dear, their quality diminifhes, and the Americans have the advantage in the carri- age*. The • It is neceffary to give our readers an idea of the price of fome of thefe articles: an American very converfant in them has furnished us with the necefTary particulars. White oak planks, of two inches and a half thick, fawed by the hand, were fold, in 1785, at fifteen piaftres, or two hun- dred and fixty livres ten fols tournoi3, the thoufand (ect. Ordinary UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 225 The value of thcfc articles, exported from America to Great Britain only, amounted to two millions of livres tournois in the year 1770, according to a ftatement drawn up in the Cuf- tom-Houfe of Bofton. The eeneral exporta- tions to the Englilh, French, American, and Spanilh illands, and to the different parts of Europe, are immenfe, and become daily more confiderable. Were not this timber of ^ good quality, the increale of this commerce would not be fo rapid. The French have in this re- fpe£t fome prejudices, which it is of importance to deftroy. If the American (laves are efteem- ed in making rum calks, &c. they will un- doubtedly prefer ve our brandies. i.r> 1.4 Ordinary planks of fine white pine an inch thick, fourteen ( or fifteen feet long, and from a focit to fourteen inches wide, were fold at the fame time at feven piaftres, or thirty-fcven livres tournois, the thoufand feet.— Thofc of a double thick* nefs, double the price. . . Planks, from two to five inches thick, and from fifteen to' fixty feet long, at twenty-one pounds New York money, or two hundred and feventy-threc livres tournois, the thoufand feet. — The fame perfon faid he had feen curbs or bent tini- ^ ber at ten (hillings, New York money, a ton, the cxpencc of^i cutting, &c. not included, • , ^. 5 j , i^ ^i ' #. 'cv 'M ''^ '?!# Vol. II. Q^ SECTION 226 ON THE COMMERCE 07 THB • "ji ..:-■ ''../-Ml tr.-]', . H .^T* SECTION IX. H ^ i ^ VESSELS CONSTRUCTED IN AMERICA, TO BE SOLD OR FREIGHTED. It has been obferved that the bulk of the commodities which might be exchanged by the commerce between France and the United States, was, at an equal value, much more con- fiderable on the fide of America than that of France. There refults from this,- that in thefe exchanges a great number of American veflels muft be fubjed lo return to America in ballafl:. ' — Tliis ft ate of things would certainly be pre- judicial to the commerce between the two na- tions, if fome compenfation could not be efta- blifticd which fhould remove the inequality. ' This compenfation may be made in a very advantageous manner to both. The indepen- dent Americans conftrudl veflels for fale : if it be agreeable to a nation to purchafe of another the articles which this manufactures at a lefs cxpence, and with more means, it follows, that the French ought to buy American veflels ; .^r-ii- •:i^c:- ^J ...it and, .piHH|pi|UI|i,i "^»" Vf UNttED STATES or AMERICA. ' 3^27 And, in fa£l, this commerce begins to be efta- blifhed. Lord Sheffield reprobates this commerce} with refpedl to his own country. — " Its exift-" •' ence,'* fays his Lordfhip, " depends on its *' navy ; this depends as much on English fhip- *' builders as on Englifh Tailors ; therefore, of *' all trades, that of fhip-building is the mod *' important to be preferved in Great Britain*'* ^ The advances, according to his Lord(hip, are of little confequence, and thefe veflels not be- ing deftined to be fold to foreigners, what they Goft ought .0 be confidered fo much the lefs, as the expence is incurred in the country* Lord Sheffield prefumes alfo, that (hip-build- ing will be encouraged in New Scotland, Ca- nada, the liland of St. John, &c. Finally, his Lordfhip declares, " that the encouragement •' of fhip-building in the United States is ruin- " ous to Great Britain ; that it is the fame to ** thofe who may purchafe American built vef- *' fels; becaufe, notwithftanding their cheap- ** nefs, thefe veflels are little durable, from the ** nature of their materials." This obfervation relates particularly to veflfels built for fale, which, his Lordfhip fays, " are verv inferior to thofe which are befpoken." 0^2 It IS 'V 1 ■f V ! • m i»i' i^iii!'^ 228 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE It cannot be denied, that it is of confequence to a nation which attaches a' great importance to its navy, to have (hip- builders. The repairs &c. of which veflels are conftantly in want, would be badly direded, if there were not, m the clafs of workmen to whom this induftry belongs, men capable of conflruding a veflel, and habituated to this conftruc^ion. What is ftill more, as foon as a nation has a navy, it is greatly to its intereft to poflefs every means of improving it ; and the pofl'effion of thefe means is fo much more fecure when there are efta- blifhments in the country which, in this cafe, fupport emulation, by the conftant exercife of the art. But it does aot follow, that to preferve fuch an advantage, a nation ought to have no other veflels than thofc which are home built : it is here neceflary to diftinguifh (hips belonging to the royal navy from merchant (hips. The firft are alone fufficient to employ a requifite num- ber of able builders, and to fupply every thing which the conftrudion and repairs of veflels require. But merchant fliips, of which a con- iiderable number is wanted, may be procured from abroad, if thofe of an equal quality can be had at a price confiderably lefs. Will it be faid, that a nation becomes fo much firft num- thing UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 229 much the more powerful at fea, as the con- flrudion of veflels is encouraged in her ports ? that under this point of view it is ne^eflary to be cautious not to furnifh the independent Americans the means of forming a navy, which would render them formidable ? that it is at leaft unneceflary to haflen thefe means ? If this confideration were true, it would ia fome mcafure impofe on France a law to en- courage the United States to foim their navy: for, however formidable her own may be, fhc has too ma'iy natural obftacles to remove for her navy to be the effe iZMii ■'■» JI3' y^^ , ?.'n ;i:)i->v What people have more right and title than the Americans, to be the firft in adopting fo philanthropical a fyftena, and which is fo cou^ formaUe to the laws of nature ; at'leaft to do nothing which (hall retard it among thenar Let their Congrefs, — that refpedable affemWy, which may become the light of nations, and from whofe deliberations univerfal happincfs may refult, — remain faithful to the indications of this nature; let it interrogate her conftantly^ and give every nation the fame falutary habi- tude. '...,...--,; If Europe refufes to admit the produdtions of the United States, let Congrefs, — rejecting the poor policy of reprifals, — open, by a great and republican refolution, their ports to all Euro- pean productions. What evil can refult froiix this to the independent Americans? If Euro- pean prohibitions rendered their means of ex- change ufelefs, European merchandize muft of courfe be without a market in America; or, falling to a mean price in the United States, it would' becbme profitable to the Americans, in paying for it even with gold. ; ; , > . ,^y ; The law may be given to an idle and de- », ■. ^ • .;. - \ . i .graded UNITED STATES OF AMERICAi. 243 graded nation, but never to one which is adive and induftrious. This always puniflies, in fome manner or other, the tyrannical proceed- ings of ether nations. The force of things is alone fufficient to revenge it. It is a misfortune to tKe United States, in not having been able to eftablifh at firft the noble fyftem of which I have fpoken, and to be obliged to have recourfe to the miferable means of other governments, — that of impofing duties on foreign merchandize to pay their debts. Every impofition but a quit-rent upon lands is a fource of errors. The pretended pro^ teciing duties impofed in Europe are one confe- quence of thefe errors, and of which the efFedt leads government aftray, fo far as to perfuade them, that they poflefs a creative force equal to that of the Divinity himielf. And what are thefe enterprifes by which men would force nature? Miierable hot-houfes, — wherein every thing is haflened to finifli the fooner; where- in induftry vainly exhaufts itfelf to fupport an unnatural exigence ; and wherein a vigorous whole is frequently facrificed to a corrupted part. , , ..,,. ,. . Let the Americans carefully avoid thefe erroneous eutexprifesj — to infure tl»emfelves • . c . , . R 2 therefrom, \ m '^i\ m. m ..Iff » (11 ^!l ■;-s» 244 ON THE COMMEUCI^ O^r rUt thcrcfr^yj 'U'tun-iuu '^rk'^- , ju ; H CuNCLUSION UWITED STATM OP AMERICA. 247 v;nf» , ;..{ r CONCLUSION -'- -'-'■'• AND REFLECTIONS ON THE SITUATION OF THE UNITED STATES. ' ' It will be proper to finifli this volume b/r {art\e explanations of the pretended troubles which agitate the United States.^ Thefc ex- " planations are neceflary to deftroy the unfa- vourable impreflions which mud be made by the unfaithful recitals of gazette writers, who, from fervile prejudices or mean intereft, afFedt to fpread doubts of the happy confequences of the revolution. If we believe thefe people, the independent Americans are plunged into inex- tricably embarraffments, forced to become baiik-^ rupts, given up to the moft violent anarchy, expofedtothe tomahawk of the implacable In- dian^V &c. How is it p^iilble to refolvc to carry una commerce with people whofe (itua- tioii is >fo deplorable ? Ought not their ruin to be feafred rather than their fortmnfe hoped for, in the connexions which it is wiflied to form with thttn I ^i^iUkot --oa ■vmiB^rr it*r*}'M? --'':■■' k is necsflkry to refute th^fe fa-lfehoods. It R4 i8 :r.- m imn ^ m ' vm 11 ■■■;J i ' ']' m ■''ill -M ;.inM r-iiJ ,.'j,'.;a;i:.iiii.. In the United States, legiflation is more and more formed in proportion as things relative to each other are verified, extended^ and multipli- ed. Is it afloniihing that debates fhould arilb' on account of the different laws \^hich arc pr if ■;>''■ I '!?J 150 -An THt COIMMETICE OP THE i'ubfift but in proportion as they fear and coun- terbalance each' other's power. i>' ti ;.r,i a 4. - Is auy thing like this feen in the United States? Are thcf© difputes even about the principles of the conftitution, the fundamental laws, or the propofcd end ? Has not every thing relative to this been long fince agreed upon ? The prcfent debates relate wh-^Hy to fome rules of adminiftration : it is upoti the bcC. man- ner of ferving the public caufe, and of fupport- ing it, that minjs^re fti>ll in a falutary agita- tion 1 and this agitation hinders not more the regular courfe of^ public affairs and traiifadions, than the debates inthe Enghih Parliament hin- dter the monarch fiWi "naming to offices and conferring rank-^th^- tftey Hop the courfe of jwftice, or arie iitipediibeftts to the affairs of every clafs of citizens, y. n*^l loa ,i.v «v ,Jf ^.^iOv. , '^::> The word aHufchy is proper to ftates which, like Egypt, have t wen ty^lbur fovereigns, and ndtherlaws nor go/cernmtnt.^ l«;is applicable to the degencralted coi^s oC 0*11* palrt interiforittg <'With thofe of the olrhdr, all having' the pibw^^idf'rtiaking par- 1 ■fjirci'.'A / ticular t 1 * 1 ■ t m URltED StAtES oy AMIiRICA. iljl ticular laws, or'oF fufpcnding the cff^ of tho(e which exift. There a real anarchj reigns, be- caufe it is not known where the government is, nor in whom the legiflativc power is vefte<}. This incertitude brings on diforder, renders property unftable, and endangers perlbnal (afe- None of thcfe evils exift in the United Stares^ America is not yet gnawed by the Vermin which devour Europe, by indeftruiflible rhen* dicity : thieves render not her foreftg datigeH ous ; her public Hoads are not ftained with blodfl fhed by aflkffins. How fhould there beaflaflTnis and robbers? There are no beggars, no indigent perfonsj no Tubrefts forced' ito^ fteal the fub^ fiftence of ot^HerS to' prdcUre'Bh'is 't6therAfelve^'. Every man firids there laitd^ to produce him ^i*- tides of fubfiftence : • iti is ho'^ loaded with taTO^i but renders to each, wirfi ufeiry, k-fecornpentfe for h is labou r. A nfi^an who tfat^ \iv6' hM v a nd* hb^ nourably, never C(3n(^)if^sto*difl^(^iV^r hihifdlf by ufelefs crimes, ^' "wliich 'deliver^ Wnfif 'fo the tofi mentspf remorfe, di'^oiVour, ai'id' the vcngeafifce of fodie^Vi-* ■ .^ !ii'^toi=^ . y'iiv;: .ilii. -a ."ic The ravafges of qtlic!^ iteven yeai^*' #ar^Wer^ undouibtedly terri'bte'j' but as fobn 'as^'thc ftul- chion could be converted into a plough -fliare, the 'if;*»f?^fr»''it'-5 c the VNtTED STATES Of AMERICA. 2jJ the American papers, in which there are a thoufatid others of a like nature."' " '" Two brothers, Captains who di(lingui(hed thcmfclves during the war, returned at the peace to their trade of hat -making ; — they in- ferted in the gazette an advcrtifement as fol- lows : > '• -• ' ■■■ > ■ . ■ -' ■• " The Brothers Bickers inform the public, f * that they arw returned to their old profeflion •* of hatters, which they had abandoned to dc- *' fend the liberty of their country. They *• hope that their fellow-citizens will be pleafed, " in confideration of their courage and fervices, ** to favour them in their bufinefs, and prefer •* them to others." What European captain would put his name to a like advertifement^ • This is what refults from liberty ; but what is inconceivable in mod European flates, a ml* iitary fpirit reigns there, and its prejudices arc piedominant. War is the road to glory, ambi- tion, and fortune; and to preferve to this pro<« feflion its luftre and preponderance, it is an ef^ tablifhed principle, that zflanding army is necef*' fary to maintain order in fociety ; that it ought always to threaten the citizens, although peace- ful, to keep them in fubmiflion to authority. This ufelofs burden, t>his pernicious fpirit, is un- known ' r 1 k6 V ,U'. hiM ■'t m 254. ON THE COMMERCE OF THE kno\yn to the United States ;:— public fpirit, much more favourable to good order, takes its place, and peace aud fafety reign without tnare- chauffee, or fpie3, or that policje which dilpa* rages the morals and charaders of citizens. Public fpirit fupplies the place of all thefe means, whilft they will never fupply the want of public fpirit; nor, like it, produce the hap- pihefs of foeiety. In vain will prejudiced men exclaim, that this is declamation — I offer them fads. It is necefiary to read the American gazettes, not thofe altered by the Ehglifli gazette- writers, but thofe which are printed in Anverica; thefe only can give a juft idea of the fituation of the United States. i ■ ^ .. :j .. • > ., The American (hould rather defpife Europe, in remarking to us the continual flaughter we make of thieves and aflkfllns;' in comparing the immenfe number of dungeons, prifons, hofpi- tals, and eftablifhi ^,ents of every kind, inftitut- ed to cure or palliate the incurable ulcer? of the old inflitutions. In comparing this difgufting lift with the very few murders and thefts com- mitted in the United States, with the hofpi- tj^ls, truly domejitc and humane, which are ef- tablifljed there, with the happinefs of each 1 . ' American .Vt.'li 1 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,. %§^ American family"' and their finfypje manners, ^aaci in proving to us, by their e^Lample, that a wife liberty regulates the fecial man, ai^,. renders ufelefs thofe ruinous machines with which he, is cruftied, left he (hould dp any harm. ; -^ Thefe are the men, the laws, and the go- vernment, which Europeans have calumniated, The£e men who are deftined to regenerate the dignity of the human fpecies!