CANADA : 
 
 A VIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE ^^ 
 
 BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES ; 
 
 SHEWING 
 
 Their Extensive and Improveable Resources 
 
 AND POINTING OUT 
 
 THE GREAT AND UNPRECEDENTED ADVANTAGES 
 
 WHICH haVe been allowed 
 
 To the Americans over our own Colonists; 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 THE GREAT SACRIFICES WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE 
 
 BY OUR 
 
 LATE COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS 
 
 or THE 
 
 COMMERCE AND CARRYING -TRADE 
 
 OF 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN ^ 
 
 TO THE ^^ 
 
 JIntteD ^tmsx 
 
 ALSO EXHIBITING 
 
 THE POINTS NECESSARY TO BE KEPT IN VIEW 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 FUTURE ENCOURAGEMENT OF BRITISH SHIPPING 
 
 AND FOR 
 
 THE PROTECTION AND SUPPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF GREAT BRITAIN 
 
 AND HER 
 
 NORTH-AMERICAN COLONIES : 
 
 ADDRESSED TO 
 
 THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROS&, 
 
 (Sfc. S)^c. Sfc. 
 
 BY DAVID ANDERSON. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. M. RICHARDSON, 23, CORNHILL, 
 OPPOSITE THE ROYAL EXCHANGE. 
 
 1814. 
 
By transfer 
 
 OCT 6 1915 
 
 .^€^^^^>. 
 
 .^ 
 
 \- 
 
 Sfarcfaant and Galabin, Printers, Ingram-Coart, 
 
 Fenchurdi-Street, London. 
 
^ k"-^ contents. 
 
 y 
 
 y 
 
 PREFACE IX 
 
 Address to the British ship-owners and British colonists xi 
 Introductory letter to the Right Hon. George Rose, &c. xiii 
 General observations on the British North- American 
 
 provinces, shipping aiid coramer(;ial interests, &c. 1 
 Of the present state of our American colonies, particu- 
 larly the Canadas ... ^ fi ....... ^ * . /• 36 
 
 Quality of the soil of Upper and Lower Canada 37 
 
 Climate 41 
 
 Inhabitants 46 
 
 State of agriculture • 52 
 
 Population, and number of acres of cleared land 56 
 
 Quantity of grain produced 58 
 
 Canadian process in the management of flax 60 
 
 Concerning the cultivation of hemp in Canada » 63 
 
 Articles of export from the British American provinces 69 
 Of the enormous sacrifice of our shipping and com- 
 merce to the United States, occasioned by the 
 great and unjust advantages allowed them over our 
 
 own colonists, &c, 75 
 
 Of the relaxation of our navigation-laws to the United 
 
 States 78 
 
 Of the admission of the produce of the United States 
 into the United Kingdom at the same rate of duties 
 
 as that of our own colonies 108 
 
 Of the unreasonable advantages allowed to Americ^pjP 
 ships in the countervailing duties charged by the 
 British and United States governments respectively 119 
 Of the inequality of the amount of the duties charged 
 
 upon the lumber which we import in general ...... 137 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 Of the admission of enemies property by licence ...... 142 
 
 Of the high price of our ships and the great expense at 
 which they are navigated, compared with the foreign 
 ships with which they have to come in competition 
 
 for freight ...... 163 
 
 Of the extensive, valuable, and improveable, resources 
 and capabilities possessed by our American pro- 
 vinces, as respects our shipping and commercial 
 
 interests • • • • • • • • • • 169 
 
 Quebec oak timber • ibid. 
 
 Pine timber • • • • ♦ 172 
 
 Masts 174 
 
 Deals ....• 175 
 
 Staves ••• 178 
 
 The British North-American colonies capable of sup- 
 plying the mother-country and her other colonies 
 
 with timber ••••!• 1^^ 
 
 Capability of our North-American provinces to supply 
 our West-Indian settlements with agricultural 
 produce, such as flour, bread, grain, provisions, 
 
 &c. 199 
 
 Our Canadian provinces capable of producing hemp 
 
 and flax sufiicieiit to supply the mother-country • • 230 
 
 Conclusion • 236 
 
 The vast importance of our American colonies ibid. 
 
 Their comparative neglected state 238 
 
 Attachment of the Indians to our interest 241 
 
 The British nation principally indebted to the North- 
 West-Company for the friendly alliance of the 
 
 Indians • 243 
 
 Great importance of the alliance of the Indians 244 
 
 The impolicy of which the British government has been 
 guilty in allowing the Americans to take possession 
 of Louisiana 248 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Tallyrand's observations upon Louisiana 249 
 
 Important circumstances which ought to be attended to 
 concerning the means which the Americans possess 
 
 for constructing A navy .«..••• 274 
 
 The uniform hostile disposition of America and the un- 
 paralled increase of her resources require of us 
 the most prompt and decisive measures towards 
 ter ^**..j.^^V>?^ 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. ^XiiiX" 
 
 1. Canadian exports for the last ten years 300 
 
 2. Value of the Canadian exports in the years 1806 
 
 and 1810, shewing their rapid increase 304 
 
 — Value of the exports made from our North Ame- 
 rican provinces for five years, ending in 1810 • • • • 310 
 
 — Value of the imports of British manufactures 
 into those provinces 311 
 
 — Value of the imports into Great Britain from our 
 
 American provinces 313 
 
 3. British duties and countervailing duties 316 
 
 4. American duties and countervailing duties 318 
 
 5. The high price of British ships contrasted with the 
 
 price of foreign ships 320 
 
 6. The quantity of lumber, flour, provisions, &c. for 
 
 the supplying of our West-Indian settlements* • • . 321 
 
 7. Amount of the tonnage of ships annually built, and 
 also of the quantity of oak timber annually used 
 
 in Great Britain 323 
 
 8. Amount of the tonnage of British ships employed 
 in our trade with our North-American colonies, 
 with the amount of their earnings in that trade • • ' 324 
 
yi CONTENTS^ 
 
 No. 
 
 . 9. The present importance of our colonies in America, 
 
 compared with the value which those we have lost 
 
 were to Great Britain, at the commencement of the 
 
 late American war 325 
 
 10. A comparative statement of the imports made into 
 
 Great Britain from the United States and her own 
 American colonies . « 326^ 
 
 11. Comparative statement of our exports to the United 
 
 States and her own American colonies respectively 32& 
 
 12. Value of British imports, and the proportion of 
 which is made up of freight, — how much of such 
 freight ig the earnings of British ships, and what 
 proportion of those earnings arises from the trade 
 
 of our American colonies • 330 
 
 13. Value of British exports 331 
 
 14. The amount of the tonnage of the American ship- 
 ping exceeds that of all the British shipping em- 
 ployed in trade » ...... 332 
 
 15. Amount of the tonnage of British merchant shipping 333 
 
 16. Shipping annually entered inwards in the trade of 
 Great Britam, shewing tlie proportionate amount 
 of British tonnage, the amount of foreign tonnage, 
 and the proportion entered inwards in the trade 
 with our American colonies » • c 334 
 
 17. Shipping annually cleared outwards in the trade of 
 
 Great Britain, shev/ing the proportionate amount 
 of British tonnage, foreign tonnage, and the pro- 
 portion cleared outwards in the trade with our North- 
 American colonies • • • • 335 
 
 18. The quantity of fish annually exported from the 
 
 British North-American colonies, and the quantity 
 annually imported into our West-Indian settlements 338 
 
PREFACE, 
 
 THE author's principal motives for laying 
 the following pages before the public is, to 
 shew the importance of the Caiiadas, in order 
 to draw attention to their present perilous 
 situation, with a view to adequate measures 
 being taken for their defence ; and to point out 
 the errors by which the interests both of the 
 British ship-owners and North -American colo- 
 nists have been sacrificed to the Americans, 
 that the like mistakes may be guarded against, 
 in any negotiations with the American govern- 
 ment. 
 
 From several years residence in these colo- 
 nies, and his experience in their commercial 
 
Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 concerns, and from the information he has 
 collected from various channels, but particular- 
 ly the materials he had collected for a Statis- 
 tical Account of Canada, which he has nearly 
 ready for publication, he flatters himself he 
 has been enabled to communicate some very 
 useful information respecting their improveable 
 resources. 
 
 For much information which the author 
 has received, he has particularly to ac- 
 knowledge his obligations to Nathaniel At- 
 cheson, Esq. Secretary to the Committee of 
 ship-owners for the Port of London, by whom 
 he has been favoured with some very important 
 documents respecting the trade of our North- 
 American possessions. 
 
 However sensible he is that what he now 
 submits to the public falls short of what the 
 subjects treated of are deserving, the author 
 flatters himself that the facts he has stated, from 
 a variety of authentic documents, together with 
 his own observations, will shew the importance 
 of those colonies beyond any thing that has 
 liitherto appeared before the public. 
 
<§-- 
 
 TO THE 
 
 INHABITANTS 
 
 BRITISH NORTH AMERICA, 
 
 BRITISH SHIP-OWNERS, 
 
 ALTHOUGH the author has drawn up the 
 following facts and observations with a viezvy at 
 this critical moment, to advocate the cause of 
 British North America and British ship-owners, 
 whose interests and prosperity are inseparable, 
 he is nevertheless sensible of his inadequacy to 
 perform the undertaking in a manner suitable 
 either to the importance of the subject or the 
 deserving of his transatlantic fellow subjects. 
 
 From several years residence in the Canadas he 
 had an opportunity of duly appreciating the vast 
 and improveable resources of those colonies ; im- 
 pressed with xvhich, and a warm regard and 
 
ADDRESS. 
 
 attachment to the interests of their loyal inhabi- 
 tants, he has been induced, hoxvever insufficient 
 his abilities, to endeavour to draw attention to 
 these important provinces ; and, in the course 
 of this work, the capabilities and interests of 
 all the British North- American colonies ^ as con- 
 nected with the interests of the British ship- 
 owners, are particularly brought into view. 
 The sacrifices heretofore made to the Ameri- 
 cans, and the prospect of immediate negotia- 
 tion between the British and American go- 
 'vernmentSy appear to him to render the present 
 a period peculiarly fitted for discussing the inte- 
 rests of both ; and, he flatters himself that this 
 statement may not be altogether unproductive of 
 advantage to their cause. To further this 
 object, he ventures to suggest, that the British 
 ship-owners and North- American colonists should 
 come forward and lay before the British par liar 
 ment a full developement of the resources of 
 those settlements, that their important interests 
 may be duly appreciated and protected in any fu- 
 ture negotiations or commercial arrangements 
 with the United States, 
 
TO THE 
 RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 GEORGE ROSE, 
 
 Treasurer of the Navy, 
 Sfc, Sfc. Sfc, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 PARTICIPATING in the general esteem 
 in which your unremitting attention to the in- 
 terests of the commerce of this country, par- 
 ticularly of the British shipping, is held by all 
 commercial men, I have presumed to offer the 
 following pages to your notice, trusting that 
 the importance of the topics, which constitute 
 the subjects of inquiry, and the observations 
 they contain, will be accepted as a satisfactory 
 apology. It is almost superfluous to add, that 
 the value, the danger, and the neglected state 
 of our North-American colonies, at the pre- 
 sent juncture, are matters of the deepest interest 
 
Xll INTRODUCTION, 
 
 to the British nation, and call most urgently 
 for the protection which your estimation and 
 ability enable you to afford. 
 
 From the facts stated, it is obvious, that, 
 of all our colonies, those in North America 
 are by far the most valuable to this country ; 
 and, it is equally notorious, that, in the most 
 imminent danger, they have been left com- 
 paratively unprotected. Neither the matchless 
 value of their territorial properties, — the un- 
 paralleled loyalty and patriotism of their in- 
 habitants, — nor the vast and unexampled im- 
 provement they have lately made in British 
 commerce, has been adequately appreciated ; 
 but, on the contrary, and v^hilst the inhabi- 
 tants of Europe, almost with one voice, extol 
 our liberality, applaud our courage and mag- 
 nanimity, and hail us as their protectors and 
 delivers, these, the most valuable, the most 
 improveable of all our colonies have been left, 
 in a considerable degree, to their own efforts, 
 against a most inveterate enemy. 
 
 That our North-American possessions are, 
 in point of true national advantage, in the 
 
INTRODUCTION. XUi 
 
 most eminent degree entitled to our consider- 
 ation, will, I trust, be shewn, by the following 
 pages, in the most striking view. For, as 
 to all the properties which render colonies 
 valuable to a mother-country, they, of all our 
 colonial estabhshments, rank the highest: in 
 point of present value they are of the first 
 magnitude; and, as to growing importance, 
 both as respects our commercial prosperity 
 and maritime power, they stand unparalleled. 
 
 The two grand motives for the acquisition 
 and protection of colonies are; first, the 
 increase of our merchant-shipping, for the sup- 
 ply of our navy with men; and, secondly, 
 the vending of our manufactures. 
 
 With respect to the support of our shipping, 
 the amount of the tonnage of British ships 
 annually cleared out to foreign parts, the whale- 
 fisheries excepted, upon an average of the 
 last ten years, was 801,408 tons, upwards of 
 one-third of which was in the trade with our 
 American colonies,* whilst the shipping em- 
 
 * See No. 17, in the Appendix. 
 
XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ployed in the trade with China and the whole 
 of our East-Indian possessions form only about 
 a twentieth part. 
 
 The amount of the earnings of British ships 
 in the whole of our imports from foreign ports, 
 upon an average, for the same period, was only 
 about c£7,212,672 ;* yet, such has been the 
 late rapid increase of the trade of our Ameri- 
 can provinces, that, previous to the commence- 
 ment of actual hostilities with the United 
 Stated, two millions and a half arose from our 
 intercourse with these valuable settlements.^ 
 
 As a market for British and colonial pro- 
 duce and manufactures they have lately afford- 
 ed a demand for upwards of two millions and 
 an half for their own consumption, besides 
 abont £3,000,000 for the supply of the United 
 States, in defiance of her prohibitory laws. 
 Thus, at a period when our merchants and 
 manufacturers were suffering the greatest dis- 
 tress, these colonies furnished a demand for 
 upwards of five millions sterling of British 
 
 * See No. 12, in the Appendix. t See No. 8, ibid. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 manufactures and colonial produce. From the 
 improvement of their own trade, and, by 
 the access they opened for our commerce 
 through the strongest bulwark of American 
 prohibition, they have, in the short space 
 of four years, (1806 to 1810,) added up- 
 wards of four millions to the annual demand 
 for our manufactures, &c. whereas, the whole 
 demand for China and our East-Indian posses- 
 sions, through the East-India Company has not 
 amounted to more than about ^1,200,000, with- 
 out any probability of increase. 
 
 Indeed, the late increase of the commercial 
 importance of these colonies has been without 
 parallel. At the conclusion of the American 
 war, their demand for British manufactures 
 and colonial produce was only ^379,411, 
 and 10,317 tons of British shipping were all 
 that annually cleared out from their ports with 
 exported produce; but, in 1806, notwithstand- 
 ing their rights and privileges as British colonies 
 were almost completely sacrificed to America, 
 this demand was increased from ^879,411 
 to ^1,381,718, and the shipping from 10,317 
 
Xvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to 124,247 tons. Further, when Buonaparte 
 and Mr. Jefferson destroyed the operation 
 of our own impolitic and destructive laws 
 and regulations, by which we had, in relation 
 to these colonies, sacrificed our commercial 
 and shipping' interest, they, in four years, 
 increased their imports of British manufac- 
 tures and colonial produce from cf 1,381,718 
 to upwards of £ 2,500,000, and advanced the 
 employment afforded British ships from 124,247 
 to 309,394 tons. 
 
 In this short period of four years inter- 
 val in the operation of the commercial regu- 
 lations, which had so cramped the natural 
 gTOwth of the prosperity of these provinces, 
 the exports of timber increased from 95,975 
 to 311,114 loads, being an increavSe of 215,135, 
 evincing, in fact, a capability of increase to 
 almost any extent. This increase is nearly 
 double the amount of the demand of our 
 West-Indian settlements for lumber ; and, con- 
 sidering the many parliamentary inquiries 
 which have taken place upon the capabilities 
 of our North-American colonies in this re- 
 
INTRODUCTION. XVU 
 
 spect, it is a subject of regret that the legisla- 
 ture should have been so far misled or mis- 
 taken upon a subject of such great national im- 
 portance. For, notwithstanding all the inquiries 
 which took place, the Americans were still 
 allowed to supply almost the entire demand of 
 our West-Indian settlements for this article. 
 
 As to the consideration of the supplies our 
 American colonies are capable of affording, the 
 facts I have stated make it evident, that they 
 have proved their adequacy to supply both 
 the mother-country and her other colonies. 
 This is a fact of the greatest national im- 
 portance, in as much as shipping is indispen- 
 sable to our safety and independence as a 
 nation. To secure the carriage of the timber 
 we import, from the immense tonnage em- 
 ployed therein, is unquestionably an object of 
 the first importance to the shipping interest. 
 
 The magnitude of the augmentation, which 
 might be made to the employment of British 
 ships, may be estimated by comparing the 
 amount of foreign tonnage annually employed 
 
 b 
 
XVIU INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in importing lumber into the mother-country 
 and her colonies, with the amount of the 
 tonnage of British shipping employed, in what 
 is called the carrying-trade, which I designate 
 the importing of goods for re-exportation, and 
 carrying goods from one foreign port to another. 
 Upon making this comparison, it will be found 
 that the tonnage employed in the carrying- 
 trade consists of comparatively the smallest 
 amount ; and, if we except that part derived 
 from our own colonies, the tonnage employed 
 in the carrying-trade would be found to be 
 hardly deserving consideration. 
 
 But, however desirable an object it may be 
 to secure the carriage of this important article, 
 it is what we cannot effectually accomplish, 
 except the timber is furnished by our own colo- 
 nies. For that which we import from foreign 
 countries must, inevitably, be carried almost 
 entirely by the ships of the countries exporting 
 it, because of the enormous advantage that 
 foreigners have over us in the cost of their 
 ships and in the expense of navigating them, 
 which may be very correctly estimated, by the 
 
iNtRODtCTION. Xix 
 
 rule laid down for that purpose in No. 5, in 
 the Appendix, and, in general, will be found 
 to amount to from 30^. to 50^. per ton upon 
 a six months' voyage. This disadvantage 
 could only be obviated by an adequate coun- 
 tervailing duty. But, to raise our counter- 
 vailing duty at once, from seven-pence half- 
 penny per ton to 30j. or 50^. per ton, might 
 be attended with some difficulty. For, al- 
 though no delicacy might be necessary with 
 regard to America, upon this score, she ha- 
 ving, instead of 50^. charged at the rate of at 
 least ^3 against us, yet, with respect to those 
 governments that have not hitherto charged 
 high countervailing duties against us, it might 
 be attended with some inconvenience. 
 
 This important purpose is, therefore, only 
 to be effected by obtaining the timber from our 
 own colonies : and the resources of our Ame- 
 rican colonies being commensurate to this 
 demand, we have it in our power, in one 
 single department of the direct trade with our 
 colonies, to add to the employment of Bri- 
 tish shipping an amount of tonnage exceed- 
 
 b2 
 
XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ing that of the greatest extent of our pre- 
 sent carrying-trade, notwithstanding its vast 
 variety and extended scale. 
 
 In respect to foreign timber, therefore, under 
 existing circumstances, the interests of this 
 country, — the custom of other nations, — and the 
 example of our ancestors, require that it should 
 either be prohibited or charged vi^ith adequate 
 protecting duties in favour of our own colonies. 
 La urging this measure, it maybe observed, 
 that foreign governments, although they might 
 have a right to remonstrate concerning the par- 
 tial operation of such laws as we might enact 
 for prohibiting or rendering foreign produce 
 liable to high protecting duties in favour of our 
 own colonies, yet, in point of principle, they 
 have no right to bring them at all into discus- 
 sion. To be " put upon a footing with the most 
 favoured nations" is all they can reasonably 
 insist upon. 
 
 The cr it erm2 for estimating this protect- 
 ing duty is, the diiFerence between the freight 
 and other expenses incurred in importing 
 timber from our own colonies and the freight 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXi 
 
 and expense incurred in importing it from fo- 
 reign countries, to which an addition should 
 be made to secure a preponderance in favour 
 of our own colonies. As we cannot, consis- 
 tently with equity and justice, charge the tim- 
 ber of different countries at different rates of 
 duties, but must charge the same amount upon 
 all foreign timber indiscriminately, it is, there- 
 fore, necessary to compare the amount of ex- 
 pense on all the foreign timber imported into 
 this country, and take the expense upon that 
 imported at the cheapest rate, as a maximum 
 for ascertaining the amount of the protecting 
 duty. 
 
 Suppose, for instance, that the freight and 
 other expense upon timber imported from the 
 following couRtries, to be^ — from the British 
 colonies in North America, £6; from the United 
 States, £6; from Russia, £2: 15; and from 
 Prussia, j£^: 10 ; the difference between the ex- 
 pense of importing timber from Prussia and from 
 our colonies in America, the one being jE2 : 1 
 and the other £6, is j£3 : 10 ; and, suppose 5s, 
 per load added, to give a preponderance in fa- 
 
XXll INTRODUCTION, 
 
 vour of our own colonies, ^3 : 15 per load is 
 therefore the protecting duty which ought to be 
 charged upon all foreign timber indiscrimi^ 
 nately. 
 
 These remarks concerning timber may, per- 
 haps, be considered rather prolix. Upon con- 
 sidering, however, that, with respect to the ex- 
 pense of importation, the gross amount of the 
 present duty charged upon foreign timber is 
 not even sufficient to put our own American 
 colonies upon an equality with the countries 
 upon the Baltic, &c. ; — that part of this duty is 
 only a war-tax, to cease in six months after a 
 peace; — and, that it is even probable that 
 foreign courts may be at this very moment 
 using their influence to have this duty reduced, 
 whilst our colonists and ship-owners may re- 
 main in ignorance of what is going on, till they 
 hear their fate in these interests for years to come 
 officially announced; — upon considering and 
 reflecting upon these circumstances, it is con^ 
 ceived not irrelevant, but, on the contrary, re- 
 quisite that we should enter more minutely 
 into detail upon a subject, which, of all others, 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXIU 
 
 it must be admitted, is of the very first magni- 
 tude to the British shipping-interest. 
 
 The annual demand of our West-Indian set- 
 tlements for lumber is about - 147,275 tons 
 For agricultural produce about 72,499 
 For fish about 32,603 
 
 This 252,377 tons=^ 
 is sufficient to have loaded about 2 10,3 15 register 
 tons.f Upon an average of three years, pre- 
 vious to the interruption of our commercial in- 
 tercourse with the United States, the Ameri- 
 cans furnished of this demand the enormous 
 proportion of 211,043 tons, with which they 
 must have cleared out at least 175,870 register 
 tons of shipping. By attending to the facts which 
 I shall state, it will be found that our own colo- 
 nies were capable of furnishing these articles, 
 in sufficient abundance, for the supply of our 
 
 * See No. 6, in the Appendix. 
 
 t Many of the vessels used in supplying the West Indies 
 jvith American produce are small sharp fast-sailing vessels, 
 which will scarcely carry tons measurement equal to their 
 register tons. 
 
XXIV I NTRODUCTION 
 
 West-Indian settlements ; and, consequently, 
 this privilege granted to the Americans was alto- 
 gether unnecessary. The adequacy of our Ame- 
 rican provinces to furnish agricviltural produce 
 in sufficient abundance for the supply t)f our 
 West-Indian settlements, may, compared with 
 their resources in other produce, perhaps, be 
 considered the most questionable. The causes, 
 however, which I have assigned, for hitherto 
 preventing the improvement of their resources 
 in this respect, and the means which would 
 prove effectual in improving these capabilities, 
 so as to produce supplies adequate to all our 
 demands, will, I trust, be found quite satisfac- 
 tory upon these important points. Indeed, 
 the interests of the nation renders it the impe- 
 rious duty of his Majesty's ministers, on ente- 
 ring into any negotiations or commercial ar- 
 rangements with the American government, 
 adequately to inform themselves respecting 
 the great and improvable resources of our 
 North-American provinces, and detect the 
 mistaken policy of our late commercial regu- 
 lations, by which they were sacrificed to 
 
INTRODUCTION. XX Y 
 
 the United States, so as to avoid similar er- 
 rors. 
 
 Amongst the sacrifices made to the Ameri- 
 cans, the principal are to be found in the open- 
 ing of the ports of our colonies to their ships, — 
 in the advantages allowed them in the counter- 
 vailing duties charged by them and us respec- 
 tively, — and in the admission of their produce 
 into this country, at lower duties than those 
 charged upon the produce of other foreign na- 
 tions. In these, the sacrifice of British ship- 
 ping, and the injury done to British merchants 
 and British manufacturers, and our North- Ame- 
 rican colonists, are immense. 
 
 Nothing, surely, could have been more im- 
 politic than to have allowed them to have sup- 
 plied our colonies with masts, spars, square 
 timber, deals, or staves, or any other descrip- 
 tion of lumber, considering our own American 
 colonies are evidently capable of supplying 
 even double the demand, both of the mother- 
 country and her colonies ; yet they were allow- 
 ed and even encouraged to supply our colonies 
 in every part of the world with these bulky 
 articles. 
 
XXVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Could the amount of the American tonnage 
 employed in their trade to our colonies in Eu- 
 rope, in Africa, and in the East Indies, be cor- 
 rectly ascertained, and adding the amount of the 
 tonnage of the lumber they imported into this 
 country to the 175,870 tons cleared out 
 annually in their trade with our West-Indian 
 colonies, the amount would be found to be 
 enormous. There is no doubt but that the 
 amount of tonnage, which they employed in 
 these direct spoliations upon British commerce, 
 bore a very large proportion to the whole 
 amount of tonnage we employed in foreign 
 trade. 
 
 The injuries we sustained, by the trade which 
 the Americans were allowed to carry on 
 with our colonies, was, however, not merely 
 confined to our shipping interest. Their inter- 
 course with our West-Indian possessions has 
 always been attended with smuggling: they 
 imported East-Indian and Chinese produce 
 and manufactures largely into these settle- 
 ments ; and smuggled out sugars in return. 
 
 In their trade with our East-Indian posses- 
 sions, too, they could import East-Indian and 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXVll 
 
 Chinese produce and manufactures in such 
 quantities, and at, comparatively, such low 
 prices as to enable them almost entirely to 
 supply our West-Indian and North-American 
 colonies. It follows, from their direct trade 
 w^ih the East Indies, that they can import India 
 goods into the United States at a much lower 
 rate than that at which the like articles could be 
 imported from London through our East-India 
 Company ; consequently, vast importations were 
 made for their own consumption, which super- 
 seded a proportionate consumption of British 
 manufactures. 
 
