YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

NEW

TRAVELS

IN THE

UNITED STATES

OF

AMERICA:

INCLUDING THE
COMMERCE OF AMERICA
WITH
EURO P E^
PARTICWLARLY WITH
I'RANCE AND GREAT BRITAIN.
fN TWO rdlsUMES.
VOL. II.
TO WHICH IS PREFIXED,
A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF BRISSOT,
WITH AN
ELEGANT PORTRAIT.

r PRICE SEVEN SHILLINGS IN BOARDS.]

THE
COMMERCE OF
AMERICA WITH EUROPE; 7
PARTICULARLV WITH
FRANCE AND GREAT BRITAIN;
COMPARATIVELY STATED, AND EXPLAINED.
SHEWING
THl; IMPORTANCE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
. TO the' INTERESTS OF FRANCE,
. Apm POINTING OUT THE ACTUAL SITUATION
OF THE
UNITED STATES of NORTH AMERICA,
-~ IN REGARD TO'
TRADE, MANUFACTURES, AND POPULATION.

By T. p. BRISSOT de Warvillb,
AND ' ¦
ETIENNE CLAVIERE.

TRANSLATED FROM THE LAST FRENCH EDITION,
Revifed by Brissot, and called the SECOND VOLUME of his View of America.
WITH THE LIFE OF BRISSOT, AND AN APPENDIX,
sr THE TRANSLATOR,,

LONDON:
FRINTEO FOR J. S, JORDAN, n" x66, FLEET-STREET.
M. DCC^Ciy.

.J.

¦t-r

A Sketch OF THE
L I E E .
OF
J. P. BRISSOT^
By the EDitoR.

Ii E wa^ born at the village of Ouarville, ndaf
Ghatres, in OHeannois, on the 14th of January
1^54. His father was what the French called
a 'Trditeur't .\Sx-sX is, keeper of in eating houfe
dr an ordinary. He was intended for the pro-
feffion df the kw, and was articled to an at
torney for that purpofe. But he grew difgufl;>-
ed with the chicane and turpitude he was daily
oMiged to witnefs, and therefore, after the five
yeirs of his articlefliip were expired^ he left'
Ghatres, and went to Paris. a z An

iv SKETCH OF THE LIFE
An accident one night at the theatre at
Paris placed him in the company of an Englifh
gentleman. They became intimate, and frbm
this gentleraan he obtained fome knowledge of
the 'E^ngll{h language; which he afterwards
improved by a refidence in London.
He had received a regular claffical education,
and acquired,' by dxid: application, a tolerable
knowledge of the German, Italian, and Spanilh
languages, fufEcient to confult the au|hors who
have written in thofe languages, On his ar-'
rival at Paris Kis firfl: fludy was jurifprudence,?
\yith an intention of Ijecoming an advocate in
parliament. Np fcience ho wever . efcaped hig
attention. He attended leftures aiid expe-r;
riments \ti every branch of fcience ; w^herein •
his adive genius found ample exercife. Chyr
miftry was his favourite obje£t of purfuit ; but
his circumfjances were too limited to indulge
much in it, , The fmall patrimony which he
inherited from his father- did not excee^ forty
poinds per annumi,

. OF., J. P., :bb,issqt. V
Inthe year 1777 he rpade his firft tpyr to
London. DuxiiDg ..^his . ftay in London he be
came engaged.in- the condudt of a French. newf-
paper, at, that. tirae called the Courier de C 'Europe,
but (Ince, the Cpurier**>de Lqndres. Some ,mif-
underfVandiug having happened concerning the
ftamps (at the flampr- office in London) for this
paper, the proprietor took a refolution of print
ing it at Boulogne fur-mer ; and BrifTot was
a-ppointed the, Editor, and refided at Boulogne
for that purpofe. ^ He continued in this capacity
at Boulogne about two years. From thence
he went to Paris ; and was admitted Gounfellor
in ^Parliament. — Early in thq year 1783 he
went to Neufchatel to fuperintend the printing
pf one bf his books (mentioned hereafter).
This was the memprable period pf the revolu
tion at Geneva. Here he became acquainted
with M. Glaviere and M. du Rovray, who,
with a numerous palty, were expelled that
city, and fought an afylum in Ireland.
In the autumn ofthis yeSr, he married a
a 3 daughter

VI SKETCff or THE W^E
daughter of Madame Dupont of Boulogne.
This young lady had been recommended to the
celebrated Madame de Genlis, who obtained a
fituation for her in the nurfery of the Duke de^
Ghartres, late Duke of Orleans, who fuffered'
under the guilotine ; in which fituation flie
continued fome time after her marriage.
At the beginning of the year 1.783 heVifited
London a fecond time. His vijew in- this jour
ney was to eftiiblifli in London a LyCeum, of
Academy bf Arts and Sciences; together with
an office of general correfpondence. In this
undertaking he was encouraged by fome ofthe
firfl literary men in France; and a Monfieur
du Forge, mufioian at Paris, -was fo captivated
with the fcheme, that he advanced four thoufand
livres (166I.) for one third fhare of the profits^
Briffot was to have the fole ma-nagement, and
the other two thirds of the profits. He took a
houfe in Newman Stre^, Oxford Street; and
publiflhed a profpedus of his undertakino-. He
fent for his wife and his youngeft brother (his
eldefl

tft J. p. BRISSOT. vii
ddefl; brother was a priefl). ' At this tirne he
commenced his defcription of the fciences in
England (ndentibhed hereafter), to be publifti-
ed riiohthly. Having ih one of his publications
taken bccafibn fo vindicate the Chevalier de
Launay, editor of the Courier du Nord, printed
at Maeflrlcht, the editor of the Courier de
lEurope, now M. du Morande, was fo highly
offended by it, that he became from that time
Briflbt's moft determined enemy. It is to be
obferved, that the Courier du Nord and the
Courier de I'Europe vi/ere rival newfpapers^
De Launay quitted Maeftricht, and went to
Paris, where he was immediately put into the
Baftife, and was never more heard of.
in the month of May, 1 784, Briflbt was ar-
refted by his printer in London. Although he
was at this time very well known to feveral
perfons of rank and fortune, yet he was too der
licate to apply to an;f of them for pecuniary
amflauce. But after remaining- a day or two
in a lock-up houfe in Gray's Inn Lane, he fent
a 4 his

viii SKET'(?H OF THE LIFE
his'brother to an intimate fiiend, who inflantly
paid the printer his bill, and liberated hini. ,
The next morning BrifiTot fet out for France^
leaving his wife and brother iii England, aflur-
ing thern he would quickly return, which he,
certainly intended. But in this he was Severe
ly dilappointed. Thus ended his literary en-
terprifc o{ eftablilhing a Lyceum in London, iii
wliich he embarked his whole property with a
degree of infatuation and :^eal that feemed to
border upon infanity. During his refidepce in
London he became acquainted with one Count
de Pelleport, author of feveral pamphlets ao^ainft
the principal perfons of the French Court, par^
ticularly of one called Soirees d* Antoinette^ for
the apprehenfion of the author of which the
French Court offered a thoufand pounds (looo -
Louis) reward. BrifiTot, inftead of proceediflf; ,
direaiy to Paris, flopped at Boulogne, andrefidy^^
ed therewith his mother-in-law; here he re-
folved to continue, his publication on the ori«ri-
.nal plan. Du IVI  knowing that Pelleport was

- OF J. P. BRISSOT. ix
was the author of the offenfive pamphlet, and
that BrifTot and Pelleport were intimate, I'e-
folved to -obtain the reward, and gratify his re- '
fentment. He^ applied to Pelleport, offering
him the fuperintehdance of a publication to be
carried on At Bruges (near Oflend), the falary
of which was to be two hundred pounds per
annum. Pelleport accepted the offer. But it
was necefTary to flop at Boulogne, where fome '
"final arrangements were to be made. In the
month of July Pelleport embarked fot- Boulogne
with Captain Meredith. But the moment he
landed, he was feized by jthe officers of the
Police, who put him in chains and carried him
to Paris, where he was fent to the Baflile.
Du M^  was an agent of the Police of Paris.
Infoi-mation being given to the Police, that
Briflbt was at Boulogne, and that he was the,
intimate friend of -Pelleport, he was immedi
ately taken into cuflody, carried to Paris, and
cpmmitted to the Baflile. However, it is cer
tain that BrifTot never wrote any'thing againfl either

X SKEl'^Cri Ot 'i'HB LIFE
either the Kihg or C^6en of Frariee; Hef
Was fincere in his abhorrence of Ihfe' arMt^!^^
«nd defpotic principles of the Frenfeh goverri-'
Hient, but with refpecl to the private Cofid-iitf
of the King and Queen hfe, never beflowed the*
fmallefl attention upon it. In this ttizgititie
Of human victims he corifinued about fi':^ weeks.
His wife applied to Madame Gerilis in his fa
vour, arid Madame Genlis thofl ge'nefoiifly liiadd
a point of it with the Duke de Chartres to ob*
tain his liberty. The Duke'de Ghai-tfes's -in-
tefference does not appear by aiiydocufheht }
but Briffot's acquittal of the charge brought
agaihfl him, appears iii fhe follbwing repofto/
his examination,, rnade to the French fhiiiifter',
M. Breteuil, oh the 5th of September.
*' The Sieur Briflbt de "VVarville v\^as convey-
** ed to the Baflile on the day after the Sieur
"dePellepbrt, who was arrefled at Boulogne
« fur-mer, arrived, at Paris. In confequence of
" his connexions with this man, guilty pf
•' writing libels, he was fufpeded of havinb-'
*' becM

OF J. P. BRissoT. Xr
"been his cioadjutof. The atteflation ofa boy
** in the printing office, frorii. whence oneof
** thefe libels ifl*ued, gave flreiigth to flifpicions;
** but this ^tti^ftation, tranfmitted from Lon-
" don, is deflitute of' authenticity ; and the
'* Steuf iSriffot de Warville; who has very fa-
*' tisfaflofily anfwered' to the interrogatories
*'^ which were put to him, attributes his crimi-
*' nation to the animofity of enemies whom he
*' conceives to have plotted again ft him in
*' tondon. The Sieur BrifTot de Warville is a
*' man of talents, and of letters; he appears to
** have formed fyflems, and to entertain extra-
*< ordinary principles ; but it is certain that, for
*« the lafl feven or eight months, his connec-
" tions with the Sieur de Pelleport had ceafedV
*' and that he empfoyed hirafelf folely upon a
•* periodical.-paper, wJiich he obtained permif-
*' fion to circulate and fell in France, after
*' havinty fubmitted it to fhe examination of a
*' licenfer."
Jt is proper to obferve, that the addition ot
'''^ a ' '' de

xii SKETCH OF- THE LIFE
de ¦Warville, which BrifTot paade to his name,
(to diflinguifh him.felf frora his eldefl brother)
is a kind of local defignation, not uncommon,
in many countries. William of.'Malrafb,ury,
Geoffry of Monmouth,- Rapin de Thoyras,
loan d'Arc, &c. &c. But in the orthography
he fubflituted the Englifh /T for the French^
dipthong Ou; the found of that dipthpng being,
fimilar to our W. Thus Ouarville. is pro-
¦"I
nounced WarvUle in both languages.
In 1 very fhort time after his releafe from
the Baflile he very honourably difcharged
his pecuniary pbligation to his friend in Lon
don. In the year 1787, which vwas the era ofthe
foundation bf tbe French revolution, the Duke
de Chartres, now become Duke of Orleans by
the death of his father, embraced the party of
the Parliament againfl the Court. Upon the
principle of gratitude Briflbt attached himfelf to
the Duke of Orleans. As an honefl man he
could riot do otherwife. We

OF" J. P. BRISSOT. xiii
We fhall here pafs by his tour to Ame
rica, and fome other pircumflances, becaufe
they are intimately connected with the account
of liis writings, which is fubjoined.
Upon his return to France he found that his'
celebrity had not been diminifhed by his ab-
fence. He was ele<3:ed a member of the Con-
1
ftituent Aflfembly, and was much engaged in
the committees of refearch, of which he was
the reporter. He was alfo defied a member of
the Legiflative AfTembly for the department of
Paris. It mufl be obferved, that the revolu
tion cafl a veil over the crimes of all thofe who
had been obliged to leave their country. In
this group who returned to France was
DuM  i He oppofed BrifTot in his eledlion
for Paris, but BrifTot was eledied by a rinajority of
more than three to one. However Du M- — — 's ¦
party were exceffively mortified ; and they un-
ceafingly calumniated BrifTot in the mofl op
probrious terms. M. Petion, mayor of Paris,
^nd who Was Brififot's friend and townfman,
contributed

xiv SKEXpH OF THE LIfK
contributed txiucli to Jdrengthen bis intereft and
afcendancy. . ,, ;
Bri^Qt now diflinguifhed hiipfelf as one. of
the Amis des Noirs (friend ofthe Negroes),- of
whorn h^ was a rnofl zealous advocate. In a
jfpeech which be delivered in the AfTembly in
the year, 1791, there is a ilroug trait of philan^
thropy. „, ,
¦ . . . ¦ ' ¦¦ il
Qf this fpeech the following is a fhort eXr
traft : " You have heard of enormities that freeze
you with horror ; but Phalaris fpoke opt of his
brazen bull, he lamented only the dagger that
his own gruelty had, raifed againfl him. The
coloriifls have rdated inflances of ferocity ; but
give me, faid he, an informed brute, and I will
foon.rflake q. ferocious motifler of him.. It was %
white man whp firft threw a negro into a burn
ing oven; who dafh^d out the brainaof a child
in the prefence pf its father ; who fed a flave
with its own projier ftefb. Thefe are the trioii-
flers that have to account for the barbarity of
the revolted favages.— ^illic^As pf Africans h^ve
perifhed

'i>.

OF }, Pr BR^S^OT. ' xy
perifhed on this foil pf blood. You l^reajk, a|
BVpry j(^pp,- th? bones pf the inhabitants, that
fixture li^s given ^ to thefe jflanxls ; and ypv
(liydder at the relation of their veqgeanc^. Ia
this dreadful flruggle t^p crimes of thi^ Whites
are yet the mof^ laorrible. They are th^ pf^
fpring pf defpotifm : whilft thofe of the Black?
originate in th? hatred pf fl^very, and tl?e thirfl
pf revenge, Js pbilofophy chargeable' wit^i
thefe Horrors ? Dogs fhg reqiiire the .bl.ood, of
th^ cploplfls ? Breth^ir^ii^ fhe cri.?s, Ijip jufl ; be
beneficent ; and you will profper.— 'Eteriial flar
yery mufl lie ^n ete^na^ fourpe of crimen ;—
(iij^^ej(jt, it ^t les^il of the epithet eternal; fpr an-
guifb that k;iows no, limitation of period can
p;gjy produ^gp defpaii:."
Upon the abolit^n of the French monarchy,
jp t.tfi. ^affiAth, pf September 1792, the Legifla-
. Uve .^jpTem^ljf tlifl^plved itfelf. The conflitu-
tion beipg diijblved^by the ^bolitiori of the King,
the;!' (;qncei,ved that it was the inherent right
qI tb,? ]^epple Xo ch,,pj^9, 4 new reprefentation, in
order

xvi SKETCH OF THE LIFE
order to frame a new coriflitution, fuited to
the wifhes of the people, and, to the necef^t^
of the exifling circumflances of the times. In
this gerieral eleflion BrifTot was defied one of
the deputies, from the department of Eure and
Loire. His abilities and talents beeame every
day more confpicuous. He was chofen the Re
porter of the Committee of Public Safety ; in
which fituation he condufled himfelf without
reproach, until the treacherous condufl of Du
mourier threw a fufplcion on the whole of the
Gironde party. -_
Although afTailed on all fides by his cnemiesi
his charafler afperfed and depreciated by thei
bafefl of calumnies, BrifiTot fhe wed himfelf.
confiflent with his public principles of philan
thropy. .,_ $ .-,..
. In the dreadful mafTacre of the 3d of Sep
tember, his opponents, particularly Du M- — -i,"
fought every opportunity to accomplifh his
deflruflion, by accufing him of being a princi
pal infligator of thofe horrors. And it mufl: be
' owned,

' ^ OF- ji P. BRl^SOT.' xvii
owned, that thefe repeated and continued ca- -
luntlnies weakened him in the public efl:eem.
Du M— — was perfeflly acquainted with the
Englifh method of writing a man down.
Wlien Condorcet moved for the abohtion of
roy'^lty, BriflTbt was fi lent.
When the nAotion^i' as made to pafs fenteii'ete '
of deat'h 'on the Kingj EnfTot fpoke and vot^d '
for tlie appeal to the primary afTemblies.
Wfierij Fayette 'was cferifured, BrifTot 'd^fendi'
edhimr. When- ttfe-Diike of 'Orle-ans (M d' E-galif'^)'*^
wa^tdftfured," Bnfrot'deffeffdcd him.
TKe t vVb. firfl ' feerti" tO have arifen ' in princi
ples' of h ti tfiarifty;
Tfib two 4a'fl,' unqueftionabiyi afo'fe'in the
flrongefl' ties of "gratitude' and friendfKip.
A'coft'fci&ritioa^ fri4ti5canhot"fuffer a hiore fe-
vefe" affliflibn, thah'w'hen'his private honour '
places him agalnflbis' public duty.

^*i!¦| y

/.

Vol. IL b Of

xviii sKEtca OF THE LIF^
Of BRI^SSOT's WRITINGS^
AND PARTICULARLY OF THIS WORK.
Upon the fettlement of the American govern
ment after the war, he beeame an enthiifiaflie
admirer of the new' conflitution of that great
cpuntry. But fome French perfons, who had'
been in America, and were returned to Franc-e,,
had publiilied their thoughts and opinions of
>America, in a manner that was notbing fhort of
illiberality. ^ The reader will find the principal
names, of thefo writers in, the thirty-fecond ¦
chapter of the firfl volume. BrifiTot was fired
. with indignation at this treatrricnt of a people, -
whom he conceived could not in anywife havi
deferved 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 this volume with the view of
fupportinrg and eflablifhing that primary id^a,.
*• / or

OP j. P. BRISSOT. XIX
bt theory of i French commerce with the United
States. ^ • ¦ ¦ ¦ '•^'^'¦'- ' "
Upon this point it is no morethan ordinary can
dour to obferve,- that all which BrifTot retom-
mends, explains, or relates, concerning a French
commerce with the United States, applies equal
ly, an^ in fome points more than equally, to the
Brififh commerce with them. Every Bri-
tifh merchant and trader may deriv6 fome
advantage from a generalviewof the principles
which he has laid down for the eflablifhment and
regulation of a reciprocal commerce between
France and America. The produce and manu-
faftures of England are infinitely better fuited
\ to the wants of America ; and therefore all his
theory, which is direfted to the Welfare and im
provement of France, mufl flrongly attach the
attention of the Britifh merchant and mechanic ;
who, in this great point, have not at prefent
any fuperibrs, but have feveral rivals*. Briflbt's
ambition was to make France the greatefl: and
moft powerful rival. And every candid perfon,
N , b 2 . . • mull

XX SKETCH OF THE LIFE
.¦'^. •;¦¦:¦;¦ ;>-¦;?
mufl allow that he deferved, much cre4it^ of hi&
countrymen for the progrefs he made, in tliis
firfl attempt, to open tbe eyes of, the Frer\ch
nation to profpefte of new fources of adyantagj^.
All that is further necefpiry to fay of this \<jqrk,
,; is faid by BrifiTot himfelf in the introdufl^og,
from the tenth to the twentieth pages. In the
lafl^ F;^ench edition of ^^(iflTot's Travels iri i^me-
rica,/ publifhed. by himfelf, about feven 'or eio-h|:.
months before his decapitation, this volume is
placed the lafl of that work. "VV^e have followed
^\^^ A"^.^9^.'s ^';''^"g,ement, anil collated, the
whole by the lafl: Paris edition.
^C.tlfe preceding volun^, entitled *V]S[e;v/
Travels in the United States. of America," we
have nothing to add: the whole of the .Frenefe .
edition is now before the reader.
^^ ^"^^'^.^^.^^''.^.^f^s^^.^^is Proper to men
tion the^ follpwing.
., % rheory of Criminal Laws, injwp vo^
/^»7«.^Altliough M. la Cretelle, atth? con-,
clufion of his E% on the Prejudices attached to
il , Infamy,"

OF J. P. BRISSOT. XXI
Infamy^ fpeaks in flattering terms cf this work,
for he fays', that it exliibits an exteufible know--
ledge, and fhews the writ6r s ambition alcends
to great principles ; yet to thpie perfons who
have reao Beccaria's Efi!ay on tri'mes and Pu-
ni'fhhi'ents", it will hot appear that BrifiTot has'
added thiicli novelty to the fubjefl:.
TheT^ece^ty ofa Kef or m ofthe Criminal Laws.
TVhdt Reparation is aue to innocent ^erjons un-
ju/i/y accujed.
Thefe were two dircourles which were crowri-
^H by the Academy of Chalons fur Marne, and
Were printed in the form of twx) pamphlets.
The minifters of Louis XVI. were a good deal
6tfend'e(l at the' principles they contained, and
ui'^y forbid the Academy propofing the difcuf-
fibii df fimilar fubj'efls at any of their future

meetings,^

' This check ferved" but as a ftimulus to Brif-
fbt to continue his fubjefl. He therefore, in
two years afterwards, publifhed his f/6//o/o/)^;-
cal Library ofthe Criminal Laws. This work is
b 3 now

xxii SKETCH OF THE LIFE
now ten -uo/p/z^x. '^JBrifTot's view in this work
was, to diffufe and explain ' thofe grand princi
ples of freedom which produced the revolution
in, England in theyear 1688, and the revolution
in America in the year 1775. Before the dif-
folution of die monarchy in France tl\ofe "^xiw^
ciples were almofl unknown to the French,
g,nd are ftill almofl: unknown to the other parts
of Europe. Biit as feveral of the monarchs of
Europe approved of the American revolution,
it may be prefumed that their, fubjefls will' not
long continue ignorant ofthe motives and grounds
of a meafu're which was honoured with the
patronage of their fovereigris. This 'circum-
0ance alone fhould convince the Englifh, that
many of the powers of Europe behold with
|>leafure the diminntioii of their greathefs and
corifequence, and that very fe^N of thofe powers'
are jgver friendly to them, except during th?,
time jhp^ are receiving a bribe, by virtue of
3n, Inftrumeptj pommonly called a. fubjididry
treaty, ^ Pf

OF J. P. BRISSOT. xxiii
Of pr. Price of London he wa^ an admirer ;
but of Dr. Priefllcy he was alfo an imitator
for he amufed himfelf frequently with chymif"
try, phyfics, anatomy, and religion. On the
lafl fubjefl there is a prefumption that he wrote
but little ; for in his Letter to the Archbijhop of
Sens (the only trafl on religion, by him, that
has come to the Editor''s knowledge) he fays,
*• That religious tyranny had been proflrated
"by the blows of Voltaire, RoufTeau, D'Alem-
*' beft, and D'Iderot." His mind was capaci
ous, and his comprehenfion extenfive. In his
zeal to become an imitator of Prieflley, he
publifhed a woXnme PoncerningT'ruth, or'Thoughts
on the Means of attainingTrfith, in all the Branches
qf Human Knowledge. Here was a wide field
for the difplay of BrifiTot's talents ai^d induflry.
His defi gn was to have carried on the work to
feveral volumes, and to have invited the com
munications of the literati of all Europe, in
ail the different fciences, and, it may be added,
fpeculations. But therfe was fuch a freedom of
b 4 ( fentiment

jXXlV SKET^,^ PF ^TI|E ^I.IFE
_ fentiment: mapjfefled [Ui .the,fitfl: volqme, -that
botb i th,e ^vithor ^arjd ^priRt-er were .^lai^ipe^ , witfi
the teri^prs pf ,tbe Baflile. J^ijled. .wJth ,th^^
apprehenfipns, he left Par]^,, arid we.nt ,toNeuf-
cjhatel. There he priiited t>is prp.fpeftya, MXii
^he caufed it tp^iQ^lfp prifUted in Len^pn. B.yt
when thefe copies ;Vvere atti^mpte^ „to j^p, cirpvi,-
late^ in France they, w,er c fpij^edl, Np,t a .fi rt^lp
number was perm.itted tp be fepn ijj any Isppkr
fdler's fhop in France.
Finding -the e^xec^tion of -his pfoj^gfl tbus
re;jide^ed imprffjticable, be ||ft; J^(^ufch|,t4« aOt}
^pt.to l^oridpp ; y^kpr^i 19 pr^pr ,t^ giy^ cjJf-
rency ,to his fr,ee opinion^, |i,9 ^altered the t^i%
"of his book. He propofed to p^ibji-^b thg' re?
naainipg pa^ft ,per)o,d.ipally, \mi^. the ij^me 0^
j^UefcripJign of t^eS,ciemes an,dj^rts inEnglan^l
^fpat part' of vvbie]^ was ii^tepc|ed to bp devotpsi
t? ap egarriipalion qf^ an4 to <?ibferv4tipns or; ,tb^.
^"o'>.(^, conftjtutipn, Jlis frifpds; fpji^pited tbs
^I'^^Gh'nt^iriiflry |o p.ernc^it thii^ vvpr^ tff,% r?"
Pf 'i^^M J^?' ^^^Sk' At firfl; ^hey obtain-?^ Ibis"
1 f, i ' , favour;

-O*' J. p. 'BRISSOT. XXV
favour? and the work went on as -f^r' as twelve
numbers, or two volumes. After which it wa;s
prohibited ; not more to the author's mortifica
tion than to the injury of his pbcke*. ,M. dfc
Ver2;ennes, who was at that time miniflerof
France, • had fo ftrong a diflik-e to every thing
that was Engliifh, th^ he Would not endure tht ,
fiffiialleft commendation upon any part of the
Englifh conftitutiori, or commerce, to be pro
mulgated in France. He had begun to difcb-
ver, that the favourite idea of his mafter, of
feparating thfe Britifh colonies from the Bri
tifh empire, naight lead to an inveftigatiori of thfe
principles of government at home, and prove
extremely dangerous to a defpotic monarchy*
Notwithftanding he was thus difappointed ^'
fecond time, he ftill purfued his defign ; but
under a. fecond- change af title. He publifhed
j|wo volumes under the title of Philofophicdl
Letters an- the Hi/lory of England. The title
• did not attach tbe public attention; becaufe
two vplumes under ,a fimilar namfe' 'had- beeit
( 3 publifhed

xxvi SKETCH of' THE LIFE
jjiiblifliedvin London, and had with fome art
been impofed on the public, as the produftion
of Lord Lyttdtbn ; but they were written by
GoMfmifh, in fupport of tyranny and ariflo-
.cracy.M Every circumftance of cruelty and oppref-
fon met with the obfervation of Briffot. ¦ W^hen
the late Emperor Jofeph was punifhing Horiahj I
, tbfe leader of the revolt in Walachia, and,ifru7
ing his fhocking edifl againft emigration, Brif
fot addrefTed two letters to him upon thofe fub-r
jefls, which were read throughbut Germany.
In, one fetter 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 fr9m na
ture.
- He was an'enthufiaft iri his adndiration ofthe
American, revolution, and of the condiift o^
the Americans in. rifking every thirig to eman
cipate themfelves from the tyranny of Great
Britain. , Upon comparing the new conftitu-
7 tion

OF J. P. BRISSOT. xxvii
tion of America with "that* of England, he
changed his opinion of tbe latter — he ceafed to
approve of it.
Some French gentlemen, who had vifited
-Anierica, having, when they returned to Finance,
written fome fevfere remarks on the Americans,
^rifTot. defended the Americans, particularly in
his book called A Critical Examination of the
gravels of the Marquis of Qhatelleux.. But as
this work has-been, already mentioned in the
preceding volume (fee chapters 31 and 32), it
is not necefTary to fay any thing more of it
Jierfe. V It muft never be forgot, that during the pe
riod of the French monarchy there Were more
jntriguies 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
4i.fmiired, and Calonne was appointed by her in
fluence.

i^'v^ii SK1TX?6 C^ THE LVfE
fluence. Mon'tmtirin fuccefede'd Vefrg^nnb,' ilriH
the Duke ©f Oil eari s wSs at thehfea^ of tlite
party that fought the overthrow of Vhe rieW'iftr-
hiftry. When , Calo'Arie affemble'd 'the Nota
bles at Ve'rfailleS, BrifTot publiflVed A ^a'niphlet
.entitled, M Bankruptcy ; 'dr L'effer's to 'I CrVliMr
^ihe State coricefniftg the Imfb^ihiltydf'aftd>-
iibnhl B&At'rupt0 , ahd the Means (^ rejior ing Cr%
StandPettce^ Tliis pamphlet j vVhicb cottt'ahi-
fed many fevere obfervatibns Oii»Calonh-6's ndfea- ,
fures and plans^ and fome afgumeiits iri fiipiJ
^ort of certairi pi-ivileges clairfied by th,fe pHljIlj
the Duke of Orleans was highly pleafed vvitHl
He fiiid-fe inquiry aftei- the aiithbr, fbr xUh trafl
#as ahOnymPtis", arid ha'ving difcPverfed' b'i'fri,'
hfe Ord^fed his ChariCellbr to provia'e' a fituatioH
fbr him.' He Wis ma\lfe fe^retaryfgenBhf ,' 6f
the Duke's chancery. This iii nbt fa^^e' h'^r^
frPm miriifterial refentmeiit. A lettre de Ca
chet Vvas made out againflc hirii,' but haviri* '~
il'btice of it, he inflantly efcaped to the j^^i?h^}'-
htnds. He wasi for feveral nibhtb^^^ttiF of ^i
Courier

OF J. P. B^ISfpj;. XjKi:^
Courier BflgifUe, printed at Mechlin. It was
diiriflg, this, voluntary exile that he formed, his
projefl of vifiting America, He comraunicated
bis: defign to, the. Philanthropic. Society of y t'he
Erieads of the Negroes-at Paris, and was by them
affifljed and.. recpmmjE^ided to feveral perfons in
A,mcrica. The produce of : this vifit to Ame
rica was tiie.firft..volume of this work,. writtea
upon his -return to France. The French minif-
try being changed before he left Europe, he
embarked iat H^tvre de Grace in the month of
_June 1788. ';
InteUigence, having- reached him in America
or the rapid progrefs liberty was making in
France, he returnedAto his native country in
1789, in a confidence, that -his labours might -
beCorne ufeful to ihe general intereft.
¦ His firft publication after his return, (except ^
thfe preceding volume of his Travels in Ame
rica) wzs A Plan of -ConduB for the Deputies of
thi'People. His knowledge and admiration of Araerica
,, ' ' naturally

XXX SKETCH oJf THE Lii^E
naturally produced a friendfhip with the Mar
quis de la Fayette, who introduced hirii into
the club of the JaCobins.
We^fhall pafs by the feveral fteps and mea-
fures. Of the revolution; for to give an account
of all Brifilbt's concern therein, would be; to
write a large volume upon that event only..
But the mention ofa few circumflances, which ¦
are, attached to V Briffot peculiarly, is indifpen-»
fable. By the intereft, orrather influence, of Fayette
he was made a member of the Comriiune of Pa
ris. He was agent of the Police, and a me^n-
ber ofthe Committee of Infpeflion at Paris;
and afterwards a reprefeiltative fbr the depart-f
ment of Eure and Loire.
He commenced a ncwfpaper, which he call
ed; Pa/r/o/^ Frd!«'/:d|w ; in which he conftantly
defended the condufl of la Fayette. • He atach-
ed himfelf to the party called the Girondifts.
To the EngUfli reader this name may re-,
quire jTome explanation. The warm and mofl
violent

OFvJ.tP. BRISSOT. xxxir
violent of the National Convention, having.
gained the confidence and fuppPrt of the city
of Paris by various arts, but principally by de-,
daring, upon every opportunity, that Paris
muft conftantly be the place in which, the Na
tional Reprefentation. muft hold their delibera- '
rations; to balance againft this power of Pa
ris, Condorcet, Petion, Vergniaux, ,, Briffot,
Ifiiard, and others, all members of the Con
vention, ?;jendeavoured.' to gain the commercial
cities in their intereft. Bpurdeaux wasthe pria-
cipal of thofe cities which joined them ; itis
fituatedon the river Garonne, locally pronounc
ed G^/ro«</<?, which .being the center of: a de
partment, named from the river, the appella
tion of Girondifts was given to the whole party.
' The- whole was. a ftruggle for power : there-
was,, no otherobjefl whatever. It is a foolifh,
and 'an;idlfe affertion, in thofe who fay, that
Briffot and the party, -had engaged* in a plot to
reilore the monarchy of France. Whatever
theii: opinionsmjght have been in fome of the
, early

XX^xll- SKE^GH-^ OF THE LIFE
«rly ft'ages' of 'the- revolution, perhaps from an.
aj^rebenfion thafithe people of France mighti
hfefitate at aaabrupt propofition of a republican
gpvernment, tbey were'unqueftionably'inno»-
cent of the charge, at the time it was made.;
Here follow, however, th« docu-men-tSiaspub-^-
liflied by authority^ in juftification of the exe*
cution ; which, like -all « other^ ftate papers, in-
every country, confifts of- the beft apologyv or*
moft colourable 'pretence,- for a thing- thafhas
been- done by order of go\^ernrrientv
_ V.E.toKT .agaiftji Brissot, and the other arrefed-^ ¦
Deputies i .made. Odobef 3, 1 793.
The Citizens of Paris, beirig informed that ,
Amar was to prefent his Report frotri the Com*
*nittee of General. Safety, this day,, filled -th©-'
gallferies at a very early hour.
As foon as he appeared at the Bal-,^ the «p-
plaojfes were fo loud and continued that he. was
unable

OP J., p. brissot. *, xxxiii
wnableto begin fpr more than a quarter of an

. At lengthj.amitift the.moft^profound filcnce,
lie read his report.
He began by ftating, that, before. he pro
ceeded to the report which had been expefled
with fuch impatience, and would amply recom-
poifo the unavoidable delAy,thzt had prevented
amore fpeedy gratification pf the wifhes of the
people, he was commanded by the Committee
of General- Safety to requeft that none of. the,
members of the Goaventipn fhould be allowed
tp go otit till the Decree pf Aceufation had
been adopted. This requeft was immediatfely
complied with, and a decree being paffed, the
Prefident gave prders to the Commander of the
'National Guards to allow no Members to: go
beyond the Bar.
Amar then affirmed that the gigaptlc arm of
treafpn had been uplifted to ftrikfe the reprefeiir
tative tnajefty of the ppople, and to Ifevel with
the ground the unity and indivifibility of the
Vol. II. c French

XXXIV SKE^fCK OT TH-E LitB
l^renchRepiiblic— The arnaof treafon had httti
nerved and fupported by the united energies of ^
BrifTot, eondoreen Gaadet, Vergniaad, and'the
other Deputies:
7 Briflit^'thefedeif of 'thi* tra-itorDias bandy
fe'ommfericfetf' his- 'political career by being a
M^'riiSeir of 'th« Cbmrnaneof Paris,. ''towliieh
te' was ihtFbcJuced by La Payette,' to- wlro^ de-
Hghs' h-e had proftituted bis peff.— -At tbis aem,
pf''M''life he made his appeai=arice three time* .
iriHthe jacobin Glut?.— In the firft vifit be prpi
jibfed thofe meafiires which have proved fodif-^ ¦
aftrofe to the Goloiiiek; ' in, the"fe<rondV he at-*
tempted to produce the affaffinatioii- of the peo
ple in tfe Ghartip'de Mars^; and in the third-
vifit he 'moved the declaration of vyai' againft
Great Britain. '
Introduced.into the Legiflative Aflfembly,. h-e
immediately entered into a coalition with Coii-
dorcet arid the Girondine faflion, whofe defigns-
he approved and fupported; The cbnfumma-
tion of the objeft of this' coalition, was to have-
z ' , " been*

¦¦ OF ]. P. iiiiPslr. xxxv
: -.'^''x' ¦'<"'¦' ¦''¦" v -''''* ' i ' ^-'-r
Ibefen produced by the furrender of the^ R.epubli-?
car) body to'the violation of the Allied Powers,
,prid by tbe deftruflion ^pf ,t.hajt, lenity and indivir
fibility which can alone be ; expefled to combat
with effeffc the tyrants vsfhp vvould undermin^e
the proud pillar of Liberty, and .deftroy even
the veftige of freedpm from the face of the
earth. , • , ,, . , ' -
The Coijrt made ufe of their iafluence to de- _
clare war at a moment wben .the armies and the
fortified places were in a ftate of .abfolute want,
or entrufted to traitors chofen by a perjured
Kingi( They proteded Narbonne,, .the minif-
ter, whom all France, accufed.of the meafures
:. -:-"'" i:'(;?.'._T ¦ . 7.'' .: 4 -J _ '>y '••:' ¦ -•:.-
taken to render this war fatal to liberty ; and
Jn their Journals they calumniated the Patriots
who had the courage tp refift them. Tbey.de-
fended Dietrifch, convifled -of being an accom
plice with La Fayette, and of having offefed
to give up Strafbourg; and while the chiefs of
that fafliori protefled the confpirators and trai
torous Generals, the' patriotic foldiers were pro-,:
c 3 fcribed.

xxxvi SKETCH. OE THB LlPi^
fcrib[ed, and the volunteers of Paris fent io be
butchered. *
During the time| we Wete furrounded by tb^
fatellites of de/potS, when the Court was going
to open the gates off F'rarifce to them, after
having Caufed the intrepid defenders of liberty
to be riiufdered at Paris, Briffot arid his acconiJ
plices did all tbey could to counterafl thfe gei
nerous efforts of the people, and to fave the
tyrant. During ^nd after the unhappy infur-
rci^ion ofthe iofh of Auguft, tbey endeavour-*
ed to preverif the abdicatiori of Louis fhe XVti
and to preferve to him the CrOwn^
' In the riight of theioth of Auguft,,Petiori,
fhut up in the Thuillferies, corifulted with the
fatellites bf tyrants the plan to maffacre th^
people, andl gave orders to Maridat, Comntiandef
of the Natiorial Guards, to let tbe people come
in, and then to cannonade therii in the rear*
A few days before, Genfonne and Vergniaud
engaged to defend .Louis XVl- on cotiditiori that
' ths

OP J- P- BRISSOT. XXXVU
the three minifters, Rplaiid, Claviere, and Serf-
van, were recalled^
Petion and LaSouVcemade uffe of all their
means to fend the federates from Paris. Brif
fot, Kerfaint, and. Rouyer, according to theletr
tcrs found in the Thuilleries, gave bad ad dee
to the tyrant, and, in defiance of the laws, they
dared to folicit places in the miniftry, under a
promife to extend the deflrvjflive ^qthpripies pf
the defpot. ,;. ,,
The projefl to overturn the foundatiou pf the.
Republic, and to murder the friends, of 'Liberty,
was putin praflicerin the Legiflative Afifembly,
by Briffot, in his infidious " harapgue on th? ,
20th of July 1792, bppofing the abdication of
the throne. We have feen Briflbt apd his ag-
qoropbcQS Republicans u;)der Mori^rcby, arid
Royalifts under the RepybHc ; always confta^t
in their defigns to rtiin thp frenph natipn, ^rid
to abandon it tO its enemies. At the time the
hypocritical tyrant, JL-Pnis the XVI. came into
¦tbe Aff?mb,ly to apcufe the people, whofe mat?
03 facrf

xxxviii SKE,TCH OF, THE LIFE
facrc'he had prepared,— Vergnialid, like a'truf
accomplice pf tbe tyrant, told him-r-" That the
Aftembly held it tp be one of their moft facrpd
duties to maintain alt CPnftituted authpptipSj,
and conlequently that of Royalty,"
, When the Attorney General, Raderer,.canap
to annouii'ce, with the accent of grief, that the
citizens in infurreflibn had taken the refblutioci
not to feparate till the Affembly 'had pronounc
ed the forfeiture of the Crown, Prefident VergJ-
niaud filenced thje app^ufes from the galleries
by telling them, that they violated the laws it;
pbftruftihg the freedom of opinion ; and he
told Raderer, that the Affembly was gorhg to
take into im mediate ^confideration the propofaj
which he,' Vergniaud, had made, fhewirig the
neceflity of preferving the exiftence of the
King. Kerfaint feconded the motion^ Geradet pro-
pofed tp liberate Mandat, who was arrefte4
for having given orders to fire on the people ;
pr, in the event that that conitnandcr was no
^^ore? to fend a.de|)utation of twelve Girondifl
Mpriibcfs,

OF J, P. BRISSOT. XXXIX
Members, ai^tborifed to chpofe his fucceffor, in
Iprder by ihis means, to k^ep the public- force at'
thedifpofitioa.of that mifchievous fa(9:iori..
In that, memorabie fitting of the loth of
A'ugu!^, the Girondift cbibfs,, Vergriiaud., Gua-
det, and'- Genfontie, took by turns the chair,
and went to the galleries to flaclk^n th« energy
of |the people, and to fave Rpyaky, under the
fhield ©f the pretended conftitutioa. Thev
fpoke of nothing but obediefice to the Conftito-
tional laws to thofe citizens that came to the
^ar to proteQ: their newly ^acquired liberty.
When the municipality came to invite the
Affembly to fend the 'pvoces-verbdl of -the great
Operations of the joth of Aiiguft, in order to
prevent the calumnies of the enemies of liberty,
Guadet interrupted the members ' who made
that demand, by making a motion to recom
mend anew to the magiftrates the execution- of
the laws. — He blamod th'e Council of the Com
mune for having confined Petioiv. iri his own
hs>^j^^'f though they did it in order tO- render it
c 4. jmpofiible

xl SKETCti OF THE LIFE
impoffible fpr thatJmpoftor to make even in"
furreflion fubforvient to afl againft liberty.
^Whfen a deputation from the fuburb St. An-,
toirie came to announce the civic affliflion of the
^yidows and children raaffacred on that d^, th(S!
perfidious Guadet coolly anfwered them,' "That
the Affembly hoped to reftore public tranquiU
lity and the r-eign of the laws."
Vergniaud, in the name of the extraordina
ry ;commiffion direfted by that faflion, propofed
the fufpenfiori of the King, who had been^
dethroned by the pepple, as a fimple ponferv^^
tory aft of royalty ; and feemed greatly affe<Sed,
at the events which had favpd the country, an.4 :
'operated the ruin of the tyrants. He, oppofed
Choudieu's motion, tending to exqlude from the
Convention the Members of bpth tbe Legiflative
and Gonftituent Affemblies ; and with the fame
cunning he prevented the regifters of the civil
lift from beirig depofited on the table.
Guadet wifhed to have a governor named to'thp
fonof the JatelCing, whoni he called the Prince,
Royal. ^

OF J. P. BRISSOT. xii
^oyal.- Briflbt and his accomplices always j^f-
fjbftpd to invoke thfe literal execution of tfiQ
Conftitution, while the people, in the' name of
the martyrs who fell before the caftle of the
Thuilleries, demanded the complete overthrow
of the tyrant. '
Vergriiaud oppofed this demand, 'faying, that
the people of Paris were but a feflion of th^
empire, and affefled to oppofe it -in this manner
to the depart merits.— He likewife refifted the
petition made by the Commons to put thetyraat
iipdejr^rreft. He ufed all his efforts with Brif^
fpt, Petipn, and Manuel, to get Lpuis XVI.
confined iri the Luxembourg, from, whence it
would have been e^fier for bim to efpape than
out of the tower of tbe temple,
'Genfonne and Guadet h^d the fervility to
publifh, at different times, . tbat Louis XVL
hgd cpmriianded |he Swifs iipt tp fire upon the
people. Frpm that time, the leaders of the
Girondifts (Department pf Bourdeaux), com
pelled to praife the events ofthe jpth of Auguft,
' ' continued'

xlii . SKETCH OF THE LIFE
continued, notwithftanding, "to undefmihe the
Republic. They publifhed the 'fe'verefl: latires
againft the Jacobins, againft the Commons and
people of Paris, and in general againft all- thofe
who contributed to the deftruflion of monarchy.
Roland's' houfe was filled with packets of libels,
. which were to be diftributed am'ong t^e people^*
and fent into the departments.
Thefe guilty men proteifled all the confpirav
tors, favoured the progrefs of Br'Unfwick with
all their power, and were the agents of the
Englifh faction which has exerted fb fatal an
influence during the courfe of our jrevolutiori.
Carra was in league with certain charaflers of
the Court of Berlin. In his Journal Politique
of the 25th of Auguft, 1 79 1 , he formed a wifh, :
on account of the marriage of the Duke of
York with the Princefs of Pruffia, " that the
Duke migbt become Grakd Duke of Belgium,
with all the powers of the King of the Frendh."
While Brurifwick was preparing to decide the
fate ofthe French natiori by the force of arms, ^
Qarr^

OF J. P, BRISSOT,
Carra lia thfe famp Jourrial reprefented him as ^
great commander, the.greateft politician, the
moft amiable Prince in Europe, formed to be
the reftorer of liberty iii all riations.— ^He pub-
liftied, . that this Duke, on his, arrival at Paris,
would go to the Jacobins, and put on the red
cap, in order, to intereft the people iri favour of
this fatdlite of tyrants. Finally, Carra was fo
audacious as to propofe openly to the Jacobins,
for the puke of York to be King of the French.
From thefe and many other fafls, too tedious
tom^rition, there refults, that Carra and his af-
" .' ' ' ' . . . "* " ' . " '
fociate vvere iniquitous and deep diffemblers, ,
penfioned by lijngland, Pruffi-k, and Holland, to
ienable,a;Princ,e pf that family vyhich rules over
thofe countries to obtain the crown of France. -
This fame Carra, together vi'ith Sillery, the
^iflionoured confidaiit of a contemptible Prince,
was fent by thfe then reigning faflion to Dumou-
rier, to complete that treafon which faved the
almbft ruined at-my of the PfufiSan defpoi. Du- -
pourier came fuddenly to Paris to cpncpft with
^rifTpt. Petion, Guadet, Genfonne, anc] Carra, the

jdiV SKETCH OF THE LIFE
the perfidious expedition into the Auftriari Nc^
therlands, which he undertook when the Pru^
fian army, wafting away by contagious difor^;
ders, was peaceably retiring— while thfe French^
arm,y wjjs burning with indignation at the m^.'
^^iop in which they were kept.
It was not the fault of this faflion, if the
motion often made by Carra to i;ecdye BruRfT.
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 Affembly, with the Executive Gouncil,,!
and with the captive King. He was fupported
in it by Roland, Claviere, and le , Brun, the
creatures and inftruments of Briffot an^ his ac
complices. ' ' , ¦
But thefe perfidious miplfters, having been ^
threatened by one of their colleagues to be de
nounced to the pebple, it was then that Carra
and Sillery Were fent to Dumourier, to authb-
rife this'General to negociate with Frederick
'I ^, William,

OF J. P. BRISSOT. ,j jclv ,
William, to enable this Prince to get out of the
kingdom, on condition that he fhould leave;the
Netherlands without the fufficient means of
defence, and deliver thfem up to the numerous
And triuniphaht armies of France;
Thfe calumnious harangues that wefe triads
in the Tribunes were prepared or fanflioned at
Roland's, or iri the mfefetirigs that were held at
Valaiie'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 fofedefal fyftemi In
the Legiflative Affembly they meditatedi a flight
beyond thfe Loirfe, with thfe Affembly, the Exe
cutive Gouncil, the Rtiyal Family, and thfe pub
lic treafurci Kerfaint, at his return froiri Se
dan, dared to proppfe this projefl to the Exe
cutive Council ; and it was fupported by Ro-
land, Claviere, and le Brun, "the creatures and
inftruments of Briffot. •
The faflion ftrove-to put off the judgment of
the tyrant by impeding the difcUffion. They
appointed

xivf skfitCH 0# THE LfPfi
appointed acommiffion of twenty-foU.f niierril^
to examine the papers found in the Thuillei"es, in
the guilt of which fome of thefe members- were
implicated; and they endeavoured, in concert
' ' ¦ -t " - ?¦
with Roland, to conceal thofe which tendeii'to
4ifcJover their tranfaflion 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 Coriven-s
tion could do no good, and that it was not free*
Thefe declamations milled the departments^^ and
induced them to form a coalition, vvhich was
near being fatal to France.
They patronized an inciylc piece^ entitled
L* ami des Loix. . •
¦ -i ' ^>.
On the 14th of January, Barbaroux and; hia'
friends had given orders to the-battalipaof Mar-
feillois to furround the Convention.
On the 20th, V.aladi wrote to the other De- "
puties — •' To-morrow in arms to theConven- tion— i

OF 'J. i. BRISSOT, xlvii
fton— he IS a coward who "does not appear
there." Briffot, after the condemnation of Louis Capet,
eenfured the Convention, and threatened France
with the vengeance of the European KingSi,
When it was his objefl to bring on war, be fpoke
iri an oppcfite fenfe, and treated the downf4
ofall thrones, and the cbnqueft of the univerfe,
as the fport of the French nation. Being/ the
organ-of theDiploriiatic Committee, compofed
almpft entirely of the fame faflion, hp propofed
warfuddenly againft England, Holland, andall
the powers- that had' not then declared thena-
felvesi This faflion afled in coalition with perfidious
Generals, particularly with Dumourier. Gen-
fonriet held a daily correfpondence with him :
Petion was his friend. He avowed himfelf the
C unfellor ofthe Orleans party, and had con-
neflion with Sillery and his wife.
After thie revolt of Dumourier, Vergniaud,
Guad«t, Briffot, and Genfonne, wifhed tp
> ' }uftif7

^l^ili SKETCH "of the L^FE
juftifj^ his condufl to the Committee of '
Defence^ belting that the denunciarionS iriad»,
ao-ainft him By the Jaeobins and the Mouritain
were the caufe of his cbndufl ; ind that Du-*
mourier was the proteflor of the found part of
the Goriverition. , This was the pdrty of which'
petion, Briffot, Vergniaud, &c. were the chiefs
and the orators.
When Dumourier was declared a traitor hf the
Convention, Briffot^ in the Pafmte Fran^oifci
as well as other writers^ who were his .accom*
plices, ptaifedbim, in defiance Ofthe law. As
members of the Committee of General Defence,
they Ought to have given informatiOil relative to
the preparations that were making iri JUa Vendee;^ ,
The Convention, however, was not rriade ac*-
qualirited with thfem till the war became ferious.
They armed the Seflions where Ariftocracjr
-reigned, againft thofe~ where public fpirit was
triumphant. They affefled to believe that a plot was me
ditated by the RepubUcans againft the Natioaal .
Corivention,

OF y. p. BRISSOT. xlix
Convention, for the fiurpofe of naming the .
comndiffibn of twelve, who, in an arbitrary rrian
ner, imprifoned the magiftrates of the people,
arid made war againft the patribts.
Ifnard developed thevifews of t|ie confpiracy,
when he-ufed this atrocious expreffion t "The
aftoriifhed -travellcT will feek On what barikS' of
the Seine Paris once ftood." The CoUventibh
diffolved the com miflion, which, however, re-
fUrriSd its funflioris on its owri authority, and
continued to afl. ' •'-
The faflion, by the addrefles \lvhich it fent to
the departments, armed them againft Paris arid
the Convention. The death of numbers of pa-
'triots in the foutherri department^,' and partieU-
latly at Marfeilles, where they perifhed on the
fcaffold, wasthe confequence of thof^ fatal di-
vifions in the Convention, of which they were *
the authors. — The defeflion of Marfeilles foon
produced that of LyoriS. This important city
bcbame the central ppint ofthe counter- revolu
tion in the ^outh. The republican muriicipa-
VoL. II. d lity

/. //'

¦-!M

1 SKETCH OF TliE LIF-E
lity wag^difperfed by the rebels, and good citij.'
zens were maffacred.— Every puniftiment that
cruelty could 'devife to increafe the torments; of
death was put in execution. The adminiftrati^l
bodies were leagued partly with Lyons, and ,
partly wiTh foreign Ariftocrats, and : with
the. Emigrants, difperfed through the Swifs
Cantons. . - . • ,:
The cabinet of Londpri" afforded life, and.
ejnergy to this .rpbellious, league. Its pretext
was the anarchy that reigned at Paris— ^ its
leaders, the traitorous deputies of!t the Con-.
vention. '- , i
. Whilft they made this powerful diverfioariti
favour ofthe tyrants united againft us, La Ven.-
dee continued to drink the blood of the patriots.
Carra and Duchatd were fent to this depart-
» ment in quality of Deputies from the National .
Convention. . . ' '
Carra publicly exhorted thfe adminiftrators
. of the Maine and Loire to fend troops againfl
Paris. Both thefe deputies were at the fanie time>

OF T. P. BRISSOT. ' li
' ' ' " - I V
time connefl:ed with'the Generals of the com-
bined armies.
Cpriftard, fent alfo as a,comrpifiioner, carri
ed his treafonable projefls. to fuch a length, as
even torfurnifh i?upplies of provifions aiid, ftores
to the rebels,-:— The miflipn of the agents of
this faflipn, fent to different parts of the repub
lic, was rriarked by fimilar .traitorous mea
fures. , ..
Perhaps the- column of republican power '
would ere this : have meafu.red its length upon
tbie- ground, if the, confpirators had preferved
much longer their inordinate power. — On the
loth of Augufl the foundation of the column
was laid, pn the 3 1 ft ,pf : J/Iay it was, preferved
from deftruflion. The/ ace ufed 'publifhed a.,
thpufcind feditious addreffes,, a thoufand cpunter-
reVolutioriaiy libds, fuch as.that, addreffed by
Condorcet .to the departmeut of tb^ -Aifn^.
They are the difgraiceful monuments of' the
_tr^fpn tby-wbiphitbey .hoped to' involve France

in JTUmv--,. r.,-: ,(i ,_¦,..

d 2 , Ducci

Iii SKETCH OF THb'''LIFE
Ducos a.nd Fonfrede formed the flame of th(
rebellion, by their correfpondence and theit
fpeeches, in which they celebrated the virtues ol
the cPn'fpirators.' ''
Several of thefe confpirators fled, and difperfed
themfelves through the departments — ^They
eft ablifhfed there a kind of National Gonventib^
aud invefted the adminiffration with independ
ent powers— they encircled themfelves with
guards and cannon, pillaged the' public trea-
furies, intercepted provifions- that were on the
road to Paris, and fent thfenji to the revolted
inhabitants of the former provinees of Britanriy;
They levied a new army, and gave Wimpfen,
degraded by his attachment to tyranny, the
command of this army.
They attempted to effeft a junflion with the
rebels of la Vendee, and to furrender to the
enemy the provinces of Britanny and Nor-
ftiandy. , j .
They deputed affaffins to Paris, to murder
the members of the Convention, and particular-
8 , ly

.OF J. P. BRISSOT. liii
}y Marat, whofe deftruftion they had folemnly
fworn to accomplifh. — Tbey put a ppignard
into the hands of a woman who was recom
mended to Duperret by BarbaroUx and his ac
complices. She was conveyed intP the gallery
of the Convention by Fauchet. — The, enemies of
Frstnce exalted her as a heroine. Petion,' pro
nounced her apotheofis at Caen, and threw
over the blood'-ftained form of affaffination the
fnovv{y robe of virtue. '•.- •
f^ Girey Duprfe, the colleague of Briffot, in the
publication of tbe Patriate Franfais, printed at
Caen Jeveral fongs, which invited, in a formal
manner, the citizens of Caen to arm themfelves
with poignards, for the purpofe of ftabbing
three deputies of the Convention, who were
pointed out by name.
Briffot .fled with a life added to his other
crjrrifes,. Had he o;one to Switzerland, as the
falfe paffport fluted, it Would have, been for
the purpofe of exciting a new enemy againft
Fcancfe. ^^T d'3 Rahaud

liv SKETCH OF THE LIFE
' Rabaud St. Elierre, Rebecqui,- Dupr^t, and
Antiboulj'carrifed the torch of feditiori into th^J
department of le Gard and the ndghbounng
"departments. — Biroteau, Rouger, and Roland,
projefled their '¦ terrible plots in Lyons, yi^here ;
they poured the ample ftream of patriotic bloods^
by attaching to the friends of their couiitry the
appellation of anarch ift s and monopolizers.
At Toulon thefe endeavours were fuccefsful,
and Toulon is now in the hands of the Eriglifh.
The fame lot was referved for Bourdeaux ahd
Marfeilles.— The reigning faflion had made
fome overtures to Lord Hood, whofe fleet they
expefbed. The entire execution of the confpi*',
racy in the South waited only for the junflion
of the Marfeillefe and'Lyonefe, which was pre-
vfented by the Viflory gained by the Republican
army which produced the reduflion of Mar--
feilles. ' ' ' >¦
The meafures ofthe confpirators were exafl-
ly fimilar to thofe of the enemies of France, and \
particularly of the Englifti.— Their writings ;
differed ^^

¦¦*'¦

OF J. P. brissOt.