- — Thefe laws which fcourge nothing but, ^crimes,- — which punifli them pvery where, and are never filent in the face of power! — This government, which is the firft that ever prefented the image of a numerous family, well united, and com- pletely happy; wherein power is juft, becaufc it circulates through every hand, and refts ia none; wherein obedience, beQaufe it Ls volun- tary, anticipates command; wherein adminif- tration is limple and eafy, becaufe it leaves in-, duftry to itfclf ; wherein the magiftrate has lit- tle to do, becaufe the citizen is free, and that ai citizen always refpe; ^lee'^si^ ti'M i-}^ ^br-l '-n Vit.i '■^.^^Cv .r'';t.. •;?iii v-^j ^^1 ! «%? iv'V- :''^imrr:?'x; ' *?> * '%ii' '~».i ,••> 'it rf r ■^^.*r. ^ «. ¥fW?iV v-4:>f->i ««^f:£,.:*sC .fM j^?|^-J^k; ■ i. J w*.'Ji,^-/ J'J ^■••t:^ ^;i,^ lis. '/■^?s,;j: /f- p!.*» A^ ?iafa \»v»:; ■> -i-' 'I-';?/ ■?;* '■:S*«\:ir1'-:H»rKsT T^v -:pwm' ¥;i:.i^ePvel]:><;;l vlr *^" • r- '■ ■*■■ 4-'M ^^^« :>^;v^ c*?>ift?criiei-c s|i5-'.y ,} ^i'-^ml •!'> ;'"*'w.**VK* 1^ ^;^^' .¥^m*n tM\t-^:iu^€m - '*• ^4; :^.-:iP4'} cm. f\;^7^ ii?^.-.J m ;ff'i^.'i^)A-if i^^m w ^KinmiP^^ ■€ W : '■'1.: Vv^li^^ ^h^:%^ ,S: ^~ ll'*a Y '^' '' • ' " ^ .^ . ' '^T ;>i _■: „... ? ' ,'. w. 5. • ' / . '«'.* ,' . . . APPENDIX; CONSISTING OF *i ■.',.-\ AUTHENTIC PAPERS, > ;■ f . - ■ I L L '!'■ •:.-«-? ^^.v 1 ft • ■■■/-^vr #::.;■ AND \\ ILLUSTRATIONS. Added by the Editor, A., l;.*,; ■ 'X. M ^"'s ; yf i'*"" ._ ' ■ >, iff. .-.^...■•3> ■:;-.*■'■ ■■•■ ; , ■''v''"'"^ '':,■-'"•■ .^;,.1-" [J- /■ 'ft- ■ .#*>. ■#i- % S 2 • r — ■' '> _ ■..*:':" 4 '^Ifer' ,,;?:^ < • ! X J -. .' i '.)«■ APPENDIX. Return of the whole Number of Perfons within the feveral DifiriSts of the United States, according to " an y1£f pro- viding for the Enumeration of the Inhabitants of the Unit- ed States" pajfed March the Firft, One I'houfand Seven Hundred and Ninety-one, The Return for South CaroHiTa having been made fince the foregoing Schedule was originally printed, the whole Enume- ration is here given complete, except for the N. Weftern Ter- rit jry, of which no Return has yet been publiflicd. ^\i ales of wards, of fa- i 2S E^^ 8 S§-^ H •a OISTKIOTS hire and hca |J •a SUves. Total. Free w 1 6 years includmg milies >4 C 3 Free i» including milies. ^1 . ■ Vermont 22435 22328 40505 25s 16 »5539 N. Hampftiire 36086 34851 70160 63c 158 14(88^ Maine 24}'-4 24748 46870 f^s NONB 96540 Maflrachnfetts 9H53 87289 I905B2 5463 NONE 378787 Rhode IHand 16019 »S799 32652 3407 948 68825 Conneclicut 60523 54403 II7448 2808 2764 237946 New York 83700 78122 152320 4654 21324 340120 New Jerfey Penniylvania 45251 41416 83287 2762 IId23 184139 1 10788 106948 206363 6537 3737 434373 Delaware »i783 12143 32384 3899 b887 59094 319728 747610 Maryland 55915 5'339 101395 8043 IOJ036 Virginia 1 10936 116 35 2 1 5046 12866 292627 Kentucky 15154 17057 28922 114 12430 73677 N. Carolina 69988 77506 140710 4975 ICO572 393751 S. Carolina 35576 3772* 66880 l&Ol 107094 249073 Georgui i3'o3 14044 25739 398 29264 82548 807094 7Qi8;o I C/t126^ ;o'5o 694280 3893635 Total number ot i ^ ^ u i . 1 Inhabitants of the ia. U* u. United States cx- l^ a 1 dufive of S. Wef- <§ >% 1^ Slavos. Total. tern and N. Terri- * 4 ss ^ t<"y' > i i - g5| s 11 'J 34»7 , ♦ '}> '.-'■ > . ,■ S. W. territory 6271 10477 15365 361 35691 N. Ditto — — *— — j — T •>it [1 ^3 :.v. ,'*•: :>'x''»'. uVH :■'■'■ 26i APPENDIX.'' Schedule sf the whole number of Perjons in the Territory of the United States of America, South of the River Ohio^ as ' taken on the lafi Saturday of July 1791, i^y the Captains of ' the Militia within the limits of their reJpeSlive Dijlriits, ■ .>r in-^ 1 f ^"•2 ^ - bire Males of upwards, indv of &milics. 12 g I'? 1 J 1- i 1 1 rce w sand leads sl d 73 "1 F incl lies. ^ 1009 1792 2524 »* 535 587* . 806 124* »995 107 297 4447 iin 2374 3580 40 454 774» . I2C4 1970 2921 68 807 6970 6X1 io8z 1S27 66 163 3619 2S649 639 i55 1288 18 659 3459 404 582 854 8 348 2196 »3S 380 576 42 36, »54 34>7 1387 7042 6271 10277 iSS^S 35691 fTJSBINGTON <■ DISTRICT. r Wafhington ,C I Sullivan S J Greene <3 I Hawkins [^ South of French Broad ', MERO DISTRICT .S rDavidfon ^ } Sumner <3 (^Tenneflce - - Note, — Tlicre are feveral Captains who have not as yet returned the Schedules of the numbers of their Diftriifls, namely; — in Greene County, three — in Davidion, one— > and South of French-Board, one Diilri Secretary. ,5.1.' \ Truly flated from the original Returns depofit- ed in the Office of the Secretary of State. ■•'■^'"' •■■^"-^^■'^";:c^i;.:^.:,^ T. JEFFERSON.. 0£lober 24, 1791. .. "... ! In point of lize the towns in the United States may be ranked in this order ; Philadelphia, New York, Bofton, Baltimore, Charleflowo, &g. In . point of trade. New York, Philadelphia, Bofton, Charleftown, Baltimore, &c. » rrkory $/ Ohiot as ^apains of ijtrias. 1 ■> « 1 1 » T> ; .c [ 8 , (4-. > ! -5 > 4 h . 447 74 » 970 619 *""" 2S649 459 196 3S7 7042 35691 ;Kedulcs of the ividlbn, ont>— U N 1\ depolit- . S O N. id States ia, New &G. Ill Bodon, APPENDIX. ' 263 From the preceding tables it is iiidiibitable, that the number of inhabitants in the United States confiderabl.y exceeded Four MiUigns. in the year 1791; exckifive of thote in thfe Nor- thern territory, and Tome other diftridts. If to this we add, 'Dr. Franklin's calculation^ *' That the number of the inhabitants of America is double every twenty, years," this number mufl be increaled to confiderably above Eight Mil- lions in the year 181 1 i exclufive of emigrants r-y # from the Old World. , The Engliih reader, we hope, will not be of- fended, '\fi, iii this place, we fay a word or two on the population of Great Britain. It is a cur- rent opinion, that the population of our ifland is yearly increafing. The hS: is quite the re- verfe : but the afi'ertion would fignify nothing, if there were not inconteftable proofs of it* The proofs are thefe. r • ' f ■3S'-> ^('■•■■i, I, r Number of houfes in England and Wales, taken from the return of the furveyors of the Houfe and Window Duties; wherein they arc ftat?d dif- tindly, charged.^ chargeable^ and ex^ cufed. *■_••■•• >.. • ■ • ' .y'' ■T^,.v:=^^ A^ v.-.a Total pf Houfes in 1 759 - — — — ' in 1761 ^ in 1777 ' S 4 M) - r :■ v: <. 986,482 980,692 952,734 Total '• m \ I ^^4 APPENDIX. Total of hoijfes according to the ') \/if hearth-books in 1690, as ftatcd by" ^ XY ri^H Dr. Davenant (fee his works, vol. i, > -' 4^' -? page 38) - . ^ a'' - i»3i9»2i5 In Scotland the number of houfes paying the houfe and window duties was, in 1777, only 16,206. ■••* ■■'(!:.'' .i?vr'5!»^r;.'' -' ; ' -■■ ' .'■ If the diftind returns of the parifhes are ex- amined, it will be manifeft, that a calculation of five perfons to every houfe is a large allow- ance. From all which this refult is obvious That the number of inhabitants in Eng- land and Wales is confiderably (hort of Five Millions ! — '• — ^That, perhaps, including Scot- land, the wh/c Ifland of Great Britain does not exceed that number. " ^^-v*i■■ APPENDIX. 269 94th degrees of longitude, containing an extent of territory which, for healthfulnefs, fertility of foil, and variety of productions, is not perhaps furpafled by any on the habitable globe. ^^*' '- *' The lands comprehended between the river Ohio, at Fort Pitt, and the Laurel mountain, and thence continuing the fame breadth from Fort Pitt to the Great Kanhawa river, may, ac- cording to my own obfervations, and thofe of the late Mr. Gift, of Virginia, be generally, and juftly defcribed a? follows. ' ' ■•'■' " The vallies adjoining to the branches or fprings of the middle forks of Youghiogeny, arc narrow towards its fource, — but there is a con- fiderable quantity of good farming grounds on the hills, near the largeft branch of that river. — ^The lands within a fmaii diftance of the Laurel mountain (through which the Youghi- ogeny runs) are in many places broken and ftony, but rich and well timbered ; and in fome places, and particularly on Laurel creek, they are rocky and mountainous. . . ^ -i-: ; " From the Laurel mountain, to Mononga- hela, the firft feven miles are good, level farm* ing grounds, with fine meadows ; the timber^ white Oak, Chefnut, Hickory, &c. — The fame kind of land continues foutherly (12 miles) to . . :;■ ;:'■ "" ' ^"'^ -'■'■■ ; the ♦# t I .. ( ^ V %* ^}f APPENDIX. the upper branches or forks of this river, and ahout 15 miles northerly to the place where the Youghjogeny falls into the Monongahela. — The lands, for about 1 8 miles in the fame courfe of the laft' mentioned river, on each fide of it, though hilly, are rich and well timbered. — The trees are Walnut, Locuft, Chefnut, Poplar, and Sugar or fweet Maple. The low lands, near the river, are about a mile, and in feveral places two miles wide. For a confiderable way down the river, on the eaftern lide of it, the intervals are extremely rich, and about a mile wide. The upland for about 1 2 nfiiles eaftwardly, are uncommonly fertile, and well timbered; the low lands, on the weftern fide, are narrow ; but the uplands, on the eaftern fide of the ri- ver, both up and down, are excellent, and co- vered with Sugar trees, &c. • '» » ,. r 5* Such parts of the country which lie on (ome of the branches of the Monongahela, and acrofs the heads of feveral rivers, that run into the Ohio, though in general hilly;" are exceed- ingly fruitful and well watered. The timber is Walnut, Chefnut, A(h, Oak, Sugar trees, &c. and the interval or meadow lands arc from 250 yards to a quarter of a mile wide. ' . ; " The lands lying nearly in a north- wefterly ' ;• diredion A P ? E N D I X.^ 271 <11redion from the Great Kanhawa river to the, Ohio, and thence .north-eaft^rly, and alfo upoa • Le Tort's creek, Little Kanhawa river, BufFaloc, Fi(hing, Weellng, and the two upper, and two^ lower, and feveral other very coniiderable creeks , f (or what, in Europe, would be called large ri- vers), and thence eaft, and fouth-eaft to the river Monongahela, aie, in point of quality, as follows. ■ ■:■..'■'''■ .••-^" ■^•^'^^ •t>i4i""' : ^/ " The borderb or meadow lands, are a mile, and in fome places near two miles wide; and the uplands are in common of a mod fertile foil, capable of abundantly producing Wheat, Hemp, tlaX, &C. - •■ ■ ~ ' 'in,;-" -:;>:1y.\; .. *' The lands which lie lipon tfi'e Ohio, at the mouths of, and between the above creeks, alfo confift of rich intervals and very fine farm- ing grounds. The whole country abounds in Bears, Elks, Buffalqe, Deer, Turkies,, &c. — An unqueftionable proof of the extraordinary goodnefs of its foil ! Indiana lies within the territory here defcribed. It contains about three, millions and an half of acres, and was granted to Samuel Wharton, William Trent, and Georo;^ Morgan, Efquires, and a few other perfons, in the year 1768. ''''•' '. '* Fort Pitt flands at the confluence of the Allegheny ? * ♦#■ Mi 'Mm ^ I !1?! ■w-TiT,,-' ■i:----Q^m A 272 APPENDIX. town, called tittfburgh, was bii lit near Fqrt '. anc about, 200 families reiided m ijt ; but 1 m ijt ; but upoi the Indian war breaking out (in the n^onth of \h ! I on May 1762) they abandoned their houfts, and retired ipto the fort. , ' *V Jn the year 1765 the preient to\yh of ^IttiDurgh was laid out. It is built on the Eaftern bank of the river Monongahela, about '200 yards from Port Pitt. " The, lunaion of the Allegheny and Mp- nongahela rivers, rorms the river Ohio, and this di^harges itfelf into the Mifiifli^ppii fin latitude a6" 4.2O about ii88 computed miles from Fort Pitt. The Ohio iri its pafTage to the Miijiflippi, glides through a pleafant, fruitful, and healthy country ; and carries a great uni- formity of breadth, froip 400 to 600 yards, ex- cept at its confluence vyith the Miujljippi. and for JOG miles above it, where it is 1000 yard$ wide. The Ohio, for the greater part.of the w^y to the Miffiffippi, has many meanders, or windings, and riling grounds upon both fides of it. #' the Ohi( " The reaches in the Ohio are iu fome parts 11^ from APPENDIX, ^73 from two to fo'CT miles in length, and one of them, above the Muikingum river, called the Long Reach, is fixteen miles and an half long. The Ohio, about io6 miles above, or northerly of the Rapids, (formerly called the trails) is in many places ^do yardii wide; and as it ap- proaches them, the high grounds on its border^ gradually diminifh, and the dountry becomes more level. Some of the banks, or heights of this river, are at times overflowed by gfeat frefhes; yet there is fcarce a place between Fort Pitt and the Rapids (a diftance of ^^05 Coniput- ed miles) where a good foad may not be iliade i and horfcs employed in drawing up large barges (as is done on the margin of the river Thames 10 England, and the Seine in France) againfl a ftream remarkably gentle, except in high frefhes. The heights of the banks of the Ohio admit them every where to be fettled j as they are not liable to crtimble away. " To thefe remarks, it may be proper to add the fdlowing obfervations of the ingenious Mr* Lewis Evans. He fays that * the Ohio river* as the winter fnows are thawed by the warrtith or rains in the fpring, rifes in vafl flood?