 The duty charged, by the East-India Com- 
 pany, upon the American trade with our 
 East-Indian possessions has been, by some, 
 held forth as an equivalent for this privi- 
 lege. This is an argument too absurd to 
 merit notice. But, as it has been advanced 
 in support of the measure, even by some 
 of our legislators, it may, therefore, be ob- 
 served, concerning its absurdity, that it is no 
 niore reasonable than it would be to exclude 
 British ships from the port of London and 
 
XXVm INTRODUCTION. 
 
 endeavour to render the measure palatable by 
 urging the imposition of a duty. The trade 
 must pay the duty, and whenever it or any 
 other trade ceases to afford a profit, after pay- 
 ing duties and other expenses to which it is 
 liable, it will, indeed it must, be discontinued. 
 The British government, therefore, instead of ha- 
 ving opened the ports of our Asiatic settlements 
 to the Americans, ought rather to have opened 
 them to a general trade with the British islands 
 and strictly to have observed the law which 
 prohibited foreigners from any participation in 
 the trade of our colonies. For it is to these 
 wise laws, which were held sacred by our 
 ancestors, that we are indebted for ships, 
 colonies, and commerce. 
 
 The advantages allowed the Americans in 
 the countervailing duties charged by them and 
 us, respectively, will be found to have been 
 enormous. These respective duties were, no 
 doubt, about equal in point of per centage upon 
 the other duties charged : the Americans and 
 us charged 10 per cent, respectively; but they 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXIX 
 
 differed widely, however, with respect to real a- 
 mount, — no less indeed Ihdia three thousand three 
 hundred per cent, against the British ship-own- 
 ers,^ — our countervailing duty being about 22^?. 
 per ton, and that of the Americans ^3 per ton. 
 The admission of United-States produce at a 
 lower rate of duties than was charged upon the 
 produce of other foreign nations was equally 
 unjust towards other foreign nations and our 
 own colonists, as it was injurious to our ship- 
 ping interest. The United States gave us no 
 advantage over other foreigners ; but, on the 
 contrary, singled us out for many insults and 
 disadvantages. Then, surely it was ungracious to 
 other foreign nations to grant her this peculiar 
 privilege. Our North- American colonists, being 
 excluded any participation in almost any other 
 trade than that of the mother-country, have 
 an undoubted right to look for a reciprocal ad- 
 vantage in the exclusive privilege of supplying 
 her with all articles, of which they could fur- 
 nish her with sufficient supplies, (such as lum- 
 ber, fish, &c.) and for adequate encourage- 
 ment in protecting duties upon those articles 
 
XXX INTRODUCTION 
 
 of foreign produce, of which she could only 
 furnish partial supplies. 
 
 Now is the time to remedy all those evils 
 which existed in our commercial regulations 
 with America. And, indeed, it is to be 
 hoped, that his Majesty's ministers will not 
 put the United States only " upon a footing 
 with the most favoured nations f but that, in 
 their commercial arrangements with all foreign 
 nations, they will duly appreciate and protect 
 the vast resources of these colonies. 
 
 No news ever reached Canada, that gave 
 more sincere joy, than the remark, which 
 you made in the House of Commons, that 
 the Americans should be " put upon a foot- 
 ing with the most favoured nations." They 
 understood your meaning to be, that the 
 United-States produce was to be rendered lia- 
 ble to the same rate of duties as that of other 
 foreign nations ; and 1 sincerely hope, for the 
 sake of British commerce, the protection of 
 the British shipping-interest, and the prospe- 
 rity of our colonies, that their hopes will not 
 be disappointed. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXXI 
 
 The public are already under many obliga- 
 tions to you, for your zealous and vigilant 
 attentions to the general concerns of the com- 
 mercial world, by which the ship-owners have 
 particularly benefitted : and I hope the follow- 
 ing pages will prove, that in no department of 
 British commerce could you more essentially 
 serve the commercial and shipping interests 
 of the country than by your consideration of 
 those affairs which relate to or affect the inter- 
 ests of our North-American colonies. 
 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 with sentiments of the 
 
 greatest respect and esteem, 
 
 SIK, 
 
 Your most obedient and 
 very humble servant, 
 
 DAVID ANDERSON. 
 
 London, 
 
 March 10, 1814. 
 
VALUE AND IMPORTANCE 
 
 BRITISH COLONIES 
 
 NORTH AMERICA. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE BRITISH 
 NORTH-AMERICAN PROVINCES, SHIPPING 
 AND COMMERCIAL INTERESTS, ETC. 
 
 The critical situation in which our colonies 
 in North America have been placed by the pre- 
 sent war with the United States; the neglected 
 state of our shipping interest; the precari- 
 ous dependence, to which our West-Indian 
 colonists have, for several years past, been 
 often reduced, for articles indispensably ne* 
 cessary to their very existence ; are subjects, 
 
IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 which the circumstances that mark the pre- 
 sent period render peculiarly interesting. 
 
 Relating to these important points, the com- 
 mercial connection which existed, and the in- 
 tercourse which has been maintained, between 
 the United States and our American continental 
 colonies, our West-Indian colonies, and this 
 country, previous to the late hostile steps 
 resorted to by the Americans, are topics, the 
 investigation and discussion of which are not 
 only of the greatest importance to the British 
 nation collectively, but to our ship-owners in 
 particular, and therefore constitute matter of 
 the most serious consideration for the legislator. 
 The marking features which constitute the 
 essential character of our North- American 
 colonies necessarily claim, in the outset, our 
 most particular attention. Their vast extent of 
 coast ; their fisheries ; their forests ; their rela- 
 tive situation with respect to the United 
 States ; their population ; the state of agricul- 
 ture and quality of the soil; their exports and 
 imports ; ail these constitute collectively and 
 individually, subjects of most interesting con- 
 sequence, as well during the continuance of a 
 war with America, as with reference to any 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES, 
 
 treaty which might be in contemplation for the 
 termination of the present hostilities: more 
 especially, as a well-directed line of policy 
 towards these valuable possessions would 
 undoubtedly call into action their numerous 
 and hitherto much-neglected capabilities, and 
 thereby promote the various interests involved 
 in the important subjects above mentioned. 
 
 Perhaps to the statesman, who has an eye to 
 our domestic policy, most of the general and 
 some of the particular points of local informa- 
 tion respecting these provinces may be familiar ; 
 but, as far as relates to the shipping-interest, 
 and the various commercial connections which 
 these general points of policy involve, there 
 are so many minute details regarding both the 
 geographical and statistical character of these 
 provinces, — so many local peculiarities fami- 
 liar to those only who have experienced the 
 practical result of the former, and had an oppor- 
 tunity of examining the properties of the latter, 
 that communications upon such topics, from 
 persons adequately informed, may not only be 
 found useful to the merchant and ship-owner^ 
 but to the statesman, either in vigorously 
 prosecuting the war, or in negociating or ar- 
 b2 
 
IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 tanging a pacific or commercial treaty, the 
 most accurate information upon such points is 
 absolutely indispensable. 
 
 With regard to our shipping interest, for 
 example, the statesman may be aware of the 
 established custom and sound policy of im- 
 posing a countervailing duty in favour of our 
 own ships, in order, as far as possible, to se- 
 cure the carriage of the raw material which 
 we import; but, without correct information, 
 and a strict attention to many minute circum- 
 stances, which can only be thoroughly known 
 to and correctly communicated by ship-own- 
 ets, or Otthers intimately acquainted with the 
 shippiilg-interest, he may commit the most 
 egregious mistakes. For, in the absence of 
 such minute information, or from not properly 
 discriminating between interested communica- 
 tions and the fair statements of those who are 
 unbiased by any secondary considerations, in- 
 stead of securing (as he may have imagined) 
 our ship-owners interest in the carriage of such 
 commodities, he may have actually agreed to 
 a preference given to the ships of foreign na- 
 tions. — He may, in the arrangement of com- 
 mercial treaties with other powers, have sacri- 
 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 5 
 
 ficed the interest of our ship-owners, as here- 
 tofore, by contenting himself, upon the one 
 hand, with a countervailing duty of thirteen 
 pence per ton, or the hundredth part of the 
 freight, in favour of our own ships, (See No. 
 3, in the Appendix) ; and, upon the other 
 hand, by agreeing to a countervailing duty 
 of X^ per ton, in favour of the ships of foreign 
 nations, (See No. 4.) — He may be possessed 
 of a large share of general information regard- 
 ing our American provinces; but, in order 
 that he may be enabled duly to appreciate, 
 protect, and encourage, the improvement 
 of the valuable properties of these colo- 
 nies in any negotiations concerning them, 
 it is absolutely necessary that he should 
 know the existence of many minute and im- 
 portant circumstances, of which it is evident 
 our legislators have been hitherto ignorant. 
 For instance, he may view the supplying of 
 our West-Indian islands with American pro- 
 duce from our own colonies, as a very desirable 
 object ; and may, therefore, feel inclined to en- 
 courage it ; but he should also know, that even 
 after the question, xvheiher or not our American 
 provinces could supply our JVest-Indian islands 
 
6 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 mthfiour^ lumber^ S^c. had been frequently dis- 
 cussed in the British parliament, that flour 
 still continued to be carried from the hanhs of 
 the St Laurejice to the ports of the United 
 States, to be there shipped in American ves- 
 sels for these "very islands'^ and that lumber still 
 continued to lie rotting in the ports of our 
 provinces, for w^ant of a market, whilst these 
 islands continued to be supplied w^ith the 
 above articles from the United States ; other- 
 wise, how could he guard and secure our ship- 
 ping and commercial interests in legislating or 
 negotiating concerning them ? — He must know, 
 as a maxim of general policy, that it is 
 expedient we should protect and encourage 
 our own fisheries ; but it is highly important that 
 he should also know, that, whilst the Americans 
 were encouraged in supplying our West-Indian 
 islands with fish actually caught and cured 
 upon our own coast, by authority of the British 
 government, our own fisheries laboured under 
 the greatest difficulties in finding a market. 
 
 I certainly do not pretend to give all the ne- 
 cessary information upon these subjects, but 
 shall endeavour to point out and make a few 
 remarks upon some of those of the most mate- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 rial importance, in order, if possible, to lead to 
 their complete elucidation by others more com- 
 petent Indeed our ship-owners and mer- 
 chants at large are called upon at this critical 
 period, to communicate the fullest information 
 to Government concerning our shipping, — our 
 American provinces, — and our West-Indian 
 colonies, — in order to put them sufficiently 
 upon their guard against these important 
 interests being again sacrificed^ as they have 
 been by former commercial treaties. 
 
 Hitherto, from some strange misconcep- 
 tion of the reciprocal interests of the mother- 
 country and her transatlantic possessions, the 
 British government has been in many respects, 
 actually legislating for the advantage of 
 America, both before and after the disgrace- 
 ful commercial treaty, w^hich the Americans 
 threatened and frightened us into^ in the year 
 1794, which operated in their favour until 
 lately, when, fortunately, a period was put to 
 it by their insufferable encroachments and un- 
 bounded ambition ; — actually legislating in fa- 
 vour of those very people, who, as soon as 
 they had, by her fostering care and protection, 
 acquired sufficient strength, rebelled against 
 
IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 her, and succeeding in asserting their indepen- 
 dence, became, and have been hitherto, her 
 bitterest enemies ; — in favour of America, with 
 whom we are now at war, and who looks at 
 our extensive and improving colonies along her 
 frontiers with a jealous eye, straining every 
 nerve to wrest from us these most important 
 possessions, the tenure of which, we in a great 
 measure owe to the loyalty and patriotism of 
 their inhabitants, 
 
 America is thoroughly aware of the value 
 and growing importance of these colonies, 
 and shapes her course accordingly ; she knows 
 that when the mother-country is under a state 
 of seclusion from the continent, these colonies 
 are capable of supplying her with various 
 articles of the most material importance, — with 
 articles for which, although essential to her 
 political existence, Great Britain has neverthe- 
 less been dependent upon the precarious sup- 
 plies of her very enemies. 
 
 But exclusive of these advantages which the 
 mother-country derives from the natural pro- 
 duce of these possessions, we must look to their 
 growing importance to her as a market for her 
 manufactures, which, for want of demand. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 have of late years been at times rotting 
 in our warehouses, and consequently many 
 of our valuable and industrious mechanics 
 were rendered destitute of their usual means 
 of support, and thereby exposed to that spirit 
 of riot and discontent, which has so lately 
 convulsed the northern counties, and spread 
 confusion over districts which, previously to 
 these disastrous occurrences, had been the 
 scene of commercial industry and domestic 
 comfort. 
 
 I have already observed, that one of the 
 main objects, which I have in view, is to 
 draw attention to the critical situation of 
 the British provinces, particularly the Cana- 
 das, in consequence of the present war. I 
 shall, therefore, by way of shewing their impor- 
 tance to Great Britain, in order to stimulate 
 her to adequate measures for their defence, 
 take notice of the topographical characteristics 
 of these colonies and several features of do- 
 mestic policy, with respect to their relations 
 with the mother-country, with the British set- 
 tlements in the West-Indies, and with the 
 United States, which appear of most essential 
 consequence, to be minutely investigated and 
 
10 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 maturely considered, with reference to any 
 negotiations, for the termination of hostilities. 
 
 These observations, however, will be carried 
 little further than merely to impress distinctly 
 and emphatically the importance of the sub- 
 ject. 
 
 Information of this kind will, no doubt; 
 have some weight in the estimation of our legis- 
 lators, whenever negotiations for peace with 
 America shall be in progress : such information 
 is, indeed, absolutely necessary, in order to 
 ascertain the genuine interests, both of the mo- 
 ther-country and of her colonies ; as, without 
 a correct knowledge of such particulars, it 
 would be impossible to form any adequate idea 
 of the extent to which they might be rendered 
 available to Great Britain, nor what political 
 regulations would be best calculated to rouse 
 into action and give full play to these most 
 important advantages, . which these colonies 
 possess. 
 
 That the operation of political regulations 
 or legislative enactments have hitherto been so 
 much misconceived and misdirected, as to 
 impair many of those valuable capabilities 
 inherent in these provinces, and the principle 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 11 
 
 by which these most impolitic measures have 
 been directed has been much better calcu- 
 lated to promote the interests of the Ameri- 
 cans, who have, ever since their independence, 
 been our secret enemy, and are now in open 
 hostility with us, than of these colonies, or 
 Great Britain, is a position, which it is my 
 present object to substantiate. 
 
 In illustrating these intended observations, 
 although I shall indeed generally take notice 
 of all the four British provinces, yet, as the 
 Canadas form at present the principal object 
 of attack by the Americans, and constitute, in 
 many respects, the most important of our 
 American possessions, 1 shall be more par- 
 ticular with respect to these provinces. 
 
 The most important advantages which dis- 
 tinguish the British colonies in America are the 
 vast and inexhaustible forests of valuable tim- 
 ber which abound throughout the whole ; the 
 excellent quality of the land which predomi- 
 nates, particularly in the Canadas; and the 
 
12 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 extentive variety of productive fisheries v<?hich 
 surround their coasts. 
 
 Upon reaching Quebec, in ascending the 
 St. Laurence, the country begins to improve 
 in point of fertility, and upon reaching St. 
 Anns, which is sixty miles above Quebec, 
 a tract of the finest and most fertile laud in 
 America, commences upon both sides of 
 that river, and continues upwards to the ex- 
 tremity of Lake Superior, being a length, 
 from St. Anns, of ^owX fifteen hundred miles. 
 
 Unquestionably this vast extent of country, 
 advancing in such rapid progress of improve- 
 ment, — the superior quality of the soil, and 
 its other important advantages, have excited 
 the envy and jealousy of the government 
 of the United States, and had the most 
 powerful influence for commencing the pre- 
 sent war. My own opinion is, that their 
 cupidity for these colonies has been a much 
 stronger stimulus, than the ostensible pretext, 
 relative to the impressment of their seameUo 
 The American government is fully aware that 
 the produce of all that part of their territory 
 which lies upon the St. Laurence and the 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 13 
 
 Lakes, from I^ke Champlain upwards, must 
 be exported through the river St, Laurence ; 
 and that, by the same channel, the inhabitants 
 of that extensive territory must consequently 
 be suppHed v^ith foreign produce and manu- 
 factures. 
 
 The Americans, no doubt, conceived this the 
 most favourable opportunity, which would 
 ever occur, for wresting the Canadas from 
 Great Britain : for, hitherto, the people who 
 inhabit the northern parts of the United 
 States, are, as will be made appear here- 
 after, still in complete ignorance of the ex- 
 tent to which they can be benefited by having 
 the English along their frontiers ; and from 
 hence, they more easily become dupes of their 
 own government, res^pecting misrepresentations 
 of their interest in this respect. 
 
 When the Americans see an extent of up- 
 wards of 1200 miles of their frontier-settle- 
 ments, now closing in vmion with those of the 
 English colonies, and are thoroughly apprised 
 that this is a door opening to British com- 
 merce, which will not only, prove profitable 
 both to the English and their colonists ; but 
 also know, that it will prove advantageous to 
 
14 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 all such of their own citizens as inhabit that 
 extensive country along the Canadian frontiers, 
 and therefore know that at any after period 
 it might be very difficult, if not impossible, to 
 induce that portion of their population to take 
 a part in a war so contrary to their interest ; 
 they have for these reasons, therefore, eagerly 
 embraced the first opportunity that offered 
 for commencing hostilities. 
 
 Although the geographical position of 
 our American provinces is sufficiently pointed 
 out in the maps, yet, as some important in- 
 ferences are intended to be drawn from their 
 boundaries, and also from their extent of 
 coast, compared with that of the United States, 
 I have thought it expedient to enter into the 
 following statement : — 
 
 The extreme length of Nova Scotia, which 
 extends from the gut of Canso to Cape Sable, 
 is about two hundred miles, and its breadth 
 about ninety. 
 
 The province of New Brunswick extends 
 from the bay of Fundy to Chelleaure Bay, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 15 
 
 being its extreme length, which is also about 
 two hunded miles ; and its extreme breadth, 
 from the gulph of St. Laurence to the line 
 which divides the province from the state 
 of Main, is about one hundred and twenty 
 miles. 
 
 Of these two provinces New Brunswick 
 only borders upon the United States; the 
 length of this communication is about two 
 hundred and twenty miles. 
 
 The province of Lower Canada extends from 
 the mouth of the St. Laurence, upwards to 
 St. Regis, about sixty miles above Montreal; 
 being a length of about six hundred miles, 
 upon that noble river, from whence it derives 
 many of the important local advantages which 
 it so eminently enjoys. 
 
 On the south it is bounded by the British 
 province of New Brunswick, and the states of 
 Vermont, and New York. From Cape Ro- 
 ziers upwards, for more than one hundred 
 miles, the country consists of barren rocky 
 mountains, and is therefore unsettled ; but be- 
 yond that distance it is settled to the upper 
 extremity. The breadth of this part of the 
 province lying upon the south side of the St. 
 
16 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 Laurence is very irregular ; its greatest breadth 
 may be about one hundred miles, and the 
 average perhaps about sixty. 
 
 That part of the province which lies upon 
 the north side of the St. Laurence has Upper 
 Canada for its upper boundary ; the division 
 line betw^een the two provinces commencing 
 from the St. Laurence at a point about twenty 
 miles above the mouth of the river Ottawa. 
 
 Its eastern boundary is the Labradore coast ; 
 and its northern boundary-line Hudson's Bay. 
 The extent of this part of the province, upon the 
 north of the banks of the St. Laurence, (being, 
 from the border of Upper Canada down- 
 wards to the islands of Mingan, in the mouth 
 of that river,) is about seven hundred miles. 
 Of this extent, however, there are not more 
 than three hundred and tifty miles settled; 
 the settlements only extending downwards to 
 Rock Bay, which is one hundred miles below 
 Quebec. 
 
 The province of Upper Canada is situated up- 
 on the north side of the river St. Laurence, Lake 
 Ontario, Lake Errie, Lake Huron, Lake Supe- 
 rior, Lake of the Woods, &c. and from thence 
 upon a line undefined to the Pacific Ocean, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 17 
 
 From Lower Canada, along this inland navi- 
 gation, which is so singularly convenient, 
 beautiful, and extensive, to the extremity of 
 Lake Superior, is a length of about thirteen 
 hundred and jifty miles of an almost uninter- 
 rupted continuation of a fine fertile soil, and 
 in every respect a most delightful country : a 
 very considerable proportion of this extent, 
 however, is still unsettled. The settlements, at 
 present, only extend to Detroit, which is situate 
 between Lake Errie and Lake Huron, being 
 a distance of about five hundred and fifty 
 miles from the border of Lower Canada ; but 
 the fine climate, the superiority of the soil, 
 and the conveniences and advantages of local 
 situation, are such that the settlements are ex- 
 tending upwards very rapidly. 
 
 It appears, therefore, that from Detroit, which 
 is the uppermost of the settlements, downwards 
 to their lowest extremity, at Rock Bay, which 
 is one hundred miles below Quebec, is an ex- 
 tent of about nine hundred miles settled upon 
 the north banks of the St. Laurence and its 
 lakes : this, with the above four hundred and 
 fifty miles of the lower province, inhabited 
 upon the south side, makes the whole extent 
 
 G 
 
18 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 of the settlements of the two Canadas, lying 
 upon the banks of the St. Laurence and the 
 Lakes, about thirteen hundred and fifty miles. 
 
 The possession of such an immense extent 
 of country, upon this inland navigation, so ad- 
 vantageously situate for commercial purposes, 
 is necessarily of the first importance to Great 
 Britain 
 
 i 
 
 It is important to take notice of the great 
 length of frontier by which these provinces and 
 the United States communicate with each other, 
 in order to shew the commercial facilities and 
 those most important and permanent advanta- 
 ges, which this extended communication is cal- 
 culated to afford to British commerce ; which 
 will more adequately enable us to judge how^ 
 far these circumstances, and the rapid im- 
 provement of this part of the American fron- 
 tier, have roused the jealousy of the United 
 States and prompted them to the commence- 
 ment of hostilities. 
 
 Considering the great length of the line of 
 frontier, by which the British provinces com- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 19 
 
 nniiiicate with the United States, no human 
 power can prevent a commerce, highly advanta- 
 geous to the British, being carried on between 
 the two countries : — a commerce, which to us, 
 considering the great extent and growing 
 prosperity of the country constituting these 
 frontiers, must be a permanent source of 
 wealth ; but particularly during times and cir- 
 cumstances such as we have lately experi- 
 enced, during the period our most inveterate 
 enemy has succeeded in shutting us out from 
 the continent of Europe. 
 
 This intercourse has been hitherto limited, 
 from the immense tract of imsettled land which 
 divides the two countries, having been con- 
 fined to a few roads of communication, and 
 these few even very inconvenient: the quan- 
 tity of British manufactures hitherto introduced 
 into the United States has, therefore, notwith- 
 standing this extended line of frontier, been 
 comparatively small ; the same circumstances 
 have also had the same effect on the transpor- 
 tation of produce by the Americans to the St. 
 Laurence. 
 
 The demand for British manufactures in 
 these colonies has been hitherto indeed little 
 
 c 2 
 
20 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 more than for the supply of the inhabitants ; 
 but, as the settlements of the British colonies 
 and the United States have now begun to meet 
 throughout an extent of upwards of 1,200 
 miles of their frontier — a length greater than 
 the whole extent of the coast of the United 
 States, from New Brunswick to Florida, a door 
 is thereby now opening for the introduction of 
 British manufactures, to the United States — a 
 door which, whilst the British keep it open, by 
 encouraging the commerce which it gives ac- 
 cess to, America can neither, by prohibitory 
 law^s, prevent the introduction of British goods, 
 nor, by embargo, hinder the produce of that 
 vast extent of country from being transported 
 to the shipping-ports of the St. Laurence, — t\vo 
 objects of the first importance to the mother 
 country. 
 
 Such parts of the frontiers of the two coun- 
 tries as are settled are rapidly encreasing in 
 population, which is also daily acquiring an ac- 
 celerated accumulation by continual emigrations 
 from the eastern states, not merely to that part 
 of the United States, bordering upon Canada, 
 but also into these provinces. 
 
 The immense extent of American territory, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 21 
 
 just emerging from a dreary wilderness into a 
 fine fertile country, upon the very frontier of 
 the British colonies, — upon the navigable wa- 
 ters of the St. Laurence, which must inevitably 
 carry its produce to where it can only be ship- 
 ped by British merchants ; and, from whence it 
 can only be carried by British ships, has, as I 
 have before hinted, excited in the American 
 government a degree of jealousy of which few 
 people are aware. For that government, as 
 well as the governments of the continent of 
 Europe are not ignorant of the profit and 
 sound policy of securing, as far as possible, 
 the carriage of all their own produce, and 
 also of grasping all within their reach of the 
 carriage of the goods of other nations. 
 
 They know that as the overflowing of a 
 fountain, after answering the specific purpose 
 for which it was opened, finds out the channel 
 most congenial to its current, so the surplus 
 produce of this new and fertile country, al- 
 though hitherto almost absorbed by the great 
 demand, arising from the vast influx of settlers, 
 must likewise, in large quantities, push its 
 way through the most convenient channel to 
 another market : they also know that this chan- 
 
22 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 nel must be the St. Laurence; and, conse- 
 quently, that the markets must necessarily be 
 those, in which neither their merchants, nor 
 their ships can be employed in the exporta- 
 tion of produce ; and are, therefore, sufficient- 
 ly apprised that the British must exclusively 
 enjoy all the advantages resulting from this fine 
 country, hitherto unknown, but now rising 
 into importance. 
 
 Thoroughly impressed with these advanta- 
 ges, and the increasing importance of these co- 
 lonies, to Great Britain, the United States 
 will, during the present war, make propor- 
 tionate exertions to obtain possession of them ; 
 or, at the period of hostilities, endeavour, by 
 some commercial treaty, to get them again sa- 
 crificed to their interest : but the mother-coun- 
 try, from motives of the soundest policy and 
 regard to self-interest, is bound to make com- 
 mensurate exertions to defend these valuable 
 colonies in time of war, and protect them in 
 their legitimate privileges in time of peace. 
 