Iv

'differed in nothing fi-om thofe of the Ehglifh
minifters, and libellers in the pay of the
Englifh minifters.
, Mr. PITT
"Wiflied to degrade an^. to
diffolve the Convention.
» He wifhed to aflaffihate the
members of the Convention.
He wiflied to deftroy Paris.
He wifhed to' arm all na^,
tioiis againft France,
In the intended partition of

Thp DEPUTIES
¦Attempted to do the feme.
The deputies procured the
aiTalfination of IVIarat and Le
Pelletieri The deputies did all in their
power to produce this effeft.
The deputies obtained a de
claration of war againft all na-
tio.as. Carra and Briflbt entered

France, Mr. Pitt wiflied to into a panegyric of tlie Dukes
procure a part for the Duke of of York and Brunfwick, and
York*t)r fome other branch of even went fo far as to propofe

his mafter's family.
He endeavoured to deftroy
our colonies. "

them for Kings.
The deputies have produced
the deftruftion of the colonies.
, Briflbti Petion, Guadet,
Genforine, Vergniaiid, Duces,
and Fonfrede, direded the'
meafures relative to the colo
nies, which meafures reduced
them to the rnoft lamentable
fituation.
d 4 • Santhonax

Ivi SKETCH OF THE LIFE
Santhonax and Polv^^rd, the guilty Com.mifl
fibners who ravaged the, colonies with fire afl
fword, are their accomplices. ' Proofs of tiieir
corruption exift in the cbrrefpondence of R'ai4*
mond, their creature.
, Of the numerous fafts of which the faflionv
are ace ufed, -fome relate only to particular indivi
duals: the general confpiracy, however, isat-'
tached to all.
Upori this aft of aceufation they were tried
before the Revolutionary Tribunal, on the 30th
day of Oflober, 1793. When the afl of ac
eufation \^as read to them in the Court, they 5
refufed to make any anfwerto it,, unlefs Rp-
berfpierre, Barrere, and Pther members of the
Committee of Safety, were prefent, and inter
rogated : they irififted upon thofe members be
ing fentfor ; which being refufed, and they ftill
refufing to make any anfwer, the Jud,cre ftated
to the Jury, that frbm the afl of acpufatiori it ,
refulted that, . L There

OF J. p. BRISSOT. Ivii
_ L There exifted a copfpiracy againft the uni
ty and indivifibility ofthe Republic, the liberty
and fafety of the French People.
II. That all the individuals denounced in the
aft of aceufation are guilty of this confpiracy,
as being either the authors of, or the accom
plices in, it.
The Jury of the Revolutionary Tribunal, to
whom thefe fafls were fubmitted, brought in
their verdifl at eleven o'clock at night, on the
joth of Oflobpr, againft BRISSOT,
Vergniaud Sillery
Genfonee Fauchet
,-¦ Duprat Duperret
¦ ' - 1 Valaze Lafpurce
Lehardi ' i Carra
, Ducos . Beauvais
Fonfrede Mkinvielle
. Borleau Ahtiboul
Gardien Vigee, and
Duqbatel Lacaze,
who were declared to be the authors and ac-.
complices of a coiifpiracy which had exifted ,
againft the unity and indivifibiUty of the Re
public,

Iviii SKETCH OF THE LIli-E
public, and againft the liberty and fecurity of
the French people.
The Prefident of the, Revolutionary Tribu
nal immediately pronounced the fentence der
creed by the conftitution : — That they fhould
fuffer the puniftiment of death— that their exe
cution fhould take place on the fubfequent day,
on the Place, de la Revoliifion-^iha.t their pro
perty fliould be confifcated, and that this fen
tence fhould be printed and poftedup through
out the whole extent of the republic.
As foon as the fentence Was pronounced,-
Valaze pulled a dagger from his pocket and ftab-
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.
At eleven o'clock in the forenoon, on the
31ft, the execution took place. — The ftreets
wete lined with foldiers, and every precaution
taken to prevent the difturbance of the public
tranquillity. ; ' -
Duchatd,

OF J. P. BRISSOT. lix
Duchatd, Ducos, Fpnfrede, and Lehardi,
preferved a firm and undaunted air, and furvey- '
ed the engine of death With a compofed and
"unruffled couritenance.
The deportment of Briffot was manly — he
preferved a fixed filence, and fubmitted his head
to. the guilotine, after" furveying ftedfaftly, for
a few moments, the Deputies, to whom, how
ever, he did not fpeak. -^
Sillery faluted Jhe people with much refpeft,
arid converfed a fhort time with his confeffor,
as did Fauchet. — Lafource died in a penitential
mariner. — Carra, Vergniaud, Genfonne, Dupei>
. ret, Gardien, Duprat, Beauvais, Mainvidle,
Lecaze, Boileau, Antiboul, and Vigee, died
with firmnefs, arid with the exclamation of
*' Vive ' la R^publiqu^." — The execution was-
concluded in thirty-feven minutes.

CONTENTS,

CONTENTS.

Injtroduction _ - - - - I
CHAP. I. . > P ' ,
Of 'External Coipmerce ; the circumflarices whicli" lea^'
.to it,, and the means of aflfuring it to a natioh - 2 r
CHAP. il.  '''^'\
Of External Cominerce, confidered in its meaiis of ex-
charige, and its balknce _ ~ _ ^u
CHAP. III. . .V
Application of the foregoing general principles to^ the,, ..»
reciprocal Commerce of France and , the United^
^tates 1," - - - , , ,- , 52
CHAP. IV.-
That the United States are obliged by .their prefent nc-
^ ceflitiesand circumftances tb erigagte iii foreign Com
merce ., _ _ - 64
- Chap. v.
Of the Importation to be made frpm France into the
United States, or of the -wants of the United States '
and the produftions of France which coxrefpond
thereto - - - ' - " g£
Section

Ixii C O Nv T E N T S.
Section I. Wines - - "93
Section IL Brandy ^- ' - ,- 107
Section IIL Oils, olives, drj fruits, &c; - 115
SeqtionIV. Cloths "- t- " ' ' "^
Section V. Linens - - - 123
Section VI- Silks, ribbons^ filk ftockings, gold and
. filverlace, &c. - - ¦ - ISS' .
Section VIL/ Hats- - '- - :- i4*
Section VIIL. Leather. Shoes, boqts, faddles, &c. 142
Section IX. Glafs_ houfes , - ' -, 14^.
Section X. Iron and Steel, . ^ -, . ., - 15-I
Section XI. Jewellery, gold and fi|verfmiths' arti- - ¦ • -
cles, clock work, &c. - . , - , 161
Section XII. Different forts of paper,, ftained .paper,
'^ &c. - ' - -' ' - 166
Section. XIII. Printing ' - , - 170.
Section XIV. Salt ""'.'-; '" - .' - ' i74"
Section XV. General coniiderations on the Catar
¦-¦logue of French importations into the United
States - " - ,' - - 176
C H A P. Vl.

Of the articles which Independent America may furnifli
in return for importations from France - 178
' Monfieur Calonhe's letter to Mr. Jefferfon the Ameri
can Minifter at Paris " - - ' ibid.
Exports of America ' -• - 186
Section

CONTENTS.* IxiJi Page.
Section I. Tobacco ' - . ¦ - , iS6
Section IL Fiflieries, whal^-oil, ,&c. Spermaceti
candles - ' - - 19^
Section III. Corn, flour. Sec. - 202
Section IV. Mafts, yar^-s, and other timber for the
*, Navy - ' - - " -¦ '209
Section V. Skins and furs - - - ,212
Section VI. Rice, indigo, flax-feed - 215
Section VII. Naval ftores, fuch as pitch, tar, and
turpentine - - - 221 '
Section VIU- Timber and wood, for carpenters and
coopeps work, fuch' as flaves, calk heads, planks, •
boaidsj &c. - _ _ 224
Section IX. VefTels'^conflrudted in America, to be
fold or freighted - - 226
Section X.- General Confiderations on the preced
ing Catalogue of importations from th'e United
States intoFrance - - 236
CoNfcLUSioN, and Refle£lions ' on the fituation of, the
United States - - - 247
Appendix; confifting of authentic Papers, and illuftra-
tions, added by the Editor . - - a^g '
Return of the Population of the United States - 261
Ditto of the Territory fouth of the river Ohio - 262
Dr. Franklin's Obfervations on the Population of
America - ' , - - 265
Captain Hutchins's Account ofthe Weftern Territory ' 2t8
Thoughts on the Duration. of the American Common-
, wealth - - - - 311
Mr.

Ixiv C 0 >: T E NTS.
Page,
Mr. Jefrerlbn''s State of the Commercial Ititerco\i8fe"'"- ,
between the United States, and Foreign Nations - . .316
Principal Articles of Exportation during, the year. 1 792 342
Of the Civil Lift and Revenue of the United States ,j,^ 3^4
Mr. Paine's Statement of the Expences ofthe American
government - - - , .346

INTRODUCTION,

INT RO D U C T I O N,
By J. P: BRISSOT de Warville.

THE Court of Great-Britain had no fooner
figned the .Treaty- acknowledging the Inde-
¦pendence of her late Colonies iii 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.
Lord Sheffield has predlcled, in his Obfervations
on the Commerce of America, "that England would
always be the florel,io,ufe df the United States ; that
the Americans, conftantly attrafted by- the .excellence
of her manufactures, the long experienced integrity
of her merchants, and the length of credit, which
they only can give, would foori forget the wounds
which the minifterial defpotrfm of London, as well
as the ferocity of the Englifli and German fatellites,
" had given to America, to form with it new and dur- •
¦ able connexions *."
•' Thefe are not Lord Sheffield's words. Thev are M. Briffot's ;
and contain his defcription of Lord Sheffield's fuppoffd fentiments,
from 3 perufal of mat,'Nobleman's Obfervations on the Commerce,
• of America. Edit,
Vol. II. B This

a introduction.
This politician was the only one who appeared in
that career ; others followed it [Dr. Price, Scc^ j
and the debates, which the new reguiatioos of com-
merce propofed for America, produced in Parlia
ment, prove that the matter was known, difcuffed,.
and profoundly examined.
The Englifh nation refembled at that time a mare
who, coming out of a long delirium (wherein he
had broken every thing that he ought to have held
moft dear), eagetly ftfives to repair the ravages of
his jnfanityi
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 rektioas of commerce which na-
nature has created between us and the 'United States ;
— whilft, to ufe the language of vulgar policy, the
Englifti, of whom we are jeaiom as our rivals, whotti
>vefear as our enemies, ufe the greatefl: efforts R> '
make it impoffible for us to form new connexions
with our new friends.
That the Englilh will fuCCeed, there is no doubt,
if our languor be not foon replaced by activity ; if
the greateft and moft generous faculties. On our
part, do not fmooth this commerce, new, and con-
fequently eafy to be facilitated : finajly,, if our igno
rance of the ftate of America be not fpeediiy diffi-
pated by the conftant ftudy of her ref^urces of ter-
dtory.

iMTRDPycTIQU. '3
ritory, comtnPFep, finance, &c. and ?ffii)ities t|ify
may have with thofe of fh^ir qwh.
Our ignorance ! This word will undoubtedly
fhockj-^for we have the pride pf m ancient people :
We think we know every thing,T^have f^J^pipfte^
every thing: — Yes, we have exhaufted every tljjng;
but in what ? In futile fciences, in frivolous arts, • in
modes, in luxury, in the art of pleafiqg wofpep,
and the relaxatipn of morals. We make elegant
eour&s of chemiftry, charming experiments, d.^h-
cious yerfes, ftraogers at home, little informed .of
any thiag abroad : this is what we ^re j that is, we
know every thing, except that which is proper fer us t(>
know *.
It would be opening a vaft field to ftiew what is
proper for us to know, therefore I will, not under
take it. I confine myfelf to a fingle point : I fay
chat it concerns us eflentially to have .a thorpugh
knowledge of the ftate of America, and that, never-
* This affertion will perhaps appear feve;'e and falfe, even ip
perfons who think that we excel in phyfics a^d the exajft fcieacej.
P^t in gr antiing this, is it thefe kinds of fciences to which a njan
!(vho rieflefts ought at firft to give himfelf up ? Does not the
fludy of his focial and civil ftate more nearly concern him f
Ought not this to intereft him more than the number of flar*, xir
the order of chymical affinities ? — It is, however, the fcience of
vfeich we th^nk thje Jeaft. We are paffiopajely fond of paetry ;
we difp.ute feripufly about mufic ; tljat is, we have a great conli-
deration for playthings, and make a gl^ythin^ of our affairs.
B a thelefs.

"4 INTRODUCTION^
thelefs, we have fcarcely begun the alphabet, whicI
leads to.it. What I advance has been faid before by
Mr. Paine, a free American, and who has not a lit-
tie contributed, by his patriotic writings, to fpread,
fupport, and exalt, among iiis fellow countrymefl,
the enthufiafm ofliberty. I will remark,,, fays h^^
in his judicious letter to the Abbe Raynal, that I have
¦not yet feen a defcription, given in Europe, of Americd,'
of which the fidelity can be relied on.
In France^ I fay it with forrow, the fcience of
commerce is almoft unknown, becaufe its praftiqe';
has long been diftionoured by prejudice ; which
^prevents the gentry from thinking of ir. This, pre
judice, which is improperly thought indeftriiClibl^'
becaufe the nobility are - improperly thought one of
the neceffary elements of a monarchical conftitution ;
•this would alone be capable of preventing French
¦commerce from having aflivity, energy, and dig-
Jlity, were it not to be hoped, that found philofophyf
in deftroying it infenfibly, would bring, men to the
great idea of efiimating individuals by their talents, and
'not by their birth : without this idea there can bene
great national commerce, but ariftocratical men will
abound ; that is, then incapable of conceiving any
•elevated yiew ;. and . men contemptible, . not in a
¦ftat* to produce them. •;."..
Finally, another prejudice, quite as abfurd, which
has. .been combated a thovifand times, and is always
; . . ; , predominanri

INTRODUCTION. <f
predominant jn France, withholds from the eyes of
the public precious memoirs, and interefting difcuf-
fions, which would inform France of her Intercfts.
-Who is ignorant that it Is to the freedom of de
bate and public difcuflion that England owes the
fingular profperity which, till lately, has followed
l^er every where, in commerce, in arts, in manufac
tures, as well abroad as at home .' a profpefity which
(he may enjoy in fplte of the faults of her minifters ;
for none but thefe. have ever, endangered it : and it is
to-the freedom of debate, that Ihe has pften owed. her
f^lvation from ruin. Who doubts that this liberty
vvould not produce the fame happy effects in France ;
— that it would not deftroy falfe appearances ;— that
it would not prevent the deftructive enterprizes of
perfofial intereft ; — that it -would not alarm mif-
chievous itadulgence,, or the coalition of people in
" place with the enemies of the- public welfare ? Go-'
vernment feems at prefent to do horaage to this iu-
fljence of the freedom of difcuflion. At length,
it appears to relax of its feverity in the laws of the,
prefs ; it, has fuffered fome (hackles, which reftrain-
ed difcuflion, to be broken, efpecially in pohtical
matters. Bvit how far are we ftill from feeling the
happy effeAs ofthe liberty of the prefs, rather grant
ed to public opinion, than encouraged by a real love
of truth.
By what fatality are energetic difcourfes qf truth
ineffedual .' This ought to be pointed out;' go-
B 3 vernment

6 INTRODUCTION.
vernment itfelf invites us to do it ; the abufe's which
render information ufelefs in France, ought to bfe
laid dpen.
It is becaufe t^e liberty of thinking and Writing '
oh political matters Is but of recent date.
Secauffe the llbel-ly of the prefs is environed with
ttiany difgufting circumft^iices ; and that art honeft
man Who difdairts libels, but loves frank»fefs, is
driVett frdm the prefs by all thofe huthiliatiiig fql--
malities which fubjeft the fruit of his m^dltatidSf;
'aftd tefedrches to a cetifute necefTarily arifihg frPtft
ignorance. It IS b&caufe the cenfbr, ihftituted to check the
elevation of a generous libtrty, thinks to flatter au
thority, by even excefeding the end propofed • fup-.
preffes truths, which would frequently have been re
ceived ; for fear of letting too bold ones efcape,
with which he Would have been reproa:ched, multi*
plies objeftionS, gives birth to fears, magnifies dan
gers, and thus difcourages the man of probity, who
would have enlightened his fellow citizens ;^ whilft
this cenfor fan<9:ions fcandalous productions, where-
irt reafon is facrificed to farcafms, and fevere mora
lity to aniiable vices *. It
* We may put in the rank of thefe produftions whiph dilhonour
the cenforftiip, the comedy of Figaro, a fcandalous farce, wherein,. under

INTRODtJOTlON. *}
\X is becaufe there are but few Writers virtuous
enough, fufficiently organifed, or in prpper fituatioas
to combat and furmount thefe obftacles.
Becaufe thefe writers, few in num]ber, have but
little influence ; abufes weakly attacked and ftrong-
ly defended, refift every thing which is oppofed to
them. Becaufe tbe neceffity of getting works printed in
foreign prefTes, 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 poft the myftery, and a falfe rarity, to fell
dear for a. longer time.
Becaufe thefe bpoks are wanting in tjie moment
when they would excite a happy fermentation, and
dire'<5t it properly, in giving true principles.
Becaufe they fall but fueceffively into the hands of
tmder' the appearance fti defending morality, it is turned into ridi
cule ; and wherein great truths are difparaged by the contempt
ible dialogift who prefents them ,• wherein the end feems to have
been to parody the greateft writers ofthe age, in giving their lan
guage to a rafcally vakt, and to encourage oppreffion, in bring
ing the peof le 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 charafter of negligence and
levity which belongs pnly to her capital.
B 4 well-

g introduction.
well-informed men, whp are but few In number,' in
the fearch of new truths,
Becaofe the Journa!ifts,.who ought to render thera
a public hornage, are obliged, through fear, to keep
filence. ' '
Becaufe the general mafs, abandoned to the torrent
of frivolous literature, lofes the pleafure of medita
tion, arid with it the love of profound truths. -
Finally,' becaufe truth is by this fatal concurrertcfeif
of circumftances never fown in a favourable foil,
nor Ina propter manner ; that It is often ftifled in" its
birth ; and If it furvives all adverfe manoeuvres, . it'
gathers ftrength but flowly, and with diffjculty;
confequently its:effe(9:s are too circumfcribed for in-
ftruftion to become popiilai: and national.
Let government remove all thefe obftacles j 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 merchants againft the colonifts bf the-
fugar iflahds. Would not the laft have, according •.
to cuftom, been cruftied,, if the difpute had been
carried

INTRODUCTION, '^ 9
carried on in pbfcurity ? They had the Uberty of
fpeech, of writing, and of printing ; the public voice
was raifed in their favour, truth was' triumphant;
and the wife 'minifter, who had -permitted a public
difcufliiPn 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
immenfe advantages which refult from the. Uberty of
the prefs. There Is -one which, above all others,
ought to'induce it to .accelerate this liberty, becaufe
it nearly regards the intereft of the pjefent monient :
this liberty-is a powerful means'to 'eftabtifh, fortify,
and. maintain public credit, which is become, more
than ever, neceffary to 'great., nations, .fince- they
have ftood in need of loans. As ^Ipng ^as. the at
tempts of perfonal intereft are feared by the obfcu-
rity which covers them,- public credit is never firmly
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 fterile. The li
berty ofthe, prefs keeps perfonal Intereft too much
in avye not to fetter its meafures ; arid then public
credit fupports itfelf if it be eftabliftied, is formed if
•it be ftiU to be conftituted, and fortifies itfelf if it
has been weakened by error.
Full

to INTRODUCTION.
FuU of thefe ideas, as well as the love of my
country, and furmounting the obftacles to the fiber-'
ty of printing, I have undertaken to throw fome
light upon our commercial affinities with the United
States. This objed is of the greateft importance :
the queftion is, to develope the immenfe advantages
which France may reap from the revolution whiefei
ihe has fo powerfuUy favoured, and to indicate the
nieans of extending and eonfolidating them.
It appears to me that all the importance of this rt-
\'oliition has not been perceived ; that it has not been
fufficiently confidered by men of underftanding. Let
it, therefore, be permitted me to confider it at pre*
fent. I will not go into a detail ofthe advantages which
the United States muft reap from the revolution,
which affures them liberty, I will not fpeak of that
regeneration of the phyfical and moral man, which
mUft be an infallible confequence of their conftitu-
tibns ; of that perfeftion to which free America, left
to its energy, without other bounds but its own fa
culties, muft one day carry the arts and fciences.
America enjoys already the right of free debate, and
it cannot be too often repeated, that without this de
bate, perfeftion is but a mere chimera. In truth,
almoft every thing is yet to be done in the United
States, but almoft every thing is there underftodd:
the general good is the common end of every indi
vidual,— this end cheriftied, implanted, fo to fpeak, by

fNt&oBwetioi*. lit
by the eohflitution in every heart. With this end,
this inteUigeflfce, and this liberty, the greateft mira
cles ftiuft be performed.
I win not fpeak of the advantages which all Ame
rica muft one day reap from this revolution ,' nor
of the iriipoffibUity that abfurd defpotifm fhould
reign for a long time in the neighbourhood of li
berty. — I will confine myfelf to the examination of
what advantages Europe, and France in particular,
may draw ftom this change. — There are two, which
are particularly ftriking : the firft, and greateft of
the reVolUtlort, at leaft in the eyes of philofophy, is
that of its falutary infiuence on human knowledge,
and on the reform of local prejudices ; for this war
has occafioned difculfions important to public h.ap-
plnefs, — the difcuflion of the focial compadt, — of
civil liberty,-i^of the means which can render a peo
ple independent,'^of the circumftances which give
fandlon to its infurreftiori, and make ic legal,' —
and which give this people a place among the powers
of the earth.
What good has not refulted from the repeated-
defcription of the Englifli conftitution, and of its
effects } What good has not refulted from the codes
of Maffachufetts and New York, publiflied and
fpread every where .' And what benefits will they
ftill produce ? They will not be wholly taken for
a model ; but defpotifm will pay a greater refped, cither

21 INTRODUCTION.
either from- neceffity or reafon, to tlje rights of me,n;
wbich are fo well known and eftabliflied. EnUght-
¦ened by this revolution, the governments of Europe
will be infenfibly obliged to reform their abufes, and
to diminifti their burdens, in the juft -apprehenfion ¦
that their fubjeds, tired of .hearing the weight, will
take, refuge in the afylum offered to them by the,
United States,
This revplution, favourable to the people, which
is preparing In. the cabinets of Europe, will be un
doubtedly accelerated, by that which its commercp.
will experience, and vvhich we owe to the enfrarif.
chifement of America, The war, which procured,-it,
to her, has made known the influence of commerce
on power, the neceflity of public credit, and confe-:
quently of public virtue, without which It cannot
long fubfift : what raifed the Englifh to that height
of power, from whence, in fpite of the faults of their
Minifters, Generalsj and Negociators,. they braved,
for fo many years, the force of the moft powerful
nations ? Their commerce, and their credit ; which, ,
loaded 3,s they were with an enormous debt, put
them in a ftate to life all the efforts which nations,
the moft rich by their foil and population,, could not'
have done in a like cafe.
Thefe are the advantages which France, the world,
and humanity, owe to the American Revolution ;
and when we confider them, and add thofe we are
obliged

INTRODUCTION. I3
obliged to let remain in obfcunty, we are far from
regretting the expences they occafioned us.
Were any thing to be regretted, ought not it to
vanifli at the appearance of the new and immenfe
commerce which this revolution opens to the French ?
This is the moft important point at prefent for us,— •
that on which we have the leaft information, which
confequently majies it more neceffary to gain all we
can upon the fubjed; and fuch is the objed of this
work. In what more favouralale 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 inceffantly recalled in this book to the
nature of things, the firft principle of commerce.—
At a time vvhen people, which an ancient rivality,
^n antipathy, fo falfely and unhappily called natural,
kept at a diftance one from the other, are inclined
to;.approac.h each other, and to extinguifli in the con
nexions of commerce the fire of difcord ;. this work
fhews that thefe rivalities muft be effaced by the im-
menfity of the career which Is opened to all. — At a
time when all the parts of univerfal poUcy are en
lightened by the flambeau of philofophy, even in go-
vernnients which have hitherto profeffed to be afraid
of itj the author of this work has let flip ho oppor
tunity of attacking falfe notions and abufes of every
kind. Never

I/|. INTROOUCTIOW.
Never was there a moment more favourable for
publifhing ufeful truths. Every nation does not
only do homage to commerce, as to the vivifying
ipirit of fociety ; but they employ in the examina
tion of all thefe connexions and affinities, — that lo
gic of fads, whofe ufe ehafaderizes the end of the
prefent century, — that art truly philofophieal, ef
confifdering objeSs in their nature, and in their ne
ceffary ceinf«quences : — never had well-informed
men more eontcmpt for thofe chimerical fyftems
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 top long
balanced the deftiny 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 of , hateful rivaliti«s. At length it appears,
that men perceive that the field of induftry is infi
nite ; that it is open to every ftate, wbatever 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
poperty, be the principa:! end of legiflation.
Illis work ftill concurs with the patriotic views
which the Sovereign of France manifefts at prefent :
he meditates important reformations. He direds
them towards the happinefs of the people ; and con-
fuhs the moft refpedable raembers of this people,
whom he wiflies to render happy, upon the means of
infuriHg;,

INTRODUCTION,' jr
Jnfuring the fuccefs of his good intentions. There
fore, could there be a more propitious moment, to
offer to the prefent arbitrators of tbe pational prof-
jperity, a work written wkh deUberation, on the
means of eftablilhing a new commerce with a new
people, who unites to an extenfive foil, and proper
to nouriih an imtnenfc population, laws which are
die aioft favourable to its rapid increafe >
At firft I had alone undertaken this work, de
pending on my own ftrength and laborious refearch-
•es : I had coMeded all the fads, — aU the books,—
all the proofs which could be certain guides to my
fteps ; but I foon perceived the impoflibillty of raif-
ing upon objeds of commerce a foUd and ufeful
theory, if it were not direded by the fltill which
pradice only can giv-e, and poffeffed by a man
«^ho:^ judgment had been long exercifed by reflec
tion, and whofe decided love of truth and tbe public
welfare, bad aecuftomed to generalize his ideas. I
' found Chas man, this co-operator, of whofe afliftance
I ftood in need, in a republican ; to whom I am
united by a fimilarity of ideas, as wcU as by tlie moft
tender attachment. I have permiffion to name him,
'— r4e confisnts to it : I have conquered his modsfty
by the confideration of his intereft, and of the lavv
which the particular circumftances of bis fi.tua(tipn
impofes on him : I have perfuaded -him, that the
beft means of deftroying calumny was tp make
-known his principles and opinions onpubUc^nattcrs.
5 It

l6 ¦ lNTR0DUCTlO^f.
It is M.' Claviere, a Genevefe, exiled without any
form from his country, by the miUtary ariftocracy'j
Vhich has fubftituted its illegal and' deftrudive re
gimen to the reafonable and legitimate influence' of
a people, diftingu.iflied by their natural good under
ftanding, their d^nowledge, arid their more fimple
mann#S. WM^feas his crime .? That of having
defended the ^jfj^'-pf thef; people, with a firmnefs
and abiUty, 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
produdive of public good. '-^
M. Claviere has, diiring his abode in France,.
given proofs of his knowledge in the philofopliical
and poUtical- part of commerce. ..It is to his abode '
among us that the public is indebted for fome ufeful
works on thefe' abftrad matters ; works, as remark
able for their folidity of principle and truth of diT-
cuffion, as for the clearnefs and precifion of ideas ;
works, whofe fuccefs proves that, minds may beiled
to the contemplation of thefe matters, by fubftitut-
ing an exad and clear analyfis to the metaphyfical'
and obfcure jargon whieh reftralned them from it. '
"• Finally, the prefent work will prove at once the
extent of his knowledge, and that of the fincece
philanthropy which animates him, even forthe good
of a country, where a man lefs generous would fee
nothing

rNTRODUCTlONT, l/,
nothing, perhaps, but the origin and caufe of his
misfortunes. Oh 1 how happy am I, to have it in
my power to defend my friend againft cowardly ca
lumniators, 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 publifli the
part he has taken in this work, wherein it Is impof
fible not to difcover the honeft 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 thofe new confiderations which the com
mercial man of refledion only can fuggeft to the
philofophieal politician.
The fame motive has guided us both In the com-
pofition and publication of this work. It was the f
defire of being ufeful to France, to Free America,?-
to Humanity ; for nothing which paffes jn the Unitec
States, neither ought to, nor can in future, be indi
ferent to humanity. America has revenged it by
her revolutipn : fhe ought to enlighten it by her le-
VoL. IL C giflation.

ig INTliQDUCTlOltf-.
giflation, and become a perpetual leffon to all g(^
vernmenta, as a! confolation to-individual&
It remains to me now to fpeak of the fources fo
which we have had recourfe, in the order of this
work, &c. &G.
We have joined the information of intelllgent.per-
fbns, whofe abode in America has given them^n op
portunity of gaining information, to that with which
the public papers, the ads of Congrefs, of different
legiflatures, and the different works publifhed in the
United States^ have furnifhed us. Therefbre credit
may be given to all the fads which we advance.
In affociating our ideas, we have ftriven to give
them an uniformity : we have, above every thing,
endeavoured to exprefs them with that clearnefs
which , Is fo difficult to intrPduce into matters o^
comraerce and finance. The poverty of our lan
guage, and the fingularlty of new circumftances
which we bad to defcribe, has fometimes led us tp
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 philofophieal, whom Cicerp de-
fcribes thus In his tinie : Controverjies ahout words
¦'torment thefe little Greeks, more def rous of contention
than of truth *,
* Verbi contraverjia t»rquet Grsculos hmines fontefltionh ct^idiotes
^uam veritatis, '
We.

aJiTRobueTioiw. j^
iiave carefully avoided certairi words much
*^ '.^ vulgar politics, and which give and perpfe--
^ -te falfe ideas and deceitful fyftems; Such are
thefe expreflions ; powers fill the firft chara'dkr^ have
the firft rank, the balance of /rarf?, the political balance
hf Europe, Sec. Thefe words, which ftir up hatred
and jealoufyi arc orily proper to feed petulant am*
bition, and, if I rriay ufe the expreffion, to put the /-
policy of difturbance iri the place of that happinefs.'
Minifters, wearied of. thefe words and ideas, will at
tach a greater price to real glory,— ^that of making
ihe people happy.
Many notes will be found in this workj 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 rdaxes the mind, iri fufpendirig the chain
of the principal thoughts ; It excites curiofityj in an
nouncing a new point of view ; it forces the reader
Io a certain degree of attention, in obUging him to
ittach the note to the text, to reap any advantage '
from his readings
We have in thefe notes Indicated, as often as it
has been pofliblCj the Ideas of reform which may be
ufeful to France. We have frequently quoted the
Englifti nation and gdverriment. Let not our readers
be furprifed at it. It is this nation, which has made
moft progrefs in the pradice of fome gbod principles
C 2 of

^e INTRODUCTIOlti: ¦
of polirical economy. To what nation ift^n g^,
can we better compare France .? If a rivaUtyy
to exift between them, is it not in that whic^
good ? Ought not we from that moment to know ah
the good meafures taken in England } Ought peo- I
pie to be difpleafed with us for mentioning thefe
meafures .> The example of thofe who have already
• quoted England has encouraged us. They have na
turalized in France, happy inftitutions, imitated '^l
ffom her rival,. i
t i
If our criticifm appears fometimes roughly exprefl^'|
ed, our readers will be fo good as to confider, that,
friends to public welfare can but with difficulty re
frain from being moved by the afped of certain
abufes, and from fuffering the 'fentiment of indigna-
llon which it excites in them to break forth.
Notwithftanding 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 difcuffed, or that we are privately ;;
informed of them, we fliall fee thefe refutations
witb pleafure ; we fhall joyfully receive thefe obfer
vations, and if they be well founded^ we fliall be
eager "to retrad. This ia but a fimple effay on an
important fubjed. L may become a good work by
the aid of a concourfe of lights.
Paris, April i, 1787.

THE
COMMERCE, &c.

CHAP. I.

OF EXTERNAL COMMERCE ; THE CIRCUM
STANCES WHICH LEAD TO IT, AND THE
MEANS OF ASSURING IT TO A NATION.
COMMERCE fignifies an, exchange of pro-
jdudions, either bv barter^ or by repre-
fentative figns of their value.
External commerce is that carried on between
two or more nations. It fuppofes 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 productions.
This familiarity enables them to trade toge
ther, diredly or indireCtly ; a direCt commerce
is that which exifls between two nations, with
out the intervention of a third.
C 2 Commerce

22 ON THE COMMERCE OF THEI <:
Commerce is indirect when one nation trades^
with another by way of a third. This is the
cafe of ftates whigh have-no fea-ports, and yet
wifh to exchange their prod u-aions for thoTe of
the Indies.
That nation, whicti having it in its power to
carry on a dlredt commerce with another, yet
makes ufe of an intermediate one, is necefTa
rily obliged to divide its profits. However,'
this difadvantage may fometimes be compen-
fated by other confiderations.
Such, for inftance, is' the cafe of a nation
which, in want of hufbandmen and manufac*
turers, prefers that f^rangers fliould themfelves
pome in fearch of its fuperfliuities, and bring iti
exchange thofe of others: its wants of popu*
lation. impofes this law, and whilft thefe confix
derations exift, it is both morally and phyfically
better, that its inhabitants fhould be employed
in cultivation, than become carriers of thejr owii
national produftions, or of thofe of others.
It is imp.^.fiible that nations which already
have communications with each other, fhould
be ignoratit of their mutual productions. Hence
arifes the defire of -acquiring them in thofe
where they do not exift. Hence direCt or in
direct commerce^ which is confequently the

Jaeyitable refult of the ftate of things.

From

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 23
From the fame principle, it is the intereft of
each nation to render its exterior commerce di
rect as foon as poffible, without doing an injury
to its interior trade.
DireCt impirtatioris, not being fubjefit to the
expences and commiffions of agents, procure
things at a cheaper rate.
A moderate price is the fureft means of oh--
taining an exterior commerce, the beft reafon
for preference and the guarantee of its contin
nuation *. The
*, It is vulgarly faid that 3 thing is dear when once it is
jibove the accuftomed price ; and it is efteemed cheap the hiot
rnf nt that price is diminifhed.
By this it feems that the dearnefs of a thing is the compariT
fon of its ftated, with its ufijal price. Tbe laft is determined
by five principal circumftances. ift. The coft ofthe raw ma
terial. 2d..TTiat ofthe workmanfhip. 3d. The want the con-
fumer has ofthe 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 diminiih the profit
of the feller; fometimes indeed they may prevent him fr6m
gaining at all. Circumftances which influence the moft are
fca;rcity and abundance, exprefEons by which the proportion
between the want ?ind the quantity of prodfuSions are defig-
mted. If there be a furplus pf them, tljey are natqrally fold at a low
price. Whence it appears, that nations having great quanti-
ties pf raw materials, various manufaftures and a numerous
pppulation;, are more particularly invited tb an exterior and
Q 4. coatinue4

24 ON THE' COMMERCE OF THE
The country which can produce and fell a
thing at the cheapeft rate, is that which unites
the favourable advantages of that production,
whether it be with refpeCt to its quality, ma
nufacture,, or its low rate of carriage.
; The advantages vyhich 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 conftruCtion of
public roads and navigable canals ; finally, a
fopul^tion not too numerous relative to the ex
tent of country which offers itfelf to be.-.
cultivated ** The
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
fdrnifhes it ; as it may be fold dpar, and ruin the feller. This
depends upon the relation there is between its value and the
ineans of its produ£lion. Every nation difpofed to exterior
commerce in whatfoever article it may be, ought therefore to
confider 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 oughtto abandon that part of its trade. '
* The fituation of the United States proves the laft affer
tion, which may at firft fight 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,ieafily fupply the confumption of ten men, or even
more.

UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 2^
The fame . circumftances are ftill more fa
vourable to the manufadure of things common,
fimple, or little chai-ged with fafhion, if the
raysf material be a natural production of the
country, in plenty, and eafy to be worked up ;
becaufe thefe 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
ed on eafy terms, than that which is employed
in the intervals of repofe from cultivation ; in
that pafe cheapnefs is neither the produCt nor
the fign of mifery in the manufacturer : it is,
on the contrary, the proof and confequence of
his eafy circumftances *, '
The moft neceflary conditions for manufac
turing, at a cheap rate, articles comphcated, 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 ftrik
ing example of this fa£i:. iVIerchandife 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 original advan
tage; even acrofs great ftates, where nature, left ito her
own energy, would be ftill more favourable to the fame manu-
faiSlures. union

26 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
union of feveral kiiids of wprkmanfliip, are a
conftant and affiduous 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 manufactures ought, according to
natural ord^r, to be the productions of an excefs
of population only, which cannot give its in
duftry to agriculture or fttnple manufactures ;
but in general they are the refult ofthe gather
ing together of the poor and wretched in great
cities *. Thefe
* Thefe nianufaflures are c'rowded 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 in
want of employ. When cheapnefs of workmanfliip comes
from this affliding concurrence of the want of money in men
without employ, it is not a fign of profperity. On th^ con
trary, it is the refult and proof of a bad focial organization, of
too unequal a divifion of property, and confequently of an un-
juft diftribution of neceffary employments, which compels in
duftry to change, from the fabrication of what'is neceffary and
ufeful, to that which is fantaftic, forced, and pernicious. Hence
it follows that wretchednefs in any country is in proportion toi
this cheapnefs of workmanfliip.
It is equally evident from thefe reafonings,^ that new
and well conftituted ftates ought not to defire, manufaSureSi produce^

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ±J
Thefe manufactures cannot furnifti their pro
ductions but with difficulty and uncertainty for
exterior commerce, when they are eftabliflied
and fupported merely by" forced meaiis, fuch as
prohibitions, exclufiVe privileges, &c. by vi'hich
natural obftacles, not to be deftroyed, are pre
tended to be combated. Counti"ies exempt
from them prevail in the end, and obtain a
preference. It fornetimes happens, that obftacles caufed
to manfaCtures by dearnefs' of provifions, bur-
thenfome impofts, diftance from the raw mate
rial, and unfkilfulnefs, or fmall number of ,
hands, are furmounted by ingenuity, or the ufe
of machines ; which make the work of one
man equal to that of many, and render a manu
facture capable of fupporting the corrimerce of
populous countries, where fuch manoeuyres and
machines are not rnade ufe of, or known.
But tliefe means are precarious, and fooner
produced by things fo badly arranged : they ought not to be
anxious ^bout them till the rate of population and excefs of
Vifeful labour naturally incline induftry to apply itfelf to im-
prove , and carry them on. Thefe reafonings againft low
priced workmanfliip do not hinder us from agreeing, that
there is a real advantage in the means of exterior commerce ;
and that. in the actual ftate'of things manufaiSuring and com
mercial nations may peirhaps be obliged to feek for it, although
- it d^es not compenfate the interior evil by vfliich it is produced, Ot

s8 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
or later give way to a more happy fituation,
where climate, foil, and gpvernment efpecially,
concur in favouring, without effort, all the ac
tivity and induftry of which men are fufcept-
ible*. Thus, in the final analyfis, the power of fur-
nifhing at a low price belongs inconteftably to
countries fo favoured, and they will obtain in
all markets a fure preference to thofe to which
nature has been lefs kind, let their induftry be
ever fo great, becaufe the fame induftry may
. always be added to natural advantages.
Exterior commerce, more than any other, is
intimidated by fhackles, cuftom?, vifits, chica
neries, and proceffes ; by the manner of decid
ing them, and the folicitations and delays they
bring on.
The ftate which would favour fuch a com
merce ftiould, in the firft place, deftroy all thefe
obftacles. It is more to its intereft fo to do, as
from exterior commerce refults an augmenta*
tion of the national revenue.
All things equal, relative to the price of mer-
* Favouring, in political economy, fignifies, for the mofl: part,
not to Ihackle induftry with too many regulations ; however
favourable certain of thefe may be,.they reftrain it in fome re-
fpe<a or other. Trade is never better encovuraged than when
left to itfelf. chandife.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Zgi
chandife, and to the facilities with which* direCt
exterior commerce can be carried on, it is more
readily eftablifhed between two nations which
have a fimilary of political and religious princi
ples *, manners, cuftoms, and efpecially of lan
guage : thefe decifive means of connexion can
not be combated but by evident advantages from
which there refults lefs expence and more pro
fit. Commercial people generally place profit
at the head of every thing.
Nations not having thefe affinities between
them, ought, in order to compenfate for their
deficiency, to give great encouragements, and
tolerate to the utmoft degree the religious and
political opinions of ftrangers, as well as their
manners and cuftoms.
To obtain the preference in exterior com
merce, neither treaties, regulations, nor force
muft be depended upon. Force has but a mo-
* Religious confiderations had formerly a confiderable influ
ence on civilifed men, and on commerce. The Catholic fled
from the Proteftant, the Puritan fufpeded the Quaker. A re
ciprocal hatred reigned between the feds. To day, mankind
being more enlightened, all feds conneded by commerce, and
experience having fliewn that probity has almoft always been
independent of religion, it is no more required to know whe-r
ther a man goes to the temple, or to confeffion — It is afked if
he fulfils his engagements with honour. Yet this relation muH
ftill be counted among commercial connexions, meatafry

$(5 ' ON THE COMMERCE Of THE
mentary effed. It deftroys even that which it
means to proted. Treaties and regulations are
¦ufelefs if the interefts of tvi^o nations do not in
vite them to a mutual intercourfe. They are
ineffeftual if that attraction does not exift.
Treaties, regulations, force, all yield to the im-
pulfe or nature of things*.
This force of things in commerce, is but thd
refult of the circumftances in which two na*
tionS ai-e which attract one towards the other,
and oblige them to enter into an alliance,, rathef
* Fsrci of things. The political law which governs all, in
.'politics as in phyfics. There is a general force whofe ac-
tion is martifeft, which, in fpite of wars, treaties, and the ma
noeuvres of cabinets, governs all events, and carries av^ay men
and nations iu its courfe. It is this force of things which
overturned the Roman empire, when it ftood upon a bafis dif-
proportioned to its mafs ; which inthe 14th century took from
the Englifli ohe half of France, and in the i8th, has taken
from them half of the new world ; — which delivered Holland
from the yoke of Spain, and Sweden from that of Denmark.
It is this force which deftroyed the projeds of fuch conquer j;
ors as Charlemagne, -^engis, and Nadir. They ran froni
place to place ; they deftroyed mankind to build empires'j '
Thefe empires died with them. This force ads upon com
merce as upon revolutions^ It is that which, by the difcovery
of the Cape of Good Hope, bereaved the Venetians of theif
trade to the IndieSj and made it pafs over fucceffively to the
Portuguefe, the Dutchj the Englifli, and the French. Finally^
it is the force of things which will decide tl^e great queftion
of the commerce of America.
3 than

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 3I
than with any other nation. Thefe terminate
in their mutual intereft : it is therefore necef
fary, in order to create a perpetual commerce
between two countries, to give each of them a
preponderating intereft fo to do.

C H A P. IL
OF EXTERNAL COMMERCE, CONSIDERED IK-
ITS MEANS OF EXCHANGE, AND ITS BA
LANCE.
WE are deceived in believing that com
merce cannot be eftablifhed between
two nations without gold or 'filver to balance
their accounts. It will be interefting to enter
into fome detaU on this head, on account ofthe
deficiency of coin in the United States, and the
neceflity of reducing themfelves to the com
merce of exchange, being the two principal ob
jections ignorantly brought againft a trade with
them *. It
* The fcarcity of money in the United States of America
has been greatly exaggerated in France, It muft be fcarce in
all new ftates, where nothing fliaekles induftry, where fo many
things

32 ON THE COMMERCE OP THE
It has been frequently aflerted that the ba-
lahce will be againft them ; that they can only
offer an exchange in merchandife. It is there- ">
fore neceffary to prove that this great word, ba
lance, is infignificant ; that a great commerce
may be carried on without money, and that one
of exchange is the moft advantageous of any.
When a nation pays with money the whole,
or the balance of its' importations, it is faid the
balance of trade is againft it, by which a difad-
vantageous idea of its pofition is meant to be
given. This is a prejudice eafy to be overturn-
things are to be created, and where, in every quarter, there are
fuch quantities of lands to be cleared. In order that money
fhould be plenty ih this ftate of creation, mines would be ne
ceffary ; and at the fame time a want of hands, and induftry
clogged with impediments, circumftances much more unfa
vourable to foreign commerce than the fcarcity of money in
an adive and induftrious country. One fad feems to prove
to us, that in independent America, money is found in the moft
defirable proportion to population, at leaft by taking Europe
for the term of comparifon. Contrads efteemed good, and
of which the intereft is regularly paid, are fold there at the
rate of fix per cent, per annum. Yet the clearing of lands
muft produce a much greater benefit ; why then is not all the
money fwallowed up ? why remains there enough of it to fulfil
thefe contrads, which produce no more- thah five or fix per
cent ? Is it not becaufe money is not fo fcarce there as people
in France imagine ? — where the adu-al ftate of the Ameri
cans is confounded with the diftrefs* in which they were when
they combated for their liberty.
5 ed,

trNITED iTATES OP aMERICA. J'^
edj although entertained by men celebrated for
their knowledge.
In effeCt, whence conies td this country the
gold it pays ? It is either from its rflinesj' and in
that cafe it pays with one of its own productions ;
or it owes it to artificers who exerCife their func
tions in a foreign country, and even then it piys
with a production which .originates within its
doininions. As long as a nation pays another,
djreCtly qr indireCtly, with its own productions,
its pofition cannot be difadvantageousi There
fore, the unfavourable word balance, thus at- '
tached to the balance of an account paid in
money, offers no exaCt and nice idea pf the
favourable or ulifavourable 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^ aa
unfavourable balance againft it*
There is but one cafe wherein the balance
againft a nation can be, declared ; it is, that
when having cxhaufted its money and treafures,
it remains debtor to another nation. But things
could tiot remain long in this ftate; fo wretch
ed a foil, unequal to the confumption and ex-
' change of its inhabitants, would foori be aban
doned ; this, however, cannot happen. Impor-
VoL. II. D ' tation

34- ON THE CeitlMERtE OF TfllJ
tation prefently 'becomes in proportion to expoi'*'
tation ; an equilibrium is eftabliflied, and thd
pit'eterided urtfa^ouralbk! balanee has notduratibn
enough to give a right of fuppofing even its eX^
iftence. ^- ''
There is as little truth and juftice in.fdying a
nation Iras the balance of trade in its favour,
when it receives iti money balances due to it
¦upon the amount of its exportations.- This'ba'^
lance, exifting for a certain tiirie, would heap up
fpecie in the country, and at length render it
very riiiferable. This has never been the cafe,
ygt it WoUld'ha^e happened if this fyft-em had*
fhe leaft foiiindation.
The circulation of money depends on too
many caules, to deduce from its abundance' a
Certain fign of a favourable commercial balance j
i thoufand combinations and eventSj which have
rio 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 favourable or unfavour
able baUnce is regulated, are too uncertain and
defective for the purpofe, as well as for forming
a judgment of the quantities of coin or riches of
a nation *.
¦ ¦' ;.-,;. Let
^I'will give a ftriking example ofthe deficiency bf thefe
calculations!

UNiTEIi iSTATES Of AMERICA. 35
Let the tables for Compiaring the exportation
&nd importation of raw materialsj and of trianu-
faftured articles, beencreafed to what they may ;
Jet
k^lcuiatioriSi oif the eftimatiqn of a balance of trjade and of the,
quantity of moriey. This example will prove that political
Iqalpulators negled,; or are ignorant of foreign events, which
Overturn their calculaticxns. ,. , •
M, Neckar:Wiflied tp inform himfelf (Chaps IX, ypl. 3d,
©f hiSiTreatife.;On the.Adi^iniftratiph p/ Finance), what was
the fum brought to and preferved jn Europe frpni.i7;6g, to
1777. 'He eftimates it at one thoufand eight hundred ani^. fifty
taillions of livres,! acci>rding to the regifter of Lifl3on,andfGa-
<li25, comprehending that even which entered by contraband,
and he values at 300,miili?STis of livres that which_,went out
of Europe during the l^me interval, J , . :,, , . ,,.
Jt .;will only be neceflary to quote two or three au.thf!EitiGatpd
fads, to prove theinfufficiehcy.of this calculation founded upon
the regifters of Cuftom-houfes.
In ftating the fum of nsoney entered into Europe, it does
hot appear that 3i^, Necicar, takes account ofthe gpldaadfil-
ver, which the conqyeft and, ppffeffiori of Bengal by the Eng
lifli, and their eftahlifliments in the Eaft-Indies, haye caufeii
to pafs into this quarter of the world. But according to th;e
calculation of the feCret committee, appointed by the Par,lia-
ment pf England, to examine Jrhs ftate of Englifli poffeffions
in India, the fums drawn frpm Bengal frpm J757 to i'7i,
amount to 751,500,000 livres ». T'p what will it amount, if
^ The detail of this calculation is given in The Defcription
of the Indies, Vol. I. page '249. It is neceffary to take no
tice here of an error crept into that work, which is, that
the fuip total is there given in pounds fterling, inftead bf liv^s
tournois, I? 2 there

36 ON THE COMMERCE OF "THE
let the greateft care and fidelity be erriployed to ;
render them perfect, the refult will never he
more certain or decifive ; for as long as prohibi tory
there be added td it thofe di-awn from the CaWatic and from'
Oude, of which the Nabobs have fhd fliadow orily of the pro
perty, ffom the revenue of the northern Circars, from the theft
committed on the Emperor of Mogul, frdm 1771 to the prefent
day, of his twenty-fix millioiisj from the perpetual Increafe of
territories and revenues, ffom the fale made in 1773 of the
Rohillas to the, Nabob-of Oude, which produced to the Englifti
Upwards of fifty millions '',
Finally, what will be the amouhtj if there be added to it tbe
enormous fiinis exported from the Indies byindividuals,' who
Have there enriched themfelves ? The fortune of Lord Clive
vvas beyond calculation ; that df Mr. Haftirigs, againft whom
a profecutioli is now carrying on, is calculated at thirty or for
ty millions. Another Governor has,' according to feveral
well-founded reports, recently paid upwards of two millions of
livres to filence his accufefs. It is' true that a part of thefe
immenfe riches have been employed to defray the expenceS
incurred by the Englifti in guarding their pofieffions in India;
that a more cotifiderable one has been fent into Europe unde^
the form of merchandize; but it cannot be denied that a third
part has been brought irt gold and filver to our continent*
What is the amount of it ? This is> impoffible to ftate. But
whatever it may be, it renders the calculation of Mr. Neckaf
doubtful.— Let the inexhauftible riches ofthe Indies be judged
of by one fad, and coi;ifequently the immenfe fource from
^ See Mackintofli*s Voyage to the Eaft- Indies, Vol. I. page
340' which

• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 37
tory laws, which are always accompanied by il
licit commerce, fliiaU ejcift, it will be imppfllble
which the Europeans have drawn them, and by another con
fequence, the money which muft have come into Europe.
Nadir Schah, who conquered Delly in 1740, topk from India
about forty millions fterling?. This money was circulated in
Pcrfia, and as that unhappy ftate is torn by defpotifm and con
tinual wars '', produces but little, m^nufadures nothing, and
is confequently debtor to exterior commerce, which comes al
moft entirely into Europe, it follows that twp-thirds of the
fums ftolen from India by the freebpoter Njidir, have paffed
pver to the fame quarter. Thefe events, unnoticed by politi
cal calculators, have certainly had great and un|verf4l influeiice
upon the fluduation and circulation of moneys That which
makes it fuppofed that no metals come from India, is the opi
nion that their importation is difadvantageous. But haive the
freebooters who have pillaged that country for the. laft thirty
years calculated this difadvantage?' They ftrivc to fecurp
their thefts, and do not fpecufate like merchants : bulky, jnerT
chandize would betray them,
With refped to the ftated fums of money which pafs from
Europe to India, there is the fame defed in the calculations qf
Mr. Neckar, He take's no notice ofthe events which obliged
the Englifli to remit confiderable fums to India v for inftance,
the two wars againft the Marrattas were prodigipufly expen-
five, that againft Hyder Ally in 1 769 was not lefs fo. A An
gle conflagration at Calcutta coft nearly twenty-four millions
of livits, which it was neceffary to replace, yet thefe fums are
far from balancing, thpfe which are exported frpm India,
f See Mackintofli's Voyages, Vol. I, page 341,.
¦' , See Mr. Capper's Voyage, at the etid of that of Mackin-
Jofli, Vol, I|. page 454.
P3 tg

3^ ON -THE COMMERCE OF THE
to know and ftate exadly what comes in an4
goes out * ; and if there be a cpuntry whereino
fuch laws exift f, are exIaCt reg fters of the ex
ports and imports to be found in it ? And if
they were, would it pot be a conftraint whichr
the private interefts of merchants would fre
quently oblige them to avoid ? ""
Moreover, does it appear that, in thefe gene
ral balances, which are ftippofed; to be paid in
moriey, notice is taken of the operation of bank^
ers, foreign government, and thofe who gof
abroad, in exporting the public fpecie ];. Know

ledge

* This is a ftrong objedion made by the adverfaries-df
Lord Sheffield, to which his Lordfliip has not fatisfadorily re^;
plied. -
Nothing can be more imppfing than the tibles of importa
tion and exportation, and of the balance of trade in Great-
Britain, publiflied by Sir Charles Whitworth. .Yet ifii? with
what facility the Count de Mirabeau reduces tp twenty mJl-
lions of livres. tourriois, the ninety millions which Sir Charles
Whitworth eftimates to be the annual balance ot Enghfl^ com
merce ; and truft after this to cuftom^haufe calculations. — See
Confiderations on the Order of Cincinnatus, in this volume,
t Such a, country does exift. There are many States
among the new Republics of America, which regifter veflels
as they enter, becauf^ duties are pajd on importation ; but •
there are none ojj exportation,
J It is very probable there are a number of particular caufils which

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ^9
ledge is deceitful which is acquired from fnch
confequences. , •).,,(
But .how , appreciate— how e,ftimate the in
creafe of the riches and -commerce of a nation ?
— By its population. If this fenfibly augments,
if eafe ,ai>,d , .tbPj conveniencies of life becpme
more general,, Tf the caufes of indi„g^nce 'in an
increafing people be feen to diminifti, or are
confined to inability to work, occafioned by ac
cidental illneffes ; it is evident, that the reve
nues of that natipn exceed its expences, and
. that the balance of trade is in its favoUr ; for -f f
the" value of its exportation were inferior to fli^t
which infenfibly diminifli the quantity pf coin in thofe nations
which have the balance of trade coriftantly in their favour,
Were no fuch caufes to pxift, the confequence will be that
fuch nations would be obliged to bury their gold and filver liq
the earth, tp prevent its falling into difufe-; yet neither of '
theie cafes happen. Therefore money neceffarily paffes fi-om
fuch countries tp others,
M, Cafaux has proved this to be true, with refped to Ertg-
, land, in his Cpnfiderations on ibe Mechmlfm of Society, He
there explains, that if the calculations of Sir Charles Whit
worth be true, England ought to ppffefs at this moment about'
four huridred thoufand millions of liv.res in gold and filver, as
the fble.Dalance of her commerce from ,1700 to 1775, Yet
it is cei-tain that flie is far from having th^t enormous fum,
She has npt even a fum in proportion to her pppulation and
contingencies. She fupplies that deficiency by aq immenfe
cjrculation.pf her bank-paper.
P 4 of

40 ON TH£ COMMERCE OF THE
of its importation, a confiderable debt and inif
ppverifliment Would foon be the confequences 5
an4 in:>poyeri(hinent falls imriiediately upon po
pulation. It is therefore by rationafl and well
compofed tables upon this fubjeCi only, that ^
nainifter of found judgment, profound and ex
tended in his plans, wjll be prevailed upon to
govern hinifelf. It is by thera he will judge of
the increafe and advantages of (exterior com
merce, as well as of national riches.
He vi^ill be very cautious of decorating with
this title the atnafling qf gold and filver, and
equally fp pf niaking it the token of riches,
or of judging of their extent by the quantity c0
thpfe !:][iet4ls. All fuch i4?a? are fordid, danger
ous, and falfe j fordid, becaufe they attach to
this fign the reprefenfatiqq of productions, and
-confequently the e^tenfionpf commerce ; dan
gerous, becaufe they accuftonj ipen tp look
upon gold as reat riches, tp ncglpCt the thing
for its fti^dpw 9, and make them ftrangers to
thejr ,
^ * Could gold and filver be preferyed frpm 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 whopoflieffes it may emigrate to where-
ever he pleafes, and take his gold with him. This mqtal is
therefore every thing, with nations unhappy enough to make
arbitrary

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 4I
their country; falfe, becaufe that difplay of
figures announces the quantity only of money
which continually difappears ; and which,
when parried to a certain degree, is of no far
ther confideration *, Enquiries
arhitrary exceptions to genera} rnaxims, upon which public
credit is founded. But how dearly do they pay fpr their igno
rance qf the advantages of public credit ! How dparly do go
vernments themfelves pay for their errors and outrages ! All
their meafures are forcedt^ — nature is liberal-in vain ; inceffant
ly eniployed in repairing evils which continually prefent them
felves, flie has not time enough allowed her to add to our hap
pinefs. When it was faid that moriey had no particular coun-
*V' governments were emphatically told, that it was neceflary
to do without great quantities of it ; it wi}l never be rejeded
till the ineftimable advantages refulting from a refped for pub
lic credit fliall be properly known. The lefs individuals love
and heap up nioney, the richer, more enlightened, and better
governed wiJl a nation be. To be attached to riioney, to hoard
it up, is a fign of an alarming crifis, of a deficieney 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 pf riches, and recoqamends it to his fellow
pitizens, 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 dodrjne, he encouraged government to give
^n immoveable ftaibility to national credit.
* It has not yet been reniarked, tljat thpufands pf millions is
a vague expreffion, and does pot furnifli a complete idea, Tfie
imagination cannot exadly conceive for fuch a fum an employ
^hich would ferve as the meafure of its power and effed. Itis

42 ON iHE COMMERCE OF THE
, ' Enquiries onthe quantity of cpm are; lik^e
thofe on the balance of trade. To eftabliftj both '
one and the other with fome decree of cert^'^ii-
ty. It is neceflary to aflemble nqtions antl^jje;-
tails, ' of which the elementary principles va-
nifh, or incelfantly vary *".
" . The
is known what could lie done with t\ifenty or an hundred mil
lions of men,- but it is not known what could be eftidediwilh
an hundred thoufand millions ctf crowns ; yet they are heapjsd
upori paper to give an idea of power,
* In general, the mafs of gold or filver is divided into three
principal parts, — The firft under the form of money^ ferves
for daily and unavoidable expences. Each individual, as foon
as he is charged with the fupport of himfelf aad family, i^ft
have at leaft fome pieces of money for daily exigencies, aad the
payment of impofts. To this muft be added that fum which
is referved for cafualties. — This cuftom is more or lefs obferv
ed inall countries, in proportion to the probability of difaftrous
events. It is impoffible to calculate this firft part — It is how
ever evident, that it ought to be in proportion to the popula-'
Won, and to increafe with it ; and that a. decreafe of popula
tion would foon. take place. Were many individuals totally de-.
prived of a pecuniary contingency fufficient to procure them
fuch neceffaries as cannot be difpenfed with, and which they
neither make npr receive themfelves. It appears, alfo, that
this part of the coin remains inthe country by reafon of its
continued application in littlfefums to daily wants, and of
the abfolute fta;gnation of that which is laid u,p in referve.
The fecp'nd part is deftined, under the fame form, to the
gi-eat operations of commerce. It is -equally impoffible to fix
its quantity, on account of an infinity , of combinations whi;ch
continually

UNITED STATES OF AIMERICA. 43
The proceedings in the adminiftration pf fi
nances are more ufeful and certain ;j by laying
afide the pomp^pf falfe riches, and by confiderr
ing gold and fiyer in a point of view relative to
their
(cpntinually change and caufe thefe metals to pafs from one
.country to anpther. Daily charges, cuftoms, &g, retain a part;
but thefe objeds belong equally to our firft divifion.
The third part contains uncoined gold and filver, under
jwhateyer forra they piay have-: it is, like the fecond, fubjed to
numbers of continual variations, which leave no fatisfaddry
peans pf determining its quantity,
To pretend to afcertain the quantity in the mafs, by pay
ments df uncertain commercial balances, and by the addition
of fpecie prqduced , from mints fii^ce anew coinage has taken
pl^ce, is not a more certain means, becaufe it would be equal
ly necefliary tp obferve the continual adion bf commerce upon
thefe metals, under all their forms, and of the combinations it
produces, which fucceffively arife from one another.' In thi^s
eftimating money it is forgotten, thatit is an univerfal agent,
which, by that charader alone, muft necefiarilychangeits fitu
ation perpetually ; fince commerce has produced an affinity
among pien, by wants, which they have created to themfelves,
of their reciprocal prod'u<Sions. |t is, Equally unobferved, that
different circumftantes reduce gold, to the ftate of an- ingot ;
<hat cenfequently the fame piece may pafs feveral times under
the die in the courfe of a certain number pf years. This is a
reflexion which Ji/[. Neckar feems not to ^Ijave made when he
'ftated the money fxifting in France atfo confiderable a fum. It
will^e, known when the recoinage of jjie old Lpuis is finiflied,
iB^hat we ouglit to think.of his calcul^fipps,. But the film is far
ihdrt of 957 millions, as eftimated by tha,t minifter. It is more
'>l'.;il ' , than

44 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
their particular properties. They "fupply our
wants as means of exchange .only ; they are
notes tp the 'bearer, which having every where
the fame value, are every where ncgociable.
Thiis they are ambulatory ; they pafs, repafs,
are accumulated or difperfed Hke the waves of
the fea, continually agitated by fucceffive winds
blov/ing from every point of the compafs.' To
undertake to make them ftationary, would be
ftriving tp change their nature, tO deprive thertt
of that property from which they derive thejr
value: this lidsculous enterprife is, notwith
ftanding, a confequence of thefyftein which
caufes them to be looked upOn as real treafures.
Their difappearance is drpaded, and yet their
circulation is clogged, and the rnind lofes fight
ofthe ufe of the nrtoft fin^pje ^nd univerfal
means of creating real riches, without which
metals wovild be ufelefs, and confequently of l^Q
v^lue. Qn the contrary, difdalning vulgar opinions,
and feeing nothing in gold and filver but the
means of exchange, but proper agents to faci- i
than probable, that it will nevef amount tq more than two thirds
cf it.
At this moment, fburteen mqnths after the arret for a new
coinage, it amounts tp no more th^n 350 millions, ^nd every
thing indicates a rapW decHrie, ' '

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 45
Htate it ; the. mind, freed frpm 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 beft ules to which natipns 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 ntj,mberof ci-
* It is aftoniftiing, that among fo many travellers whohave
gone over the "Onited States of America, not one of them has
given a detail of the manner of exchanging feveral neceffaries
of life ; they are reciprocally furhiflied in the country wifli
what tbey are in want of, without the interference, of money.
The taylor, flioe -maker, &c. exercife their profeffions in the
houfe of the huftjandman who has occafion for their commo
dities, and who, for the moft part, furnlflies materialr, and
pays for the workmanfliip in provifions, &c. — This kind of
exchange extends to many objeds ; 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 effeded in Europe but
with a great deal of money. Thus it appears, that an ea^
means of doing without great fums of money is gvven to
eountry people by inftruding them in writing and arithmetic;
that confequently the fovereign who fliould eftablifti fcl^ools
for the purpofe of teaching this moft neceflary art and fcience,
would create a confiderable means of circulation without the
ufe of coin, and that this expence, which feems to alarm fo
many governments, is iq fad one of the moft lucrative fpecur
lations which the treafury could make. tizens :

46 01? TliE COMMERCE OF THE
tizens j of ' every fpecies of riches this is tbef
moft fure and fruitful. Thus when gold is^ re
duced to its exaCt value, that its real ufe is
known, the advantageous purpofes to vvhich it
is proper, are more juftly calculated. It is then
perceived that paper credit may have the fame
properties as gold itfelf ; arid to.fucceed in giv
ing th^m to it, nothing more is neceflary than
to preferve the moft inviolable refpeCtHfor the
principles which fupport public confidence ; for
upon what bafis refts the value a'rid general lifd
of money, if it be not upon the certitude that
it will be received every >vhere ip payment for
things which men's wants may require,: be
caufe of its conventional value ? why fliould' d
paper vvhich prefents the fame conventional va
lue, the fame cfertitude and folidity, be refufed
in payment ? 1 will add more-^A raotJ? fql^i^
bafis than gold and filver has, may be given to
paper money* : for we have no guarantee thdt
the value of thefe metals will hot be all at onee
diminifhed by the difcovery of new aftd rich
* I fay, paper-money, without attaching to this expteBm
Ihe idea of conftraint to receive it as fuch ; this obligation di-
miniflies its value— I would fay paper credit, if the wroisi cre
dit did not feem to exclude its principal qtwlity, that of beiag
always fufceptible, and in an inftant, of being converted into
nioney without the leaft lofs,
3 mines ;

t;NlTED--STATES OP AMERICA; 47
mines; we cannot calculate their quantities
concealed in the earth, and men inceflantly rake
up its bowels in fearch of them *. Therefore
in countries where precious metals are fcarce^
but where linds may be fuccefsfiiUy cultivated,
banks fliould be formed, whofe operations fhould
chiefly reft upon title deeds and pi'oduCtions de
pofited ; in a woi-d, upon fuch objeCts only' aa
gold and filver fliould reprefent -|-. In'
* Why flipuld' not difcoveries be made in other countries,
like that in the laft century by two fljepherds in Norway, of
the rich mines of Konfljerg, where very confiderable maffes
of filver are found ? The King of Denmark has one of 56oIb.
weight in his cabinet. ¦ ¦ ,'"?
' ^ ' t It is not true that much gold and filver are neceffary to
-ffftablifli banks, or create notes Which rtiay be thrown into
circulation. A proof of, the contrary arifes from feds con-
tinually before our eyes. The multitude of bills of exchange
which circulate and crofs each other in every diredion, have
not all of them, for origin and fecurity, a depofit of gold and
filver. Neither are they all paid when due with thefe metals.
Commerce produces an abundance of fuch papers, which fallr
ing due On tbe fame day are difcharged by each other'without
the intervention of fpecie ; efpecially in cities where public
banks'ar* eftahjiflled to facilitate this kifld of payment, Thefe
are called transfers, and the principal objed of Caiffes d'Ef-
Comptes and banks is to facilitate them by the payment of bills
fallen due by thofe who haVe ftill fome time to run. In fine,
thefe- Caiffes d'Efcom|ft«s ' and banks, are tbenfffelves -taffes.
irtd ftrikirtg proofs of ths little difficulty there is in fupplying, by.