^ in fome places' exceeding 20 feet in height, but fcarce any where overflowing its high and up- VoL. 11. T right ill ^l! fe' ■\wu 11 274 A P P E N D I :^. right banks. Thefe floods,' Mr. Evans jadds, * continue of fcune height for at lead a month or two, according to the late or early breaking up of the winter. VefTels frotp loo to 20Q tons burthen, by taking the advantage of theft floods, may go from Pittfburgh to the fea with fafety, as then the Falls, Rifts, and Shoals, are covered tp ^n equality with the refl: of the rivers ;' — and though the diftance is upwards of 2000 miles from Fort Pitt to the fea, yet as there arc no obftrudtions to prevent veflels from proceed- ing both day and night, I am perfuaded that this extraordinary inland voyage may be per- formed, during the f^afon of the floods, by row- ing, in flxteen or feventeen days. , " The navigation of the Ohio in a dry fea- fon, is rather troublefome from Fort Pitt to the Mingo town (about feventy-five miles), but from thence to the Miflifllippi, there is always a fufficient depth of water for barges, carrying from 100 to 200 tons burthen, built in the manner as thofe are which are ufed on the river Thames, between London and Oxford ; — tp wit, from 100 to 120 feet in the keel, (ixteen to eighteen feet in breadth and four feet in depth, and when loaded, drawing afeout three feet water. ■•] ^p ^.a,^,.^*,,.;-/ . :hubi4 t/;. ■ ■ . . ■'■■■' // "The ti APPENDIX. 275 The Rapids, in a dry feafon, are difficult to defcend with loaded boats or barges, ^ if .>♦ - [But inftcad of the carrying place now ufed, it is intended to fubflitute a canal on the con*- trary fide of the river.] '*^ li .fviitbri! f:t!>d}ij<(;r " Mod of the hills on both fides of the Ohio are filled with "excellent coal, and a coal mine was in the year 1763 opened oppofite to Fort Pitt on the river Monongahela, for the ufe of that garrifon. Salt fprings, as well as iron ore, and rich lead mines, are found bordering upon the river Ohio. One of the latter is opened on a branch of the Sioto river, and there the Indian natives fupply themfelves with a confi- derable part of the lead which they ufe in their wars ^d hunting.^ r • ; ^■' v /vr 1 . -, . " About 584 miles below Fort Pitt, and on the eaftern fide of the Ohio river, about three miles from it^ at the head of a fmall creek or run, where are feveral large and miry fait fprings, are found numbers of large bones, teeth arid tuiks, commonly fuppofed to be thofe of elephants! r^*— but the celebrated Do6tor Hunter of London, in his ingenious and curious obfer- vations on thefc bones, &c. has fuppofed them to belong to fome carnivorous animal, larger than an ordinary elephant. VA *«' T2 « On I, I iM Mi nl^ m W 276 APPENDIX. ** On the north -weftcrn fide of Ohio, about 1 1 miles below the Cherokee river, on a high bank, are the remains of fort MaiTac, built by the French, and intended as a check to the fouthern Indians. It was deftroyed by them in the year 1 763. This is a high^ healthy, and delightful (ituation. A great variety of game ; — ^ — BufFaloe, Bear, Deer, &c. as well as Ducks, Geefe, Swans, Turkies, Pheafants, Partridges, &c. abounds iii every part of this country. ' ■ - ** The Ohio, awd the rivers emptying into it, afford green, and other Turtle, and fifli of various forts ; particularly Carp, Sturgeon, Perch, and Cats; the two latter of an uncommon fize, viz. Perch, f;om 8 to 12 pounds weight, and Cats from 50 to 100 pounds weight. , * •' The lands upon the Ohio, and its branches, arc differently timbered according to their qua- lity and (ituation. The high and dry lands are covered with red, white, and black Oak, Hie* kory. Walnut, red and white Mulberry and Afh trees. Grape vines, &c. ; the low and meadow lands are filled with Sycamore, Poplar, red and white Mulberry, Cherry, Beech, Elm, Afpen, Maple, or Sugar trees, Grape vines, &c. ; and below, or fouth wardly of the Rapids, are feveral r .. > large APPENDIX, ' 277 large Cedar and Cyprefs fwamps, where the Cedar and Cyprefs trees grow to a remarkable fize, and where alfo is a great abundance of Canes, fuch as grow in South Carolina. The country on both fides of the Ohio, extending fouth-eafterly, and fouth-wefterly from Fort Pitt to the Mifnifippi, and watered by the Ohio river, and its branches, contains at leaft a mil- lion of fquare miles, and it may, with truth, be affirmed, that no part of the globe is blefTed with a more healthful air, or climate ; watered with more navigable rivers and branches com- municating with the Atlantic Ocean, by the rivers Potowmack, James, Rappahannock, Mif- fiffippi, and St. Lawrence, or capable of pro- ducing, with lefs labour and expence, Wheat, Indian Corn, Buck-wheat, Rye, Oats, Barley, Flax, Hemp, Tobacco, Rice, Silk, Pot-a(h, &c. than the country under confideration. And although there are conlfderable quantities of high lands for about 250 miles (on both fides of the river Ohio) fouthwardly from Fort Pitt, yet even the fumraits of moft of the Hills are co- vered with a deep rich foil, fit for the culture of Flax and Hemp ; and it may alfo be added, that 110 foil can pplfibly yiejd larger crops of T3 red i mil m m H H i m m h-f .._,!,. •' t i iX 278 APPENDIX. red and white Clover, and other ufeful graft, than this does. '■} ^ -— • ' ' ' ' ' "'" ** On the north-wed: and fouth-eafl fides of the Ohio, below the great Kanha^va river, at a little diftance from it, are extcnfive natural meadows, or favannahs. Thefe meadows are from 20 to 50 miles in circuit. They have many, beautiful groves of trees interfperfed, as if by art, in them, and which ferve as a fhelter for the innumerable herds of BufFaloe, Deer, &c. with which they abound. '■>■'" * ' ** I am obliged to a worthy friend, and coun- tryman, for the following juft and judicious f obfervations. They were addreffed to the Earl of Hilliborough, in the year 1770, when Secretary of State for the North American de- partment; and were written by Mr. Saniuel Wharton of Philadelphia, who at time refided in London, having fome bufinefs there with Mr. Strahan, Mr. ALrion, &c. ' '^'''- * ^' ** No part of North- America," he fayS, " Will ** require lefs encouragement for the produc- •* tion of naval flores, and raw materials for " manufactories in Europe; and for fupplying ** the Weft-India iflands with Lumber, Provi- ** (ions, &c. than the country of the Ohio;— " and for the following reafons; '.W.'UO 1 (( Firft, APPENDIX. 279 ** Firft, The lands are excellent, the climate ** tennperatc, the native Grapes, Silk- worms, and •* Mulberry-trees, abound every where : Hemp, ** Hops, and Rye, grow fpontaneoufly in the *• valleys and low lands, lead, and iron ore are ** plenty in the hills, fait fprings are innumer- •' able ; and no foil is better ad^ipted to the cul- ♦* ture of Tobacco, Flax, and Cotton, than that •* of the Ohio. ' ' ♦* Second, The country is well watered by •* feveral navigable rivers, communicating with •♦ each other; by which, and a fhort land car- *' riage, the produce of the lands of the Ohio ** can, even now (in the year 1772) be lent ** cheaper to the fea-port town of Alexandria, '* on the river Potomack in Virginia (where •' General Braddock's tranfports landed his «' troops), than any kind of merchandife is lent *' from Northampton to London. ♦* Third, The river Ohio is, at all feafons of " the year, navigable with large boats, like the •* weft country barges, rowed only by four *' or five men; and from the month of Febru- ** ary to April large fliips may be built on the ♦' Ohio, and fent to fea laden with Hemp, Iron, ** Flax, Silk, Tobacco, Cotton, Pot-a(h, &c. ''Fourth, Flour, Corn, Beef, Ship-Plank, T 4 " an4 • '' i m m 1 t .480 APPENDIX, ;. i ft' and Other ufeful articles, can be ietit down ,0^* ^he flrcam of the Ohio to Weft-Fioridai and y^* fjroni thepce to the Weft* India iflandst much ^* cheaper* and in better order, than from New t ** York or Philadelphia to thefe iilands. '> :>dj if* Fifth, Hemp, Tobacco, Iron, and fuch ^j(.;f^ bulky articles, piay alfo be fent down the ^^^^ ftrqup of the Ohio to ^he Tea, and at lead 50 iji «• per cent, cheaper than thefe s^rticle^ were ii f < ever carried |by a land carriage, of only 60 ^'•'^^ diles, in Pcnnfylvania ; where waggonage iiut'is c'hcaper than in any other part of North '*?* America, ^^>^'i^>i* v'? t-Mi^'-.-Ly ^Unxiji '4ui 1^ Sixth, The expence of tninfporting Euro- **'*'• pfeari manufadtories from the fea to the Ohio, ^^^ •• will not be fo mvich as is now paid, and ^**' ** thnft eyer be paid, to a great part of the ^^1* 0dufit}e$ of Pcnnfylvania, Virginia, and Ma- *'ii «< jiyljind. Whenever the farmers, or nier- '» if*thants of Ohio, (hall property iind^rftand '^^'** the bufinefs of tranfportation, they will build ^^'^' fehdpners, floops, &c. on the Ohio, fuitable ** for tKe Weft- India, or European markets; ' f ^ or^ ' by haying Black- Walnut, Cherry-trf*, . flj^if Qak, '&c» properly fa wed for foreign markets, ii]M>^ihd' formed into rafts, in the manner that •f'fl i$ n6w done by th^ fettler^ near the upper •• parts r tt u A P P E H D I X. aSl partt of Delaware river in Pennfylvania, and thereon ilow their Hemp, Iron, Tobacco, i^i 6cQ. and pcoceed with them to New Or- ** It may not, perhaps, be amifs, to obferve, ^* that large quantities of Flour are made in the r.^*diftant (weftcrn) counties of Pennfylvania, ** and fent by an expenfive land carriage to the r ^* city of Philadelphia, and from thence (hipped c ** to South Carolina, and to £ail and Weft ..off Florida, there being little or no Wheat raifed zijff in thefe provinces. The river Ohio feems ** kindly defigned by nature as the channel , ^* through which the two Floridas may be fup- , ,*f plied with Flour, not only for their own " confumption, but alfo for the carrying on an. •* extend ve commerce with Jamaica and the *^ £pani(h fettlements in the Bay of Mexico. ;^1f, Millftones in abundance are to be obtained in ij.^* the hills near the Ohio, and the country is hiif^ every where well watered with large and alr.f,* conftant fprings and flreams, fpr^grift, and ;,i,?t^.'«other mills.' .,:, •,., ,.,u.ui-iii>i/ 2»na vvt ' ^-)i»i *^The paffage from Philadelphia to Pennfa- ^ ,i^,f cola, is feldom made ia lefs th^ a month, 1 f V and fixty fhillings ilerliiig per . ton freight r '/f (coiiriftiog of fixteen barrels) is ufually paid K: 0. it tor f ij 'i '*: '♦'•■ i'i m ;f'i.'J»'l 'rtiir 2S2 APPENDIX. ** for Flour, &c. thither. Boats carrying 800 ** or I coo barrels of Flour, may go in about •* the fame time from the Ohio (even from ** Pittfburgh) as from Philadelphia to Pcnnfa- ** cola, and for half the above freight, t'he Ohio ** merchants would be able to deliver Flour, *' &c. there in much better order than from ^ *' Philadelphia, and without incurring the da- *' mage and delay of the fea, and charges of •* infurance, &c. as from thence to Pennfa- ** cola. ' • . *' This is not mere fpeculation ; for it is a *' fa£i:, that about the year 1746 there was a ** great fcarcity of provifions at New Orleans, ** and the French fettlements, at' the Illinois, "* fmall as they then were, fent thither in one *' winter upwards of eight hundred thoufand " weight of Flour.*' ' ' ** 1 (hall now proceed to give a brief account of the feveral rivers and creeks which fiUl into the river Ohio. *' Canawagy, when raifed by fre(hes, is pafT- able with fmall battoes, to a little lake at its he«d ; — fron thence there is a portage of 20 miles to lake Erie, at the mouth of Jadaghque. This portage is feldom ufed, becaufe Canawagy has fcarcely any water in it in a dry feafon. ^* Eughaloons, APPENDIX. ** Bnghaloons is not navigable, but is re- markable for extenfivt meadows bordering up- '* Frei ch Creek affords the neareft pafHigc to lake Erie. It is navigable with fntall boats to Le Beuf, by a very crooked channel ; the portage thence to Prelquile, from an adjoining* peninfula, is 15 miles. This is the lifual route from Quebec to Ohio. *' Licking and Lacomic Creeks do not afford any navigation ; but there is plenty of coals and ftones for building in the hills which ad- join them. *' Toby's Creek is deep enough for batteaus for a conliderable way up, thence by a fhort portage to the wefl branch of Sufquehannah, a good communication is carried on between Ohio and the eaflern parts of Pennfylvania. " Moghulbughkitum is paffablc alfo by flat bottom boats in the fame manner as Toby's Creek is to Sufquehannah, and from thence to all the fettlements in Northumberland county, . ^U^.-: ni.tHj n)^. . &c. m Pepnlyivania. , " Kifhkeminetas is navigrable In lite mah^ nef as the preceding creeks, for between 40 and 50 miles, and good portages are found be- tween Rifhkcminetasj Juniatta, and Potomac rivers. m f! ' 1, ' If ' '' "1 ^* 184 APPENDIX. rivers. — Coal and Salt are difcovered in the neighbourhood of thefe rivers. *' Monongahela is a large river, and at its jundlion with the Allegheny river ftands Fort Pitt. It is deep, and gentle, and navigable with battoes and . barges, beyond Red Stone creek, and ilill farther with lighter craft. At fixteen miles from its mouth is Youghiogeny ; this river is navigaUe with batteaux or barges to the foot of Laurel hill. *• Beaver Creek has water fufficient for flat bottom boats. At Kifhkulkes (about 16 miles up) are two branches of this creek, which fpread oppodte ways; one interlocks with French Creek and Cherage,—- the other with Mulhingum and Cayahoga; on this branch, about thirty-five miles above the forks, are many Salt-fprings. — Cayahoga is practicable with canoes about twenty miles farther. " Muikingum is a fine gentle river, confined by high banks, which prevent its floods from overflowing the furrounding land. It is 250 yards wide at its confluence with the Ohio, and navigable, without any obftrudions, by large battoes or barges, to the three Legs's, and by fmall ones to a little lake at its head. ** From thence to Cayahoga (the creek that leads APPENDIX. 