 The following may be considered a few 
 of the advantages which Great Britain derives 
 from this great length of inland navigation 
 and extended communication between the 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 23 
 
 United Stales and the British provinces, viz:— 
 The river St. Laurence and the Lakes must 
 be the principal channel for the commerce of 
 the countries upon both sides, as well the 
 American side as the Canadian, both in tha 
 export and import trade : as long, therefore, 
 as the British hold their present possessions 
 they must exclusively enjoy that trade. — The 
 inhabitants of the British colonies pay almost 
 no taxes, whilst their neighbours, the Ame- 
 ricans, upon the opposite banks of the river, 
 are liable to heavy taxes and other public bur- 
 thens : our colonists will, therefore, undoubt- 
 edly continue firmly attached to the govern- 
 ment from which they enjoy this advantage. 
 British manufactures, &c. being admitted into 
 Canada, duty free, whereas they are liable 
 to heavy duties in the United States ; and the 
 St. Laurence being the shortest and cheapest 
 channel by which these countries can be sup- 
 plied with foreign commodities, the Canadians 
 will thereby have the supplying of the Ame- 
 ricans who inhabit the country upon their 
 frontiers, with British and other foreign 
 manufactures secured to them. This exten- 
 sive frontier will prove a door always open 
 
34 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 to the introduction of British manufactures, 
 in spite of the most rigid enactments of the 
 American government to the contrary; and, 
 moreover, the higher the duties charged by 
 the American government are, either to an- 
 svi^er pecuniary purposes, or, to encourage 
 domestic manufactures, the greater will be 
 the encouragement held out to their citizens to 
 evade them by smuggling : the higher the 
 duties, therefore, the greater will be the ad- 
 vantages enjoyed by the British over other 
 foreigners by this exclusive door of access. 
 And should America at any future time, as they 
 have at some former periods, charge a higher 
 duty upon British than upon other foreign 
 merchandise, the difference, instead of exclu- 
 ding our manufactures, will only operate as 
 a countervaluing duty in favour of the Cana- 
 dian importers and the British ships, as well 
 as prove an additional inducement held out 
 to their own citizens to evade the duty. For, 
 certain it is, that all the revenue of the United 
 States is not sufficient to keep up a custorar 
 house establishment, sufficient to prevent 
 smuggling by means of this immense door of 
 access, provided the American duties, as I have 
 observed, constitute a sufficient inducement. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 25 
 
 The benefits which will result to the Cana- 
 dians, as well as the other colonists, however, 
 from the enjoyment of their rightful privileges 
 in respect to the exportation of their produce, 
 will give them by far the most important ad- 
 vantages over the Americans ; namely, in 
 securing to them the supplying of our West- 
 Indian colonies with American produce, — and, 
 in charging the same duties upon American 
 lumber and other produce imported into the 
 mother country as upon that of other foreign 
 nations ; — -these fair, just, and legitimate, pri- 
 vileges secured to our American colonists, — 
 privileges which too vitally concern our ship- 
 ping interest, — will do more towards securing 
 the attachment of our American colonists than 
 all other advantages united ; — nay, more than 
 all other favours which the mother country 
 has it in her power to bestow upon th^n. 
 
 In modern times, when navigation is found 
 to be the principal source from whence flows 
 the riches and independence of nations, or at 
 least the channel through which these valuable 
 
26 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 blessings are, in the most eminent degree, 
 derived, of all the properties which charac- 
 terise any country, the extent of coast and 
 the navigable facilities which it affords are 
 the first in importance. 
 
 Concerning our American provinces, there- 
 fore, it may be remarked as a most important 
 fact, that the extent of navigable shores of 
 inhabited and fertile country, accessible to 
 ships from sea, is greater than that similarly 
 navigable in the possession of the United 
 States, from New Brunswick to Florida. 
 
 In explanation of what is meant by the 
 term shore, or coast, (so far as regards this 
 comparison,) such only is intended, as will 
 admit of ships of three hundred tons register 
 measurement; a burthen sufficiently large to 
 carry produce to foreign markets at the lowest 
 rate of freights. 
 
 The extent of shores of the settled and 
 fertile territory of the continent of North Ame- 
 rica, belonging to Great Britain, amounts in 
 the aggregate, to 1310 miles,* 
 
 * In estimating the extent of the navigable shore of the 
 British colonies, I have reckoned from the River St. Croix, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 27 
 
 This is a greater length of navigable coast 
 than that which was lost by the last American 
 
 which divides the province of New Brunswick from the 
 State of Main, round the coast of Nova Scotia, through 
 the girt of Canso and along that part of the coast of New 
 Brunswick and Lower Canada which fronts the gulph of St. 
 Laurence to Cape Roziers, making a length of 600 miles. 
 From Cape Roziers, upwards, to Montreal, 
 
 upon the south side of the St. Laurence, 530 
 From Montreal, downwards, upon the north 
 side of the St. Laurence, to Rock-Bay, 
 which is one hundred miles below 
 Quebec 280 
 
 Altogether amounting to 1410 miles i 
 being two hundred and ten miles more than the whole extent 
 of that part of the coast of America, lying between the 
 River St. Croix and the River St. Mary, which was the whole 
 extent of sea-coast possessed by the United States, previous 
 to their purchase of Louisiana from the Spaniards. 
 
 It will be observed, that this statement comprehends only 
 the shores of the continent, and (except the space which 
 lies between Cape Roziers and Cape Chat, being about one 
 hundred miles of rocky mountains,) such parts only of the 
 country as are settled and fit for agricultural purposes. 
 
 It appears, therefore, that, after deducting the one hundred 
 miles of barren mountains above Cape Chat, the extent of 
 shores of the settled fertile country, which their colonies 
 comprehend, is 1310 miles. 
 
28 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 war ; and, estimating its value by the commer- 
 cial facilities which it affords, is comparatively 
 much more valuable than an equal extent of 
 the United-States coast, fronting the Atlantic 
 Ocean. 
 
 This comparison of the navigable coast of 
 the United States, with that of the British 
 possessions, in front of such parts of the 
 country as are capable of agricultural im- 
 provements, may be objected to on account 
 of part of the one being the shores of the 
 River St. Laurence, and the other open to the 
 Atlantic Ocean. Such objections, however, 
 will be removed, by inspecting the map of 
 the country and chart of the coast ; for, by 
 drawing a line upon the former, at some given 
 distance, (suppose one hundred miles,) and 
 in such a direction, that it shall not exceed 
 the proposed distance from such parts, (whe- 
 ther upon the coast of the Atlantic, or up 
 bays and rivers,) as ships of the proposed di- 
 mensions of three hundred tons can find 
 safe harbours, it will then be found, that the 
 difference is greatly in favour of the British 
 possessions in point of territorial extent, bene- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 29 
 
 fited by such navigation ; and still more in 
 favour of the British possessions in point 
 of the quantity of superior soil so bene- 
 fited. Such parts of the coast of the United 
 States, (or indeed of any other coast,) as are 
 completely open to the ocean, afford no bar* 
 hours to any description of ships. It is in 
 bv^ys, creeks, mouths of rivers, or under 
 shelter of islands, therefore, that harbours are 
 exclusively to be found. And when we no- 
 tice, that we are considering these with re- 
 ference to ships of 300 tons register measure- 
 ment, it will be found, that neither this, nor 
 any other coast open to the sea, will afford 
 harbours for shipping of such dimensions but 
 at very considerable intervals, — in many parts, 
 intervals of several hundred miles. It is the 
 commercial facilities which the harbours af- 
 ford, that constitute the value of the sea coast; 
 without these conveniences mere extent is of 
 little importance. 
 
 Estimating by this criterion, it follows, as 
 a necessary deduction, (which, as already ob- 
 served, may be demonstrated by mere inspec- 
 tion of the map,) that as far as relates to the 
 shores of the St. Laurence throughout the 
 
30 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 whole extent of that part of it, which has been 
 included in this estimate of 1310 miles of 
 navigable coast, fronting agricultural territory, 
 scarcely a mile can be found, (with the excep- 
 tion, perhaps, of about fifty or sixty miles 
 situated immediately above Cape Chat,) in 
 which there are not road -steads to be found 
 where ships may ride with safety. 
 
 With regard to the comparative advantages 
 to be derived from foreign shipping, a far 
 greater extent of surface of country upon the 
 banks of this river is therefore benefited in 
 this respect, than upon a like extent of the 
 coast on the main ocean. 
 
 The possession of this improveable country 
 and its navigable shores, guarantees the peace- 
 able possession and uninterrupted occupa- 
 tion of the whole coast of Labradore, of 
 Newfoundland, and of the numerous islands 
 in the gulph of St. I^aurence. These im- 
 portant and improveable coasts altogether 
 amount to several thousand miles of the 
 most productive and valuable fisheries ; — 
 fisheries, which, to any country, would be of 
 immense importance, as well on account of 
 the maritime facilities which they aflford, by 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 31 
 
 being a nursery for sailors, &c. as on account 
 of the pecuniary purposes and conveniencies 
 to which they are adapted ; and, therefore, 
 the possession of them to Great Britain, by 
 so far securing her own maritime resources, 
 and preventing the aggrandisement of that of 
 other nations, are invaluable. 
 
 The countries which form these extensive 
 fishing-coasts, consist generally of barren 
 rocky mountains, the barren and inaccessible 
 nature of which, protects and encourages the 
 prosperity, and actually secures the value of 
 the fisheries. Such fisheries, situated in front 
 of fertile soil, would be comparatively of 
 small importance ; the cultivation of the land 
 would, no doubt, divide the attention of those 
 employed in the fisheries ; a variety of pur- 
 suits would inevitably create an irregular de- 
 mand for labour, so as to completely disorga- 
 nize the necessary machinery of an extensive 
 fishery; under existing circumstances, however, 
 no such inconveniences need be apprehended. 
 
 Notwithstanding the general inaccessible 
 nature of this fishing-coast, there are, how- 
 ever, to be found in the mouths of rivers, &c. 
 places of sufficient extent to admit of such 
 
32 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 towns and villages as might be necessary for 
 the convenience of the fisheries. 
 
 If Great Britain keep the entire possession 
 of these fisheries, — guarded npon the one hand 
 by her terra-firma possessions in that quarter, 
 and upon the other by her powerful fleets; 
 and do not again cede a share of them either 
 to the French, Americans, or any other power : 
 —if she, also, hold the fine level country which 
 she now possesses upon the banks of the 
 St. Laurence and the Lakes above Quebec, 
 without again shackling the industry either of 
 the woodm: n who clears its forests ; of the culti- 
 vator of its fertile plains ; or, of the fisherman 
 who bestows his attention upon these productive 
 fisheries : — if, moreover, she prohibits all inter- 
 course between our West-Indian islands and the 
 United States ; and enforces a regulation of 
 the duties upon the timber she imports from 
 countries other than from her own colonies, cal- 
 culated to promote her own shipping-interest, 
 the growing prosperity of these colonies would 
 not only greatly augment her resources, and 
 prove a safe guarantee of her maritime power 
 and independence, but the mutual benefits, 
 whicji thfe one colony would derive from the 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 33 
 
 Other, would also tend greatly to secure to her 
 a permanency of all these important advan- 
 tages. The reciprocity of interest that will in 
 consequence circulate among all the numerous 
 classes, which a variety of pursuits distinguish 
 throughout her colonies, must necessarily pro- 
 mote in them such a firm attachment as will 
 prove the greatest possible security of these 
 possessions. The markets, which would 
 thereby be opened and secured to these pro- 
 vinces, would inspire every class of society 
 with such a spirit of enterprise and energy as 
 would set every branch of industry in motion, 
 encouraging and supporting ^ach other, like 
 the constituent parts of a well constructed 
 piece of machinery : the timber-trade, giving 
 employment to the woodman and the raftsman ; 
 the exportation of grain, flour, &c. and provi- 
 sions, encouraging the agriculturist ; the ex- 
 portation of fish and oil, communicating fresh 
 energy to the industry of the fisherman ; 
 and the grand result of the whole, yielding 
 abundance of profits and emoluments to our 
 merchants, and affording employment to our 
 shipping, would thereby contribute to the ad- 
 vantage of all classes in these provinces, as 
 
 D 
 
34 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 well as to the encouragement of the commer- 
 cial concerns of the mother-country. The 
 West-Indian colonists likewise, instead of expe- 
 riencing the uncertainty and inconveniences 
 which they have hitherto done in obtaining 
 supplies of American produce, would receive a 
 regular and abundant supply. For, under such 
 a line of policy, many of the very articles, par- 
 ticularly flour, instead of being shipped from 
 the ports of the United States, under the sys- 
 tem of management which prevailed previous 
 to the American embargoes, &c. would be 
 shipped from the ports of the St. Laurence, 
 and thereby provide the British provinces with 
 the most ample resources for the supply of 
 their sister colonies in the West-Indies. Not 
 only the inhabitants of the continental pro- 
 vinces therefore, but also our West-Indian colo- 
 nists, grateful for the benefits afforded by this 
 variety of pursuits and diversity of interests, so 
 essential to their general convenience and pros- 
 perity, and for which, being thus combined, 
 organized, and protected, they must feel indebt- 
 ed to the mother-country, would, from the most 
 powerful impulse, self-interest, cherish the most 
 genuine loyalty and affection towards her. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 35 
 
 Thus far with respect to the advantages pos- 
 sessed by the British colonies, as far as relates 
 to their geographical position and commercial 
 facilities : the next object, and the first in im- 
 portance, is their produce and manufactures. 
 
 D 2 
 
56 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 CHAP II. 
 
 OF THE PRESENT STATE OF OUR AMERICAN 
 PROVINCES, PARTICULARLY THE CANA- 
 DAS, THEIR SOIL, CLIMATE, INHABIT- 
 ANTS, STATE OF AGRICULTURE AND EX- 
 PORTS, ETC. 
 
 In order that a more adequate idea may be 
 formed of those great advantages, which the 
 mother-country may derive from the vast re- 
 sources inherent in these provinces, particularly 
 the Canadas, through the medium of her ship- 
 ping and manufacturing interests, I shall here 
 take a cursory view of the quality of their soil; 
 of their climate ; of their inhabitants ; and of 
 the state of agriculture. My observations up- 
 on these, however, shall be carried no further 
 than is necessary to assist in forming opinions, 
 concerning the discouragements which these 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 37 
 
 provinces have laboured under, and the im- 
 proveable capabilities which they possess, in 
 respect to the above important sources of 
 national wealth. 
 
 QUALITY OF THE SOIL OF UPPER AND LOWER 
 CANADA. 
 
 From the river Little Metis, which is about 
 two hundred miles below, upwards to St. 
 Ann's, which is about sixty-five miles above 
 Quebec, the country, although not mountainous, 
 (except upon the north side of the St. Laurence 
 below Quebec,) nevertheless forms a very 
 wneven and irregular surface. 
 
 The kinds, of which the soil consists, are of 
 great variety ; being in some parts a very light 
 sandy soil upon a sandy or gravelly bottom; 
 and in other parts a strong clay, with almost all 
 the variety of gradations which are to be found 
 between these two extremes. There is, how 
 ever, a much larger proportion* of the very 
 heavy sort than of the very light: indeed, 
 throughout this tract of country, which is an 
 extent of about two hundred ond slxty-jinQ 
 
38 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 miles upon the banks of the St. Laurence, the 
 soil, with respect to kind, consists generally of 
 a strong loam upon a sub-soil of red clay or 
 till. 
 
 With regard to quality ; supposing the soil 
 arranged into four distinct rates, there is not 
 much of the best or first rate; neither is there 
 much of the worst or fourth rate ; the average 
 may be considered to be about a medium be- 
 tween the second and third rate qualities/^ 
 
 * In regard to the short description, which I have given of 
 the soil, in order that a true and correct idea may be formed 
 of its quality, it is necessary to state, that the scale by which 
 I have formed ray estimate in this respect, is the quality of 
 the land in Great Britain, divided into four distinct rates. 
 And further, to avoid the ambiguity and obscurity so general 
 in descriptions of the qualities of land, I think it necessary 
 also to state, that, in judging of the quality, the intrinsic or 
 natural fertilizing capabilities are alone kept in view. For, 
 if the vicinity of large cities, navigable rivers, or any external 
 improvements were to be taken into consideration, and the 
 soil rated according to its value, there would, under such 
 circumstances, be no certainty of ascertaining the precise 
 description of thie soil, although the rate were stated. As 
 for example, a third rate in the vicinity of a large city might 
 be let at as high a rent as a first rate quality at a considera- 
 ble distance : or one farmer by proper management might 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 39 
 
 From St. Ami's, upwards, to the border of 
 Upper Canada, which is about sixty miles 
 above Montreal, being a length of about one 
 hundred and seventy-five miles upon both sides 
 of the St. Laurence; and from the border of 
 Lower Canada, upwards, to the extremity of 
 the settlements of the upper province at De- 
 troit, being an extent of about five hundred 
 and fifty miles upon the north banks of the St. 
 Laurence and the lakes, makes, from St. Ann's 
 upwards, a length of about seven hundred and 
 txventy-Jive miles of a beautiful and level coun- 
 try. The general characteristics of the face of 
 the country, throughout this vast extent, afford 
 but little diversity in point of appearance. The 
 kinds of soil, however, consist of considerable 
 variety: but that which mostly prevails is a 
 strong deep loam, which in many parts con- 
 raise, upon a third rate, a crop doubly fertile compared, with 
 that whiclf might be raised upon a first-rate soil, by another 
 inferior in skill and industry. But as neither of these cir- 
 cumstances could essentially alter or bring about any perma- 
 nent change in the fertilizing capabilities, which these soils 
 naturally and intrinsically possess, it would consequently be 
 absurd to rate them, in point of quality, according to their 
 respective values, or present state of fertility. 
 
40 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 sists of a mixture of rich blue clay and friable 
 earth : this is a kind of soil, which, in whatever 
 country it is found, generally constitutes that 
 of the best quality. 
 
 A large proportion of this vast extent of 
 country is. of \h^ first rate quality, and the 
 average of the whole may be said to be excel- 
 lent. 
 
 Reckoning to the depth of about fifty 
 miles from the St. Laurence and the Lakes, 
 (which depth would include all the land yet 
 granted by the British government,) perhaps 
 there is scarcely to be found, either in Europe 
 or America, a tract of country, equal to this in 
 extent, which comparatively contains so large a 
 proportion of a first rate quality of land ; and cer- 
 tainly there is not, in any other part of the United 
 States, excepting Louisiana and other parts 
 upon the west side of the Alegany mountains, 
 and upon the banks of the St. Laurence and 
 its lakes, an equal extent of territory, wherein 
 even one-third of the quantity of first rate soil 
 would be found. Indeed, in many parts of this 
 vast country, there are occasionally to be found 
 uninterrupted tracts of land of a first rate qua- 
 lity, even to the extent of a hundred miles in 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 41 
 
 length ; whereas, in most countries, one-third of 
 that extent of an uninterrupted range of such 
 quality is rarely to be met with. 
 
 CLIMATE. 
 
 The climate of any particular country ought 
 to be estimated in proportion to the healthy, 
 agreeable, and fertilizing properties, which it 
 possesses: the climate of Upper and Lower 
 Canada enjoys these advantages in an eminent 
 degree. 
 
 The summer, indeed, is extremely hot; but, as 
 the atmosphere is remarkably clear and pure, 
 the heat is therefore not so oppressive as in 
 climates where the air is more close and 
 sultry. 
 
 The winter is intensely cold : but, as the frost 
 continues without intermission during winter, 
 and generally with a clear sky and a fine dry 
 air, it is thereby rendered both healthy and 
 pleasant; the cold being infinitely less pene- 
 trating thau in moist climates. 
 
 Foggy weather is very little experienced so 
 fixr up the country as Montreal; or, indeed, 
 
42 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 much farther up than Quebec, and there only, 
 occasionally in spring. But, down the river, 
 particularly towards its mouth, easterly winds 
 are invariably attended with thick fogs. 
 
 The spring sets in with a clear sky, and the 
 air generally continues frosty until the snow is 
 quite gone. The snow is, therefore, principally 
 carried off by the rays of the sun ; for it is but 
 seldom that natural thaws are much experien- 
 ced, until the snow is completely carried off. 
 Rain seldom continues long at a time, in the 
 spring; except in the mountainous districts. 
 The spring in Lower Canada sets in earlier or 
 later, in any. particular place, as it is higher or 
 lower upon the River St. Laurence ; and this, 
 even in the same parallel of latitude, being- 
 earlier as the country extends to the westward. 
 
 As the country at the mouth of the St. Lau- 
 rence is very mountainous, and less so towards 
 the westward, so in proportion there is less 
 rain and foggy weather, as the country extends 
 in that direction; the spring, indeed, sets in 
 earlier, and the climate is in every respect 
 more agreeable and favourable to agriculture, 
 in any particular place upon the St. Laurence, 
 in proportion as it is distant from the sea. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 43 
 
 In spring, the land is generally fit for plough- 
 ing as soon as it is clear from snow. For, not- 
 withstanding the severity of the frost, it does 
 not penetrate deep into the ground, which is 
 protected from its severity, by the snow falling 
 in considerable quantities in the earlier part of 
 the winter. By the time, therefore, that the 
 snow disappears, the frost is also generally 
 quite gone. The snow continuing upon the 
 land during winter is a circumstance remark- 
 ably in favour of fall-wheat, fall-tares, or 
 clover, which may have been sown with the 
 preceding crop: for, continuing until a late 
 period of the spring, it thereby prevents these 
 crops from being exposed to a scorching sun 
 through the day, and frost during the night; 
 alternations of weather which occasionally 
 occur early in the spring, in all latitudes liable 
 to frost, sometimes pulling up such of these 
 crops as may be so exposed, by the very roots; 
 a circumstance not unfrequent in Great Bri- 
 tain. As has been already observed, rainy 
 weather in the spring seldom continues long at 
 ii time ; the farmers are therefore seldom under 
 the necessity of harrowing in any of their seeds 
 
44 IMPORTANCE OF THfi 
 
 whilst the ground is wet, which is a circum- 
 stance of material consequence in agriculture. 
 Indeed, the seed of all kinds of crops being 
 harrowed in dry, is an advantage of the first 
 importance, but more particularly in the cul- 
 ture of hemp and flax. 
 
 Hoar frost but seldom occurs in spring, 
 which is a circumstance very favourable to 
 every species of the earlier green crops, such 
 as hemp, flax, pease, early potatoes, and a 
 variety of others. 
 
 During the summer season, and also the 
 fall, rain or thick weather seldom continues 
 more than two or three days together ; not often, 
 indeed, more than one day at a time : a most 
 material circumstance in favour of making 
 clean summer-fallow ; raising fallow-crops ; 
 making hay; and performing the necessary 
 operations in the management of hemp; as well 
 as other agricultural avocations. 
 
 During winter, the thermometer fluctuates 
 from 2-5° above zero, down to 28°, and some- 
 times even as low as 30° below that point. 
 But, when such an intense degree of cold occurs, 
 it seldom continues longer than two, or at most 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 45 
 
 three days at a time ; and such severities sel- 
 dom occur more than once in a season ; and, 
 perhaps, in only one season out of two or 
 three: the greatest degree of cold is generally 
 felt in February. 
 
 There are not, perhaps, above two or three 
 days in the course of the winter so intensely 
 cold as to prevent ship-carpenters, and other 
 workmen employed out of doors, from follow- 
 ing their occupations : this circumstance af- 
 fords one of the most convincing and decisive 
 proofs, that the cold in Canada, compared with 
 the cold in Great Britain, is not by any means 
 experienced in a degree of severity proportion- 
 ata to the degree of cold shewn by the ther- 
 mometer 
 
 Throughout the season, there is a much 
 greater proportion of clear weather in the Ca- 
 nadas than in Great Britain ; even in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Quebec, and about Montreal 
 and in Upper Canada, where the country is 
 less mountainous and more remote from the 
 sea, the proportion of clear weather, compared 
 with that experienced with a clouded atmo- 
 sphere, is still greater. Upon the whole, the 
 climate of the Canadas, compared with the 
 
46 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 climate of Great Britain, is equally agreeable; 
 equally favourable to agriculture; and actually 
 more healthy. 
 
 INHABITANTS. 
 
 The population of the Canadas is cotnposed 
 of the descendants of the French colonists, 
 who inhabited Canada at the conquest, and 
 emigrants from the mother-country and the 
 United States ; perhaps the descendants of the 
 French colonists constitute three-fourths or 
 four- fifths of the whole population. 
 
 As no census has been taken since the year 
 1783, it becomes impossible to state accurately 
 what the population at present is. 
 
 Mr. Harriot, in his History of Canada, com- 
 putes the population of the lower province at 
 250,000, and that of the upper province at 
 80,000, in 1808 ; this computation I am inclin- 
 ed to think, from the opinions which I have 
 heard upon the subject, is rather under than 
 over-rated. 
 
 However, taking this statement of Mn 
 Harriot's as a true estimate of the population 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 47 
 
 in 1808, and with the ordinary increase 
 amongst the inhabitants, and also taking into 
 account the extraordinary inilnx of settlers from 
 the United States, occasioned by Mr. Jefferson's 
 embargo and other measures of the American 
 government, between the year 1808 and the 
 breaking out of hostilities between the two 
 countries, I think we may now reasonably 
 compute the population of Upper and Lower 
 Canada at 375,000, of which the lower 
 province may contain about 275,000. 
 
 With regard to the respective characters of 
 each of the three divisions or classes of people, 
 composing the population of these provinces, 
 and in the first place respecting the descendants 
 of the French colonists, it may be observed, tliat 
 they are honest and upright in their reciprocal 
 dealings to a degree scarcely any where to be 
 met with where so much ignorance prevails, 
 or indeed perhaps any where ;— sociable and 
 polite in their manners ; and, as far as regards 
 economy, they are sensible, ingenious, and in- 
 dustrious 
 
 It is very uncommon and extraordinary that 
 these characteristics, and an almost total want 
 of education, should exist together; and this 
 
48 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 circumstance shews what the people might be. 
 if they enjoyed the benefit of education. 
 
 The British and Americans may rank to- 
 gether in point of industry and economy; and, 
 from the advantages which they enjoy from 
 education, are superior to the descendants of 
 the French colonists in point of enterprise. 
 