48 ON THE. COMMEIIGE OF THE
In countries where thefe metals are alreadj;-,
in circulation, but are ftiU foreign produaions,>
eafy and certain means fliould be fought after to
render exchanges lefs dependent on the fecurity
or abundance of fpecie. Paper credit fhould be
naturalized there, becaufe its infallible effeCl is
to 4ouble or treble the quantity of current coin,
and even to replace it entirely, where, as in
England, public confidence has never received a
wound. Thefe obfervations might be more
extended if a treatife on the nature of banks
and Caiffes d'Efcompte were in queftion^ But
this is not my prefent pbjei^ ; I have confidered
exterior commerce in itsi . means of exchange
only, like metals and paper predjtj, and in its ba
lance for the purpofe of applying thefe princi
ples to the relations and commerce of France
and the United States : and more 'efpecially to
clear up fome difiiculties tp the Fretich, whp
feem to have ia bad opinion of this commercial
intercolirfe, on account, of the want of money
by confidence, the places of gold and filver. Firft eftabliflied
by depofits in fpecie, they foon circulate their notes for fums
more confiderable than thofe depofited : and what furety id
there for the payment of fuch notes if it be not by other bills
not due, which the Caiffes and banks receive in exchange for
their own notes payable at fight, to which public confidence
give the fame value as t' gold and filver. ill

trSllTElS STATES OF AMERICA. 4'9>
lb America, and to encourage the independent
Americans, who feerfi. to dread the pretended
ihcontreniencies arifing from its deficiency.
I think I have proved :
ift. That the balance of trade is but an in-
jGgnifieant word : that the balance paid in fpecie
is no proof of a difadvantageous commerce on
the part of the nation which pays.it, nor advan
tageous to the nation which reeeives it*.
. 2d. That the tables of that commercial ba-
latiee deferve no faith^ and that the only me-*
' * Obferv^ what a fefpiedable author, well'verfed in the mat-
itr, and whom vi'e fhall heteafte'r halve occafion to quotey thinks
of it.
*' Thefe commerdal Balances, calcfulated iri different ftates,
^e pitifijl ; when I fee confequences ,drawft from ridiculous
aind laboured official accorunts, ini f anno dal rifo crepare; ...\
" To confider France and England only, the two principat
ihanufad^uring countries, arid the moft commercial ones in the
World, WhSt oimiflionS, negligencies, double employs, errors,
corruptions, liodurnal expeditions, duties evaded j and contra-
fend trade .' Tbe 'prodigious quantity of wool which is fent
from England is certainly not regiftered, no more than the
filks, gold lacesi gauges, blondes, cambrics, brandteSj-andmany
other articles which are fraudulently intredueed there. The
fame in France : no account can be taken of the immenle
G[uaiitities of drapery, hofiery, and fmall hardware, which the
Englifh fend in exchange. Vey. en Italic, de M- Roland de
ia Palatrerey torn, i. p. 3.52,
. Vol. ii, , B thisd

5CJ'> ON T'HE .COiSJMERe.E: <it Tlf]^ ;
thod of eftimating the increafe of tftdcj. is h^
the increafe of population f. > '.
3d. That itis impoffible to ;j;udge exaClly of
the quantity of money exffting in a country,
and that all calculations on that head are found
ed upon an uncertain and defedive bafis,. be
caufe It I& impoffible to- coUeCi all tbeir elemen-;
tary principlesi - ;
4th. That meCah are not real riches. . . j
5th. That Gonfidereds as agents; of exch^ge,
it would be more advarjjtageous to fubftilute. pa-;
* The errors in thefe pretended; balances muft &e contiajar
ally, infifted upon : confequences dangerous to the people, are,
frequently drawn from them.
Financiers who pillage the kingdom,, f^y to- Princes 0:9 pre-
fenting. them thefe fallacious calculationsy " that, things ?rp ii*
a profperous way ; that commence flouriihes,j.that imp6% ni^,-^
be laid on, loans negociated, &c. Thefi! fophifms are. {^ming :
let. Princes accuftom themfelves to judge of public prolperitjf.
by population, and the general eafe- of the people; j 1^ th^nif,-
be 'eye-witneflcs ofthis, and miftruft a momcntjary appcayaH'^;
ef profperity,. which frequently covers p»;.S)feund mifery, anJ
they will not be foi often deceived,
' A King of Sardinia paid a vifit to a^pagt, of Sayofi, the no-
feility of which had been reprefented. to hini as bemg^ poor antfe
^iferkble : they eame to him elegantly xlreffed in <^th^Sipfce--.
femony, to make him their court.. At this the King exprqffed i»?(
Sirprife toons <jf the gentieme'n, who faid^to hira, Sir^noHg
faifim pour vstre Mejrfti tout (i .quhmus dsvms; m^ii mu^.dM
:v(ms4eut ce ^ue nous f^ifons^.' -  ¦ ipcr

t^NITED ;STATES OF AME&IGA* S"*-
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
refults from thefe demonftrations, 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 fbr foreign produc*
tions is in pfoportioa to its confidential interior
eftablifhmenfs, which advanta^oufly fupply its
place. In three words, a good foil, paper credit, arid
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
tenfive exterior commerce.
I baVe not confidered this commerce in its in
fluence upon the maimers of the people ; fuch a
difcuffion would here be ufelefs,- becaufe what
ever that influence may be, exterior commerce
is a forced effeCt of the refpedive fituations of
France and the United States, as will hereafter
be made appear. I examine this matter as a
politician, ,not as 1 philofopher, and I pray the
reader not to forget the diftinClion.

£ 2 CHAP,

^2 ON fi^E COMMENCE O'F TlfB

CHAP, iir.^ '
APPLICATION OF THE FOREGOING GENERAL
PRINCIPLES TO THE RECIPROCAL COM
MERCE OF FRANCE AND THE UNITED
STATES : ^
That prance has; every Means of proc|iring a great Com
merce', arid tjhbfe which muft aflhre it to her in the United
States ; that her ProduSions Are proper for them ; and that
her particular interior Circumftances oblige her to engage
. in this Commerce,

7

¦^HESE truths will not be contefted when
fhe fertility of the foil of France fhall be
confidered, her various and particular produc
tions, and the temperature of her climate, which
favours thofe the moft fimple and neceffary.
Thefe advantages conftantly affure her work.-
manfhip at a lower pirice than thofp of nations
'endowed with the "fame aCtivity, but which
have not the advantages of fuch favourable cir-*
cumflances. Her manufactures are numerous, and her po
pulation is confiderable in comparifon with that
of moft other nations* Yet thefe are far from
¦ ' ' ' the

UNITED-STATES OF AMERICA. 55
t^e degree to which they maybe extended ; for
iia confidering France, room for a more exten
five population is foon difcovered, and an im-
menfity of means for a great number of manu
factures, which only wait for the will of go
vernment' to be eftablifhed.
What other nation has more aClivity ? more
induftry ? or unites to fo great a degree,, all the.
advantages of civilization, and the matter and
means of the moft varied and extenfive interior.
and exterior commerce, independent of comple
tion?: What other would have been able to
i:efift, for fb long a time, the chain of misfor
tunes, and repeated faults of which fhe has
been the viCtim ? " The force of hor conftitu
tion, rather than her apparent profperity, ought
to be calculated by this refiftance. France is
not what fhe might and ought to be. There ia
no doubt but fhe will become fo "if fhe opens
her eyes to her true interefb. If unfhackling her
interior fhe doeS not negled her exterior com
merce, and particularly that which the United,
States wifh 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;
fjie may have occafion. Thefe two countries
may therefore carry on a direct commerce of exi,
¥• 3 , change

54 ON THE COMMENCE OF THE
change between them, aijid fo much the monS
advantageous, as the raw materials, which muft
conftitute it, would coft them more in any other
place. Thefe truths will aot hedoiabted when
the double catalogue of the refpedive wants of
France and the United States, or of their im-*
portation and exportation, fhall have been ex^
amined. >it«r *t*
Intelligent patriots are of opinion, that it .can*
not be advantageous to. France, in "her prefent
fituation, to engage in the commerce of the
United. States.^ — They obferve, that her manu-»
fadures being inferior to thofe of the Englifh,
fti^ \yill be worfted in the American mar}cefs|
they add, that inftead of encouraging thiscom-
naeiTGe, government would perhaps ad more
wifeljr by preventing the interior abufes which
iflop ttie progrefs of cultivation and induftry.
I am far frotn denying the neceffity there
may he of ftlrring to reform fuch abufes, and tq
dired ov|r pfforts to- culture and the improve
ment of msnufadures j but it is eafy to demons
ftate, that exterior commerce will in a very
fhort time infallibly bring on fuch a reform,
^nd that France in her prefent ftate Is in th§-
greateft need of tkis exterior trade.
In effed, .an adive and induftrious nation,
iiy)|pfe foil is fertile^ ought ^Iways to have mar-f.'
: HctS

UNITED STATES OF AMERIjGA- ^,.^
fects for the f^e of its commodities to animate
its Induftry. Its cq||ure and manufadures
would languifh if the limits of its confumption
werfe perceived. Jt Is even neceffary that thefe
markets fhould be fuperabundant ; that , orie
may fucceed the other, in cafe of unfufpeded
-events,- which might caufe a raoraentary change
in the ordinary courfe of things. . .;
What caufe has thrown Ireland into fo con
tinued a firate ©f languor, although one of thofe
.countries the moft favoared by nature, and the
beft fituated for exterlcM- commerce., if it is^ not
the deprivation of that commerce ? .An embar-
raffing exuberance of p^rodudions was feared ;
the cultivation of them was prelently negleded,
,and this negligence increafed wafte -lands. This
ifland would at length have offered a fpedacle
^of the moft deplorable mifery, ,of a complete
¦depopulation, if, by a reftitution of tlie liberty
of commerce, an end had not been put to fo
crud a'difeouragement whieh choaked induftry,
by making it fes^r a want of markets, forthe vent
iof its produdions.
Let our patriots, therefore, ceafetoiook upoa^
foreign commerce as contrary to the reforms
which are to revive our interior trade; to en-
iCourage the firft is not to profcrlbe the fecond,
hfecaufe oiufc cannot fucceed without the other.

«

^6 ©N THE COMMERCE OF THE ^"
But, on the contrary, the feeds gf adivity are
fown in the latter, by extending the boundaries
of confumption. *
Alas ! is not prance evidently in need of
themi Are not her magazines crowded with a
fuperflulty of the moft neceflary produdions, for
which fhe h&s no market ? Such as, amongft
' others, her wines and brandies *. The United
States offer to her an immenfe confumption ;
why does fhe refufe to fupply thera .'' .^.
Even if her wines and brandies were not in
fuch fuperflulty, it would be prejudicial not to
fupport the price of them by foreign confump-
tlons. The greateft fcourge of induftry, and
efpecially of manufadures, is the low price
of thofe liquors which are feducing by their
ftrength. On this account prudent manufac
turers carefully avoid wine countries.^ It would
be fuperfluous to give a. detail. of their reafonsj
but certainly the politician, the moft jealous of
a free extenfioij of individual enjoyments, will
never become an advocate for the indulgence" of
mqn in thofe articles which, deprive them of
their faculties and reafon.
* Such is the fituation of Aunis and Saintonge — ^plentiful'
•vintages are there literally feared", and thefe provinces ate at
tbis moment overcharged with wine, for which they have ncd
exportation : the pepple are miferable in the jnidft pf abuq-
ddiice. See Note, Chap. V. SaS.. i. France

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 57
France ought to defire the commerce of thp
United States. She ought alfo to be anxious for
it on account of her manufadures, to employ
her population which is in want of work. Con-*
fequently workmanfhip is cheap ; whence re
fults indigence, beggary, and ftrlfe *. Work
and produdions are increafed by opening new
markets. Thus, for example, vineyards wHi
remain, which a want pf ponfumption would
foon caufe to be deftroyed -, thoufands of lax
Jjourers, who languifh, will be employed, fo
ciety will be increafed by thoufands of indivi^!
duals ; more corn, more cloth, &c. will be ne
ceflary : hence an increafe pf interior confump?
tion and population.
When we examine the queftion, if exterior
copimerce be advantageous and neceffary to a
nation; a newly conftituted ftate, whofe popu
lation is far from being jn proportion to its foil,
where there is fpace and property in land for
every one, mufi be diftingulfhed frofn that
whiph is ancient, rich in produdions .as well as
* Means are every day fou^t to diminifli and prevent
crimes — Let property oir employ be given to thofe ivho are
without them : this is the fecret — It muft notwithftanding be
agreed, that f»foperty is preferable to employ in workfliopsj
under this point of vjew, commerce with the Unit?d Stages,
in pperjing to us a great market, wiU hs ^ meaiis of diminifli-
ing mendicity and vices in France. in

jS ON THE COMMERCE OF THE J.'
m men j or, to fpeak with more precifion, a !^ate
where the unequal diftribution of property
takes\i,m6a from the fieldsi, (huts thera up in
cities, and proftitutes their faculties to the fan*
cies of the rich. ^ /
Certainly fuch a new ftate cannot incr«afe
its foreign commerce bfefore it has cleared great
-ijuantities of lands, and is become confideraWy
-|>eopied, and has a furplus pf men.and produce
tions.
, ¦ Such a ftate, wliile neceflary, will undoubt
edly follow this counfel.
But this counfel would fee improper to ano
ther ftate, which, advanced In its civilizatloftj
covered with a populatloa without p*-opertyi
baying manufadures and money in abundiarite ;
tvhofe induftry and territorial riches wait for
demands, and whofe cukure languifhes for Want
of markets. A foreign commerce is neceffary -
to this ftate to vivify it.
Such is the fituation of France ; neither foil,
induftry, adivity, nor the thirft of 'g^'In,- Is there
Vanting ; other pernicious caufes flacken her
interior commerce. If tbe merchant has not a
ceftalnty of markets, he' does n6t buy nor give;
orders ; the manufaidurcftrnploys fewer hands,.
has lefs occafion for the produdions of the
earthw

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 59
earth. Languor; then defcends from manufac*
tures to cultivation, and dimlnifhes population.
The reverfc will be the cafe in the fuppoft-
tion of a vaft exterior commerce, and will lead
to the improvement even of our manufadures ;
forthe neceffity of improving to obtain a pre
ference will oblige manufadurers to ftudy the
tafte of the Americans, and to conform them
felves to it, to vary the produdions of their in
duftry ; and will oblige them not to relax, that
they may not befurpaffed by rivals.
It is here neceflary to make fome refledlons
on the general inferiority found in our manufac
tures, on comparing them with thofe of the
Englifti. This fad has furnifhed Lord Shef
field with his principal argument, to maintain
that America will always prefer the latter. It
is neceffary to clear up this point, which feems
not to be well underftood.
Manufactures of luxury, of conveniency, and
of neceffi^ty, muft be diftingulfhed in a manner
hereafter pointed out. Lord ShefBeld and all
foreigners agree, that, France has the advantage
jn the firft clafs of manufadures *. His Lord- ftilp
* Our manufadures of filk have proportionably a much
greater fale abroad than that of our woollens. It is that, in
dependent of tafte, or, if we will, of fafliion, which we poffefs, and

6* • ON THE COMMERCE' OJf THE T
flilp agrees even that. France makes fihier clothi&
than ^.tliofe< of England ; but with refped to;
manufadures of convenience, or fuch as are in
tended for the confumption ofthe people, w.c.'
muft, in fpite of patriotifm, agree on our part,
th^t'.we are Irt many articles inferior to the?
Eriglifh. This will appear by the fequel. : It.
would be ridieulousi and, even dangerous to flat
ter the nation iu this particular ; the illufion
would keep it In a ftate of mediocrity. It is fon
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 effeCled..
Should any body wifh to know the caufe of this
double. difference between the French and Eng-.
}ifh manufadures, it is as follows :
There is in England a greater number of
men, ^^nong the people, in eafy circumftances,
than in France, and yi'ho are confequently in a
fituation to choofe and pay better for fuch arti
cles aa they like. It is a known fad, that, the
common people of England, , although loaded
and which opens to us a grgat confumption, the raw material
is in a great meafure one ofour own produdtions ; ah advan*
tage iwhich puts it in our power to furmount many general in
conveniencies, whofe eflefts are more fenfible upon our other
articles' of exportation, fuch as woollens, the produftion of
which has lefs relation with the manufai^ure, '-'*.'
.. -^ '
with

tJI^lTED STATES OF AMERICA. ^i"*
with taxes, are well clothed and fed*; the
rags of mifery are not found with the pbulld au
prnff. The Englifh manufacturer having' a
greater demand for articles of neceffity, and be- ¦
ing better paid for them, can make improve
ments in his manufadure.
Should it be required to know from whence
cot^es the eafinefs of circumftances fb general
in 'England : independent of the foil and pofi-
tiq^n, and the advantages of that liberty which
* The goodnefs of things manufacStured is (o generally, rc-
quifite in England, that,.merchaH4izes deftined for exportation
are there diilinguiflied from thofe for interior confumption.
There are great warehoufes wherein the fales are for exporta-
tlbn only;' the objeft pf others is interior confumption. .'Peo
ple who judge haftily conclude from hence, that thofe for ex
portation are badly manufactured. They are deceived, the
difference is in the choice of materials. The Englijhmanfparei^
nothing for that which he confumes. The workmanfhip is the
fame ; it would coft in general more to manufafliurers to hav^
two (brts of workmanfliip, a good and a bad one, than to have
one only which is good, and a manufaiElure eftabliflied upon a
bad kind of workmanfliip would foon be decried. A Ihoe
deftined to foreign commerce is as well made as another ; but
it does not laft To long, becaufe the leather is not chofen from
the beft kind ; and fo of the reft.
f A memorable expreffion of Henry the fourth of France,
who, in a converfation with his favourite Sully, faid, he hoped
to fee the time when the pooreft of his fubjefts would have it
in their power to put a fowl into the pot for their Sunday's din
ner. reigns

6jfc, ON THE COMMERCJE Of THE
reiwns there, "it refults from the confiderafioti
attached to indnftry in the opinion of the
public ; from the laws fure protedlon accord
ed to every individual againft the agents of go
vernment ; and the haughtlnefs and infolenee,
to which they are naturally inclined (becaufe
in men -of ftendfer education thefe are the ef
fed of power), being continually repreffed,
and their being prevented from trampling upon
the citizen, who muft be obedient.— -Hie is obe
dient to the law, and not to him who puts it in
execution *. In fine, it is the confequence of
not blufhing to be a tradefman, artificer, or
workman, from father to fon.
In France there are individuals exceffively
rich J but the people are poor. The firft have
it In their power fo pay extremely dear for arti-
* Thee and Thou as terms of contempt are unknown in
England: Sir i% the general defignation ,of-every individual.
A man accufed of the greateft crimes, and who has the moft
miferable appearance, is never fpoken.to in the fingular num
ber when he is interrogated by his judges ; and as he becomes
an objeft of pity when he is convifted, decent appellations^
generally in ufe, are not changed with refpeft to him. Can
one fuppofe that this, refpeft for man is prejudicial to public
profperity? Man is elevated by it; it gives him energy, and
inclines him to Cafe. - Contempt, which in other places is-af-
fefted fertile people, leads them to mifery, and retains theni in
it. , cles-

' tTNITED STATES OF AMERlCdl. ^^
cles of luxury and fancy, which caufe an im"*
proveraent of tn^npf^'^ures of this kind. Finer
cloths, as It hak h^Qn before obferved, are to be
found in France than ia England j but their
tjuantity is not great, becaufe there is not a«,
extenfive demand for thofe of the firft quality.
On the other hand, the property of the peo
ple being very inconiiderable, tbey pay badly^
and the confequence is, that things of conve
niency or neceffity are badly manufadured for
t|iem< I will not here enter into the examination o€
caufes which, occai^pn, fuch a ftate of things,.
nOr of the means of changing it. I will leave
the difcuffion of fuch means for another chap
ter, but the following cohclufions muftnecefia-
rily be drawn ffom thefe fads : the perfedioa
of manufadures depends upon the demand, and
the demand upon the means of j^yment. Now
beeaoife the French have not thofe means, they
muft be fought after in a foreign country. Iii- '
ereafe foreign demands for French manufac
tures', and they wiE be feen to improve very ra4
pidly. This, ia the effed which the comraercsc?,,
of the United Statea will produce in France:
Tfoefe States contain a people accuftomed to be
wejl clothed, to make ufe of welj; manitfac-
t,nrp4 tbings pnly^ and c.ap9;ble of paying for
6 good,

64 -^ THfi CdMMfiRCfi 6P Trifi
good workmanfhip by their productions. Chafg^
ed with the fiitnlfhing of articles for Ameri-i
Gan donfumiptionj French manufadurers will
ftrlve to outdo their rivals ; and they can eafily
accomplifh this ijuhen Cover nmerit fhall be wil->
ling. Nature has given. theiTi the means. They
will become fuperior in dntioft evety thing
when once they fhall no longer be Obftlnately
counteraded. Therefore the corhmefPe vVith the United
States will be the caufe of improvement lit
French cultivation and induftry. Confeqiiently
it is neceffary to embrace and purfue it<

C tt A P. IV.
TfHAT THE UNITED STATES ARE OBLIGED BY
THEIR PRESENT NECESSITIES AND CIRCUM
STANCES TO ENGAGE IN FOREIGN, COM
MERCE.
SOME writers, among whom atre foiind thd
celebrated Dr. Price and the Abbe Mably,'
have exhorted the independent Americans, if
not to exclude exterior commerce entirely from
tbeir ports, at leaft to keep it within vety con-
traded bounds. They pretend, that the rtfitt
¦ ' '7 ^ of

tyiJltEf) STA*rEg OF AMERICA* 65
ef repliblicanifm irt the United States can hap-
peii only from exterior commerce ; becaufe by
gteat qUanrities 6f articles of luxury and a fri
volous tafte, that Commerce would corrupt
fheir morals, and without pure morals a repub-
Kc cannot exift*
*« Alas ! What cab the United States import
"from Europe, continues Dr. Prlcej except it
?'be irtfedion ? I avow it, cries the Dodor, I
•* tfemble in thinking on the furor for exterior-
** Commerdej which is apparently going to tiirn
•* the heads of the Americans. Every nation
*' fpreads nets afound the United States, and Ca*
*' reffes them, in order to gain a preference ;
** but their intereft Cautions them to beware of
** thefe fedudlons*."
J am far from contradidlng, in its bcifts, the
opinion of thefe politicians. Moreover, I think.
With Dr. Price, that the United States will one
day be able to produce every thing neceffary '
*:.Price*s .Obfervations, page 76. See the Abbe Mably,
what he fays of thefe obfervations, from page 146 to page 163.
See alfo wii,at the Conlte de Mirabeau has added to the Ob.»
fervations of Dr. Price, in his Refleftions printed at the end of
his tranflatlon ofthis work, page 319. London edition, 17851
He has, as a fevere philofopherj treated on exterior com
merce, and made abftraftion of the aftu^ fituation of ths
Americans.
Vol. II. F and

66 ON THE COMM^R-pE ; OF THE
and convenient, but I am ^Ifo, of opinion, thsjt,
thefe two writers hav-e cfni^i^pd the indepenr*.
dent Americans in a f^lfb point of view ; that
they have; not fufficiently obferved the ftate of
their circumftances ; in fine, tha,t theiir circun^
Jlances and aSlual wants oblige them, to have re
courfe to foreign commerce. This is, a truth
which I profiofe to denaonftrate ; for I will
prove) that the independent Americans, are in
want of the neeeflari^sand conveniencies; of life,
and In fome ftates, Of luxuries, andrj-.tj^t theie
habits and nature, addedi to other circi^viaftanees,
will always prevent, their renouncing them en-^
tirely. !j ,,,
I wiir prove, that having no manufadures*
they cannot .themfelves fupply thefe wants, and
that they can have nO ^ manufadures for ^ a long
time to come.
That- although they already poffeffed them,.
they ought to prefer to- national ones thof^^of
exterior- commerce, and that they fhould ratlier
invite Europeans to their ports than frequent
thofe of the European ftates.
Finally, that by the fame reafon which makes .
•it impoffible 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 coii-
I' ' fidered.

UNITED STATE§ of AMERICA. Bf
fidered, ;it is feen that it inceffantly difpofes hini
to render his life agreeable; If he has a pro
perty, he ftrives to improve it ; if the foil he
cultivates be fruitful, and demands but little in
advance, thedefife of Increafing his enjoyments
ftimulates him to torture his land to draw from
it its various produdions. One idea put in
pradice 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 frorn defires to
enjoyments, from one change to another, is
the fource of what are called manufadures*
A manufadure Is but the means of giving to
a produdlon ofthe earth, a form which adds
to it a new degree of agreeablenefs and uti
lity. Want and defire of manufadures are
therefore in the nature of man ; fo that If
we fuppofed Europe entirely annihilated, ma
nufadures would foon rife up in America, be
caufe each Indiyldual ftrives to render his e;xlft-
ence agreeable by means the moft fpeedy and
efficafcious*. Manufadures,
* Perhaps; the eharaiSer and Kie of favages, who are fup
pofed to have rto ttiatiufafturers a.m©ng themj will be oppofed
to thefe reafonings ? iVIen are deceired in judging thereby ;
for thefe people, vvhich we look upon as only one degre(^ re-
F 2 moved

j6S ON THE COMMERCE OF THfi
Manufadures, hke the wants of civilized
men, may (as was obferved In the laft chapter)
be divided into three claffes : i ft. Thofe of ne-
CeflHty ; 2d. thofe of convenience ; 3d. thofe of
fancy or luxury. Food, and the natural exigen
cies of mankind, afe comprehended in the firft
clafs. It is from the wants of convenience efpecial
ly, that manufadures have their origin. With
out doubt, fklns of, ftieep Were fufficient to de
fend men from the feverfties of cold ; a cabin or
a hut from the intemperature of the atmof-
moved frorti a ftate of nature, work up and manufafture the
earth's produftions. Thus from their corn, before it is ripe,
th^y extraft 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 thefe ; hunting
took them from a fedentary'life, and did not give them tinie
enough to extend their ideas. ,
The paftoral life of the Arabians bas condufted them one or
tv^o degrees farther in the art of manufafturing, becaufe that
kind of life affords greater leifure, and gives more uniform and
conftant produftions. Thofe fhepherds whofe riches confift,
ibut rn their flocks, and who live on milk alone, and are doth-
ed with their wool only, have a paflionate defire for coffee,
Iberbet, and fugar. The defire of increafing their enjoyments
is the caufe. Let it be therefore agreed, that man by his na
ture is inclined to enjoyment, and confequently to manufac-
¦tures. phere ;,

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."'*' 69
phere ; but man is no fooner preferved from one
evil, than he feeks ,to get rid of another. Skins
are infufceptible 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, ivhich are
transformed intp enjoyments, whofe accuffomed
ufe changes them into neceffities.
When man has every convenience, he then
thinks of ornament. Hence the wants of lux-
tiry ; they are entirely in the imagination, and
.procure imaginary pleafures only. Therefore
to wear any laced clothes, or drink coffee out of
a china ratter 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 neceffary to know what
thofe of the Americans are. They have the
two firft of them. Their habitudes eonfraded
in their infancy frora European emigrants, and
their commerce with the Enghfh, have accuf
tomed them to the kind of life and tafte of the
latter, and it is well known that Englifh induf
try has been particularly direded to neceflary
^nd ufeful arts.
The independent Americans, at leaft thofe
who inhabit great maritinie cities, have borrow-.
?5,d ffom the Englifh a tafte for luxuries ; they
F 3 ' feek

yo On THE COMMERCE OF THE
feek for gauzes, blond lace, filks, ^c. It is
h.Qwever with pleafure I obferve, that if this
tafte of modes has Infeded London within thefc'
few years, its ravages have not been extended
with 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 feeklng after elegance and
drefs, and keep them from oftentation and vor
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
upon the two firft claffes of wants. Now i|
is impoffible that the Americans fhould ever re-
pounce 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, th^t man is endowed with
* Iffixury is certainly to be found in Virginia ; and when
.we fpeak of luxury with refpeft to free America, it is neceffary
to diftinguifli carefully the Southern from tlie Northern Statps ;
.cities frpm the country; "maritime cities from interior ones.
#y thefe diftinftions many contrarieties in the accounts of fu-
perlicial trayeller$ may be explaitied. that

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA^ 7 1
that adivity which perpetually difpofe§,him to
add to his enjoyments.
By their habitudes, becaufe, as it has been ob
ferved, they contraded that of ^11 thofe wants,
and it is weft known, that a tafte for pleafure
is not to be exterminated when rooted by ha
bitude. ;How can it b^ required of man to de
prive himfelf of wine and liquors to which he is
accuftomed, and in w^bich he places a part of
his enjoyments, except we would render him
Unhappy ? I will not quote hermits, fick per
fons, or philofophers, wh^ have had that empire
over themfelves ; hut let not a like prodigy be
expeded In a whole nation.. An affoeiation of
three millions of philofophers has not yet been,
nor will be feen to confine themfelves to the re-
gjnien pf Pythagoras *, or the dipt of Cornaro.
The fevere facrifice of tea, vs'hich 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 regeneratirig the old people of the Continent,
¦and offupporting republicanifm in the United States, would
be to give to children fuch an educati.on as Pythagoras exer.
cifed at CrOtona.**"fi^f the Life of Pythagoras. '
F 4. habitudes j

7? bN THE COMMERCE OF THE
habitudes f,i as religious enthufiafm has com-
bated, fonietimes fnccefsfully, the paffions of an
hermit. But there is no caufe powerful enough
to produce a like effed, except in the crIfis
which makes the facrifice neceffary and eafy.
The reafon of the dependence In which the
Americans would put themfelves with refped
to the Europeans, and the fear; of diftant cor-»
ruption, are motives too feeble to carry men to
that point of heroifm ! It Is not fufficiently 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, doe^ not make it pro
bable that Its inhabitants will ever be able to rev
noUnce the want of European produdions.
A prodigious number of individuals emigrate
every year frora all parts of Europe to America,
who carry with them wants and incUnations
* It is affured that abftinence from tea was not every wher§
faithfully obferved, which appears yery probable on reflefting
,that there was a party which fain would have violated it. X
have kppwn feveral perfons whom ^he deprivation of tea had
jpadp ill for a long tinje, although they had tried illufive means,
by f^bftituting the infufioii of agreeable fimplps fof thaf of j;he
Igarleaf,
which

VNITED STATES OF AMERrCA." 73
which they have from education and habit. If
they find them in America, they continue to
gratify them; if they ,^re unknown there, they
naturalize them, and it is the firft thing they
go about ; for they do not fo much perceive the
new .pleafures they are going to enjoy, as thofe
of which they are' deprived ; fo great is thc
force of our firft habits and cuftoms. Remem
brance, although frequently mixed with the
cruel idea of fervitude, abandons man in the
grave only. - ~
. According to this inclination, natural to all
men, let the imraenfe 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-
iible to put bounds to or deftroy them.
' To fucceed in this, it would not only be ne
ceffary to fhut out foreign coramerce from all
the American ports. : Araerican induftry muft
be circumfcribed, and the fource oftheir wants
flopped up ; it would be neceffary to imitate the
JL,aeedempnian law, which ordained that no
thing fhould be worked up but with the heavy
hatchet, the more effedually to banifh thelux-
wy of elegant furniture. In a word, a miracle
muft be operated upon the Americans, to take
from tbega all remembrance of what they have
been,

74 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
been, of all they have feen,. fmelt, or taftgiil
and the fame enchantment muft deprive Euro
pean emigrants of their ideas; as it would be
abfurd to hope for a like prodigy, ,V^'yorc^ oj
things, which drags the independent A^ierlcans
into exterior commerce, muft be fubmitted to*.
•AU is reduced to two words; America has
wants, and Europe has manufadures.
In the United States fome of the inhabitants fill
up the leifure afforded by agriculture (In which
the Europeans cannot hope to become their
rivals) with an attention to manufadures. And
they have others confined, to the moft neceffary
arts; conneded with cultivation, fifheries, and
the conftrudion- of veffels. Bat even thefe
manufadures are but few in nupiber, and in-
fufficient for the wafits of the United States.
They are therefore obliged to haye recourffe to
Europe. It is not that they neither have, nor
can have almoft all the raw materials employed
* It is with regret that I write this faft, on confidering it
philofophically, but it appeal's to have b?en dembnftrjted po-
jitically. No perfon wifhes more than I dO to fee the United
States feparate themfelves from al) the world, arid in this fitu
ation to find again the aufterity of the ' Spartan regimen, with
put its cruel principles of military difpofition, I^ would be a
fmarf ftrpk? in politics ; but this unhappily js no more than a
dreanj. < '
¦ ' . ,! ruo. in

UNITEja STATES OF AMERiqAl 75
in Our own manufadures. They have hemp,
ftax, and cotton *,
But, if they had raw materials in plenty, they
ought to be advifed not to^eftabhfh manufac
tures ; or, to fpeak more juftly, manufadures
fOuld not he efiablijhed ; the nature of things or
dains it fo. Let us difcufs this queftion, as it
is an important one.
There are many reafons for men's engaging ia
a new country In agriculture rather than in ma
nufadures. There, where two individuals can
eafily live together, they marry, fays Montef-
qnieu. The labour of the field offers to them
more means of living together, of augmenting
3;nd fupporting their family, than working at
*. The four Southern States gather great quantities of cot-
Jon, Their poor are clothed with it winter and fummer. In
winter they wear cotton fliirts, and clothes of wool and cotton
mixed. In fummer their fliirts are linen, and. their outward
clothes of cotton. < Women's drefs is entirely of cotton, and
piade up by themfelves, women of the richefl: clafs excepted ;
yet a woman of this clafs has a deal of cotton v/orked up in
her houfe, and this callico equals in beauty that of Europe.
Thofe from the Sonth furnifli a deal of cotton to the States of
fhe North, which cannot grow it, the climate being too cold.
There is fcarcely any part of the United States without good
j^ur andfaw mrtlls. The Northern States have others for
flaittening iron. It is in the conftriiftion of mills efpecially,
jthaf the Americans diftinguifli themfelves, in varying their em-
ploy/and utility, and in their diftributioij.
manufac-

7^ -ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
manufadures .: in thefe the dependence of the
workman, his precarious and changeable ftate,
his moderate wages, and the high price of pro
vifions in cities, where moft manufadures arc
eftablifhed, put it out of his power to think of
having a companion, and if he has one, the
profped of mifery which fhe muft have before
her eyes, after his death, impofes, on him a kw
contrary to propagation, to avoid the cruelty of
.cauling 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 muft rapidly increafe.
What a difference in other refpeds 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-
l(ical principles continually regenerate by a fa-
* Journeymen manufafturers, and in general men in a ftate
cf dependence, whofe fubfiftence is precarious, and who have
children, certainlj^ 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 firfl ; their children
are ignorant of the foft careffes of paternal love. What kind
of generation muft arife from fuel! a cennexion I
7 lubriovis

UlfiTED STATES OF AMERICA. 77
lubrious air, and in, reviving exercifes, where he
lives in the midft of his relations and friends,
whora he makes happy : what a difference frorri
that to the life of manufadurers condemnec^ to
vegetate in difmal prifons, where they refpire
infedlon, and where their minds are abforbed,
as well as their lives abridged. This condud
alone ought to decide the Americans to rejed
the painful ftate of manufadures *. Befides
* The idea of property is one of the ftrongeft ties by which
man is attached to life, to his country, to virtue, and I will
add even to health. The fatisfaftion ofa manufafturcr, who
at the end' of the week has a guinea in his pocket,- is far from
that of the little country proprietor, who is feldom poffeffed of
fuch a fum ; but who gathers in his own field every thing ne
ceffary. He loves it, fees it always with pleafure, takes care
of its cultivation, and, by a confequence of this foft difpofi
tion, he attaches Irimfelf to the animals which aiHft him in that
cultivation. The labourer fees, as he works, the polfibility of increafing
the number of his children ; and he has the pleafing hope of
leaving theni after his death a little corner of earth which will
keep tbem from indigence.
The labourer is happy becaufe his contrafts are with the
earth only, which gives liberally and difintereftedly, whilft the
intereft of the mafter who pays the manufafturcr embitters
the wages which he receives.
The laboursr is ftill happy, becaufe he is only amongft his
equal? ; inequality is the fource of malice. The fuperior is
malicious

7$ ON TKE COMMERCE OF TIjE
Befides, there will be, for a confiderable t'lmd
to come, more to be gained in the United States, by
malicious to. fupport his "oppreffion. T'he liave is vindiflive
to deftroy and Itvenge it. '
The labourer is amiable and generous, becaufe it would be
neceffary to abahdon all cultivation, if there were not between
hufbandmen a reciprocity of fervices apd confidence.
I*erhaps it would not be difHcult to prove that health and
goodnefs are diminifhed in' proportion to the increafe df manu-
faftures, cities, property, and the defertion of rural life, and
that vices and crimes are increafed in the fame propor):ion.
This is not the opinion of the fenfible and interefting au-
ifeor of the Study of Nature : " When I was at Mofcow,"
feyshe, (Vol. III. ) " an old Genevois, who was in that city,
" in the time of Peter I. toM me, that fince different means
" of fubfiftence had been opened to the people by the eftab-
«' lilhment of o^anufeiftures and. coramerce, feditions, affaffina-
" tions, robberies, and incendiaries, had been kfg frequent than
'^ formerif." But this would not have exifted, and there would have been
the fame public and private virtue, if inftead of making the
.Ruffians manufafturers, they had been made proprietors of
lands. Hufbandmen are honeft people, fays M. de St. Perre
hinifelf.—- And workfhops, 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-
tetpft, rich and indolent ftupidity ftriving to cheat aftive indi
gence. If workSiops do not make men rafsak, they difpofe
them to become fo ; they make them egotjftsj irifenfible, un-
courii, and bad fathers.
Therefore, the faft quoted by this author doeg iiot prove, that

r

t/NITED STATES OP AMERICA. 79
%. ths eart-h,. which yields abundantly, than by
manufadures-*-and mail places himfelf In that
fituation where the greateft and moft fpeedy
gain is to ibe acquired.
As populstion muft, for many ages, be dif-
proportioned to the extent of the United States,
land will be cheap there during the fame kngtii
of time ^, atid confequently the inhabitants will
for a long time be cultivators-. Thofe
that te .prewetit -crimes, it is neceffary to eftablifti manufac
tures ;¦ but that itis better to have manufaftures peopled witJt
degracfed wor'kmen, than forefts with banditti ; 'tis a leffoc
evil, but it is ftill an evil.
* An idea -of the price of lands in the United States, may
be formed from the following article taken from tbe Gazette
of Philadelphia, pfgth of December 1784: "Obferve that the'
" ground of Pennfylvania begins to be dear, and that the inha-
" bitants begin to emigrate to Kentucky." — By this adyef-
tifement there are offered to fale, " 25,000 acres ef land, fita-
" ated in the county of Northampton, State of Pennfylvania,
*' iipoh the Delawar. — A public road, a navigable river, fertile
'* foil, excellent for culture— meadoWs-='plaGes for mills —
" great forefts — plenty of filh-ponds, &c. at half a guinea aa
" acre. "Another quantity of 25,000 acres', upon the Sufquehan-
*' nah, with equal and even greater advantages, at the fame
" price.: — Good title deed*, — ^facilities of pa'yment.^— A referve
'.' of three hundred acres only wiH be required in eaeh diftrift
" for ^e maintenance of the clergyman of the pariih ;— one
" hundred

S.5 ' ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
Thofe whom ambition, thirft of gain, or ig-
nortoce, ftiould incUne to eftablifti manufadures,
will,, from that moment, be diftianded from it
by the dearnefs of workmanfliip. This dear
nefs is already very confiderable *,' and may be
come ftill more fo, as the caufe which occafions
it muft naturally become more extended.
What is the caufe ? It has already been inti
mated fo as to be forefeen.
Cities are built in all quarters f; lands are
cleared and eftahlifliments made every where.
Inthe qounty of Kentucky, for inftance, where,'
in 1771, there were fcarcely one hundred inkz-
bitants, there are now nearly thirty thoufand j
and thefe men have emigrated from inhabited
coafts or countries. Thus hands are taken from
the commerce and agriculture of thefe laft,
which is confequently the caufe of the increaf
ed price of workmanfliip.
*• hundred guineas when there fliall be fifty families, to build z
" 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 ofthe United States for the day's- work of a carpenter,
lockfmith, &c. , ¦ . ,
f This <is a great evil, as will be hereafter proved, and
which will contribute more than any other to the ruin of re
publican fpirit. Fronci

'U.NLTED STJVTE&. OR AMERICA. 8l
From this dearnefs it has been concluded in
Europe, that the people in America? were
wretched ; a contrary conclufion ought to have
been drawn. . Wherever workmen govern ;
wherever they are paid a high price, the people
are neceffarily happy ; for it is of them that the
various claffes of vvorkmen are compofedi
On the contrary, vs'herever workmanfliip is
at a low price, the people are wretched; for
this cbeapnefs proves, that there are more work
men than there is work to execute, more 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 their brows at the
loweft rate poflible'''^. • ; n.i
It is the reverfe in America^ the workman
gives the law, and lb much the better, he re
ceives it too often every where elfe.
* Tobe convinced of this. truth, look at England andFrance;
Vprkmanlhip is very (^ear in London but cheap in Paris. I^ie
workman in London is- well fed, clothed and paid ; in Paris he
is quite the contrary.
." It (reqiiently happens," faid an American one day to me,
" that I meet iq,the United States a ploughman, condufting his
" piflugh and horfes, and eating a wing of a turkey and a piece
«' of good white bread. I have feen, added he, a veffel arrive
« at New York, full pf Scprtchmen, not one of whom was un-
", employed the next daj?."
VdL. ir. G This

82 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
' This dearnefs of workmanfliip is prejudicial
to manufadures, and ftill fo much the better.'
Thefe eftahlifliments are fo many torphs which
fwallovr up generations entire *. Agriculture,
on the contrary, perpetually increafes popula
tion. By preventing, or at leaft retarding the rife
,of manufadures within their' provinces, the
Americans will ftop the decadency of morals
and public fpirit : for if manufadures bring gold
into the States, fhey bring at the lame time a
poifon which undermines fhem. They refera
ble a number of individuals whofe nature and
morals are at once - corrupted : they form and
accuftom men to fervitude, and give in a repub
lic a preponderance to ariftocratical principles,
and by accumulating riches in a fmall number
of hands, they caufe republics to incline to arif-
tocracy. Therefore the Independent Americana will do
wifely to leave to Europe the care of manufac-
* There are feveral manufaftures at Amiens, and it is re
marked, that the hofpitals are more filled with manufafturers
than with mafons or other like artizans. A manufafturing
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," ' turino;

tJNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 8_J
tiering for them, bec^iufe flie is irrefiftibly drag
ged into manufadures ; and as their population
and cqnfunaption muft rapidly increafe, It Is not
impoflible that Elurope may one day confine her-
fqlf'to this kind of occupation, and that Ame
rica raay one day become her ftorehoufe of
grain and raw rnaterials, of which ftie will not
be in need. In this cafe, nothing will be feen
in Europe but cities and workfliops ; in inde-
pencjent Araerica, nothing but fields well culti
vated. I will leave it to be decided which coun
try wovjld have the moft happy fate.
Under the fame point of view, the indepen-
derit Americans will ftill ad \yifely by leaving
it to the Europesins to fujrnifti them with necef"
fary articles ; and in feldom frequenting the cities
and fea-ports of the ancient continent. In effed,
an European tranfported to independent America
is in the proportion of one to one hundred, and
fometimes to a ^ thoufand. — His example has
therefpre but yery little influence,; the luxury
of which he makes a parade In paffing by, ex
cites lefs ,confideratIon or refped than contempt
and ridicule". If he, leaves a remembrance of
himfelf, it is foon effaced by the general motion :
there are, .moreover, fome puropeans, who»^
ftruck ahd edified by the manners, and cuftoms
\,'' ^ ' ' '\g"2"' of

84 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
of free Amencaj have good fehfe eriSu^h to'ti-
fped and conform iKetrifelvcs to them".
Itis the reverie' when ah American goes on
Ihore in Eurp^e,' armo'ft aloiie, with his fimp^li-
city of inanners' in the iiiidft of a vortex of
men whoefteem the eclat of exterior appearance
only ; who, agitated and. led by the geijeral toil,
iacrlfice evei-y thing to, the furor of making a.
' great figure bythe brilliance bf drefs, equipage^,
and pomp : this Aniericah rnuft at firft be fdrn'
down and tormented, becaufe he finds hirfifdf
thrown into a circle of habltiides contrary to his
own. Afterwards be becomes familiarifed by
little and litt^le, and if he does hot quite get a
tafte for tbem, at leaft his attachment to a fiin-
plicity of Iif? and .manners is neceffarily Weak
ened.' Carrying back with him to his Own
cpuntry this difpofition of mind. He introduces
it infenfibly Into the minds bf thofe vvho are
about him,, upon which it has fdme infrdenc'^—
upon the minds df hi^s cfeildrbn aJnd ffiends.
Their tafte for fimplicily becomes lukeWJirtii
' by hls-example, and tHe following a'ge fees piib-
lic virtues fall into Indifferencfe.
ft will be lefs dangerous to the jfiblle fpirit
, of t'he independent. Americans to adthit the Ett-
rbpeanf into theUnited Staite's, than to go th^tri* felves

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 85
felves into Europe; from which . it refults that
it woiild be very impolitic to encourage the for
mer to become the carriers of thejr exterior
commerce. ; I -have Infifted upon .this refledion becaufe
tljere feems ,^9 Jwve. appeared in fome States ^
difpofition to give pregiiunis for fllftaat nayiga-
tipn. They ought. .tjcpi. refjed, that ,they h^v-e
but few, hands ,,and .that as. few.^s poffible ftiquld
be tajfe^njfcom cnltpr^. TJj^y.^are in the.fitua-
•tion l||iave fpoken, of; in -my principles of .extcr
lior^ofpmcrc^e, .where .anatljjn gains by niak-
iixg carriers of .others . having lefs . foil -or enjplqy.
They .ftiould alfb<reco)j!e^, that republican mor
rals are better preferved in.the bofom of agri-
culture^thanuponthe fea aijd in foreign vpy-
iiiges, which give to tnen, comniunications with
otl?er,fnorals and governments.
It is a general q^ueftipn in the United States,
by what means jit, is poffible to put bounds to
exterior coHimerce, and ftop the progrefs of lijx-
ury : ftay at home, — cultivate, cultivate, I will
repeat to, ith,cm ; this is the fecret whereby, you
will prevent the increa.fe of luxijry; a fecret
mufh prefer^;ble tq futnptuary laws and prohi
bitory regulations, which; fornc ftates liaVe it jn
g^aXfmplation to make, P 3 Tlier?

8 6 ON THE COMME RCfe'' O^^ THE
There is ho pb^er^great ei'ibtigh tofe^, by
regulations," fuch boundarlesf to exterior com
merce as will not be e)cceeded: t:o circumfcribe
it for inftance to merchandizes of convenience,-
without the impoi-tation Sf thofe Of lilxury. T^he
nature Or force of things only has fiich a powen.^
That force has, as- has ' ¦been before dkplained'^^
the union of 'the natural .circutiiftances of a*na-
tlbh; thefe i^iVcumftances alone' mark the llniits'
of commerce. A nation which cannot pay for
luxuries with its own produdion, dops ndtpur-
ctiafe them. The lavage; can only pi'ofc'tfe
with his furs, brandy, guiippwder. and wodll'en
coverings; he liuys neither filks nor laces.
If, therefore, the produdionsi of the Uiirted
States be fcarcely fufllcient to pay for the im
portations of neceffity and convenience fron^
Europe, metchandlzesof'luxurjr'wlll not beini-
ported : if thefe be Carried to it, 'tis becaiufe it
can pay for them. There is ho merchant whd
.likes to ruin himfelfi ' '' ' ¦-
If, on the coiitrary, the United States have,
produdions proper fpr the ancient continent, in
quantities fufficient to procure, by their exchange,
not only the moft neceffary and convenient
things, but eventhofe of luxury" nothing can
' " ¦ . lainder

tJNITED STATES OF AMERICA. By
hinder the latter frora being fooner or later im
ported, by means of exteripr, commerce.
In, truth, to increafe demands of this nature,
the public ophiiorf, which before treated oppro-
brioufly a tafte for modes, muft totally change,
and the particular opinions of certain feds equal
ly yield to it.
,But notwithftanding the powerful influence
of opinion upon merchandizes of luxury, the
fate df this kind. of commerce will be more par
ticularly determined by the ftate of the indepen
dent Amencans, for when rich they will adopt
them. This fad will appear certain, if what
has been faid on the nature of the human heart
be recolleded, and its Inclinatipn to improve
man's fituation, and to increafe his enjoy
ments. Tafte for a rural hfe alone, if the Americans
preferve it, will retard the progrefs of luxury,
which fprings Up^ in cities, from fatiety, want
of fomething to do, and from lafiitude: em
ployment preferves th? country from thofe
moral ills.
There is one laft confideration, which ought
to perfuade the independent Americans to emT
ploy, themfelves in cultivation, and' rejed both
|nanufa£iures and exterior tranfports ; which is,
Q4 • that

Ss bN THE CdMl^ERCE OF THE'
that in wlfliing'to undertake every thin^ -at
once, the fcarcity of ' mdriey, neceflary at leaft
for the mechatiical p'art of thefe dperatioiis, ''4'iU
alvvays *be nidre perceived, whilft, by giving
thehifclves up -ehtirely to cultivation, they will
prdcure from their 'foil produdions fufficient
to pay for thefe manufadures from Elurppe, and
feoW^kef up for the fcarcity of coin*.