285 leads to lake Erie) the Mulkingum is muddy, and not very fwift, but no where obdrudted with falls or rifts. Here are fine uplands, ex- tenfive meadows, Oak and Mulberry-trees fit for fhip building, and Walnut, Chcfnut, and Poplar trees, fuitable for domeftic fervices. — Cayahoga furniflies the beft portage between Ohio and lake Erie ; at its mouth it is wide and deep enough to receive large floops from the lake. It will hereafter be a place of great impor- tance. ^ ■ '- ■ ..■■< '^ H, .* ■■; .^•M ; -.:: " Mulkingum, in all its wide-extended branches, is furrounded by moft excellent land, and abounds in fprings, and conveniencies par- ticularly adapted to fettlements remote from fea navigations ; — fuch as fait fprings, coal, clay, and free Aone. In 1748 a coal mine oppofite to Lamenihicola mouth took fire, and continued burning about twelve months, but great quan- tities of coal dill remain in it. Near the fame place are excellent whetftones, and about eight miles higher up the river, is plenty of white ai:d blue clay for glafs works and pottery. ■ - " Hockhocking is navigable with large flat bottom boats between feventy and eighty miles; it has fine meadows with high banks, which feldom overflow, and rich uplands on its bor- 7 ders. m iii III aim !tfi '1 ;.t'^ 286 APfENDIX. ders. Coal and quarries of freeftone are found ab<)ut 15 miles up this creek. , • .. '^ jBig Kanhawa falls into the Ohio upon its fouth-eailern iide* and is fo cotiiiderable a branch of this river, that it rnay be miftakei^ for the Ohio itfelf by .perfons afcending it. It is flo^ fpr ten miles, to little broken hills,— • the low land is very rich, and of about the fame breadth (from the pipe hills to the falls) as up- on the Ohio. After going 10 miles up ICan- hawa the land is hilly, and the water a little rapid for 50 or 60 miles further to the falls, yet batteaus or barges may be eafily rowed thither. Thefe falls were formerly thought impaflablc ; but late difcoveries have proved, that a waggon road may be made through the mountain, which occafions the falls, and that by a portage of a few miles only a communis cation may be had between the waters of great Kauhawa and Ohio, and thofe of James river in Virginia. ^ .■>■ .•..,,.. .j^.-; ;..,,,:.,,,,., /.*.<-;. •:,,. - ^* Tottery lies upon the fouth-eaftern fide of the Ohio, and is navigable with batteaux to the Ouafioto mountains. It is a long river, has -few branches, and interlocks with Red* Greek, or Clinche's River (a branch of the Cut- tawa); and has below the mountains, efpeci- ^k*l-t APPENt>IX. 2^7 ally for 15 miles from its mouth, very good land. Here is a perceptible difference of cli- mate between the upper ^nd this part of Ohio. Here the large Reed, or Carolina Cane, grows in plenty, even upon the upland, and the winter is fo moderate as not to deftroy it. The fame moderation of climate continues down Ohio, cfpecially on the fouth-eaft fide, to the Rapids, and thence on both fides of that river to the MifTifiippi. ** Great Salt Lick Creek is remarkable for fine land, plenty of buffaloes, fait fprings, white clay, and lime flone. Small boats may go to the croffing of the war path without any impe- diment. The fait fprings render the waters unfit for drinking, but the plenty of frefh fprings in their vicinity, makes fuflicient amends for ; 7 4, •. << / J i Vii 1 d' this inconvenience. .^ ,: „if » " Kentucke is larger than the preceding creek; it is furrounded with high clay banks, fertile lands, and large fait fprings. Its naviga- tion is interrupted by (hoals, but palTable with fmall boats to the gap, where the war path goes through the Ouafioto mountains. '\ ^ ''' ' ^^ ** Sioto, is a large gentle river, bordered with rich flats, or meadows. It overflows in the fpring, and then fpr^ads about half a mile, :l.'"j ' though r( r 4 1' ^v ''■rt Ml m II m iSg APPENDIX. though when confined Within its banks it i^ fcarce a furlong wide. ^' If it floods early, it feldorti retires withitl its banks in lefs than a month, and is not ford- able frequently id le(s than two months. ** The Sioto, befides having a great extent of mod excellent land on both iides of the river, is furni(hed with fait, on an eadern branch, and red bole on Necuniia Skeintat. The dream of Sioto is gentle and paifable with large battoes or barges for a confiderable way, and with fmall- er boatSj, near 200 mUes, to a portage of only four miles to Sandufky. •* Sanduiky is a confiderable river abounding in level land, its dream gentle all the way to the mouth, where it is large enough to receive (loops. The northern Indians crofs lake Erie here from ifland to ifland, land at Sandufky, and go by a diredt path to the lower Shawanoe town, and thence to the gap of the Oualioto mountain, in their way to the Cuttawa coun* try. ♦* Little Mineami river is too fmall to navi- gate with batteaux. It has much fine land and feveral fait fprings ; its high banks and gentle current prevent its much overflowing the fur* rounding lands in frefhes. «« Great I A 1^ P fi K D I X. 289 ** Great Mincami, Affereniet or Rocky river, has a very ftony channel; a fwift ftream» but no falls. It has feveral large branches, paflablfe with'boats'd great wav ; on^ exteridih^j \Veft- ward towards the Quiaghtena river, ahbther to- wards a branch of Mmeami river (which runs into Lake Erie), to which there is a portage^ and a' third h^s a portage to the Weft branch of Sanduiky, befides Mad Creek, wherfe the French formerly eftabiifhed themfelves, Rifing groiindi" here and there a little ftony, which begins iit the nbrthern part of the peninfula, bet'weeri the lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan, and exferids acrofs little Mineami river below the Forks, and fouthwardly along the Rocky river, to Ohio. ' " Buffaloe river falls nvtb the tHii6 ki ^& e^ftern fide of it, at the diftance of 915 cbni- puted miles from Fort Pitt. It Is a very cohfi- dei-abie branch of the Ohio ; Is 200 yards wide]*' naVigalJib upwards of I cBrtiiles for battoes or" barges, of 30 feet long,' 5 feet broad, and 3 feet ddefy^, ' dalt^ryih'g about 7 tons, and can be navi-^ gated much farther with large canoes* The ftr^arii^ IS ^l^p^erate. The Unds dh both ^des of tlife'river are of a inoft luxuriant quality, for the pTodii(Slidn of Hemp, Flax, WheJit, Tobacco, &(?.** They" aVe covered with a great variifty of Vol. II. ...'ty^vM.. .^wi^nj^^^V ii ; i ■ I 1 mm i-^-^ Z^' ►:^ -.^Maf;!', " The Wabafli is a beautiful river, with high and upright banks, lefs fubje6l to overflow than any other river (the Ohio excepted) in this part of America. It difcharges itfelf into the Ohio, one thoufand and twenty- two miles below Fort Pitt, in latitude ^7° 4^'* — At its mouth it is 270 yards wide; is navigable to Ouiatanon (412 miles) in the fpring, fummer, and autumn, with battoes or barges, drawing about three feet water. From thence, on ac- count of a rocky bottom, and fhoal water, large canoes are chiefly employed, except when the river is fwelled with rains, at which time it may be afcended with boats, fuch as I have juft, defcribed (197 miles further) to the Miami carrying place, which is nine miles from the Miami village, and this Is fituated on a river of the fame name, that runs into the fouth-fduth- ■weft part of lake Erie. — The ftream of the Wabafh is generally gentle to fort Ouiatanon, and no where obfl:ru6ted with falls, but is by feveral rapids, both above and below that fort, ^> ^ 4" ■,' ' Ibme APPENDIX* * 291 fome of which are pretty confidcrable. There is alfo a part of the river, for about three miles/ and 30 iriles from the carrying place, where, the channel is fo narrow, that it is ncceflary to make ufeof fetting poles, inflcad of oars. The land on this river is remarkably fertile, and fe- veral parts of it are natural meadows, of great extent, covered with fine long grafs. — The timber is large, and high, and in fuch variety, that almoll: all the different kinds growing upon the Ohio and its branches (but with a greater proportion of black and white mulberry- trees) may be found here. — A (ilver mine has been difcovered about 28 miles above Ouiatanon, on the northern fide of .the Wabafh, and probably others may be found hereafter. The Wabafh abounds with fait fprings, and any quantity of fait may be made from them, in the manner now done at the Saline in the Illinois country : — the hills are replenished with the beft coal, and there is plenty of lime and free ftone, blue, yellow, and white clay, for glafs works and pottery. Two French fettlements are efta- blilhed on the Wabafh, called Pofl Vincient and Ouiatanon; the firfl is 150 miles, and the other 262 miles from its mouth. The former is on the eaflcrn fide of the river, and confifts U 2 of ll I m I ■■'! m m ■■Is (|.i4j m pi '1! -'Iivl A ■•'M-i Z9> APPENDIX. of 60 fcttlers and their families. They raiic Indian corn, wheat, and tobacco of an extra- ordinary good quality ; fuperior, it is faid, to that produced in Virgi;na. They have a fine breed of horfes (brought originally by the In- dians from the Spani(h fettlements on the wefl- ern fide of the river Mifliilippi), and large flocks of fwine and black cattle. The fettlers deal with the natives for furs and deer (kins, to the amount of about 5000 1. annually. Hemp of a good texture grows fpontaneoufly in the low lands of the VVabafh, as do grapes in the great- efl: abundance, having a black, thin ikin, and of which the inhabitants in the autumn make a fufficient quantity (for their own confumption) of well- tailed red- wine. Hops large and good are found in many places, and the lands are par- ticularly adapted to the culture of rice. All European fruits ; — apples, peaches, pears, cher- ries, currants, goofberries, melons, &c. thrive well, both here, and in the country bordering on the river Ohio. ' .; r *' Ouiatanon is a fmall flockaded fort on the weftern fide of the Wabafh, in which about a dozen families refide. The neighbouring In- dians are the Kickapoos, Mufquitons, Pyanki- fhaws, and a principal part of the Ouiatanons. The • :™|^ APPENDIX. 293 The whole of thcfe tribes confift, it is fuppofcd, of about one thoufand warriors. The fertility of foil, and diverfity of timber in this country, are the fame as in the vicinity of Poft Vincient. The annual amount of ikins and furs obtained at Ouiatanon is about 8000 1. By the river Wabafh, the inhabitants of Detroit move to the fouthern parts of Ohio, and the Illinois country. Their rout is by the Miami river to a carrying- place, which, as before flated, is nine miles to the "^Vabafh, when this river is raifed with frefhes ; but at other feafons, the diftance is from 18 to 30 miles, including the portage. The whole of the latter is through a level coun- try. Carts are ufually employed in tranfport- ing boats and merchandife from the Miami to the Wabafli river. ; r " The Shawanoe river empties itfelf on the eaftern fide of Ohio, about 95 miles fouth- wardly of the Wabaih river. It is 250 yards wide at its mouth, has been navigated 180 miles in battoes of the conftrudion of thofe mentioned in the preceding article, and from the depth of water, at that diftance from its mouth, it is prefumed, it may be navigated much fur- ther. The foil and timber of the lands, upon , U 3 this m ffi t 1(, ■ m •I J 1/ ■■^l : !, ■ ;■ -if':; m 294 APPENDIX. this river, are cxadjy the fame as thofc upon Buffaloe river. •'"■''• ' ''r^'yf^&i r^jj- - '-; ^. " The Cherokee river difcharges itfclf iiito the Ohio on the lame fide that the Shawanoe river does, that is, 13 miles bcbw or ioutherly of it, and 11 miles above, or noither'y of the place whcM'e Fort Maflac formerly flood, and 57 miles from the confluence of the Ohio with the river Milfiffippi. The Cherokee river has b6en navigated 900 miles from its mouth. At the diftancc of 220 miles from thence, it widens from 400 yards (its general width) to between two and three miles, and continues this breadth for near thirty miles farther. The whole of this dillance is called the Mullzle Shoals. PIcre the channel is obflrufted with a number of iflands, formed by trees and drifted wood, brought hither, at different feafons of the year, in frefhes aild floods. In palfing thefe iflnads, the middle of the vvidefl intermediate water is to be navigated, as there it is deepefl. From the mouth of the Cherokee river to Mufcle Shoals the current is moderate, and botli the high and low lands are rich, and abun- dantly covered with oaks, walnut, fugar-trees, hickory, &c. About 200 miles above thefe fhoals is, what is called, the Whirl, or Suck, occafioncd, APPENDIX. 295 occafioned, I imagine, by the high mountain, which there confines the river (fuppored to be the Laurel mountain). The "Whirl, or Suck, continues rapid for about three miles. Its •width about 50 yards. Afcending the Cherokee river, and at about 100 miles from the Suck, and upon the fouth-caftern fide of that river, is Highwafec river. Vaft trads of level and rich land border on this river; but at a fmall dif- tance from it, the country is much broken, and f6nn6 parts of it produce only pine trees. Forty miles higher up the Cherokee river, on the north weftern fide, is Clinche's river. It is 150 yards wide, and about 50 miles up it fev.eral families are fettled. From Clinche's to Tenefce river is 100 miles. It comes in on the eaftern fide, and is 250 yards wide. About 10 miles up this fiver, is a Cherokee town, called Chota, and further up this branch are feveral other Indian town's, pofleffed by Indians, called, the Over- hill Chfcrokecs. The navigation of this branch is much interrupted by rocks, as is alfo the river called French Broad, which comes into the Che- rokee river 50 miles above the Tenefee, and on the fame fide. 1 50 miles above French Broad is Long Ifland (three miles in length) and from thence to the fource of the Cherokee river is U4 60 h ,t '^^D S'V'I 1 h .« \ .4 ! 1: ■' Pi I '.- "v i v» m m 'lit ' filf m 7.()6 APPENDIX. 60 miles, and the whole diftance is fo rocky, as to be fcarcely navigable with a canoe. ' ' " By the Cherokee river, the emigrants from the frontier counties of Virginia, and North Carolina, pafs to the fettlements in Weft Florida, upon the river Miinffippi. They em- bark, at Long I fland. ,', , i; i, ** I will now proceed to give a defcription of that part called the Illinois country, lying between the Miffiflippi wefterly, the Illinois river north- erly, the Wabafli eafterly, and the Ohio fouth- erly. ' .. ' ' " '■' 1 !:'•'■• ■' '^■'- • ' " The landc.