 Concerning the attachment of the inhabi- 
 tants of the Canadas to the mother- country ; 
 and, in the first place, regarding those who may 
 be distinguished as the English part of the 
 Canadian population, who are composed of 
 emigrants from the mother-country and of the 
 descendants of English emigrants, we may 
 make the following remarks, viz. respecting 
 those who emigrate from the mother-country it 
 may be observed, that such emigrations are 
 sometimes occasioned by a predilection for 
 republican principles. But it may be easily 
 perceived, that, when this is the case, a British 
 province, in the vicinity of a republican country, 
 would not be the choice of such people. In- 
 deed, such persons invariably land in the United 
 States, from whence, however, many of them 
 from disappointment ultimately, find their way 
 into Canada, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 49 
 
 For, finding that this republic has also laws, 
 which must be obeyed, as well as taxes which 
 must be discharged ; findmg that prodigality 
 and idleness in this country, as well as in that 
 which they left, is also accompanied with pover- 
 ty and distress; finding that the poor miserable 
 soil so generally prevalent throughout the 
 United States not only yields the cultivator 
 but a scanty subsistence, but, is only to be ob- 
 tained at a high price ; and, finding, too, that 
 a reciprocity of the grosest rudeness and ill- 
 manners, — insult and indignity to the rulers who 
 must be obeyed, and contempt of the laws 
 and authorities which must be submitted to, 
 are a few of the characteristic of this country 
 and its republican government: — this paradise, 
 therefore, about which they had been so long 
 dreaming, at last thus disappearing, they find 
 themselves in reality transported, — transported 
 from the solid comforts their native country 
 afforded into the midst of difiiculty and 
 distress. Thus cured of their political mad- 
 ness, and ashamed to return to their native 
 land, the fertile plains upon the banks of the 
 St. Laurence and the blessings of the British 
 constitution, therefore, attract many of these, 
 
50 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 as well as others, from the barren wastes of 
 New England to the British provinces. 
 
 After these people have not only learned, 
 by such experience, that if American liberty 
 exceed that of British, it is only in immorality 
 and licentiousness, but that the liberty and 
 protection, speciously indicated by this repub- 
 lican constitution, is precarious and uncertain^ 
 and in many respects only to be enjoyed in 
 idea; whereas, the blessings of the British con- 
 stitution, being equally extensive, are enjoyed 
 in reality; such of these people, therefore, 
 as find their way into the British provinces, 
 need not be doubted as to their attachment to 
 the British government. 
 
 Considering these circumstances, and that 
 the other part of those who are denominated the 
 British part of the population is composed of 
 emigrants, who have, in the first instance, 
 made choice of the British provinces, and 
 of the descendants of these and such as have 
 been described, it is natural to conclude, that 
 the whole of those who are commonly deno- 
 minated the English part of the Canadians, must 
 remain firmly attached to the British govern- 
 ment. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 51 
 
 The American part of the Canadian colo- 
 nists consists of two descriptions of people, 
 Tiz. loyalists who left the United States during 
 the late American war and emigrants. The 
 former, considering the losses and sacrifices 
 they experienced from adhering to the British 
 interest, cannot certainly be doubted in point 
 of loyalty : and, the greater part of the lat- 
 ter having left the United States, from dis- 
 content at the political measures pursued by 
 their own government, and finding the privi- 
 leges and advantages which they enjoy under 
 the British government superior to those they 
 enjoyed under the government of the United 
 States, there can be no doubt entertained but 
 that these also are firmly attached to the 
 British interest. 
 
 The descendants of the French colonists, 
 who inhabited the colony at the conquest, have 
 uniformly given proofs of their firm attachment 
 to the British government and its interests ; 
 particularly in the part they acted during the 
 late American war. They certainly at that 
 time manifested their loyalty and attachment 
 in a manner highly honourable. — Loyally at- 
 tached to the mother-country, these colonists 
 
 e2 
 
52 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 manfully stood forward in defence of her in- 
 terests ; in many instances they were muster- 
 ed, led forth, and encouraged to fight, and 
 bleed in support of the parent country^ 
 by their Roman Catholic priests ; some of 
 whom actually fell in such patriotic and 
 praise-worthy examples. These and many 
 other instances of loyalty might be circum- 
 stantially adduced : but, should any one doubt, 
 the events passing at the present time afford 
 the most incontestable proof of the loyalty of 
 the whole inhabitants of these provinces 
 
 STATE OF AGRICULTURE; 
 
 Such is the present state of agriculture in 
 Canada, that almost any change would be for 
 the better. If it can be said that any thing 
 approximating to system in cropping is obser- 
 ved, it is in that of wheat and grass alternately : 
 or, it may be more properly said, that the land 
 is cropped with wheat the one year and lies 
 waste the next, and in many instances this mode 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 53 
 
 is pursued, even for generations, without manure 
 being applied. The wheat is invariably sown 
 in spring, and the land receives only one 
 ploughing. 
 
 Clean summer-fallow is unknown in the 
 country, and, except in the neighbourhood 
 of Quebec and Montreal, the farmers are 
 equally ignorant of drill-crop, or indeed of 
 fallow-crops of any description. After stating 
 these facts it is almost unnecessary to add that 
 artificial grasses are also unknown. 
 
 The above mode of cropping prevails gene- 
 rally over the Canadas, but more particularly 
 throughout the lower province. Any devi- 
 ation from it is occasionally by the intervention 
 of a trifling quantity of pease, flax, oats^ or 
 barley. Near the farmers houses there are 
 also generally to be found some small patches 
 of Indian-corn and tobacco, which, toge» 
 ther, perhaps, receive the greater part of 
 the manure which is applied : these crops, not- 
 withstanding, are seldom or never introduced 
 into a rotation of cropping over any farm 
 generally. 
 
 The land, however, is so very excellent, , in 
 general, that crops of forty bushels, per 
 
54 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 French acre, (equal to fifty-four per English or 
 sixty-six per Scotch acre,) are frequently to be 
 met with ; either where the land is first cleared, 
 or where it may have received any improve- 
 ment; such as lying several years in grass 
 instead of one; manured and cropped with 
 pease, &c. ; for, besides these superficial im- 
 provements, there are scarcely any other 
 known in the country. But the wretched sys- 
 tem of cropping which is practised, soon re- 
 duces such spots of land, as may be found 
 either from their pristine qualities, or from 
 recent improvements, in this high state of 
 fertility, to such a degree of poverty that they 
 do not, perhaps, yield more than ten or twelve, 
 or even, in some instances, more than eight 
 or nine bushels, per acre. 
 
 Indeed, so much does the pristine state of fer- 
 tility of the soil and its ultimate reduction, an- 
 swer the above description, that the price of land 
 is estimated by the same rale by which a horse 
 is valued, namely, by age, — the older the 
 worse But, in Great Britain, land is valued 
 upon a principle the very opposite to this ; 
 there it is known to have improved, rather than 
 fallen back, by cultivation, even under the very 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 55 
 
 worst system of management; I mean so 
 far as relates to the native quality of the 
 earth, and not as to its immediate state of 
 fertility. 
 
 Such, indeed, is the natural superiority and 
 fertility of the land of these provinces, gene- 
 rally, that when it is either purposely laid 
 down to remain in meadow, or otherwise 
 escapes the plough for a few years, that it 
 generally produces the most luxuriant growth 
 of natural clover. This circumstance, not 
 only proves the natural good quality of the 
 soil, but also indicates the expediency of a- 
 dopting some system of cropping which would 
 embrace that valuable grass. 
 
 Respecting the quantity of land under cul- 
 tivation, the only means of ascertaining its 
 amount, is by forming a computation from the 
 statement of the quantity which was ascertain- 
 ed to have been under cultivation in 1 783 ; 
 and in forming this estimate we may also 
 form a tolerably correct idea of the quan- 
 tity of grain annually produced in these pro- 
 vinces. 
 
 In 1783, according to the census then 
 taken, by order of government, the population 
 
5§ IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 was stated to have been 113,012 ; the quantity 
 of land under cultivation 1,569,818 acres, and 
 the quantity of seed sow^n 383,349 bushels. 
 Allowing two bushels and a half of seed, per 
 acre,* there must have, therefore, been at 
 that time 153,339 acres under grain. 
 
 Notwithstanding that the amount of the po- 
 pulation is computed at 375,000, in estimating 
 the quantity of land under cultivation I shall 
 take it at only 360,000. According to the above 
 statement, the relative proportions of cleared 
 land, of seed sown, and of acres under grain, 
 to 360,000 inhabitants, is 5,002,428 acres of 
 cleared land, 1,221,159 bushels of seed sown, 
 and 488,463 acres under grain. 
 
 It may be observed, that there appears a 
 great disproportion between the number of 
 acres under grain and the gross quantity of 
 cleared land. But it may also be remarked, 
 that, in estimating the cultivated land, it is 
 
 '^ The French acre, or arpent, is to the English acre as 
 three is to four : the French measure is the standard in Lower 
 Canada, and the English measure in the upper province: 
 two bushels and an half may be considered the average 
 quantity of seed. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 57 
 
 probable that the site of the houses, and gar- 
 dens, and space of ground about them, roads, 
 banks of rivers, and rivulets, &c. patches of 
 wood land reserved amongst the cleared land, 
 for supplying fuel, &c. may have been inclu- 
 ded ; and these spaces, with the quantity of 
 land under flax, &c. and meadow land, the 
 quantity of which is very considerable, must 
 altogether render the quantity of cleared land, 
 not u ed for the production of grain, verj'' 
 considerable. 
 
 An estimate of the amount of the grain, 
 which is produced, may be made by computing 
 the quantity consumed for the people's food ; 
 and adding to it the amount of exports ; the 
 grain used in the keeping of horses ; feeding of 
 stock; and the seed which is sown; which 
 altogether will constitute the gross amount. 
 From a computation of all these, as under,* it 
 
 * In estimating the quantity of grain used for the food of 
 the inhabitants, I shall suppose the quantity requisite to 
 each family of six persons, men, women, and children, to 
 be equal to that which would be sufficient for four full- 
 grown men, and that each man would require 2|lb. of 
 bread, meal, Indian corn, and pease, per day. 
 
58 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 appears, that about 13 or 14 bushels per acre 
 is only produced. Considering, therefore, 
 what poor crops these are, — the excellent qua- 
 lity of the land, — and the favourable climate, 
 it is sufficiently evident that an improvement 
 in agriculture might be easily effected. 
 
 The wheat which, as has already been ob- 
 
 Now, supposing each bushel to yield 48lbs. of bread, meal, 
 &c. each family would in that case require about 75 bushels 
 of grain annually. The 360,000 inhabitants, consisting 
 of 60,000 families, would, therefore, 
 
 require 4,500,000 bushels. 
 
 To which add the quantity exported . 330,483 
 And the amount of the seed . . . 1,221,159 
 
 Making altogether 6,051,642 bushels; 
 being equal to about 12| bushels per acre ; besides that used 
 in the keeping of horses and feeding of stock, &c. the 
 quantity of which cannot be correctly estimated by any rule 
 that could be depended upon ; but, at the very highest, 
 their amount cannot be supposed to be such as would make 
 any very considerable addition to the produce per acre. To 
 suppose the average to be about 13 or 14 bushels per acre 
 may, perhaps, be pretty near the mark ; and, indeed, from 
 the best information which I have been able to collect from 
 the inhabitants of the country, as well as from my own obser- 
 vations made upon the spot, I am inclined to conclude that 
 this is about the average produce per acre. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 59 
 
 served, is invariably sov^n in the spring, is sel- 
 dom more than three or four months in the 
 ground, and, notwithstanding that circumstance, 
 a very good quality is generally produced; 
 this is a proof that a very superior quality 
 indeed, might be produced if it v^ere sovi^n in 
 the fall of the year. 
 
 The climate is remarkably in favour of fall- 
 wheat ; for the snow, which continues to a late 
 period of the season, shelters it in the early 
 part of the spring, from the scorching rays of 
 the sun through the day, and the nipping 
 frosts in the night, as well as from the dry, cold, 
 and bleak, easterly winds in March, which so 
 often injure the wheat in Great Britain. 
 
 The introduction of barley into the list of 
 crops raised in Canada is only very recent ; and 
 the adoption of the culture of it is a proof 
 that the Canadian farmers are not so wedded 
 to old customs as either to refuse the intro- 
 duction of new crops, or, the adoption of 
 new schemes of improvement; but, on the 
 contrary, it proves that they will try experi- 
 ments and persevere in such discoveries as are 
 thereby found profitable. 
 
 Barley is not yet generally grown in Canada ; 
 
60 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 that which is raised is cultivated principally 
 below Quebec. 
 
 The growth of pease for exportation^ as may 
 be observed by No. 1, in the Appendix, has 
 been hut recently attended to ; and, it may be 
 observed, that as the prices advanced the 
 quantity produced has increased : this circum- 
 stance also affords another proof that the 
 Canadian farmers are not backward in culti- 
 vating whatever crops they find profitable. 
 
 Flax is generally raised throughout the 
 country. The crops are generally good ; and, 
 indeed, in some instance, excellent : this, how- 
 ever, appears to be a secret which the peo- 
 ple do not know. For, so little is the manage- 
 ment of this article understood, that, notwith- 
 standing the good crops which are produced, it 
 seldom turns out to be worth the trouble and 
 expense incurred in working it ; and, perhaps, 
 there is hardly any instance of its being found 
 profitable merely from the circumstance of its 
 being improperly managed after it is pulled. 
 For both flax and seed are completely spoiled 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 61 
 
 in the process of management which succeeds 
 the operation of pulling. 
 
 The Canadian farmers appear not to know,, 
 that after flax is pulled, the seed should be 
 separated from it as soon as possible ; and 
 that the flax and the seed then require treat- 
 ment so very different from each other, that 
 what is necessary to the one is destruction to the 
 other ; both in point of quantity and quality. 
 
 As soon as the flax is pulled it is generally 
 suffered to lie in handful s or so, upon the 
 ground which produced it, for the purpose 
 of being watered ; and in this state it remains 
 until this purpose is understood to be accom- 
 plished. 
 
 The loss occasioned by entirely watering- 
 flax upon the grass, is immense ; the injury it 
 thereby receives, both in quantity and quality, 
 is very great ; and, in many instances, such as 
 completely to ruin the crops. For, even sup- 
 posing it possible, that the under part of that 
 which lies thick upon the ground would 
 water regularly, that which was uppermost 
 being exposed to the dews of night and the 
 sun in the day, would become watered in less 
 than half the time requisite for that which lies 
 
62 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 * . _ " ■ . «,, H f f ' ' 
 
 nearest the ground ; consequently, by the 
 time that the undermost were watered the 
 uppermost would be rotten. This loss and 
 inconvenience would, in a certain degree, hap- 
 pen under the best and most careful manage- 
 ment, according to this process of watering 
 altogether upon the grass ; and, therefore, as 
 this method is even but imperfectly understood 
 in Canada, the loss is, consequently, propor- 
 tionably increased. For, as it is laid down 
 very thick and with great irregularity, when 
 spread out to water, a considerable part of it 
 either soon adheres to the ground, or, sinks 
 down amongst the roots of grass, or weeds, and 
 is thereby mill-dewed or rotten. 
 
 Until the flax is watered, the Canadian 
 farmer never thinks of separating the seed 
 from it ; the seed is, consequently, not only 
 liable to much injury, but the greater propor- 
 tion lost. 
 
 The flax, whilst under this process of water- 
 ing, being alternately wet with dew or rain, 
 and scorched with the rays of the sun, the pods 
 soon open, and that which is ripest falls out; 
 indeed, of any sort of crop, the best of the seed 
 is the most liable to be shaken out. 
 
BRITISH AMERICA]>f COLONIES. 63 
 
 Besides, the actual loss of the best quality 
 of the seed, that which remains is in general 
 materially injured; a few rainy days succeed- 
 ing each other will sprout every grain of it : 
 and although such a continuance of rainy wea- 
 ther seldom happens during the harvest in 
 Canada, yet certainly such occurrences some- 
 times take place ; consequently, the flax-«eed 
 then exposed will be inevitably ruined for the 
 purpose of sowing. 
 
 The flax, upon being considered watered, is 
 taken up, bound in sheaves, and the seed then 
 threshed out: and such is the favourable state 
 of the climate and superior quality of the seed, 
 that notwithstanding all the bad treatment 
 which it receives, that which remains is 
 generally found to be of a good quality : in- 
 deed, if properly managed, it is in point of qua- 
 lity equal to Dutch seed ; and would answer 
 the soil and climate of Great Britain equally as 
 well as that from Holland 
 
 Hemp. — For some years past a considerable 
 quantity of hemp has been produced in Upper 
 
64 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 Canada ; nearly in a sufficient quantity for the 
 supply of that province with cordage. The 
 proper and profitable method of cultivating and 
 managing it, however, io all the stages of the 
 necessary process through which it goes, from 
 the time of its being sown, to the period of its 
 being cleaned, is far from being well under- 
 stood in that province; and, in the lower pro- 
 vince the culture of it may be said to be hitherto 
 unknown. 
 
 The experiments hitherto made in the culti- 
 vation of this article in Lower Canada have 
 chiefly failed; not in the smallest degree, how- 
 ever, from any unfavourableness either in the 
 soil or climate ; but merely from the ignorance 
 of those who have hitherto made the experi- 
 ments. 
 
 The Canadian farmers failed from their igno- 
 rance of its general management; particularly 
 of the process which it undergoes after being 
 pulled, as may be naturally conjectured from 
 what I have observed concerning flax: and 
 those who have tried the cultivation of it by 
 way of example to the Canadian farmers, have 
 generally failed of success on account of their 
 ignorance of agriculture in general. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 65 
 
 One, in particular, of these sage experimen- 
 talists recommended to the Canadian farmers 
 to sow hemp instead of wheat, because their 
 land was exhausted with the growth of that 
 crop; and did actually himself, upon a farm of 
 about one hundred acres, which he had pro- 
 cured for the purpose, notwithstanding this 
 farm was in a very reduced and exhausted 
 state, sow about twenty-five or thirty acres of 
 hemp, as a commencement. This was a quan- 
 tity sufficiently large for a farm in a high state 
 of cultivation, and of three or four times the 
 extent of the one he occupied : of course this 
 experimental crop was not worth the pulling ; 
 and I believe never was wholly pulled. 
 
 When we consider, therefore, that this inge- 
 nious speculator recommended hemp as a crop 
 suitable to land that would not produce wheat, 
 — that he had actually sown it upon such land, 
 which of course failed of producing a crop 
 worth the reaping, it is evident, that if this curi- 
 ous specimen of husbandry had any effect at 
 all, it must have been to convince the Canadian 
 farmers that hemp was not a crop suitable to 
 the country. 
 
 1^ 
 
66 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 Instead of recommending hemp as a substi- 
 tute for wheat, it would have been more com- 
 patible with common sense, and the rules of 
 good husbandry, to have recommended the 
 growth of hemp to the Canadian farmers, that 
 they might have had the more abundant crops 
 of wheat. He might have done this with great 
 propriety. For, if land be rendered capable of, 
 and has actually yielded a good crop of wheat, 
 it would then produce an abundant crop of 
 hemp, besides being again in a proper condition 
 to yield another fertile return of wheat, or any 
 other sort of grain. 
 
 It is well known that the length of this crop 
 is one of its most essential qualities ; and, conse- 
 quently, if land be exhausted with wheat, it is 
 in a miserable condition indeed to produce 
 hemp. If hemp be short, it is almost good for 
 nothing, being incapable of being wrought. 
 Besides, it is peculiar to this, and almost all 
 other green crops, that if they are luxuriant 
 they actually improve the land : but if poor and 
 stunted, they ruin it; whereas, the flour produ- 
 ced from a bad crop of wheat will be about 
 as good, in point of quality, as that which is 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. W 
 
 produced from the grain of the most luxuriant 
 crop. 
 
 From the bad system of cropping, which is 
 practised, the land, in point of fertility, is rather 
 in a reduced state. This circumstance, there- 
 fore, certainly in some degree generally ope- 
 rates against the cultivation of both hemp and 
 flax. There are nevertheless to be found, 
 throughout the Canadas generally, upon every 
 farm, even where the land is most reduced, 
 certain pieces of land fit for producing very 
 fertile crops of either hemp or flax: for in- 
 stance, land newly taken in ; small pieces under 
 pease, meadow, or what may have otherwise 
 been several years under grass ; or spots that 
 may, from one or other of a variety of causes, 
 be more than ordinarily fertile: amongst these 
 such a choice might be made, by any one v/ho 
 possessed any tolerably accurate idea of agri- 
 culture, and the cultivation and management of 
 hemp and flax, as would ensure the profitable 
 cultivation of these crops. 
 
 Considering that the land is in general well 
 adapted to the cultivation of hemp and flax; 
 
 f2 
 
6B IMPORTANCE OP THE 
 
 that our government are disposed to give eii- 
 coLiragement to the growth of hemp; and that 
 good crops of flax, although spoiled in the 
 watering, are raised throughout the country in 
 general ; it is therefore evident, to any one at all 
 acquainted with agriculture, and the means 
 which have generally proved successful, in the 
 introduction of improvements in other coun- 
 tries, particularly the rapid success which at- 
 tended the means used for improving the culti- 
 vation of flax in Scotland, that the result of a 
 little well-directed attention to the cultivation 
 of hemp in these provinces would, undoubtedly, 
 be the abundant supply of the British market 
 with that important article. 
 
 With respect to the state of agriculture in 
 general, in British America, it maybe observed, 
 that very little alteration has yet taken place in 
 the wretched system of management which 
 prevailed when we first took possession of 
 these colonies : the increase in the exports of 
 agricultural produce has been chiefly owing to 
 the extension of — and not to the improvement of 
 agriculture. If prober measures were adopted. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 69 
 
 however, to bring about an improvement of 
 agriculture, in general, in these provinces, the 
 present unimproved state of agriculture; the 
 superior quality of the soil; the favourable 
 climate ; and the ingenuity and industry of the 
 people, are circumstances which would un- 
 doubtedly ensure the most certain success: 
 and the vast benefit and advantages which 
 would result to the mother country, as well as 
 to her colonists, from such an improvement, 
 ought to stimulate her to undertake its intro- 
 duction.* 
 
 ARTICLES OF EXPORT FROM THE BRITISH 
 NORTH-AMERICAN PROVINCES. 
 
 The articles exported from Upper and 
 Lower Canada are, the produce of the forest, 
 
 * The attention of the board of agriculture might be most 
 profitably directed towards the improvement of the system of 
 agriculture pursued in these colonies. 
 
70 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 viz. furs, square oak and pine timber, masts, 
 spars, staves, deals, &c. and pot and pearl 
 ashes; the produce of agriculture, such as 
 wheat, flour, bread, provisions, &c. Besides 
 these, the Canadian exports consist of a nume- 
 rous list of other articles, as enumerated in 
 No. 1, in the Appendix; a list which not 
 only shows the variety of which these ex- 
 ports consist, but also exhibits an interest- 
 ing view of the abundant resources of these 
 provinces. 
 
 The principal articles exported from New 
 Brunswick^ and Nova Scotia are, lumber, 
 pot and petrl ashes, provisions, live stock, 
 fish, coal, gypsom or plaster of Pa- 
 ris, &c. 
 
 These provinces are very advantageously si- 
 tuated for the fisheries, particularly Nova Scotia. 
 They have, however, both paid great attention 
 to this branch of industry, by which means these 
 fisheries are now brought to such a degree of 
 perfection, as to render supplies of fish of any 
 description from the United States to our West- 
 Indian colonies altogether unnecessary. For, 
 with the supplies of cod-fish which may be ob- 
 tained from Newfoundland, and of salmon and 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 71 
 
 shad from Canada, these colonies are not only 
 sufficient to supply our West-Indian posses- 
 sions with fish, but also the most extensive 
 demand which we can secure from other 
 markets. The lumber furnished by these 
 two provinces is mostly from New Bruns- 
 wick : and consists principally of masts, spars, 
 square pine, deals, boards, scantling, black 
 birch, &c. 
 
 These colonies are sufficiently capable of 
 supplying the demand both of the mother- 
 country and her West-Indiau colonies, with 
 every kind of lumber, (i. e. timber or wood,) 
 except those kinds which are only pro- 
 duced in tropical climates, such as mahogany, 
 lignum vitae, &c. : and, (with Newfoundland 
 in respect to fish,) of supplying our West-Indian 
 islands with grain, flour, meal, bread, fish, pro- 
 visions, live stock, &c. And also upon a pro- 
 per disposition of our commercial concerns in 
 regard to drawing the produce of that part of 
 the United States bordering upon the waters 
 which have their out-let to the sea by the St. 
 Laurence, and the necessary attention being 
 paid to the encouragement of improvements in 
 agriculture, these colonies would, in a very fe\V 
 
72 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 years, yield the mother-country all the wheat, 
 hemp, and flax, which she requires from 
 foreign parts. 
 
 With respect to their adequacy to furnish 
 such supplies, some may, perhaps, urge the 
 smallness of the proportion of these articles 
 which have hitherto been supplied, and may 
 press it as a presumptive proof of their in- 
 adequacy to furnish them. 
 
 To this objection it may be answered, in the 
 first place, that the British colonies have long 
 been crippled by so many shackles, as shall be 
 made plainly appear, that they have never yet 
 had a fair opportunity of ascertaining how far 
 they could have furnished these supplies ; and, 
 in the next place, whenever any opportunities 
 have been allowed, for their resources to flow 
 in their proper channel, they have given the 
 most ample proof of their being adequate to 
 supply the most extensive demand. To argue, 
 therefore, that the British American provinces 
 are inadequate to furnish these supplies, upon 
 the ground of what they have hitherto done, 
 would be as preposterous, as to assert that the 
 British West-Indian colonies cannot supply the 
 mother-country with coffee, because that article 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 73 
 
 is permitted to be introduced from Turkey 
 and Bourbon for domestic use, or that the Bri- 
 tish manufacturers are inadequate to supply 
 onr domestic wants, because, French, Germany 
 Russian, East-lndian, and other foreign manu- 
 factures are allowed to be imported for home 
 consumption ^ 
 
 After having made these observations con- 
 cerning the nature of the properties and quali- 
 ties which these provinces possess ; consider- 
 ing that the commercial interests of Great Bri- 
 tain is the main object which I have in view, 
 particularly her shipping interest, — that these 
 provinces, notwithstanding the many discou- 
 ragements they have laboured vmder, have 
 lately, (when a little relieved by our ruinous 
 suspending-laws, and licensing-system, acciden- 
 tally ceasing to operate with their usual vigour 
 and effect in favour of our enemies,) afforded 
 a very large proportion of the employment of our 
 shipping, even equal to upwards of one-third 
 part of all the tonnage which we employ in 
 forei2:n trade, — and that these colonies from their 
 
74 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 resources and capabilities having been hitherto 
 neglected, and their interests sacrificed to the 
 United States and other foreigners, are there- 
 fore evidently capable of contributing to the 
 support of our commercial and shipping inte- 
 rests, infinitely beyond what they have hitherto 
 done. I shall, therefore, in the first place, take 
 notice of, the enormous sacrifice of our shipping 
 and commerce to the United States occasioned hy 
 the great and unjust advantages alloxved them 
 over our own American colonists; with some 
 other causes of discouragement which these im- 
 portant interests have e:vperienced : and, in the 
 second place, of the extensive, valuable, and 
 improveahle resources and capabilities, possessed 
 hy our American provinces^ as 7^espects our 
 shipping and commercial interests. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 75 
 
 CHAP. UI. 
 