* The independent Americans have but little money; thi$
fcarcity arifes from two caufes; firft, from tlie kind of som -
^ei-ce they heretofore carHe'd-On with England, and afterw^rclB
frohi the ra,vages of„a Tevcn; years war. , As' this commerfap
was purely one of exchange, atjd that in certain ftates, as Vir
ginia, the importations always furpa^ed the, ej^portations ; the'
refult was, that they could not but be debtors to England, an^
could not draW miiae^ from that Jflk'nd.
It was a kind of commercial fervitude, which the'Eagliftl
looked, upon as the pledge arid guarantee of the dependence of
the Colonies upon the .mother country.
'The money they had came from their illicit commcrdo
with the'Sngar Iflands and European plowers. The war,' af
terwards, by changing labourers into foldiers, caufed a part of
their lands to' remain without Cultivation. From that tiine
exchanges increafed and money decreafed. The little of it
remaining in Amferica,_came firft from^money carried and ex
pended there by the En'glilh and French armi'esj and afterwards
by the loans negociated in Europe by Congrefs,
Bilt it is eafy to conceiveiaft'er what has bEenfdd'Opon'tlje
quantity of coin, how a nation, which, by ah extraordinary
Kvblution, is all at once wiclely developed, its populatidn ra-
V pidly

VNITfeD -STATES OF AM^S^ICA. $^
They appear to be alarmed at this ; .v^^hat has
been faid iipon the fubjed of pnoney plight to
remove their fears. It has bedn^demonftrated
that a nation may carry On a very confidepabfe
coramerce without its aid. It will he*eafte|
be feen that the Unitcd-Statesproduce inany ;raw
materials effentially neceffary sto France, and
that flic can make their exports with gceatep
advantage than thofe of any other country.
,w,Thus it appears that thefe two couiltries-may
car»y on together a dired trade of exchange
Vvithout money, confequently an advantag-eous
one; for^the exchange between them of pro-
duj^^ions is more lucrative than an exchange of
produdions for money; although this opinioii,
may not be adopted by men in general, who at
tach a greater. price to gold than to merchan
dize, and continually forget its reprefentative
value, to fubftitute for it a real one. It muft
be inceflantly repeated to 'them that nioney
would be afefolutely nothing without pro'duc-
pidly increafed, and is thereby obliged to continual advances,
for clearing of lands, fflr building, making of roads and canals,
to pay foreign debts, moftly in fpecie, and Whi'ch has no minesi
muft feel the ftarcity of mo'iiey, and the reafon of it is clear :'
the waht of it is at prefent -fupplied, in Connefticutjtby an ex-
e:haiige of commodities, or thefe .againft labour, ^ tions^

9© ON TH|^,COMAIERCE OF .THE
tions ; that a rich people is that which, by its
induftry, increafes 'population, and has confe
quently an abundance of produdions; that the
fecret of increafing ¦¦ the quantity of coin con
fifts only in the ar.t. of multiplying neceffary
produdions., and.jt is this to which the United
States ought to incline, without being anxious,
about the money, which they may have at
prefent or in ftttbre., ^ ,,
V Let usrefurae.the diffetent queftions cdn-
lained in this chaptet. ».
, My objed has /been to make it appear that
theUnited States .were forced .by their necefii-
ty and eircumftances to engage : in exterior
commerce. ,.. i
'J Tr° convince my readers of this, I have provv
ed that the independent Americans had wants
of neceflity, of convenience, and even fome of
luxury, which they could neither renounce nor
fupply themfelves with.
That having nq manufadures of their own,
they were obliged to have recpurfe to thofe of
¦Europe: that they could eftablifli none for a
long time, having but few hands, and thc^t cul
tivation ought to employ aft their cares.
-' That according to phyfical, political, and mo
ral .relations,, they ought tp perfevere in apply-
^ ¦ ' ¦ " in-

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Ot
ing themfelves to agriculture alone, and even
give up all thoughts of tranfpqrting to Europe,
by their own means, their proper produdions..
That this was the only means of preferving
their republican morals, and of retarding tbe
progrefs of luxury.
In fine, that by engaging In agriculture, and
negleding manufadures, they will lefs perceive
the want of tnoney, and will find the meaiis of
fupplying that wanjt, and of carrying on a very
advantageous exterior pommerce of exchange of
commodities, ^ -'" i
Thefe different points being firmly eftablifli
ed, it is at prefent neceffary toprove, that of all
the nations of Europe, France is the, moft pro
per to enter into a commercial alliance with the
United States, and that thfeir necefljties and pro
dudions are correfponderit , to each other. ,It
is propofed to lay open this truth, by prefenting
the double table of reciprocal importations, and
exportations, to be made between France and
free America.

CHAP.

jp, ON TBS CdUMmoZ OF THE

tn A pf"'v:'''':'

OF THE IMPORTATION TO* gE 'litADE FROM
FRANCE 'iN:To' THE UNITEO STATES,' ^R
OF THE WA'NTS .o'f, THE U:tJ'l TED- STATES,'
AND THE PRODir.CTIONS OF >'FRANCE WHICH
CORRESPOND THERETO. *

Tl

"^HE attentive reader will have -already
iDeen-able to Judge, :t|iat. if the indepen
dent Americans jdoj not deviaie from the rcajeer
which iS'Open to:them, Europe will,, for-a. long
time, 'have to- furnifti -them.with manufadured
laaecchandize. Jt has-been made to appear, that
Jthe elearing and cultivation of lands, and all that
relates to jntepior comraerce, fuch as roads, and
canals,' offered' to their induflry the moft favour-
lable and ufeful employ, . efpecially whilft im
pofts dp not reflrain their movements, and that
f free conftitiitlon equally honours every indi
vidual. It is now neceffary to take a curfo?y view of
their wants, and to point out thofe articles with
which .France may pretend to furnlfh them in
~ fompetitipi^

tJOTTED STATES OF AMERICA. 9.3,
competition- with other nations, if even ftie can
not' do it more advantageoufly than her rivals.
I "will follow, in this enumeration, theEno-Ufli
publications which have treated upon the mat
ter, and particularly that of Lord Sheffield: he
has omitted nothing, becaufe his country pre
tends to furnlfh every thing '^,

S E G T I O N I.
WINES.
Wine becoraes a real want of thofe who havC'
o'iice been acquainted with it. Happy or mi
ferable, rich or poor, every body makes ufe of
wine. Wine is the delight of the happy or of
the rich. It helps the unfortunate to fupport
his fdrrOw ; the* poor think they find it an equi-
valferit for the food they are without.
Eafe has lately been too general in theUnited
Spates, not to have iiitrdd-'aced the tlfe of wine;
and futurity, by augmenting their means, will
otily increafe their Want ofthis liquor.
.y>" ¦:
* Iwill riot defcend to,the mfnutias his Lordfliip has '^ane,
but I J will prov.e, in every important article, the, French,, if
they ):now how to profit by their natural advantages,, mu'ft
obtain a preference.
, 3 - The

04. ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
The wines which were moft generally con-
fumed in the United States, were, as in Eng^
land. Oporto, Madeira,, and fome from Spain.
French wines charged as. in Britain, with, enpr-,
mous duties, were introduced by contraband
only. Liberty has caufed thofe Britannic fhackles to
difappear. French wines are freely imported
into the United States, and pay but little duty.
Such is the ftate of things, and. it leads me to
the difcuffion of three queftions :
. Does it- fuit the United States to cultivate
vines, and to make wine ?
Ought they mot, in renouncing this cultiva
tion, to give the preference to French wines ? , /
" And what raeans ought the French to ufe,
in order to obtain and preferve this preference ? .
It would be abfurd to deny, that the United.
States can produce wine, becaufe the experi
ments hitherto made have been fruitlefs. Ex
tended as they are, and having countries as
fduthern as Europe, it is impoflible there
fliould not be, in many places, a foil proper fpr ,
the vine.
The little fuccefs of attenipts may therefore,
without hazarding too much, be. attributed ei
ther

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. g^
ther to, the ignorance of the cultivator, his want
of perfeverance, or a bad choice of plants. '
However that may be, if the Americans will
' .1, .
hearken to the counfels of able obfervers, and
reap advantage from the errors of other nations,
they will carefully avoid the cultivation of vines.
In every country where they have been culti-
vated^ for one rich man, they have made a num
ber wretched.
The long and confiderable advances which
vines require, the preparation, prefervation^ and"
fale, of their produce, have put all the good
vineyard plots into the hands of rich people,
who not cultivating thefe themfelves, pay the^
real cultivator very badly. The falary of, the
wretched vine-dreffer Is every where inevitably
fixed; the tirae he does not work not being
calculated, and few wine countries' offer any
employ by which loft time maybe filled' up;
and otherwife, the variations In tbe pricesof the.
moft neceflary commodities occafioned by a
thoiifand caufes, by the abundance or even fcar
city of wine, are not confidered for:hini.
Would it be believed, that abundance Is the
moft unfortunate thing that can happen, eithei:
to the proprietor or the vine- drefler ? In fad,
the expence of gathering augmients, and the'
. -¦ "¦ price

9^ ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
pific!^ of the thing dimirilflies. There is more
work tOibe done, more hands ar^ neceffary, and
they .at-e paid, more wageS ; more hogfheads, are
wanted, the expenpes of carriage greater, more
fpace is required, the fale, is lefs, and confe-.
qp^ntly-the income*.
The fcarcity of wines, or, the fterillty ofthe'
vineyard, is perhaps lefs unfortunate than the
abundance, at leaft to the proprietor. But it
is cruelly fel<t by the vine-jdreffer, and thofe
tvandering troops of day labourers, whom the
* The dssy's work of ^ vintage varies according' to the
fcarcity or ab,undance of wine, from fix to fifty fols, Th?^
price of hpgfbeads has likewife variations in a diffierjent price,
ff«m .three to fifteen livres. There are years wherein the
price d( the hogftxead is higher than that ofthe wine which it
contains. The proprietor who eftabli^es his expences wpoji his re^
venues, is every year deceived by thofe of the yir\eyard. In
one year he redeives at the rate of 20 for 100 ; the iecond year
bis vineyard is perhaps deftroyed by hail ; the third he is ex-
pofed tb hankrupcy, or to fuffer by it, or his wines turn four 5
the fourth he may have but & moderate produce, which wiU
not compenfate f(»- his preceding loffes. In ten years titpe a
proprietor would fcarcely find an average year whifh was ta-
lerably good } yet, as men love to exaggerate their riches and
ifieans, each proprietor calculate? his revenue upon the higheft
produce that his vineyard has ever yielded : the greateft part of
them fpend in confequence, ^nd are ruined. ingratitude

/•
Ul!riTED STATES OF, AMERICA. 97
in&i-atitude of their foil^ or a bad government,
forces to go from home in fearch of em
ploy. The numerous variations which have an in-'
fluence upon the produce of the vineyard, make
it very iriconvenlent property, and triflingly ad
vantageous *. The return muft be waited for
Wheninuch has been gathered; payments muft
be made when there has been but little. The
|)roprietor muft therefore have other refources,
whether it be to wait or to pay. The vine^
dreffer, unhappy enough to have a property -f-,
without any of thefe ^refources, ruins himfelf
fooner or later. He is obliged to fell at a low
price J, or to confume his wines himfelf; thence
* it is a proverb in France, that there is no property wori&
tonditioned than that of the vineyard. <
t The fituation, of a vine-dreffer is different according to
the cuftom of countries. In fome he is hired only by the day,
and there he is completely wretched. In others, as in Swit-
"zerland, he has half of.the produce. 'But an unjuft and tyran
nical tax, laid on by the proprietors themfelves, reduces this
half to a quarter part.
J Such is nearly the fituation of moft of the vine-dreffers
of ./funis, who are proprietors. They are at the mercy of the
rich farmers of that country. 'When winter comes, the vine-
dreffer has neither bread nor money. He goes to the farmer.
Vol. II, H ' aiks

pS ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
thence refults his ftupidity and Idlenefsy his dif-
cGuragement, his dull and quarrelfome humour,
and efpecially the ruin of his health. Too mueii
wine in the time of abundance, no bread in that
of fcarcity; thefe are th^d two altern-atives which
divide his life.
Therefore countries covered with- vineyards',.
are generally lefs |>eopled, and prefent a pidure
of a degenerated, weak,, and wretched popula
tion. For the moft part tbey want hands, tO'
cultivate the viaieyaFd ii* a feafon when work
cannot be delarf ed. It is done by thefe bands
of ftrangers, of whom I have already, fpoken,
and wko coiiie to fell forrie days work to the
poor vine-dreffer.
The cultivation of a vineyard eannot be bet
ter compared than to thofe manufadures, of
afks him fbr both : the farmer fiys I wili accommodate you,.
give me your note. The bu(hel of wheat is w©rth fix livres,
oblige- yourfelf to returo me,, at a certain "epochs, t^e quantity
of wheat whieh fhall be fold for fix livres. He always takes-
care to fix the time -whca corw is at a low price. , Th« ©bii-
gation is paffed, the moment of payment arrives ; the- vine-
dreffer, who has corn,, gives more than he has received. IS
he has none, he is ftill more embarraffed ; the farmer preffes- -
him, you have wine fays he, fell it me. But at what price?
The fafmcF offers a very low one. It is refufed, he threatens,
the poor vine-dreffer is obliged to ruin himfelfj and this fcene
is .annually, repeatedi ., '
3 '' which

t^SlTED STATES OF AMERICA. .^^f
which the hopes of fuccefs are founded, upon
the low price of workmanfliip, and which en
rich none but the~ undertakers, and retailers of
ftiopkeepers. The pernicious influence of the vine is ex
tended, ^in wine countries, to even thofe who
do not cultivate It ; for the cheapnefs of wine
leads to exceffes, and confequently it becomes
a poifon for all ranks of fociety, for thofe efpe
cially who find in it a means of forgetting their
forrows. Therefore, as I have already remarked, in
duftry carefully avoids thefe dangerous vine
yard plots. None pf the great manufadures,
whofe fuccefs is the confequence of order, affi,*'
duity, and labour, are feen in the neighbourhood
of them, . . , :
The refult of all thefe obfervations is, that
¦the Americans ought to profcrlbe the cultiva
tion of the vine.
It would infallibly render miferable that clafs
of fociety which fliould apply itfelf to it, and in
a repubhc there fhould be none who are
¦ wretched, becaufe want obliges theni to difturb
civil order, or, what Is worfe, becaufe they are
at the command of the rich by whom they are
Ha paid.

loo ON THE COMMERCE OF" THE
paid, and who may make ufe of th^m to de
ftroy republicanifm *,
ConJi dered with refped to the proprietors, the
vine ought ftill tobe profcribed by the United
States ; becaufe every profeflion or calling, fuf-
ceptlble of too great a variation of fortune,
•which fometimes heapfs up riches to one perfon,
and at other reduces to Indlgeri-ce individuals in
eafy circuraftances, ought carefully to be avoid-
ed.-^Econoniy, fimplibity, private virtues, arQ-
not' attached to fuch changeablenefs,
¦ 'They are found In the bofom of mediocrity
Only, from eafinefs of circumftance's, founded
upon that kind of toil whofe produce is con
ftant -f. Such is that of agriculture in general;
it- embraces divers produdions, which, in cafe
of accident, i^eplace each other |.
' • ' Finally,
* The' nieah language of fliopkeepers, who humbly offer
their merchandize,, has already begun to find its way into the
Araerican papers. ,
t The Indians are almoft all cultivators or weavers, which
is the reafon why private morals have been better preferved,
a'mong thefe people than arty where elfe, in fpite of the ex
ceffes of defpotifm.
• t What recompence would be cbnfiderable enough for an
ingenious man^ who fliould give to liumanity the means of
prcferying potatoes' for' feyera! years, efpecially if the procefs were

.UNITED STATES t!)F AMERICA. 101
Finally, if it be infifted that wine is necef
fary to man, let it not ftupify him ; it fliould
be ufed with moderation, and its dearnefs alone
may oblige men to fee moderate in the ufe of
it. It being greatly the intereft of the Ameri
can Republics to reraove all exceffes from Indi
viduals, in order to prevent this degeneracy,
they ought to keep perpetually at a diftance
from them a produdlon, whofe dearnefs will
|>revent the abufe of it, whofe cultivation would
render it cheap, and confequently bring, on dan-
-gerous excefles both to policy and mora!ls *.
The catalogue which I have j,uft goiie over,
-of the evils and abufes occafioned by the cul
ture of vines, will not induce the French to
pull up theirs.. But it ought at leaft to excite
were fimple and .pot expenfive ? In that cafe want would be
no longer feared. The embarraffment about the legiflation
of corn would difappear, and mifery perhaps be driven from
among men.
* It will be objecSted, that men employed in agriculture,
bkve need of wine 'to fupport them in their labour. This !s
but an .opinion: there are foiind, in countries where it is leaft
lifed, vigorous and indefatigable men. In truth, wine con
tains an active fpirit which ^?y fupply the want of fubftantial
aliment, and,it is for this reafon the peaf^nts have recourfe to
wine or, brandy, which is more within their reach, Give
idiem meat and.pdtatpes, and they will eafily do without wine.
H 3 tbem

I02 oi* The commerce of the
them to increafe In foreign markets the con
fumption of wines, in order to keep up theif
price, and confequently to' diminifli a part of
the evils which they produce. This will be
doubly advantageous, by an additional exterior
profit, and a diminution of Interior ill. Nobody
wiir deny that French wines piuft obtain the,
preference in the United States. They are the
moft agreeable, the moft varied, and wholefome,
if moderately ufed ; the leaft prejudicial, if ufed
to excefs. They ought to be the bafis of our
exportations to America ; no. nation can raife^
competition with us. Lord Sheffield himfelf
pays this homage to our wines j but in order
td affure to them this advantage for ever, the
art of makihg, preferving, and tranfporting
them muft be improved.
In general we are at preferjt far from this * :

Ignorance,

* I w^'ill quote, for ir^ftance, the wines bf Provence, which
by their ftrength oughtto be capable offupporting the longeft
voyages ; and by their anajogy to the wines of Portugal, would
have the greateft fuccefs in the United States, if they vyere
properly prepared. Thefe wines have hitherto been in the
loweft repute in the North, in the Indian and American colo
nies ; and that becaufe, on one hand, the fitters out of vellels
brought them without choofing, and on the other, the indivi
dual having no idea of tbe culture of vines, nor of the prq-
' ¦ paration

UNITED STATES ipF AMERICA. I03
ignorance, o.ld prejudices, dlfcouragement of
tthe people, impoft on e>x,portation ; all concur
to retard the progrefs pf improvement.
The United States (thefe ftates of fo new a
date) already furi,iifli us ^he model of an inftitu-
tion, which alone would encourage the culture
:of corn 9nd vines, and make the momentary
inconvenieiice of abundant vintages, syhl^h riiiin
the proprietor and farnjer, difappear.
This inftkution, eafy to be naturalized in
France, would have tw<? branches, a depofit ii^
the public magazines of the produdions of the
earth ; certificate or billets of depofit which,
would form an authentic title for the difppfing
proprietor, transferable without formalities at
fhe CUI rent price, like all other public effeds.
It is thus, that in Virginia means have jbeen
paration of wine, mixeid the wMte grape with the r-ed, did not
<jiftinguifti the plants, the foil, nor fituation; cured it by rote,
without paying attention to the difference of years and quali-
.ties ; put into his tubs, to givcj a-s he pretended, a h,igher fla
vor to his wine, all forts of deteftable ingredients, fuch as fajtj
lime, plaifter, and .gigeei^'s dung ; put it into bad cafks o;f
cbefnut-tree ; l?ft in them a year's fediment, and never dce-iv
off the wine, fo that it was always mere inclined to turn four
then any other wine, and therefore became little fit fpr 3 fo^
rei^n voyage,
H 4 found

104 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
found to fupply the want of money ^, and to
give, at thetime of reaping, a real and ufeful
value to tobacco, which,' without that, waiting
for a demand, lies heavy upon the proprietor-
This is not the place to examine this idea
profoundly, neither to, deftroy the objedions
which will be made againft it. This .projed
may conftitute the matter of a memoir by itfelf.
I give here/nothing rnore than the title f. I^eoplc
* The Virginfans have given another example which
proves how eafyit is trf do without money, Many countries
near to the Ohio, haying noneof it, the general affembly re,-_
folvedj. they ftiould pay their quota of imports in hemp and
,flax, which fliould be depofited in the public magazines.
't If it were , wiflied that this prnjecSt fliould fucceed, it
would be abfolutely neceflary to put away all poflibility of an
abisfe unpuniflied. It would perhaps be neceffary, that go
vernment fhould 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 are tied, whofe fteps are watched,
whofe a.Qions are brought to light, to public cenfure, and
confequently, whofe- fecret attempts are lefs to be feared ,by
the people, it is that of England. See wbat the aftonifliing
Minifter, who is now at the head of affairs, propofes to hinder
the intervention and influence of the Englifli government in
the new plan of redemption of the public effecSls and of their
decreafe. He infifts, that the corrimiffioners who fliall be
charged vvith it, fliall be always independent of government ;
that they fliall be public agentiS, and that no force fliall con-
ftrain

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IP5
People in the United States, complain of an
abufe in the commerce of the French wines,
which abufe, It is of importance to remedy in
ftrain them to alienate from its objetS the money deftined to
pay oft' or leffen the public debt. . - .
This minifter clearly perceived, that the confidence of the
people ought to be gained at any price, -for' the eftablifliment
which exifts ' but by confidence ; and that in fuch a cafe, the
facrifice of 'power would fignify nothing to a government
which is really willing to prevent abufes.
The advantages refulting from a plan like this are vifible.
Public depofitories would fupply the defe£t of ability in thofe
yvhp could not l^y up the produ£Mons of theearth. They
would prevent fquandering, loffes, aud fcarcity, and eftablifli
a more conftant uniformity in prices as well aS in quantities:
want of confidence would at fiift perhaps hinder the ufe of
thefe magazines, caves, or cellars of thefe public refervoirs.
But this would, not long be the cafe, if fincerity, order, and
pconomy, rejgned in thefe cftabliflirnents. It is an advantage
which might have been propured by means of provincial ad-
miniftrations, and which perhaps will never be enjoyed but
under their aufpices.
With refpedl to the billets or notes of commodities or produc-
iiMS, It is feen how greatly they would increafe national riches,
how quickly the mifery of the peafants would difappear, if
thefe notes circulated as value in commerce, and if the vine-
dreffer could change his note of depofit for produ(3ions of
which he was in need. The monopoly of rich cultivators
would then be overturned ; of cultivators who fuck up th'e
whole fubfiftence of the vine-dreffer, and, by avaricious ad-
( vances, reduces bim to their will. fhp

I06 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
the moft fpeedy, manner, if we would not de
ftroy the commerce In its origin. Illieil com
merce , produced there before the revolution
-good Bourdeaux wine, becaufe it is a properiy of
fmuggling to give ihat which is of fuperior quahty,
and at a cheaper rate.
¦' Now, finee ' the peace, wines fent from:
France have not beea, as it is affeited, of a^
good quality. It is poffible that from, greedl-
,nefs they may forhetimes have been adulterat
ed. But this tranfient abufe which the mer
chant may eafily deftroy whenever he pleafes,
by choofing in the United States commifiioners
¦vv'hofe reputation is untouched ; this abufe, I
fay, ought not tp .ftop « the exportations ,4. of
FVance. — Wine, if it be good, will always find
cOnfumers.-^Nothing but intelligence and fin
cerity are neceffary to fucceed in this, for nar
ture has done the reft for France,
The Americans prefer, in general, the wine
which is carried to them in bottles, becaufe
they believe it lefs fubje<St to become fliarp, or
to change on the voyage. On the firft view,
^t feems advantageous tp France to furniOi itS'
'vvines with this envelope, becau.fe It Is a new
opening for its glafs-ware. But if it be recol
leded, what a prodigious quantity of corabuftir blei^

UNITEH STATES OF AMERICA. I07
bles glafs, manufaftures require, to the fenfible
deftruflion of forefts, it appears iraprudent to
Encourage a commerce which capiiot but aug
ment it rapidly. At leaft, before it be encou
raged, it would be neceflary to haye very cer
tain accounts of the nuniber of glafs manufac
tories in the kingdom, of their confumption of
wood and charcoal, of their produce and export
tation, atid finally pf our forefts and mines.

S E C T I O N II.
BRANDY. >¦>"

The rapid progrefs lately made in chymiftry,
has difcovered in tpoft of the fruits of the earth,
the falts and fpirlts which conftitute the effence
pf 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 difcoyerips in phyfics which
fhouldnot be revealed wlthoyt having firft con-
iidered their moral and political effeds, and hav
ing indicated to governriient the means of pre
venting their inconveniencies ; it alfo proves,
¦'"¦¦'" ' that'

108 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
that a chymift ought'not to be a chymlft only,
but a politician alfo.
The brandies of Fraiice are generally looked
iipon as the beft, that Is to fay^ the moft deli
cate and leaft -pernicious : therefore they ob
tain the preference with people ifi eafy circum
ftances. A great deal of brandy Is confumed by the
common people ; but this is .counter-balanced^
at home and abroad by fpirlts drawn from grain,
fruit, or fugar.
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'
Boftonians, import melaffes from the fugar
iflands and diftil it, and indepehderitly of theit
confumption, they re-fell a great part of it to
the, inhabitants ofthe fame Iflands, who cannot
diftii it for want of combuftibles.
Befide rum, the Americans make ftrong fpi
rlts from grain, potatoes, &c. They are in
debted for this to the Irifh and Germans who
have gone to fettle in the United States. A
pernicious -prefent thofe emigrants have made ,
them. In Ireland the cheapnefs of fpirlts made from
grain,

UNITED STATES OF , AMERICA. I-09
grain, places them within the reach of the
pOoreft man. The loweft clafles of fociety ufe
them to an incredible excefs ; and this excefs:
contributes not a little to proraote that quarrel-
forne huraour which charaderifes the Irifti, to
plunge thera 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
exceffive ufe of ftrong liquors is the caufe, if
they were not almoft all proprietors, in eafy
circumftances, and fathers of families ; if inftruc-
tion and morals were not more generally pro-
"pagated among them than among auy other
people; and, finally, if the quick and confider^ ,
ab)e profits, which workmen there obtain by the
high price of workmanfliip, did not give them
a falutary ambition which keeps them from in
temperance*. Thofe.
; * The temperance ofthe Americans proves, that a man is
¦honeft-avhin he is happy. . He is neither vicious nor criminal,
except when he is wretched. 'What therefore is the firft caufe
of his vices and crimes ? Th^ caufe of his wretchednefs. The
-genealogy of almoft all crimes is— no' property or want of
employ — caufe of wretchednefs gf the people-r'wrctchednefs the

il6 ON THE COMMERCE Ot THfi;
Thofe of the United States *, where, the peo
ple have gone from fimple and primitive man
ners, where luxury begins to reign, where: fla-
the caufe of dtunkennefs — »drunkennefs the caufe of quarrels
---bf idlenefs, of mifery, of thefts. -^Thefts caufe imprifonment
aild capital punifiiments.
Tb^ firft link only to which a defe£i of propdrby is attach*
ed, remains to be remarked. It is not necelllry to name it.
But it arifes from this genealogy, that in the aftual ordei" of
. things, the people being drawn ihto vices and crimes, are lefs
, culpable than they are imagined ; confequently, they ought
not to be fo feverely puniftied, ajid that government {ho-uld
fupprels too fevere pains. This truth cannot be too often re
peated, and^ it ought to be joined to ie very circumftance
when opportunity offers, feeing thatthe lift of bloody execu-
fions-is every where augmented, and that narrow minds which
fee the atrocity only of the crime, without perceiving its caufe,
j-nceffantly demand blood, for expiation. There would be
but few fcaffolds if none but real criminals mounted them.
* See Smith's .Voyage to the Southern United States,
where a defcription of 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 jheir lives', and appear old in the Rowet
pf youth. This is one of the caufes of the mortality among
the Englifti in the Eaft Indies ; they have introduced there;
the ufe of wines and ftrong liquors, and they are vi(£lims to
them. The Indians make no ufe of thefe, and live to a great
age. ¦ ' ¦
In quoting Smith, the European readers ought to_.be. put
on their guard againft Epglifli partiality, which reigns throggh-
-out the work. very^

t/NITEB STATES OF AMERICA. Ill
very ftill exifts, are daily ' witneffes to the
ravages caufed by the exceffive ufe of fpirks
made from grain *r
A long habit is difficult, and often impoffible,
to ftiake off, efpecially when It procures enjoy
ments. Therefore, it is not to be expeded .
that the Americans will ever renounce the ufe
of thefe liquors. The philofopher figbs at
this; commercial nations, which turn to profit
the. misfortunes and caprices of mankind, ftrlve
to take advantage of it. France" v/ill have the
advantage "f. If ftie can reduce the price of
brandies to the level of that of rum. ^ Govern-
Jmeiit, in order to aim at= this point, has already
.jierceived the neceffity of lowering the duties
on the exportation of thefe fplrits.
, But ought it to favour, with fo much com-
. plailance, the diftillation and exportation of
brandies .^, I d-o not think fo ; this new opinion
•feems to be a. paradox; it will ceafe to appear
* All brandies, except thofe from fugar and wine, are perni-
' cious, efpecially when new. They cannot be drank without
immediately difordering the body. The moll trifling excefs
is fufficient to caufe death.
t JLord SheiHeld agrees that the brandies of France are
Jireferahle to thofe cf Spain and "Portugal, of which there is
aeverthelefs 'fome confumption in the United States. fo.

112 ON THE eOMM£R<iE 'OF THE
fo, when it fliall have been examined 'With at*
tention. ; .
The diftillation of brandies, caufe a greit
decay of combuftibles: pne great evil in a
country where combuftibles daily become more
rare *.
Thcexportation of brandy produces but little
to the revenue. To encourage this article, it
has been neceflary to take off the impOft, which
at prefent is no more than five fols per hogf-
head, whilft -wine pays a duty of at leaft an
hundred fols, and in the Bordelois'from that
fum to^ twenty-eight livres •f'. . :
Government
* All the provinces of France, thofe even to which nature
has refufed the means of tranfporting their wood to others,
feel the fcarcity ofthis article. Lorrain may be quoted "as 'an
'inftance. The forefts ot that province decay, as it is report
ed, in the profpeiStus of a price' upon pit-coal, prppofed by the
academy of Nanci — the dearnefs of wood is exceflive there.
The caufe of this inconvenience is not diflScuIt to afiign ; it
is the neceffary confequence of forges, ' glafs-houfes, falt-pits,
&C. The academy requires pit-coal to be fought for, to.
ferve inftead of wood. A more fimple means would be to
deftroy forges and glafs-houfes, and to get iron and glafs frotri
Airierica. ' ,
.. f Government has, fince this work has been written, fuf- ,
pended the duties paid by the wines of Bourdeaux and Lan
guedoc. ,This fufpenfion was granted upon a remonftrance,
" " importing

ITNltElSi STAtES 'OF AMERICA. II3
Government- ought 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
fts of all made wines in countHes where wine
is not produced. It is put into a great quantity
t)f water ; to which is added bay berries, every
where to be found. Wine brandies are' indif-
' penfable in this fabrication, no other can fupply
tiieir place, becaiife they Only can give t-o arti
ficial wines the winy tafte which Is^ eflential to
make them drinkable.
What immenfe gain to ftrangers in this pro^
cefsi — and what lofs to France! A barrel of
brandy which pays a trifling duty on exporta
tion, whofe tranfport cofts but little' on account
df its Contraded bulk, may be added to five or
^x ba'rrels of water, which coft nothing, ,and
bythe aid of fugared ingredients, which give
GolourSj, may enter into competition with fix
barrels of wine, that pay confiderable duties on
fmporting that there was ah enormous quantity of wines at
fiourdeaux, and which the holders dared not export, that they
ftiight not be obliged to advance the high duties. This proves,
^at impofts occafion a ftagnation.
'Vol. II, ' I exportation ;

114 on the gommerce of rwK
exportation ; and whofe exportation and tranf-^
port is very expenfive.
Therefore;, in diftiHIng and exporting bran-'
dies, we work fof the intereft of our rivals p
we give them an eafy means of doing without
our winesv What folly t What would pebple
fay of an Alchymlft, who- having found the
philofopher's fton'e, fli'ould communicate his fe- -
cret to his rivals, who would make l^fe of it to-
his- prejudlce.-
And yet this operation §a< pfriejiidiDial fO'
France has been favoured by govern mesit. It-
encourages dlftlHers ; - that Is,. It?;raifesup dne-
mles againft the meliorating vineyards and'
wines ; and efpecially againft the art' of pre
ferving the latter. It would be much iiiore
prudent and advantageous to difcourage di-ftilfe-
ries. In fad, the diftillation of brandies is foi?
the; vineyard proprietor a laft referr ce,.- which
proves his ruin *.. aSCTlON
* Ih the Grleanois,-fix barrels at leaft of "wine are neceffarf
to make one of brandy. The winfe 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 brkndy they fcaieely produce eighty^ Thus the
proprietor fuffeirs a lofs of onc'hundred. Brandies fent abroad,,
where they diminiflbi the file of wihe, caifbearhb exportation* duty*.

ITNITEiD STATES OF AMERICA^. 11$

SECTION HI.
tJlLS, OLrVES, BR^Y-'FRUITS, &e.
Thefe articles are fe many wants with the
Ajmericans of eafy fortune, and efpecially thofe
in the northern State?. Our fouthern Provin-
ceSj \Vhieh produce fuch deli:(io!ijis fruits, cannot
in this refped fear any competition. They are
alfo articles which have hitherto beft fucceeded
in adventures made from Marfeilles.
Moreover, all that Europe will be able to
furnifti of them, will find room in the Uiiited
States ; they will accompany our wines, and
we can join with the fame eafe and certainty
of fade, perfumeries, anchovies, verdlgrife, &c.
as W^U as an hundred other little things taken
by the -Englifti ffom Marfeilles, and of which
they have created a want to the Americans,
duty. Wines, on the contrary,"pay.a confiderable one. Let
thefe '^Icuhtioiis be anfvrer^d. The -Englifh themfelves
ought not to admit the brandies of France, becaufe, in fiUfpig
England with artificial wines, they are prejudicial to their
wine duty. The prohibition df brandies would, under this
double £ifpe6^ be advantageous to both countries.
", . I a Lord

j'i6r . ON the commerce ot thE;
Lord Shefiield, in his, work, makes Spain,.
Portugal, arid Italy, furnlfh the United States
with thefe commodities. I wlfti he had been
fincere enough to give the advantage to Francfe.
France is. fo' generally .knovvn to fell thefe pro
dudions in the States, of America, that' it is
equally aftonifliing this writer fliould have
been ignorant of it, or filent upon the fubjed;.
This fad, by proving his partiality, ought to-
put readers' upon their , guard againft his- affer-
tions.

SECTION IV.
gloths.
People governed: I3y a free conftitution arc
naturally grave and deliberate. They prefer,!
in every thing they ufe, gpodnefs to elegance,
what is felid to that which is fubjed to the
caprices of mode. Therefore as long as the
independent. Americans enjoy their excellent
conftitution, they will prefer clothes of cloth to
thofe of the moft brilliant ftuff's.
Moreover its beauty, pliancy, ftrength, and ,
duration, render it more generally fit for this'
•* ufe

-u*nited states of AMERrcA. 117
ufe in any clim.ite whatfoever : cloth fecures
the body from the exceffes of cold as well as
from thofe of heat. It refifts rain ; in 'a word
it unites every convenience; and if it be the
univerfal clothing of people in a middling ftate,
k offers equally to the rich, but reafonable man,
a choice proper to fatisfy his tafte, and.to pro
portion his expences to his means.
The manufadure of cloths is in the num
ber of thofe complicated manufadures 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
fiiall be able to employ themfelves more ufe*-
fully in the clearing of lands, and in cultivation
in general.
A manufadure of woollen fluffs, proper for
the clothing of the country proprietor, his fa
mily, and fervants, may, without doubt, be af-
fociated into the labours of the field ; but mar
nufadures ,of this kind, although- very impor
tant in thenifelves, can only be .applied to
coarfe and unfinlftied ftuffs. The interruptqd
leifure of the peafant permits him to do nothing
.^hich is complicated. Card, fpin, weave, and
I 3 , bleach,

Il8 on the COMMERCE OF THE
bleach, is all that he can do^. 'If it be necef-;
fary for hini to go beyond thefe, he will' find
a greater advantage in felling bis raw materials,
or even with their firft preparations, if they be
fimple, and to draw from the manufadures,
properly fo called, the articles of which he is
in need.
We owe little gratitude to thofe of Our fpe-
eulators who immediately after the peace dif
perfed our cloths in the United States. If onq
fpark of public fpirit had animated them, they
would have perceived the precious ^nd honour
able fervice which they were able to render to
their country In thefe firft adventures, by gIv-_
ins to the Americans a great Idea of the ftate
of our tlnanufadures. Thefe people were well
difpofed, by the fuccour France had given them,
to cherifti its inhabitants, to efteera their cha-'
* -As long as there are lands to, be cleared, .the leifure
which agriculture affords will be very fliort, becaufe every
feafon is proper for this employ, except when too great a
quantity of fnow flops thework. The intervals of leifure
become regularly efl:ablifhed, when the fyftem of cukivatioh
iis fixed, and the foil entirely difpofed thereto. Then under
takings are calculated upon their duration; but, ingeneral,
firnple work, which requires no wdrkfliop, rio confiderable ap
paratus, is that only which agrees^ with agriculture. rader.

united STATES OF AMERICA.' II9'
ftader, and receive their produdions. They
.Were well difpofed to abjure »the contempt and
^verl^on with which the Englifli had iiffpired
-them for their rivals and. their produdions, and
fto give France the preference .in every thing.
Why has avarice, by a miferable calculation,
rendered ,thefe good (^fpofitlons of no effed ?
^Men were willing to gain, to gain greatly,; to
naake what is called a good ftroke, in taking
advantage -of the diftrefs of the Americans, and
forcing; them to take thofe commodities which
-were unfit fqr every other market *.
This diflionefty has counterbalgncedthe fer
vice rendered themi for the imprudent and
wretched young man, whofe throat is cut by
an ufurer, owes him no acknowledgment. A
greater evil to France has been the confequence
— her cloths have loft their reputation in the
* I do not accufeany bo3y j but I can certify, upon fh^
authority of the inoft rjefpeiSlrable eye witneffes, that fome of
jthefe outcaft cloths fell at ,the en^ of fix nionths wear into
flireds. The Americans were.fo flyuck by this, that Mr. Laurens,
after haying received two millions, which France lent to the
JJnite,d States, employetl a partof that fum to buy Eiiglild
,cloths. Complaints were made; he anfwered that it was his
Jury to buy bptter and cheaper clpths.
J 4 ~ United

I20 .ON THE -.C0M MERCE OP THE
United States. But let the .Atpericans unde-r
ceive themfelves ; let them not attribute. to thet
nation the fault ofa fgw iudividuals ; fet them
not have a bad opinion of o.ur ploths, becaufe
fome bad ones have been fent to thern. The
fame accident would have happened to Englifli
cloths if, in a -like cafe, there had been Englifli
m-erchants avaricious enough, and fo far ftrangers
to the public' good, as to fend i thei c refufe tci
the United States *.
* Englifti merchants love as well as others to get money,
andjihere are among them thofe who, for the love of gain,
would trample under foot every patriotic confideration. But
the public fpirit of the generality of them puts, in Englar^d
more than elfewhere, a, check upon the: fliameful enterprizes
of avarice; confequently the greater partof the merchants
never' abandon the national interefts in their fpeculations, nei
ther the honour of Englifh commerce, nor the reputation of
their manufaftfires. It is thus they are become the principal
agents for furniflbing every fpecies of manufafture to the
whole world. When it happens that any of thern facrifice
national reputation to views of private intereft, honeft patriots
generally prefer ac^ufations againft them before a public tri
bunal, and then the culprit is not fuffered to anfwer by tlan-
defline memoirs to public and fubftantial accufations ; this ob
fcure and cowardly refource is held in too great contempt to
be traite ufe of. There remains nothing to the culprit but.
filence or falfehood ; in both cafes he is diflionoured in the
opinion cf the public, which afteifts and marks every indivi
dual, vvithout refpeft to rank, power, or riclies
The'

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 121
. The Amerlcans'^Vha come -among us, ftudy
the nature of the Intercourfe which we fliall
one day have with the United States; they
know that our manufadurers poflefs all the .
ptieans which give to Englifli cloths their repu
tation ; that they make them in the fame, man
ner, and that the fuperfines ar^ fuperior to, th'ofe
of Englandj that in general dying is better un-
derftood with us, and carried to a greater per-
fedion : in fhort, that it depends but on feme
^ircumftances eafy to be got over, to make the
cheapnefs of our workmanfliip affure us Xhe
preference to the Englifli with refpei^: to
cloths. Lord Sheffield, In avowing the fuperlorlty of
pur fine cloths, and of their cheapnefs, obferves,
that the grea,teft confumption of the Americans
is of corqmon cloths, with refped tp which
-France cannot enter into a competition with
England. And he draws from it this confe
quence, that the inconvenience of dividing the
demands to cornpofe aflbrtments,and the confix
deration of the fmall quantity of fine clpth ne-
cefl[ary to iform them, will caufe thefe to be.
ordered in England, notwithftanding the ad
vantage there would be in getting them from
France. 'But

I2| ©N THE COMMERCE OF T.HE
But why fliould we .not furnifli common
cloths to the IJnited .States, fince the labour of
our manufadurers is cheaper than that of Eng
land ? It Is becaufe the Engliflj wool is cheaper,
than ours. The Englifh grow their pwn wool,
and ftand in no need of foreign wool, except a
little Spanifli, indlfpenlable to fuperfine cloths.
On the contrary, we import more than half of
the wool ^e manufadure into cloth. M. la
jPlatlere lays there are thirty-five millions of
iheep kept in Great Britain, ea-oh of which, he
^a^ms, produces on an average at leaft fix
pounds of wool, ^t is the breed of flieep
-which gives to England fuch an amazing
fnperiorlty over all .other nations in her wool
len manufadures. ^ France ought to encou^
rage the breed of ftieep and the deftrudion
pf wolves^^. M. la Piatiere faw 'this evil^
jand had courage to publifli It in the Ency cior
* In the time of the monarchy .there was an office called
liQWVeterie, or Mafier ofthe French King's wolf-hounds, an(j|
his affociates received a trifling recompence for the head of
(every wolf they killed: of whom this faft is well attefted.
Tiiere isa fmall diftri6l, the fub-delegate of which put intg
Jjis account the price of ten thoufand wolves heads. Thf
iqujintity apppared extraordinary to the minifter. The affair
ijyas exarained. The fub-delegate was difcharged. But he
who prompted him to iJie aft went unpuni^ed. pedie

UNITED STATES.-:OF AMERICA, 1 25
pedie Methpdique. Piatiere. was called a man
of pretenfions. The fame title was given to
Dr. Price in London when he predided the;
lofs of the Colonies. The minifterial beads pf
that country laughed at the prophet, b^t the
event, proved he was right.
S E G T I O N y,
LINENS,
There are two principal fpecies pf llnen-dra-r
pery, which are fubdivlded into a multitude
of others. »
The firft fpecies contains Hnen properly fo;
called; that Is to fay, linen which ferves to
. ma'ke fliirts, flieets, table linen, and all the linen
made ufe offer every purp6fe pf cleanHnefs. *
Thefe linens are made with hemp, flax, or
cotton ; this laft article is employed when thq
two former ones are fcarce, If is fometimes
mixed with flax.
The manner of making thefe hnens is very
fimple ; they are made in all parts of Europe *.
Thofe
* If there tie a country where the manufafture of linens is
encouraged, it is in Ireland, particularly fince its refurreftion
into the political world. Parliament has eftabliflied a com
mittee which is particularly employed about this manufafture,
and which grants very confiderable fuccours to manufafturers.
' ' * ' . ' , There

124 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
-Thofe countries where religious or political
defpotifm difeourages induftry ; where the nu
merous inftitutions of charity,- invented to di
vert the attention of defpair from mifery, nou-
rifli idlenefs ; .thefe countries are the only ones
wherein this manufadure does not 'merit the
attention ofthe political, obfer ver.
Tfiere is one who has obtained more, than thirty theufand
pOunJs fterling from government,; and whofe manufafture
employs two thoufand men and women, and fix hundred chil
dren.' 7'his committee names infpeftors to examine the fl-ate of
manufafturer-, and afterv.fards to make reports, or giv^ a ge
neral defcription oi their fituation, of the number of workmen
they employ, oftheir produce, refources, wants, &c ||.
Still more has been done in Ireland, to encourage the com
merce of linen ; great edifices have been built, and deftined to
receive them, as well as thofe .who come to offer them for
fale. The moft confiderable market being at Dublin, three
or four times a year, linen merchants from the North, whp,
have bleach yards, ceme to Dublin with their affortments,.
They find, in t^efe edifices, places for their linens and for
¦ themfelves to lodge in, all at no expence. — They meet Eng-
lifn buyers or o-thers, who go there to gather together alt
their purchafes. — ^Like depofitories are eftabliflied in the
North ; they are effentially neceffary to thofe manufaftures,
the articles of which are gathered in the country. — Whpre
they exift, c-^pences are lefs, and work is better paid for.
I When thefe infpeftors. are honeft, and men of under
ftanding, their reports are evidences of fuccefs. Then ex
ample has a fingular influence upon induftry.
Every

UNITED STATES' OF AMERICA. -12^
Every where elfe, the country people em
ploy, more or lefs, the leifure which their
kind df life affords them to fpin and Weave
linen. Moft of the farmet^ and proprietors
who enjoy a little eafe, or who are not afraid
of letting it appear, fow hemp or flax, and draw
from their foil and the work, of their hands the
linen which covers their bodies and fupplies-
their family.
The Englifli have added other caufes to thofef"
which produce low-priced workmanfliip : their
aftonifliing induftry, their obferving genius,
their ever calculating miiid, have invented for
the fplnning, &c. of cotton, and for weaving,
feveral machines which flill furpafs the cheap-
nefs to be expeded from the, leifure of the in
habitants of the country.
As thefe machines are infeiffibly introduced
into countries, it may be expeded that the low
price of tinen^drapery will be every where ef
tabliflied. But notwithftanding the multiplication of
thefe machines, nations which groan under a
*bad' government, or are grown rufty in old and
wretched habits, will always depend, for that
article of neceflity, upon thofe which have
eftabhflied bounds to their government, but
none

126 ftfi? tilE COR^MfiRCE O^ THE!
none for their induftry, which muft conftantly
increafe. It refults from thefe fads^ that the United
States will always have, in proportion to the
increafe of their population and culture^ lefi
recourfe to ftrangers for that principal kind of
linen-drapery whofe manufadure is fo well
affociated with the labours of the -fieid*.
Very fine linens muft be excepted; they
afe deftined for luxury, and the Individuals em
ployed in manufadwring them are condemned
to vegetate miferably in cities, rolling peiipetu-
ally in the fame circle of mechanical labours f .
It
* The American wonien ite retronfrned for theif- induftrj'j
ih the conduct of their houfes ; they fpin a great deal of vi?ooI
or flax 3 they would lofe their reputation and be defpifedj if
their whole fainrly were not almoft entirely fllothed With the
cloth and linen made in the houfe : if the whole interior at
their ruftic habitation did not bear evident marks, of theif
cleanlinefs and induftry.
t Manufaftures are much boafted of^ bercaufe children afe
employed therein from their moft tender age 5 that/is to fey,
t^at men con-gratulate themfelves ,vpon 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 years, and
their ftrength is become confiderable — Is it not a torment to
them tq. be a whole day, and almoft every day of then: lives,
employed

tTNITED S'TATeS OF AMERICA. tzy
it is the unhappy fate of ail thofe v/ho are bora
in Europe without property, and will nof de-*
bafe themfelves by domeftic labour.
The United States, where , laborious indivi-
duals may with fo much facility become pro
prietors, are far from that degradation ; and if
they are wife, they will have, for t long timey
t-he happinefs not to fee fpun or woven among:
them, any of thofe delicate kinds of thread and
fine linens, "which, fought after and bought
¦up by the opu=lent, are tlie i-eal produdions of
European mifery.
The fecond fpecies of linens contains what
is mofe -properly calfed linen-drapery ; that is»
smplby^d a-t thfe fame work, in an obfcure and mfeftediprifon f
Muft not tbe wearinefs and Vexation which they fuffer, ob-'
ftruft the opening of their phyfica-l and intefleftual faculties,,
and ftupify them .? Muft not tbere refdt from this a deg^ene-
rate riace, inclined to autottiatOnifm and 'flavery? For moft'
jhanufkftures requilfe no other than mechanical labours,. which'
a machine would perform as well 'as amah; It is therefore
Hnpoflibic that a man condemned to this kind of employ
fliOuld no{ become a machine ;. and ftupidity and fervitude are-
jbined fo eaeh dther.-^Thefe truths canncit be too often re-
pfeated^ riot to difguft the Eurogean-s -w-ith the mania of manu-
ftift'ures;. they are too fer advanced to retra:ft.; but tb hinder
4ihe Araerieans from ever following the 'tatiis career.
3 ¦ ^ to-

12^ ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
> to fay, cloth made of thread of difterant colours^
whether flax or cotton ; or thefe two fubftarices
mixed with others.
The greater part of this drapery requires too
comphcated a procefs, too varied an apparatus^
too continued a labour, to be manufadured
otherways than In thofe particular eftablifli-
ments,, fituated from neceffity in the neigh
bourhood Of cities, and which have no affinity
with a rural life. ¦ ' ¦
The art of making well the tiflue, of mixing
the cplotirs, of contrafting them, of imaginary .
a'gr'eeable defigns,- of preparing the linen when
it is finiflied, &c. this art extenfive, varied, and
delicate, requires the greateft 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 Englifli are arrived, with .refped to that
kind generally knovv n 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 reftralned by any obftacle, need not fear'
eom-

UNITED, STATES OF AMERICA. lig
Competition *. In this, as in moft other articles,-
the nature of things is entirely in favour of
France, and fuccefs depends whoUy on the will
ofher government. '
In the year i 785 the government of France
invited, by an arret, foreign "manufadurers of
thefe linens to .come and fettle in France.
But this invitation is not made in terms fef-
ficieti-tly clear, or flattering, to induce ftrangers
to come and fettle amongft us ; efpecially not
fuch as have a little energy and elevation in
their charaders, and .it is of thefe alone thaf
we are in need.
Amon 2; different favours g-ranted them, there
is one which entitles them to the enjoyment qf
their fate or profefion, and of their ufages ; in
* Lord Sheffield maintains in his work, that France has
not even linen enough for her own Confumptio'n. A com
mercial diftionary, printed at Lyons in 1763, affures on the
contrary, that France fends a great deal abroad. If the corn-'
pil^sr of the diftiojtiary fpoke truth, he might be anfvyered- ac
cording to the author of Les Etudgs de la J^ature — '.' Of
" what ufe is it toa flate to olothe foreign nation^, when'
" ones own people are quite naked.?" — Thefe two writers
may be made to agree, by faying that France, reftored tp her
energy, would eafily furnifli linens to foreigners and her own
citizens, and that various interior caufes have hithertp pre-
yented her from doing it.
Vol. II, K , / that

1^0 p^ TP?; CpMMfERCE (5F THE
that avhich fhall not bfi contrary to th-e laws of the
kingdom, &c.
B.ut what fignifies all the vague ^xpreflions
of enjoyment, ' of ftate and profeflion, liberty^
and ufages ? \¥ha|:- State is here fpoken of ? Is
it of the political, civil, religious, or domeftic
flate? Englifl-imen, Independent Anaericans,
have a political ftate, a political liberty, that is,,
a, right to t,a|^e part in the adminiftration of
public affairs J is this ftate underftood ? Is, the
liberty of having a temple for communion, fpi:
marriage according to that communion, under
ftood by the liberty of ufages ? Why are not;
theie ufages fpecified ?
And above all, yv'hat fignifies thefe words, z;^"
thai which fhdll not, b.e contrc^ry to tbe laws ofthe
kingdom. If they convey a clear meaning, do
nqt they completely deftroy the preceding fa
vours granted \ or, at leaft, do not they leave
a great uncertainty upon that which is or is
not granted ?
Why Is not a language clear and without
evafion rnade ufe of, efpecially in treating with
ftrangers? Iiiftead of an equivocal jargon, dan
gerous in Its nature, becaufe it produces mif
truft, and may give an opening for deceit, why
not fay to' them In clear terms, " If you come
within

tTNITET) "STATES OF AME^RICA. '' I^S
within our ftates accompanied* by your wives
and children, — If you bring your manufadures,
sf you eftablifli yourfelves among us, you ftiall
enjoy all the .rights of our fubjeds? Thefe
rights are, to poflefs property in the fulleft fe
curity, and not to be deprived -of it btit by the
laws, tribunals, &c. If you fix your abode
among las, your children will, without obftacle,
be your heirs : you fliall alfo preferve yonr .i"e-
ligious opinions. When there fliall be a certain
number of you, you ftiall have a temple wherein
to worftiip, according to y<Gur own manner, the
Everlaftiiag Father ; and you. fliall have minif
ters,' and hold aftemblles ; fhall intermarry ac
cording to your rules, &c. If France be not
agreeable to you, -nothing, abfolutely nothing,
fliall hinder you from leaying it, and carrying
with you your riches.'' ^t fliall be told that all
this was meant to be faid by the arret : it
was neceflary then to explain it clearly, and
why were thefe obfcure words added, — in that
avhich Jhall not be contrary to the laws pf the
kingdom f
flow fhould a German, an Italian, an Eng
lifti man, who fti.quld be tempted to eftablifti
themfelves in France, be acquainted with youi;
ancient laws and ordinances ? Will they turn
pver your Innumerable folios? Certainly they will
K 2 not,

132 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE-
not, they will ftay at homej you will th.erefore
have failed in your intentions. ' On the other
hand, do not they know that a century ago, and
even fince that time, thoufands, of ordinances
were, and have been made againft the Calvi-
iiifts, and that thefe ordinances are not yet re
pealed? Ought not they to be afraid that thefe
would be brought forth againft them if they
gave the leaft offence ? They will remain at
home, and once more you have miflTed your
aim. It is the mpre necefTary for monarchies not
to difguife under a captious form the advan
tages by^ vvhich they feek to entice ftrans'ers ;
as free ftates, - fuch as Ireland and independent.
America, do not fubjed emigrants to any capi
tulation or conftraint : they offer them all the
rightsof citizens the nioment they fet their
feet on free ground-: and what rights ! In Ire
land that of voting at eledions; in the United.
States, that of being eleded themfelves ; 'and,
confequently the moft feducing right, becaufe.
it is the moft proper one to maintain the digni
ty of a man who has dignity ; thq moft proper
to give it to hirn who has it not.
When a nation perceives the neceflity of en
ticing ftrangers to fettle in it, nothing ought to
' '¦'  ¦¦¦-"¦-. ^^

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I33
be fpared, efpecially In ftates far advanced in
civilization. It is a means of regeneratins; morals, if it be
poffible to regenerate them, and efpecially to
encourage inddftry : for in order to exift in a
ftrange land, and to gain in it confideration and
confidence, emigrants are forced to have good
morals, probity, and exaditude. Their example
canhdt but have a falutary influ"fence upon the
nation which receives them into its bdfom.
Otherwife, having opinions, habitudes, and''
knowledge, different from thofe of that nation,
they may help it to break its'bad cuftoms, to
give it a greater extent in its views, more cof-
mopolitifm, or of that charader proper for ap
proaching nations to each other, and for diml-
nlfhing national antipathies.
When the advantages which, a country ac-
,quires by ftrangers who fix themfelves in it are
confidered, it is aftonifliing to fee governments
think fo little about them, and frequently not.
to relped their rights. They ought, on- the
contrary, to -proted a ftrahger fo much the
more as he feems lefs fupported by the laws
than a citizen ; that he is unacquainted with
them ; that he may eafily be the vidim of arti
fice and chicanery j that it frequently happens
K 3 that

I'^^/\. 0^ -f ITE CO'MfeRCE OF THE'
that he does' hot underftand the language J,
finally, that being alone,- he has neither familyr
friends, nbr patrons*
In this fituation, the ftranger onght to be
envlrohted by the fafe-guard of a particular ad
miniftration, which fliould watch over his»
iafety 'r but it is- the reverfe of this in; raany
ftates*, Thus^ whilft we fee in thofe ftates- who un-
derftand-thelr ihterefl?s better. Frenchmen dired
the greateft parli of their manufadures, few
ftrangers are fe^n to come and eftablifli them
felves amongft lis.
I could quote, as a proof of what I advance,?
known fads, quite recent; but I will not write
a book upon every article of exportation ; I will
Gonfine myfelf to- faying that ^eat Uberty, and
* ff a- ffranger' be fufpefted, few examinations are made,
lie is arrefted— liberty is left to a citizen, or at leaft he is-
treated mildly ; the flrariger is imprifoned : the flfbaltern, in-
fblent by reafon ofthe iiidifFererice of his fupenors, treats hiin'
with feverity : for wh^t is ther^- to fear from him I Is the
word with themi allj'-j-fet at liberty^^will that ftranger gO and^
make the temple of chicane ring with his complaints ? He
fears, left it may be a new foreft,.— he flies, cuitfing that in-*
holpitable country.

trNlTEli StATB^ OF AMERICA. Ijj
few regulations^, are the two beft means of im
proving the Hnen irianufadvires in all countries,
as vvell as ih Franqel

tt t T IO n ,vi:
$ILKS, ;RlBBONS, SILK-STOCKINGS, GOLIJ AND
SILVER LACE, &C.
Thetd atii upwards df feventy thbufahd
Idriftns' and frames employed in thefe articlesj
and orie half of the filk naade life of i^ produc-
'ed iii' the kin2:dorai
The othei- ftates of Eurbpej isxcept Spaiii and
IMy, are obliged to procure frdni' abroad the
Whole of the filk neceffary for the manufadUres
, * [ miglit quote, as a proof of what I. hi'^e laid in thecOurfe
of this work, that even the regulations which appear kvt)-jr-
able to induftry^ are prejudicial to it ; the new arret paffed in
favour .of French linens, fuhjefts them to a ftamjj duty, under
the prettext of preventing fraud. "Th^ ^ut'^ apfip^rs moderate,
yet the mahiifaftui-ers are fenfibly injured by it; moreover it
reftrdins them, in fubjefting them to thte capl'ices of revenue
clerks; and this does not prevent fra'iia ; therefore to prevent
the manufafturcr From being robbed, his money is taken from
him, and the robbery ftill takes place; he would prefer bei^g .
left to defend himfelf-againfl: thieves.
' ^ K 4 • w,.blch