^t the confluence, or fork of the rivers Mif^^fTippi and Ohio, is above 20 feet higher than the common furface of thefe rivers; yet fo confiderable are the fpring floods, that it is generally overflowed for about a week, as are the lands for feveral miles back in the country. -—The foil at the fork is compofed of mud, earth, and fand, accumulated from the Ohio and Miffiffippi rivers. It is exceedingly fertile, and in its natural ftate yields hemp, pea-vines, grafs, &;Cfi and a great variety of trees, and in pa'-ticular the afpen tree, of an unufual height ^nd thickn^fs, - _ " : 1 *' For 25 miles up the Mifliffippi (from the , Ohio) APPENDIX. 297 Ohio) the country is rich, level, and well tim- bered ; and then feveral gentle rifing grounds appear, which gradually diminifti at the diftance of between four and five miles eaftward from the river. From thence to the Kafkalkias ri- ver is 65 miles. The counlry is a mixture of hills and vallies; fome of the former are rocky and deep ; but they, as well as the vallies, are (haded with fine oaks, hickory, walnut, afh, and mulberry-trees, &c. Some of the high grounds afford mofl pleafant fit nations for fet- tlements. Their elevated, and airy pofitions, together with the great luxuriance of the foil, every where yielding plenty of grafs, and ufeful plants, promife health, and ample returns to induftrious fettlers. *' Many quarries of lime, free-ftone, and marble, have been difcovered in this part of the country. *' Several creeks and rivers fall into the Mifliiiippi, in the above diftance (of 65 miles), but no remarkable ones, except the rivers a Vafe and Kaikr.lkias; the former is navigable for battoes about 60, and the latter for about 1 70 miles ; — both thefe rivers run through a rich (:ountry, abounding in extenfive, natural mea- . . . . ' ■ -■■ ;/ . .t,^' . • . , - ^ doWS, I, pi m :■ m iii to- ?!■'! 671 li i 298 APPENDIX. dows, and numberlefs herds of buffaloe, deer, &c. ■'■^^•-'c "■'•'"" -, ^--;»i- > ■■■ ■ .-^ wj:,.,. *' The high grounds, juft mentioned, con- tinue along the eaflern fide of the Kafkafkias river, at a fmall diftance from it, for the fpace of five miles and a half, to the Kalkafkias vil- lage ; then they incline more towards that river, and run nearly parallel with the eafteru brrnk of the Miffilfippi, at the diflance of about three miles in fome parts, and four miles in other parts from it. Thefe are principally com- pofed of lime and free-flone, and from 100 to 130 feet high, divided in feveral places by deep cavities, through which many fmall rivulets J)afs before they fall into the Mifliffippi. The fides of thefe hills, fronting this river, are in many places perpendicular, — and appear like fo- lid pieces of flone mafonry, of various colours, figures, and fizes. * ". .- i. ;!•■• "^ " The low land between the hills and the Mifliilippi, begins on the north fide of the Kafls-aikias river, and continues for three miles above the River Mifouri, where a high ridge terminates it, and forms the eaftern bank of "he Miffiflippi. — This interval land is level,- has few trees, and is of a very rich foil, yielding ihrubs and rn^fl fragrant flowers, which, added to APPENDIX. ' • 299 to the number and extent of meadows and ponds ciifperfed through this charmnig valley, render It exceedingly beautiful and agreeable. ,-; " In this vale fland the foUovvincr villages, viz. Kaikalkias, which, as already mentioned, is five miles and a half up a river of the fame name, running northerly and foutherly. — This village contains 8lo houies, many of them well built; feveral of ftone, with gardens, and large lots adjoining. It confifts of about 500 white inhabitants, and betvv'^en four and five hundred nes:roes. The former have large flocks of black cattle, fvvine, &:c. ;.; " Three miles northerly of Kafkalkias, is a village of Illinois Indians (of the Kalkafkias tribe) containing about 210 perfons and 60 war- riors. They were formerly brave and warlike, but are degenerated into a drunken and de- bauched tribe, and fo indolent, as fcarcely to procure a fuiiiciency of (kins and furs to barter for clothing. " Nine miles further northward than the laft mentioned village, is another, called La prairie du Rocher, or the Rock meadows. It confifls of 100 white inhabitants, and 80 ne- groes. " Three miles northerly of this place, on the banks m %si ''!''';-ii m "1 1 . t t' !■. M w f .-18 JOO APPENDIX. banks of the Miffiffippi, flood Fort Chartres. It was abandoned in the year 1772, as it was ren- dered untenable by the conftant wafhings of the River Mifliflippi in high floods. — The village of Fort Chartres, a liule fouthward of the fort, contained fo few inhabitants, as not to deferve my notice. * '* One mile higher up the Mifliffippi than Fort Chartres, is a village fettled by 170 war- riors of the Piorias and Mitchigamias (two other tribes of the Illinois Indians). They are as idle and debauched as the tribe of Kalkalkias which I have juft defcribed. ** Four miles higher than the preceding village, is St. Philip's, It was formerly inha- bited by about a dozen families, but at j)refent is pofTefled only by two or three. — The others have retired to the weftern fide of the Miffif- fippi. r . :. *' Forty- five miles further northwards than St. Philip's (and one mile up a fmall river on the fouthern fide of it) ftands the village of Cahokia. It has 50 houfes, many of them well built, and 300 inhabitants, poffefling 80 negroes, and large flocks of black cattle, fwine, &c. *' Four miles above Cahokia, on the weflern or APPENDIX. \0t or Spanifli fide of the Mifllflippi, ftands the village of St. Louis, on a high piece of groLMid, It is the mofl: healthy and pleafurable fituatioa of any known in this part of the country. Here the Spanifh commandant and the princi- pal Iildian traders reflde ; who, by conciliating the affections of the natives, have drawn all the Indian trade of the Mlfouri ; — part of that of the Miffiflippi (northwards), and of the tribes of Indians refiding near the Ouifconfing and Illi- nois rivers, to this village. In St. Louis are 1 20 houfes, moftly built of flone. They are large and commodious. This village has 800 inhabitants, chiefly French ; — fome of them have had a liberal education, are polite, and hofpitable. They have about 150 negroes, and large flocks of black cattle, &c. '* Twelve miles below, or foutherly of Fort Chartres, on the weflern bank of the Miflif- llppi, and nearly oppofite to the village of Kaf- kafkias, is the village of St. Genevieve, or Miflire. It contains upwards of ico houfes, and 460 inhabitants, befides negroes. This and St. Louis arc all the villages that are upon the weftera or Spanifh fide of the Miffiflippi, ^^ " Four miles below St. Genevieve (on the weflern bank of the Mlffiffippi), at the mouth of '111 I ■'I % ; Pi ' if M ■ t'l- >s 302 APPENDIX. of a creek, is a hamlet, called the Saline. Here all the fait is made, which is ufed in the Illi- nois country, from a fait fpring that is at this place. , , " In the feveral villages on the MiffiiUppi, which I have juft defcribed, there were, foMonjj ago as the year 1 77 1 , twelve hundred and feveii- ty-three fenclble men. " The Ridge which forms the eaflern bank of the Miffiffippi, above the Mifouri river, con- tinues northerly to the Illinois river, and then direds its courfe along the eaflern fide of that river, for about 220 miles, when it declines in gentle flopes, and ends in extenlive rich favan- iiahs. On the top of this ridge, ^at the mouth of the Illinois river, is an agreeable and com- mandinc^ fituation for a fort, and thoug-h the ridge is high and ileep (about 130 feet high), and rather difficult to afcend, yet when af- cended, it aftbrds a mod delightful profpefl'. — The Miffiffippi is diflindly feen from its fummit for more than twenty miles, as are the beautiful meanderings of the Illinois river for many leagues ;— next a level, fruitful mea- dow prefents itfelf, of at leail: one hundred miles iu circuit on the weftern ;ide of the Mif- fiffippi, watered by feveral lakes, and fliaded by fmail A P P E N D I Xr 303 fmall groves or copfes of trees, fcattered in diff fereiit parts of it, and then the eye with rap- ture furveys, as well the high lands bordering upon the river Miflburi, as thofe at a greater diftaiice up the Miffiflippi.— In fine, this charm- ing ridge is covered with excellent grafs, large oak, walnut-trees, &c. and at the diftance of about nine miles from the Miflifilppi, up the Illinois river, are (een many large lavannahs, or meadows abounding in buffalo, deer, &c. " In afcending the Mifliffippi, Cape au Gres particularly attradled my attention. — It is about 8 leagues above the Illinois river, on the eaft- ern fide of the Miflifiipni, and continues above five leagues on that river. There is a gradual defcent back to delightful meadows, and to beautiful and fertile uplands, watered by ftveral rivulets, which fall into the Illinois river be- tween 30 and 40 miles from its entrance into the Miliiliippi, and into the latter at Cape au Gies. The diftanee from the Miffiffippi to the River Illinois acrofs the country, is leflened or increafed, according to the windings of the former river ;— the fmalled diftanee is at Cape au Gres, and there it is between four and five miles. The lands in this intermediate fpacc between the above two rivers are rich, almofi: * bcvond 1:1 t| r-i,. ' "'■hV '■A j "i 304 APPENDIX. beyond parallel, covered with large oaks, wal-' nut, &c. and not a ftone is to be fecn, except upon the fides of the river, — It is ^ven ac- knowledged by the French inhabitants, that if fettlcments were only begun at Cape au Grcs, thofe upon the Spanifh fide of the Mifliflippi would be abandoned, as the former would ex- cite a cbnftant fucceflion of fettlers, and inter- cept all the trade of the upper Mifliflippi. •* ^"'' ** The Illinois river furnifhes a communi- cation with Lake Michigan, by the Chicago river, and by two portages between the latter and the Illinois river; the longeft of which does not exceed four miles, ' *' The Illinois country is in general of a fupe- rior foil to any other part of North America that I have {een. It produces fine oak, hic- kory, cedar, mulberry-trees, &c. fome dying roots and medicinal plants ; — hops arid excellent wild grapes, and in the year 1769, one hundred and ten hogfheads of well-tafted and flrong wine were made by the French fettlers from thefe grapes, — a large quantity of^ fugan is alfo annually made from the juice of the maple-tree ; and as the mulberry-trees are long and numer- ous, I prefume the making of filk will employ the attention and induHry of thcTettters, when _. *» . the m A 1» ^ fe N b I X. 305 tht country is more fully inhabited than it is at prefent, and efpecially as the winters arc much more moderate, and favourable for the breed of filk worms, than they are in many of the fea coaft provinces, — Indigo may likewife be fuccefsfuUy cultivated (but not more than two cuttings in a year) ; wheat, peas, and In- dian corn thrive well, as does every fort of grain and pulfc, that is produced in any of the old colonies. Great quantities of tobacco are alfo yearly raifed by the inhabitants of the Illi- nois, both for their own confumption, and that of the Indians ; but little has hitherto been exported to Europe. Hemp grows fpontane- oufly, and is of a good texture ; its common heitrht is 10 feet, and its thicknefs three inches (the latter reckoned within about a foot of the root), and with little labour any quantity may be cultivated. Flax feed has hitherto been only raifed in fmaU quantities* There has however been enough produced to fhew that it may be fowp to the greateft advantage. Ap- ples, pears, peaches, and all other European fruits, fucceed admirably. Iron, copper, and lead mines, as alfo fait fprings, have been difco- vered in different parts of this territory. The two latter are worked on the Spanilh lide of Vol. II. X the ij. Itl '' »p .©I III Jil N ii 11 si 'I 306 APPENDIX. the MlfTifllppi, with confiderable ailvdntagc to their owners. There is plenty of lilh in the rivers, particuhirly cat, carp, and perch, of an uncommon fize. — Savannahs, or natural mea- dows, are both numerous and extenfivc ; yield- ing excellent grafs, and feeding great herds of bufFaloe, deer, &c. — Ducks, teal, geefc, fwans, cranes, pelicans, turklcs, pheafants, partridges, &c. fuch as arc feen in the fea coaft colonies, are in the greateft variety and abundance. — In fhort, every thing that a reafonable mind can defire is to he found, or may, with little pains, be produced Iicre. , • '* Niagara Fort is a mofl important pod. It fecures a greater number of communications through a larger country than probably any other pafs in interior America;— it ftands at the entrance of a ftrait, by which lake Ontario is joined to lake Erie, and the latter is connedl- ed with the three great lakes, Huron, Michegan, and Superior. About nine miles above Fort Niagara the carrying place begins. It is oc- cafioned by the ftupendous catara^l of that name. The quantity of water which tumbles over this fall is u. paralleled in America ; — its heighth is not lefs than 137 feet. This fall would interrupt the tommunication between the I.' I"l , I. APPENDIX. 307 the lakes Ontario and Erie, if a road was not made up the hilly country that borders upon the iUait. This road extends to a (mall pofl: delitcen miles from Fort Niao^ara. Here the traveller embarks in a battoe or canoe, and pro- ceeds eighteen miles to a fmall fort at lake Erie. It may be proper alio to add, that at the end of the firft two miles, in the laft-mentioned dif- tance of 1 8 miles, the flream of the river is di- vided by a large ifland, above nine miles in length ; and at the upper end of it, about a mile from lake Erie, are three or four iflands, not far from each other ; — thefe iflands, by in- terrupting and confining the waters difcharged from the lake, greatly increafe the rapidity of the ftream ; which indeed is fo violent, that the ftiffeft: gale is fcarcely fufficient to enable a large veffel to fiem it ; but it is fuccefsfiilly refilled in fmall battoes, or canoes, that are rowed near the fliore. ' • ' ' *' Lake Erie is about 225 miles in length, and upon a medium about 40 miles in breadth. It affords a good navigation for {l:iipping of any burthen. The coaft, on both fides of the lake, is generally favourable for the palTage of battoes and canoes. Its banks in many places have a fiat fandy (here, particularly to the eaftward of X 2 the 1 1 '1 i;; I; ill J ISi< m'i i V--4 -:; — — r; ^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // « ^ .i^\ /. 