 OF THE ENORMOUS SACRIFICE OF OUR SHIPPING 
 AND COMMERCE TO THE UNITED STATES, 
 OCCASIONED BY THE GREAT AND UNJUST 
 ADVANTAGES ALLOWED THEM OVER OUR 
 OWN AMERICAN COLONISTS ; WITH SOME 
 OTHER CAUSES OF DISCOURAGEMENT WHICH 
 THESE IMPORTANT INTERESTS HAVE EX- 
 PERIENCED. 
 
 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 With respect to these three important inte- 
 rests, viz. of our ship-owners, our merchants, 
 and our colonists, they, it may be observed, 
 are so intimately connected, that, in most in- 
 stances, whatever injures the one proportiona- 
 bly injures the other, and 'vice versa. — For 
 instance, by increasing the trade of our colo- 
 nies, we thereby so far secure additional er^- 
 ployment to our ships, — business to our mer- 
 chants, and a market for our manufactures ; — 
 
76 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 thereby securing these important interests in a 
 channel wherein no rival has a right to come in 
 competition with us in time of peace, and 
 wherein no enemy has it in his power to inter- 
 rapt the connection in time of war. By secu- 
 ring a numerous and extensive merchant-ship- 
 ping also, w^e not only thereby provide ourselves 
 with the only means by which we can defend 
 it, — by which we can protect our trade with 
 foreign parts, and secure our safety and inde- 
 pendence at home, but we also thereby greatly 
 encourage the exportation of our manufac- 
 tures and the extension of our commerce in 
 general, by an extensive foreign connection, 
 necessarily formed and secured by our mari- 
 time industry. With respect to our commerce, 
 we may, no doubt for a time, so far secure it, 
 by employing foreign ships, where our own are 
 either directly or indirectly excluded : yet, by 
 following such a system we are not only fore- 
 going the most valuable part of the profits 
 arising from such transactions, but in reality 
 meanly submitting to our enemies, and volun- 
 tarily surrendering to them the means by which 
 alone we acquired our commerce, and by 
 which alone we can retain it. In fact, to pur- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 77 
 
 sue measures adopted either to retain or extend 
 our commerce at the expense of our shipping- 
 interests, will prove but mean and miserable 
 subterfuges, and, if persisted in, will ultimately 
 lead to the ruin of our commerce as well as 
 our snipping. 
 
 The losses which our shipping and commer- 
 cial interests have sustained, from the advan- 
 tages allowed the Americans, may be stated 
 to have originated and existed principally, — 
 
 In the relaxation of our navigation-laws in 
 favour of the United States, by opening the 
 ports of our colonies to their ships ; — ^ 
 
 In the admission of the produce of the United 
 States into the United Kingdom, at the same rate 
 of duties as that of our own colonies ; — 
 
 In the advantages allowed American ships in 
 the countervailing duties charged by the British 
 and United States governments respectively ; — 
 
 In the inequality of the amount of the duties 
 charged upon the lumber we import in general ; — 
 
 In the importation of enemies produce by 
 license, &c. ;— and. 
 
 In the high price of our ships, and the great 
 expense at which they are navigated, compared 
 with those foreign ships with which they have 
 
78 , ITVrPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 to come in competition. Each of these points, 
 consequently, deserve a few observations. 
 
 OF THE RELAXATION OF OUR NAVIGATION- 
 LAWS IN FAVOUR OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 BY OPENING THE PORTS OF OUR COLONIES 
 TO THEIR SHIPS. 
 
 For the encouragement of our shipping, the 
 safety of our colonies, and the protection of 
 our commerce, our forefathers, at an early pe- 
 riod of our maritime consequence, enacted,* 
 that no foreign ship should enter the ports of 
 our colonies. This law our ancestors, even up 
 to the present generation, respected and held 
 sacred over every difficulty and distress: — 
 viewing this, and other laws,, enacted for the 
 same important purpose, as essential to the 
 support and protection of our merchant-ship- 
 ping and commerce in general ; and also, view- 
 ing our merchant-shipping and commerce as 
 essential to our maritime power and indepen% 
 dence, they considered peace itself as no sacri- 
 
 * See 12 Car. II. c. 18. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 79 
 
 iice to the most scrupulous observation of our 
 navigation-laws in general. 
 
 This wise law, so admirably calculated to 
 protect and promote the interests of our com- 
 merce and our colonies, as well as of our ship- 
 ping, has been of late years, however, greatly 
 abused, and indeed almost totally disregarded : 
 the greatest abuse which it has experienced 
 has been in its relaxation in favour of the 
 United States of America. 
 
 The act of the 23d Geo. III. c. 39 ; empow- 
 ering his Majesty in Council to suspend our 
 navigation-laws in favour of the United States, 
 led the way to a shameful system of concession 
 to America, which we have acted upon towards 
 that government ever since. 
 
 The first operation upon this act was to admit, 
 by proclamation, the produce of the United 
 States into this country, at the same rate of 
 duties as was charged upon the produce of our 
 own colonies ; * the first of these proclamations 
 
 '* Your Majesty, by the said orders in council, did think 
 fit to permit to be imported into the colonies or islands be- 
 longing to your Majesty in America or the West.Indies, in 
 British ships only, navigated according to law, all such arti- 
 
80 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 was issued the 14th of May, and the next on 
 the 6th of June, 1783. 
 
 This privilege was granted to conciliate and 
 satisfy the clamorous disposition of the Ame* 
 ricans, when roused by a sense of the privileges 
 they had lost by their independence, from find- 
 ing themselves placed in the list of other foreign 
 nations, and their produce imported into Great 
 Britain, was consequently rendered liable to the 
 same duties as the produce of other foreign 
 countries, — effects which our navigation-laws, 
 
 cles the growth, production, or manufacture, of any of the 
 territories of the said United States, (except salted provi- 
 sions, and the produce of their fisheries,) as might by law, 
 before the declaration of independence, have been imported 
 from the countries belonging to the said States into any of 
 the said colonies or islands ; but your Majesty, at the same 
 time, thought fit to prohibit any commercial intercourse be- 
 tween the countries belonging to the United States of Ame- 
 rica, and the colonies or islands belonging to your Majesty in 
 America or the West-Indies, in ships belonging to the sub- 
 jects of the said States. 
 
 OBSERVATION. 
 
 This last regulation, first established by order in council, 
 has since been adopted and confirmed by act of parliament ; 
 and, though the people of the United States complain of 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 81 
 
 existing at that time, wisely brought about, 
 without even the interference of the legislature. 
 Had there ever been an instance wherein 
 concession and submission had satisfied ava- 
 rice and arrested ambition, we might have 
 naturally expected that the Americans would 
 have been content to have been placed^ in other 
 respects, simply upon a footing with other 
 nations. But we have found, to our experience, 
 that one concession to imposition only makes 
 way for anothei',~~that the first compliance with 
 an unreasonable demand, however small, is 
 actually inviting fresh aggression, — that nations 
 
 this regulation more than any other, it is not new, but is 
 founded on the antient law of this country, " which forbids 
 " any goods to be imported into, or exported from, any of 
 " the colonies belonging to your Majesty in Asia, Africa, or 
 " America, except in ships belonging to your Majesty's sub- 
 " jects, and navigated according to law." — It is founded also 
 upon a public law, approved and adopted by all European 
 nations, who have ever claimed a right of restraining the 
 trade and navigation of their colonies, in such a manner as, 
 in their judgement, will be most conducive to their respective 
 interests. It might be proved, if it were necessary, that the 
 policy of Great Britain, in this respect, is much more liberal 
 than that of France or Spain.— Reports of the Lords of the 
 Committee of Privy Council, from Mr, Atcheson's Collection 
 of Reports, i^c— Edition 1807. 
 
 G 
 
82 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 as well as individuals, who endeavour to secure 
 friendship by concession, frequently subject 
 themselves only to meanness and contempt. 
 
 In fact, the Americans so easily obtained 
 this great advantage to which they owe so large* 
 a proportion of their shipping, and we conse- 
 quently a proportionable loss of ours, that 
 they even considered it as no favour. For, ob- 
 serving, by his Majesty's proclamation of the 
 2d of July, 1783, that their produce was to be 
 admitted into our West-Indian settlements, 
 but that this privilege did not extend to their 
 ships, they, in order to extort from us this fur- 
 ther concession, imposed, upon importations 
 made in British ships, countervailing duties, 
 amounting to an absolute prohibition. f 
 
 * See an account of this enormous increase in page cvii, 
 of Mr. Atcheson's book, entitled " American Encroachments 
 on British Rights." 
 
 t With respect to the measures which the United States, 
 and the provinces of which they are composed, have taken, 
 in consequence of his Majesty's order in council, of 2d July, 
 the committee find that the state of Maryland has, on this 
 account, imposed a duty of five shillings per ton on British 
 shipping, at their entrance or clearance in the ports of that 
 state, (which is said to be two shillings more than they have 
 laid on all other shipping,) and two per cent, ad valorem. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 83 
 
 Instead of meeting this act of hostility with 
 corresponding retaHatory measures, the British 
 
 over and above what is now paid> or may hereafter be 
 by the citizens of the said state, upon all merchandize and 
 manufactures the growth and produce of Great Britain, im- 
 ported in any British ship or vessel owned or belongingj in 
 part or wholly, to any British subject or subjects. 
 
 And the assembly of Georgia, now sitting, has prohibited 
 all intercourse with the British West-India islands, until the 
 orders of his Majesty in council be revoked. 
 
 It does not appear that any of the other states have passed 
 any legislative act to the like purpose; but, in the assembly 
 of Pensylvania, which was sitting when the last accounts 
 came away, an act had been read a second time, for imposing 
 duties on every ton of British shipping, and on British manu- 
 factures and commodities, in like manner as those imposed 
 by the state of Maryland, with the addition, that the assem- 
 bly of Pensylvania proposed to augment the duty on British 
 manufactures and commodities, imported in British shipping, 
 to 2 J per cent, ad valorem; and there is intelligence received 
 of a general ferment in all the southern and middle states, 
 on account of the restrictions laid by bis Majesty's order in 
 council. 
 
 The assembly of New York had addressed the Governor 
 on the subject, in terms of resentment to Great Britain ; and 
 the assembly of Virginia have unanimously resolved, ** That 
 the United States, in congress assembled, ought to be em- 
 powered to prohibit British vessels from being the carriers 
 of the growth or produce of the West-India islands to the 
 said States, so long as the order in council shall be continu- 
 
 g2 
 
84 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 government acted with the most humble sub- 
 mission ; and, for " these courtesies,'' actually 
 granted the valuable bonus, in the commercial 
 treaty of 1794, of trading to our East-Indian 
 possessions ; — a privilege which was then, in 
 vain sought for, by British merchants. Be- 
 sides this concession, extorted from us by the 
 insolence, which our pusilanimity had encou- 
 raged in this upstart republic, the ports of our 
 West-Indian islands were uniformly opened to 
 their ships, upon principles that, to their inte* 
 rest, were the most favourable which ingenuity 
 could have devised, — principled, which shall 
 be proved to have secured the carriage of 
 almost the whole imports made into these 
 islands to American ships. For, although 
 their ships were by law^ excluded the ports of 
 
 ed ; or to concert such other measures as shall be thought 
 effectual to counteract the designs of Great Britain, with 
 respect to the American commerce/' 
 
 The province of South Carolina has laid duties on West- 
 Indian produce, from £bQ to =£100 per cent, higher than on 
 that of foreign islands : but it appears, that this duty was 
 imposed before they had any knowledge of his Majesty's 
 order in council, of 2d July. — Reports of the Committee of 
 Council, from Mr. Jttcheson's Collection of Reports, S^. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES, 85 
 
 our West-Indian colonies, yet they were, from 
 the commencement of the late French war up to 
 1807, admitted without the authority of any 
 law ; and, after that period, they were admitted, 
 by orders in council, according to the Wmeri- 
 can-intercourse-bill enacted for that purpose. 
 
 From the commencement of American inde- 
 pendence, up to the date of the commercial 
 treaty, in 1794, and even up to the present 
 hour, we appeared and are still apparently at a 
 loss how to rank the Americans, — what privi- 
 leges they were entitled to, or what prohibitions 
 they ought to be liable to in respect to their 
 being placed amongst other foreign nations. 
 How unfortunate! that we did not, at their 
 very birth as a nation, find out, that they put 
 every other foreign nation, with which they 
 had dealings, upon a more favourable footing 
 than us, — that we did not, instead of meanly 
 purchasing an equally favourable footing with 
 other nations, in respect to vending our manu- 
 factures to that country, by the most enormous 
 and unprecedented sacrifices, verily and in- 
 deed, put them upon a footing with " the most 
 favoured nations," by excluding them as well 
 as other foreigners from the ports of our colo- 
 
86 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 nies,— by charging the same duties upon their 
 produce as upon that of other nations, — and 
 by imposing a countervailing duty in favour of 
 our own ships equal to what they charged in 
 favour of theirs, instead of the pitiful sum of 
 22^^. balanced against ^3 : 10 : per ton * 
 
 However, in this unfortunate dilemma, with 
 respect to what relation the United States 
 should stand towards us, we nqt only gave the 
 Americans the most unbounded advantages 
 over other foreign nations and over our own 
 colonists, but also even over British ship- 
 owners and British merchants. For the ports 
 of our East-Indian colonies were not only 
 opened to her ships and to her commerce, 
 whilst the British ship-owners and British 
 merchants (except the East-India Company) 
 were not only excluded, but insulted, by being 
 told that, their being admitted to trade to these 
 colonies would endanger the safety of the 
 whole of our Indian establishments. But no 
 such calamity, it would appear, was appre- 
 hended, by our government, from this Ameri 
 can intercourse in thai quarter. 
 
 See Nos. 3 and 4 in the Appendix. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 87 
 
 This channel of commerce being open to 
 these foreigners, and shut against our own mer- 
 chants, some of our countrymen were indu- 
 ced, from eagerness of gain, to abandon their 
 country, and become Americans ; or, so to 
 compromise their characters as to create doubts 
 of their retaining any attachment to it. 
 
 The British, although undegraded by such 
 a comparison, in any other country in the civi- 
 lized world, were nevertheless, in order to gain 
 the confidence of their own government, in re- 
 spect to their being allowed to trade to these 
 colonies of their own country, obliged to per- 
 sonate a people, who would not, in any coun- 
 try, besides England, have been preferred, upon 
 the score of peaceable behaviour and honoura- 
 ble dealing. 
 
 Nothing surely could be more humiliating 
 to an Englishman than to see his countrymen 
 metamorphosed into Yanhies, merely to gain 
 the confidence of the British government, in 
 order to obtain a share of that trade from 
 which, by the old established laws of the land, 
 foreigners were totally excluded. 
 
 I am neither arguing nor inquiring whether 
 this trade should or should not have been 
 
B8 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 thrown open, as it has been lately, to the Bri- 
 tish merchants in general. But surely, British 
 merchants had infinitely a better right to it 
 than foreigners, who were allowed, in the 
 most unreasonable manner, to come into com- 
 petition with our East-India Company in this 
 trade, which either ought to have been sacred 
 to that company, or thrown open to their coun- 
 try at large. 
 
 This br^^ncb. of commerce, which was opened 
 to the Americans in British India, afforded an 
 opportunity, which they embraced to the fullest 
 extent, of filling the British American and 
 West- Indian colonies with East-Indian manu- 
 factures of every description, not only to the 
 injury of the East-India Company, but also 
 to the injury of British manufacturers. 
 
 This trade being now opened to the country 
 in general, however, v^ill form no apology 
 whatever for again opening it to the Ameri- 
 cans. The former privileges they enjoyed in 
 this respect, being im providently granted, can 
 give them no claiip ; it is, therefore, to be hoped, 
 that their flag, excepting ships which might 
 put in in distress, shall never again wave in the 
 ports of these or an^y other British colonies. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 89 
 
 Although the Americans were, as already 
 observed, and are still, by the strict letter of 
 our navigation-laws, excluded from the ports of 
 our West-Indian islands, yet this trade was 
 opened to them after their independence ; and 
 opened, too, upon such principles, as not only 
 secured to them the opportunity of furnishing 
 produce for the supply of these islands, but, 
 also, ultimately secured to them its carriage. 
 
 From the period of American independence 
 to the commencement of the late French war, 
 the principal afticles of American produce 
 were still allowed to be imported into our 
 West-Indian settlements in British ships. Con- 
 sidering, therefore, that, before the American 
 war, these settlements were almost entirely 
 supplied from the country which now forms 
 the United States, — that the produce of these 
 states was afterwards admitted upon the same 
 terms as that of our own colonies, — that the 
 ports of the United States were considerably 
 nearer to these islands than the ports of our 
 own provinces, — and that the supplying of our 
 West-Indian settlements with American pro- 
 duce, from the United States, must have, 
 therefore, been a trade well organized and un- 
 
^0 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 derstood: whereas, upon the other hand, our 
 remaining provinces being at a comparatively 
 greater distance, and their produce conse- 
 quently liable to a proportion ably higher 
 freight, their trade with the West Indies, pre- 
 vious to the late American war, was therefore 
 limited, and, of course, less understood, either 
 as to the preparation of lumber, or the proper 
 assortment of cargoes in general, than in the 
 United States ; and, having also been before 
 that period in the habit of shipping their wheat 
 to Great Britain, they even were not sufficiently 
 provided with mills to manufacture that article 
 into flour for the West-Indian market. This 
 differeizce of freight in favour of the Americans 
 tended considerably to discourage the trade 
 from our own provinces, and operated greatly 
 in encouraging the transportation of their pro- 
 duce to the ports of the United States, instead 
 of taking it direct, in British bottoms, to the 
 king's sugar-colonies, or to any intermediate 
 port in British America. 
 
 Had a duty, equal to have balanced this 
 difference in favour of America, and something 
 over and above, to have constituted a premium 
 or protecting duty in favour of the British colo- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 91 
 
 nists, it would have encouraged and increased 
 the exportation of produce from our own colo- 
 nies, and discouraged and diminished the 
 exports from the United States, and at last 
 enabled our own provinces to have completely 
 supplied all the demands of our West-Indian 
 settlements, for American produce. This duty, 
 although it would have been but a mere trifle 
 as to the price paid in the West Indies, yet it 
 would have been of great importance compa- 
 red with the freights from the British provinces, 
 and its operation would have, no doubt, ulti- 
 mately rendered us independent of the United 
 States, in a very important respect. Had the 
 above circumstances been attended to, and 
 adequate measures been adopted and perseve- 
 red in, our own provinces would, by the com- 
 mencement of the late French war, have been 
 capable of affording our West-Indian settle- 
 ments all their supplies. From the interests of 
 these provinces, however, being neglected and 
 misunderstood, their whole exports, at the com- 
 mencement of that war, did not altogether 
 amount to a quantity sufficient to answer the 
 demand of these islands ; and, moreover, from 
 various impolitic measures operating against 
 
92 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 them, there was then even but a small proportion 
 of what they did export sent thither; and, conse- 
 quently, a large share of the supplies of these 
 settlements continued still to be furnished from 
 the United States. The inconveniencies, to 
 which we were rendered liable by this depend- 
 ence upon America, were also greatly increased 
 by the want of proper convoys to protect our 
 ships employed in this intercourse with the 
 United States. 
 
 This danger to which our ships were expo- 
 sed was afterwards pleaded as an excuse for a 
 further suspension of our navigation-laws, in 
 opening the ports of our West-Indian colonies 
 to American ships, as well as to their produce : 
 and this suspension was managed in such a man- 
 ner, as answered the purpose of the United States 
 infinitely better than even its total repeal. 
 
 From the inconveniencies suffered, by a 
 want of adequate protection to our ships em- 
 ployed between the United States and our 
 West-Indian islands, at the commencement of 
 the late French war, serious inconveniencies 
 were felt in the West Indies for want of 
 lumber, and the greatest distress for want of 
 food ; — every article selling at the most enor- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES^. 93 
 
 mous prices, and the inhabitants threatened 
 with actual famine, the governors of the re- 
 spective islands, were under such distressing 
 circumstances, compelled, as a dernier resort, 
 to open the ports to the Americans, both to 
 their produce and to their ships. 
 
 Then glutted markets and a depression of 
 prices ensued, and the ports again closed to 
 the Americans ; and, then, of course, as the 
 stock on hand became exhausted, prices again 
 advanced, until at last it again became neces- 
 sary to open the ports to the Americans, for a 
 fresh supply ; thus producing a continued and 
 rapid succession of extremes, which occa- 
 sioned the most serious inconveniencies ; — in- 
 conveniencies which often reduced our West- 
 Indian colonists to the necessity of eating 
 sour flour and half rotten provisions at the 
 most exorbitant prices ; and at the same time 
 almost excluded the produce of the British 
 provinces from the West-Indian market. 
 
 The comparatively greater distance at which 
 the ports of the British provinces, than those 
 of the United States, were from the West 
 Indies ; and the ports of the British provinces 
 being principally shut up by the frost, (during 
 
94 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 the winter season, are circumstances, which, 
 although, in themselves, they would have had 
 scarcely any perceptible effect in excluding 
 the produce of the British provinces from the 
 West- Indian market, yet, coupled with the 
 rapid changes which that market was rendered 
 liable to, it may be easily perceived, that they 
 were calculated to produce that effect, and to 
 continue to operate in this respect as long as 
 the singular scramble, which the supplying of 
 our West-Indian possessions exhibited, whilst 
 the farce produced by this law and its sus- 
 pension was kept in play. 
 
 Whilst large stocks remained on hand, pri- 
 ces were moderate ; but, as the super-abundant 
 quantity became exhausted, the farther sup- 
 plies being still dependent upon the same pre- 
 carious means, the remainder became an ob- 
 ject of speculation, thereby causing an imme- 
 diate rise of prices. 
 
 But if the Canadians heard of such scarcity 
 and high prices as were thus produced, and 
 accordingly despatched cargoes to meet them, 
 their shipments were sure to meet the market 
 in the very reverse state of what they had been 
 informed ; such adventurers were sure to find 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 95 
 
 every British island in the West Indies glutted, 
 and produce selling perhaps at prices lower 
 than those current at the ports where their 
 shipments were made. They ultimately found 
 that what might be termed a brisk demand 
 and encouraging prices soon increased to that 
 dearth and almost actual famine, which pro- 
 duced the necessity for opening the ports to 
 the Americans, who, from their contiguity with 
 the West Indies, had an opportunity of glut- 
 ting these ports with produce, considerably be- 
 fore supplies could reach them from the British 
 provinces ; and, therefore, learned, by expe- 
 rience, that as long as the intercourse between 
 our West- Indian colonies and the United States 
 was permitted and continued upon the same 
 footing as has been before described, it was 
 impossible for them to derive any advantage 
 from their sister colonies in the West-Indies, 
 as a market for their produce. 
 
 I have mentioned the rapid changes which 
 the West-Indian market was rendered liable 
 to, and the distance and liability of some of 
 the ports of our provinces to be blocked up by 
 the frost in winter, as two causes which con- 
 tributed to the exclusion of the produce of 
 
96 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 these provinces from the West Indies. Had 
 only one of these two causes existed, our 
 continental colonists would have certainly come 
 in for a share in furnishing the West-Indian 
 market v/ith American produce. 
 
 It may be argued, that our American provin* 
 ces, on account of their distance, and of some of 
 their ports being liable to be shut up at certain 
 seasons of the year by the frost, are incapable 
 of furnishing our West-Indian colonists with 
 regular supplies. With regard to the distance, 
 an addition of eight or ten days to the length of 
 the passage is equal to the difference, and 
 therefore, excepting under the circumstances 
 produced by the alternate opening and shutting 
 the market to the Americans, scarcely deserves 
 to be called a disadvantage. 
 
 As to the disadvantages which might arise 
 from the circumstance of the ports being shut 
 up by the frost, it may be observed, that 
 some of them are no doubt shut op from 
 two to five months : but, an additional stock 
 laid in in the fall of the year would prevent 
 every possible inconvenience, which could 
 arise from this interruption, except in regard 
 to a few articles of minor consideration. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 97 
 
 With regard to flour ; as the supplies would 
 principally depend upon Canada, so far the 
 inhabitants of the West-Indies would require 
 to lay in a small additional stock in the fall of 
 the year, as the navigation of the St. Laurence 
 is shut up between four and five months. This 
 could be done without further inconvenience 
 than the out-lay of money, and about half a 
 dollar per barrel, for which it may be warranted 
 to keep twelve months, instead of four or five. 
 
 As part, however, might be obtained from 
 the lower provinces, where the ports are not so 
 long blockaded by the frost, three or four months 
 stock on hand would be the largest quantity 
 which would be requisite to provide against 
 this inconvenience. 
 
 Concerning lumber, no possible plea can 
 be urged against its keeping; and, therefore, 
 all the disadvantages which could arise to our 
 West-Indian colonists, from their being confi- 
 ned to these provinces, for their supplies of 
 that article, would be also the laying in three 
 or four months stock in the fall of the year. 
 
 Fish and provisions would keep with the 
 greatest safety; at least, if they were cured 
 and packed in a manner suitable to the climate, 
 
 H 
 
08 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 they could receive but little, if any, injury, 
 from being kept for this length of time. 
 
 Thus, it appears, that so far as the British 
 provinces are capable of supplying our West- 
 Indian settlements with flour, meal, bread, 
 grain, &c. lumber, fish, and provisions, and the 
 furnishing of such supplies confined to the 
 resources of these provinces, no difficulties need 
 be apprehended either from the distance or from 
 the occasional suspension of the navigation 
 during winter : and, indeed, upon that trade 
 being encouraged to flow in this channel, no in- 
 convenience could possibly be experienced. 
 
 The quantity of wheat and flour, &c. hitherto 
 annually exported from the British provinces, 
 has been certainly short of what was suffi- 
 cient for the supply of our settlements in the 
 West Indies. This circumstance, although, 
 for obvious reasons, no proof of their inade-r 
 quacy, yet formed an additional excuse for the 
 admission of United States produce into these 
 settlements. 
 