136 ON THE CO-MMER.CE- OF THB '
which they have eftabliflied. In imitation of
thofe of France. .
If there be added to the advantage which
thefe circumftances give to the French, their
fingular aptitude for the manufadure of every-
article of luxury j their incredibfe fecundity in^
varying thefe articles ; the abfolute and general
empire allowed them over the tafte and riiode
which prefide in thefe manufadures; an em
pire fo particular, as to be every where copied ;
no doubt, will remain, that French ft.lks, rib
bons, filk^ftockings, and' lace, will be, preferred
to air otrhers In the United States*. ,,¦¦¦¦¦, ' ¦ . -. ¦-, ' ' ' '
It Is nojt to be feared,, that they will be ma-
riufa^iured there; from the cares,, which the
* Yet' Lord Sheffield gives for competition -with France,,
E^ngland and Spain. It is to. be obferved that England can-
riot undertake with" advantage thofe manufaftures wherein
g'old" and filver are introduced, nor in general thofe which
have for their bafis the' ufei of brilliant metals. Fire is necef-
fdry as an agent in fuch manufk£i:-ures, and a coal fire is pre-
jtidicial to them. The atmofphere in- England is perpetually
charged with fnlphureous vapours, where contaft tarniflies, in
a'very little time, gold or filver lace, &c. and this perhaps is
the motive, which more, than manners, has baniflied, and will
for ever exclude this kind of luxury from England ; and it is-
not, a misfortune.

sn

feci

ITNITED STATES OF AMERICA. , i^f
in fed that produces the filk, requires, to the
arrival of the fluff in the warehoufe where it
is to he fold, almoft all is workmanfliip ; and
the workmanfliip of Europe muft for a loug
time, if not for ever, be even cheaper than that'
of the United States. ^ '
The confumption* of thofe articles cannbt be
* Our defign being to difluade the free Americans front
wifli.ing for rnaiiufaft.ures, we ought not to Ipfe the prefent
opportunity of defcribing to them the abufes and incojiveni-,
encie;^ infeparable from thefe eftahlifliments. , There is none
which has had more fuccefs. i'n France than- that of fdk. Yet
fee the frightful. defcription given of it, by M. Mayet, direftor
ofthe manufaftures of the King of Pruffia, in his.Miinbir on
the manufafture,:; of Lyoas. (Parisj Moutard 17S6.) Ha,
indicates as caufes cf the -decadency of thefe manufafture,?, the
dtunkennefs of workmen on Sundays, the infeSion of their
difinal lodgings, baiikruptcies v/bich are the refult of igno
rance, and diihoneuj, the- cefl^ation of work during coui't
mournings, which, occafions fome. workmen to emigrate, ani
others to fteal, the mifconduft of revenue officers, the mono
poly of filk, &c. abufes tb much the more alarming, fays M,
Mayet, as they are, for the rnoft part, the offsprings of luxu
ry, and which are produced either by acquired riches, or the
thirft of acquiring them ; it feems as if tbey could not but
fpring'Up in manufactures.
'Who can recommend the eftablifliment of manufaftures, on
reading the following refleftions of the fame author ?
"The concurrence of manufaftures neceffitates th.eir
'' cheapnefs:

13^ ON THE COMMERCE OF TliE
be very confiderable thefe*, if America takel
advantage of that openirig to which nature isalls
her. Ribbons excepted, the reft are prop'er for
great cities only ; where vanity being inizeffantly
excited, makes drefs a defirable and alriioft ne
ceffary objed. But thefe great tities wifl^
without doubt, be very rare in the United
States. It is ftill rriore certain that the con
fumption of filks does not, at pteferit, fornl
" cheapnefs: tb have- a preference of falej it iS ileceflary td
" fell at a lowef price ; fhe Wages cif workmen muft there-
" fdfe be mtoderatej and they muft gain flo rhdre than will
*' find thelh in lleceflTarieS: the Workman rhuft nevei- bt fuf-
•' fered to enrich hirhfelfs Ih becoming rich, he become^
• ^ difficult, exaftihg, enters intb combiriations, impbfek lawsi
" becomes diffipated and idle, hfe caufes the price of vi^ork-
*' manftiip to incireafe, and manufaftui'fes to fail." Thui ricb
ftuffs ought to be watered ijuith the tears of fhe workman whd
manufafiures them,-
Ought not this laft phrafe tb difguft the frcfe Americans fbr
ever" with the mania of manufaftiireS of luxury ?-^Let theni
refleft, that to fujpport the filk mariufaftu'res 6f Lybns, thd
fame author {iropofes to the kiiig of Franfce; to facrifice his
tafte for fimplicity of drefsj and tb wear brilliant clbthes; &c.
* Lord Sheffield fays, that itis nbt the fifth part bf Indiart
filks. Sec. but vvhat fignifies this calculation ? The countrjr
which confuiheS the greateft quantity of filk ftuffs, does hot,
pei-haps, confume the; twentieth part of that which Lord Shef
field means by Indian filks; there

UNITED STATES, OP AMERICA. .13^
there a confiderable article ; thatit will aug
ment biit very flowly, and in a manner almoft
infenfible. The Americans ought undoubted
ly to be congratulated upon it. Their man
ners will be good and fimple as long as they do
not contrad a want of thefe articles; but if
they do not want them for themfelves, they
will have ©ccafion for them to form branches
of tbeir fmuggling commerce with the Spani
ards. Nature invites them to carry on this;
commerce in an advantageous- manner, both
by fea and land *,
It is known that wretched individuals, who
vegetate in South America, mafters and flaves*
all figh after nothing but . luxury, pomp, and
drefs. Elegant and fhining ftuffs &f France j
her filks and laces will therefore be fought af
ter, demanded, and bought up with avidity.
However it may be with refped to this com*
merce, vvhich exifts but in futurity,- and which
muft be preceded by other eircumftaneeg, there
* This, commerce will be better eftabliftied by land — Ths
#ifKs there will be Ief;-«-The great ri'vers wbith water thofe?
immenfe countries will favour it. A maritime commerce
muft be prote.fted by a. naval force, a;nd the nature of things
will hinder the Americans from having bn^ f.-r a long time;
isy e&me^ is

t^b ON THE C6}»iMeRCE of THE
is at prefent a certain confumption of filksj rib
bons, &c. in the United States ; and the French
ought to be arixioiis to fupply them.
I will obferve upon this fubjed, that If the
French government ordered that the' regular
packet-boats going from' France and America
fliould receive as much merchandize on board
as their deftination would permit, little Ventul-es
of our filk, ftuffs, ribbons',. gauZ;es, ftockings,
&c. would 'be frequently fent out, and thefe
articles would ferve better than 'any other' to
eftablifli uninterrupted connexions, and which
by fhe infight they give, and the experiments
¦ which they afford' an opportunity of making,'
condud nature herfelf to thofe great commer
cial intercourfes to which we ought to afpire.
The facilities which packet-boats offer for
the fending out of merchandize of value and of
little incumbrance ought not to be negleded,
fince, in this clafs of merchandize, we have
things which have a decided preference. I will
return to thofe packet-boats which it is Impor
tant to keep up and to Increafe, and It is to be
wiflied, that ho monopoly of right or fad may
take poffeffion of them, in order , to carry on
one branch of comraerce in exclufion bf others.
SECTION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 141'

SECTION VII,
HATS.
Although a fine hat be called a beaver, it
does not follow that Canada and .the- United
Northern States are more favourable to the
fabrication of hats than France. Hats, purely
of beaver, do not wear well, and are inconveni
ent on account of their weisjht. The fineft,
handfotTseft, and beft hats, contain but little of
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 fad ,wool, and
camels hair, are more neceffary for making of
hats than the fur of beavers.
The few hats of beaver made in the United
States, will be fufficient for their confumption.,
— ^The Americans muft, however, be incef
fantly told this great tr-uth, that manufadures
are not proper for them except in thofe articles
which are imraediately afibciated with agricul
ture, and which facilitate its opei'atlons. That
of hats is not of this kind. Europe'

14^ ON THE COMMERCE 'OE THE
Europe will therefore furnifli hats to the
Americans. And of what great importance is
|thls objed, when the rapi^ increafe oftheir po-*
p.ulatlon is confidered ? It may be affirmed, that
eyery nation capable of fending them out mer
chandize, will fend them hats; but thofe of
France will have the preference. This manu
fadure had there Its origin. The French alone
have carried it elfewhere, like many other
things, but It hag never ceafed to improve in.
France. Ftench hats are always the beft fulled and
dyed, and the moft agreeable. When govern
ment fliall have refolyed to do for wools ' that
which it has done for mulberry trees, the ma
nufadure of hats will be fo much the more ad
vantageous, as we fhall be fefs tributary to fo
reigners for the articles employed therein.

SECTION yin.
LEATHER.
'SHOES, BOOTS, SADDLES, &G.
, To what caufe ought thie; great fuperlorlty of
Englifh leather to be attributed over ours ?
,^hy is there in this leather-work of all kinds that

XJNJTED STATES OF AMERICA. I43
^bat neatnefs, that feducing appearance, which
we have not yet approached ? It muft be re
peated, that in England men honour the pro-
^effion of a tanner, and pride themfelves upon
jt, whilft it is the contrary in France. An
Englifli tailner, flioemake'r, or faddler, doe^s.
not quit his trade when he is rioh; but makes
his riches ferve, in proportion as they augment,
to give luftre to his profeflion, to multiply his
workfliops, to extend his affairs, to become im
portant even in the article which has furnlflied
)iim the means of dqing it. The leather which
coraes from the tanneries whofe owner is in eafy
circumftances, is always well prepared, becaufe
he can advance fums of money, and give _ to
hides the .time neceffary for their progrefs
through his tan-yard. A poor tanner is always
preffed by his vvanting to take the leather out
<Df the -tan-pit, where it is neceffary It fliould
remain a long time to acquire a good quality.
in general, it Is impofliihle vvith this penury,
unknown to the Englifli, that there fliould be
time to manufadure or fabricate good merchan
dize. Thofe who employ the leather, acquire
no reputation ih their profefiions hut in propor
tion to great provifions. made before hand, which
puts it • in their power to furnlfh nothing but
{ -• .. ¦ ', ..:.:,. ''' '-.. . >:•¦',¦¦., I-, Vl.' , ,
* ' leather

144 .ON THE COMMERCE OF THE'
leather improved by being kept. It will "be
alked, hovv the wholefale dealers man'age whea.
they begin bufinefs ? ,They find credit, if in
their apprenticefliips, which precede their efta-
blifliments, they have acquired a good reputa-^
tion *. This
.' ' ¦ .. ''
* ^We may readily perceive, that this hope of beTng fome
day well eftabliflied v/ith great fuccoufs, is worth all tbe books:,
of tnorality, Tbe engravings of Hogarth, which reprefent
the fate of tbe idle apprentice, paint, to the life, Englifli
manners. The intention of the workman is not to become;.
S.::ret.^.trc iu Rai\. He m'arries the daughter of the good'
mafter who has brought him up, and fucceeds him in the
¦ lame- bmlnefs which be has centribufed to iExtendi
It is not that the French tanner, who barters hisprofeffion
agaiaft a brevet of Secretaire du Roi, or commifl^ary of war,
ought to be blamed. He reafons' well. He fees that no
Cbnfiderati'on is attached to talents and induftry, and he delays
not to buy himfelf a title. It is therefore wrong to joke '
merchants and artizans, who, for money, get, themfelves en-
regiftered in a privileged clafs. It is an evil to the fl-ate, but
it is not the fault of thofe who purchafe. The fault is due to
the kind of dTfgrace.from Vv'hich government has not yet de
livered the ignoble.
It ought to be obferved here, how fatal the fpeeulatio'n i
wbich eftaf>Ii(hed this order of things has. been to the nation.'
To procure money, offices were created ; which, by ennobling,
i.^duces the ig-nobte to purchafe them ; they 'are difgufted vvith '
\\ A R?t_ty. title of bought dfflinftion, which, in the lan
guage of ridiculous pride, is conftrued into nobility. .' theif

tTNlTED STATES OF AMERICA. 145
This credit is then fupported, not only by
the certainty bf fuccefs, but alfo by that of
feeing them become a conftant means of con
fumption. Such is the art of the Englifli to fupport and
increafe their commerce in. every thing,; -and
every where. If we could put it in pradice,
all our commodities of leather would foon equal,
the perfedlon of theirs, fince we do not other-
wife want materials. Their being beforehand
with us, ought not to difcourage any body, but
it is neceffary to the fuccefs of this rivality,
that government fhould deliver the tanners
from the fhackles with which they have fet
tered them*, and fiipprefs or diminifli the
enormous
their fituation by being diftionoured, and for a few millions of
livres, which this pitiful operation flowly procures, commerce
is ruined by having its capital diminifhed : that commerce,
which, by being fupported, would continually produce mil
lions to the ftate.
* Two caufes have Angularly contributed tb ruin the tan
neries in France. The confiderable duties impofed fuccef
fively upon leather, (fupprefled afterwards in part through
prudence) and effentially the fevere infpeftion that the commis
(in this cafe a kind of excifeman) may make every hour of
the day and night at the tanners. Nothing difguft s a man,
who has fome energy, more with his profeflion, than this dif-
VoL. II. - L graceful

146 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
enormous duties with which the tanneries are
loaded*. SECTION
graceful fervitude, than the fear, than the conftraint which
arife from tbe idea of being difturbed at every moment, by his
firefide, by contemptible fatellites who live on the mifchief
only vvhich they do, and whom the certainty of impunity, in
tereft, and habitude, render unmerciful, infolent, and frequent
ly perjured.Confiderable proceflTes have been feen to arife from thefe
vifits, and very rich tanners to quit a profeifion which pro-
mifed them nothing but torment, anguifli, lofs and law fuits.
It will be a long time before the evil which the farm has dond
to the tanneries be repaired. Interefted men, who think to
confole us for re'al evils, which we fuiFer, by thofe which they
fuppofe among our neighbours, fay, and repeat, that the fame
vexation of commis and of cuftoms, produce in England the
fame effefts. This may fometimes happen, but there is a
law to punifti them, without a hope of pardon, when they
overleap the boundaries prefcribed to them. , And thefe boun- '
ilaries are much more contrafted than ours, which the follow
ing faft will convince us.
Two officers of the excife, havirig 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 ;
the mafter of the houfe called fome conftables and charged
them with the officers : they were taken before Alderman
Hamett, who read the' aft of Parliament to the culprits, and
fent them to prifon, for having violated the rights of citizens.
Mercure politique 1786, p. 286.
* The following is A lift of duties paid on leather, whether
it be French or foreign; and it muft be here obferved, tbat the

tjrNITED STATES OF AMERICA. . I47

SECTION t^.
GLASS HOtJSESi ,
finglifli glafs ware is brought to great per
fedlon, and England makes it a great objed of
exportation*
the leather of France is far from fupplying our wants. We
get the greateft part of that which we confume from the
Spanifli and Portuguefe colonies, from the Levant, and from
the coaft of Barbary.
Green leather, French or foreign, p^ys on livres fols
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 pbuiid
Goat Ikins - 4
Ten fols per pound, which gives more up
on leather . - i
Goat fltins - - 2
General average - 4 ^
and by the hundred weight - - , 22 10
Cuftom to the general ^rm .-20 Total 25 15
Leather and flcins pay a duty of a third of -their value.
L 3 When-

148 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE'
exportation. America ought to prefer Englifli
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 fkins, fhould be reimburfed to the manufafturcr, when
he fhould have fent his merchandize abroad.
But adminiftration demanded and obtained leave to reim-
burfe two-thirds only.
Since that time there bas been a new impoft often fols per
pound,, which makes the duty one foi more upon leather, and
two fols upon goat fkins.
This new duty has completed the ruin ofthe tanneries. '
There is another abufe, which merits to be obferved. It
Is that the adminiftration receives its duties undiminiflied up
on leather half rotten, fcraped or tanned.
After thefe fafts, it may be comprehended, that the tanners
in France are reduced to a fmall number, and are in general
miferable. An important note relative to the article of leather.
The note on the duties paid on leather,, is true with r,efpeft
to'the reality of the duties; but we 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 fhe two firft for one of the laft.. We
have been equally convinced, that the. hundred weigjit of fkins
bought at thirty-feven livres, and fold after ihe tanning at fix-?
ty-fouE livres, fixteen fols, produces to the tanner a profit of no
more than five Uvres five fols.
This eafily explains how the tanners have been ruined.
Translator.
¦ ' 7 that

¦ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; 1 49
that of our own manufadory, common bottles
excepted, which we make better; and which are
¦of a finer glafs than that of the Englifli. But
although this opinion may hurt the intereft of
thofe who have fuch eflabllfliments, it is necef
fary to fay, that France, far frora encouraging
them, ought to wifli for their deftrudion.
This kind of manufadure deftroys combufti-
.bles^ of which the rapid progrefs Is alarraing,
when it Is compared to the flpwnefs with which
they are produced.
The Englifli, feated upon their coal mines,
are little uneafy about the voracity of furnaces
wherein glafs Is melted; but although it be faid
that we have the fame advantage, it is ftill
pei-mitted tp doubt of it. And moreover it is
not fufiicient 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, fliould not be too
far diftant frora the fea, for the tranfports be
coraing 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 Englifli, may already
be too confiderable, if it be compared with the
L 3 means

150 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
means to which the ever growing fcarcity of
combuftihles 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 neceflary to refled
upon the fituation of the United States. They
have immenfe forefts to clear, confequently it"
is highly proper that they fliould eftablifli
glafs manufadories, and increafe them as
much as poflible. 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 produdion of a very ex
tenfive objed of manufadure, 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 fubftituted for it have not fucceed
ed, and that luxury and population naturally inclined to in-
preafe, efpgci^lly with commerce, the confumption of com
buftibles will be doubled.
t This is what is done in New Jerfey for the forges. It
is impoffible, fays the author of the Cultivateur Americain, to
travel acrpfs this province without meeting with fome little
iron forges, If a proprietor has a great marOi full of wood,
find that he wifhes to clear it, he begihs by making a dyke at
Ofie extremity to ftop the water of the rivulets which riin
9crof$

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Ijl
^deration will ftrike them, that they will one
day conceive the projed of furnifliing Europe
with glafs-ware, of adding this article to thofe
which they can exchange for fuch European
produdions as are improper for little States to
cultivate or manufadure within themfelves. It
can be no more doubted, that France will gain
greatly by feeing her glafs manufadories de^
ftroyed by thofe of the Americans, who will
fell us glafs-ware in exchange for our wines,
qloths, printed linens, filks, &c. In the mean
time, it would undoubtedly be a falutary mea
fure, to open the kingdom to the importation
of foreign glafs.

SECTION X.
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 necefTary for the
manufafture of iron, &c. And in a fmall number of years
the traveller, who had feen in paffing 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,
&c. L4 '.of

152 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
of nails araounts to confiderable furas. This
will not appear extraordinary, when It Is re-
itoembered, that all the houfes, all the enclo-
fures of the Americans, are of wood, that they
build a great number of fliips, which require
frequent reparations.
It Is the fame with refped to faws, fliovels,
hoes, and in general all the inftruments necef
fary to agriculture and navigation.
The Amei'icans are Angularly curious in the
choice of thei firft neceflity. They have there
in the general tafte of the Englifli'; they will
have that only which is good. On comparing
thofe which they make themfelve^s with the
tools made In France, it muft be acknowledged
that We are far from that perfedlon at which
they are arrived in them : this perfedlon is
owing to the eafe of the labourer, and to the
confideration attached to agriculture. Imper-
fedlon is a neceflary confequence of reftraint
and difhonour. '
The Americans have attempted to make iron
and fteel., Many manufadories have been fet
up at New York, In New Jerfey, and in Pen-
fylvanla ; it is true that thefe manufadures are
few In number, but they will neceflarily increafe
for the reafons which I (hall hereafter give. England

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I53
England heretofore exported a confiderable
quantity of iron and fteel*: her mines, not
havirig yet furnlflied Iron proper for certain in-
ftrume;nts', flie had recourfe to thofe of Ruflia,
and efpecially to thofe of Sweden, whofe iron
and fteel are moft efteemed. She did no more
with regard to America than ftand 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 Ruflians.
Lord Sheffield calculates, that one year with
anpther 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 eftablifhment of mills and other machines
in the United States for making of fteel. See 25 Geo. II.
eh. 29, feft. 10.
It may be judged by this circumftance to what a point the
mother country, or rather tbe monopolizers, can carry avarici-
oufnefs; fince the Americans were forbidden to enjoy thofe
advantages which nature had thrown before them. Mono
poly refpefts nothing. 'When thefe attempts are confidiered,
ought we to be furprifed at the eternal mifunderftanding be
tween colonies and the. mother country, a mifunderftanding
which finifhes either by the ruin of the former, or their fepa-
ratioti from the latter, afterwards

154 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
afterwards exported to the colonies either in its
natural ftate or wo'rked up.
The profit to the mother country was, ac
cording to his Lordfliip, i2,aoo,oco livres, or
thereabouts. During the war, and fince the peace, feme
exports of this kind have been made from
France to the United States ; but they did not
fucceed. Accuftomed, according to the prin
ciples of monopolifers, who have hitherto, di-
teded our foreign commerce, to furnifli our
colonies with brittle utenfils, 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, addreflid in 1784 to the merchants,
had recommended them to aft contrarily — " Recolleft," faidit,
*' that you have not ignorant or enflaved colonifts to treat
*' with, but a free people ; and, confequently, rapidly tending
", to perfeftion. If you wifh to fucceed, aft with fidelity,
" upon extended and liberal views," &c. &c.
I have not read this inftruftion. 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 muft not be furprifed to find
in the merchants of Marfeilles intelligence, tn commerce -fo rare
any where elfe. Lefs fhackled, commerce muft off'er more folid
ideas.
The

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I55
our merchandife. They faid, that we did not
even know how to make nails ; and, in ftrid
truth, they were right in their aflertlon. They
preferred the iron and fteel of England, al
though the duties on exportation increafed their
dearnefs. It is probable enough that the Englifli 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 Mefl'rs. Watts
and Boulton, for heating furnaces at half the
common expence, will undoubtedly produce a
redudion in the price of Iron.
This diminution is one pf the caufes which
muft necefiTarlly hinder us from attempting a
rivality in this particular with the Englifli;
but there is another, which is ftill. more deci
five. In fad, the obfervations made heretofore up
on the neceflity of deftroying our glafs manu
fadories, apply naturally to that confiderable
branch of iron- work, of which the workmanfliip
is the leaft expence, and which requires a great
The fame energy is found in an excellent Memorial on the
Franchifes of this city, lately publifhed againft the general
farm, and of which we (hall have occafion to fpeak. quantity

156 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
quantity of combuftlble materials. The United
States are obliged to deftroy their immenfe fo
refts : France ought, on the contrary, to think
of re-producing hers ; therefore, the founderies
and forges will offer in America the advantage
of turning to profit woods, which, without
, I , thefe manufadures, it would be equally necef
fary to burn : whilft in France, wood and char
coal, becoming every day more fcarce and dear,
renders thefe eftahlifliments more expenfive.
Now, as the abundance In which iron mines
are every where found *, 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
Englifli, a confiderable advantage.
Moreover, forges are a part of the equipage
Beceflfary to country labour ; for, if it were ne
ceflary tb feek at a diftance the utenfils of agri
culture, the progrefs of clearing of lands would
foon be ftopped— the produdions 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
4ifcovercd there, of

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I57
of repairing. As foon as a people have mines of
iron ; as foon as they are led by the nature of
things, and by neceflity, to eftablifli founderies
and forges, it is not a long time before they re
nounce all foreign aid in the articles of iron * ;
therefore, the Americans are, as I have obferv
ed, already provided with thefe eftahlifliments:
and as Englifli induftry has eftabhflied and di
reded them, they are all at that degree of per
fedlon which we have not yet attained.
Let it be remarked, that thefe manufadures
being joined to a life of agriculture, and carried
on in the midft of it for its ufes, can have none
of the pernicious Influences which ought to
. be feared in thofe complicated manufadures
which are obliged to be concentrated in the In-
clofures of cities, whofe deftrudive employ ex-
haufts the natural ftrength of men, by corrupt
ing their morals.
* Perhaps nails muft be excepted. Their price will be a
long time in Europe lower than in America. If, as Mr.
Smith afl'erts in his Treatife on the "Wealth of Nations, a
young. man of twenty years pf age can make 2,400 nails a day,
let it be judged to what a degree of cheapnefs low-priced
workmanfhip ought to reduce them,; therefore, wherever
workmanfhip is dear, nails cannot be made. Yet we read in
the Americah Gazettes, that there has been eftablifhed in one,
of the States a manufafture of nails. 'Will this fucceed ?— ¦
Futurity will fhew us. Therefore,

IjS ON THE COMMERCE OF TflE
Therefore, to refume this article — far frotri
encouraging the exportation of iron manufac
tured in France, we ought, for our own inte
reft, to encourage the importation of foreign
iron, becaufe manufadures of this kind take
away combuftibles from things more preflingly
wanted, and from lefs deftrudive manufac
tures, where workmanfliip produces a greater
profit. irhls, however, is not the cafe with every
article of curiofity of iron, fteel, or copper
work, wherein the workmanfliip exceeds the
other expences. They belong to that weak
organifation which the Americans ought not to
envy. But It muft not be diflimulated, that a ¦
competition with the EngUfli will, on this
head, be difficult to maintain: their great abi
lity and addrefs in the diftribution of work and
different procefles, the invention of which has
hot been conftralned by any error* or falfe view of
* 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
faftures which it was capable of improving in accelerating their

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 150
of the adminiftration of England, gives them
over us a confiderable advantage ; yet it is not
impoflible
their efFefts ? How many proceedings mote ingenious and
expeditious has this machine produced ? Happily for England,
there have not been found in her bofom thofe able minifters,
who, feeing that this machine is of ufe in making money, have
drawn from it the profound confequence that every one would
make falfe money if the free ufe of it were permitted : as if
it was poffible 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 attentive to
abufes which might be committed; as if its ufe would not
produce much more benefit to the revenue, than it could de
prive it of by the falfe coinage of moneys which can never be
either extenfive or dangerous.' — When therpforfe will thofe
who hold the reins of empire calculate like ftatefmen ? '
It is true that at prefent artifts are permitted to haye mills,
&c. by conforming themfelves to certain forir.alitfes, — always
formalities ! No other are required in England than thofe of
bemg able to pay the expence of the machine, — and has Eng
land perceived from it any pernicious efFefts ? Has falfe mo
ney overturned public order, impoverilhed the nation,'or di
minifhed her revenues?
With what difficulty has the invention of 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 ; the
Englifh received him favourably, and put' his invention into
execution. Another Frenchman of the name cf 'Warin, of
the laft century, wiflhed to procure the advantages of it to his
countrymen, he experienced a like abfurd perfecution ; and
without

t66 ON THE COMMERCE OP THfi
impoflible for us to balance it, for this diftribu
tion of vvork and proceedings are neither fecrets
nor fuperior to French induftry. Let govern
ment adopt and follow the trivial maxim —
* Who will have the end will find the means.'
Let it in confequence not interdid any of the
means, a'nd this induftry will npt have to envy
the fuccefs ofour rival?.
without the fupport ofthe Chancellor Sequier, he would have
failed in his attempt. — I do not allow myfelf, to fpeak of the
perfeftion to which M. Droz pretends to have brought the.
coining mill at prefent ; but by the vexations he fufFers, it
maybe judged that he has in faft fimplified that machine, that
he has rendered fewer hands necefTary,. and the coinage of mo
ney more perfeft and expeditious ; two advantages very pre
cious in this art, as the expences of it cannot be too much
reduced, and the exafljtude and perfeftion af the ftamp of
money are the fureft means of difconcerting coiners. What
fatal genius is it therefore which purfues induftry in France ?
That of companies, of corporations, of privileges. As foon
as a happy difcovery attacks their profits, they employ even
the bafeft means to defend them ; intrigue, falfehood, feduc-
tion, are all legitimate with the people which compofe thofe
afTociations, whilft the man of genius, ftanding alone for the
moft part, and who attaches too great a value to his time to
proftitute it to thefe manoeuvres, generally experiences the
moft humiliating difgufts.

SEfCTION

IGNITED STATES' OF AME-RICA. i6|

s £ c t i d N Xh

|ewellery, gold and silversmiths' Ali"
"TICLES, clock-work, &C.
If the inhabitahts bf the United States con
centrate theii- labours and pleafure in a life of
hufeandry; if they continue to feek happ^nefsi
hot in pomp, but ih nature herfelf, arM in a
fimplicity pf mannel-s ; iri that fimplicity which
haturally produces eafe, and the populatidii and
pfofperity of ftates ; they will not feek after,
but difdain plate and je^vels, 'to which we at
tach fo great a price; They will referve pte-
cious thetals for mints and commerce.
It is nbt howeVer to be prefumedj that this
Order df things fhould long fubfift in great ci
ties, and efpecially In frequeiited ports : Euro-
, pean tafte and wants prevail in America'*^ and
French induftry oUght to be an:sious to fupply
* Plate is ufed in the Southern States — magnificence is
feen there; on which account, travellers having but little phij
iofophy; fpeak highly of them: — But obferve what is attached
td thi^ lujcdryj—flavei-y feigns in the Souths and there af^
tnany podr. — There are none in the Northern States, — no
plate is there ufed.
;,,,yoL, II. M their

t62 ON Tliie COMMERCE OF THg '
their confutiiptlon, feeing th^t the French can
underfell the Englifti in thefe articles.
But 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, as painted paper bas replaced there
ftiuch more expenfive hanging : this new fort
of plate has for ufe all the advantages of the
Other, and cofts 'a great deal lefs.
Mlfiv comes it that the Englifli are alrdady fo
advanced in this branch of induftry, whilft there
exifts in France but one or two manufadures
where copper is plated on one fide only and fil
tered over on the other ? How have the Eng
lifli already carried this invention to fo high a
degree of perfedion ? How have they made of
it a matter of extenfive commerce, whilft we
are reduced to the. two manufadures wherein
no progfefs is feen, and where the inferiority
of the workmanfliip difgufts thofe who would
otherwife find it to their advantage to make ufe
ofthis kind of plate ?
Thefe: manufadures have an eXclufive privi
lege : there is the word— -Government fcarins:
left falfe money might be madq in them, has
forbidden even the plating on both fides.
Reafoning would here be fuperfluous : it is
3 foffijiDient

tiNttED states op AMERicA. i6^
fufficient to open the eyes to fee which of the
two admlnlftrations has beft ferved its country;
whether it be that of England^ by not crath{)-t
irig induftryj and in not giving way to fears,
whofe illufion is fliewn by the riioft trifling
obfervation, or oursi, in following a contrary
plan. Again, was it apprehended^ that coun
terfeit crowns would be made my (iiilllon? ; aa
a Sacrifice is made to this .fear of an Induftry
¦which' would certainly produce many millions
of them ?
' Thus when w6 confider all thefe articles^
wherein trifling confiderations fliall be our in
duftry, and condemn to mediocrity our means
of profperity ; when we thence turn our at
tention towards the difierent fpirit which go
verns England, it Is aftonifliing that induftry
ftill exifts in France, and that the nation does
not fall into floth, and remain there* Let us
give thanks urito nature, who has richly gifted
us, and her guatdi^n ftrength has hitherto' de-
•monftrated itfelf fuperior to the malignant in-*
fluence of the falfe fcience of our adminiflra-»
tors *» Shall
* A curious and niore tifeful W.firk woiildbe, a faithful and
inore'.rationai hiftory of all the errors into wbich the rage of
M 2 regulating

164 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
Shall we remain behind the Englifli and Swil^
in clock-work .? The Americans muft have
watches j this admirable Invention carries witb
it fuch a degree of utility for even the poor
clafles of fociety^ that it ought not to be con
fidered as a fimple acquifition of luxury, efpe
cially in the United States, vs^here the diftance
©f habitations one from another make the necef
fity of it more fully perceived.
But watches muft be made good and at a
cheap rate ; thefe two conditions will aflure
them a prodigious fale wherever civilization
exifts; time is there a precious property, and
its price renders the Inftrument neceflary which
divides it: they will be made good and at
rSgulatiifg arid prohibitirtg has thrown adminiftrati6n. It h
very probable that the refult would be, that French commerce
bas always profpered, in proportion to the inex€cation of re
gulations ; that in caufing them to be rigoroufly executed,
foreign commetce has been favoured and enriched. The
fpirit of inventiori and induftry which our prohibitory re'gimeri
has developed on foreign nations, was never perhaps fufpefted ;
neither the innumerable quantity of workfliops whieh are
there conftrufted, in proportion to the multiplication of ex-
elufive privileges in France. Thus, that of the India Com-
., pany fias made Switzerland like the Eaft Indies, fer tbe ma
nufafture cf muflins, and plain and paint-cd linens* a cheap

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 1 65
a cheap rate, when able artifts are confult-
ed *.
This fpecies of raanufadure will always be
long to great cities, where the excefs of popu
lation keeps workmanfhip at a low price, where
the difficulty of fubfifting enflaves that crowd
of weak and indolent beings which are under
the law of the rich undertaker. The United
States are far from fufiering this diflSculty, of
fubfiftence, this excefs of population ; they are
therefore far from thefe manufadures.

* Paris has produced fome very diftingulfhed ones ; they
honoured their art becaufe they had great fenfe antl ingenuity,
and had been well inftrufted; but their pupils, for the moft
part ftrangers, and not having the fame mearis of gaining con
fideration, were afraid of our injudicious manner of defpifing
the hands which work at mechanical employments, and quit
ted the country. We have at prefent a Swifs, M. Brequet,
whofe talents are equal, if not fuperior, to thofe of the moft
celebrated Englifh watch-makers. Happily, for us, his cha-
rafter, his elevated views, his obliging zeal, command refpeft
in fome meafure, and place hrm above prejudices. Let go
vernment confult him, and he will foon indicate certain means
whereby France may have a national manufafture of. clock
and watch-work.
We are informed that he has prefented to the Miniftry a
profound meniorial upon this fubjeft.

M 3 SECTION

1^6 ON TjlE COMMERCE DP THB

SECTION XII.

filFPERENT SORTS OF PAPER, STAINEBj
PAPER, &C,
This ufeful ptodudlon from old rags, throwq-
off" by people at eafe, , and gathered with care
hy the indigent, is daily improved in France*, the
* The manufafture of M. M. Johanriot d'Aunonay, pro^
duces finer paper than any other manufafturq in Europe, and
the propf is . fimple. — There is morfe deraarid from Ruftia^
England, and Holland, Jor this paper than the manufafturcr
part furnifli ; this fcarcenefs of paper d'Aunonay ejfplains, for
why, our fliopkeepers ftill get paper from Holland. To di-
tninifh this fcarcity, thefe good citizens have geiieroiifly offetr
ed to cornmunicate their procefs to all tfhe rtianufaftorers of
p^per in the nation, and eyen to form fchools, wherein the
art of piper -ma:king rnay be taught. Many perfons have
profited by thefe offers ; tbe §t^tes of Burguridy ^ave lately
fent three pupils— -Thef^ manufafturers have proved that it
W?s not nrore expenfive to make good and excellent pipbt
ftt^n' that of a middling quality. M. he Clerc, who has a
great paper manufaftory at EfTone, found with concern, that
his maiiufaftory coft him a great deal, and produced b^d paper
pnly ; he cornftittnicated his regret tq M. Joh^nnot ; the lat
ter went to EfTone and produced good .paper with common
pafte. This wa? certainly a great fervice done to France, and
^_good example giveri to th? fordid avarice of n^qiiopoliaiers,

UNITED STATES OF A.MERICA- 167
The Englifli themfelves buy our paper for
printing, and our writing paper will not be
long unequal to theirs, if it does not furpafs
it '*. But if there be an objed of commerce foj"
which Europeans need not fear a reciprocal
competition ; if there be an article which offers
to all European rnanufadures a certain and lu
crative employ, it ig that of paper : the con
fumption will always be equal at leaft to the
produdion, and Its numerous ufes infure a ftill
greater confumption, in- proportion as popula
tion, commerce, and knowledge, fliall increafe,
who, not being able to do and embrace everything, hinder
.others from d ing it. May thefe generous patriots receive
that honour which they deferve : may their example be fol
lowed every where and by al]. This y/lU be to them a m.O?e
flattering eulogium, a qaore brilliant; and laftingrecompenfe
than cordqns and ribbons, unworthy of true merit, becaufe
they are frequently the price of intrigue, and the ornament of
mediocrity. The pleafure of welldoing, and the fufirages of
honeft men) are pure and unchangeable recompenfes. — The
artift vs^ho does not know how to confirje himfelf to thefe,
will- never do any thing which is great.
* Rags are more fcarce, and confequently dearer, in Eng-f
land than in France, and they are articles of iljicit commerce
between the two countrie,s. There are very fevere laws
againft this commerce, but it is, ^nd ever will be, carrie-J on,
as long as there- fhall be any thing to be gained by it,
M 4 ' Every

"1 68 _ ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
Every nation ought therefore to obferve with-g
out jealoufy, that each country ftrives to have
within itfelf manufadures of this kind.
The Americans cannot however enjoy thl^
'advantage for a long time to come : befides the
dearnefs of wbrkmanfliip, their population can-?
not furnifli them old rags in quantities fufficir
ent to eftablifli paper mills M^hofe produdions
would be equal to the confumption of the Inha
bitants. ¦ '
Will their population ever ftirnifli them with
this fuflSciency ? This is a qupftipn difficult to
refolve. In fad, In, proportion to the know?
ledge which nations rnay acquire, and to the
liberty of the prefs, which may be enjoyed in
-America, a prodigious quantity pf paper muft
be confumed there ; but can the population of
this country produce rags in the fame propor
tion \ It cannot reafqnably be hoped that it
will. If is therefore prpbable that the Anaeri?
can markets will not for a long time be provid?
pd with any other than European paper, and
th^t this will find a place there*.
* ^ags are exceffively dear in America ; but the time i§
arriying' when, by an increafe of population, they will become
plenty/ In Pennfjlvania they already make very good pa?
per, . ' ¦ ' ¦

tJNITED STATES OF' AxMERICA. l6^
But fince the ufe of paper is fo advantageous
to men, fince It is fo varied, it behoves , every
nation to look upon foreign confumption as a
fupplement otfty, as an open port in the cafe of
a fufpenfion of interior commerce. It behoves
every nation to keep paper at a moderate price
within itfelf, and to attain this end, means muft
be cthoughti of to increafe materials which ferve
to compofe this article, and to purfue the happy
attempts already made to do it*. Thefe re-
fearches
* In the moment of writing this note, I have before me
yery interefting pfT^ys on -vegetables, and oti the bark of feve-r
ral trees, to transform them into paper ; thefe efTays are due
to the refearches of M. Delille,, to whofe care the manufac-r
ture of Montargis is indebted for a great piart of its reputa
tion. He has far furpafTed that SchefFer^ whorn our men of
erudition have quoted with fo much emphafis. — On feeing
the books which M. Delille has printed, on paper made frpm,
a fpecies of mallows, and the bark of the linden tree ; and on
perceiving the advantages which might be reaped from this
invention, at leaft in packing and ftained paper, of which fo
great a confumption is made ; we wifh that this invention
niay be more and more .known, received and adopted, as a
means of remedying the want of rags and -the dearnefs of pa
per, which oughtto have more influence than is cotliijionly
believed on the progrefs of knowledge.
It is. almoft impoffible that this -invention fhould not foon
'become gerieral, and it is greatly the intereft of the free Amer
fjc^ns to natufaljzf it ^mong tijemi. §tr,on|

170 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
fearches are fo much the more eflfentlal, fo
much the mofe urgent, as the happy invention
, of coloured paper for hanging is of a nature
always to caufe a greater confumption of paper j^
and this manner of hanging with. paper will
fuijfift for a long tim.e, hecaufe it gives a neat
and agreeable' appearance to apartments.
Noother is known in the United States j it
isthere univerfal ; almoft all the houfes are neat
and decent.

SECTION XIII.
^ PRINTING.
The liberty of the prefs being a fundam.ental
principle of the Americap conftitution, there can
be no doubt that printing will increafe there.
Strong lies of lime and pot-afli, and the intelligent ufe.of
vitrolic acid, are great -means -of reducing hemp aifld flax to
•that kindof fubftance extremely attenuated, foft and brittle,
which is proper for making of paper. It might be c-ontrived
'by thefe means to fupply the want of rags by old cordage.
Thefe woirtd even ferve to make good paper, fince being re-r
duced to tow, it may eafily be bleached. The attenua,tion to
he feared fo^: linen is not fo for the material of which paper is
rpade.
But

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. tyt
But It muft be obferved, that extenfive printing
requires workmen at a little expence; that is
to fay, men without property, talents, or con
dud ; whonl great cities produce and employ
in work which requires neither intelligence nor
emulation; and it has already been obferved,
that the United States, 'unlefs the rage of great
cities takes poffeflion of theraj wi;U contain hut
few of thefe Wretched beings,
Printing will not therefore, It may be pre'»-
fumed, be extended among the free Arnericans,
at leaft beyond that which is neceflary for the
public prints.*. Their conftant and confidej*
able fale, permitting a greater expence in work
manfliip, confequently draws about the prefs
many individuals, becaufe they have, in a good
falary, a view of the means of becoming pro-
prlf^tors or traders f.
The
* Gazettes are Angularly multiplied in the 'United States,
They win become ftill more fo with an increafe , of .population,
and this is an advantage,'for they are what that excellent pa
triot Dr. Jebb called them, ^' Sentinels which watch evef
?'puTilic liberty and, the prefervation of truth." *
f However, confiderable works are fometimes printed in
the United State.-, and of vvhich the edition is carefully enough
porrefted. — I have feen, for inftance, the Memoirs in Quarto
pf the Ac^detnies of Boftonand Philadelphia, ofthe laft year,
>yhich

172 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
The furnifliing of books of fcience and
amufement muft therefore make a confiderable
objed of importation into the United States.
It is for France to appropriate to herfelf this
commerccj and to' encourage the imprefiion of
Englifli books. Our workmanfliip being cheaper
than that ofEngland, and the Englifli making ufe
ofour paper. Our binding being lefs expenfive,
why fliould not all^ the books in which the Ame
ricans ftafid in need of be printed in France .?
It will be faid that we do not enjoy the li^
berty of the prefs, -^be it fo :— But it is only
with refped tp our booHs* ; for undoubtedly the
which proves at the fame time that free America is not fo
totally without typographical eftablifhmentSj and that the in^
li^bitants are iiot all fuclj idjots as a prejudiced German
dreamed they were.
* Under the reign of Louis XIV. whofe ambition extend
ed to every thing, it was ferioufly attempted to make the
French language utiiverfal. This abfurd pretenfion was rjdi-
culoufly fupported by the tyranny exercifed upon books arid
authors. This.tyranpy could not but produce bad ones, and
confetjueritly difguft ftrangers. Happily fume judicious men
had the courage to make facrifices, and to get their- works
printed abroad. It is thefe prohibited books which have en
riched the French language and increafed the reputation qf
French literature. What authors are heard quoted in every
fountry? ^ouflTeau, Voltaire, Helvetius, Montefquie'u, &c.
that

tTNlTED STATES OF AMERICA. ty^
the adminiftration does not pretend to extend
its coercive principles to books written In fo
reign languages ; it would not attain its end,
feeing that it does nbt do it with refped to
French books* ; and by this impoUtical rigour
France would be deprived of a lucrative ar
ticle of commerce, certain, and of continual in
creafe. The Dutch, fo adive and vigilaiit in feizing
the rifing branches of commerce, have for a
lotig time fpeculated on books in the United -
States: many bibles and books of prayer, for
the ufe of the Americans, are printed in Hol
land. Lord Sheffield is obhged to acknow-
that is to fay, men who have been patriotic enough to violate
the tyrant's laws of the prefs. y
* So that even more than half of the libraries in France
are Compofed of French books, printed abroad, for which there
are two caufes— the cheapnefs and goodnefs of the books ; the
cSiavo leaf printed, is commonly fold in Switzerland to the
public at nine deniers or a foi, and it cofts three or four fols
in France. Prohibited books are fold jat^Paris at the fame
price a'sXbooks permitted, which proves the, dearnefs of French
printing. — -For to the original price of prohibited books, there
muft be added the expences of carriage, rifks of entry, the
commiflions of different agents, &c. ; with refpeft to the good
nefs of the works,' the beft, as I have already obferved, are
printed abroad : Helvetius has faid with reafon, " On ne dit la
verite, que dans les livres, prohibss, on ment dans les autre s."
ledge,

174 .ON tHE COMMfiRdE Of TtiM
ledge, that printing in HoUand is by far ttioM
cheap than that ofEngland, and of courfe muft
have* the preference. They will feme day ex*
tend this commerce to claSical books*.

SECTION XlVi
SALT.
This article, fo neceflary to the Americans^
and fo abundant in France, muft not be forgot
ten in the enumeration of commodities to be im
ported into America. The Americans will for
a long time be obliged to get it from Eurqpe ;
not that they have no fait rnarflies upon the
.coafts, and fait pits in the interior parts of the
country ; but thefe marflbes, thefe fait pits,
muft have hands to work them ; and hands are
* A man of letters, who had remarked the dearnefs of Eng
lifh books in France, and how difficult it was to get them
from England, thought of getting the beft Englifh works re-
'printed in Paris ; — this was a fpeculation really patriotic — ¦
he abandoned it after -having got a few volumes reprinted, pro-
'bably becaufe the confumption in France was not great
ienough, and that of England was not open to hitii. He might
'at prefent revive it, independent America prefents a great
opening to him. .^; - better

UNITED ^STATES OP AMERICA. 17^;
better employed in the United States ¦•^. The
fait exported frora Europe will for this reafon
be a long time cheaper than that of America ; '
-^moreover, its freight will coft but little, as
veflels coming from Europe may be baliafted
with it. The Americans ought to give the
preference to French fait ; It is lefs iharp, lefs
corrofive, and poflefles a better quality for lalt-
ing, than any other European fait.
The three millions of inhabitants v,'hich the
United States contain at prefent, are fuppofed
to confume fixty million pound weight of lalt,
without rectoning that which is given to cat
tle, and that employed in falting provifions; of
which great quantity Is confumed in theUnited
States, and with which they will carry on a
commerce more and more confiderable : I will
not at prefent go into a calculation of the im
menfe riches Wbich the furnifliing of made fait
to foreign population, continually increafing,
Would produce to France. I ought to guard
againft .exaggerations : bat it may not be im-
* Salt, during tbe late war, was very dear in Araerica, it
was worth twenty times its ordinary price. --^The deprivation
of this article was very fenfibly fek by the Americans, who
confume much fklted provifion^ and give a great quantity
of fait to their eattk. proper

iyG ON THE COMMERCE Off THE.
proper tp obferve that a confidefable part of the
States of the North will never make any fait.
It is therefore pofllbfe that French fait may
have \ preference among them, as being cheaper
and raore within their reach: the. population of
thefe States will be raore rapid than that of the
others, and the coramerce more varied and ex
tenfive. SECTION XV.
dENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CATA
LOGUE OF FRENCH IMPORTATIONS INTO
THE UNITED STATES. ||^i,
I will extend no further the lift of articles^
which French commerce may furnifti to thd
United States : there are rr^any others vt'hich I
omit, hecaiife the bounds of my work will nOt
permit me to exaraine any more than the prin
cipal ones.
If faith be given to the calculations cf Lofd
Sheffieid, and of other political writers, it ap^"
pears that the amount of the exportations Of
Great Britain Into free America wasj upon an
average, calculated upon three years^ taken
before 1773, near three raiUions fterling^ up
wards of feventy-two millions of livres tour nois.

UNlTEfi STATES OF AMERICA; 1 77
nois. How much will it increafe irt following
the progrefiion of population, and clearing of
lands ? It is efpecially for thjs future ftate of
things that France ought to prepare her
means. Let it be alfo obferved, that this commerce
employed feven or eight hundred veflels, and
about ten thoufand fallors.
Ought France to let flip fo important a com
merce, and a means' fo natural of fupporting her
marine ? For without commerce there can be
no marine. Has not flie, 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, fufficient to eftablifli in America a fohd
and extenfive comm.ercd ? It muft, be continu
ally repeated, that if it be w'iflied that peace
ftiould reign upon the earth, the vyord? prefer
ence and competition, which are frequently fig-
nals of difcord, muft be ufed with circumfpec-
tion. Why fliould there be any jealoufy with
refped fo this coramerce ? In the courfe of
lime, independent Araerica will offer a fi,eld
wide enough for all the Europ,ean manufac
tures. Vol. II. N CHAP.

178 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE

CHAP. VI.
OF THE ARTICLES WHICH INDEPENDENT
AMERICA MAY FURNISH JN RETURN FOR
IMPORTATIONS FROM FRANCE.
ARRIVED at this part of my work, I
cannot do better than confign to it the
letter addrefled, by M. de Calonne to Mr. Jef
ferfon, Minifter Plenipotentiary from, the Unit
ed States of America.

LETTER ,
ADDRESSED TO M. JEFFERSON, MINISTER PLENIPOTENTI
ARY FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE
eOURT OF FRANCE. Foi^tainbleau, 22d OtSober, 178^.
^IR,
The King's intention being to favour as much
as poflible the commerce of the United States;
I have the honour to communicate to you
fome dilpofiti'ons made for that purpofe.
7 By

UNITED STATES OF 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 portSj promifed by the
treaty to the United States, the king had deter
mined to grant them four, which has been ef
feded ; and I promifed him to "confider the cuf
toms and duties on importation and eicp'ortatlon
which fliackle 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 fuppreffed the duties on the exporta
tion of brandy, a meafure which he hoped would
be ufeful to American coramerce ; I aflTured him
alfo, that the duties of the king and admiralty,
payable by an American veflel on its arrival In
a port of France, fliould be dimlniflied ; and af
terwards that fuch of them as remained, fliould
be reduced to a fingle duty, to be regulated ac
cording to the iiumber of mafts or draught of
water, and not according to the too uncertain
eftimatlon of; gauging. This redudion requires
an exad knowledge ofall the duties received in
the ports, and as they are of various fpecies, the
ftate whieh 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

iSa ON THE COMMERCE OF TilE>'
ticular coraraittee, to exaraine our coramerelal
connexions with the United States, and that
the Marquis de la Fayette has laid before! it a
projed 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 lyftem, the produce of
a branch of revenue, which amounts to twen
ty-eight millions of livres, vvithout falling upon-
any objed of the firft neceflity. After an am-/
pie difcuflion of every thing which might at
prefent favour the importation of tobacco from
America to France,>it has been decreed, not
that the agreement m.ad6 with Mr^ Morris
fliould be departed from, but that, after the ex-.
piration of it, no other of the fame import
fliould be made ; and that in the mean time
the Farmers General fliould be obliged to pur
chafe annually about fifteen thoufand hogflieads
of American tobacco, coming diredly from the
United States in Frciich or American fliips, at
the fame prices as ftipulated in the contrad
made with Mr. Morris. s;;
You will recoiled, Sir, that whilft the de
mands which had been made for whale oil were
under' confideration,' the Marquis de la Fayette
rnade a private arrangement with M. Sangrain,
permitting

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. l8l
permitting him to receive as much of that arti
cle as fliould amount to eight hundred thoufand
livres tournois, and that I had granted pafiTports
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-
, fand livres a year, for fix years-, for which his
Majefty has pronilfed the fame favours as en
joyed by the Hanfe towns.
This raanner 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 fen years, whale oil,
fpermaceti, and every thing comprehended un
der thefe denominations, coming from the
United States in French or American fliips, the
feme favours and moderatlori of duties as are
enjoyed by the Hanfe towns.
His Majefty hopes commercial connexions
between the United States and France will
N 3 ¦ become

iSa ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
become extenfive enough to engage him to con
tinue the effed 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 whafe oils, and
even upori Jiational ones, his Majefty confentS
to abbllfli this duty with refped to the former,
and upOn fperiiiaceti coming immediately firom
the United States in' French and American
fhips ; fo that fpermaceti and thefe oils will
have to pay, fof 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 1 790.
It has been determined to, gain particular in
formation upon the confumption in France
of rice from Carolina, and that encouragement
fliould he given to the exportation of that ar^
tide. Upon the reprefentations which have been
made, touching the confiderable duties paid on
the entry of pot afli and pearl afli, as wefl as
relative to thofe of beaver ikins and fur, and raw
hides, his Majefty has fupprefled all the duties
on pot afli, — on the fur and fldns of beavers,—!-
and on hides, coming raw from the United
States, on boaj-d American or French veflTels. He

UNITED STATES OF AMERldA. 1B3
He will alfo confider of proper encouragements
to be given to every article of the Ikin and fur
trade. His Majefty has equally confented to free
from all duties mafts and yards of every fpe
cies, red cedar, green oak, in fliort, all tim
ber proper, for the conftrudion of veflTels, com
ing from the United States in French or Ame
rican fliips.
The committee 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 veflfels,
his Majefty has taken this into his confidera
tion, and exempted the purchafe of all ftiips,
which fliall be proved to have been co'nftruded
in the United States, from every duty of the
kind. Trees, fmall flirubs, and feeds of trees, alfo,
pay high duties, which his Majefty has agreed
to abolifti upon fuch as fhall 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

184 ON, THE- COMMERCE OF THE
the exportation of arms and gunpowder, as well
as the duties required in cafes of particular per-
mlflions, ftiould be abollflied, and that when
ever the United States ftiall wifli to have from
France arms, fufils, and gunpowder, they ftiall,
have full liberty to do it, provided it be in
French, or American fliips, and that thofe arti
cles fliall be fubjed to a very moderate duty
only, folely for, the purpofe of calculating the
exportations. Finally, his Majefty has received in the fame
favourable manner the demand made to the
comraittee to fupprefs the confiderable duties-.
hitherto paid on books and paper of every kind.
His Majefty fupprefles all duties on articles of
this kind, deftined to the United States, and
, put Into French or Araerican veflels.
It Is with pleafure, Sir, I announce to you
thefe difpofitions of his Majefty,^ wh.ich are a
new proof to you of his defire to unite clofely,
the commerce of the two nations, and of the
favourable attention he will always give tp pro-
pofitions which fliall be made to him iii the
name ofthe United States of Am.erlca.
; 1 have the honour to be, with a fincere at
tachment, Sir,
Your very humble and very Obedient Servant,
(Signed) DE CALONNE,

Ut^ITED STATES OF AMERICA. 185
Your nation. Sir, will undoubtedly fee, with
pleafure, the facilities the king has juft given
to the exportation of the wines of Bourdeaux,
Guienne, and Touraine, and the fuppreflions of
duties granted to that effed, by different Arrets
of Council, with which the Marquis de la Fay
ette will be able to acquaint you.

EXPORTS

j86 ON THE COMMERCE OP THE

EXPORTS OF AMERICA,

I WILL treat but of a few of the articles
"which America furnlflies, 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 moft
important one to the inhabitants of the two
countries. If it dahnot be clafled with our
moft urgent nece'flities, it follows them fo clofe,
that ex^cepting cafes wherein the ufe of it ex
cites difguft-, the deprivation of it ordinarily
difcovers the laft degree of mifery.
We muft not be furprifed at its general ufe.
The man greedy of fenfations, has found one
lively

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 187
lively enough in tobacco : it is perhaps the only
one which he can enjoy at pleafure without in
juring his health, dimlnlfliing his ftrength, or
fufpending his work or meditations. Tobacco
awakens the mind agreeably, and obfervers who
have remarked the innocent pleafure, the fpe
cies of inftantaneous comfort, which a little to
bacco procures to a poor man, borne down by
the weight of afflldlon, have always wiflied
that fo fimple an enjoyment fliould be improved
and become lefs and lefs expenfive ; and they
cannot refled without horror on the crirae of
that fifcal induftry, which, hardened by mono
poly to increafe its profits, adulterates fnuff" fo
much, as to rnake it pernicious to health.
The confumption of tobacco muft 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; whith the pbhcy 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

iSS ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
make a greater profit if they cultivated their
lands for provifions. This experience is deci
five for France, where none of thofe rich lands
exift which are fo well known in America.
It Is therefore the intereft of France to get to
bacco from abroad, but it i muft be paid for by
her manufadures :, flie may enjoy this advan
tage more fully with free America than with
any other country, I vi'ill not repeat the reai
fon s of it; I will obferve only, that' the free
Aniericans, 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
produdion 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 cohfiderable.
But diff'erent confiderations place this epocha
at a diftance J 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 ^^e-
quires more labour and mvinure. Secondly^ America,

UNITED' STATES OF AMERICA. 189
America, interfeded In every diredion by rivprs
and lakes, has infinite refources for rendering
water carriage every where eafy, and confe
quently never expenfive. It is eafy to multi
ply canals, and confequently communications :
no part of the world is fo much favoured in this
refped as America. Thirdly, The banks of
the Ohio and the Mifliflippi offer immenfe
lands to be cleared ; the Ohio falls into the
Mifliflippi, 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 fe
for a long time*. Fourthly, If the price of
* It is impoffible to view, without indignation, that narrow
policy bf Spain, which would fhut out the Americans from all
communication with the fea by the MifliiEppi. How is it,
that fhe cannot perceive, that her mercantile interefts invite
her,' on tlie contrary, to favour this navigation, by ereding
flore houfes upon the banks of this river near to its mouth ?
Is fhe ignorant of tbe advantages of depofitories? And with
refpeft to her political intereft, is there a greater one for her
in thefe countries, than to make herfelf immediately necefTary
to American eftablifhments, within the reach of the Ohio ?
Mufl fhe wait till they adopt other means ? 'What will be
gained by t;reating difcontent among a free people ? If it be
wifhed that thefe people fhould not become powefful, they
muft be deftroyed; and if this barbarity belongs not to, the
eighteenth century, U is necefTary to make friends of them.
Expedients in politics are childifh and vain.
8 tobacco

190 «iN THE COMMERCE OF THE
tobacco fliould be increafed j France would not
feel the difference, if the free Americans, pre
ferring the culture, continued to vvant Euro-
peafi manufadures, and gave the preference to
thofe of France. According to this fyftem,
the exchange of merchandize, manufadured In
France for the produdions of the foil of Ame
rica, may be ftill made with advantage, if feven
thefe produdions were fold In France below
the firft cOft in America. We have long feen
the French commerce of the' Levant producd
great profits, although the ma-chandize 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 ftie'
can confume frora 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 tvirerity-
nine millions of livres.