4^ ^O 1.0 I.I u 12.2 120 J" ^14 f!> y V om w Kiotogr^hic Sciences CorpoMon 33 WBT MAIN STtEIT WIBSTEI,N.r. 14SSP (716) •72-4503 1^ 9 '•■* --/r ■■"■ ■;■■ ■. , :. p;, ^ ^^^^ .:>:.^ ^ i , t -" '' 308 APPENDIX. the peninfula, called Long Point, which ex- tends into 'ihe lake, in a fouth-eaftern diredion, for Upwards of 18 miles, and is more than five miles wide in the broadeft part; but the iflhmus, by which it joins the continent, is fcarccly 260 yards wide. The peninfula is compofed of fand, and is very convenient to haul boats out of the furf upon (as is almoft every other part of the (hore) when the lake is too rough for rowing or failing; yet there are fome places where, in boifterous weather (on account of their great perpendicular height), it would be dangerous to approach, and impoflible to land. Moft of thefe places are marked in my map with the letter X. *' Lake Erie has a great variety of fine fifh, fuch as fturgeon, eel, white fifh, trout, perch, &c. ** The country, northward of this lake, is In many parts fwelled with moderate hills, but no high mountains. The climate is temperate, and the air healthful. The lands are well timbered (but not generally fo rich as thofe upon the fouthern fide of the lake), and for a confiderablc diftance from it, and for feveral miles eaflward of Cayahoga river, they appear quite level and extremely fertile; and except where APPENDIX. 309 , where extenfive favannahs, or natural meadows intervene, are covered with large oaks, wahiut, afh, hickory, mulberry, faflafras, &c. &c. and produce a great variety of flirubs and medicinal roots.— Here alfo is great plenty of buffalo, deer, turkies, partridges, &c. *' Fort Detroit is of an oblong figure, built with flockades, and advantageoufly fituated, with one entire fide commanding the river, called Detroit. This fort is near a mile in cir- cumference, and enclofes about one hundred houfes, built in a regular manner, with parallel flreets, crof?ing each other at right angles. Its fit nation is delightful, and in the centre of a pleafant, fruitful country. *' The ftrait St, Clair (commonly called the Detroit river) is at its entrance more than three miles wide, but in afcending it, its width per- ceptibly diminifhes, fo that oppofite to the fort (which is 18 miles from lake ErieJ it does not exceed half a mile in width. From thence to lake St. Clair it widens to more than a mile. The channel of the ftrait is gentle, and wide, and deep enough for (hipping of great burthen, although it is incommoded by feveral iilands ; one of which is more than feven miles in length, Thefe iflands are of a fertile foil, and X 3 fr^ m 11 te I k-i I 7« I ■ 'If ^ii^l 310 APPENDIX. from their fituatioii afford a very agreeable ap- pearance. For eight miles below, and the fame diftance above fr4t Detroit, on both fides of the river, the country is divided into regular and well cultivated plantations, and from the contiguity of the farmerNS houfes to each other, they appear as two long extended villages, The inhabitants, who are mollly French, are about 2O0O in number ; 500 of whom are as good markfmen, and as v»'ell accufloraed to the v/oods, as the Indian natives themfelvcs. They , raife large ilocks of black cattle, and great quantities of corn, which they grind by wind- mills, and manufaclure into excellent flour. — The chief trade of Detroit confifts in a barter of coarfe European goods with the natives for furs, deer-lkins, tallow, &c. &c. t, ,.-,, , -.0 , ,. : " The rout from lake St. Clair to lake Huron, is up a ftrait or river, about 400 yards wid«. This river derives itfelf from lake Hu- ron, and at the diilance of 33 miles lofes itfelf in lake St. Clair. It is in general rapid, but particularly fo near its fource; — its channel, and alfo that of lake St- Clair, are fufficiently deep for (hipping of very confiderable burthen. This llrait has feveral mouths, and the lands lying between them are fine meadows. The country APPENDIX. 311 country on both fides of it, for 15 miles, has a very level appearance, but from thence to lake Huron, it is in many places broken, and cover- ed with white pines, oaks, maple, birch, and beech;* Thoughts on the Duration of the American Com" monwealth. ; ti iii There Is a greater probability that the dura- tion of the American commonwealth will be longer than any empire that has hitherto exit- ed. For it is a truth, iiniverfally admitted, that all the advantages which ever attended any of the monarchies in the old world, all center in the new; together with many others, which they never enjoy. The four great empires, and the dominions of Charlemaign, and the Turks, all rofe by conqueQs ; none by the arts of peace. On the contrary, the territory of the United States has been planted and reared by a union of liberty, good conducl, and all the comforts of domeftic virtue. - All the great monarchies were formed by the conqueft of kingdoms, ditFerent in arts, man- ners, language, temper, or religion, from the conquerors; fo that the union, though in fome X 4 cafes "i'-i .ijiJi 312 APPENDIX. cafes very ftrong, was never the real and inti- mate connedtion of the fame people; and this circumftance principally accelerated their ruin, and v^as abfolutcly the canfe of it in feme. This will be very different in the Am^icans. They will, in their greateft extent and popula- tion, be one and the fame people; the i'ame in language, religion, laws, m^imiers, tempers, and purfuits; for the fmall variation in fome dif« triifls, owing fo the fettlement of Germans, is an exception fo very flight, that in a few ages it will be unknown. The Aflyrian and Roman empires were of Very flow growth, and therefore lafted the long- eft; but ftill their increafe was by conqueft, and the union of diffonant parts. The Perfian and Macedonian monarchies were foon founded and prcfently overturned ; the former not lafting fo long as the Aflyrian, nor a fixth of the duration of the Roman ; and as to the Maredonian, it laft- cd but fix years, This advantage of a flow growth is ftrong in favour of the Americans; the wonderful increafe of their numbers is the natural effe£( of plenty of land, a good climate, and a mild and beneficent governmettt, in which corruption and tyranny are wholly unknown* Some centuries are already paft fuice their firft fettlement. APPENDIX. 313 fettlement, and many more will pafs before their power appears in its full fplendour ; but the quicknefs of a growth that is entirely na- tural will carry with it no marks of decay, be- ing entirely different from monarchies founded by force of arms. The Roman empire pcrilh- ed by the hands of northern barbarians, whom the mafters of the world difdained to conquer ; it will not be fo with the Americans, they I'pread gradually over the whole continent, infomuch that two hundred years hence there probably will be nobody but themfelves in the whole northern continent; from whence therefore (hould their Goths and Vandals come? vNor can they ever have any thing to fear from the fouth; firft, becaufe that country will never be populous, owing to the poflefiion of mines : iecondly, there are feveral nations and languages planted and remaining in it: thirdly, the moft confider- ab|le part of it lies in the torrid zone; a region that never yet fen t forth nations of conque- ^,^tln extent the habitable parts of North Ame- rica exceed that of any of the four empires, and confequently can feed and maintain a people much more numerous than the Aflyrians or ^he Rohfian^. The fituation of the region is fo ^ 1 1 ii i':h If ' '.•"*a* '^ll"'?t advantageous 314 APPENDIX. advantageous that it leaves nothing to be wifhcd for; it can have no neighbours from whom there is a pofTibility of attack or moicfrationj it will poffefs all the folid advantages of the Chincfe empire without the fatal neighbouihood of the Tartars. It will have further the flngular felicity of all the advantages of an ifland, that is, a freedom from the attacks of others, and too many diffi- culties, with too great a diftance, to engage in cnterprifcs that heretofore proved the ruin of other monarchies. The foil, the climate, produdlion, and face of the continent, is formed by nature for a great, independent, and permanent government : fill it with people who will of themfelves, of courfe, poflefs all forts of manufadlures, and you will find it yielding every necefl'ary and convenience of life. Such a vaft trad of country, polTefling fuch fingular advantages, lx:coming inhabited by one people, fpeaking the fame language, profefling the fame religion, and having the fame man- ners ; attaining a population equal to that of the greateft: empire; fprung from an adtive and in- duftrious nation, who have transfufed into them their own induftry and fpirit, and feen them worthy of their original ; inhabiting a foil not dangeroufly ;♦ APPENDIX 315 dangeroufly fertile, nor a clime generally con- ducive to effeminacy ; accuftomed to commerce: fuch a people muO: found a commonwealth as indiflbluble as humr.nity will allow. Suffice it for England, that flic will have been the origin of a commonwealth greater and more durable than any former monarchy ; that her language and her manners will flourifh among a people who will one Jay become a fplendid fpeclacle in the vafl: eye of the uuiverfe. This flattering idea of immortality no other nation can hope to attain. And here let me make an obfervation that fhould animate the authors in the Englifli lan- guage with an ardour that cannot be infufed into thofe of any other nation 5 it is the pleaf- ing idea of living among fo great a people, through almoft a perpetuit)^ of fame,, and under almofl an impoilibility of becoming, Tke the Greek and Latin tongues, dczd ; known only by the learned. — Increafing time will bring in- creafing readers, until their names become re- peated with pleafure by above an hundred millions of people ! . ■ ■■'*■■ . ' ■ M • ■ A STATE X I ji6 APPENDIX. A STATE OF THE COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AME- RICA AND FOREIGN NATI'^NS. WRITTEN IN THE MONTH OF JUNE 1 792. BY THO- MAS JEFFERSON, ESQ^ SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE SAID UNITtD STATES. The countries with which the United States have had their chief commercial iiitercourfe, are, Spain, Portugal, France, Great Britain, the United Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden, and their American pofleflions ; and the articles of export which conftitute the bafis of that commerce, with their refpedtive amounts, are — ' Bread fluff, that is to fay, bi^ad- ' grains, meals, and bread, to the an- Dols. nual amount of ----- 7,649,887 Tobacco ------- 4>34995^7 J^ice - • l,753'79<^ ^Vood .' - 1,263,534 Salted filh ------- 941,696 Pot and pearl afh ----- 839,093 Salted meats - - • - - - 599*130 .-••...:;:. Jndigo I APPENDIX. 317 Dols. ^»^»go - - 537»379 Horfes and mules ----- 339*753 Whale oil ------- 252,591 Flax feed ------- 236,072 Tar, pitch, and turpentine - - 217,177 Live provifions ----- ' 37*743 Ships Foreign goods ------ 620,274 To defcend to articles of fmaller value than thefe, would lead into a minutenefs of detail nei- ther neceflary nor ufeful to the prefcnt objedl:. The proportions of our Exports, which go to the nations before mentioned, and to their do- minions, refpe^flively, are as follows; Dols. To Spain and its dominions - - 1,005,907 Portugal and its dominions - - 1,283,462 France and its dominions - - - 4,698,735 Great Britain and its dominions - 9)363,416 The United Netherlands and their . , dominions ------ 1,963,880 Denmark and its dominions - - 224,415 Sweden and its dominions - - 47,240 Our Imports from the fame countries are — Spain and its dominions - - - 33 5»''^ Portugal and its dominions • - 595^7^3 France I'll 3l8 APPENDIX. Dnls. France and Its dominions • - 2,068,348 Great Britain and its dominions - 15,285,428 United Netherlands and their do- minions ------- 1,172,692 Denmark and its dominions - - 35 '♦394 Sweden and its dominions - • '4>3-5 Thefc Imports confifl: moftly of articles on which indudry has been exhaufted. Our Navigation, depending on the fame com- merce, will appear b) the following ftatcment of the tonnage of our own vefl'els, entering in- to our ports, from thofe feveral nations, and their pofielfions, in one year, that is to fay, from Odobcr 1789, to September 1790, inclu- five, as follows: ■' ■ ■ • Tons. Spain -------- 19*695 Portugal ------- 23,576 France ------- 116,410 Great Britain ------ 43*580 United Netherlands - - - - 58,858 Denmark ------- 14,655 Sweden -------- 750 - Of our commercial objeds, Spain receives fa- vourably our bread Huff, falted filh, wood, fhips, tar, pitch, and turpentine. On our meals, how- ever, as well as on thofe of other foreign coun- tries, APPENDIX, 3T9 tries, when re-exported to tlicir colonics, they have lately irripoled duties of from half a dollar to two dollars the barrel, the duties being fo proportioned to th:; current pi ice of their own flour, as that bc*^ together are to make the conf^ant fum of nine dollars per b-^rrel. They do not difcourage our rice, pot and pearl a(h, lalted provifions, or whale oil : but thefe articles being in Imall demand at their markets, are carried thither but in a iVnall de- gree. Their demand for rice, however, is in- creafino*. Neither tobacco nor indis^o arc re- ccived there. Our commerce is permitted with their Canary lllands, under the fame conditions* • Themfclves and their colonies are the adlual confumers of what they receive from us. Our navigation is free with the kingdom of Spain; foreign goods being received there in our fhips, on the fame conditions as if carried in their own, or in the veflels of the country of which fuch goods are the manufadure or pro- duce. Portusjal receives favourably our grain and bread, falted fidi and other falted provifions, wood, tar, pitch, and turpentine. I . For } •>" 320 APPENDIX. For flax-fccd, pot and pearl a(h, though not difcouraged, there is little demand, ' " Our (hips pay 20 per cent, on being fold to their fubjefls, and are then free bottoms. Foreign goods (except thofe of the Eaft In- dies) are received on the fame footing in our Veflels as in their own^ or any others ; that is to u\y^ on general duties of from twenty to twenty-eight per cent, and - confequently our navigation unobftruded by them.