 The hostile spirit of the American govern- 
 ment, with some other circumstances, have at 
 length convinced us of the capability of our 
 American provinces, of supplying not only our 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 99 
 
 West-Indian colonies with lumber, but, also, 
 the mother country. And, although nothing 
 has yet taken place, at all calculated to in- 
 crease the exportation of flour, (at least, how- 
 ever far any circumstances may have occurred 
 favourable to that end, others have operated 
 proportion ably against it,) yet, it is no less 
 clear, that in time of peace with the United 
 States of America, flour may be obtained from 
 our possessions upon the St. Laurence, in suf- 
 ficient abundance for the supply of our West- 
 Indian islands. 
 
 The American embargo and the continental 
 system have, ever since J 807, produced an ex- 
 traordinary demand, in Canada, both for lum- 
 ber and flour. 
 
 This great demand for fish and lumber, of 
 every description, has been completely answered. 
 For the British American forests producing 
 timber in abundance, and the population of 
 these provinces being sufficiently numerous to 
 bring it to market, (at least, with the assist- 
 ance they had from the Americans,) the great- 
 est demand for that article, therefore, which 
 has ever occurred, in the British colonies, has 
 been abundantly answered. The proportionate 
 
 H 2 
 
100 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 demand for flour, however, has certainly not 
 been supplied. For the circumstances upon 
 which the increase of the exportation of that 
 article, and of lumber, from Canada, dependy 
 differ materially, both in their nature and faci- 
 lity of operation. 
 
 The American embargo and non-interconrse 
 measures, it may be easily perceived, were 
 much more calculated to prevent supplies of 
 flour than of lumber being brought to the Ca- 
 nadian ports. For, although the supplies of 
 lumber, from the American side of the St. 
 Laurence, were almost entirely cut off, yet 
 there being an abundant quantity of that article 
 upon the Canadian territory, it had only to be 
 cut down and floated to market ; whereas, it 
 plainly appears, that, on account of the Ameri- 
 can prohibitory laws, the increase of the quan- 
 tity of flour for exportation was dependent 
 upon the extension and improvement of agri- 
 culture : means of slow operation when com- 
 pared with the felling of timber. For, ever 
 since Mr. Jefferson's embargo, in 1807, the sup- 
 plies from the Americans being almost entirely 
 withheld, very little increase in the exportation 
 of flour was to be expected ; whereas, for the 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 101 
 
 reasons adduced, there was nothing to prevent 
 an increase in the exports of lumber; at least, 
 not until the commencement of actual hostilities. 
 ^ Although these prohibitory measures of 
 v>. the American government had the effect of 
 (^increasing the demand for flour, in the ports 
 ^of the St. Laurence, and producing higher 
 ' prices than those paid in the ports of the 
 ^United States; yet, for the reasons already men- 
 tioned, they had also the effect of greatly pre- 
 venting the Canadian exports of that article; 
 and, therefore, although they created in the 
 Americans, situated upon the Canadian fron- 
 tiers, an inclination to prefer the ports of the 
 St. Laurence, in the disposal of their property, 
 yet these people could not benefit by the cir- 
 cumstance, not having the power of a choice. 
 
 Had not open hostilities actually commen- 
 ced, however, and, at the same time, America 
 had continued, by her prohibitory laws, to 
 withhold supplies from our West-Indian 
 islands, a considerable supply Df flour would 
 have found its way to the Canadian ports, 
 however vigilant the Americans might have 
 been to prevent it, by enforcing the laws esta- 
 blished for that purpose. The late prohibitory 
 
]02 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 laws of the United States have done a very 
 essential service to the British American pro- 
 vinces, in putting an end to the absurd practice 
 of alternately shutting and opening the ports of 
 our West-Indian islands to the Americans, a 
 practice which it is obvious was unnecessary 
 and highly impolitic; and, indeed, has proved 
 extremely injurious to our shipping-interest, dis- 
 couraging to our continental provinces, and 
 hurtful to our West-Indian colonists: it is, there- 
 fore, to be hoped, that that pernicious and ruin- 
 ous licensing-system will not be adopted, to 
 supply the place of the other absurdity. Agree- 
 ably to what I have already observed, the Eng- 
 lish government had it certainly in their power 
 to have framed and enforced an act, which 
 would have proved effectual in the encourage- 
 ment of the exportation of produce from the 
 British American provinces into our West-In- 
 dian islands, and, at the same time, secured to 
 the inhabitants of these islands regular and 
 abundant supplies, without opening the ports 
 of these settlements, either to the produce or 
 the ships of America. 
 
 This purpose might have been accomplish- 
 ed, by permitting, upon certain conditions, the 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 103 
 
 importation of such articles of American pro- 
 duce into our West-Indian settlements, as the 
 British provinces were then miable to furnish 
 in sufficient quantities. 
 
 For instance, had the British provinces not 
 been all at once adequate to supply our West- 
 Indian possessions with flour and lumber, then 
 let these articles have been admitted into these 
 settlements, liable to such a duty as would 
 have encouraged the transportation of the flour, 
 manufactured upon the United States side of 
 the St. Laurence to the Canadian market, in- 
 stead of the ports of the United States. And, 
 as it cannot surely be urged, that we could not 
 furnish ships to transport such temporary sup- 
 plies as might have been thus wanted from the 
 United States, let them have been importable 
 only in British ships. 
 
 Had such a measure been adopted, it would 
 have immediately secured the carriage of the 
 whole to our own ships, and in a few years 
 would have encouraged such an influx of 
 American produce to the ports of the St. Lau- 
 rence, as would have enabled the British pro- 
 vinces to supply our West-Indian possessions 
 with every article of American produce of 
 
104 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 which they stood in need, (some trifling arti- 
 cles excepted, which are not produced in these 
 latitudes, such as rice, &c.) 
 
 Such a measure, according to No. 6, in the 
 Appendix, would have added 211,043 tons to 
 the annual employment of our ships, being 
 an amount of tonnage, upwards of one-Jifth of 
 the whole which xve employ in foreign trade ; and 
 would have added no less than ^1,477,301 to 
 the annual earnings of our merchant-shipping. 
 
 Indeed, such a system of policy would have 
 brought the whole produce of that part of the 
 United States, which lies along the Canadian 
 frontiers, to the ports of the St. Laurence, and 
 thereby enabled the Canadas to have furnished 
 the mother-country, also, with large supplies of 
 wheat and flour : but, as these affairs have hi- 
 therto been regulated, the very produce of the 
 Canadas has, in several instances, been carried 
 to the ports of the United States; a melancholy 
 proof of want of attention to our commercial 
 and maritime affairs, and of the assiduity and 
 attention of the American government to that 
 important interest. The adequacy of our 
 American provinces to the supply of our 
 West-Indian settlements, with flour and lumber, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 105 
 
 as well as American produce in general, how- 
 ever, being discussed more at large in another 
 part of this work ; and being a subject which 
 it is unnecessary to pursue further, as relating 
 to that now under consideration, namely, the 
 opening of the ports of our colonies to the 
 United States, it may be dismissed for the pre- 
 sent. 
 
 It may be observed, from what has been ad- 
 vanced upon this subject, that this relaxation of 
 our navigation-laws, in respect to our West- 
 Indian c4>lonies, has been a downright sacri- 
 fice; because, upon the one hand, we had no 
 equivalent for the concession, and, upon the 
 other, there was no circumstance in existence 
 which rendered such a measure necessary. 
 
 This extraordinary and unprecedented pri- 
 vilege, which has been so unjustly granted to 
 the American — at the expense of our own — 
 shipping-interest, in respect to the West Indies 
 alone, amounts to no less than about 211,043 
 tons of 40 cubic feet, as stated in No. 6, in the 
 Appendix. 
 
 To ascertain the amount of tonnage which 
 this trade has added to the American shipping, 
 it may be observed, that ships generally carry 
 
106 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 about a ton and an half measurement-goods per 
 ton register : but, it must be observed, that as 
 the greater part of the ships employed in this 
 trade are small sharp vessels, being generally fast 
 sailers, they cannot be consequently computed 
 to carry more than about a ton measurement to 
 the ton register : the register tonnage, annually 
 cleared out of the American ports in this trade, 
 therefore, cannot have been less than 211,043. 
 
 The amount of the tonnage which the Ame- 
 ricans have employed in their trade with our 
 East-Indian colonies, could not be ^^orrectly 
 ascertained. 
 
 At a moderate calculation, however, we may 
 conclude that this most gratuitous sacrifice of 
 our shipping, by relaxing our navigation- 
 laws, in respect to opening the ports of our 
 colonies to the United States, has at least add- 
 ed 300,000 tons to the employment of Ameri- 
 can shipping: computing the employment 
 which they had in their intercourse with our 
 our colonies in the East-Indies, in America, in 
 the Mediterranean, in Africa, &c. altogether, 
 at only 88,957 tons. 
 
 Our legislative proceedings, both in respect 
 to the trade and intercourse between our West- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 107 
 
 Indian islands and the United States, and the 
 opening of the ports of our East-Indian pos- 
 sessions to American ships, are evidently so 
 glaringly stamped with injustice and impolicy, 
 both towards our American colonists and our 
 ship-owners, as, it is to be hoped, will deter the 
 legislature from again relaxing in favour of 
 America, or ^ny other nation, our navigation- 
 laws, which ought to be held sacred under 
 every difficulty. 
 
 Indeed, the minister, who would agaiii coun- 
 tenance any treaty, which would permit the 
 American or any other foreign flag, either to 
 enter the ports of our East or West Indian, or 
 any other of our colonies; or, admit the Ame- 
 ricans to participate in the king's fisheries on 
 the shores of British America or Newfound- 
 land ; or would, from any pretended accidental 
 necessity, (such as has been speciously held 
 out in respect to the West Indies,) advise his 
 Majesty to grant, by license, or otherwise, such 
 a privilege, ought to be considered, not only as 
 totally regardless of the interests of his country, 
 but as actually concerting and encouraging 
 measures for its ruin. 
 
108 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 OF THE ADMISSION OF THE PRODUCE OF THE 
 UNITED STATES INTO THE UNITED KING- 
 DOM, AT THE SAME RATE OF DUTIES AS 
 THAT OF OUR OWN COLONIES. 
 
 By virtue of the power vested in the privy 
 council by the 23d Geo. III. cap. 39, the pro- 
 duce and manufactures of the United States 
 were, by his Majesty's proclamation, admitted 
 into this country at the same rate of duties as 
 was charged upon the produce of our own 
 colonies, and continued to be admitted upon 
 the same advantageous terms, until the expira- 
 tion of the late commercial treaty with Ame- 
 rica."^ Neither was the alien-duty charged in 
 favour of our own ships, nor any certificate re- 
 
 * Your Majesty, by the said order in council, has been 
 pleased to permit, that (except fish-oil, blubber, whale-fins, 
 and spermaceti) any goods, being unmanufactured, as well 
 as pig-iron, bar-iron, pitch, tar, turpentine, resin, pot-ash, 
 pearl-ash, indigo, masts, yards, and bowsprits, being the 
 growth or production of any of the territories of the United 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 109 
 
 quired, as usual, tbat the importations made in 
 American ships were the produce and manufac- 
 ture of the United States; these orders in 
 council thereby admitting, that the ships natu- 
 ralised the property ; and, consequently allow- 
 ing this new republican flag to cover property 
 from every sort of scrutiny as to its origin. 
 
 States of America, may be imported directly from thence into 
 any of the ports of this kingdom, upon payment of the same 
 duties, as the like sorts of goods are or may be subject to, if 
 imported from any British island or plantation in America, 
 
 OBSERVATION. 
 
 Your Majesty has thought fit to grant to the commerce of 
 the United States, with respect to certain articles above enu- 
 merated and described, (being those in which the commerce 
 of the United States is principally carried on,) the same pre- 
 ference as is granted to the commerce of the islands and 
 plantations in America, remaining under your Majesty's do- 
 minion : and, in many of these articles, the commerce of the 
 said States derives great benefit from the prefei^ence thus 
 given, to the detriment of the commerce of other foreign na- 
 tions, as will be seen by the following table.* — Report of the 
 Lords of the Committee of Council^ from Mr. Atchesons 
 Collection of Reports, 
 
 * The Tabl« here alluded to is omitted, being rendered anueeessary by 
 No. 3; in the Appendix. 
 
110 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 These advantages, the Americans, by their 
 threatenings and compulsory measures, obtain- 
 ed with so little difficulty, that, instead of being 
 grateful for these unparalleled privileges, they 
 were only stimulated to make further demands, 
 equally unreasonable and unprecedented ; 
 such as a free trade to our colonies, &c. en- 
 forcing these demands by the imposition of ex- 
 orbitant duties against our commerce, non- 
 importation-acts, and other hostile measures. 
 
 This gross abuse, however, of our profuse 
 liberality and unbounded concessions to them, 
 had not the effect which they might have natu- 
 rally been expected to produce, namely, a re- 
 traction of every former concession that had in 
 the least exceeded the limits, which our mari- 
 time laws and transactions with other nations 
 had set to our stipulations in all commercial 
 arrangements with that country. 
 
 Had this been the case, one of the most im- 
 portant of these retractions would have been a 
 charge of an equal amount of duties upon 
 American produce, as was charged upon the 
 produce of other foreign nations. But, no such 
 effects were produced. Our government still 
 continued their conceding system, endeavour- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. Ill 
 
 ing to purchase friendship by meanly submit- 
 ting to the grossest insult and imposition. 
 
 Fish-oil, blubber, whale-fins, and spermaceti, 
 were afterwards only made exceptions to this 
 general exemption of duties upon the produce 
 of the United States: and, after having for 
 several years exempted America from the 
 alien-duty, when we did at last put her so far 
 upon a footing with other foreign nations, as to 
 subject her to an alien-duty, still it was only to 
 the trifling amount of about one Jrftieth or 
 sixtieth part of her excessive charge of this 
 description against us. 
 
 It appears, that the duties charged upon 
 American and other foreign produce, previous 
 to the expiration of our late commercial treaty 
 with the United States, were no less in favour 
 of America, even after she was subjected to the 
 alien-duty, than \^s. 6d. per load upon pine or 
 fir timber, 14^. Sd. upon oak, 43^. 4d. per ton 
 upon ashes, and proportionably favourable 
 to her upon all other articles, as appears by 
 No. 3, in the Appendix. 
 
 This difference in favour of American pro- 
 duce, on the duties levied upon our importa- 
 tions, was evidently a sacrifice both of our 
 
112 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 revenue and of our American provinces, and 
 an unjustifiable partiality shewn to the United 
 States in respect to other foreign countries. 
 America gave us no advantage over other 
 foreigners \^ What claim then had she to any 
 preference from us in this respect? 
 
 * Tonnage-duties, giving a pi^eference to the ships of the 
 United States and of other nations over those of Great 
 Britain. 
 
 By a law made in Peiisylvania, a duty of As. 6d. per ton, 
 for every voyage, was imposed upon the vessels of every na- 
 tion with which congress had not made treaties of commerce. 
 By a law made in Maryland, a duty of I*, per ton was im- 
 posed on all foreign shipping, except British ; and a duty of 
 5*. per ton upon British shipping. By a law passed in Vir- 
 ginia, in 1788, a duty of 6s. per ton was imposed on British 
 vessels, and 3*. per ton on all other foreign vessels. By a 
 law made in North Carolina, a duty of 5*. per ton was im- 
 posed on British vessels ; and a duty of 1*. per ton on all 
 other vessels. 
 
 Duties on imports, giving a preference to those of the 
 United States and of other nations over those of Great 
 Britain. 
 
 By laws passed in the provinces of New Hampshire, Mas- 
 sachusetts-Bay, and Rhode-Island, in 1785, a duty of 6d. 
 currency, being equal to A^d. sterling, was imposed on every 
 bushel of salt imported in ships owned, in whole or in part, 
 by British subjects ; and, by laws passed in the states of 
 
 i 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 113 
 
 The injury of such partiality, both to our 
 colonies in America and our shipping, is im- 
 mense. The low duty charged upon American 
 timber in particular has undoubtedly added an 
 enormous proportion to the amount of the 
 shipping of that country, and cTidently prevent- 
 ed a proportionable increase in the amount of 
 ours. Had the same duties been charged upon 
 her timber, as were charged upon that from 
 other foreign countries, the quantity which she 
 could have imported would have been very 
 small indeed ; and, considering the state of 
 affairs upon the continent of Europe, such a 
 measure must have proportionably encreased 
 our importations of timber from our own pro- 
 vinces; and, consequently, secured the car- 
 riage of it to our own ships. For the 18,9. 6d. 
 per load upon fir timber, and other duties so 
 
 New York and Maryland, the cargoes of British ships are, in 
 ever^' case, to pay double the duties imposed on those of 
 other nations. In Virginia, a law was established, to com- 
 mence in March, 1788, by which an additional duty was 
 imposed on all merchandize imported in British ships. — i?p- 
 port of the Lords of the Committee of Council, from Mr, 
 Atcheson's Collection of Reports. 
 
 I 
 
114 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 generously sacrificed to the Americans, would 
 of course have been so much in diminution of 
 that proportion of the price left to pay freight, 
 &c.; and, consequently, given our ships, em- 
 ployed in the carriage of timber from our own 
 colonies, a proportionate advantage over Ame- 
 rican ships similarly employed from the United 
 States ; and thereby, at last, enabled us to have 
 entirely shut up this source, whence Ame- 
 rica derived so large a proportion of the en- 
 crease and support of her shipping. 
 
 British ships, from the immense expense at 
 which they were navigated, — from their being 
 by the American countervailing duties prohi- 
 bited the privilege of carrying even almost any 
 share of our exportations to that country, and 
 having the benefit of only a mock countervail- 
 ing duty in our importations, — were, therefore, 
 virtually excluded from the carriage of Ameri- 
 can produce imported into this country in ge- 
 neral ; and our own provinces being capable of 
 supplying us with some of the most bulky arti- 
 cles of which these importations consist, parti- 
 cularly timber, rendered the imposition of these 
 duties still the more necessary. 
 
 America may allege that th^ sa^ue duties 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES 115 
 
 being charged upon her timber, as upon that 
 from the Baltic, would altogether prohibit its 
 importation into this country. Be this as it 
 may, — this is a point with which we have no 
 concern. Were we to take such a circum- 
 stance into consideration, and to make allow- 
 ance for it in regulating the amount of our 
 duties, how far would such a rule lead us ? To 
 admit this principle would be to admit a 
 precedent of the greatest impolicy, and indeed 
 of the most extravagant folly. 
 
 Upon such a principle, the Emperor of 
 China, had he timber for exportation, might 
 shew us that it was only the high freight that 
 prevented his timber from being exported to 
 this country, and with propriety urge the prin- 
 ciple we had admitted and adopted, as a plea 
 for such a regulation in his favour, as would 
 ensure the exportation of his timber to this 
 country, as well as his teas. It would be but 
 a silly argument, in opposition to such a plea, 
 to plead that a sacrifice of 20^. per ton answer- 
 ed the Americans purpose, whereas, he would 
 require c£20 per ton: the loss to us, indeed, 
 might differ materially, but the principle is ex- 
 actly the same. 
 
 I 2 
 
116 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 All that America can, in reason and justice, 
 require of us, upon this score, is, to be put upon 
 a footing with other nations, — a privilege which 
 she has in very few instances extended to us, 
 but upon many occasions singled us out, by the 
 most marked insults and disadvantages.* 
 
 * Duties on imports, giving a preference to those of other 
 nations over those of Great Britain* 
 
 By laws made in the provinces of New Hampshire, Mas- 
 scchusetts-Bay, and Rhode-Island, a duty of 6s. sterling, per 
 hundred weight, is laid on cordage of British manufacture, 
 and only half that duty if it be of the manufacture of any 
 other foreign nation. — By a law passed in the province of 
 Maryland, a duty of 25. per cwt. was imposed on brown and 
 clayed sugars imported from the British West-India islands ; 
 and a duty of 1*. 6d. per cwt. on the like articles imported 
 from the plantations of France, Spain, Holland, Denmark, 
 and Sweden ; and a duty of Id. per pound on refined sugar 
 imported from Great Britain; and a duty of Id. per pound 
 on the like article imported from the dominions of France, 
 Spain, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden.— -By a law passed in 
 South Carolina, in 1784, higher duties were imposed on thff 
 produce of the British West-India islands than were payable 
 on the like produce of the West-India islands of other foreign 
 nations ; and, in Georgia, similar acts were passed, for the 
 same purposes. The committee believe, that the laws be- 
 fore mentioned are by no means all that have been passed 
 for the purposes before stated. The regulations made in 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONT£S, 117 
 
 It is notorious, that, at this very raoment, 
 staves imported into this country from the United 
 States are only liable to one-third the amount 
 of duty charged upon staves from other foreign 
 countries, — even upon those imported from 
 countries with which we are in the strictest 
 amity.* 
 
 By charging the same rate of duties upon 
 the timber of all foreign countries, and regu- 
 lating the amount of the duties as circum- 
 stances and our own interest point out, we 
 
 these respects, by the several legislatures, are so various, that 
 it is hardly possible to obtain a complete account of them. 
 The merchants of Glasgow estimate the tonnage-duty, im- 
 posed in the period above mentioned, on British shipping 
 throughout all the United States, to have been, on an aver- 
 age, 2«. 3«?. more per ton than on American ships, and that 
 this charge on a ship of 200 tons, amounts to o£'22 : 10 for 
 each voyage ; and they estimate the duty, imposed during 
 the said period, on goods imported in British ships through 
 all the United States, to be, upon an average, 2 per cent, more 
 than on the like goods imported in American ships, and that 
 this charge on a cargo of the value of c£2,000 amounts to 
 c£40. — Report of the Lords of the Committee of Council, 
 from Mr. AtchesorCs Collection of Reports. 
 
 * Fish, foreign staves, and lumber, are now excluded, by 
 order of council, from the British We^t Indies. 
 
118 - IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 might, in a very few years, secure the carriage 
 of that article entirely to our own ships ; and 
 also, the supplying of it to our own colonies. 
 
 The advantages to be derived from the ac- 
 quisition of this employment to our own ships 
 would be immense. And it is our own fault if 
 we do not secure the carriage of every load of 
 timber which we import. 
 
 For no foreign nation would ever think of 
 complaining of the duties which might be im- 
 posed for this purpose, provided they were 
 equal in amount: — being a matter of mere 
 domestic policy, and imposed agreeably to an 
 inherent right, which we enjoy in common with 
 other nations, of imposing what duties we 
 choose upon foreign produce, no nation could 
 or would ever complain of their amount. 
 
 Neither the American, Russian, Prussian, 
 Danish, Swedish, nor any other foreign go- 
 vernments, consult our interest or inclinations 
 in respect to the duties they impose upon such 
 produce and manufactures as they import from 
 this country ; then, certainly, neither are we, 
 therefore, under any obligation to consult any 
 of their interests or conveniencies in this re- 
 spect : far less to adopt or continue measures 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 119 
 
 which sacrifice our most important commercial 
 interests to their advantage. 
 
 It is no doubt to this sacrifice of our duties 
 upon American produce, that America owes a 
 very large portion of her shipping. The ton- 
 nage which she annually cleared out for this 
 country with timber alone, before the hostile 
 measures she adopted towards us, was not 
 less than 120,000 tons: being a downright 
 sacrifice of a proportionate amount of our own 
 shipping,— of our American provinces, — and, 
 indeed, of our whole mercantile interest. 
 
 OF THE UNREASONABLE ADVANTAGES ALLOWED 
 TO AMERICAN SHIPS, IN THE COUNTERVAIL- 
 ING DUTIES CHARGED BY THE BRITISH AND 
 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENTS RESPEC- 
 TIVELY. 
 
 The difference, or extra duties, charged by 
 the government of any particular country, upon 
 the goods imported in foreign ships, compared 
 
120 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 with that imported in their own vessels, is an 
 alien, or, countervailing, duty, intended only to 
 affect the ships ; its object is neither the gene- 
 ral policy of the importation of the goods 
 which constitute its subject, nor the funds 
 which it is to furnish ; but, for the express pur- 
 pose of encouraging and securing the freight to 
 its own shipping. 
 
 A relative equality of this duty, therefore, as 
 respects the relation in which nations stand to 
 each other, is but just and reasonable. In- 
 deed, no government, which attends to its own 
 interests, will ever suffer an inequality in this 
 respect to operate against them: but will 
 charge, in favour of their own ships, equal to 
 what is charged against them in every foreign 
 country respectively; otherwise they are evi- 
 dently guilty of conniving at the destruction of 
 their own shipping-interest.* 
 
 ( 
 
 * Your Majesty by the said orders in council, has allowed 
 the goods and merchandize, being th€ growth, production, 
 or manufacture, of the territories of the United States, 
 though imported in ships belonging to the subjects of the 
 United States, to be exempted from the alien-duty. 
 
 OBSERVATION. 
 The goods nnported in ships belonging to all other fpreioif 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 121 
 
 The method, or data, by which the Britislv 
 and American governments have levied their 
 
 nations, are subject to the alien's duty ; and the government 
 of this country has received frequent complaints from other 
 foreign nations of the distinction thus made, to their preju- 
 dice, in favour of the United States, (page 54.) 
 
 As the security of the British dominions principally de- 
 pends upon the greatness of your Majesty's naval power, it 
 has ever been the policy of the British government to 
 watch, with a jealous eye, every attempt which has been made 
 by foreign nations to the detriment of its navigation : and, 
 €ven in cases where the interests of commerce, and those of 
 navigation, could not be wholly reconciled, the government 
 of Great Britain has always given the preference to the inte- 
 rests of navigation : and it has never yet submitted to the 
 imposition of any tonnage-duties, by foreign nations, on Bri- 
 tish ships trading to their ports, without proceeding imme- 
 diately to retaliation. 
 
 In the year 1593, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth^ 
 the State of Venice, (which was then one of the first mari- 
 time powers of Europe,) made a distinction to the disadvan- 
 tage of English ships in the duties on merchandize imported 
 into, or exported from, the Venetian territories ; Queen Eli- 
 zabeth, in a charter she at that time gave to the Turkey 
 Company, forbade, during the twelve years which the said 
 charter was to continue, the importation, into England, of 
 currants, or the wine of Candia, in Venetian ships, upon for- 
 feiture of the said ships and their cargoes, unless the state of 
 Venice should think fit to abolish the distinction before 
 mentioned, to the disadvantage of the ships of England;— 
 
122 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 countervailing duties, for the protection of 
 their shipping, has been a per centage upon the 
 
 aiid, in the year 1660, when the government of France im- 
 posed a duty of 50 sols per ton, payable in the ports of that 
 kingdom, upon the shipping of all foreign nations, including 
 therein the shipping of Great Britain, the legislature of this 
 country, by the 12 Charles II. 2 chap. 18, immediately im- 
 posed, by way of retaliation, a duty of 5«. per ton, on all 
 vessels belonging to the subjects of France, which should 
 trade to the ports of this kingdom, and enacted, that this 
 duty should continue to be collected as long as the duty of 
 50 sols per ton, or any part thereof, should be charged upon 
 British ships trading to the ports of France, and three 
 months longer. 
 