SECTION

UNITED STATES Of' AMERICA. igt

SECTION II.
FISHERIES, WHALE OIL, &C. SPERMACETI
CANDLES.
Among the articles of fubfiftence which na
ture has liberally given to men,' fifli is -one of
the moft abundant, the moft eafy to be procur
ed, and the moft proper to preferve their health
and ftrength *. By what fatal privilege is this
food confined in- France almoft to the rich ?
Why does not fifti abound in all places, where
this tribute ofthe 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
* Such is: the powerful influence on population, of the
abundance of articles of fubfiftence, and efpecially that of fifh,
that it is principally to this article of life that the empire of
China owes the incredible number of its inhabitants. nature

192 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
nature they be, provided they be cheap and
wholefome ; why is this political rule departed -
from, with refped to flfti, -to that aliment
which nature produces every where with fuch
fecundity ? Whatever majr 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 froni each natioii the,
fuperflulty which nature has given it, I fliall
take great care not to copy the narrow fyftem
of Lord Sheffield with refped ''o fiflieries.—
His Lordfliip agrees, that the independent Ame-f
ricans have, for the great fifliery, natural ad
vantages^ with which it is impoflible for the
/Europeans to contend.
In fad, the Americans are near that part of
the Atlantic where great fifli abound ; therefore
their fifliery muft 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 feas, they
are expofed to lefs rllks than European^: final?..,
]y, their proximity to the fiflieries, alfures them
provifions

, tTNlTED BTAtES OF AMERIC^.* ]t^3
provifions rtiore frefh*, and puts it Irt their -
power to renew theni more frequently ; -con
fequently their fifhermen enjoy more conftant
health, and have older officers and fallors araon?^
them : thefe are ineftimable advantages to Ame
rica. The Englifli have very few of thefe advan
tages 5 the French fcarcely any.— ^But ought
We to conclude with Lord Sheffield, from this
order of things^ that American fifli fliould be
charged with duties, in order to fupport the
national fifliery, againft this competition ; the
li^ture of things didates to France riiore wife
and advantageous means.— Fifli is riourifliing,
-^whatever is nourifliihCT is prolific : if the
'Americans fifli at lefs expence than the French,
¦fo much the better for the laft ; fifti will be
more abundant, and at a lower price in France.
Let France open her ports ; the Americans will
bring fifli into them, and will pay themfelves
with either the produdions ofthe foil of France,
* Such is the advantage of the, Americans, that they fur-
nilh provifions to the fedetitary fifheries of the -Epglilh. Ac
cording to Colonel Champio^i, the provifions of Europe ate
more dear, aiftd not fo good; the difference in favour of the
Americatis is in the propolrtion of four to feven j and it can
not be otherwife.
Vol. II. O or

15^4 ^'^ 'f^^E Commerce of ti^e
or" of her Induftry ; and the population to wt}kh
this abundance and cheapnefs are favourable
will increafe the produdions of French indul-'
Moreover, it is, neceflary, either to. renounce^
exterior commerce, -or,' to confent tbaf there
ftiall be fomething to exchange on both fides.
To wIDi to eftablifli and encourage a com
merce with a foreign nation, and not to leavp-
it to the care of furnifliing that which it coUi
leds with the greatell facility, is a manifeft
confradldion. 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 on their coafts,
fince they are in the neighbourhood of New
foundland, leave to their induftry that branch
which nature has given to them in preference;.
let us not difpute it with them ; firft, becaufe
it would be in vain to do it, and in the next
place, becaufe France may reap, without fifli-
ing, more advantageoufly the fruit of the Ame
rican fifheries.
*' Buti" fays Lord Sheffield, " failors muf^
*' be- found for the navy; ^nd the fiflieries are
"the nurferies for them; therefore, the fifli-
" erie^

VnIT1$D S:TAT$:S of, AMfR^CA* Ip^
^* eries piuft be fupported;. and, no fifh -coii--
*' fumed but that which we take ourfelves; oii
**' which account, premiums are neceflTary.'*
There is no doubt but fallows are formed ia
the fiflieries, but it is not In throwing nets or
Looks, in curing or preparing- fifli,, that this is
done; it is by a frequent andlong exercife On board
veflTels in laborious tnanoeu.vres, in living, fo to
Ipeak, among rocks, and^tn feas, which the- vi
cinity or nearnefs of oppofite coafts rnakes con-
tinually dangerous : now this exercife of vigi
lance, agility, .and intelligence, is perforraed by
the failor in coafting and fifliing on the coafts
of his own country. Let cQaftlng be frequent,
and let not this fifliery be difcoUraged in France,
ahd it will not be neceflary, in order to form
failors, to fend them^fo far to take fifli, which
they cannot bring to Europe without great ex-
pence i by which the confumption is confe
quently limited^ and- which deprives us of the
ineftimable advantage of receiving in abundance,
that which the independent Araericans can take
at much lefs e3l:pence. - ' ,
Without doubt the , fexefcife. of the fiflieries
of the North forms Intrepid failors ; and this
painful life muft be confented to. But when
nature has placed' men in a cllmat? ^yherc they
O i have

15)6 ON TH^ COiWMEReE i&F THE '
have but a few fteps to make to the' interior of
the country*, to find an occupation exempt.
froni dangers an diefs fatiguing ; when they Can
e/et theif bread upon land, under a clear and
- calm fky, if he reafons, how will he be engag
ed to truft his life td boards, and to braVe Icy
feas, to expofe himfelf duririg the fineft- months
in the; year to perpettial ftorms, which affait
thefe fifliing banks, fo frequently ftained, b^
means of the nioft fatal errors, with European
Blood? .
it will be' anfwered, by premiums f, by pri
vileges,
* The Fr'endi' fifh but af part of the year j moft pf .the
fifhermen are day labourers, employed on land, which they
Wave in the month of February, and return to it in July.
f England gives ebr>(idefabrle premiums to her filhermefi;.
—But the fnconvehiences and abufes'pf the firft premJumSj
render them' bf do eSeSt, Thefq,abwfes are chiefly as follows ;
Tliefifhing veffel muft goto a certain port.; the equipage
mufl pafs in review before the Officers of the Cuftoms;. the
fHip mufteomplete her ftargo; ©r remain three months at fea
to do it; — fo tha't if in the ftrft week fhe procured nine-tenths:
©f it, file would be obliged to keep the fea for the other tenth..
Xh€ lhi|>can take no inftrumertts but thof^ proper, for the
.^fifhery, to which tbe premium is applied; the ca'rgio cannot be
d'ifc'hargfed' but in a certain port ; there are general formalities
tb- be obfeved with relpeSi to the fait wbich fHe carries out
, and brings home; the pvyners are expofed to vexations .from
CuflQin-hoQfe Officers, to law fuits which they are obliged to
carry

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 1 9,7
vileges, and by prohibitions or overcharges of
duties, which afe'equlvalent to prohibitions on
foreign Induftry; - '
But It rauft not be forg6tteii, that articles of
fubfiftence are here in queftion, that thofe forc
ed means make them dearer, that their con
fumption' 'is then limited, and their efe'd' re
ftralned ; that in forcing nature In this mafin'er,
is doing it at the expefice of population, for b^
tbis' barbanitis 'fegimen, rhen are deftroyed in
ftead of being'prodiiced, whilft permiftioh to
trritig Into fea-pbrts the fifh of thofe who have
iiothing; better to do than to take Itwoiird iii- ,
fallibly 'increafe population.' ~ '
Moreover, to Whom are thefe pre,miuras and
all other favours, with, which it is wiflied to
combat the nature of things, diftribut'ed ? Does
the individual of "whom it is intended to make
a failor enjoy aiiy ad v^iitaW frora them? Let
pot men be deceived iq this, they are the prey
carry on in courts of juftice, far from their refidence. — Judge
if a poor fifherman can expofe himfelf to thefe inconvenien
cies; this is what has caufed fiflieries to decline, efpecially
thofe of Scotland.T-it is wh^t has given fo niuch afcendancy
to the Dutch, who have no premiums. It is that Which has
rendered premiurns ufelefs. Other Governments adopt this
method.oT giving premiums: .the fame difficulties are attached
to them,, and yet people aie aftonilhed that things go npt on
" better. '
Q.3 of

198 ON THE COMMERCE OF TIIB
of the navigator, who goes not out of his clo-^
fet but to walk about, and who direds his ftep?
fometiraes tovi^ard the fea fide. He begins by
taking, his own fhare, and be perfuaded that
the w^ges which he offers to thofe whora he
employs to condud his perilous, enterprize ar??
parfiraonioufly calculated; therefore the eiidjlg
i\qt attained. ¦
, If there be an abfolute want, of failors who
..have paffed their noviciate about the Banks qf
jNlewfoundland, and in, the Nojtb feas, tberfe is
a more, fimple, and fure means, lefs expenfive-,
and what is rnore irppprtant, pjie which is ex- '
empt frora deftrudive confequences, to forn^
thern. phoole frorn honeft fapiilies young,
robuft, and .intelligent rnen ; infure to thera 5.
perfonal reconipenfe if, after a pertain numb^f
of voyages on board fifliing veflels, tbey bring
certificates of good behaxlour, and of experience
agquired by pradice. Oblige thern tp gp o;i
board veffels belonging to nations or cities, to
which thefe difliicult fiflieries are a neceffary re
fource. It is there they will acquire real
knowledge, Thefe, added afterwards to fillers
exercifed in the poafting'and in the fiflieries qr^
their own coafts, will fofm fqr the navy expe
rienced failors.
ffhale oil' belongs to the fifhefie? : it is aiio-

irNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I991
ther OTeat article of commerce with the United
States. All oil of this detiomlnatlon Is not
produced- by whales only ; great quantities of it
is drawn from feals, aiid other fpecies of fifli.
The ufe of this oil is mucih reftralned in
France*: that of the white of the whale, and ¦
of, which fUch fine candles are made, is little
known there. The ufe of oil will become
more generaC . '
Lord Sheffield Is of opinion, that, found poli
cy makes it neceflary that the Englifli fliould
prohibit, or at leaft ^ifeourage by duties, Ame
rican oil. It was with this idea that the go
vernment of England impofed a duty of four
hundred and fifty livres tournois per ton on oils
imported by the independent Aniericans, to fa
vour the oils of iCanada and Nova Scotia.
This rigour fliould make this produdlon,
which has been, hitherto profcribed, received in
France, The introdud:ion of it Is fo much the
more neceflary, as the French whale fifliery is
ruined. Bayou, fortjierly celebrated for this
fifliery, has abandoned itj Dunkirk, v/hich con-^
* By ftatements which deferve fome faith it appesrs, that
in 1 784 the importation into France of whafe oil, and that of
other fifh taken bythe French, was i.,6io,6"9 lb.— Foreign
oil 2; 74i8,09glb, Portugal fumiflied almoft half of the laft.
i O 4 tinues

2G0 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
tinue?. to fit out veffels,, funiifhes but llttfe of
this.pll, and .a.t a very high price.
- Whether the French go to theTsTortb, or
towards Brafil, they will labour under a difad
vantage : — Withouf; afylntn in cafe of misfory
tune,,, their navigation,, is » always longer and
more expenfive than that of other natipns which
parry o.n a vyhale fifliery. Tt is therefore more
to the advantage of France to receive Americari
pil, arid to pay for it with her vyines arid ma-
jiufedures. The Frenph gpyernraent fpon perceived the
neceffity of Receiving the oils of America. Had
n.ot this been done, an emigratipn pf Americatii
fi.fhermen into Canada and .Nova Scotia would
have been the confequence, This was near
happeping, fpmp tirrie after the peace, in the
ifland pf IVantucket. In .defpaif on feeing thq
ports of England fhut, and not knowing wber^
to fell their oils, whjch alone fupplie(^ all their
yv^ants, the inhabitants had refolved to emigratQ
to Nova gcptla, when, on the mpment of de7
parture^ they received a letter frpra the Marqui^
fie la Fayettd, whom they juftly looked upon as
their patroq and father^ He perfiiaded them tq
be; patient mxi\ t\\e Frenph government fhouldf,
fnpFf^^ pf ff^^'^e- 'l^:^' 'duties on oils, whicl^,

^ UNITED STATES OP AMERICA- 20I
have been reduced for a linnlted time ; but dur-
jing this time the independent Americans are to
enjoy, with refped to their oils, all the
advantages given to the mOft favoured nation,*;
and, this favour, join.ed to all their other advan-
Jages, cannot fail to give them a great fuperio--
rity 111 this branch of pommerce, as beneficial
to France as to them.
The white of the whale rnuft be added, and
the candles made with this fubftance ; they are
knowri by the narae pf fpermaceti paqdles, and
ferve Inftejid pf very fine bougies or wax pan-
jdles.' The American Colonies exported of them,
according to Lord Sheffield, tp the amount pf
five hundred thoufand livres tournois, in the
years 1768, 1769, and 1770, calculating thefe
pandles at thirty-two fols a, pound. |t is pro
bable, that thefe' would be better rnade in
France.
* Such are tlie duties on whale oil, &c. paid in France, ac
cording to the tarifs of i66|, and 1667 ; whale bone, cut and
prepared by the French, thirty fols per cwt. fins three livres
per cv/t. a tjarrel of oil of five hundred pounds weight, three
livres.-5r.^ha}e bone from foreign fifheries, pays in the firft
jnftance, nineteen livres, in the fecond, thirty livaes, and
j:welve livres in the third. The Hanfe Tb^ns pay ninp livres
in the firft inftance, and feven li\^res ten fols in the third. — It
ll this laft duty which the .^iherican oils novif pay.
SECTION

AOZ ON" ^HE COMMERCE OF TH«

SECTION" Ilf.
CORN, FLOUR, &e.
't
Foreign corn and flour enter France on
paying a duty too inconfiderable to make any.
fetifible increafe in their price. The principles
laid down in the preceding article, with refped
to articles of fubfiftence, muft be adopted for
the commodities of corn and flour. ' ' ^
The corn merchant, the moft ufeful 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 ftrokes of" authority. This flate of
uncertainty, prevents the folid eftablifhment of
the true fyftem of liberty, whence, refult innu
merable inconveniencies, which no other fyf-.
tem wpuld bring on provided It were fixed,
and that it afforded a certaiij bgfis pf palcula-
tion. ¦ But how could a legiflation for corn be forrn
ed which fhould ndt be one pf liberty, and
which fliould neverthelefs afford a like bafis?- This

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 20^
This is Impoffible : feeklng, firft of all, the par-«
ticular rules for every cafe, when thefe are of
a nature not to be forefeen, is feeking for a
chimera. Not to fell Into contradldion it is neceflTary
to choofe between arbitrary power and liberty.
-—•But that which is arbitrary prefents nothing
but a perfpedlve which is naturally difcourag-
jng. No propei^ty is fafe under this fyftem :
when It exifts, the merchant and the cultivator
^re obliged to hazard their property in a lottery,
of which the chicaneries cannot be calculated ;
for it is ' neceffary to forefee the falfe , informa^
tions, errors, and manoeuvres, of an Intereft dif-
ferent from their own, apd even from thatof
the public, the attempts of power,' &c. ; and if
all thefe confiderations ought to enter into the
elements of their calculations, hpw can they
found hopes on fuch a variable bafis ?
Liberty con.fifting, on the contrary, in the
pholce which every one may make of that
which Is moft agreeable to him, according to
the circumftances of the moment. This is a
gerieral ruler it is applicable to every cafe^ and
the hope of gain is always accompanied b^ the
decifive certainty that an individual will be
.fljafter ofall bis induftry, and of combining his
fpeculations

i504- ON THE COMMERCE- OF T«B
ipeculations according to circumftances, which
humaii power cannot govern.
From this demonftrated troth, that In every
ftate of circumftances, the firft thing', needful
to the commerce of grain is a fixed rule, re
fults the rieceffity of embracing the fyftem of
liberty, and of protedlng it in its'fulleftextent^
witbbut oppofing any reftridive condition*. "^
• Governments fhould, be determined by the
neceffity alone of this fixed rule, if the fyftem
of liberty- was not even demonftrated to be the
beft in eVery refped. But this fyftem is more
over the n>oft certain prefervative againft the
alternatives of ruinous abundance, and fearclty
ftill more ruiriOus, which' are both calamities,
Isjfherevfer impofts are confiderable.
Lord Sheffield obferves, that Europe, not be
ing cOnftantly under the neceffity of recurring
to American corn, theUnited States cannot put
corn and flour into the clafs of produdipns,
which found an, elTential and durable com-
* The Englifh Tometimes prohibit importation or expo'r-
tation,.^But it muft be obferved, that the Englifh previoufly
fix the'price of corn, which determines prohibitions. This
is therefore a fixec| law, and which, confejquently, deranges not
(peculators like an aibitrary lav^.
3 merpe.

UNITED STATES ©*>' AMfiRlCA, t6f
merce *. Lord ShefiSeld is miftaken. It is a
truth, which every man of obfervation is ac
quainted with, that net a year conies forwawl '
without fhewing" that fotne,one or more nations
in Europe are in want of corn. This want of
grain therefore being occafionally eistended to
a?l Europe, France ought to be anxious to be
come the magazine of it, fince England was fo
formerly. Therefore it would be advantageous
to Ponftrud in the free ports-opened to the Unit-.
ed States commodious depofitories to receive,
and preferve American corn. By this means
* We have no fimple exprefljon in Franc* for'ftapk com
modities; \*ords by which the Englifli term thofe forts of pro- -
dudions of foil or induftry, {q naturalized as to form an elFen-
tial part of national riches, andof which' the commerce is
favoured by great eftablifhments, fuch as public buildings, de-
pofitori^j, and places or markets, deftined to thefe predu<5t:ions.
Thefe are called the ftaple, whpnce the exprelfioay?w^i cam-
tncidities was naturally formed.
We have npt, like the Englifh, the happy liberty of making
vw>rds: their language becomes more rich, their dooutipa
rapid, and we lofe ourfelves in lon* circumlocutions, to de
fcribe a thing of which we want the name ; an inconvenienoe
more. pernicious to.inftrudiion than is believed. This re
mark is not at prefent ill4imed; itis to thofe who conduft
affairs, who live among them, whofe vocation itis to treatthere- ,
oh, to' create wojds which explain them clearly and properly- corn

2o6 Ofi THE COMMERCE, OF fHg ¦
corn would be always ready to be tranfported,,
to the placc^where the beft price wasto be had.
, for it. Thefe free ports being depofitories.
where articles neceflary to the United States,
woqld be cOlleded, the commerpe of corn
would thereby acquire a continuation advanta
geous to>the two nations: — advantageous i to
America, becaufe the certainty of a place of
depofitv fafe and little expenfiv6, wou]d cauf^
grain to , be fent more frequently ; advantage-?
ous to France, becaufe, befides' the continual
poffeffion of an important pommodity, and-
which would guarantee it from every, manoeu- •
vre of interior monopply, thefe .depofitories
would furnifli the means of a coafting trade,.
almoft continual, from the north of France to
the fartheft part ofthe Mediterranean.
France does not grow all the corii fhe
eoi^ifiimes * ; fhe is o.bliged to get it from the
north, from Sicily, and the cOafts of Africa;
, * This is a faS, though contrary to the common opinion.
Another fa<S, which proves the neceflity 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 dornp eat black bread and no other, and of which
^hey have not even enough. What muft this fcarcity be in
other provinces where no corn is groWn ?
! .. that

UI?fTED STATES OP AMERICA, SO/
that of the United States ought to be more pro
per forlier, for two reafons :' Firft, it muft be
cheaper, being the produce ofa cultivating peo
ple. Secondly, the people have more various
and general wants of frefh provifions than the
fouthern countries of Europe. The.Americai\
may receive i^ines, fine oils, and fruits of France,
in exchange for his corn. The Neopolitan, the
Sicilian, and the African, cannot be paid in the
fame manner.
FinaUy, there is another i:onfideration favour
able to the importation of American corn : it
may eafily arrive at Honfleur* ; there it may
be ftored up, and undergo all the,;proceffes ne
ceffary to its prefervation ; procefles which are
become very fimple and little expenfive-|-. , Thefe
* I quote Honfleur, becaufe this, port, from. various cir
cumftances, ufelefs to mention here, i-s deftined by nature to
become the depofltory of agreat commerce^ and that Efpe
cially of the United States with France. The projefl: of "
making it a free port has been under confideration ; and it
is to the greateft intereft of France tbat this projeiSE ftould be
jcarried into execution,
¦\- Thefe confift in nothing but placing magazines in the
open air, opened to dry winds, and conft™£ted in fuch a-
manner as to be entirely removed,. This operation, per
formed once a fortnight, in proper weather, needs only to be
repested a ceytain number of times j afifer wbich the corn naay

258 0K> Tli$ COMMERCE OF THt^
Thefe eftablifliments would keep up a confidef-i
able quantity of foreign corn within the reach
ofthe capital, a greater advantage than' may ^
be imagined.
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 magazines which the land and
fea forces, and frequently fcarcity, oblige theni
to keep ftored.. ^^, X'^'-f
What fhould hinder Government from form-
ino; mao-azines of Araerican corn in the French
fugar iflands, which tempefts, conflagrations,"
and other unforefeen accidents, expofe fo. fre-
quent-ly to, famine, becaufe contraded vidual-
llng is carried on by<monopolIfers, who fend but
little in order, to fell dear ?
may be left iii a heap, without fear of its heating. Expjeri-
ments of this kind have been carefully made. The method
of preferving corn ufed at Geneva may be quoted : The go*;
vernment has eftablifhed one of its greateft revenues iii the
fale of corn to the people, and its intereft has, confequentlyj
led it to improve the art of preferving this commodity. Be
fides, in depofitories deftined wholly to the corn dealers, thi
fame corn never remains long enough to render its preferva
tion difHcult. There is fome reafon to believe that the fait
air of the fea is favourable for it.
SECTION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA* 209

SECTION IV.
MASTS, YARDS, AND OTHER'tiMBER POR THB
NAVY*
France, like other Eut'opean ftates Vvhich
have a royal navy and fleets of merchant fhips
to keep in rcpaii-, imports timber from Livonia
and Ruffia. This general magazine begins to
be exhaufted ; the quality of its mafts is hot
io good as formerly. This commerce is, riiore-
over, attended with the difadvantage to France
of requiring confiderable retnlttanpes pf money, ,
without reckoning the inconveniencea of a dan
gerous navigation', frequently Interrupted by
ice; alfe the competition of feveral nations,
which their proximity and many other, circum
ftances naturalize^ fo to fpeak, in the ports and
feas ofthe North ; advantages which the French
cannot have.
Thefe confiderations ought to determine
Franpe to turn her attention to the United
States, to propure from them the timber neccC-
fary fpr her navy, and maft timber efpecially.
There is but one objedion to this, and it arifes
from prejudiee. . It is pretended in France, that
Vol. II. P ' the

a 10 ON THE CQMMERGI.E OF TIJS
the quality of American timber is vefy, much
inferior, to that, of theBaltlc' Some peOple go
fo far as to maintain that it is improper for the
conftrudion of veffels. , 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 npt in the. laws of nature, that irnqa^nf©
countries, whofe afpeds are as varied as t^bpf©
of Europe can be, and in whofe foil there are
the fame diverfities, fliould produpe no timbiH
but of a quahty inferior tO that of the timber
of Europe. . ,
Better direded inquiries, and a more atten
tive examlnatipn, will foon deftroy this preju
dice againft the quality of American timber j
a prejudice fo much the rnore difagreeahle, aa
it would deprive the cpmraerce between France
and the United States of an article, imporlsaiQifi
to the two nations. ^ .
If France will inforra herfelf ferioufly ofthis
matter, let her confult even the enemiesi of
America; let h«jr confult Lord Sheflfleld, fo
¦ moderate in his eulogiums, when it is neceflary
to give them to the independent Americans.
His Lordfhip fays exprefsly, " that the nego-
" ciators of the treaty of peate, who have ceded
"the

(I

(I

Vm.TEn: STATES OF- AMERICA, 211
" the territory of Penobfeot, to the eaft of
^ Cafco ba/, belonging to Great Britain, de-
"ferve the fevereft cenfure; as" this go'untry ,
** produces, without contradidion, thp beft
<' timber.' Tlie coaft," adds his Lordfliip,
"is covered with timber proper fpr navigation
" and other lifes, and in quantities fufficient to
*' the wants of Great Britain for centuries to
" come. The white pine, known in England
" by the name of the Weymoiith. Pine^ or
*' the Pine of New England, abounds in this
territory ; it is inconteftably the beft for
mafts, and grows there to a prpdlglous
" height." This is confirmed to us by men. who have
travelled and refided in the United States.
Thefe men afliire us, that the States prpduce
all kijids of timber of whicil we are in need,
arid that the white pine of the Coanedicpt,
Penobfcjot, and K^ennebeck rivers is, at leaft,
eqwal in quality to that of the nprth. pf Europe.
The fliip-buIlders pf Philadelphia efteetti it fo
much, that, they begin to make ufeof it for
fide planks above the furface ofthe water.
Green oak, of which there are fuch fine fo
refts in Georgia, uijites the moft precious qua
lities!' it may be p.rocu red from St. .Mary's,
Pa of

212 ON THE COMMERCE DF THE
of a more cohfidera>ble feantling than that »
which comes from the Levant and thei|land
ofCorfica; it is compad, the worms never at
tack it, and its duration is uiiequalled. The?
green oak of CarOUna is the hardeft: timber'
^khown ; — the veflTels bnilt with it are of a yef^y'
long duration. . ' ,>

. S E C T I O N, V,
SKINS AND FURS.
In this trade Lord Sheflield looks upon the
United States as dihgerous rivals to' Canada;
and it is not without, reafon that his lordfhip is
df this opinion. '
The proximity of the great eftablifliments
which the independent Americans form at pre
fent at Pitjburgh, and in triany Other places of
their poffeffions beyond the mountains, muft
infenfibly give them great advantages in this'
commefpe, and make them partake with Caha-
da a large fharei ofthe profits.
In fad, the regions fituated between the wa
ters of the lake Ontario, and thofe of theMl!"-
fifllppi, interfeded by the numerous rivers
which fall into ,the South and North- Weft of
Lake

tTNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 213
Lcike Erie, of the Michigan, and of the Superior,
as far as the OuifcOn/ing* ^ and even to the lac
des. bois; the; great undertakings in which the
Virginians are at prefent employed, to improve
' the-navigation of the Poiowrriack, to the foot of
the Alle-^Gheny; the probability of anpther
communication with the ultramontane waters,
by means of the weftern branches of the Suf"
qitehanndh ; without omitting the facility with
which the inhabitants of the ftate of New York
went to Niagara , befbre the war, in going up
the Hudfon's river from their capital to Albariy,
beyond that of the,Mohawks, croffing the little
lake of Oneida, and by means of an eafy carri
age going down the jiver of Ofwego^ in the
inouth of which the Ontario forms an e^xeellent
harbour; all thefe reafons, and many others
which relate not only to geography, but to
climate, proximity, fifc. muft in a few years put
the Annerieans in poffeffion of the greatefl part
of the fur trade.
Thefe advantages will be ftill more certain,
when the Englifh fliall have evacuated the forts
* A great river which fells into the MiMfSppi, at feven
hundred leagues from the fea. P3 of

<2I4 <^*N' TriE COMlftERC^oF THE '
of Niagara*, the great ettabiiftrfnent ofthe
ftreightf ,.and thast of the MldhllMmakinack [j;. -
The annual fales in London of furs from Ca
nada, produced, in 1782, four millions feveA
hundred thoufaiBd livres tournois, fomething
more in iJ^S, and in 178:4 they amouiitedj to
upwards of five milMoris. All thefe fiirs are
paid for with Englifh n^anufadures,. andtliife
fourth {lart Is prepared aa England, by which
their value is doubled; Now this rich.coha^
iiiercei carried on by way of Quebec, w?ill cer*-
fainly fall as foon as' the forts and the countries
Vvhich they comraand fhall » be reftoirM to the
Americans. It is from tbis .confideration that
the reftitution of thefe forts is withheld"; to the
period of vv'hich the Eta^fti look forvi^ard: with
.pain* - ¦-...' I -', "."c ¦
'^» ' ¦- ' .: . .. i
* A vet^y important one, vi/hith coAimands the fjjacte^of the
thirteen leagues which feparates the lalaes Erie and Qritado;
t A city'fpunded by the French, on the height of ;St.
Claire, which carries the -waters of the lakes Michigan and
.Huron into the Erie.
' t A fort and tftabliflimerttat the point, in theiflantf 6f tfiis
name, whicji commands the pafTage of the falls of St. Mary,
^through which- the waters of the upper lake -fall jiito thofe of
the Huron.

SECTION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 215

SECTION VI.-'
RICE, INDIGO, FLAX-SEED.
It is not poffible to fpeak of American rice
' without 'thinking bf the pernicious inconveni
ences which its cultivation produces. The
wretched flaves who cultivate itj obliged to be
half the year in water, are expofed to fcrophu-
lous diforders and a premature death. It is faid,
that: this confideriation prevents the ftates,
wherein rice is produced, from abolifhing fla-
''^'etf.' Free men would not devote themfelves
willingly to' this deftrudive labour*.
Were this even true, and that in the fyftem
of liberty means .could riot be found to recon
cile this culture to the health of the labourers,
a fufficient iriotive could not be drawn frora it
to condemn to death, or to pruel difeafes, a part
* Rice is cultivated in Piedmont and in Italy, by people
who have no habitations, and are known by the name of Bani-
ditti, the fruit of the bad political coriflritutions of that pirt of
Europd. When thefe Banditti have finifhed theii" woi-k, the
Sbirres conduiSt theni to the frontiers, for fear of the diforders ,
, to which their iriadlion and mifery might incline- them.
. P4 of

21 6 ON THE COjylMERC^E, OF TfiE
of our fellow creatures, born free, equal us *,
and with an equal right to live. Were the
culture pf this commodity even abfolutely ne
ceflary, this neceffity would give us no right
over the lives pf negroes, or it would be the
effed ofa ftate of war| for fervitude was never
a rieht, .

*o'

* They ai-e of a difFerent colour from that of the Euro
peans; but does the quality of man depend on colour? Are
not the negroes organised as we are? Have not they like us
every thing which belongs to the produdion of the fpeci?s, to
• the formation cf ideas, and to their development ? If their j
black colour ought to have any rtibral effe&, to have any in
fluence over their fate, or to determine our coiidiid towards
them, it fboiild be that of inducing us to leave them where
they are, and not to force them away from their country j not
to punifh them by the mofl ba,rbarous treatment on account
of their colour} not to dyag them intp a foreig^ land, to con
demn them there to the vile and painful life of anihials. Do
they come and offer themfi:lves voluntarily as flaves ? Do
they afk to lejive thofe torrid zones, wherein nature feems to
have circumfcribed them by their colour, as fhe has done by
us in more temperate ones by our white complexiotis ? Their
wants being few, keep them in ignorance j 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
makes ijs ! Can we boaft therefore of our knowledge, as long
3s it remains an accomplice in thefe horrors? See on this
filbjeiS, I'examen critique des Foyages, de M. de Chaftelu*.
There

UNITE& STATES OF AMERICA. 2iy
There is a fpecies of dry rice no vi^ay dange
rous to cultivate. Moreover the example ofthe
Chihefe and the Indians, among whom the
culture of rice makes not fuch ravages, ought
to make us hope, that in imitating them jife
and health would be reftored to men, of which
we have never had a right to deprive them.
After having confidered this produdion as a
man fhould confider it, I muft now confider it
as a merchant ought to do.
The French government has not yet taken ^
determined refelution relative to the introduc
tion of American rice. It is a wholefeme and
llmpte article of fubfiftence, proper to fupply
the plape of principal commodities. It cannot be
too often repeated, that the miiltiplicatibn of
articles of fubfiftence ought to be encouraged ;
it would render life lefs painful to the people,
increafe population, and. eonfequently natural
riches. If France wifhes to have a great and folid
commerce wifh the United States, (he ought
to admit all the produdions of the United
States. The Americans exported annually, during
the years 1768, 17^9, and 1770, to Great Bri
tain and the fouth of Eui-ope, a hundred arid
^ ' fifteen

2l8 V ONTHE COMMERCE OF TH^r
fifteen thoufand barrels pf rice, worth fix mil
lions and a half of Jivres tpurnoisf'. It is the
moft confiderable artipje, of exportation after to-
bacpo, wheat, and ^our. It, dleferYea there
fore that France fhpuld, think of it for her
commerce, and endegvpur to bring it into her
ports, to be diftributedi there tgr other European
markets* INdioo.
The farne thing rnay be faid pf, the itidigo
of the Carolinas aiid Georgia; it makes a part
of. the important : p^-odudloris of the United
States, and is ponfumed in Eur-bpe;— rit is there
fore neceflary to open for its reception all the
French ports, and ^ftervvards to give it ea,fy ¦
communications. The.Efigllfli received of it
annually, during the years 1768, 1769, ahd
1 770, to the amount of three millions of livres
tournplsf. It was principally confumed in
-England, Ireland, and the nprtiii of Europe, by
reafon of its. Ipw price. The Ingjigoof pJ;.,I)o- '
xningo is much dearer.
* The exportation fr&m Qharleftowni from December
1784, foDecfember 1785, amounted to 67,7 13 barrels.
t Theexportati-onof dj-e-ftufFy^madein I785DffomChar^ef-
town, amounted to 5bbj92o pou-nd weight.
The

UJIITEp STATES OF. AMERICA. 319 '
, >¦ The Indigo of Carolina and Georgia has ac
quired a much better quality fince the firlS:
quantities of it arrived in Eiigland; but I have
not learnt that it isto be compared with the
indigo of Domingo. Travellers fay, that Ca
rolina produces indigo almoft as good as that of'
the French iflands.
There are kinds of dying to which low
priced <4ildigo is proper; and, for this reafon,
certain dyers ufe that of the Carolinas and Geor-
t^a. In thefe cafes, it will always have the
preference. Therefore American indigo fhould
be admitted as long as there is a confumption
for it, for the Americans will continue to cul
tivate it; and fince this cultivation cannot be
^i?evented, the moft advantageous thing is to
^ ftrlve to become agen\s~in the general com
merce of America. ¦ FLAX-SEED.
North America fent to England and Irdand,
during the yiears 1768, 1 769,., and 1770,' ftax-
. feed to the amount of two millions and a half
of livres tournois; — it was aU confumed in
Great Britain. The advantage of paying, for
this 'feed with Irifli hnens, gave it t^e prefer
ence to that of Flanders and the Baltip, : . Flax- ' feed

226 ON THE COMMERCE Of THE
feed from tljefe countries is, moreover, very
dear. ..-';.
It is the bufinefs of thofe French merchants,
who mj^ be interefted in the; commerce with
the United States, to confider what advantages
ihey may derive from this commerce. If the
culture of flax becoraes extenfive in France, fo
reign feed ought to be preferred for two reafons:
— the quality of the produdion is improved by
it, and there is more advantage: in fplnning flax
in peopled and induftrious countries, .than in
letting it ripen to gather feed. It appears, that
;flax-feed comes not in abundance; but from >
countries where there are not 'hands fuffipienf
to fpin, or give the firft. prepar^tiqni even to
the flax tbey produpe; it is then proper to cul
tivate it for its feed, which becomes a confider-.
\ • f
able airticle of commerce : as long as this ftate
of things fubfifts, it muft alfo be proper for
peopled countriestO get flax-feed from abroad.
' Flaiiders feetxis t« be an exceptioh ; ' but 'the
cxpoi;tation bf fl^x is there prohibited, for jhe
purpofe of encouraging fplnning, .&p;j in this
cafe Flanders, beiiig a. eountry very propei^ for
the cultivation of flax, may leave tomany cul
tivators of thip plant no dther fefb,urce than the
fjdmmcrce of the feed. It is probable, that if
the

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 221
the flax could be fent from Flanders, after the
firfl preparation for fpinnhig, nobody would
think of gathering the feed.

SECTION VII. \
NAVAL STORES, SUCH AS PITCH, TAR, A.ND
TURPENTINE.
Before the emancipation of Amcrita, England
pisceived confiderable fupplies of thefe articles
from America, particularly from Caroling and^
the fouth. The quatitities 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 araounting, in the port of
exportation, to one million two hundred and
twenty-eight thoufand livres tournois. '
Thefe ftores were very valuable to the Eng
lifh, as well for their commerce as for their
proper confumption. Two cpnfiderable ma
nufadures, eftablifhed at Hiill, were fupported
by thern ; tar was there convertisd into pitch,
confiderabfe quantities of it .were exported to
the

222 ON THE COMMERCE'-OF THE
the fouth, vvhere it was received in competi
tion with that from the north of Europe.
Turpentine, converted in thefe rrianufadures
into oil or fpirit^ furnifhed a confiderable objed.
of comraerce. England confumes a great deal
of it in the preparation of colours, varnifhes,
&p. *
The Ameripan revolution has nOt made the
Englifli lofe fight of thefe . ftores : the want
they have of them makes it imprudent to truft
wholly to ithe exportation of thefe articles from.
Ruffia and Sweden, where the Englifti have
the Dutch for competitors. Moreover, the
navigation of " America, lefs dangerous than
that pf the Baltip,- is not, like the laft, limited -
to a certain tiriie ofthe year, it Is, confequently
more frequent and lefs expenfive; fo that theffr
ftores will come for a long time from Ameripa
at a lower price than from the north. Ameri
can tar is as good as that of Europe, thicker and
-more proper for making pitch ; it: is, preferred
for fheep, even at a higher price. American
turpentine is inferior to ~ none but that of
France. , -
An Englifh merchant-has taught the.Ruffians
how to furnlfh as good turpentine as that from
any other nation : this produdion .will be in
7. j' ' great

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Sizj
great abundance there, by the numerous and
irximenfe forefts of firs In the neighbourhood of
Archangel, where their corps are depofited.
This ftate of things fliews to France what
value 'ftie ought \o attach to the iiaval, ftores
whioh may be furnifhed from. America. The
quantlMes of them exported from Charleftowii
becomes more and mor'e confiderable*'. The
fandy foil near ,the fea, in North Carolina and
the fouth of '"Virginia, produces a great quanti-^'
ty of firs, from which tar and turpentine are
extraded ; this is done \Vithout much trouble,
and the facility of felling and preparing th^ trees

IS a great encouragement.

* In 1782,-^2041 barrels of pitiEh,.tar, and- turpentine,
were exportfid from Charleftown. In 1783,-^14697 bairels-
I know not 'bow niany barrels th? e;^port^tion of 1784
apiQifnted to ; butthatof 1785 cpnfifted of 17,000. The fame
increafe is obferved in other articles. The mof^ confide.rable is
rice, afterwards .indigo }— the other articles are, tobacco, deer-
ikins, timber, wheat, butter, wax, and leather. This exp©.r-
tation amounts to near four hundred thoufand pounds Aer-

SECTION

S24 ON THE COMMERCET OF THE

SECTION VIU.
TIMBER 4ND v;^OOD, FOR CARPENTERS AND
COOPERS WOOK; such 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 which the United
States can furnifli fuch great quantities.
Tirnber fails in France, and will become more
and mpre fcarce; population deftroys it;i— yet,
timber muft be found for houfes, mills, &c.— -
hogfheads muft be made for fugars ; caflcs and
barrels for wine, brandy, &c. Thefe articles
of timber are principally furnifhed from the
North to' the ports of France— but they be
come dear, their quality dimlnifhes, and the
Americans have the advantage in the carri

age*.

The

• Jt is necefTary to give our readers an idea of the price of
fome of thefe articles : an American very converfant in them
has furnifhed 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 piaflres, or two hun
dred and fixty livres ten fols tournois, the thoufand feet. Ordinary

VNirmy states oe America. 225
The value of thefe articles, exported from
America to Great Britain only, amounted to
two millions of livres tournois in the year 1770,
acpording to a ftiatement drawn up in the Cuf-
tom-Houfe of Bofton. The general exporta
tions to the Englifh, French, American, and
Spanifh iflandis, and to the different parts of
Europe, are. imrnenfe, and become daily more
Craifiderable... Were not this timber of a good
quality, the increafe of this commerce would
not be fo rapid. The French have in this re
fped fomcpfejudlces, which it is of importance
to deflroy. . If the American flaves are efteem
ed in making rum cafks, &c. they will un
doubtedly preferve our brandies.
Ordinary planks of fine white pine an inch thick, fourteen
or fifteen feet long, and from a fo6t to fourteen inches wide,
were fold at the fatae time at feven piaftres, or thirty-feven
livres tournois, the thoufand feet. — Thofe 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 feverity-three livres toiirnois, the thoufand
fe«:.-iiThe fame perfon faid he had feen curts or bent tim
ber at ten fhil!tngs,New York money, a ton, the expence of
cuttitig. Sic. not included.

Vol. II. Q^

SECTION

226 ON THE COMMERCE OF TITB "t

S E C T I O N IX.
VESSELS CONSTRUCTED IN AMERICA, TO BE
SOLD OR FREIGHTED. ¦ - - -^
..•:r
It has been obferved that the bulk' of the
comraodlties which raight be exchanged by thet
coramerce between France and the United;
States, was, at an equal value, rauch more con
fiderable on the fide of America than thatof
France. There refults from this, that in thefe
exchanges a great number of American -veffels
muft be fubjed to return' to America in ballaft.
—This ftate of things would certainly be pre-
j^idlcial to the comraerce between the two na
tions, if feme compenfation could not be efta--
blllhed which fhould reraove the inequality.
This confipenfation may be made in a very
advantageous manner to both. The indepen
dent Araericans conftrud veffels for fale : if it
be agreeable to a nation to purchafe of another
the articles which this manufadures at a lefs-
expence, and with more means, it follows,
that the French ought to buy American veflTels ;
• ' • and.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, tiy
and, in fad, this Goiiimerce begins to be efta-
bhfhdd. :
Lord Sheffield reprobates this commerce
with refped to his own country.—" Its exift
ence," fays his Lordfhip, " depends on its
navy ; this depends as much on EngUfli fhlp-
*' builders as on Englifh fallors ; ^therefore, of
*' all trades, that of fhip-building Is the moft
*' important to be preferved in Great Britain*"
,The advances, according to his Lordfhip, are
of little confequence^ and thefe veflels not be
ing deftined to be fold to foi-elgners, what they
coft ought to be confidered fo much the lefs, as
the expence is incurred in the country.
Lord Sheifield prpfumes alfo, that fhip-build
ing will" be encouraged in New Scotland, Ca
nada, the Ifland of St. John, &g. Finally, his
Lordfliip 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 veffels are little durable, from the
*' nature of their materials." This obfervation
irelates particularly to veffels built for fale,
which, his Lordfliip fays, ".are very inferior to
thofe which are befpoken." 0^2 It

22S on THE Commerce, of the
It pannot be denied, that its is of ponfequence
to a nation which attaches a great impoi-tancei
to its navy, to have fliip-buUders. The repairs
&p. of which veffels are conftantly in wanty
would be badly direded, if there were not, itt
the clafs of workmen to whom this induftry
belongs, men capable of conftruding a vefleJ,-
and habituated to this coiiftrudlon. What ia
ftill more, as foon as a nation has a navy, it isf
greatly to its intereft to poffefs every means of
improving it ; and the poffeffion; of thefe mean*
is fo much more fee ure when there are efta
blifhments in the country whiph, in this pafe,,
fupport emulation, by the conftant exerscfeof
the art.
But it does not follow, that to preferve fuch
an advantage, a nation, ought to have no other
veffels than thofe which are home built: it is
here neceffary to diflinguifh fliips. belonging to
the royal navy frora raerchant fhips. The firft
are alone fufficient to employ a requifite num
ber of able builders, and to fupply every thin*
which the conftrudion and repairs of veflels
require. But merchant fhips, of which a con
fiderable number is wanted, may be procured
from abroad, if thofe of an equal quality can be
had at a price confiderably lefs.
WiU it be faid, that a nation becomes fo
much

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2Zg
much the more powerful at fea, as tjhe con
ftrudion of veffels Is encouraged in her ports ?
that under this point of view it is neceffary to
be cautious not to furnlfh the independent
.Am^erieans the means of forming a navy, which
Wonld render them formidable? thatit is at
ieaft unneceflary to haften thefe means ?
If this confideration were true, it would in
fome meafure impofe on France a law to en
courage the United States to form their navy :
for, however formidable her own may be, fhe
has too many natural obftacles to remove for
her navy to be the efied of any thing but painful
efert«, and confequently that it fhould be an
eftablifhment very difficult to maintain, — very
expenfive, and fubjud to long intermlffions.
And fince it is neceffary to fpeak conftantly of
^ threatening rivality, — of an armed rivahty, —
France has the greateft intereft, to balance
mpre furely the force of her rivals, by calling
to her aid the naval force of a friendly people,
r— of a peqple to whom nature has been prodi
gal in the mpans flie has given them of having
^ confiderable oiie, ^
But the policy which refufed to purchafe
American veflels, for fear the Americans fhould
become formid^ibfe at fea^, would be badly
0^3 founded.

23© ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
founded. A fure rnanner of retarding the efta
blifliment of a navy, by a nation which pof-
feffes the means and materials ; the poWer and
adivity which fuch a great eftablifhment re
quires, is to employ it continually ih the cori-
ftrudion of veffels' for fale, and to habituate it
,to this'kind of commerce. If this nation, and
fuch is the pofition of the Unitbd States, has
nothing to fear interiorly from any other power,
it will certainly defpife all fuch military prepa-
ra'tlons, whofe profit and utility will not be fo
immediately perceived, as the frequent gain's of
peaceful commerce. Therefore, let the- inde
pendent Americans be perfuaded to build veffels
for fale : let them not be provoked to build
ftiips for defenfive and offenfive Operations, and
they will negled the great means with which
nature has furnlflied them, of having a refped
able navy: they will' evea negled them, when
greater riches, and a more confiderable popula
tion, fhall facilitate to them the ufe of their
'natural means.
Far from fuffering by this new arrangement
of things, France wovrld gain thereby. This
idea will undoubtedly appear extraordinary, 'be
caufe, in abandoning workmanfliip to Araerican
ftilp-builders, France is deprived of it : but how
eafily

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. l^t
eafily may fhe cOmperifate this apparent lofs!
In fad, when nothing is to be had without la
bour, it is then confidered as real riches: there
fore, it ought to be employed with a prudent
ec6homy, efpecially in the fyftera of national
fivalitles. The workraen who will not build
Veflelsi' will make cloth, with which veffels
may be paid for. The expence of manufac
turing thefe cloths will be paid at home, as that'
for the conftrudion of Veffels would have been ;
by which means, thefe will be had at a cheaper
rate. This labour and experice will therefore
produce greater advantages, and place the na
tion in a more defirable relation with its rivals.'
Finally, Lord Sheffield, whofe narrow policy
is here refuted, propofes that fhip-building
fliould be encouraged in Canada, New Scot-
, land, &c. But do phyfical circumftances fa
vour thefe countries as much as the United
States ? Can England reap real advantages from
this encouragement? It Is a queftion with
which feveral writers have combated Lord
Sheffield, and on which I cannot decide.
But If England had this refource, France
would be without it. Veffels built in Araerica
will always coft her lefs than her own, or thofe
() 4 conftruded

^32 ON THE COMMERCE <>T THE
confliruded elfewhere : Ihe ought therefore tq,.
favour the introdudion of the firft,
A celebrated minifter, whom France has
reafon to regret, thought as follows: bis defign
\iva§ tp get a part of the veflels of the French
navy ponftruded in §weden ; he thereby ex
peded to make great favings: they will be
greater apd more re^l, in getting the veflel^
conftruded in the United States.
The Englifli themfelves will not be able fo
refift, the force pf things ; tbey will fooner or
later ret^irn to the ufe of Ameripan veffels ;. for
thefe coft but ^ third * of what Englifti veffels
are built for ; arid cheapnefs is the firft law of
comnierce. The bad quality attributed to American vef
fels is a fable, arifing from the following cir
cumftances : in the contention for iudepenr
dence, the Arneripans bwift veffels in hafte, to
arrn thera as pruifers : j:hey were forced to make
vfe of wood which was green, ^nd unprepared;
pthejT things were either waiitjng to thefe vefr
fels, or precipitately prepared. Confequently
* In New England the conftruaors of veffels make their
bargains at the rate of three pounds flrerling per ton, carpen
ter's wprk included. ' On the Thames, the price is nine
pounds fterlipg for the work alone of the carpenter. the

UNITED STATPS OF AMERICA. - 233
the, veflels were imperfed; but this imperfec
tion was but accidental. A cruife is a lottery,
wherein no notice is taken of the goodnefs and
durability of the veflel. It is fufficient that ;t
be a good failer, this is the effentlal quality,
Peace has re-eftabhlhed the conftrudion of
veffels in the manner it ought to be ; and there
are American veffels built before the war, and
fome thirty years ago, which for goodnefs an4
duration are not inferior to any Englifh veffel.
yiore progrefs has been made in America than
any where elfe in the art of fhip-building; this
is eafily explained : — it muft not be forgotten,
when the independent Americans are fpoken of,
that they are not recovering from a ftate of
barbarity. They are men efcaped from Euro
pean clvilifation, employed, fo to fpeak, in
creating their country and refources : no fhaq-
kles reftrain their efforts, every thing in Europe
is looked upOn as perfed, and made ufe of,
without thinking of Improving it. Thefe two
effentlal differences caufe a, very confiderable
pne in the intenfity of induftry.
Bofton has produced a man aftonifhing In the
art of fliip-bullding. Long and clofely em
ployed in the fearch of raeans to unite fwiftnefs
of fgjling in veffels to their folidity, Mr. Peck has

234 ON T^^' COMMERCE ofr TliE
has had the greateft fuccefs. It was his hand
which produced the Belifarius, the Hazard,
and the Rattlefnake, which were fo particularly
diftingmflied during the late war by their fwift
nefs of failing. Veffels conftruded by this
able builder have qualities which others have
not ; they carry a fourth more, and fail fafter.
Thefe. fads are authenticatSed by a number of
experiments. The Englifh themfelves acknowfedge the
fuperlorlty of American Ihip-building : " The
,*' fineft veffels," fays Colonel Charapion, " ar6
" built at Philadelphia ; the art of fhip-build-
*' ing has attained in that city the higheft de^
*' gree of perfedion., Great veffels are built in
*' New York, alfo in the Chefapeak, and in
*• South Carolina ; thefe laft, made of green
*' oak, are of an unequalled folidity and dura-
«' bility."
-: The American proverb fays : That to, have a
.perfeil veffel, it muft have a Bofton bottom and
Philadelphia f des.
The French, if connoiffeurs be believed, are
very inferior to the Americans In the mlnutlge
of fhip-building. This fujieriority of America
ought not to furprife us: it will ftill increafe.
The independent Americans who inhabit the
coafts,

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 235
coafts, live by the fea, ,_and pride themfelves in
.navigation. As they have competitors, their
genius will' never fleep, nor wiU its efforts be
'fhackled in any manner whatever. In France,
the people are,' and ought to be cultivators;
the marlrle is but a fubordinate part, and by the
nature of things, it rauft enjoy but a very pre
carious eonfideratlon. Honour, which affeds
the head of every Frenchraan, is diftributed
but at Paris and at Court j and there men are,
and muft ftill be, far from perceiving the im
portance of attaching merit to the improvement
of fhip-building: it muft therefore languifh, of
yield to that of the Americans. Hence it re-^
fults, that the French, in preferving every
thing which can maintain amongft them an
able clafs of fhip-buildcrs, muft buy veffels of
the Americans; becaufe every convenience^ i§
.united to that, of facilitating their reciprocal
importations and exportations, of which the
bulks are fo different in one nation from thofe
ofthe other.
This circumftance is attended with the ad
vantage of procuring the French merchant an
American veffel at a lefs price than if he had
ordered it to be built, or if he bought it in
America, becaufe it will always be more to
'^ tho

236 , ON THE COMMERCE OF THiE
the intereft of the American to fell his veffel,
jthan to take it back in baUaft,
Such is the fitnefs of American veffels ,fo,r
the Frenph marine, and efpepi.^Uy for mer
chant fervipe ; fuch is that fitncfs for all the
iEuropean powers who have harbours and fear
port towns, that I think a furp and commodi
ous road ill Europe would foon be afforted w.itii
American veffels for fale, if every thing which
can encourage a like depofltory were granted to
the port wherein this road might be. This
market for veffels will be eftablifhed ;— thp
.^ngliih rejed it. Franpe will, in ^ fliort tim.p^
^|icou|-|ig(? it.