-— Tobacco, rice, and meals, are prohibited* Themfelves and their colonies confume what they receive from us. Thefe regulations extend to the Azokes, Madeira, and the Cape de Verd Iflands, except that in thefe meals and rice are received freelv. France receives favourably our bread (luffi rice, wood, pot and pearl a(hc:s. A duty of five fous the kental, or nearly four and a half cents, is paid on our tar, pitch, and turpentine. Our whale oil pays fix livres the kental, and are the only foreign whale oils ad- mitted. Our indigo pays five livres on the kental; their own two and an half: but a dif- ference of quality, flill more than a difference of duty, prevents its feeking that market. Salted APPENDIX. 321 '' Saltt^d beef is received freely for re-exporta,- tion, but if for home confumption, it pays five livres the kental. Other falted provilious pay that duty ia all cafes, and falted fi(h is made lately to pay the prohibitory one of twenty livres in the kentui. - -,. -, Our fhips are free to carry thither all foreign goods which may be carried in their own or any other veffels, except tobaccoes not of our own growth ; and they participate with their's the exclufive carriage of our whale oils and to- baccoes. , ,, .,,. ,,-. ,•,;;, ,.,,,; ../5>n,....rr- Durinji their former grovernment, ou.r tobacco was under a monopoly; but paid no duties, and our (liips were freely lold in their ports, and converted into national bottoms. The firft Na- tional Allembly took from our fliips this privi- lege : they emancipated tobacco from its mono- poly, but fubjeded it to duties of eighteen livres fifteen fous the kental, carried in their own vef- fels, and twenty-five livres carried in ours, a difference more than equal to the freio^ht of the article. , They and their colonies confume what they receive frqm us, ,, . ; ,., . * .^ • Great Britain receives our pot and pearl afhes free, while thofe of other nations pay a duty of Vol. II. Y two ■it^ i ..% m\dm»if two (hiir.ngs and three- pence the kental. Thefe is an equil diflin^ion in favour of our bar iron, of which article, however, we do not produce enough for our own ufe. Woods are free from us, whilft they pay fome fmall duty from other countries. Our tar and pitch oay i id. fterling the barrel; from other alien countries they pay about u. penny and a third more. ■ . v - Our tobacco, for their own confumption, pays IS. 3d. fterling the pound, cuftom and ex- cile, befidcs heavy expences of colleclion. And rice, in the fame cafe, pays 7s. 4d. fterling the hundredweight; which rendering it too dear as an article of common food, it is confequently iifed in very fmall quantity. Our falted fifti, and other faked provifions, except bacon, are prohibited. Bacon and whale oil are under prohibitory duties ; fo are our grains, meals, and bread, as to internal con- fumption, unlefs in times of fuch fcarcity as may raife the price of wheat to 50s. fterling the quarter, and other grains and meals in propor- tion. ' • ..,...' ;. , . .j-,p,_; -,-■ • Our (hips, though purchafed and navigated by their own fubjedls, are not permitted to be ufed, even in their trade with us. • i r Whik APPENDIX. 323 While the veflels of other nations are fecurcd by {landing laws, which cannot be altered, but by the concurrent will of the three branches of the Britifli Icgiflature, in carrying thither any produce or manufacture of the country to which they belong, which may be lawfully carried in any veflels, ours, with the fame prohibition of what is foreign, are further prohibited by a (landing law (12 Ca:. IL 28. §. 3) from car- rying thither all and any of our own domeftic productions and manufactures* A fubfequent : ft, indeed, authorifed their executive to permit the carriage of our own productions in our own bottoms, at its fole difcretion ; and the permif- fion has been given from year to year by pro-» clamatiouj but fubjeCt every moment to be withdrawn on that (ingle will, in which event our veiTels having any thing on board, ftand interdicted from the entry of all Britifli ports. The difadvantage of a tenure which may be fo Suddenly difcontiiiued was experienced by our merchants on a late occafion, when an of- ficial notification that this law would be ftriCtly enforced, gave them juft apprehenfions for the fate of their veiTels and cargoes difpatched or deftined to the ports of Great Britain, The minifter of that court, indeed, frankly cxprefled y 2 his \i !•; ' (i i 524 APPENDIX. his perfonal convidioii that the words of the order went farther than was intended, and fo he afterwards officially ii^formed us ; but the em- barrafl'ments of the momen^ were real and greats and the pollibility of their renewal lays our commerce to that country under the fame fpe- cies of difcouragement as to other countries where it is regulated by a Tingle legiflator ; and the diftindlioii is too remarkable not to be no- ticed, that our navigation is excluded from the fecurity of fixed laws, while that fecurity is giv- en to the navigation of others. • ,• Our veffcls pay their ports is. gd. fterling per ton, light and trinity dues, more than is paid by Britifh (hips, except in the port of London, where they pay the fame as Britifh. The greater part of what they receive from us is re-exported to other countries, under the ufelefs charges of an intermediate dcpolit and d'ouble voyage. From tables pubiifhed in Eng- land, and compofed, as is faid, from the books of their cuflom-houfes, it appears that of the indigo imported there in the years 1773—^4 — 5, one third was re-exported ; and from a docu- ment of authority, we learn that of the rice and tobacco imported there before the war, four- fifths were re-exported. We are aflured, -• - indeed. APPENDIX. 325 indeed, that the quantities fent thither for re- exportation fince the war, ^»'c confidcrably di- minilhed, yet Icfs (o than reafon and national intereft would didate. The whole of our grain is re-exported when wheat is below 50s. the quarter, and other grains in proportion. The United Netherlands prohibit our pickled beef and pork, nneals and bread of all forts, and lay a prohibitory duty on fpiiits diftillcd from gram. ' n . - All other of our productions are received on varied duties, which may be reckoned on a me- dium at about three per cent. - . . They confume but a fmall proportion of what they receive; the refidue is partly for- warded for confumption in the inland parts of Europe, and partly re-fhipped toother maritime countries. On the latter portion they intercept between us and the confumer fo much of the value as is abforbed by the charges attendino- an intermediate depoiit. ' Foreign goods, except fome Eaft India arti- cles, are received in velTels of any nation. Our fliips may be fold and naturalized there with exceptions of one or two privileges, which fbmewhat leflen- their value. -- ' v^'^' ■ '^■- 'f' Denma/k lays confiderable duties on our to- Y 3 bacco ■I i 1 )? jzS A P r E N D I X. bacco and rice carried in their own veflcls, and half as much more if carried in ours ;- but the cxa£l amount of thefe duties is not pcrfedly known here. They lay fuch as amount to prohibitions on our indigo and corn, ffq-i Sweden receives favourably our grains and meals, faked provillons, indigo, and whale They fubjcdt our rice to duties of iixteen mills the pound weight carried in their own veficls, and of forty per cent, additional on that, or 22,410 mills, carried in ours or any others, Being thrs rendered too dear as an article of common food, little *of it is con fumed with them. They confumc more of our tobaccoes, which they lake circuitoufly through Great Britain, levying heavy duties on them alfo; their duties of entry, town duties, and excife, be- ing 4 dols. 34 cents, the hundred Weight, if carried in their own veffels, and of forty per cent, on that additional, if carried in our own or any other veflels. ' - '■' -^^ ?■ ^^^ * They prohibit altogether our bread, fifli, pot aihd pearl afhes, flax-feed, tar, pitch, and tur- pentine, wood (except oak timber and marts), and all foreign manufaftures. • ^^'^^' Under fo many reftridlions and prohibitions, our , pot tur- |afts), lions, our APPENDIX, 327 our navigation with them is reduced almoft to nothing. 1 . ^, ./ ,r >i . . ; . , With our neighbours, an order of things much harder prefcnts itfelf. Spain and Portugal refufe to thofe parts of America which they govern, all diredl inter- courfe with any people but themfelves. The commodities in mutual demand between them and their neighbours muft be carried to be C7»* changed in fome port of the dominant country, and the trarfportation between that and the fubjedl ftate muft be in a domeftic bottom, France, by a {landing law, permits her Weft India pofleifions to receive diredly our vegeta- bles, live provifions, horfes, wood, tar, pitch, and turpentine, rice, and maize, and prohibits our other bread fluff; but a fufpenfion of this prohibition having been left to the colonial le- giQatures in times of fcarcity, it was formerly fufpended oqcafionally, but latterly without in- terruption. Our frefh and falted provifions (except pork) arc received in their iflands under a duty of three colonial livres the kental, and our vefTels are as free as their own to carry our commodi- ties thither, and to bring away rum and mo- lafles. Y4 Great ; 3^8 APPENDIX. • Great Britain admits in her ifl;mds our vcgcw tables, live proviiions, horfes, wood, tar, pitch./ and turpentine, rice, and bread Auff, by a pro- clamation of her executive, limited always to the term of a year. She prohibits our laltcd proviiions : (he does not permit our vellels to carry thither our own produce. Her vtfl'cls alone may take it from us, and bring in ex- change, rum, molaffes, fugar, coffee, cocoa nuts, ginger, and pimento. There are, indeed, fome freedoms in the ifland of Dominica, but under fuch circurnftances as to be little ufed by lis. ]n the Britifh continental colonies, and in New- foundland, all our produdlions are prohibited, and our veiiels forbidden to enter their ports ; their governors however, in times of diftrefs, have power to permit a temporary importation of certain articles in their own bottoms, but not in ours. -^ -' •/'•-'f^ *■ <* -< v , ; Our citizens cannot refide as merchants or factors within any of the Britifh plantations, this being exprefsly prohibited by the fame fta- tue of 12 Car. II. C. i8, commonly called the Naviojation a6l, h'-rv-fr ,-- ,:„.,>rr<— ''->* • In the Danifli-American pofTeflions a duty of five per cent, is levied on our corn, corn-meal, rice, tobacco, wood, faked fifh, indigo, horfes, mules. APPENDIX. 329 mules, and live (lock ; and of ten per cent, on our flour, I'alted pork and be^f, tar, pitch, and turpentine. In the American iflands of the United Ne- therlands and Sweden, our vcflels and produce are received, fubjeil to duties, not (o heavy as to have been complained of; but they are hea- vier in the Dl 'ch polTcilions on the continent. To fum up thefe reflridlions, fo far as they are important : I ft. In Europe — . Our bread ftufFis at mod times under prohi- bitory duties in England, and confiderably du- tied on exportation from Spain to her colonies. Our tobaccoes are heavily dutied in England, Sweden, and France, and prohibited in Spain and Portugal. .. . . / . , . «' ^,'' Our rice is heavily dutied in England and Sweden, and prohibited in Portugal. Our filh and (alted provifions are prohibited in England, and under prohibitory duties in France. ' '''' ' ^^' ^ ;"' ' >; ;^ ,..'.- ^ i . Our whale-oils are prohibited in En^rland and Portugal. •■ . And our vefTcls are denied naturalization in England, and of late in Fiance. 2d. In Wl IU|LI.LJI^ • 33^ /•«' A P P E N D i X. ..< , "4. 4... 2d. /« tbe K'eji Indies, All intercouffe is prohibited with the poflef- iions of Spain and Portugal. Our falted provilious and fifh are prohibited by England, Our falted pork, and bread fluff (except maize), are received under temporary laws only, in the dominions of France, and our lalted filh pays there a weighty duty, ^d, Jn the Article of Navigation, Our own carriage of our own tobacco is hea- vily dutied in Sweden, and lately in France. We can carry no article, not of our own pro-* du6lion, to the Britifh ports in Europe. Nor even our own produce to her American poiTeflions. , Such being the reflridions on the commerce and navigation of the United States, the quef- tion is, in what way they n ay heft be removed, modified, or countera£led ? As to commerce, two methods occur, i. By friendly arrangements with the feveral nations with whom thefe reftridions exift : or, 2. By the APPENDIX. 