 As a further inducement to the government of Great Bri- 
 tain to pay due attention to the system of policy, which the 
 congress of the United States appear now to have in view, the 
 committee think it right to suggest, that, if the British legisla- 
 ture acquiesce in the distinctions already made by the present 
 congress without remonstrance, the congress of the United 
 States may, in a future session, be encouraged to increase 
 these distinctions, so as to make them, in the end, effectual to 
 the purpose for which they were intended. The house of 
 representatives, in the two last sessions of congress, have cer- 
 tainly had such a measure in contemplation : in the last ses- 
 sion they proceeded so far in it, that a resolution was passed, 
 and a bill was twice read for that purpose ; the members 
 returned from the northern states strongly supported this 
 measure ; those of the southern states resisted it, as being 
 contrary to their interests; the more moderate members, 
 hoik of the senate and house of representatives, thought the 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 123 
 
 other duties. For instance, we have been in 
 the habit of making an extra charge, upon im- 
 portations made in American ships, of ten per 
 cent, upon our duties ; America also charged 
 extra, upon importations made in British ships, 
 about ten per cent, upon her duties. These 
 data answered her purpose extremely well: for 
 our importations are principally articles of 
 great bulk, small value, and liable to low du- 
 ties : whilst her importations are of great value 
 in proportion to their bulk, and, being manufac- 
 tured goods for the general consumption of the 
 country, are a proper object of taxation, and 
 are indeed liable to very heavy duties. 
 
 Although her countervailing duties and ours, 
 therefore, might be nearly equal as to per cent- 
 age upon the other duties, yet in amount they 
 differed widely in her favour ; and, conse- 
 quently, answered the purposes for which they 
 were intended. 
 
 That a clear and accurate view of this im- 
 
 time was not yet arrived when they might venture with safety 
 to take a step of this importance, (page 125.) — Report of 
 the Lords of the Committee of Council, from Mr, AtchesotCs 
 Collection of Reports, 
 
124 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 portant subject may be had, I have, in No. 3, 
 in the Appendix, given a statement of the 
 bulkiest articles of w^hich oiir importations 
 both from Europe and America consist ; exhi- 
 biting the amount of the duties with vs^hich 
 these articles are chargeable ; and also shew- 
 ing, what the countervailing duty in favour of 
 our own shipping amounts to per ton of 40 cubic 
 feet, or, per ton weight, of such goods as 20 
 cwt. of which would not amount to a ton mea- 
 surement ; and have also, in No. 4, given a list 
 of the principal articles of the manufactures, 
 &c. which we have been in the habit of export- 
 ing to the United States ; sliewing the amount 
 of American duties with which they are charge- 
 able; and the amount of the countervailing 
 duty per ton, charged by the government of 
 the United States for the protection and encou- 
 ragement of their shipping. 
 
 The ton of 40 cubic feet is the most common 
 standard by which cargoes are computed, or 
 frjeights reckoned ; and, indeed, the freight of 
 all such goods, as, that the ton of 20 cwt. of 
 which exceeds 40 cubic feet, is paid by this mea- 
 surement, or, at least, (if paid by w eight or any 
 other rule,) the amount or rate is proportioned 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 125 
 
 to the measure, or bulk, of the goods; such as 
 icotton, sugar, wine and other liquids, &c. I 
 have, therefore, adopted this as the most pro- 
 per measure, or standard, by which to estimate 
 the tonnage, in any discussions concerning 
 freight. 
 
 By the statement No. 3, it will be found, 
 that the countervailing duty per ton, which we 
 charged in favour of our own ships, was 6s. 8d, 
 upon cotton, and 15^. upon tobacco: but, upon 
 lumber, which of all others, is the article of the 
 most material consequence, being the most 
 bulky, there is only O^d. to 1^. 7|^. per ton 
 charged, to secure the carriage of this import- 
 ant commodity to our own ships. By this 
 statement, it appears that the average amount 
 of the countervailing duty which we have been 
 in the habit of charging, upon our importations 
 of lumber from America, was about 18^. a ton; 
 and, that the average of what we charged upon 
 the principal articles of American produce 
 which we import, was only about 22d. per ton. 
 From the statement No. 4, it appears that, 
 for the encouragement and protection of the 
 American shipping, a countervailing duty upon 
 the articles enumerated, from 4^. to ^30 per 
 
126 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 «^W— — « ■— — — — — I I I I III ^" "' 11" 
 
 ton, averaging about ^3, was charged upon 
 the goods imported in British ships. 
 
 This document shews us, that the Atnerieaii 
 government, instead of protecting and encou- 
 raging their shipping-interest, by a countervail- 
 ing duty, of only about the sixtieth part of 
 the freight, secured that important interest 
 more effectually, namely, by a countervailing 
 duty of nearly the whole amount of the freight. 
 
 It is also important to observe, that, in 1804, 
 the American government raised the whole 
 duties charged upon their imports from this 
 country, and at the same time added some- 
 thing more than ^ per cent, ad valorem, to their 
 old countervailing duty ; being an addition of 
 about 10^. per ton, averaging the value as in 
 No. 4. 
 
 It is likewise remarkable, that our govern- 
 ment did not raise the duties charged upon 
 American produce imported into this country 
 until the year 1808; and it is moreover notori- 
 ous, that, instead of the countervailing duty 
 being then also raised, it was actually reduced ; 
 " — reduced from an insignificant trifle to a 
 mere shadow, — from about 18^. per ton upon 
 lumber to 7|df, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 127 
 
 Thus we see that, after having for several 
 years submitted to the most exorbitant addi- 
 tional duties, charged by the United States in 
 favour of her own ships, without having re- 
 course to retaliation in any shape, we at last, 
 for the protection of our shipping-interest, 
 adopted measures which were but calculated 
 to mock our injured ship-owners; for, what 
 could be more insulting than to talk of protect- 
 ing their interests by allowing them eighteen 
 pence to balance an imposition of ^3 ! ! 
 
 When we did at last charge the alien-duty 
 upon our importations from the United States, 
 we were not bound to lay it on according to 
 any certain rule,— neither by a per centage 
 upon the duties, nor by any other particular 
 mode ; but, whatever the mode adopted might 
 have been, the amount charged ought, as to 
 the proportion which it bore to the freight, to 
 have exactly corresponded with that charged 
 by America : — in fact, it ought to have been 
 ^3 per ton instead of 1 8^. 
 
 As this duty is specially laid on to the dis- 
 advantage of foreign ships, for the interest and 
 encouragement of the ships of the country into 
 which the importations are made ; and, j^s 
 
128 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 -' I ' '.__ , II 
 
 such distinctions have been acceded to both by 
 us and the Americans, undoubtedly neither na- 
 tion could object to tbe other's making a charge 
 in favour of their own ships, equal to what the 
 other charged in favour of theirs: the interest 
 of the ships being the direct object of the tax. 
 It is, therefore, unreasonable to suppose, 
 that any certain per centage upon the duties 
 could be considered an equitable mode of levy- 
 ing this duty; and equally absurd to suppose, 
 that either nation, whilst they had the least 
 claim to common sense in support of their 
 arguments, would object to the others charging 
 this countervailing duty, even at the rate ot 
 3,300 per cent, upon their other duties, provi- 
 ded such a proportion were requisite to render 
 the countervailing duties equally advantageous 
 to their ships, as that charged by the other na- 
 tion ; about 3,300 per cent, appears to have been 
 the rate at which the British government, for the 
 encouragement of American shipping, allowed 
 her countervailing duty to exceed ours ! ! * 
 
 * If it should be thought proper to subject the goods 
 brought in American ships to the duties payable generally 
 on goods brought in foreign ships, and also to equalize th^ 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. l29 
 
 For various reasons the amount of duties, 
 charged by the two countries upon their im- 
 portations respectively, must vary most mate- 
 rially, as to the proportion they bear to the 
 tonnage of the goods upon which they are 
 levied * and, therefore, an equal per centage 
 upon these duties must produce, upon their 
 respective shipping-interests, effects extremely 
 different ;— effects, only calculated to encou- 
 
 tonnage-duties, it will be a discouragement to American 
 shipping, and an encouragement to British shipping, to the 
 extent of the present difference of the duty ; and such mea- 
 sures will not prevent the same quantity of American pro- 
 duce being brought into this country, — more will be brought 
 in British ships, — less in American ships. 
 
 There is no security, that congress will not be induced 
 to increase the duties on British and other foreign ships. It 
 is probable that they will increase these duties as their ship- 
 ping increase, and British capitals can be easily transi^rted 
 to America for that purpose. Foreigners have no title to 
 complain of what congress have done or may do in this re- 
 spect; — theymay equalize if they think proper. Congress 
 have, in this instancey acted with true political wisdom, and 
 on sound principles of navigation-laws, and they will not be 
 disposed to alter so wise a system. — Opinion of a Committee 
 of the Merchants of Glasgow, submitted to the Committee of 
 the Lords of Council, from Mr. Atchison's Collection of 
 Reports. 
 
 K 
 
130 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 rage and increase the American shipping, and 
 in an equal ratio discourage and sacrifice ours ;— 
 The Americans will, therefore, no doubt, ea- 
 gerly embrace a principle so much calculated 
 to promote their interests. 
 
 To regulate this important duty, according 
 to the strictest principles of equitable recipro- 
 city, and agreeably to our own interest, we 
 ought to ascertain, (according to the rule laid 
 down in No. 4, in the Appendix,) the precise 
 amount, per ton, of the duty charged by Ame- 
 rica, and then charge what would amount to 
 an equal proportion of the freight. 
 
 It is, therefore, of the first importance, to 
 ascertain the exact amount, per ton, imposed 
 by the government of the United States. 
 
 To acquire the necessary information upon 
 this point, let the tonnage of the goods export- 
 ed thither be ascertained, which might be 
 done, either from the information of the ex- 
 porters, as to the relative proportions which 
 the value and tonnage of each article or species 
 of goods, of which our exports consist, bear 
 to each other, or, which would be a surer and a 
 much less objectionable method, — by having 
 
 i 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 131 
 
 the tonnage, by which freights are paid, of all 
 goods exported, entered at the custom-house. 
 
 The amount of the American countervailing 
 duty, per ton, being thus ascertained, we ought 
 then to charge ours, either by the ton, or, as 
 heretofore, by a per centage upon the duties, 
 (but, with this great, important, and equitable, 
 difference,) regulating that per centage so as to 
 produce a proportion to the freight exactly 
 corresponding with that charged by America, 
 — no matter whether such per centage were 
 ten or whether it were several thousand per 
 cent, upon the other duties. 
 
 It is to be hoped, that the various circum- 
 stances concerning this important subject will 
 be minutely investigated and carefully attended 
 to in future. For, it is evident, that although 
 we have hitherto, in our commercial treaties 
 and other regulations, respecting our trade 
 with America, stipulated and provided con- 
 cerning countervailing duties, and have talked 
 of laying this, that, and the other, per centage 
 upon some other per centage, in addition to 
 these countervailing duties, — all speciously 
 pretended for the encouragement of our ship- 
 ping — yet, nevertheless, we have, in the blind- 
 
 k2 
 
133 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 est and most ignorant manner, been, in reality, 
 bartering our ship-owners interests and legiti- 
 mate privileges for a mere shadow } — been 
 actually, by our legislative knowledge, expe- 
 rience, and consummate skill, in financial and 
 commercial affairs, securing our shipping-inte- 
 rest, by a countervailing duty of ISd. per ton 
 upon timber, which is one of the bulkiest arti- 
 cles which we import, (being no less than about 
 the sixtieth part of the freight,) and submitting 
 to the American government's imposition of a 
 countervailing duty of nearly the whole amount 
 of the freight in favour of their shipping ; — thus,^ 
 catching at the shadow whilst they enjoy the 
 substance. 
 
 Our countervailing duty was known to exist, 
 or appeared only as an embellishment to an act 
 of parliament, — by the prominent feature it forms 
 in a compilation of our custom-house-duties, — 
 or, by the arithmetical exercise it gives our cus- 
 tom-house-clerks ;butythe American alien-duties 
 were most feelingly proved to exist by their ope- 
 ration ; and, indeed, so effectually did they ope- 
 rate, that not a package of goods was ever shipped 
 from this country in a British ship, whilst ai 
 American vessel was to be found to receive it. 
 
SRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 133 
 
 It is impossible, with any degree of acGuracy, 
 to compute the amount of British shipping 
 which our government have sacrificed by the 
 enormous and incredible advantages allowed 
 to America, over British ships, in respect to 
 these countervailing duties, — ^£3 to 22f/.— 
 a preference of 3,300 per cent.; and yet an 
 equality of these charges is what the Ame- 
 ricans, unreasonable as they were, would have 
 never objected to: or, as a committee of the 
 merchants of Glasgow observed upon the sub- 
 ject, in a communication to a committee of the 
 privy council, that '^ Foreigners," and of course 
 we amongst others, " had no right to complain 
 of what congress have charged, or may charge, 
 in this respect, — they may equalize if they 
 think proper. " Co7igress have, in this instance^ 
 acted zvith true political xvisdom^ and on StOund 
 principles of navigation laws.''^ 
 
 Considering the attention which America 
 
 has shewn to her shipping-interest, and hoW 
 
 much she has scrutinized every par^ of our 
 
 conduct, in all our commercial concerns, 
 
 which in any way directly or indirectly affected 
 
 t — - ' ' — - — _,-*— — -*'- 
 
 ^ See Note to page 129. 
 
J 34 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 her interests, — would she have allowed such a 
 difference to have existed against her ships? 
 Undoubtedly she would not! Her conduct, 
 hitherto, is sufficient to convince us that she 
 would have immediately met any extra charge 
 of ours, in this respect, with a corresponduig 
 amount of duties. 
 
 No government, perhaps our own excepted, 
 would have so long submitted, under similar 
 circumstances, to such depredations upon the 
 most valuable branch of our commercial esta- 
 blishment. 
 
 The amount of our shipping thus sacrificed 
 must be very considerable. For the American 
 ships having, by the wisdom of their govern- 
 ment, all the shipments from this country se- 
 cured to them, were thereby enabled to carry 
 their own produce to Great Britaip at propor- 
 tionably a cheaper rate. 
 
 Considering this advantage enjoyed by Ame- 
 rican ships, — that our shipping laboured under 
 the disadvantage of the high price which they 
 cost, — the heavy expense at which they were 
 navigated,— -and unaided by an adequate alien- 
 duty, it was no wonder that ours were almost 
 entirely excluded from any participation, is 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 135 
 
 either the export or import trade with Ame- 
 rica. 
 
 From the view taken of this important sub- 
 ject it is obvious, that, as an inherent right of 
 regulating the commercial intercourse betw een 
 its own subjects and foreigners, every nation 
 has also the right, upon the immutable princi- 
 ple of equity and justice and the law's and 
 customs of nations, as nniversally acknowled^- 
 ^edj to impose such coiintervailing duties as 
 it may deem expedient, 
 
 Consequently, no nation, which may be the 
 object of such duties, has cause to complaiuy 
 having it also in her power to counteract the 
 duties imposed by any particular state by 
 counterpoising them xvith others equally beneficial 
 to its own shipping. 
 
 The right, therefore, remains undisputed; 
 and, with respect to the expediency of exer- 
 cising it, it is obvious, that, to this country, 
 whose imports exceeds its exports y the highfr the 
 countervailing duties imposed by foreigners in 
 favour of their own ships are, the more advanta^ 
 geous, therefore, to British ships, considering that 
 an equal charge in favour of ours would ope^ 
 rate effectually in securing the carriage of our 
 
136 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 imports, as theirs would in the carriage of 
 our exports, — we should, therefore, be the 
 gainers, in proportion as our imports exceed- 
 ed our exports. — -If such foreigners charged 
 these duties so high as to secure the carriage 
 of all their imports from us— so much the more 
 in our favour! as, an equal amount of duty, 
 which we should, as a matter of course, charge 
 (were we not obstinately blind to our own in- 
 terest as heretofore) would as certainly secure 
 to us the carriage of the whole of our imports 
 from them. 
 
 This favourable opportunity has been afford- 
 ed us by America — she charged a countervail- 
 ing duty of such an amount, that, had we 
 raised ours to an equal proportion of th^ 
 freight, it would have secured to us the car- 
 riage of every ton of goods which we imported 
 from that country ;^ — she actually, thereby, 
 offered us the carriage of her exports to this 
 country, being about 150,000 tons per annum, 
 in exchange for the carriage of our exports to 
 her ports, being only, perhaps, about 30,000 
 tons. Unfortunately, however, for British mer- 
 chants and British ship-owners, our legislators, 
 from some unaccountable motives, disregarded 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 137 
 
 ou7^ shipping-interest, and, vyith their usual con-^ 
 descension and generosity totvards Anierica, let 
 her enjoy the carriage of both ! 
 
 OF THE INEQUALITY OF THE AMOUNT OF THE 
 DUTIES CHARGED UPON THE LUMBER WHICH 
 >yE IMPORT IN GENERAI,. 
 
 The object of the custom-house-duties 
 charged upon the foreign produce which we 
 import, is, in general, the fund§ which they 
 furnish : with a few exceptions, at least, such 
 as exorbitant duties intended as prohibitions; 
 and countervailing duties, either for the protec- 
 tion and encouragement of our shipping, or for 
 the encouragement of our own colonies. 
 
 An equality of the duties upon our imports 
 from foreign countries (that is to say, from 
 countries other than our own colonies) is, there- 
 fore, both as far as relates to impartiality 
 to the foreign nations furnishing the articles'^ 
 
 * See Note to page 128. 
 
138 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 and our own interest in the revenue, in- 
 dispensably necessary. — The only difference, 
 which ought to be allowed to exist in these 
 duties, should be only an additional charge 
 upon the produce of countries not in amity 
 with us, and in some trifling instances in re- 
 spect to articles of which a variety of qualities 
 ai'e indispensably necessary. 
 
 No variety in the quality of any species of 
 timber, however, is necessary ; the best quality 
 of every particular kind being fit for every 
 purpose to which an inferior sort could be ap- 
 plied. As the cost of all foreign timber con- 
 sists almost wholly in freight and other charges 
 in transportation, and duties, a reduction of 
 duty on account of quality must, therefore, be 
 the most impolitic sacrifice of our revenue, 
 and cannot be viewed in any other light than 
 a premium paid to enable the people who are 
 unfortunate enough to be the proprietors of a 
 bad quality to vend their inferior stuff in this 
 country, and also to keep up a successful com- 
 petition with those who import the most supe- 
 rior timber. 
 
 We have, however, for some time past, been 
 in the habit of charging different rates of duties 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES, 139 
 
 upon the timber which we import from foreign 
 countries. The distinctions have been princi- 
 pally in favour of America and Denmark; the 
 very two nations, which, of all others, have prac- 
 tised the greatest deceit towards us, — two na- 
 tions, who stand unparalleled in respect to the 
 lengths they have lately gone to vilify and de- 
 fame, in the most wicked and groundless man- 
 ner, our character as a nation. 
 
 The grounds upon which our American ad- 
 vocates have founded their claims for this pri- 
 vilege to the United States are, the inferiority 
 of the timber* and its distance from our mar- 
 ket, and consequent liability to high freight ; 
 and the reason for charging a reduced rate of 
 duties upon Norway timber was also its infe- 
 rior quality, — reasons the most absurd, in 
 favour of whatever nation they may have been 
 urged ; but, with respect to America and Den- 
 
 * By taking notice of the prices current at Liverpool, and 
 other ports where American timber was regularly imported, 
 it will be found that American timber, both oak and pine, 
 (except pitch pine,) sold at considerably lower prices than 
 either European or Quebec timber. 
 
140 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 mark in particiilaTj they are altogether unac- 
 countable. 
 
 These governments may ui^ge, as a plea to 
 secure this privilege, that the same rate of 
 duty being charged upon their timber, as upon 
 Russian, Prussian, and other European tim- 
 ber, would not leave a sufficient amount to pay 
 freight, and would, therefore, amount to a pro- 
 tiibition, — so it may, and so is many an honest, 
 worthy Englishman absolutely prohibited from 
 riding upon the king's high- way, from the ex- 
 pense of a horse being beyond his reach.— It is 
 not our business to take notice of the distance 
 at which the foreign timber, which we import, is 
 from our market, nor of what quality it is, WTth 
 respect to the equality of the duties to which it 
 is liable; considering that we can have an 
 abundant supply, without making any abate- 
 ment of duty upon the timber of any particular 
 foreign country. 
 
 Had a scarcity of supplies been either expe- 
 rienced or reasonably apprehended, the duties 
 in general might have been lowered ; but, as 
 there has never been any want or even scarcity, 
 except in some trifling instances, arising prin- 
 cipally out of our destructive licensing system. 
 
BRITISH AMElilCAN COLONIES. 141 
 
 there was no occasion for this expedient, in- 
 deed it is clearly shewn, in the 3d chapter, that 
 our AmericaQ colonies are more than sufficient 
 to supply all our demands for timber of every 
 description. This abatement of duties, there- 
 fore, in favour of Denmm^k and America, being, 
 to the former, 10^. per load, upon pine or fir, and, 
 to the latter, 18^. Qd. upon fir, l^s.Qd. upon oak, 
 and in the like proportion upon all other items 
 of our timber-importations from the United 
 States were mere sacrifices. 
 
 With respect to the motive which induced 
 this sacrifice, considering that our colonies- 
 have always proved themselves capable of fur- 
 nishing supplies infinitely beyond the greatest 
 demand; and, that our ship-owners were suf- 
 fering the greatest distress for want of employ- 
 ment to their ships, it is obvious, that, as there 
 was neither a scarcity of timber nor of ship- 
 ping to carry it, this sacrifice must have pro- 
 ceeded from mere generosity, — and as a bounty 
 granted the Danes and Amerieans in support 
 of their shipping, to enable them, with an 
 inferior article, to maintain a successful compe- 
 i'lon with our own colonists, in the supply of 
 
142 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 the British market with timber of the most 
 superior quahty. 
 
 OF THE ADMISSION OF ENEMIES PROPERTY BY 
 LICENCE, AND THE 43d GEO. III. 
 
 Respecting our trade by licence, or, Privy- 
 Council-system of commerce ! it may be ob- 
 served, that the British nation owes its com- 
 mercial greatness and superiority over all other 
 nations in this respect, to the peculiar pro- 
 perties of the British constitution, which, by 
 the safety it provides for private property, and 
 by the protection and encouragement it holds 
 out to industry, thereby affords commercial 
 facilities and advantages not to be equalled in 
 any other nation. 
 
 The laws which respect commerce (not 
 orders in council, or laws made for the con- 
 venience of retailing commercial licenses, but 
 the laws of the land, calculated to give per- 
 manency and security to every species of mer- 
 cantile industry) have been proved, by expe- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 143 
 
 rience, and treasured up in the constitution for 
 the protection and encouragement of trade. 
 These laws (the most important of which are 
 those that respect our shipping) so amply pro- 
 vide for the safety and security of commercial 
 enterprise, as to give the fullest scope to the 
 plans and schemes which the enterprising and 
 ingenious may introduce into our mercantile 
 system of economy and industry, notwith- 
 standing that many years, in which peace and 
 war may alternately prevail, may be necessary 
 to bring such undertakings to maturity : 
 whereas, the arbitrary and uncertain measures 
 of the governments of other countries, with 
 few exceptions at least, are such as render pri- 
 vate property insecure, all mercantile pursuits 
 imcertain, and the best-contrived commercial 
 schemes generally unsuccessful. But the Bri- 
 tish constitution scrupulously respecting and 
 protecting private property from every imposi- 
 tion, and so amply providing for the protection 
 and encouragement of every branch of busi- 
 ness, as to set all our manufacturing and com- 
 mercial concerns in motion, supporting each 
 other like the constituent parts of a well-con- 
 structed piece of machinery, thereby enables 
 
144 Importance of the 
 
 us, notwithstanding the prices of labour, and 
 the ravy material, may be much higher than in 
 most other foreign countries, successfully to 
 come in competition, both with the foreign ma- 
 nufactures and ship-owners. 
 
 It is neither from a carelessness of the sove* 
 reigus of the continent of Europe and their 
 ministers concerning the thriving of theif' com- 
 merce and manufactures, — nor because our go* 
 vernment is more assiduous in their attention 
 to these affairs, — neither from any natural dis- 
 position to indolence or want of enterprise in 
 the people uponth6 continent, — ^nor because we 
 individually excel in industry and ingenuityj 
 that we exceed every other nation in com- 
 merce, — but, as I have already observed, be- 
 cause our laws, which respect our mercantile 
 pursuits, excel those of all other countries, 
 being (at least until lately) laws of the land, 
 enacted from the wise deliberation of a par- 
 liament representing all classes and interests 
 of the community, and rendered secure, by the 
 peculiar properties of our constitution. 
 
 Notwithstanding the advantages, however, 
 which we have derived from adhering to a per- 
 manent system of commercial laws, we have 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES, 145 
 
 -iiiij " ' 
 
 lately shewn a most unaccountable disposition 
 to strike out of the good old path, chalked out 
 by the wisdom of our ancestors, which has con- 
 ducted us to a degree of national consequence 
 and commercial prosperit}^ hitherto unparallel- 
 ed, into the crooked bye-ways of the European 
 governments, w hose arbitrary interference with 
 a subject upon which they have had no com- 
 parative experience, have long shackled and 
 discouraged, and, in many instances, ruined 
 their commerce. Yet itjs to speculations such 
 as these, conceived in ignorance and hatched 
 in power^ that our Privy Council has thought 
 proper to sacrifice the navigation-laws of our 
 ancestors, which may be justly termed the 
 pillars which support our national renown, 
 and the sheet-anchor of our commercial pros- 
 perity. 
 
 The act of the 23d Geo. III. cap. 39, dated 
 the I2th of May, 1783, authorised his Majesty 
 in council to suspend, as regarded America, 
 every law existing for the regulation of our 
 commercial concerns with foreign nations, and 
 to adopt, in their stead, whatever measures, 
 rules, or regulations, they might choose to adopt. 
 This was, indeed, understood to have been but 
 
146 IMPORTANCE OP THE 
 
 a temporary measure ; but it set an example, 
 which has imfortuiiately been too much copied 
 from ever since that period. 
 