S E g T J Q N X,
tSE^ERAL pONSlDERATIONS ON THE PRECED
ING CATALOGUE OF IMPOR.TATIONS FROM
THE UNITED STAGES INTO FRANCE.
The lift whiph I have gone through of the
articles, with which the independent Americans
may furnlfh Europe in exchange fbr her mer
chandize is not very long; but thefe articles
are confiderable,; and important enough iji
themfelves, tp merit the attention of Eurppg^ix
merchants :

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I'^T?
merchants: they are fufficient to deftroy the
prejudices of thofe who, under the falfe pre
text of the inability of the Americans to furnlfh
articles of exchange, difdain a reciprocal com
merce with the United States. Thefe articles
are not, however, the only ones which France
may reeeive from them. Independently of
pot-afh, fo precious to manufadures, and of
which the fcarcity becomes daily more fenfi
ble ; iron, vegetable- wax, wool, flax, hemp, &c.
may increafe the number. The Englifh re-,
ceived of pot-afh to the amount of four hun
dred thoufand livres per annum, during the
years 1768, 1769, and 1770; pot-afh being
the produce of the wood burnt by the Ameri
cans, and as the burning of wood muft Incceafe
with the number of people, the quantltiea of
pot-afh muft have increafed^ with population.
I ought to hope that this work, once known
in fhe United States, will excite the indepen
dent Americans to co-operate with rae, in what
I have propofed to myfelf, which is tp fpread
inftrudlort on every thing whiph relates to
their country. They will make known to
Europe, in a more extenfive and complete -man
ner, every thing which can maintain that reci
procal commerpe in favour of which I write :
8 they

^3^ ON THE COMMERCE oF THfi
they will affebible in a work correfpondent tef
this, aU that I ha'v'e been able to expofe but im-
perfedly : they will redify ray errors. I in-^
vite them to apply to this interefting fubjed :
I pray them to give it for a bafisj more philofo-'
phical, and philanthropical principles, than thofe
which have hitherto direded the jealous induf
try of each fociety. Fdr each, led on • by a
blind ambition, has wifhed to embrace every
thing, to do every thing at home, and furnlfh
every thing to others; each- has taken for
principle to receive nothing from others, except
it be gold; each has accuftomed itfelf to look
upon every produdlon, manufadured or unraa-
nufadured, which it fent abroad as a profit, and
all thofe which It received as fo many loffes.
Such is the falfe principle, according to which
all the European nations have direded their ex
terior coraraerce.
What would be the confequence of a like
fyftem, if it continued to prevail ? All nations
would be 'ftrangers to each other, and exterior
commerce abfolutely annihilated; becaufe It
tends to take frora this comraerce that which
fupports it. For the gold which is wifhed for
in payment for exportations is refufed to thofe
who would obtain it : all nations look upon the
• neceffity

UmTED STATES OF AMERICA. «3^^
neceffity of giving it alike; that it is difadvan
tageous — and ftrlve to avoid it. If, therefore,^
on one fidcj none will take returns in kind,
and on the other, nobody will difpoffefs himfelf
of his gold, what will become of exchanges ?
what will becorae of coramerce ?
Nature, which intended to raake men fo
many brothers, and nations fo many families j
—nature, which, to unite all men by the fame
tie, has given them wants, which place them
in a, ftate of dependence one on the other; —
this wife nature has, by the diftribution of her
gifts, anticipated and condemned this exclufive
fyftem. She has faid to the inhabitants of
Nantucket, The rock which thou inhabit is
rude and ftormy ; renounce, therefore, the de
fire of drawing frora it the delicious wines and
fruits vvhich more calm and temperate climates
produce. Look at the fea which furrouiids
tbee, — that is thy property and thy treafure : I
have made it Inexhauftible; and if thou knoweft
how to make ufe of it, if thou, wilt . confine
thyfelf thereto, all the enjoyraents of the other
continent are thine ; a fingle ftroke of a har
poon, dexteroufly thrown, will produce a thou
fand times more wine in thy cellar, than if by
a paiiifui

a^O ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
a painful cultivation thou continvieft obftinat©i
in ading contrary to my intentions.
Nature holds the farae language to the other
inhabitants of the earth : flie tells the PrericI*,
to ufe all their efforts in the fruitful , foil which
ftie has given them, and to ceafe traveffing^ fo
reign feas to obtain, at an Immenfe expence aiid
much rifk, the fifli and oil which the inhabi
tants of Nantucket procure with greater facilafey
and more fuccefs and economy.
• Why fhould not all nations underftand a lan
guage fo fimple, fo wife, and fo proper tp pro-'
duce univerfal harmony ? But how are they to
be made to underftand It ? By what means arei
tbey to be prevailed upon to adopt it ? What
means are proper to engage nations which
might have a dired commerce between them,
to fign a treaty of coramerce, which fliould
leave each at liberty to furnifli that wbiph it
could export better and. cheaper than others;^
and thus eftablifli exchanges on the immutable
laws of nature ?
As foon as nations fhall be enlightened
enough to perceive the advantage of fuch a
treaty, from that moraent it will ceafe to- be
neceffary, and every other treaty will be ftil^
lefs fo. It will then be feen, that they all cen ter

UNITE© STATES OF AMERICA. 24I
tfer in the fingle word liberty. It will be difco
vered that liberty can put every thing- in its
^lace ; that liberty alone^ without negociation
or parchment, Pan every where give birth to
an advantageous induftry. Finally, that every
where, and at all timesj fhe has fported with
thofe eommprcial conventions^ of which politi
cians have fo ridiculoufly boafted j of thofe
conventions wherein tht edntrading parties are
inceffantly on the defenfive vVith refpeft' to
each other, inceffantly difpofed to deceive, and
frequently multiply the feeds of war in a work
of peac^i
Under fuch a fyftem of liberty j, thefe Would .
be no longer occafion for craftlnefs in national
policy with refped to commerce '. — of what ufe
would it be ? No more ftrlfe ; for it would
have no objed : no more jealoufy or rivality ;
no more fear of making others profper and be
come rich ; becaufe the riches of each ftate
woiild be advantageous to the whole. In a
word, according to this fyftem, each nation
would wifli the other more means, in order to
have more to give and more to receive. Com
merce would become what: it ought to be, the
exchange of induftry againft induftry ; of en
joyments againft enjoyments, and not againft
Vol. il R deprivations :

442 ON THE COMMERCfi OF TfJM
deprivations : finally, a ftate of riches, wit-boat'
poverty on any fide.
What people have more right and title than
the Americans, to be the firft In adopting fx)
philanthropical a fyftem, and whidh is fo con
formable to the laws of nature ; at leaft to, do
nothing' wbich fliall retard it among them?
Let their Congrefs, — that refpedalile affembly,
which may become the light of nations, and
from whofe deliberations univerfal' happinefs
may refult, — reraain faithful to the indications
ofthis nature i let it interrogate her conftantly,
and give ewery nation the farae falutary habi
tude. ,
If Europe refufes to admit the produdions of
^the United States, let Congrefs, — rejedlng'the
poor policy of reprifals, — open, by a great and
republican refolution, their ports to all Euro
pean produdions. What evil can refult from
this to the independent Americans? If Euro-
pjeasa 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" becorae profitable to the Americans, in
paying for It even with gold.
The law may be given to an idle and de
graded

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 243
graded nation, but never to one which Is adive
and induftrious. This always punifhes. In
fome manner or other," the tyrannical proceed
ings of other nations. The force of things is
alone fufficient to revenge it.
It is a misfortune to the 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 prp-
teBing duties irapofed in Europe' are one confe
quence of thefe errors, and of which the effed
leads government aftray, fo far as to perfuade
thera, that they ppffefs a creative force equal to
that of the Divinity himfelf. And what, are
thefe entetprifes by which men would force
nature ? Miferable hot-houfes,— wherein every
thing is haftened to finifli the fooner; where
in Induftry vainly exhaufts itfelf to fupport an
unnatural exiftence; and ^yherein a vigorous
whole is frequently facrificed to a. corrupted
part. Let the Americans carefully avoid thefe
erroneous enterprifes ;— to infure theinfelves
R 2 therefrom,

244 ON THE COMlViERCE OE' t6e
therefrom, let them confider the ftate of Eu^
rope. The Europeans have no longer any
judgment in matters of impoft ; fimple ideas ard
loft, and become impoflible to be realized by the
metaphyfician which it Is neceffary to employ
to cdthbat ignorance, prejudices, and habitudes :
all ideas of juftice and propriety are confounded.
A truth Cannot be advanced without meeting,
at every raoment, falfe notions to combat.
The man of Information is fatigued, dlfguftedy
and frequently at a lofs what to anfwer to ob-^
j'edions preteeding from' habits of error. Hd
perceives vt'ith concern, that the laws of hap
pinefs cannot be written j but upon tables from
which there is nothing tobe effaced: and fuch,
I flatter rayfelf, is the fituation of the United
States. They are yet virgin ftates^ they are
unacquainted with the inftitutions which' end
in chaos, wherein the love of publie good lofes
all its force. ' ,
Morttefquieu obferves, that the enterprlfes of
itoerchants are always neceffarily mixed with
public. dffairs ; but that in monarchies, public:
affairs are for the moft part fufpiclous in the
eyes of the merchants. But profperity and na
tional glory depend on commerce, as much In
monarchies as in Other conftjtutions. It is
' thei'efore

UNITED STATES PF AMERICA. Z^S
therefore the intereft of monarchies to give to
•merchants that hope of profperity which they
have In republics, and which incUnes them
with ardour to e^ery kind of commercial enterr
prife. ,
Provinciaradminiftratlonsare the fureft means
, of producing this happy effed. If they were
alrea.dy eftablifhed, the French would corpprer
hend, how abfurd it is to imagine that the*
United States will not difcharge their public
debt ; how impoffible it is that Republicans
ftiould make ufe of the diftionourable refourp.e
of bankruptcy and deception ; and that their
public fpirit, their morals, and intereft, require
tfiera to difpharge this debt, contraded for |he
moft legitimate and honourable caufe that ever
exifted ; and which is otherways but an atom
when compared with their imrnenfe refources.
French merchants would then give themfelves
lefs conpern abOut the manner in which their
merchandize was to be paid for in America.
For in the improbable cafe of a want of Ame^
rican prpdudiofls, or of precious metals, they
have, as a laft rbfource, the paper of Congrefs
and the States; which paper it Is an advantage
to acquire, by the price at which it is obtained,
Jiy the intereft it bears, the certainty of it§ \),er
R 3 ing

24-6 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE
ing paid, and by the confequetit tranfmlffion
which may be made of it in commerce to thte
Dutch merchant, to whora the paper of the
whole world beconqes neceffary the moment it
merits confidence.
I have mentioned precious metals. The
Americans are in the neighbourhood of the
countries which produce them. Thefe coun
tries are the abodes of Indolefice, which dif-
penfes not with neceffaries. Skins, &c. of
animals, and feme metals, are every thing that
can be given there In exchange for articles of
fubfiftence, which the Ihhabitants have not the
courage to make their lands produce ; and for
the neceffaries, for which they find it more
convenient to pay with gold than with their
induftry. The independent Americans will
become fadors, advantageoufly placed between
European manufadures-, and the Inhabitants of
regions condemned by nature to the fterile pro
dudions of metals. All the powers of Spain
cannot prevent this, nor ought even to under
take it. This new confideration promifing to
the French payment, fo foolifhiy defired In
gold, ought to encourage them to prepare
for a commercial connexion with the United'
¦States. CONCLUSION <

VNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 247

CONCLUSION
AND REFLECTIONS ON THE SITUATION OP
THE UNITED STATES.
It will be proper to finlfh this volume by
feme explanations of the pretended troubles
which agitate the United States. Thefe ex-
-|>lanations are neceffary to deftroy the unfa
vourable Impreffions which muft be made by
the unfaithful recitals of gazette writers, who,
from fervlle prejudices or mean jntereft, affed"
to fpread doubts of the happy confequences of
the revolution. If we believe thefe people, the
independent Americans are plunged into inex
tricable embarraffments, forced to becorae bank
rupts, given up to the moft violent anarchy,
expofed to the tomahawk ofthe implacable In
dians, &c. How is It poffible to refolve to
carry on a commerce with people whofe fitua
tion Is fo deplorable ? Ought not their ruin to
hei feared rather than their fortune hoped for,
in the connexions which it is wiflied to form
with them?
It Is neceffary to refute thefe /alfehoods. It
R4 " is

24^ ON THE COMMERCE OF THE *.^
is fo much the more fo, as ignorance eafily
leads people, little acquainted with repubhcan
, coi\ftitutions, into error; and that, led aftray
by the prejudices of their edupations,^ a great
nuraber of Frenchmen look upon this form of
government as a ftate perpetually in a ferment,
wherein life and property are contrnually .ex
pofed to the greateft dangers.
Thefe prejudices lead to the belief of the
mpft puerile and abfurd fables. The leaft at-;-
tentioii is not pa^d to circumftances. Would
the United States have a Congrefs of magiftrates
if it were true that the people were at war with
them? For how could Congrefs and the magif
trates defend themfelves ? They have no other
defence but the refped which each individual
has for the law, this is their only force. It is
the obligation that the conftitutiori impofes on
them in common, with the meaneft citizens,' of
being obedient to the law, as the laft means whiph
, ponftitute their only fafety, and which maintains,
in all cafes and every where, the authority which
the people have ,confided in them, They panr
not employ a phyfieal force farther than the
people are willing to lend them, becaufe they
have neither an army nor foldiers in pay.
A diverl^ty of opinion exifts wherever there arp

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ' 349
are men. It belongs not to one ponftltution
more than to another; but the eflence of a re
publican government is to leave to each indivi
dual the liberty of expreffing his fentiments pn
every fubjed. . '
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 aftonifhing that debates fliould arife
on account of the different laws which are pro
pofed, difcuffed, and adopted ? Thefe debates
become public, animate converfation, and make
it highly interefting. But is this anarchy?
;, yhe word anarchy is one of thofe words,
which has been moft abufed and mifapplied. It
JS therefore neceffary to explain It,
Where anarchy reigns, there is neither chief,
government, laws, nor fafety. Each individual
becomes the defender of his own perfon, the
focial contrad is broken, and there is no longer
any confidence or tranfadions, becaufe there
pan be no more contrads. Authority, chang
ing atevery inftant, its rules, principles, and aim,
becomes cruel or contemptible; it deftroys, or
is deftroyed, Such a ftate exifts not long; or
jf it does exift, it foon divides fociety into arm
ed h'erds, enemies to eaph other, and which fubfift

-550 O^N THE COMMERCE OP THE
fubfift hot In proportion as they fear and coun-^
terbalance each other's power. - -
Is any thing like this feen in the United
States? Are there difputes even about the"
|)rlncip)es of the conftitution, the fundamental
laws, or the propofed end ? Has not every thing
relative to this been long finCe agreed upon ?
The prefent debates relate wholly to ferae
rules of adminiftration : it Is upon the beft man
ner of ferving the public caufe, and of fupport
ing it, that minds are ftill in a falutary agita
tion i and this agitation hinders not raore the
regular courfe of public affairs and tranfadions,
than the debates In the Englifh Parliament bin--
der the monarch from naming to offices and
coiiferriog rank — than they ftop the courfe of
juftice, or are impediments to the affairs of every
clafs of citizens.
The word anarchy is proper to ftates which,
hke Egypt, have twenty-four fovereigns, and
neither laws nor government. It is apphcable
to the degenerated cp-nftitutlons of Afia, where
the adminiftration is divided into feveral depart
ments. Independent of* each other, traverfing
one another in their views and pretenfions, the
Operations of one part Interfering with thofe of
the other, all having the power of making par
ticular

unite!) states op AMERICA. 25*
ticular laws, or of fufpending the effed of thofe
which exift. There a real anarchy reigns, be
caufe it is not known where the government is,
nor in whom the legiflative power is vefted.
This incertitude brings on diforder, renders
property uiiftable, and endangers perfonal fafe
None of thefe evils exift in the United States.
America is not yet gnawed by the vermin
which devour Europe, by indeftrudible men
dicity : thieves render not her forefts danger
ous ; her public roads are not ftained with blood
fhed by afiaflins. How fhould there be affaffins
arid robbers ? There are no beggars, no indigent
perfons, no' fubjeds forced to fteal the fub
fiftence of others to procure one to themfelves.-
Every man finds there lands to produce him ar
ticles of fubfiftence : it is not loaded with taxes,
but renders to each, with ufury, a recomoenfe
for his labour. A man vVho can live eafy and ho
nourably, never fconfents to diftionour himfelf by
\ifelels crimes, which deliver him to the tor
ments of remorfe, difhonour, and the vengeance
of fociety.
The ravages of the feven. years war were
undpubtedly terrible; but as foon as the faul-
chion could be converted into a plough-fhare, the

253 ON THE COMMERCE OF THE ^
the land became fertile, and mifery difappear-
ed. The American foldiers were citizens; and
they were alfo proprietors before they becam^
foldiers;, they reraained citizens in uniform,
and returned to their profeffions on quitting it ;
they did npt fight for money, nor by profpffion,
but for their liberty, their wives, children, and
property ; and fuch foldiers never refembled
the banditti of the old continent, who*are pajd
for killing their fellow-creatures, and who kill
on the highways for their own accou-nt, when
Jieace obliges their mafters to diftjand them.
There has been feen in Anaerlca (what the an*-
nals of the world prefent not in any ftate, ex^-
cept that of Rome) a General, adored by his
foldiers, diveft himfelf of his power as foon as
his fervlces becatpe no longer neceflary, and re- -
tire into the bpfora of peace ^nd obfcurlty ; a
numerous army, which was not paid, was feen
generpufly to confent to dlfband without pay
ment; the foldiers to retire, each to his home,
without comraitting the leaft diforder, and
where each tranquilly retook either his plough,
or his' firft trade or profeflion; thpfe trades.
which we in Europe look upon as vile.
The following advertifement is taken from
- ." the

iJNITED sfAT-ES OF AMERICA. ij^
the American papers. In which there are a
thoufand others of a like nature.
Two brothers, Captains who diftinguiflied
themfelves during the war, returned at the
peace to their trade of hat-making ; — they in-
ferted In the gazette an advertifement as fol
lows :
" The ^fothers Bickers inform the pubhc,
" that -they are returned to their old profeffion
'* of hatters, which they had abandoned tode-
*' fend the liberty of their Country.: They
"hope that their fellow-citlzens will be pleafed,
" in confideration of their courage and fervipe's,
•' 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 moft European ftates, a mi
litary fpirit reigns there, and its prejudices are
predominant. 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 zfanding army is necef-
fai'y to maintain order in fociety ; that it ought
always to threaten the citizens, although peace
ful, to keep them in fubmlffiori to authority.
This ufelefs burden, this pernicious fpirit, is un
known

254 ON THE;C0I^MERCE QF THE
known to the United States; — public :^irjt,
much more favourable to good order, takes- its,
place, arid peace and fafefy reign vy ithout rn^re-
chalifleej^^^ pr fpies, qr that police which difp^--
rages the naorals and charjaders pf citizens,.
Ppblic fpirit fupplies the place of all thefe
means, whilft they will never fupply the w arife'
of public fpirit ; nor, lij^e it, produce the hap
pinefs of fociety. ...
Iri vain will prejudiced men exclaira, that
this is declamation— I offer them fads. It is
neceffary to rpad the American gazettes, not,
thofe altered by the Englifh , gazette- writers,
but thofe which are printed iniVmerica; thefe,
only can give a juft idea of the fituation of the
United States^
The American fhould rather defpife Europe,
in remarking to us the continual flaughter we
make of thieves and aflaffin?; in coraparing the
imraenfe number of dungepns, prifons, hofpi- -
tals, and eft^bHfhment^ of pvery kind, inftltut-
ed fo cure or palfiate the Incurable ulcers pf the
old ii),ftItutions. In comparing this difgufting
lift with the very few murders and thefts com-
mitted in the United States, with ;tbp hofpi
tals, truly domejiic and hutnaue, which arp ef
tablifhed there, with the happinefs of each
1 American

tJNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 255
American family and their fimpJe manners^ and
in proving to us, by their example, that a wife
Jiberty regulates the fecial" man, and renders
ufelefs thofe ruinous machines with which he
is crufhed, left he (hould do any harm-
Thefe are the men, the laws, and the go
vernment, which Europeans have calumniated.
Thefe men who are deftined to regenerate
the dignity ofthe human fpecies I — Thfife laws
which fcourge nothing but crimes,— which
puiilfh them every where, and are never filent
in the face of power ! — This government,
which is the firft that ever prefented the image
of a- numerous faraily, well united, and com
pletely happy; wherein power Is- j-uft, bep,aufe
it circulates through every hand, and refts in
none; wherein obedience, becaufe it is volun
tary, anticipates , command ; wherein adminlf^
tration is fimple and eafy, becaufe It leaves in
duftry to itfelf; wherein hhe magiftrate has lit
tle to doi becaufe the citizen Is free, and that ^
citizen always refpeds the law and his fellow
creatures! Thefe are the prodigies which we
calumniate ; w'e, Europeans, enflaved by anti
quated conftitutions, and by the habitudes given
to us by prejudices, of which we know not
either the barbarity or the frivoloufflefs ! We
fpeak well, but ad badly ; why, therefore, do
' we

^5^ ON THE COfetRtERPE' 05* THE
We caluniniate men* who not .only fpeak but
ad well ? If it be nof permitted us to have their
Virtues, nor to enjoy their happinefs, let us not
¦decry them ; let us refped that fuperlorlty to
which we cannot attain.
It will, perhaps, be objeded, that the go
vernment of England has deferred the conclu-J
fion of a treaty of commerce with the United
States, underthe pretext that their ponftitutions
were not yet fuffieiently eftablifhed. But pan
It be imagined that the Englifh, who trade in ,
Turky, with the Algerines, and at Grand GairO^
were ferious when they decried and rejeded
commercial connedions with the United States^
under the pretence that their legiflation was
not yet well enough eftablifhed ?
It cannot be doubted that the difference of
pofition between the FrenPh and Englifli mer-'
'ChantSj refpeding their- governments^ has a
great influenpe upon their reciprocal profperity?
and for this reafon, it. (hould be inceffantly re
peated to the Frenph 'government, that if it
wifhes to infure profperity to its commerce, it
ought to adopt the means, which are, liberty of
aBing,—the right of protefiing againp the at'
tempts made on that liberty, -*-and the certainty of
jujiiee, — without refpeB to perfons -.—thefe are
the

UNITED s'tAT]?S OF AJMERICA. 257
the bafis of the genius, induftry, and greatnefs
of a ftate; and without which, a great com
merce cannot exift : this bafis may be eafily
conciliated with the French conftitution.

Paris, February,
1789.

Vol. II. S APPENDIX?

A P P E N D I Xj
CONSISTIITG op
^AUTHENTIC PAPERS,

AND

ILLUSTRATIONS. Added by the Editor,

S 2

APPENDIX.
Return of the whole Number of Perfons within the feveral
' DiftriSis of the United' St.ates, according to "^n ASI pro-.
^dingfor the Enumeration of the Inhabitants ofthe Unit
ed States " pajfed March the Firft, One Thoufand Seven
Hundred arid Ninety-one.
The Return for South Carolina having beeh made fuice the
' foregoing Schedule was originally printed, the whole Enume-
ratiofl is here given cohn plete, except fof the N. Weftern Ter
ritory, of which no Return has yet beett publifhed.

'Zi'^

1 '

M

L.y

T5 S o
1 2 ¦
i^.
« s-3
s, ^
'S'-i
^
^
btSTRl'CTS
ewhite arsand ing
hea
¦3g
1
Slaves.
Total.
Fre i6 ye includ rallies
"¦Bra ,
.S E
"J
t
85539
Vermont ',
22435
zzjz8
40505
255
16
'
N. Hampfliire
36086
3-4851
70160
6,0
158
141885
.
Maine
24584
24748
46870
^^8'
NON E
96540
;.
'Maffachufetts
9543-3
811289
190582
54^3
NONE
378787
H,hode Ifland
16CI9
1 5 799
32652
3407
948
68825
i-
-Connefticat
60523
S44°3
"7448
z8o8
2764
237946
New YorJt >
83700
,78122
152320
4654
2 1324
340120
New Jerfey
Ipetinfylyania
45* J I
41416
. 8328?
-2762
II423
184139
U0788
10694?
206363
6537
" 3737
434373
¦1
Delaware
11783
1214I
^2384
^899
B887
59O04
Maryland , ,
55915
5'339
10.395
8043
103036
319728
yirgipia
1 10936
116,35
2 I 5046
12866
292627
747610
Kentucky
i5<S4
17057
28922
114
12430
73677
V
N. Carolina ,
69988
7750&
I4O7IO
497S
100572
393751
S. Carolina
35576
37722
6688a
IHOl
107094
^49073
-
Georgia
13103
807094,
14044
25739
398
29264
82548
¦
7Qi8co
icii.1261?
?o,' 50
694280
3893635
Total number of
J'S ¦ "
u
iri 1
rnhabitants of the
sa,
(n
^
United States ex
« "
s
t,
clufive of S. Wef
%l
•S's
1 .
¦g
Slaves.
Total;
tern and N. Terri
^ -i
S E
°
tory.,
, a 8
rt
?i
^ ^
S. W. territory
6271
10277
' 15365
361
3417
35691
N. Ditto ' 1
—

—
^3
t6i

A f PE N D 1 ^.

Schedule cf the whole number of Perfons in the Terfitery ^
the United States of MeriU, South ofthe Rfver Ohio, as
taken on the laj Saturday of July 1791, ^b the Captains of
'the Militia withm the limits oftheir reJpeSive DiftriSis.

prjSHlN&TOIf

Ftee white
Maks of
21 arsand upwards,
includ- ;
heads of
faniilies.

s
1

Free white
Females, includingheads of
fanii lies.

i

i

>.
1

i f
•1.

distku;t.

. S..S

¦ -Jj

m

¦ (f

rWafhirigton

1009

1791

2524

I* 535

'V ¦ '. ¦'

B • Sullivan

806

li+i

^^9i

107

¦ 297

4447

§ J -Greene
55 Hawkins
J, South of French Broad

ii9J'

aj74

3580

40

454

77^

IZ04
1970
Z9ZI
68
807
.6970
\
6Xi>
toll
1*27
66
163
3619
28649^*
> MfiRO
BISTRlfcT ,,
'
.S rDavidfon
639
8S?
1288
iS
659
3459
§ J Sumner ' -
404
i'i}-
854
8
34»
2196
j3 f_-Tenneflee - -
135
380
• ilb
42
361
'54
3417
1387
704*
6»7i
I0277
T5365
,35691
"iVi?f.— Tliefe are feveral Captains whohave not as""yer returned the Schedules of the'
numbers of tfieir Diftrifts, namely;— in Greene County, three — i» Davidfoo,, one— '
and South of Frencht-Boaid, one Biftrifl.. ' '.
W. B L O U J^ T.
By the Goverhor, ¦
DASfiEL Suifil,- Secri^arJil~
- .I'ruly ftated from the original Returns- d'epolit- "
(gd in the Office of Che Secretary of State.
X JEFFERSON.
©aobei<24,.i79i.- In point of fize the |owns in the tJnifed' States
may be ranged in this order ;• Philadelphia, New
York, Bofton,. Baltimore, Charleftown, &c. In
point of trade. New York, Phikdetfhia, Baftoa,
Charleftown, Baltimore, &c.
A P P E N D I X. '' 263
.. From the preceding tables it' is Indubitable,
that the number of inhabitants in the United
States , confiderably exceeded Four Millions in
the year i 791 j exclufive of thofe in the Nor
thern territory, and fome other diftricts. If to
this we add, Or. F,ratikrin''s calculation, " That
the riumber of the inhabitants of America is
double every twenty years," this number rpuft
be incrdafed to confiderably above Eight' Mil-
ilons^n the year 1 8 1 1 ; exclufive of emigrants
fron%.the Old Worldr
: The Englifti reader; we hope, will riot be of-
! fended, if, in this place, we fay a word or two
ou the population of Great Britain. It is a cur
rent opinion, that the population of our ifland
.is yearly increafing. The fa£t. is quite the re-^-
verfe : but the aflertion would fignify nothing,
if there were not inconteftable proofs pf it^ The
proofs are thefe*^
Nurriber of houfes in England and
Wales, taken from the-return ofthe if, .
furveyors of the Houfe and Window 7 , ,.,
Duties; wherein they are ftated dif-?
tin£Hy, charged, chargeable, iind ex-
cufed.
-Total of Houfes in 1 759 - - - 986,482
;,  — -^ in 1761 ,'- - - 980,692
.  ia 1777 - - - 952,734
S4 Total

264 A P P EN D I X.
Total of houfes according tothe
hearth-books in 1690, as ftated by
Dr. Davenant (fee his vvorks, vol. i. -
page 38), - ... - - 1,319,215
In Scotland the number of houfes paying the
houfe and window duties was, in 1777, pnly
16,266* '' If the diftindl returns of the parlfties are ex
amined, it ivill be manifeft, that a calculation
of five perfons to every hotj^fe, is a large otow-
ance. From all which this refult is obpous
. . r r-That the number of inhabitants in Eng
land and .Wales is confiderably fhort of Five
Millions ! — p-That, perhaps^ including Scot
land, the whole Iftand of Great Britain does not
exceed that number. . • . '
:^f The curofity of the prefent moment may
allow us to eaft our eye upon France, conqerh-^
ing this fubjedl'. The intendants of the pro
vinces of France were ordered in the year 1771
and 1772 to make a return of the number of
inhabitants in their refpedive diftrids. The
return of 1772 ftates the number to be
25,741 ,326. See Recherches fur la population de
la France, par M> Moheau.
Tt wouldbe a right meafure in every govern
ment to caufe a furvey to be made annually of
, ¦ the '

APPENDIX. 265
the number of inhabitants. It is done at Na
ples by order of the King, and is publifhed an-
nujjlly in the Court Calendars. America will
probably follow the example.
Obfervations on the Population of America.
Written by Dr. Benjamin Franklin. Printed
at Philadelphia in. the year ly^^, '-
Tablesof the proportion of marriages to births,
of deaths to births, of marriages to the numbers
of inhabitants, &c. formed on obfervations made
on the bills of mortality, -chriftenings, &c. of
populous cities, > will not fuit countries ; nor
will tables formed on obfervations made bn full
fettled old countries, as Europe, fuit new coun
tries, as America.
For people increafe in proportion to the num
ber of marriages, and that is greater in propor
tion to the eafe and convenience of fupporting
a/amily. When families can be eafily fupport
ed, more perfons marry, and earlier in, life.
In cities where all trades, occupations, and
offices, are full, many deday until they can fee
how to bear the charges of a family.; which
enlarges are greater in cities, as luxury is more
common ; n^any live fingle during, life, and
continue fervants- to famihes, journeymen to'
trades,

266- A P P E N i« i ^
iijll'ades, &c. Kence, cities do not by natural gerie*
fation flipply themfelves wkh inhabitants ; "the
deaths are more than the births. -
In countries full fettled, the- cafe muft h^
nearly the fame } all lands being ocxupied and
improved to the height ; thbfe who cannot
get land, muft labour for thofe who have itj
when labourers are plenty, their wages will' be
low ; by low wagfes a family is fupported with
difficulty ; tbis difficulty deters many ficorn
marriage^ vvho therefbre long continuq fervants
and fingle. "• -Only as cities take fupplies of
people from the country^ and thereby make a
little more room in the country, marriage: is a
little more encouraged there, and the births ex
ceed the deaths.
' ^Great part of Europe is full fettled with huP
bahdmen, mapufadurersj &c. and therefore can
not now much increafe in people^ Land being
"plenty in America, and fo cheap as that a la
bouring man, who underftands huft»andry, can
in a Ihort time fave moiiey enough to purchafe
a piece of new land fufficient for a plantation,
whereon he may fubfift a family, fuch are not
afraid to marry ; for even if they look far enough
forward to confider how their children when
grown are to be provided for, they fee that
more

APPENDIX'. ' 267
tii®re land is to be :had at rates equally eafy, ali
circumftances confidered.
^ Hence marriages in America are more gene
ral, and more generally early, than in Europe,
And if it is reckoned there, that there is but
one marriage per annum .among one hundi-ed
perfons, perhaps we may here reckon two ; and
if in Europe they have but four births to a' mar
riage (many of their rnarriages being late),~ we
may here reckori eigh|; of which, if on« half
grow up, and our marriages are made, reckoning
one with another, at twenty years ^ age, ourpeopk
muji at leaji be doubled every twehty years.
. But notwithftanding this increafe, fo vaft is-
fhe territ-ory of North America, that it will re
quire many ages to fettle it fully ; and until it
is fully. fettled, labour will never be cheap here,
where no man eonttrvues long a labourer fof
Gthers^y but gets a plantation of his own ; «©¦
man cjontinues longa journeyman toa trade,
but goes among thefe nevv fettlers,. and fets up
for himfelif, &c. Hence labour is po cheaper
now, in Pennfylvania, than it was thirty years
ago, though fo many thoufand labouring peo
ple have been imported from~ Germany and
Ireland. ^
• In proportion to the inceeafe bf the. Colonies,
i' a vaft

268 APPENDIX.
a vaft dernand is growing for Britifti manuf^-
tures; a glorious market wholly in the power
of Britain, in which foreigners cannot interfere,
which will increafe in a ftiort time even beyond
her power of fupplyitig, though her whole '
trade fliould be to her colonies.
Of the Weflern Territory.
It is a miftake in thofe^wh'o imagine that the
new State of Kentucky comprifes the Weftern
territory of North America:. That new ftate
include^ but a fmall part of this great domain ^
'The State of Kentucky is defcribed to be
bounded on the fouth by North Carolina, on the
north by Sandy creek, on the- weft by Cumber
land river, making about 250 miles in length
and 200 miles in breadth ;/ whereas the whole
Weftern territory is infinitely more extenfive.
The limits are unknowii ; . but that part bf it,
which was furveyed by Captain Hutchins, geo-'
, grapherto the Congrefs, he- has given us a fliort
account of. From his account, .becaufe it is~
known to be authentic, we have extraded the
following:. -The part he furveyed lies between;. the 33d
and 45th degrees of latitude, aiid the 78th and
' , 94th

APPENDIX. 269
9.4th degrees of longitude, containing au extent
of territory which, for healthfulnefs, fertility of
foil, and variety of produdions, 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 myown obfervations, and thofe of
the late Mr. Gift, of Virginia, be generally, and
juftly defcribed as follows.
" The vallies adjoining ^o the branches or
fpdngs of the middle forks of Youghiogenj, are
narrow towards its fource,— but there is a con
fiderable quantity of good farming grounds oh
the hills, near the largeft branch ofthat river.
— The lands within a fmall diftance of the
Laurel mountain (through whicli the Youghi-
ogeny riins) 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.
*' 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

270 ATWS.iJ.DTX,
the upper branches or forks of this river, and
about 15 miles northerly to the place where th©
Youghiogeny falls into the MonoHgahela.-^— The
larids, for about 18 miles in the fame courfe of
the; laft- mentioned' river, on each fide of it^
though hilly, are rich abd well timbered. — -The
trees are Walnut, Locuft, Chefnut, Poplar, and
Sugar or fweet Maple. The low lands, near
the rivjsr, are about a mile, and in feveral places
two miles wide. For a confiderable way down
the river, on the eaftern fide of it, the intervals
are extremely rich, and about a mile wide.
The upland for ab®ut 12 miles eaft wardly, are
uncommonly fertile, and well timbered ; the
low lands, on the, weftern fide^ are liarrow ;
butthe uplands, on the eaftern fide of theri-?
ver, both up and down, are excellent, and co-
veredwith Sugar^ trees, &c. ,
*' Such parts of the country whicli lie on
fome 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, Afli, Oak, Sugar trees,
i&d and the interval or rtieadow lands are
from 250 yards to a quarter of a mile wide.
*• The lands lying nearlyin a .n(»th-wefterly
?.' diredion

A P P E N D I X. 271^.
dirfedion fronri the Great Kanhawa riVer to the
Ohio, and thence north-eafterly, and alfo upon
Le Tort's creek. Little Kanhawa river, Buffaloe,
Fifliing, Weeling, and the two upper, and tWQ.
Ibwer, and feveral other very confiderable creeks
(or what, in Europe, would be called large ri^
vers), and thence eaft, and fouth-eaft to the
river Mononga¬hela, are, in point of quality, as
follows^. -. /
" The borders or meadow lands, are a mile^
and in fome places near two miles' wide j and
the upfaiids are in common ofa moft fertile foil,
capable of abundantly producing Wheat, Hemp,
Flax, &c.
'. ¦ ¦ . ' \
*' The lands which }i& upon' the 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, Buffaloe, Deer, Turkies, &c.— ¦
An uoqueftionable proof of the -extraordinary
goodnefs of its foil ! Indiana lies .within the
tei'ritory here defcribed. It contalns^, aboii^
three miUions and^ an half" of acres, and wa^^
granted to Samuel Wharton, William Trent,
and George Morgan,. Efquires, and a few pther
berfons, in theyear'1768.
** Fort Pitt'ftands at the eooftuence, of the
Allegheny

272 APPENDIX.
Allegheny and Monongahela rivers; in latitude
40° 3 if 44"; arid about five degrees weft Ward
of Philadelphia. In the year 1760, a fmalf
town, called Pittfburgh, was btiilt near Fort Pitt,
and about 200 famiUes refided in it ; but Upon
the Indian war, breaking Out (in the month of
May 1763) tbey abandoned their houfes, and
retired into the fort.
" In the year 1765 the prefent town of
Pittftjurgh was laid oqt. It is built on the
Eaftern bank of the river Monongahela, about
200 yards fropi Fort Pitt. •
' " iThe jundion of the Allegheny and Mo--
nongahela rivers, forms the river Ohio, and
this vdlfcharges itfelf into the- Mifliflippi, (in
latitude 36" 43') about 11 88 computed miles
'from Fort Pitt. The Ohio in its palFage to the
Mifliflippi, glides through a pleafant, fruitful,
and healthy country ; and carries a great uni- .
formity of breadth, from 400 to 600 yards, ex
cept at its c&nfluence with the Mifliffippi, and
for 100 miles abbVe it, where it is 1000 yards
wide. The Ohio^ for th© greater part of the;
way to the Miffiflippi, has many meanderg, or
winding^, and rifing grounds upon both lid^s.
¦of it. /.
*' The reaches in the Ohio are in fome parts
from

A p i» E N b r X. ' iyo
,.from two to four miles in length, and one of
them, above' the Muftiiugum river, called the
Long Reach j is fixteenlmiles and an half lorig*
The Ohio, about loo miles ^bove, or northerly
of the Rapids, (forraerly called the Falls) is in
many places 700. yards wide; and as it ap
proaches them, the high grounds on. its borders
< gradually diminifli, and the couutry becomes
' more level. Some of the b^nks, or heicrhfs of
this rivei-j are at times overflowed by gre^t
freflies, yet there is fcarce a plice between Fort
Pitt and the Rapids (a diflance of 705 comput
ed miles) where a good road may not be made:;
and horfes. employed in drawing up large barges
(as is done on. the margin of the riVer Thaffji^s
in England, and the Seine in France) againft a
ftream remarkably gentle, except in hio-h
freflies. The heights ofthe banks of -the Ohio
admit them every where to Ipe fettled, as they
are not, liable to crumble away;
" To thefe remarks, it may be proper to add
the following, obfervations ofthe ingenious Mr/
Lewis Evans.' He fays that * the Ohio river^
a5 the winter fnows are thawed, by the warmth
or 'rains in the fprlng, rifes in vaft floods, »n
fome places exceeding 20 feet in height, but
fcarce any where overflowing its bigh and up-
VoL. IL T . right

274 APPENDIX.
right banks. Thefe fioijds,' Mr. Evans adds,
* continue of fome height for at leaft a month Or
two, according to the late or early breaking up
of the winter. . Veflels from 100 t& 200 tons
burthen, by taking the advantage of thefe floods,
may go from Pittfburgh to the fea with fafety,
as then the Falls, Rifts, and Shoals, are covered
to an equality with the reft of the rivers ;' — '
and though the diftance is upwards of 200D
miles from Forf Pitt to the fea, yet as there are -
"rioobftrudions to prevent veflels from, proceed
ing both day and night, I am perfuaded that
this extraordinary inland voyage may be per-
: formed, during the feafon of the "floods, by row^
^in^, in fixteen or feventeen days.
: " The navigation- of , the Ohio in a dry fea-
foUj is rather troublefome from Fort Pitt to the
Mingo town (about feventy-five miles), but
from thence to the Mifliflippi, there is always
a fufficient depth of water for barges, carrying
from '100 to 200 tons 1 burthen, built in the"
manner as thofe are which are ufed on the river
Thames, between London and Oxford; — to
wit, from 160 to 120 feet in the keel, fixteen
to eighteen feet in breadth and four feet' in
depth, ahd when loaded, drawing about three'
feet water. , ,
"The

APPENDIX. 275
*' The.Rapids, in a, dry feafon, are difficult
to defcend with loaded boats Or barges. ~
[But inftead of the carrying place now ufed, it
is intended to fubftitute a canal on the con
trary fide of the river.]
'. " Moft of the hills on both fides df the Ohio
are -filled with excellent coal, and a coal mine
was in the, year 1 760 opened oppofite to Fort
Pitt 'on the river Monongahela, ifor the ufe- of
that garrlfon. Salt fprings, as well as iron ore,
, and rich lead mines', arp found bordering upon
the river Ohio. Oneof the latter is opened
on a branch of the Sioto river, and there the
Indian natives fupply themfelves with a cbnfi-
' .derable part of the lead which they ufe iri their
wars and hunting:.
¦ f' 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
iprings, are found numbers of large bones, teeth
and talks, commonly fuppofed to be thpfe of
elephants :— ^but the celebrated Dodor Hunter
of London, in his ingenious and curious obfer
vations on thefe; bones, &c. has fuppofed them
;to belong to fome carnivorous animal, larger
than, an Ordinary elephant. _
T 2 "On

276 A'" P'|»"E N'ij-i X'-
'" On the north ^Weftera fidd of Ohio, abouE
ri miles beloW the Cherbkee river, "(Jn a high-
^ahk, are the r'erhtiiris of fort-MaffiiCj buik by,
flie Freiicll', aUd intended' as a check to thsc
' fouthern Indians. It' wai deftroyed by theni in
the year '1 763'. This- is a- highj healthy, a'nd
delightful fituation.' 'A' great variety of ^amS-y.
- — ^Buffaloe,. B'ear,. Deer, See. , as- -w-e-ll- as'
l^ucks, Geefe,- Swans, Turkies^ Pheafants^
l*artrid'ges, &c.. aboiUids in ev-ery part of this-
ebuii'tr'i^. •^ Tlie Qhio'^ and' the m-ers-' 'empty i^ng intd-
1 ft, afibrd green, and other Turtle,, and fifh of-
various forts ; particularly CarpySturgfeonj Perch^
and Cats J the two latter of an uilconimOn fize^
viz. Perch, £om 8 to 12 poiSnds weighs,.- andJ
Cat^ from '5b tb I oo- founds weight. ' - - ¦¦'
'^' Thela^nds upon th« Ohio, and its branchesv
are differently timbered according- to their qua-^
l|ty aiM' fituation. The high and #y lands arfe'
,covered' with red, white, aiid, black Oak,, Hic
kory, Walnut, red ahd white :Mulberry and Afk^
trees, Gri'pe vitieS, &c. ; the low and WekdoW
Tartds a^rb filled 'with Sycamore, Poplar,- red -and
white Mulberry, Cherry, Beech, Elm, AfpeSi,.
Maple, of Sugar trees. Grape vin^s-, &c. ; and,
Mow,,orfouthwardly of the Rapids, are feveral
i/') •' ¦ ,
krge:
¦ ¦¦-. &¦

AP P E N D. 1 X

r ¦ -277
large Cedar, and' Cyprefs fwatpps, whgre the
Cedar and Cyprefs trees grow to a remarkable
•fize, ¦ and where alfo' .is a great abundance of
*^anea, fuch as grow in Soiitji Carolina. Thq
'•country on 'both fides of the Ohio, extending^
:fouth-eaftei"ly, and fovith-weft.erly frocfi .Fort
Pittto the Mifliflippi, and watered bythe Ohii^
I'iver, and its branches, contains at leaft a pniU
¦lion of fquare miles, and it maV, with truth,
¦bp, afliTmed, that no part. bf the globe is blefi"ed
with a more healthful air, or climate,; water,e4
with Eftore navigable rivers and branches com-
»municating with t'he Atlantic Ocean, by the
rivers Potov/mack, James, Rappahannock, Mif-
fifil.ppi, and ;St. Lawrence, of capable of pro
ducing, with lefs labour and expence, Wheat,
Indian Corn, Buck- wheat.. Rye, Qats, Barley,
Fla-K, Hemp, Tobacco, Rice, Silk, Pot-afli, &c'.
¦than the country under confideration.. And
although there are confiderable quantities of
high laijds for about 250 miles{(on bpth fides of
the river Ohio") fouth wardly from Fort Pitt, yet
even the fummits of mpft of .the HiUs are co-
averedcWitha deep rich foil, fit for the culture
pf Flax and Hemp ; and it may alfo be added^
^at .no foil can jjoiiibly yield '.iar,ger crop^ of
Xj .. ' -red

1j^ APPENDIX.
red ahd white CloVer, and other ufeful grafs,
than this does.
*' On the north- weft and fouth-eaft fides of ,
the Ohio, below the great Kanhawa river, at a
little diftance fipm. it, are' extenfive ^natural, -
meadows, or favannahs. Thefe meadows arp
frbm 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;
" lam obliged to a worthy friend, and coun
tryman, for the following juft and judicious
obfervations. They were^ddreflTed to the Earl
of Hillfborough, in the year 1770, when
Secretary of State for the-Nortlx American de-
partmeiit; and were ,writteii by Mr. Samuel
Whartbn of Philadelphia, who at time refided
in London, haying fbme bufinefs there with
Mr. St;rahan, Mr. Almon, &c.
" No'part of North- America," he fays, *' wiil ,
" require lefs encouragem-ent for the produc-
" tiOn of naval ftores, and raw materials for
" manufadories .in Europe;" and for fupplyino-
" the Weft-India iflands with Lumber, "Provi-
" fionS, &CC. than the country of the Ohio; 
** and for the following reafons : "Firft,

A P P E N D I X. 279
" Firft, The lands are excellent, the climate
" temperate, the native Grapes, Silk- worms, and
" Mulberry-trees, abound every where : Hemp,"
" Hops, and Rye^ grow fpontaneoufly in the
" valleys and low Ut^ds, lead, and iron o,re are
" plenty in the hills, fait fprings are innumer-
" able; and no foil is better adapted to the cuU
" ture of Tobacco, Flax, and Cotton, than that
" of the Ohio.
"Second, The country is well watered by
"feveral navigable rivers, coriimunicating with'
" each other; by which, and a fhort land car-
" riage, the produce of the lands of the Ohio
"can, even now (inthe yegr 1772) be fent
" cheaper fo the ff^-poft town of Alexandria,
^' on the river Pojiomack in -ViVginja (where
"tjeneral Braddock's tranfports landed his
•' troops), than any kind of rnerchandile is fent
" frorn Northanipton to London,
. " Third,, The river, Ohip is, at all feafon s of
*' tbe 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 AprU large fhips may be buUt on the
"Ohio, and fent to fea laden with Hemp, Iron,
^'-piax. Silk, Tobacco, Cotton, Pot-al|h,, &c.
" Fourth, Flour, Corn,~ Beefj Sbip^Planfe,
. T 4 / "and

- 280 A":> P E -N D I X. '-'^f'"-
" and other ufeful articles^ can be fent dowri
the ftream of the Ohio to Weft-Florida, and
from thence to the Weft- India iflands, much
cheaper, and in. better order, than fron; New
York or Philadelphia to thefe iflands. -
" Fifth, Hemp, Tobacco, Iron, atid fuc'H
bulky articles, may alfo be fent down the
ftrearn ofthe Ohio to the fea, ahd, at leaft 5CJ
per cent, cheaper than thefe articles wer6
ever carried by a land carriage, of only 60
miles, in Pennfylvania ;> where waggonagQ
is cheaper than in any other part of North
America.' -^ ' ' ¦' •^,'/fi"
*' Sixth, The expence of tranfporting Euro--
pean manufadories from the fea to the Ohio,
will not be fo much as is noW paid, and
muft ever be paid, to a great part of the.
Counties of Pennfylvania, Virgiijia, and Ma-
rylar^d. Whenever the farmers, or mer^-
chants of Ohio, fliajl properly underftand
the bufinefs of tranfportation, they will build
fchboners, .floQps, &c. pn the Ohio, fuitable
for the Weft-India, or European markets';
or, by having Black-Walnut, Cherry-tree,
Oak» &c. properly fa wed for foreign markets,
and formed into rafts, in the manner that '
.1* i? now done by the fettlers near the upper
" parts

-A P P E N D I X.. 2S)[
**' parts of Delaware river in Pennfylvania, and
" thereon ftow their Hemp, Iron, Tobacco,
*' &c. and proceed with them to Nevv Or-
" leans. . , ,
• " It- may not, perhaps, be amifs, to obferve,
" that large quantities of Flour are rftade in the
*' diftant (weftern )_ counties of Pennfylvania,
" and fent by an expenfive land carriage to the
'*\ city of Philadelp')ia, and frorn thence fliipped
"to South Carolina, and. to Eaft and Weft
*' Florida, there being; little or no Wheat i;ai-fed
*' in thefe provinces. The river Ohio feems
"kindly defigned by nature as the channel
*'' through which the two Floridas may be fup- -
*', plied with Flour, not only for their own
" confumption, but alfo for the carryhigon an
" extenfive commerce With Jamaica ahd, the
" Spanifh fettlements in the Bay of Mexiqo.
" Millftohes in abundance are tb be obtained in
" the hills near the Ohio, and the country is
" every where weir watered with large and
" conftant fprings and ftreams, for grift, and >
" other rnills. '. ''
" The palTage' from Philadelphia to Pennfa-
" cola, is feldom made in lefs than a month,
; i^ and fixty fhillings ftferling per ton freight
' ^< (confifting of fixteen barrels) is ufualiy paid
"for

28^3 A P PEN D I X. I
" for Flour, Sec. thither. Boats carrying 8po
",or, ippo. barrels of Flour, raay go in about
" the fame tirne from the Ohio (even from
" Pittfburgh) as from Philadelphia ito Pennfa-^
" cola, and for half the abpve freight, fhe Ohio
*' merchants would be able to deliver Flour,
" &c. there in much better o-rder 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.
i ' " This is- not mere fpeculation ; for it is a
" fad, that about ^ the year 1746 there was a,
- " great fcarcity of provifions at New Orleans,
" and the French fettlemfents, at' the lUinois,
" fmaU as they then were, felit thither in one '
" winter upwards of eight hundred thoufand
" weight of Flour." ' x
"1 fhall now proceed, to give a brief account
of the feveral rivers and creeks vvhich fall into
the river Ohio. ^
" Canawagy,'when raifed by freflies^ is pafl*-
XBle with fmaU battbes, to a little lake at its
head;-^from thence there is a portagqof 20
mUes to lake Erie, at the mouth of Jadag'hque.
This portage is feldom ufed, becaufe'Canawagy
, has fcarcely any. water in it in a dry feafon.
" Bughaloqns-,

APPENDIX. 283
• *' Bugh-cdoons. is not navigable, but is re
markable for extenfive meadows bordering up
on it. ' . .
" French Creek affords the neareft, pafllige
to lake Erie. It is navigable with fmall boats
to Le Beuf, by a very crooked channel • the
' portage thence to Prefqi^ile, from an adjoining
peninfula, is 15 mUes. This is the ufual route
from Quebec to Ohio.
" Lickino; 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 confiderable way up, thence by a fhort
'portage to the weft branch of Sufquehannah, a
good communication is carried on between Ohio
,and the eaftern parts bf Pennfylvania.
" Moghulbughkitum is p'aflablc alfo hy flat
bottom boats in the fame manner as Toby'^
Creek is to Sufquehannah, and from thence to
all the fettlertients in Northumberland county,
&c. in Pennfylvania.
" Kifhkeminetas is navig-able in like man-
ner as the preceding creeks, for' between 40
and 50 miles, and good portages are foundbe-
tween Kifhkeminetas, Juniatta, and Potomac rivers.

a'S4 A^.P E N D.I X.
fivers.— Coal and, Salt are .difcovered in the
neighbourhood of thefe rivers.
" Monongahela is a large river, and at its
fundion with the Allegheny river -ftands' Fort
JPit^ : It is deep, ^a.i:id, gentlfe, and: navigable
¦with battoes and barges, beyond Red ' Stone
creek, and ftill farther with Ughter craft:. At
Sixteen '-miles from its mouth is Youghiogeny.;
•this river is navigable with batteaux or barges
toithe'foot of LaurelhilL
._ ¦" Beaver Creek has water fufficient for flat
Ijottom boats. ;^ At Kifhkufkes (about i6 nfiUes
VTp) are two branches of this creek, which
fpread oppofite ways; one interlocks with
French Creek and Cherage, — the other with
Mnfhingum and Cayahoga^ oti this liranch,
about thirty-five miles above the forks, are
many Salt-fprings. — Gayahpga is pradicable
¦with canoes about twenty miles farthel"^.
¦" Mulkingum is a fine gentle river, confined
.i)y high banks, which prevent its floods from
overfloy/ins; the furrounding land. It is'2'eo
<. ¦ ' ¦ . ^ '. ¦ ' '
; yards wide at its confluence with the Ohio, and
siavigable, vvithout any obftrudlons, by large-
battoes or barges, to the three, Legs's, and by
fmall ones t'o a little lak-o~at its head.
^' From thence to Cayahoga (the creek that '
leads

A'"P I* E N- D"^! X. , ', 2^C
leads to lake Erie) the Mufltingum is muddy,,
and not very fwift, but no where obftruded
with falls or rifts.^ Here are fine uplands, ex-
tenflve meadows, Oak and Mulberry-trees fit for
fliip bullding,'and Walnut, Chefnut,. and Poplar
trees, fuitable for domeftic fervices. — Cayahoga
furniflies the befl portage between Ohio and
.lake Erie J at its mouth it is,v\jide and deep
enough to receive large floops from the lake.
It will 'hereafter be a place of great impor-
itance. , .
" Mufkingum,^ in all its wide-extendecf
branches, is furrounded by rnoft excellent land,
and abbunds in fprings, and conveniencies par-
licularly adapted to fettlements remote frotn
fea navigations ; — fuch as fait fprings, coal, clay,
and free fto'ne. In 1748 a coal' mine oppofite
' to Lamenfhicola mouth took fire, and continued
. burning about twelve months, but great quan
tities of coal ftiil remain in, it. Near the fame
pJace are excellent whetftones, and about eight
miles higher up the fiver,, is plenty of Vhlte
-and blue clay for glafs vvorks and pottery.'
" Hockhpcking is navigable with large flat
'l)bhom boats between feventy apd eighty miles;
it has fine meadows with high banks, which
feldom overflow, and rich uplands on its bor-
« , dets-

2S^ A P FE N D I X.
ders. Coal and quarries of free-ftone are. found
about 15 miles, up this creek. , , ,
" Big Kanhawa, falls in^o the Ohio upon ita
fouth-eaftern fide, and is . /o confiderable, a
branch of this river, that it may.be millaken
for the Ohio itfelf by perfons afc'pnding it. It
is flow for ten mil,es, to little broken hUls, —
the lovv land is very rich, and of about the fame
breadth (from the pipe hills to the falls) as upr
on the Ohio. After going. 10 • miles up Kan^
hawa the land Ls hUly, and the water a little
rapid for 50, or 60 ruiles further to -the falls,
yet batteaus or barges may be eafily rowed
thither. Thefe, fills were formerly .thought
impaffable; but late difcoveries have proved,
that a waggon road may be made through the
mountain, which occafiofis the falls, and that
by a' portage of a few mUes only a' communi
cation may be h'^d be'tween the waters of great
Kanhawa and Ohio, and thofe' of Tames river
in Virginia. , ' .,\ . ...
.. ," Tottery lies upon the fouth-ea(iern fide of
the Ohio, and is navigable with batteaux to
the Ouafioto mountains. It is a lonsr river,
has few branches, and interlocks with -Red
Greek, or CUnche's River, (a branch of the,C^t-
tawa)^,and has below the mountains, efpeci-
3 ' ally

APPENDIX, 2S7
ally for 15 miles from its-' mouth, yery good
land. Here is a';perceptible difl'erence'of Cli
mate between the upper and 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,
efpecially on the fouth-eaft, fide, to the Rapids,
and thence on both fides of that river to the
Miffiflippi. "Great Salt Lick Creek is remarkable for
fine land, plenty of buffaloes, fait fprings,' white
clay, and, lime ftone. Small jioats 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 fpritigs
in their vicinity, makes fufficient amends, for
this inconvenience.
" .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 flioals, but paflable witji
¦fmall boats to the gap, vvhere the vvar path goes
through, thp Ouafioto mountains.,
" Sioto, is a large gentle river, bordered with
rich flats, or meadovj's. It overflows in the
fpring, and then fpreads about half a mile.

though

aSS APPENDIX.
though when' confined within its banks, it 1$
'fcarce a furlong wide. , , • > '--''¦'-
*' If it floods fearly, it feldom retires ivithits
its banks in lefs, than a month, and Is not fords-
able frequently in lefs than two months- ' ,"r
" The Sioto, befides having a great extent of
moft excellent land on both fides qf the. riven,
,is furnifhed with fait, on an eaftern branch, and
red bole on Necuufia Skeintat. The ftream. of
Sioto is gentle, and paffable with laxge battoes
or barges for a confiderable way, and with fnnall-.
er iboats, near 2.00 mUes, to a portage of only
four miles to Sandufkv.
" Sanduiky is a confiderable river abounding
in level land, its ftream 'gentle all the way to
the mouth, where it is large enough to receive
floops. The northern Indiaps crofs lake Erje
here from ifland to ifland,. land at Sanduflky,
and. go by a dired "path to the lower Shawanoe
town, and thence to the gsp ,of the Ouafioto
^o.untain, in their way to the Cuttawa coun
try. " ' ' '
" Little Mirtea mi river is too fmall to navi
gate with batteaux. It has much fii^e land and
feveral falf fprings; its high banks and gentle
-current prevent its much overflbwins; the fur-
rounding htnds in freihes. " Great ^

A p ip E ^ b I jCi ~ flS^
¦:" Great Mineami, AlTereniet or Rocky river,
has a very ftony channel; a fwift ftream, but
no falls* It has feveral large branches^ paffable
with boats a great way ; one extending Weft-
ward towards the Quiaghtena river, another to
wards a branch of Minearrti river (which runs
into Lake Erie), to which there is a portage, and
a third has a portage to the weft branch of
Sanduiky J befides Mad Creek, whete theFrench
foi-merly eftablifhed themfelvesi Rifitig ground^
here and there a little ftony, which begins in
the northern part of the Jjeninfula, between the
lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan, and extends
acrofs little Mineait^i river below the Forksj and
fouth wardly along the Rocky river, to Ohio.
"Buffaloe river falls into the Ohio on the ,
eaftern fide of it, at the difta'nCe of 925 eorti-
puted miles frorri Fort Pitt* It is a very confi
derable branch ofthe Ohio; is 200 yards wide;
navigable upwards of 156 miles for battoes or
barges, of 30 feet long, 5 feet broad, and 3 feet
deep, carrying about 7 tonSj and Can be navi
gated much farther with large canoes* The
ftream is raoderate. The lands on both fideS
of th^ river are of a moft luxuriant quality, fot
the produdion of Hemp, Flax, Wheat, Tobacco,
&:c. They are covered' with a great variety of
Vol. IL U ' lofty.