531 the feparate a6t of our own legiflaturcs for countervailing their effcds. There can be no doubt, but tliat of thefc two, friendly arrangement is the moft eligible. Inftead of cmbarrairing commerce under piles of regulating laws, duties, and prohibitions, could it be relieved from all its fhackles in all parts of the world — could every country be employed in producing that which iiature has bed fitted it to produce, and each be free to ex- change with others mutual furplufles for mutual wants, the greateft mafs poflible would then be produced of thofe things which contribute to human life and human happinefs ; the num- bers of mankind would be increafed, and their ^condition bettered. ' < i> ., .t Would even a fingle nation begin with the United States this fyftem of free commerce, it would be advifable to begin it with that nation ; {ince it is by one only that it can be extend- ed to all. Where the circumftances of either party render it expedient to levy a revenue, by way of impoft, on commerce, its freedom might be modified, in that particular, by mutual and equivalent meafures, preferving it entire in all others. Some nations, not yet ripe for free commerce. I! ill iHi la 332 APPENDIX. iti all its extent, might Rill be willing to mol- lify its rcftri portion to the advantages which an intercourfc with us nnight offer. Piirticuhiiiy they may concur with us in reciprocating the duties to be levied on each fide, or in compcnlating any cx- ccfs of duty, by equivalent advantages of ano- ther nature. Our commerce is certainly of a cliaravfter to entitle it to favour in moft coun- tries. The commodities vvc ofter are either iieceiraries of life, or matcilals for manufadture, or convenient luhjc(fts of revenue ; and we take in exchange, either manufactures, when they have received the laft finifli of art and induftrvt or mere luxuries. Such cullomers may rea- fonably exped welcome, and friendly treatment at every market ; cuflomers too, whole de- mands, incieaiing with their wealth and popu- lation, mufl: very fliortly give full employment to the whole induflry of any nation whatever, in any line of fupply they may get into the ha- bit of calling for, from it. ,, ^. , . . But fhould any nation, contrary to our wifhes, fuppofe it may better find its advantage by con- tinuing its fyftem of prohibitions, duties, and regulations, it behoves us to proted: our citizens, their commerce, and naviQ-ation, bv counter- prohibitions. ■ APPENDIX. 333 prohibitions, duties, and regulations alfo. Free commerce nnd navigation arc not to be given in exchange for rcflrid^ions and vexations ; nor are they likely to produce a relaxation of them. Our naviiration involves ftill higher confuiera- tions. As a branch of induftry, it is valuable; but as a relourcc, cH'ential. Its value, as a branch of induf^ry, is cnhanC"- ed by the dependence of fo many other branches on it. In times of general peace it multiplies compttitors for employment in tranfportation, and lo keeps tliat at its proper level ; and in times of war, that is to lay, when thofc nations who may be our principal carriers, fhall be at war with each other, if wc have not within • ourfelves the means of tranfportation, our pro- duce mud be exported in belligerent vellels at the increafcd txpcnc2 of warfreight and infur- ance, and the articles which will not bear that, muft perifh on our hands, , But it is a refource for defence that our navi-« gation will admit neither neglect nor forbear- ance. The pofition and circumflances of the United States leave them nothing to fear on their land-board, and nothing to defire beyond their preient rights. But on their Tea- board, they are open to injury, and they have there, , too. 334- A P P E N D I X< ^ too, a commerce which muft be pfotedeA This can only be done by poflfefling a refpeft- able body of citizen-fcamen, and of artifts and cftablifhments in readinefs for fhip-building. Were the ocean, which is the common pro* perty of all, open tb the induflry of all, fo that every pcrfon and vefTel ihould be free to take employment wherever it could be found, the United States would certainly not fet the ex- ample of appropriating to themfelves, exclu- lively, any portion of the common flock of occupation. They would rely on the enter-* prize and activity of their citizens for a due participation of the benefits of the feafaring bu-» linefs, and for keeping the marine clafs of citi* zens equal to their objed. But if particular nations grafp at undue fhares, and more efpeci-» ally if they fcize on the means of the United States to convert them into aliment for their own ftrength, and withdraw them entirely from the fupport of thofe to whom they belongs defeniive and prote6ling meafures become ne- ceflTary on the part of the nation whofe marine rcfources are thus invaded, or it will be difarm- cd of its defence ; its produdiuns will lie al the mercy of the nation which has poffefled it- ielf exclufively of the means of carrying them, 4nd its politics may be influenced by thofe who command APPENDIX. 23S command 'ts commerce. The carriage of out own commodities, if once eftablifhcd in ano- ther channel, cannot be refumed in the moment we may defire. If wc lofe the feamen and ar- tifts whom it now occupies, we lofe the pre* fent means of marine defence, and time will be requifite to raife up others, when difgracc or lofTes (hall brins: home to our feelincrs the error of having abandoned them. The materials for maintaining our due (hare of navigation are ours in abundance ; and as to the mode of ufing them, we have only to adopt the principles of thofe who thus put us on the deieafive, or others equivalent and better fitted to our cir- cumftances. The following principles being founded in reciprocity, appear perfedly juft, and to offer uo caufe of complaint to any nation. I ft. Where a nation impofes high duties on cur produdlions, or prohibits them altogether, it may be proper for us to do the fame by theirs, firft burthening or excluding thofe productions which they bring here in competition with our own of the fame kind ; feledting next fuch manufadures as we take from them in grcateft quantity, and which at the fame time we could the fooneft furnifti to ourfelves, or obtain from other countries; impofing on them duties l lighter 53^ APPENDIX. lighter at firft, but heavier and heavier after- wards, as other channels of fupply open. Such duties havins: the eifed of indirect encojrage- ment to domeftic manufa<5lcres of the fame kind, may induce the manufa6lurcr to come bimfelf into thefe Itatcs ; where cheaper fub- iiftence, equal laws, and a vent of his wares, free of duty, may enfiire him the higheft pro- fits from his ikill and induftry. And here it would be in the power of the (late governmentr to co-operate eflentially, by opening the re* Sources of encouragement which are under their controul, extending them liberally to artifts in thofe particular branches of manufidlure, for which their loil, climate, population, and other circumftances have matured them, and foftering the precious efforts and progrefs of houfehold manufacture, by lome patronage fuited to the nature of its objeds, guided by the local infor- mations they poffefs, and guarded againft abufe by their prefence and attentions. The oppref- fions on our agriculture in foreign ports would thus be made the occafjon of relieving it from a dependence on the councils and condudt of others, and of promoting arts, manufactures, and population, at home. . 2d. Where a nation refufes permiflion to our merchants and factors to refide within certain •. . * parts APPENDIX* 337 J)arts of their dominions, we may, if it (hould be thought expedient, refufe refidence to theirs in any and every part of ours, or modify their tranfadlions* 3d. Where a nation refules to receive in ouf veflels any produdlions but our own, we may refufe to receive, in theirs, any but their own produdlionsi The firft and fecond claufes of the bill reported by the committee are well formed to effed: this obje6V» 4th. Where a nation refufes to Confider any veflel as ours which has not been built within our territories, we fhould refufe to condder as theirs any veflel not built within their terri- toties. t ' 5th. Where a nation refufes to our veflels the carriage even of our own produ(flions to certain countries under their domination, we might refufe to theirs, of every defcription, the carriage of the fame productions to the fame countries. But as juflice and good neigh- bourhood would dictate, that thofe who have no part in impofing the refl:ri6tion on us, fhould not be the victims of meafures adopted to de- feat its efFe(Et, it may be proper to confine the reflri • will '.^(■' APPENDIX. 341 will conlftir in doing whatever juftice and mo- deration didate fhould be done. THOMAS JEFFERSON. P, S. Since writing the above, fome altera- tions of the condition of oui commerce with fome fovereign nations have taken place. France has propofed to enter into a new treaty of com- merce with us, on liberal principles ; and has, in the mean time, relaxed fome of the reftraints mentioned in the Report. Spain has, by an ordinance of June laft, eftabliftied New Orleans, Penfacola, and St. Auguftine, into free ports, for the veiTels of friendly nations having trea- ties of commerce with her, provided they touch for a permit at Corcubion in Gallicia, or at Ali- cant ; and our rice is by the fame ordinance ex-* eluded from that country. ' M , -• • ^ i I . I .• ■ ■' 1 -t ; i '.■ ' > ! U-- ) 1 1 ... Z3 TH^ 34* APPENDIX. II ; ' >■ , THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE PRIN- CIPAL ARTICLES OF EXPORTATION FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DUR- ING THE YEAR ENDING IN SEPTEMBER ! -.. Three millions one hundred and forty thou- fand two hundred and fifty-five bushels of grain (principally wheat). One million four hundred and fixty-nine |:houfand feven hundred and twenty-three bar- rels of flour, meal, bifcuit, and rice (reducing palks of various fizes to the proportion of flou^* barrels). Sixty million fix hundred and forty-fix thou- fand eight hundred and fixty-one feet of boards, plank, and fcantling (inch board meafure). Thirty-one million feven hundred and fixty thoufand feven hundred and two ftaves and hoops. Seventy-one million fix hundred and ninety- three thoufand eight hundred and fixty- three fhingles. Nineteen APPENDIX. 34J Nineteen thoufand three hundred and ninety- one and a half tons of timber. Eighteen thouiiind three hundred and feventy- four pieces of timber. One thoufaud and eighty cedar and oak (hip knees. One hundred and ninety-one frames of houfes. Seventy-three thoufand three hundred and eighteen oars, rafters for oars, and handfpikes. Forty-eight thoufand eight hundred and fixty (hook or knock down calks. One hundred and forty-fix thoufand nine hundred and nine barrels of tar, pitch, turpen- tine and rofin. Nine hundred and forty-eight thoufand one hundred and fifteen gallons of fpirits, diflilled in the United States, One hundred and fixteen thoufand eight hun- dred and three barrels of beef, pork, bacon, mutton, oy Iters, &c. (reducing calks of various fizes to the proportion of beef and pork bar- rels). Two hundred and thirty-one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-fix barrels of dried and pickled filh. Seven thoufand eight hu idred and twenty- three 344 APPENDIX. three tons twelve cwt. and 4lb. of pot aflies and pearl afhes. One hundred and twelve thoufand four hun- dred and twenty-eight hogfheads of tobacco. Fifty-two thoufand three hundred and eighty- one hogfheads of flax feed. Forty-four thoufand {even hundred and fifty- two borfes, horned catii^, -utiles, and flieep. The preceding extract; from the copy of an authentic oflicial return of all the exports from the United States of America, within the year ending in September laft, conveys an idea of the wealth, importance, and progrefllve profpe- rity of that country, far furpafling what has been heretofore entertained on the fubjedl; P. S. From the ift of January 1793, to the I ft of January 1794, there were exported from the port of Philadelphia 422,075 barrels of our. OF THE CIVIL LIST, AND REVENUE OF THE / UNITED STATES. Abftra<^ of an Eftimate of the Expenditures of the Civil Lift of the .United States, for the ' year APPENDIX. 345 year i793> reported Ly A. Hamilton, Secretary of the Treafury to the Houfe of Rcprefeiita- tives. Prefident's Salary Vice-Prefidcnt's ditto Chief Juftice 5 Aflbciate Juftices ' All the diftri£l Judges, Congrefs - Treafury Department Department of State Department of War Commiflioners of old ac- counts Loan Offices Weftern Territory Amount of Penfions •A Contingencies Total Dollars. 25,000 5,000 ^ 4,000 ■■ 17,500 ' 21,700 i43'59i 55*050 6,300 - } ii,Z5o 13*300 13,250 1 1,000 5^^^7 t 20,264 352,466 or In Britifli Money jC«79»304 17 o fieri. THE REVENUE. The American revenue, for 1793, is ftated to be 4,400,000 dollars, exclufive of what may .'.. •• -^ ;:"",.;... . ,:'. v: 7 ,'" •.. \ ■ / arilc 246 APPENDIX. ailfc from the flilc of lands iti the Wefterii ter- ritory ; there is lilcewife upwards '^f the value of 5,000,000 dollars in bullion, lying in the Bank of tlic United States. ESTIMATE OF EXPBNCE FOR THE YEAR I 794. ' Dols. Cents. The whole Civil Lift for 1 794, is 397,201 6 Extraordinarics for ,- ,/,, - H7»^93 43 Public Works, Benevolences, &c. ; - - - Eftiniatc of the War , : .. i cxpences for 1794 - - 1,457,936 Total 2,002,830 50 I T'h Dollar is 4s. 6d,^erlmg, and the Cent is the hundredth part of a Dollar, _^ ^ The celebrated Mr. Thonas Paine, in his letter to Mr, Secretary Dundas, publifhed in London in the month of June, 1792, and who on this fubjedl: (without offending any party) may be entitled to credit, gives a ftatcment of the expences of the American government in the following: words : - »rf 1- » ./' I The expences of all the feveral departments of the General Reprefentative Government of the United States of America, extending over 4 a fpace L. < !'■ s, o o o APPENDIX* 347 a fpacc of country nearly ten times larger than England, is two hundred and ninety-four thou- iand five hundred and fifty-eight dollars, which at 4s. 6d. per dollar, is 66,273 1. us. llerling, and is thus apportioned : Expence of the Executive Department, The Office of the Prefidencv, at which the Prefident receives jT. nothing for himfelf - - 5*625 Vice Prcfideat - . - - 1,125 Chief Juftice . *. • poo Five aflbciate Juftices Nineteen Judges of Diftrids and Attorney General Legijlative Department, Members of Congrefs at fix dollars ( 1 1. 7s.) per day, their Secretaries, Clerks, Chaplains, Meflengers, Door-keepers, &c. - - 25,515 'Treafury Department, Secretary, Affiftant, Comptroller, Auditor, Treafurer, Regifter, and Loan - Office - Keeper, in each State, together with all neceflary Clerks, Office-Keepers, &c. - 12,825 3'937 >^ 6,873 'S Department .iii||||Wi,|ipiJ.' ■»-." >^- 348 A P P E N D 1 3C. JDepartment of State ^ including Foreign Ajfairi. Sccrctar J, Clerks, &c. &c. ^ 1,406 5 department of War* Secretary, Clerks, Pay maflers, Com- >- miffioner, &c. 1. - 1,4^2 i^ Commiffioners for fettling Old Accounts* The whole Board, Clerks, &c. * 2,598 15 '■ © • . Incidental and Contingent Expenceu For Fire Wood, Stationary, Print- ^ ' ing, &c, • *• - 4,006 i^ Total 66,^75 u FINIS. tJ • . , ' u • ' - 1' I •■■ f ■ . . .. A ..,;..-"] 'j^IhO -::L\l *,- r,> ,. \i :^^ •►rV