290 A P iP E N D I K.
lofty, and ufeful timber ; as Oak,.JJIckory, Mul-
terty. Elm, &e. Several perfons who haye .af-
cended this i^iver fay, that fait fprings, cpal^
lime and free ftone, &e. are to |>p found m a va
riety of places.
" The - Wabafh is a beautiful river, wit'h
high and upright banks, lefs fubjed to overflow
than any other i-iver- (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 37° 41 '.—At its
mouth it is 270 yards wide; is navigable to
Ouiatanoh (412 miles) in the fpring, fummer,
and autumn, with battpes or barges, drawing
about three . feet water. From thence, ori 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 afcgnded with boats, fuch as I have juft
defcribed (197 miles -further) to the Miami
C£trrying place, which is nine miles from the
Miami viUage, and this is fituated on a river of
the fame name, that runs into the fouth-fouth-
weft part of lake Erie. — The ftream of the
Wabafh is generally gentle to fort Ouiatanon,
and nowhere obftruded with falls, but is. by
feveral rapids, both above and "below tbat fort,
4 fome

APPENDIX* ^9^
fome of which are pretty confiderable. There
is alfo a -part of the river, for about three miles,
and 30 miles from the carrying place, where
the channel is fo narrow, that it is neceffary to
make ufe of fetting poles, inftead of oars. The'
land on this river is remarkably fertile, and fe
veral parts of it are natural meadows, bf great
extent, covered with fine long grafs. — The
DO
timber is large, and high, and in fuch variety,
that almoft all the different kinds growing upon
the .Ohio and its .branches (but with a greater
proportion of bl^ck and white mulberry- trees)
may be found here. — -A filver 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 maybe made from them,- inthe manner
now done at the Valine in the Illinois country :
' — the hUls are replenifhed with the beft coal,
|nd there is plenty of lime and free ftone, blue,
,yeUbw, and white clay, for glafs works and
pottery. Two French fettlements are efta
bliflied on the Wabafli, called Poft Vincient
and Ouiatanon; the firft is 150 mUesj and the
other 262 miles from its mouth. The former
is on the eaftern fide of the river, and confifts
^ U 2 of

292 APPENOlX.
of 60 fettlers and their famihes. They raife/
Indian corn, wheat, and tbbacco of aii extra
ordinary good quality; fuperior, it is faid, to
that produced in Virgibia. They have a fine
breed of horfes (brought originally by the In
dians from the Spaniffi fettlements on the. weft-.
ern fide of the river Miffiffippi), and large ftocks/
of fw ine and black cattle. The fettlers deal
with the natives for furs and deer fkins, to the
amount of about 5000 1. annually. Hemp of a
good texture grows fpontaneoufly in the low
' lands of the Wabafh, as do grapes in the great-.
eft abundance,, having a black, thin fkin, and of
which the inhabitants in the autumn make a
fufficient quantity (for. their own confumption)
of well-tafted 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, peachesy pears, cher
ries, currants", goofberries, melons, &c. thrive
well, both here, and in the country bordering
on. the river- Phio.
" Ouiatanon is- a fmall ftockaded fbrt on the
weftern fide of the Wabafli, in which about a
dozen families refide. The neighbouring In-.
diar^s are the Kickapoos^ Mufquitons, Pyanki-
fhaws, and -a principal part of the Ouiatanons. The

Appendix* 293
The whole of thefe tribes confift, it is fuppOfed,
of about one thoufand warriors. The fertility
of foU, and divcrfity of timber in this country,
are the fame as in the vicinity of Poft Vincient.
The annual amount of fkins and furs obtained
at Ouiatanon is about 8000 1. By the river
Wabaffi, 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 ftated, is nine mUes to
the Wabafh, 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 ufualiy employed in tranfport
ing boats and merchandife from the Miami to
the Wabafh river.
" The Shawanoe river empties itfelf on the
eaftern fide of Ohio, about gs "^^^^^ fouth-
.. wardly of the Wabafli rjver. It is 250 yar^s
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, upoii
¦ U 3 this

294 AP t» E N D f XS
this river,' afb eXaSly the ?fami6 a's thbfe upbh
feuffaloe river. ''
/ " The Cherokee riVer difcharges itfelf intd
the Ohio oii the fariie fide that the ShavVanOe
river does, that is, 13. miles-beloW of fOuthMy
of it, arid 'i 1 miles above, or" northerly bf thfe
.place where Fo/tMaifac fornierly flood, and ^7
iniles from the confluence of the Ohio with
the rivisf Mif^ffippi. The Cherokee rivef' has
peeri navigated 906 rhiles from its mOUthi
At the diftaiice of 220 miies from thehce, it
widens froni 406 yards (its general Width) to
between two and three miles, and continues
this breadth for near thirty miles farther. The
whole ofthis diftance is called the Mufefe
Shoals. Here the channel is obftruded ,\vitfi' 'i
number of iflands, formed by trees and dViftm
wood, brought hither, at didefeiit feafbnsof the
year, in frefhes arid .flobds. Iri pamng 'thdfe
iflnads, the middle of the, widefi ihteirneaiatfe
water. is to be navigatisd, a.s there it is deepeft.
Frorii the mouthy of the Cherbke'e river t6
Mufcle Shoals" the cu/reht is 'moderate, 'a'lWl
both t;he high and lovv lands are rich, \nS kbun-
dantly cpvered, with oaks, waliiUt, fiigar-t^e'ei,
hickory, &c. A^out , 26b miles aboVe thefe
ihoals is, what is called, the Whirl, or Suck',
occafipned,

APPENDIX. 295
<5ccafioned, I imagine, by the high mountain,
which there confines the river (fuppofed to be
the Laurel mountain). The Whirls 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 upori the fouth-eaftern fide of that river, is
Highwafee river. Vaft trads of level and rich
land border on this fiver ; but at a fmall dif
tance from it, the country is much broken, and
fonae parts of it produce only pine trees. Forty'
liiiles higher up the Cherbkee river, on the
north weftern fide, is Clinche's river. It is
150 yards wide, and about 50 miles up it feveral
families are fettled. From Clinche's to Tenefee
river is 100 miles. It comes in on the eaftern
fide, and is 250 yards wide. About 10 miles up
this river, is a Cherokee town, called Chota, and
further up this branch are feveral other Indiari
towns, poffeffed by Indians, called, the Over-
hUl Cherokees. The navigatioii ofthis branch is
much interrupted by rocks, as is alfo the river
eaUed French Broad, which comes into the Che
rokee river ^6 miles above the Tenefee, and on '
the fam6 fide. 1 50 mUes above French Broad is
Long Ifland (three miles in length) and from
thence to the fource of the Cherokee river is
U4' -60

296 appendix.
60 rniles, and the whole diftance is fo rocky, as
to be fcarcely navigable witti a canoe.
" By the Cherpkee river,' the emigrants
from the frontier counties of r Virginia, and-;
North Carolina, pais to the fettlements in Weft,
Florida, uppn the river Miffiffippi. They em
bark at Long Ifland. , 1

Cl

I will now proceed to give a defcription of
that part called the IlUnois country, lying between "
the Miffiffippi wefterly, the Illinois river north
erly, the Wabafh eafterly, and the Ohio fouth
erly. .;, ., ,
" The land at the confluence j or fork ofthe
rivers Miffiffippi and Ohio, is above 20 feet
higher than the common furfaceof 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.
-rrThe fJdil at the fork is compofed of rtiud,
earth, and fand, accumulated from the Ohio
and Miffiffippi rivers, • It is exceedingly fertile,
and ill its, patural ftate yields hemp, pea-vinesj
grafs, .&Cf and, a great variety of trees, and irt
particular the afpen tree, of ;an unufual height
gnd thicknefs, ,'
,, f':.^pr 2^ miles up the Miffiflippi (froni th^
' _ Ohio)

APPENDIX. 297
Ohio) the country is rich, level, and well tim
bered ; and then ilveral gentle rifing grounds
appear, which gradually diminiffi at the diftance
of between fpur and five miles eaftward frbm
the river. From thence to • the Kafkafkias ri
ver is 65 miles. The country is a mixture qf
hills and vallies ; fome of the former are rocky
and fteep ; but they, as well as the vallies,
are ffiaded with fine oaks, hickory, walnut, affi,
and. mulberry-trees, &c. Some of the high,
grounds afford moft pleafant fituations for fet
tlements. Their elevated, and airy pofitions,
too-ether 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 partof the
country. '
" Several creeks and rivers fall into the
Miffiffippi in the- above diftance (of 65 miles),
but no remarkable ones, except the rivers a Yafe
and Kaflcaflcias; the former is navigable for
battoes about 6Q,,and the latter for about 130
miles;— both thefe rivers, run through a rich
ppuntry, abounding in extenfive, natural mea
dows,

i,Vi.

298 APPENDIX.
dows, arid nurhberl'dfs herds of buffaloe,
deer, &c.
•'* The high grounds, juft mentioned, con-
tifiUe along the eaftern fid6' of the Kafkafkias
.riVer, at a ffitiall diftanc6 frorii it, for the fpace'
of five miles arid ahalf, to the KafkafkiaS vil
lage ; theri they incline more towards that
i'iver, and run nearly pafallel with the eaftern
bank of the Miffiflippi, at the diftance of about
three miles in fome parts, and four miles in
other parts from it. Thefe are principally com-
|5ofed of lime and free- ftone, and from 100
to 1 30 feet high, divided in feveral places by
deep cavities, through which many fmall rivulets.
pafs before they fall into the Miffiffippi. The
fides of thefe hills, fronting this river, are in
mariy places perpendicular, — and appear like fo
lid pieces of ftone mafonry, of various colours,
figures, and fizes.
''' The low land between the hUls and the
Miffifilppi, begins on the north fide of the
Kafkafkias' liVei', and Continues for three miles
a'bbve the Rivet MifouH, where a high ridge
terminates it, and forms' the eaftern bank of
the Miffiffippi .'-^This interval land is level, has'
felv trees, and is of a very rich foil, yielding,,
fhi'ub^ and moft fragrant flowers, which, added to

APPENDIX. 299
'tb the nutiibe'r and extent of meadows and ponds
difperfed through this charming valley, render
it exceedingly beautiful and agreeable*
"In this vale ftand the foUowing villages,
viz. Kafkaikiasj which, as "already mentioned,
is five miles and a half up a riVer of the fame
name, running northerly and foutherly. — This
village contains 80 houfes, many of them well
built; feveral of ftone, with gardens, and large
lots adjoining. It confifts of about 560 white
ihhabitants, and between four and five hundred
negroes. The former have large ftocks of
black cattle, fwine, &c.
" Three mUes northerly of Kafkafkias, is a
village of Illinois Indiaiis (of the Kafkafkias
¦ tribe) containing about 2 .1 o perfohs and 60 war
riors. They were formerly brave and warlike,
but are dcgerierated into a drunken and de
bauched tribe, and fo indolent, as fcarcely to
-procure a fufficiency of fkins and furs to barter
for clothing.-
^' Nine miles further northward than the
laft mentioned viUage, is another, caUed. La
'prairie du Rocher, or the Rock meadows* It
;Confiftsbf 100 white inhabitants, and 80 ne

groes.

»' Three miles northerly of this place, on the
banks

20O APPEND IX.
banks of the Miffiffippi, ftood Fort Chartres. It
was abandoned in the year 1772, as it was ren
dered untenable by the conftant waffiings of the
River Miffiffippi in high floods.— rThe village of
Fort Chartres, a Httle fputhward of the fort,
' contained fo few inhabitants, as not to deferve'
. my notice.
" One mile higher up the Miffiffippi than
Fort Chartres, is a village fettled by i yo war
riors, of the Piorias and Mitchigamias(two other
tribes .of the Illinois Indians). They are as
idle and debauched as the tribe of Kafkafkias
which I have juft defcribed.
,. «' Four miles " higher than the preceding
¦village, is St. PhUip's, It was formerly inha-
-bited by about a dozen families, but at prefent ¦
is poffeflfed Only by two or three. — ^The others
ha.ve retired to the weftern fide of the Miffif
fippi. . : ' .
" 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 thetii
well . built, and 300 inhabitants, poffeffing 80
negroes, and large ftocks of black cattle, fwine,
&c. " Four miles above Cahokia, on the weftern or

APPENDIX. cot
or Spanifli fide of the Miffiffippi, ftand^ the
village of St. Louis, on a high piece ofground.
It is the moft healthy and pleafurable fituation
of any known in this part of the country.
Here the Spaniffi commandant and the princi
pal Indian traders refide ; who, by conciliating
the affedions ofthe riatives, have drawn all the
Indian trade of the Mifouri; — part of that of
the Miffiffippi (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 buUt of ftone. They are
large and commodious. This viUage has, 800
inhabitants, chiefly French ; — fome of thera
have had a liberal education, are polite, and
hoffritable. They have about 1 50 negroes, and
- large ftocks of black cattle, &c.
" Tvyelve miles below, or foutherly of Fort
Chartres, on the weftern bank of the Miffif
fippi, and nearly oppofite to the vUlage of Kaf
kafkias, is the village of St. Genevieve, or Miffire.
It contains upwards of ico, houfes, and 460
Inhabitants, befides negroes. This and St. Louis
arc all the villages that are upon the weftern
or Spaniffi fide of the Miffiffippi.
" Four miles below St. Genevieve (on /the
weflern hank of the Miffiffippi), at the mouth of

302 A p PEN D I |£.
@f a creek, is a hamlet, called the Sahne. Ilere
^11 the fait is made, which is ufed in the lUi
¬nois country, from a fait fpring that is at this
placp, " ,In the feveral yUIages on the Miffiffippi, ,
which I have juft defcribed, there wpre, fo long
ago as the year 1 771? twelve hundred and feven
ty- three fencible men.
^' The Ridge whiich forqi? thp .eaftern bank
of the lyiiffiffippi, above the- Mifoyii riyer, con
tinues northerly to the Illinois riyer, and then,
direds its courfe along the eaftern fide of that
river, for abouj: 220 miles, when it declines in
gentle flopes, and, ends in extenfive rich favan
nahs. On the top of this ridge, at the mouth
pf the IlUnois riyer, is an agreeable and com
manding fituation for a fort, and though the
ridgie is high and fteep, (about 130 feet high),
and rather difficult to afcend, yet when af-
Cended, it afibrds a moft deUghtful profped,
—-The Miffiflippi ,is diftindly ^feen from its
funcjrnit for more ^:han twenty miles, as are
the beautiful riie^ncje rings, of the IlUnois river
for many leag^ies;—nexjt a, level, fruitful mea:-
dow prefents itfelf, of at leaft one hundred
miles in circuit on;the weftern fide of the Mif
fiffippi, watered by feveral lakes, and fhaded by
fmaU

APPENDIX. 303
fmall groves or copfes of trees, fcattered in dif
ferent parts of it, and then the eye with rap
ture furveys, as well the high- lands borderino-
upon the river Miffouri, as thofe at a greater
diftance 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 Miffiffippi, up the '
IlUnois river, are feen many large favannahs,
or meadows abounding in buffalo, deer, &c.
" In afcending the Miffiffippi, Cape au Gres
particularly attraded my attention.— It is about
§ leagues above the Illinois river, on the eaft
ern fide of the Miffiffippi', and continnes above
. five leagues on that river. There is a gradual
^defcent back to deUghtful meadows,, and to
beautiful and fertile Uplands, watered by feveral
rivulets, which fall into the Illinois river be
tween 30 and 40 miles frora its entrane^e into
the Miffiffippi, and into the latter at Cape au
pres. The diftance from the Miffiffippi to the
River Illinois acrofs the country, is leffened or
increafed, according to the windings of the
former river ; — the fmaUeft diftance is at Cape
au Gres, and there it is between four and five
miles. The lands in this intermediate fpace
between the above twp rivers are rich, almoft
( ^ ' beyond

^204 A P ?< E n; d I X* '
beyond parallel, covered with large oaks, Wal-^
nut, &c. and: not a ftbne isto be fden, excepf
upon the fides of the river,— It is even ac
knowledged by the French inhabitants, that if
fettlements were only begtin ^t Cape au Gres,
thofe upon the, Spaniffi fide of- the Miffiffippi
would be abaiidoned, as the former, would ex
cite a .conftant fucceffion of fettfers, and inter
cept all the trade of the upper\Miffiffippi.
"The Illinois river furnifhes a communi
cation with Lake Michigan, by the- Chicago
river, and by twp portages between the latter
and' the 'Illinois river; the longeft of which
does not exceed four miles.
" The lUinois couritry is in general of a fupe-'
rior foil to any other part 'of North America •
that I have feen. It produces fine oak, hic
kory, cedar, mulberry-tree.s, &c. fome dying
roots and medicinal plants ; — hops and excellent
wild grapes, and in the year 1769, one. hundred
and, ten hogffieads of well-tafted and ftrong
wine were made by the French fettlers from
thefe -grapes,— a large quantity of fugar is alfo
annuaUy made from the juice of the maple-tree ;
and as the mulberry-trees are, long and numer
ous, I prefume the making of filk wiU employ
the attention and induftry of the fettlers, when the

A P P £ N D 1 X. 305
the country is more fully inhabited than it is
at prefent, and efpecially as the winters are
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 (biit not more than
two cuttings in a year) ; wheat, peas, and In
dian corn thrive weU, as does every- fort of
•grain and pulfe, that is produced in any of the
old colonies. Great quantities of tobacco are
alfo yearly raifed by the inhabitants of the lUi
nois, both for their own confuniption, 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
height is 10 feet, and its thicknefs three iiibhes
(the latter reckoned within about a foot of the
root), and with little labour any quantity may
be cultivated. Flax feed has hitherto been
pnly raifed in fmall quantities. There has
however been enough produced to ffiew that
it may be fown to the greateft advantage. Ap
ples, pears, peaches, and all pther European
fruits, fucceed admirably. Iron, copper, and
lead mines, as alfo fait fprings, have been difeo-
yered in different parts of this territory. The,
two latter are worked on the Spaniffi fide of
Vol. II. X the

^p6' AP P E N i) I X.
the Miffiffippi, with eonlidefable, advanta^ to
~their owners. There is plenty of fiffi in the
rivers, particularly cat, carp, and perch, of a.n,
uncommon ,fi»e*— Savannahs,, or natural mpi-i
dows, are both numerous and extpufive; yield
ing excellent grafe, and feeding great hef da of
buffaloe, deer, &c. — ^Ducks, teal, geefe, fwans,
cranes^ pelicans,' turkies, pheafants, partridges,.
&c. fucTi as are feen in the fea cOaft colonies,,
are in the greateft variety and abundance. — In
fboft, everything thata reafonable mind can
defire is to be found, or may, with little pains,
be produced here.
"Niagara Fort is a moft important poft. It
fecures a greater number of consnvunications
through a larger country than probably any
Other pafs in interior America;— it ftands at
t'he entrance of a ftrait, by which lake Ontario^
is joined tb lake Erie, and the latter is conned
ed with the three great lakes, Huron, Michegan,
and Superior. About nine mileS' above Fort
Niagara the cafrying place begins. It is oc
cafioned by the ftupendous catarad of that
hame.-' The quantity of water which tumbles
Over this fall is unparalleled in America ;— its
heighth is not lefs than 137 feet. This fall
• Would interrupt the comrriunication between the

APPENDIX. 3-07
the lales Ontario and Erie, if a road was not
made up the hUly country that, borders upon
the ftrait. This road extends to a fmall poft
eighteen miles from Fort Niagara. Here the
traveller embarks in a battoe or canoe, and pro
ceeds eigtiteen miles to a fmaUfort at lake Erie.
It may be proper alfo to add, that at the end of
the firft two nules, in the laft-mentioned dif
tance of 18 miles, the ftream ofthe river is di-.
vided by a large ifland, above nine mUes 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 dake, '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 ftem it ; but it is fuccefsfally
refifted in fmall battoes, or canoes, that are rowed
near' the ffiore.
" Lake Erie is about 225 miles in length, and
upon, a medium about 40 mUes in breadth. It
affords a good navigation for ffiipping of any
'burthen. The coaft, on both fides of the lake,
is-generally favourable for the paffage of battoes
arid canoes. Its banks in many places have a
flat fandy fhpre,- particulariy to the eaftward of
X 2 the

508 A, P P E N D i 3j.
the peninfula, called Long Ppint, which ex
tends into the lake, in a. fouth-eaftern diredion^
for upwards of 18 mUes, and is more than five
miles wide in the broadeft partj but the ifthmus>
by which it joins the continent, is fcarcely 200
yards > wide. The peninfula is compofed of
fand, and is very convenient to haul boats put
of the furf upon (as is almoft every other part
ofthe ffiore) when the lake is too rough fpr. ,
rowiiig 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 impoffible to land.
^Moft of thefe places are marked in my map
with the letter X.
. " Lake Erie has a great variety pf fine fifh,
fuch as fturgeon, eel, white fiffi, trout, perch,
::'&c. '" The country, northward of this lake^ is in
many parts fwelled with moderate hills, but no
high mountains. The, clirxiate 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 fqr a
cotifiderable diftance from it, and for feveral
miles eaftward of payahoga 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, walnut,
affi, hickory, mulberry, faflafras, &c. &c. and
produce a great variety of ffirubs and medicinal
roots.— Here alfo is great plenty of buffalo, deer,
turkies, partridges, &ci
" Fort Detroit is of an oblong figure, built
with ftockades, and advantageoufly fituated,
with one entire fide commanding the river, ,
called Detroit. This fort is near a mUe in cir
cumference, and enclofes about one hundred
hOufes, buUt in a regular manner, with paraUel
ftreets, croffing each other at right angles. Its
fituation 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
mUes wide, but in afcending it, its width per
ceptibly diminiffies, fo that oppofite to the fort
(which is 18 miles from lake Eriej it does not
exceed half a mUe in width. From thence to
lake St. Clair it widens to more than a mUe,
The channel of the ftrait is gentle, and wide,
and deep enough for ffiipping of great burthen-,
although it is incommoded by feveral iflands ;
one of which is more than feven miles in
length. Thefe iflands are of a fertile foil, and
X 3 frt m

3IO A P P E N D IX-
from their fituation affof^d a very agreeahle arp-
pearance. For eight milies below, and the
fame diftanCe above- fort Detroit, on both fideS
ofthe river, the country is divided into regular
and well cultivated plantations, and. frorn the
contiguity of the farmers hoUfes to each oth6r,
they appear as two long extended villages.
The inhabitants, who are Biaoftly French, are
i about 2000 in number; 500 of whom are as
good markfmen, and as weU aCcuftbmed to the
woods, as the Indian natives themfelves. They ,
raife large . ftocks of black cattle, and great
quantities of corn, which they grind by wind-
miUs, and manufadure into excellent flour.- —
The chief trade of Detroit confifts in a barter of
coarfe European goods with the natives for furs,
deer-fkins, tallow, &c. &c.
"The rout from lake St. Clair to lake
HuVon, is up a ftrait or river, about 400 yardS;:
'Wide. This river derives itfelf from lake Hu
ron, and at the 'diftance of ^3 miles lofes itfelf
in lake St. Clair. . It is in gpneral rapid, but
particularly fo near its fource; — its channel,
and alfo that of lake St. Clair, are fufficient-ly
deep fbr ffiipping of very confiderable burthen.,
This ftrait has feveral mouths, and the lands-
lying between them are fine meadows. The
country

APPEND I: X. 311
•country on both fides of it, for 15 miles, has a
very level appearance, but from thence to lake
Huron, itis in many places broken, and cover-
•ed with white pines, oaks, maple, birch, and
beech." -,

Thoughts on the. Duration of the American Com
monwealth.
There is a greater probability that the dura
tion of the American commonwealth will be
longer than any empire that has hitherto exift
ed. For it is a truth, univerfally ad^mitted, that
-all the advantages which ever attended any ef
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 conquefts 5 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 condri'd, and ali the comforts of
domeftic virtue.
AU the great monarchies were formed by the
conqueft of kingdoms, different in arts, man
ners, lainguage, temper, or .religion, from the
conquerors; fo that the union, though in fome
X A , cafes

312 A. P P E N D 1 X. ;
cafes very ftrong, was ne'ver the real and inti
mate connedipn of the fame people ; and this
circumftance principally accelerated their ruin,
and was ' abfolutely the caufe of it in fome.
This will be very different in ¦ the Americans.
They wiU, in their greateft extent and popula
tion, be one and the fame people j the fame iu
lariguage, religion, laws, manners, tempers, and
purfuits; for the fmall variation in fpme dif
trids, pwing to the fettlement of Germans, is
an excep^tion fo very flight,, that in a fpW ages
it will be uriknown.
The Aflyrian and Roman empires were of
very flow growth, and therefore lafted the long
eft ; but ftill ^heir increafe was by conqueft, and
the union of diffonant parts. The Perfian and
Macedonian rnonarchies were foon founded and
prefently overturned ; the former not lafting fo
long as the Aflyrian, nor a fixth of the duration
, ofthe Roman ; and as to the Maredoriian, it laft
ed 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 effed of plenty of land, a good climate,
and a mild and beneficent government, in which
corruption, and tyranny are wholly unknown.
Some centuries, are already paft ffiice, their firft
fettlement,

APPENDIX. 3'3 '
fettlement, and many more will pafs before
their power appears in its fuU fplendour; but
the quicknefs of a growth that is entirely na
tural wfll carry with it no marks of decay, be
ing entirely different from monarchies founded
by force of arms. The Roman eiTipire periffi-
ed by the hands of northern barbarians, whom
the mafters of the vvorld. difdained to conquer;
it will not be fo with the Americans, they fpread
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
flbould their Goths and Vandals come ? Nor can
they ever have any thing to fear from the fouth;
firft, becaufe that country will never be populous,
owing to the ppffeffion of rnines : fecondly,
there are federal nations and languages planted
and remaining in it : thirdly, the moft confider
able part of it lies in the torrid zone ; a region
that never yet fent forth nations of conque
rors. In 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 Affyrians or
the Romans. The fituation of the region is fo
advaritageous

314 APPENbrx.
advaritageous that -it leaves nothiiig:to be wiffieJ
for; it canhave no neighbours from whom there
is a poffibility of attack or moleftation^ it will
poffefs all the folid advantages of >the Chinefe
empire without the fatal neighbourhood of the
Tartars. It will have further the fingular felicity (£
all the aidvantages of an ifland, that is, afreedona'
-from the attacks of others, and too many diffis-
Culties, with too great a diftance, to e^ngage in
enlerprifes that heretofore proved the ruin bf
other monarchies. .'
The foU, the climate, produdion, and face -of
the continent, is formed by nature for a great,
independent, and permanent government : fi-U it
with people who will of themfelves, of courfe,
poffefs aJU forts of manufadures, and you will
find, it yielding every neceffary and convenience
-of life. Such a vaft trad of country, poffeffiwig
fuch fingular advantages, becoming i'nha'bite^ by
¦one people, fpeaking the fame language, ppofeffin-g
the fame religiori, and having the fame man
ners ; "attaining a population equal to that ofthe
greateft empire ; fprung from an adive and in
duftrious nation, who have transfufed into them
I I
their own induftry and' fpirit, and feen them
worthy of their original ; inhabiting a foil not
dangeroufly

.APPENDIX. ' 315
dangeroufly fentUe, nor -a clime generaUy con
ducive to effeminacy ; accuftomed to commerce :
fuch a people muft found a commonwealth as
indiflbluble as humanity will allow. Suffice it
for England, that ffie will have been the origin
of a commonwealth greater and more durable
than any former monarchy; that her language
and her manners wUl flourifli among a .people
who will one day become a fplendid fpedacle in
the vaft eye of the uriiverfe. This flattering
idea of immortality no pther nation can hope to
'attain. And here let me make an obfervation that
ffiould animate the arithors in the Engliffi ian-;
<fm<^e with an ardour that cannot, be infufed
into thofe of any other nation; it is the pleaf
ing idea of Uving among fo great a people,
through almoft aperpetuity of ,fame,5nd under
almpft an impoflibUity of becoming, like the
preek and Latin tongues, deadj known only
by the learned.— Increafing time will bring in^,
treafing readers, until their names become re
peated with pleafure by above an hundred
millions of people !

A STATE

3 1 6 A P P E N D I X.

A STATE OE, THE COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE
BETWEEN THE tTNITED STATES OF AME-^-
¦ RICA AND FOREIGN NATIONS. WRITTEN
IN THE MONTH OF JUNE 1792. BY THO-'
MAS JEFFERSON, ESQ^SECRET AR Y OF ,STATE
TO/THE SAID UNITED STATES.
The, countries with which theUnited, States'
have had their chief commercial intercourfe,
are', Spain, Portugal, France, Great Britain, the
United Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden,
and their American poffeffions ; and the articles
of export which conflitate the bafis of that
commerce, with their refpedive amounts,"
3re— /'""''
Bread fluff, that is to fay, bread-
grains, meals^and bread, tbtheanr- iiids.
' riual amount of - - - - - 7,649,887^
Tpbacco --,---., 4,349,567
Riqe - ----..-. 1,753,7^6
Wood ----.-_. 1,263,534
Salted fiffi -----,- 941,696
Pot and pearl affi - - - - _ 839^093
Salted meats -_-___ 599,100 Indigo

appendix. 2^7
I"digo  . . . ^^.^^^^^^
Horfes and mules ----- a-o 7C2
Whale ofl - - - - - - - 252,591
Flax feed  236,072
Tar, pitch, and turpentine - - 217,177
Live provifions . _ _ - _ I37>743
Ships Foreign goods ------ 620,274
To defcend to articles of fmaller value than
thefe, would lead into a minutenefs of detail nei
ther neceffary nor ufeful to the prefent objed.
The proportions ofour Exports, which go to
the nations before mentioned ^ and to their do
minions, refpedively, are as follows : Dols.
To Spain and its domiqions - - 2,005,907
Portugal and its dominions - - i', 283, 462
France arid 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>^^°
¦ Ou,r Imports from the fame countries are— •
.Spain and its dominions - - - 335,11a
; Portugal and its dominions - - 595^7^3
' ' ' ' " France

3l8 A-P P E N D I X.
•- - I>ols.,,
France and its dominions - ¦» ,2, 668-9348
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 - - 1411325
Thefe Imports confift moftly of articles ori
which induftry has been exhaufted.
Our Navigation, depending on the fame com
merce, wUl appear by the following ftatement
of the tonnage of our own veffels, entering in--
to our ports, from thofe feveral nations, and -.
their poffeffions, in one year, that is to fay,
frotn Qdober 1789, to September 1790, inclu-
fi've, as follows:
I Tons.
Spain ----_*__ 195695
Portugal _______ 23,576
Fiance ._--_-__ 116,410
Great Britain ______ 43,580
United Netherlands" - - - - 58,858
, Denmark --____- 14,655
Sweden -------- irrQ
Ofour commercial objeds, Spain receives fa
vourably our bread fluff, faited fiffi, wood, ffiips,
tar, pitch) and turpentine. On our rAeals, how
ever, as weU as on thofe of other foreign coun tries,

^\

appendix.. 319
tries, when re-exported to their colonies, they
have lately impofed duties of from half a dollar
to two dollars the barrel, the duties bein'o- fo
proportioned to the current price of their oWn
fiour, as that both together are to make the
conftant fum of nine dollars per barrel.
They do not difcourage our rice, pot and
pearl affi, faked provifions, or whale oil : but
thefe articles being in fmall demand at their
markets, are carried thither but in a fmall de
gree. ' Their demand for rice, however, is in
creafing. Neither tobacco nor indigo are re
ceived there. Our commerce is permitted
with their Canary Iflands, under the fame
conditions. Themfejves arid their colonies are the adual
confumers of what they receive from us.
Our navigation is free with the kingdom of
Spain ; foreign goods heing received there in our
ffiips, on the fame conditions as if carried in
their own, or in the veffels of the country of
which fuch goods are th,e manufadure or pro
duce. Portugal receives favourably our grain and
bread, faited fiffi and other faited provifions,
.' wodd, tzf, pitch, and turpentine.
I For

320 appendix:.
For flax-feed, pot and pearl affi, though not
difcouraged, there is little demand.
Our ffiips pay 20 per cent, on beirig fold to
their fubjeds, arid are then free bottoms. -
Foreign goods (except thofe of the Eaft In
dies) are received on th'e fame footing in our
veffels as in their own, or any others ; that is
to fay, 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 Azores,
Madeira, and the Capede Verd Iflands, exce|)E
tbj^t in thefe meals and rice are received'
freely. France receives favourably our bread fluff,
rice, wood, pot arid pearl affies.
A duty of five fous tjie 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 quaUty, ftUl more than a difference of
duty, prevents its feeking that, raarket. Sdted

appendix. 321
•" Salted beef is reeeived freely for re-exporta
tion, but if for home cpnfumption, it pays five
livres the kental. /Ojther faited provifions pay
.that duty in all cafes, and faited fiffi is m^d^
lately to pay the prohibitory one of twenty
livres in the kental.
Our ffiips are free to carry thither aU 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 vvhale oils and to
baccoes. During their former government, our tobacco
was under a monopoly ; but paid no duties, and
"our ffiips were freely fold in their ports, and,
converted into riational bottoms. The firft Na
tional Aflembly took from our ffiips 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 caijied in ours, a
difference more than equal to the. freight of the
article. They and ttieir colonies confume what they
receive from us. : ,;
Great Britain receives our pot and pearl affies
free, while thofe of other nations pay a duty of
Vol. II. Y two

^22 A P P E N to 1 3S.
two ffiililrigsand three-pence the kental. There
is an ecjuai dlftindion in favour of our bar iron,
of which article, however, we do not produce
enough for our own ufe. Woods iatfe free fronfi
tis, whilft they* pay fome fmall duty from other
countries. Our tar and pitch pay i id. fterling
the barrel} from other alien countries they pay
about a penny and a third more.
Our tobacco, for their own confumption,
pays IS. 3d. fterling the pound, Cuftom and ex-*-
cife, befides heavy expenCes of colledion. Arid
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
ufed in very fmall quantity. .
Out faited fiffi, and ofher faited provifions,
except bacon, are prohibited. JBacon and whale
dU are under prohibitory duties; fb are oui*,
grains, meals, and bread, as to internal con-
fum'pfiori, unlefs in times of fuch fcarcity ^as
rhay raife'fhe price of wheat to 5tjs. flerUno- the
quarter, and other grains arid meals in propor
tion. ' Our ffiips, though purchafedand navigated
by their own fubjeds, are not peftnitted to be'
tifed, even in their trade with us. * '
While

A P P EN DI X. 324
• While the veflels of other nations are fecured
by ftahding laws, which cannot be altered, but
by the concurrent wiU' of the three' branches of
Ihe-Britiffi legiflature, in carrying thither any
produce or manufadure of the coiintry to which
they belong, which may be lawfully carried in
any veffels-, ours, with the fame prohibition of
What is foreign, are further prohibited by a
ftanding law (t2 Car. II. 28. §. 3) from car-
^ rying thither all and any of our own domeftic
produdions and manufadures. A fubfequent
ad, indeed, authorifed their executive to permit
the carriage ofour own produdions in our own
bottoms, at its fole difcretion ; arid the permif- ,
fion has been given from year to year by pro
clamation, but fubjed every moment to be
withdrawn on that fingle Vv'ill, in which e^ent
Piir veffels having any thing on board, ftand
ipterdided from the entry of all Britiffi ports.
The difadvantage of a tenure which may be
fo fuddenly dffcontiliued yfeS experienced by
our merchants on a late occafion, when an of
iicial notification that this law would be ftridly
enforced, gave them juft apprehenfions for the
fate of their veffels and cargoes difpatchqd or
deftined to the ports of Great Britain. The
minifter of that Coult, indeed, frankly ,ds1«reffed
Y 2 , his

J24 APPEND! X.I
his perfonal epnyidion that the words of the
order went farther than was intended, andfo lie
afterwards officially informed Us ; but the ejn-
barraffments of the moment were real and great,
and the poffibUity of -their renewal lays our
commerce to that country under the fame fpe
cies of dlfcouragement as to other countries
where it is regulated by a fingle legiflator ; and
the diftindion is too remarkable not to be no
ticed, that our navigation is excluded from the
fecurity of fi}£cd laws, while that fecurity is giv
eri to the navigation of others.
Our veffels pay their ports is. 9d. fterling per
ton, light and trinity dues, more than is paid
by 'Britiffi fliips, except in the port of London,
where they pay the fame as Britiffi.
The greater part of what they receive from
us is re-exported to other countries, under the
ufelefs charges of an intermediate depofit and
double voyage. From tables publiffied in Eng
land, and compofed, as is faid, from the books ^
of their cuftom-houfes, it appears that of the
indigo imported there in the years i 773 — 4 — -5,
one third was re-exported ; and from a docu-
merit of authority, we learn that of the rice
and tobacco imported there befoi-e' the war,
four-fifths were re-expojted. We are affured, indeed.

APPENDIX. 325
indeed, thatthe quantities fent thither for re
exportation fince the war, are confiderably di-
miniffied, yet lefs fo 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, meals and bread of all forts, and
lay a prohibitory duty on fpirlts diftilled from
grain. All other of our produdions 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-ffiipped toother maritime
countries. On the latter portion they intercept
between us and the confumer fo much of the
value as is abforbed bythe charges attending an
intermediate depofit.
Foreign goods, except fome Eaft India arti
cles, are received in veffels of any nation.
Our ffiips may be fold and naturalized there
with exceptions of one or two privileges, which
fomewhat leffen their value,
Denri:iark lays confiderable, duties on our to-
1 Y 3 bacco

3^,6 A,p p f; ^ p 1 3^.
h^cGO and riqe c?rri?d,in their ovvn ^^ifqls, and
half as much more if carried in ours ; but the
lexad amount pf thpf^, duties is j not. perfedly
.Joiown here. They lay fuch as amount to
prohibitions on pur ifldigo and corn. ;
Sweden receive,s favourably pyr grains and
meals, faj/:ed provifions, indigo,, and whale
oil, ,
, They fubjed pur ,rip6 to duties of fixteen
mills the pound weight carried in their oVvji
yefl^l,s, and of forty per cent.; additional on that,
or 22,410 mills, carried in ours pr any others.
Being thus rendered tpo deaf as an article of
cprpmion fpod, little of it is confumed with
t,h^m. They confum? more of our tobaccoes>
which they takej circuitpufly through Great
[Britain, leyying heavy duties on them alfo;
their d^'i'iti^s of ^ntry, tow^n duties, and excife, be-
ipjg 4 dols. ,34 cents, the hundred weight, if
prri|ed in th,eir own veffels, and of forty per
cent, on that additional, if 1 carried in our own
or a.ny other veffels.
They prohibit altogether our bread, fiffi, pot
^nd pearl a,ffies, fiaj^-feed, tar, pitch, and tur
pentine, wood (except ,oak timber and mafts);
and all foreign manufadures. ;
Urif^er^ fo many reftridions and prohibitions, our

A,P PEN D I X, 327
our navigatipn with thfem is reduced almoft to
nothinor. ... /With our neighbours, an order of thing?
much harder prefents itfelf.
! Spain and Portugal refufe to thofe parts of
America which they govern, all dired intei'-
courfe with any people but themfelves. The?
cpmm(Odities in mutual .demand between then^
and their neighbours muft be carried to be ex-^
changed in fome port; of the dominant country,
and the tranfportation between that and the
fubjed ftate niuft be in a domeftic bpttom.
Francp, by a ftanding law, permits her Weft
India poffeffions to receive diredly our vegeta
bles, live provifious, -horfes, wood, t^r, pitch,
and turpentine, rice, and maize, aftd prohibits _
our other bread fluff; but a fufpefifion of this
prohibition having been lef| to the cqlonial le
giflatures in times of^ fcarcity, it was formerly
fufpended occafipnally, but lattcriy without in
terruption. Our freffi and faft^d provifions (except pork)
are received in their iflands under a duty of
three coloniaj livres the kental, and our veffels
are as free as their own to carry our commodi
ties thither, and. to bring away mm and mo-
laffes. ,>,-,!( ,
Y4 Qreat.

32_^8 A-P PE N D I Xi
': Careat Britain admitS' iri^her iflands our vegev
tables, live provifions, horfes, wotxl, tar, pitch,
and turpentine, rice, and bread fluff, by a pro
clamation of her executive, limited alway^ to
the -term of a year. She prohibits our ^faited
provifions : 'ffie does not permit Our veffels to
carry thither our own produce.' Her veffels
alone may take it from US, and bring in eji-
change, rum, molaffes, fugar, coffee, cocoa nuts,
ginger, and pimento. There are,' indeed, fbme
fi'eedoms in thejfland of Dominica, but under
fuch circumftances as to be little* ufed by us. In
the'Britifli continentaf colonies, and in New
foundland, all our produdions are prohibited,
and our'veflels forbidden to eriter their ports;
their governors however, iri times of diftrefs,
have power to permit a temporary importation
of certain articles in their own bottoms, but
iiot in ourSi'
Our citizens cannot refide as merchants or
fadors within any of the Britifh plaritations,
this being exprefsly prohibited by the fame fla-
tue of 1 2 Car. II. C. 1 8, commonly called the
Navigation ad. •'' ¦
In the Daniffi-American poffeffions a duty of
five per centi'is levied on our corn, corn-meal,
rice, tobacco, wood, faited fiffi, indigo, horfes,hiules,

A P P E N D I X. 329
mules, and live flock ; and of ten per ceiit. on
our flour, faited pork and beef, tar, pitch, and
turpentine. in the American iflands of the Uifited Ne
therlands and Sweden, our. veflelsland produce
are received,- fubjed to duties, not fo heavy as
to have been complained of; but they are hea
vier in the Dutch poffeffions on the continent.
¦ To fum up thefe reftridions, fo far as they
are important : ¦ ' 't. -
ift. In Europe— /
Our bread ftu ffis at moft times under prohi
bitory duties in England, and confiderably du-
tied on exportation fro'm Spain to her colonies.
Our tobaccoes are heavily dutied in England,
Sweden, ar^d France, and -prohibited in Spaiii
and Portugfal.
Our rice is heavily dutied in Endand and
Sweden, and prohibited in Portugal.
Our fiffi and faited provifions are' prohibited
iri England, and under prohibitory duties in
France. Our whale-oils are prohibited in England
arid Portugal.
And our veflels. are denied naturalization iri
England, and of late in France.
''•'¦] 2d. Tn

A-P P E N D I ,X«

2d. In.the JVeft Indies.

33^^

All, intercourfe is prohibited with the poflef^
fions of Spain and Pprtugal.^1,' ,. . ; .
Our faited provifions and fifl?, arp^ prohihitecjt
by England.
Our faked; pork, and bread,, fluff .(except
maize), are received under temporary laws pnly,
in the dominions of France, and our faited fifliit
pays'there a weighty duty.
3d. In the Article of Navigatian. . ;,•
Our own carriage pf our own tobacco=is hea
vily dutied in Sweden, and lately in France,^
We can caVry no article, not of pur own pro^
du£lion, to the Britiffi ports' in Europe.
Nor even Our own produce to her American
poffeffions. Such being the reftridions on the commerce
and navigation of the United States, thie o-uef-.
tion is,- in what way they may beft be reSioved,
modified, or counteraded ?
* As to commerce, two methods occur. i.'By
friendly arrangements with the feveral nations
with whom thefe~ reftridions exift: or, 2. By
the

APPENDIX. 331
the feparate ad of our own legiflatures for
-countervaUing their effeds.
There can be no doubt, but that of thefe
-two, friendly arrangement is the moft eligible.
Inftead of embarraffing commerce under, pile's
of regulating laws, duties^ and prohibitions,
could it be relieved from aU its ffiackles in all
parts of the world — could every country be
-employed in producing that which nature has
heft ifitted it to produce, and each be free to ek*-
.change with others mutual furpluffe's for mutual
wants, the greateft mafs poffible would theri
he produced of thofe things which contribute
to human life and human happinefs ; the num
bers of mankind would be increafed, and their
condition bettered.
- -Would even a fingle nation begin with the
United States this fyftem of free commerce, it
would beadvifable to begin it with that nation';
fince it is by one only that it can be extend
ed to, all. Where thp circumftances of either
party Tender it expedient to levy a revenue, by
way of impoft,' on commerce, its freedom might
be modjified, in that particular, by mutual and
equivalent;, meafures, preferving it entire in all
pthers.. . Some nations, not yet ripe for free commerce, in

332 APPENDIX.
in all its extent, might ftiU be willing to mol
lify its reftridions and regulatibns for us in pro
portion tp the advantages which an intercourfe
with us migbt offer. Particularly they may
concur with us in reciprocating the duties to be
levied on each fide, or in compenfating any ex
cefs of duty, by equivalent advantages pf ano
ther nature. Our commerce is certainly of a
charader,,to entitle it to favour in moft coun
tries,, . The commodities , we offer, are either
,ii|£{:effaries of life, or materials for manufadure,
or convenient fubjeds of revenue ; and we take
^jli excjhange, eithpr manufadures, when they
have received the laft finifli of art and induftry,
or mere, luxuries. Such cuftomers may rea-
-fonably exped welcome, and friendly treatment
at every rparket ; ^cuftomers too, whofe de
mands, increafing vsfith their wealth and popu
lation, muft very ffiorfly give full employment
to the whole induftry of any^nation whatever,'
in any hne of fupply they may get into the ha
bit pf calling for, from it.
But ffiould any nation, contrary to our wiffies,'
fuppofe it may better-find its advantage 'by con
tinuing its fyftem of prohibitions,, duties, and
regulations, it behoves us to prbted our citizens',
their commerce, and navigationj bv counter-
prohibitions.

APPENDIX. 333
prohibitions, duties, and regulations alfo. Free
commerce and navigation are not to be given in
exchange for reftridions and vexations ; nor
are they likelyto produce a relaxation of them.
Our navigation involves ftiU higher confidera-
tipns. As a branch of induftry, it-is valuable ;
but as a refource, effentlal.
. Its value,' as a branch of induftry, is enhanc
ed by the.;dependence of fo many other branches
on it. In times of general peace it multiplies
competitors for employment in tranfportation,
and fo keeps that at its proper level;: and in
times of war, that is to fay, when thofe nations
who may be our principal carriers, ffiall be at
war with each other, if we have not within
ourfelves the means of tranfportatiori, our pro
duce muft be exported in belligerent veflels at
the increafed expence of warfreight and infur
ance, ^nd the articles which will not bear that,
muft periffi on our hands.
But it is.a refource for defence that our navi
gation wUl admif neither negled nor forbear-
.. ance. The pofition and circumftances ofthe
Unued' States leave them nothing to fear on
their land-board, and nothing to defire beyond
their prefent rights. But on their fea-board,
they are open to injury, and they haye there], too.

33.4 A p,,p E,:.N D; I X,
too, a cbmmefce:! which muft be ptotedicdi
This can only -be done by poffeffing a refped"*
mble body of citiien-feameri, and of artifts and
eftabliffiments in readinefs for ffiip-buildiug*
Were the ocean, which is the common pro
perty of all, open to the induftry ofall, fo that
every perfon and veffel ffiould be free to take
employment wherever it could be found, the
United States would certainly not fet the eX"*
ample of appropriating to thernfelves, exclu-
fively, any portion of the common ftock of
occupation. They would rely on the enter
prize and adivity of their citizens for a due
participation of the benefits bf the feafaring bu-i
finefs, and for keeping the marine clafs of citi
zens equal' to their objed. But if particular
liations grafp at undue ffiares, and more efpeci
ally if they feize on the means of the United
States to convert them into aUmerit fbr theif
own ftrength, and withdraw them entirely
froni the fupport of thofe to whom they belong,
defenfive and protedirig' meafures becoriiie ne
ceffary on the part of the nation whofe marine
refources are thus invaded, or it wUl be difarm*
fed of its defence ; its produdions will lie at
,, the riiercy of the nation which has pofl'fefEed it-*
felf exclufively of the means 6f carrying them j
and its politics may be influenced by thofe who
command

APPENDIX. 335
command its commerce. The carriad-e of our
own commodities, if once eftabliffied in ano
ther channel, cannot be refumed in the moment
We rinay defire* If we lofe the feamen arid ar
tifts whom it now occupies, we lofe the- pre
fent meatis of marine defence,' and time- will
be requifite to raife up others, when difgrace or
loffes ffiaU bring home to our feelings the ^errot
of having abandoned them. The materials fot
tnaintaining our due ffiare of navigation are ours
in abundance ; and as to the mode of ufin*
them. We have only. to adopt the principles o^,
thofe who thus put us on the defenfive, or
others equivalent and better fitted to our- cir
cumftances. The following principles being founded In
reciprocity, appear perfedly juft, and to offer
no caufe of complaint to any nation.
ift. Where a nation impofes high duties on
our produdions, or prohibits them altogether,
it may be., proper for us to do the fame by theirs,
firft burthening or excluding thpfe produdions
which they bring here in competition with our
own of the fame kind ; feleding next fuch
faaanufadures as we take from them in greateft
quantity, and which at the fame time we could
the fooneft furniffi to ourfelves,.-, or obtain from
other Couritries; .impofing bni them duties
I ' lighter

^^6> APPENDIX.
lighter at firft, but heavier and heavier after-
wards, as other charinels of fupply open. Such
duties having the effed of indired encourage^
merit to domeftic manufedareS of the fame
kind, may induce the manufadurer to come
himfelf into thefe ftates; where cheaper fub
fiftence, equal laws, and a vent of his wares,
free of duty, may enfure him the higheft pro-i.
fits from his fkill and induftry* And here it
would be in the power of the ftate governments
to co-operate effentially, by opening the re
fources of encouragement which are under their
controul, extending thern liberally to artifts in
thofe particular branches of manufadure,, for
which their foil, climate, population, and other
circumftances have matured them, and foftering
the precious effprts and progrefs of houfehold
raanufadure, by fome 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 opprel^
fions on our agriculture in foreign ports would
thus be made the occafion of relieving it from a
dependence on the councils and condud of
others, and of promoting arts, manufadures, and
population, at home,
2d. Where a nation refufes permiffion to our
merchants and fadors to refide within certain parts

A P f fe N D 1 X. 237
^arts of their dominions, we may, if It ffiou]d
be thought expedient, refufe refidence to theirs
in any and every part of ours, or modify their
trailifadlonsi 3d. -.Where a nation refufes to receive in oui?
veffels ariy produdions but our oWn, we may
refufe to receive, in theirs, any but their pwn
prpdudipns. The firfl and fecond claufes of
the bUl reported by the committee are well
formed to effed this objedi
4th. Where a nation refufes to corifider any
yeffel as ours which h^s not been built within
our territories, we ffiould refufe to confider as
theirs any , veffel not built within their terri
tories. 5th. Where a nation refufes to our veffels
ihe Carriage even of our own produdions to
<;.ertain countries under their domination, we
might refufe to theirs, of every defG;-iption,
the carriage of the fame produdions to the
.lame countries. But as juftice and good neigh
bourhood would didate, that thofe yvho have
no part in impofing the reftridion on us, ffiould
not be the vidims of meafures adopted to de
feat its effed, it may be proper to confine the
reftridion to, veffels owned or navigated by any
fubjeds of the fame dominant power, other
* Vol. II. Z than

338 A P P-E N-D-I X.-
than" the inhabitants of the country to whicli
the faid produdipns are to be carried.— And to
prevent all inconvenience to the. faid inhabitants,
and to our own, by too fudden a check on th«
means of tranfportation, we may continue to
admit the veffels raarked for future exclufion,
on an advanced tonnage, and for fuch length of
time only, as may be fuppofed! necefi&ry to pro^
vide againft that inconvenience.
The eftabliffinient of fome of thefe priin€%le&»
by Great Britain alone has already loft us, in our
commerce with that country and its pofiefjions,
between eight and nine hundred veffels of near
40,000 tons burthen, according to ftateme-nts
from official tnaterials, in which they have c-on-
fidence. This involves a proportional lio-f^ of
feamen, ffiipwrights, and ffiip huiiding-,and.isto^
ferious a lofs to admit forbearance of fome e-fe-
tual remedy. ,
It is true we muft exped fome inconveni
ence in pradice, from the eftabUffiment of dif-
criminating duties. But in this, as in fo many
other cafes, . we are left to choofe. between two
evUs. Thefe inconveniences are nothing when
weighed againft the lofs of wealth and lofs of
force, which wiU follow our perfeverance in the
plan of indifcrimination.— When once it ffiall be

A P P E N D I X. 22^
be perceived that we are either in the fyftem
or the habit of givirig equal advantages to" thofe
who extinguiffi our icommerce and navigation,
by duties and prohibitions, as to thofe who
treat both with liberality and juftice, liberality
and juftice wUl be converted by all into duties
and prohibitions. It is not to the moderation
and Juftice of others we are to truft for fair and
equal accefs to market with our produdions,
or for our due ffiare in the tranfportation of
them ; but to our means of Independence, and
the firm will to ufe them. Nor do the incon
veniencies of difcrimination merit confideration.
Not one of the nations before mentioned, per
haps not a commercial nation on earth, is
without them. In our cafe one diftindion
•lone will fuffice, that is to fay, between na
tions who favour our produdions and navigation,
and thofe who do not favour them. One fet
of 'moderate duties, fay the prefent duties^ for
the firft, and a fixed advance on thefe as to
fome articles, and prohibitions as to others, for
the laft.
Still it muft be repeated, that friendly ar
rangements are preferable with all who will
come info them ; and that we ffiould carry into
Z 2 fuch

340 APPENDIX.
fuch arrangements all the liberality and fpirit
of accommodation, which the nature of the cafe
will admit.
France has, of her own accord, propofed
negociations, for, improving, by a new treaty on
fair and equal principles, the commercial rela
tions of the two countries. But her internal
difturbances have hitherto prevented the profe-
, cution of them to effed, though we have had
repeated affurances ofa continuance of the dif-
pofitibn. Propofais of> friendly arrangement have been
made on our part bythe prefent government to
that of Great Britain, as the meffage ftates ;
but, being already on as gOOd a footing in lavv,
and a better in fad, than the raoft favoured
nation, they have not as yet difcovered any
difpofition to have it meddled with.
We have no reafon to conclude that friendly
arrangements would be declined by the other
nations with whom we have fuch commercial
intercourfe as may render them important. In
the mean vvhile, it would reft with the wifdom
of Congrefs to determine whether, as to thofe
nations, they will not furceafe exparte regula"
tions, on the reafonable prefumption that they will

APPENDIX. 3A^ :
will concur in doing whatever juftice and n^o-
deration didate ffiOuld be done.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
P. S. Since writing the above, fome altera
tions of the condition of our commerce with
fome fovereign nations have takeri place. France
has .propofed to enter into a new treaty of cora-
' ftierce with us, on liberal principles ; and has,
in the mean time, relaxed fome of the reftraints
mentioned in the Report. Spain has, by ap.
ordinance of June laft, eftabUffied New Orleans^
Penfacola, and St. Auguftine, into free ports,
for the veffels of friendly nations having trea
ties of commerce with her, provided they touch
for a permit at Corcubion in Gallicia, or at Alir
cant ; and our rice is by the fame ordinance ex-
Qlpded from that country.

Z3

las

342 , APPENDIX.

THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE PRIII
CIPAL ARTICLES OF EXPORTATION FROM
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DUR
ING THE YEAR ENDING IN SEPTEMBEIV
1792.
Three millions one hundred and forty thou^
fand two hundred and fifty-five buffiels of grain
(principally wheat).
One million four hundred and fixty-nine
thoufand feven hundred and twenty-three bar
rels of flour, nieal, bifcuit, and rice (reducing
cafks of various fizes to the proportion pf flour
barrels). Sixty raillion fix hundred and forty-fix thou-.
fand eight hundred and fixty-one feet of boards,
plank, and fcantUng (Inch board meafure).
Thirty-one million feven hundred arid fixty
thoufand feven hundred and two ftaves and
hoops. Seventy-one_ million fix hundred and ninety^
three thoufand eight hundred and fixty- three
fltiingles. Nineteen

APPENDIX. 343
Nineteen thoufand three^ndred and ninety-
one and a half tons of tirnber.
Eighteen thoufandthree hundred and feventy-
four pieces of timber.
One thoufand and eighty cedar and oak ffiip
- 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
ftiook or knock down cafks.
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 fpirlts, diftilled
• in the United States.
One hundred and fixteen thoufand eight hun
dred and three barrels of beef, pork, baCon,
mutton, pyfters, &c. (reducing cafk^ of various
fizes to the proportion of beef and pork bar
rels). I
Two hundred arid thirty-one thoufand feven
hundred and feventy-fix barrels of dried anff
pickled fiffi.
Seven thoufand eight hundred and tvventy- three

344 APPENDIX.
three tons twelve cwt. and 4lb. of pot affies and
pearl affies,
One hundred and twelve thoufand four hun-
drfd and twenty-eight hogffieads' of tobacco.
Fifty-two thoufand three hundred and e^ghty-
qne hogfheads pf flax feed. .
Forty-four thoufand feven hundred and fifty-
two horfes, horned cattle, mules, and ffieep.
The preceding extrad froni the copy of an
authentic official return of all the exports from
the United States pf America, within the year
ending In September laft, cpnveys an idea of
the wealth, importance, and progreffive profpe
rity of that country, far furpaffing what has been
}ieretofore entertained on the fubjed;
P. S. From the ift of January 1 793, to the
ift of January 1794, there were exported from-
the port of Philadelphia 422,075 barrels of
flour.

OF THE CIVIL LIST, AND REVENUE OP THf^
UNITED STAT3S.
Abftrad of an Eftimate of the Expenditures
of the CivU Lift of the United States', forthe 'year

APPENDIX. 345
year 1793, reported by A. Hamilton, Secretary
of the Treafury to the Houfe of Reprefenta-
tives.

Dollars^

Prefident's Salary

25,000

Vice-Prefident's ditto

SyOOO

Chief Juftice

4,000

5 Affociate Juftices

17,500

AU the diftrid Judges,

21,700

Congrefs '

H3'59i

Treafury Department

55^°5°'

Department of State

6,300

Departraent of War

11,250

Coramiffioners of old ac
counts

j 13,300

Loan Offices

i3'25o

Weftern Territory

11,000

Amount of Penfibns

5.267

Contingencies

20,264

Total 352,466 or
In Britiffi Money • ^C. 7 9, 304 17 ofteri.
THE REVENUE.
The American revenue, for 1793, is ftated
tobe 4,400,000 doUars, exclufive of what may
7 , arife

'346 ^ APPENDIX.
arife from the fale of larids in the We'ftern-ter-
ritory ; there is likewife upwards of the value
of 5,000,000 doUars in bullion, lying in the
Bank of the United States.
ESTIMATE OF EXPENCE FOR THE YEAR 1794*
Dols. Cents.
The whole CivU Lift for 1 794, is 397,20 16
 '¦  Extraordinaries for
PuIjUc Works, Benevolences,
&c. - - - - 147^^93 43
.-  Eftimate of the War

expences for 1794 - -1,457,936 i
Total 2,002,830^ 50
The Dollar is 4s. 6d,ferling, and'the Cent is
the hundredth part qf a Dollar^
The celebrated Mr. Thomas Paine, in his
letter to Mr. Secretary Dundas, publiffied in
London in the month of June, 1792, and who
on this fubjed (without offending ahy party)
may be entitled to credit, gives a ftatement of
the "expences of the American government in
the following words :
The expences of all the feveral departments
of the General Reprefentative Gpvernment of
the United States of Ai^erica, extending over
4 a fpace

APPENDIX* ^/^J-
a fpace of country nearly ten times larger than
England, is two hundred and ninety-four thou
fand five hun,dred and, fifty-eight dollars,, which
at 4s. 6d. per doUar, Is 66,275 1. i is. fterling,
and is thus apportioned :
Expence of the Executive Department,
^e Ofike of the Prefidency, at
which the Prefident receives f. s.
nothing fbr himfelf - - 5,625 o
Vice Prefident - - - 1,125 o
Chief Juftice - - - 900 o
Five aflbciat© Juftices - -, 3,937 10
Nineteen Judges, of Diftrid;s and
, Attorney General - - 6,87315
-Legiflative Department.
Members of Congrefs at fix dollars
^il. 7s.) per day, their Secretaries,
Clerks, Chaplains, Meffengers,
Door-keepers, &c. - - 25,515 o .
Treafury Department.
' Secretary, Affiftant, Comptroller,
Auditor, Treafurer, Regifter, and
Loan - Office - Keeper, in each
State, together with aU neceflary
/ Clerks, Office-Keepers, &c. -12,825 o
Department

54? A P P E N p I xi
.Department of State, including Foreign Affair §4,
Secretary, Clerks, &c. ^c. - 1,406 ^
department of War*
Secretary, Clerks, Pay mafters, Com-
miffiorier, &c. - - 1,462 iCf
Cornmifjioners for fettling Old Accounts^
The whole Board, Clerks, &c. - 2,598 15
* Incidental and Contingent Expences,
For Fire Wood, Stationary, Print-
' ing, &c, -, - - 4,00^ i&

Total 66,275 tr

FINIS.

3 9002