 Amongst the first proceedings of onr Privy 
 Council, in the regulation of our commerce 
 with the United States of America under this 
 act, were his Majesty's orders in council, of the 
 14th of May and 6th of June, 1783, admitting 
 American produce and manufactures into this 
 country, at the same rate of dutiet^ as was 
 charged upon the produce and manufactures 
 of our colonies. According to these procla- 
 mations, no countervailing duty was charged 
 in favour of our own ships, nor was any cer- 
 tificate required, as usual, that the goods were 
 the produce and manufactures of the United 
 States, 
 
 Thus did our legislature, by this act of the 
 12th of Mayy 1783, at once set aside and render 
 nugatory (as far as regarded the United States) 
 those very laws which had not only reared, but 
 were so essential to the protection of our ship- 
 ping and commerce, — putting the regulation of 
 all our commercial concerns with that country 
 into the power of the Privy Council, who, it 
 will be observed, lost no time in exercising 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 147 
 
 these powers ; for, only two days after they 
 Were vested with this dangerous authority, they 
 actually sacrificed the great bulwark of our ship- 
 ping, colonial, and commercial, interest to the 
 United States. To satisfy this new^ government, 
 Our ministers readily trampled under foot those 
 laws, of which the most powerful nations upon 
 the continent of Europe never could extort from 
 their predecessors the smallest relaxation.* — 
 They without hesitation franked the Ame- 
 ricans the duties charged upon other foreign 
 produce,— ^exempted their ships from counter- 
 vailing duty, and dispensed with a certificate 
 of the origin of the goods imported in their 
 ships :— thus, is our Privy Council to be found, 
 at once robbing our revenue, discouraging 
 and disregarding our colonies, by shutting 
 up the valuable sources of wealth which 
 they held out,~~inj uring our commerce, and 
 ruining our shipping, — and, moreover, ad- 
 mitting that very principle which Buona- 
 parte's insisting upon, has been the principal 
 cause of the most expensive war in which we 
 have ever been engaged, and the most destructive 
 
 * See note, p. 115. 
 
 l2 
 
148 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 which has ever raged upon the continent of 
 Europe ; — namely, that free ships make free 
 goods, that the ships naturalize the property ;— 
 a principle equally repugnant to common s€nse 
 and sound reason, as it is hostile to the inte- 
 rests and safety of this country. 
 
 In the year 1807, there was also another 
 impolitic and unnecessary surrender of our 
 maritime laws into the hands of our Privy 
 Council, in respect to the opening of the ports 
 of our West Indian colonies to foreigners, 
 called the American Intercourse Bill. 
 
 This bill authorised the King and his suc- 
 cJessors, with the advice of the Privy Council, 
 to suspend, during the present or any future 
 war, all the provisions of the Act of Navigation 
 in the British settlements in the West Indies and 
 South America, both as to exports and imports. 
 
 This measure was forced upon the shipping 
 and commercial interests of this country in 
 the most arbitrary manner. Instead of evi- 
 dence being examined, in order to have ob- 
 tained all necessary information upon a subject 
 of such immense importance, the great body 
 of ship-owners were even, upon solicitation^, 
 refused an opportunity of defending them- 
 selves against this most capricious and violeut 
 
feHlTISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 149 
 
 inroad made upon interests, whicli constitute 
 the main-spring of our commerce.* An act 
 which was to give permanency and security to 
 an absurd practice which had akeady sacriticed 
 upwards of 120,000 tons of our shipping, — 
 equal to three times the amount of all the ton- 
 nage which we annually clear out for the whole 
 ports of our East Indian possessions, — was 
 passed with much less hesitation, less caution 
 or consideration, than would have probably 
 been bestowed upon an act for the regulation 
 of the concerns of a turnpike or theatre. 
 
 It has been clearly shewn, in the beginning 
 of this chapter, that the relaxation of our 
 navigation-laws, in opening the ports of our 
 West-India settlements to American ships has 
 
 * The various classes of petitioners against the bill, with 
 a degree of moderation highly commendable at all times, 
 but especially under the present critical and alarming situ- 
 ation of the navigation and trade of the empire, urged the 
 necessity of an inquiry on the subject before a committee ; 
 but all these entreaties in that respect were unavailing, and 
 the promoters of that ruinous measure denied to them that, 
 which had hitherto, in all other branches of trade, been 
 considered a matter of course, if not of right, — namely, the 
 appointment of a committee to inquire into the nature and 
 true merits of these respective cases. — Mr, Acheson's Intro- 
 du&tion to his Collection of Reports, 
 
150 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 been evidently a most unnecessary sacrifice of 
 our own shipping-interest. For, it is obyious^, 
 that had the necessary information been ob- 
 tained, it would have been found, that if the 
 produce of the United States could not have 
 been dispensed with, in the supplying of ouf 
 West-Indian colonies, the £idmission of the 
 produce would have, at any rate, been the full 
 extent to which any relaxation of our naviga- 
 tion-laws would have been necessary in this 
 respect ; for, most assuredly, their ships might 
 have been spared without the most distant risk 
 pf inconvenience. 
 
 Another, and upon general principles, the 
 greatest source of mischief opened to us by the 
 admission of enemies property, arises from 
 the unlimited amount and incalculable irregu- 
 larities as to the quantity of enemies produc^. 
 imported by virtue pf the act of the 43d Geo, III. 
 cap. 153, which is a canker-worm lodged by our 
 legislature in the great body of our commercial, 
 shipping, and colonial interests, wasting its 
 very vitals, and, if not removed, will, in the 
 end, if war continue, ultimately ruin it.* 
 
 * That in the confident and general expectation that the 
 North Americans would not be permitted to carry on theix 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 151 
 
 Ey this act the produce and manufactui'es of 
 the countries with whom we may be at war 
 
 export-trade during their war against this country, consi- 
 derable shipments of manufactured goods have already taken 
 place ; and others to a much greater exteijt are aow pre- 
 paring for Brazil and other places, for tlie sole purpose of 
 having cotton-wool in return, which intended export of ma- 
 nufactured goods will, however, now receive a severe check, 
 by the knowledge of the afore-nientioned act of parlia- 
 ment, permitting the import of cotton-wool from the United 
 States, by neutral vessels. 
 
 That many of our manufacturing people will conseqifently 
 be thrown out of employ, and many of our commercial men 
 meet with severe losses. 
 
 That much of our shipping, which would otherwise be 
 beneficially employed in the export of our manufactures and 
 the bringing home of considerable quantities of cotton- 
 wool from the Brazils^ and from the East and West Indies, 
 will now remain unemployed ; the effects of which are al- 
 ready felt to a very considerable extent, by the fall in price 
 of freight for British shipping to and from the Brazils. 
 
 That it is humbly submitted to be sound policy and con- 
 sequently to be highly expedient, that the natives and resi- 
 dents of our own colonies, together with those of our allies, 
 who constantly take from us our manufactured goods in 
 payment of their produce, should have the exclusive privi- 
 lege of supplying us with the raw material, in preference 
 to those who prohibit and interdict our commerce and ma- 
 nufactures. 
 
 That if North America be permitted to carry on her ex- 
 port-trade during the war, by neutrals, s^ie will, by such 
 
152 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 are admitted into Great Britain, direct from 
 enemies ports, in neutral ships, and liable 
 only to the same rate of duties as they were 
 chargeable with in time of peace. 
 
 For some few articles of indispensable ne- 
 cessity, we may be rendered dependent upon 
 pur enemies for supplies. In such cases, 
 however, care ought to be taken to ascertain 
 whether or not we could obtain a sufficient 
 supply, by confining the importation to our own 
 ships, and measures adopted accordingly. 
 
 Every species of enemies produce, of which 
 we could obtain sufficient quantities from our 
 own colonies and friendly nations, ought 
 certainly to be prohibited, as it was by the 
 laws which existed previous to the passing ot 
 this act. But, as to such articles as could not 
 altogether be dispensed with, whilst, at the 
 same time, an adequate supply could be ob- 
 
 means, have the exclusive ^dyantag^ of supplymg, with her 
 cotton-wool and other articles, all the European markets, 
 where the ports are not blockaded ; to the obvious disad- 
 vantage of our manufactures, merchants, and ship-owners^ 
 who would otherwise have the supplying of those markets 
 from hence with our manufactured goods. — Mr. Lyne's LetteT^. 
 to Lord Casthreagh, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES, 153 
 
 tained from neutral ports, then let us limit the 
 importation of these to our own ships ; and of 
 such goods as we could not dispense with, nor 
 obtain the necessary quantity from neutral 
 ports ; iu such cases only this act could be ju^ 
 diciously had recourse to. 
 
 Timber, for example, is an article of such 
 indispensable necessity, that, were we reduced 
 to a dependence upon our enemies for our sup- 
 plies of it, considering its great bulk and com- 
 paratively small value, we should certainly find 
 ourselves under the necessity of admitting it 
 (direct from the ports of our enemies, in neu^ 
 tral ships, and, failing them, even in those of 
 our enemies, 
 
 Instead, however, of being under or even 
 liable to this necessity, of late years, our own 
 colonies, even without the least aid from any 
 foreign country whatever, are capable of fur- 
 nishing us with the most abundant supplies. 
 
 Cotton, as a raw material of the very first 
 importance to our manufactures, is also an ar- 
 ticle of indispensable necessity. Were we 
 therefore rendered wholly dependent upon our 
 enemies for this important article, we should, 
 pp doubt, be obliged to secure supplies, either 
 
154 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 from neutral ports by our own ships, or, ac- 
 cording' to circumstances, even to admit im- 
 portations, under this act, by neutral ships, 
 direct from enemies ports. 
 
 Under existing circumstances, however, not- 
 withstanding that cotton has become an article 
 of the very first consequence to our manufaC'- 
 tures, this act is altogether unnecessary for the 
 encouragement of its importation. 
 
 Our own East and West Indian colonies, 
 and the countries in amity with ns, such as th<^ 
 Brazils, &c. are capable of amply satisfying 
 all our demands ; at any rate, with such cotton 
 of the United States as could be obtained from 
 the ports of neutrals, taken as prizes, &c. they 
 would afford the most abundant supplies.'^ 
 
 * The unfortunate planters in the late Dutch and British 
 colonies, deprived of that choice of market which the fo- 
 reiojn planters enjoy, are compelled to send their cottons to 
 this country ; their supplies, whatever they may cost, must 
 be drawn from hence : their poverty puts it out of their 
 power to hold back their crops, however much at times it 
 might be for their interest to do so, and though now loaded 
 with additional freight and insurance consequent upon the 
 American war, they pay the same duty here with the neutral 
 foreigner, who is exempted from all these consequences,* 
 tberefore, from them, thus depressed and broken dowrij 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 155 
 
 i^pi^pi^^^^^ii^^^^^^^^i^^^^^u^Plifi^BP^^^^ i ii iii .i iii i i ii n ■ii w ii^ 
 
 The present importation of cotton from the 
 United States, and the present and late importar 
 tions of timber from enemies countries, are, 
 therefore, and have been, unnecessary; they are, 
 indeed, measures of great hardship and iur- 
 justice towards our owp colonists and shipr 
 owners, and impolitic and ungenerous towards 
 our antient and faithful allies, the Portuguese. 
 
 Hemp is likewise an article of imperious ncr 
 cessity, for purposes of the first importance. 
 For our supplies of this article we have been 
 
 thrown on the mercy of their country, yet treated worse 
 than straiigers, no phange of measures are to he appre:^ 
 bended. 
 
 I have, my Lord, next to contemplate the probable results 
 that are to be expected, if the import of American cotton;s 
 is restricted to British ships from neutral ports. The adop- 
 tion of this measure would be returning to the system of q\f.v 
 navigation-laws, and the performance of an act of justice 
 to the British ship-owners. This system, I will venture to 
 assert, ought never to be departed from, but under circum- 
 stances of the most urgent pressure and necessity, such as, 
 in the present case, I humbly contend do not exist. Ouf" 
 naval greatness and cpmmercial consequence are admitted to 
 l^e closely connected, if not dependent upon our adherence 
 to its principles, and that they cannot be departed from, 
 without feeding the resources of the enemy, or the neutral, at 
 o;ir expense.— M?\ Gladstone's Lette?^ to the Board of Trade, 
 
156 IMPORTANCE OP THE 
 
 hitherto principally dependent upon foreigners ; 
 and, considering that but few countries pro- 
 duce it for exportation, and that, from the 
 peculiarities of the situation of those countries 
 from whence it can only be obtained, when 
 we are at war with them, our supplies are 
 generally not to be procured from neutral 
 ports ; and, therefore, this act might, at cer- 
 tain times, be very properly put in operation 
 for the admission of this important commodity, 
 in neutral ships, direct from enemies ports. 
 
 The same mode of reasoning applies to every 
 item of which our imports consist, viz, either 
 as adduced with respect to timber, cotton^ 
 or hemp ; the whole ought, therefore, to be 
 classed accordingly. 
 
 In the first place, for example, all articles, 
 (the produce of an enemy's country,) being 
 articles of which we could obtain a sufficient 
 supply from our own colonies and covmtries 
 in amity with us, ought, undoubtedly, ac- 
 cording to the above observations respecting 
 timber, and agreeably to our old maritime 
 laws, to be prohibited, except imported in 
 our own ships, and warehoused, for expor- 
 tation. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 157 
 
 In the second place, all articles, (thepvoduce 
 of enemies countries,) being articles of which 
 "sve could not obtain sufficient supplies from 
 our own colonies and countries in amity with 
 us, but of which a sufficiency could be procured 
 by only admitting such articles of enemies 
 produce from neutral ports, according to the 
 above observations respecting cotton, ought to 
 be admitted only in British ships : — And, 
 
 In the third place, all articles, (the produce 
 of enemies countries,) being articles of which 
 we could not obtain adequate supplies from 
 our own colonies, — countries in amity with 
 us, nor even from neutral ports, according to 
 the above observations respecting hemp, ought, 
 no doubt, during the existence of such circum- 
 stances, to be admitted from enemies ports in 
 neutral ships. 
 
 Had every item of which our importations 
 consisted been judiciously classed under one or 
 other of these three cases, and our importations 
 regulated accordingly, our colonies would have 
 been now in a more thriving state, — our shipping 
 in a more flourishing condition, — and our whole 
 commercial and manufacturing concerns in- 
 finitely less liable to those glaring irregularities 
 
iM IMPORTANCE OP THE 
 
 which they have of late experienced, — irregu- 
 larities which have, to ari alarming extent, 
 converted oni* merchants into adventurers, 
 and our rnariners irito smugglers, under the 
 patronage and direction of a British Privy 
 Council I /* 
 
 For the sake of one or two articles, how-* 
 ever, this sweeping act has been adopted, le- 
 velling all the privileges and advantages which 
 our colonies^ and the nations in amity with us, 
 have an undoubted right to enjoy; placing 
 them, in fact, upon a footing with our most 
 inveterate enemies. 
 
 The injury which our North- American pro- 
 l4^ces-^and the greatest of all the many in* 
 juries which our shipping interest have sus- 
 tained from the importations made tindef this^ 
 act has been in the importation of timber :-^for 
 our shipping has been injured by being de- 
 prived of the carriage of it, which would have 
 
 * The connivance of onr legal authorities at otir owfi and 
 the ships of foreign nations, trading to our ports by licence 
 tinder false colours, and the consequent perjury inseparable 
 from such practices, proves this assertion to a demonstration. 
 
feKlTlSH AMERICAN COLONIES 169 
 
 been secured to them if brouglit from our own 
 colonies ; and our American colonies have 
 been injured both by the irregularity and in- 
 calculable amount of the quantity introduced^ 
 as well as in the admission of it upon any 
 terms ; these provinces being capable (as I 
 have clearly shewn in the next chapter) of 
 supplying all our demands for that article. 
 
 It may not be improper here to remark, that 
 the scarcity of specie has been attributed to 
 our licensing system, merely for the purpose 
 of shewing, that, although this scarcity had 
 not existed the ruinous tendency of this perni- 
 cious mode of carrying on our commerce, 
 might have been discovered; and, therefore, 
 that, were an abundant supply of the precious 
 metal again to supply the place of this scar- 
 city, or, in other words, were Bank-of-Eng- 
 land notes again readily convertible into spe- 
 cie, it would afford no proof that our li- 
 cense-trade was profitable to the country' 
 and according to the principles- of sound po- 
 licy. 
 
 The scarcity of specie, felt by government, pro- 
 ceeds principally from the immense expenditure 
 they have been led into for the very salvation of 
 
160 IMPOltTANCE OF THE 
 
 the country ; having been left alone to defend 
 our own independence, and the antient free- 
 dom of Europe^ against the most powerful 
 enemy that ever assailed this or any other 
 country^ 
 
 From this vast and necessary expenditure, 
 therefore, they have experienced, that nations^ 
 like individuals, must necessarily find money 
 scarce in proportion as their means of pur- 
 chasing it are limited ; — that, when they are 
 not in possession of real funds, their extraor- 
 dinary anticipations must produce inconve- 
 nience, and be made at considerable disadvan- 
 tages, which must be the case with respect to 
 large sums borrowed for the purpose of sending 
 abroad. 
 
 Had the revenue of the country been even near- 
 ly sufficient to meet the public expenditure, the 
 present scarcity of specie would not have been 
 felt ; for the profits upon our commerce would 
 have more than enabled them to have made all 
 the exports of bullion necessary for their fo- 
 reign expenditure, without producing any in^ 
 convenience. But, considering the enormous 
 sums that government have been imperiously 
 called upon to borrow, for the very salvation 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 161 
 
 of the country ; and, particularly, considering* 
 the grfeat proportion which our foreign expen- 
 diture bears to the whole, the profits of our 
 commerce were unequal to balance such an ex- 
 hausting exportation of bullion, so necessarily 
 made, without producing such inconveniences 
 as we have felt. 
 
 These speculative projectwS of our Privy 
 Council, (I mean the licensing system car- 
 ried on under the 43d Geo. III. cap. 153,) 
 abstractedly consielered, are certainly not cal- 
 culated to produce a scarcity of specie : for, 
 had these adventurous speculations been, upon 
 the whole, profitable to the country, instead of 
 draining us of our specie, they would, on the 
 contrary, have even contributed to our ability 
 to ^end specie abroad. This new method of 
 carrying on our trade with foreign parts, how- 
 ever, has been extremely ruinous, and, conse- 
 quently, a drain of specie from this country 
 has been one of the many ruinous eflfects which 
 it has produced. 
 
 To go fully into a discussion concerning our 
 licence-trade would of itself form a work of 
 great length : it is not my intention, however, 
 neither is it here necessary, to go into particu- 
 
162 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 lars, further than the few general observations 
 which I have made concerning its effects npon 
 our American provinces, and the consequent 
 injury which our shipping has sustained. 
 
 It may be further observed, however, that 
 orders of council may very properly be had 
 recourse to in cases of great and sudden emer- 
 gency. For example, in the instance of those 
 retaliatory measures wisely adopted to meet 
 Buonaparte's Milan decrees, and to thwart the 
 projects craftily contrived by him, and con- 
 nived at by the United States, for onr de- 
 struction : but, in the above instances, orders 
 in council were introduced to suspend and 
 controul those wise and salutary laws of onr 
 ancestors, calculated to regulate all our mer- 
 cantile transactions with America, and to have 
 provided amply for every contingency which 
 could have arisen out of such transactions. 
 And, if any new case should have occurred in 
 the common course of business, it ought to 
 have been the subject of legislative investiga- 
 tion, and not disposed of in a summary way 
 by the executive branch of our government. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 163 
 
 OF THE HIGH PRICE OF OUR SHIPS AND THE 
 GREAT EXPENSE AT WHICH THEY ARE NA- 
 VIGATED, COMPARED WITH THE FOREIGN 
 SHIPS WITH WHICH THEY HAVE TO COME IN 
 COMPETITION. 
 
 With respect to the comparative difference 
 of expense at which our ships and those of 
 America were navigated, previous to the late 
 interruptions which have taken place in our 
 commercial intercourse with that country. 
 No. iy in the Appendix, is an estimate which 
 shews a disadvantage against us, in this re- 
 spect, of no less than 28^. per ton, upon a six 
 months vovao:e. 
 
 Possibly in this estimate the exact value and 
 expense may not be correctly ascertained. It 
 is, however, notorious to every one who is ac- 
 quainted with these affairs, that foreign ships 
 are and have been, for some time past, navi- 
 gated at considerably smaller expense than 
 ours ; and, at the same time, it is more pro- 
 bable that the difference is rather under than 
 over-rated. 
 
 M 2 
 
164 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 The high price of our ships, and the great 
 expense at which they are navigated, are cir- 
 cumstances which, in respect to our coasting 
 and colonial trade, are no injury to our ship- 
 owner,— in this respect they only keep pace 
 with the price of labour, and the prices of 
 things in general. 
 
 But this great expense, as far as it respects our 
 trade with foreign countries, being combined with 
 "various other circumstances, is to our shipping- 
 interest ruinous in the extreme : — the ports of 
 our colonies opened to the Americans ; — the 
 partiality shewn to foreigners, in respect to 
 the duties charged upon timber; — the enor- 
 mous advantages allowed the Americans in 
 countervailing duties, and our licensing sys- 
 tem ; — these, with the high price of our ships, 
 are calculated to sweep our foreign shipping 
 from the ocean. 
 
 Supposing the maintenance of our labouring 
 class of society cost five times more than 
 the maintenance of the like class amongst 
 the Russians, yet, if the Englishmen's wages 
 are commensurate with the high price of their 
 living) the disparity of prices does not render 
 ihem less comfortably situated, compared with 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 165 
 
 the Russians. Bat how would such English- 
 «ien be circumstanced, were myriads of Rus- 
 sians to come into this country, and come in 
 competition with them for wages; the Russians 
 enjoying, at the same time, the unreasonable 
 advantage of having their subsistence furnished 
 to them at the same low rate they paid for it in 
 their native country? There is no doubt wages 
 would be reduced, and the Englishmen, in the 
 midst of plenty, might perish foi* want of bread. 
 Yet this case and that of our shipping-interest 
 are so exactly parallel, that, as certainly as our 
 labouring class would suffer under such cir-" 
 cumstances, in precisely the same proportion 
 is our shipping as unreasonably and unjustly 
 suffering, and will continue to suffer as long as 
 the cause which has been above-assigned re- 
 mains unremoved, or at least until its baneful 
 effects are rendered less injurious, by a careful 
 attention to other circumstances. 
 
 The difference of the value in the ships, 
 of the sailors wages, of the price of provisions, 
 of the amount of insurance, &c. and, in fact, 
 of every item composing the expense of navi- 
 gating the ships of the respective countries 
 ought to be taken into consideration, in 
 
166 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 - '■ • "'■ „„.„.„ „ ■--. ' -^-^-^■•>" 
 
 laying on the duties upon all importations 
 from foreign countries ; and, if the difference 
 should then appear against us, as in No. 5, an ad- 
 ditional duty, precisely equal to that difference, 
 should be charged upon all importations made 
 in foreign ships ; and then, over and above that 
 difference, a countervailing duty in favour of 
 our own shipping. 
 
 Had this equitableprinciplebeen declared and 
 acted upon in our late commercial intercourse 
 with the United States, the additional duty upon 
 the produce of that country, imported in Ame- 
 rican ships, over and above that charged upon 
 what was imported in our own vessels, instead 
 of being J^. 7{^ per ton upon tin,]berj would have 
 been, in the first place, 28^. (see No. 5.) and, in 
 next place, a countervailing duty, equal to 
 •what the Americans charged, which, accord- 
 ing to No. 4, in the Appendix, »was J^3 : 10, 
 being, together, £4: IS per ton, instead of 
 the pitiful sum of 1.9. 7 1<^. / 
 
 This rule, for regulating the duties for the 
 protection of our shipping-interest, equally ap- 
 plies to all foreign countries as well as to Ame- 
 rica ; and our shipping must actually either still 
 continue to suffer in every competition, or that 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 107 
 
 disadvantage must be attended to and, either 
 directly or indirectly, counterpoised. 
 
 Possibly some difficulty might be expe- 
 rienced in charging a direct extra tax upon 
 importations made in foreign vessels, to balance 
 the high price of our ships, by the opposition 
 of the goverimients of foreign countries, as it 
 is very unlikely that they Vtould have occasion 
 to claim from us any such privilege, and may, 
 therefore, be the less inclined to acknowledge 
 the principle, however just in itself.' 
 
 If such obstacles should prove insurmount- 
 able, which I admit they might, perhaps we 
 ought, therefore, to be upon the alert to re- 
 move all other disabilities, particularly those 
 above-mentioned; in the doing of which no 
 foreign governments w ould have any right to 
 interfere. 
 
 From the undue advantages allowed the 
 Americans, as appears from this view taken 
 of our transactions with that government, par- 
 ticularly in the relajcation of our navigation- 
 laws in favour of the United States, by opening 
 the ports of our colonies to their ships; — in the 
 admission of their produce into the united king- 
 dam, at the same rate of duties as that of our 
 
168 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 own colonies; — in the advantages allowed their 
 ships in the countervailing duties charged bif 
 the respective governments, it is evident we have 
 been at once guilty of an improper partiality 
 towards them as regards other foreign nations, 
 and at the same time of injustice to our owji 
 colonists ; and, also, of actually countenancing 
 a system which might ultimately tend to thf^ 
 ruin of our own shipping. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 169 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 OF Tip EXTENSIVE, VALUABLE, AND IMPRO- 
 VABLE RESOURCES AND CAPABILITIES POS- 
 SESSED BY OUR AMERICAN PROVINCES, AS 
 3RESPECTS OUR SIJIPPING AND COMMERCIAL 
 INTERESTS, 
 
 Regarding the important resources of the 
 British North- American provinces, it may not 
 be improper to make a few observations con- 
 cerning the qualities of the lumber exported 
 from these colonies, the carriage of that article 
 being, of all others, of the greatest importance 
 to our shipping. 
 
 Oak TIMBER. — This article is only exported 
 from the Canadas ; there being none produced 
 in the lower provinces fit for exportation. 
 
170 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 Quebec Oak*' consists of two kinds, which 
 are white and red ; the white is only export^ 
 ed, the red not being considered merchantable. 
 
 The merchantable size is 1 2 inches and up- 
 wards on the side ; and 20 feet long, and up- 
 wards. There is not much brought to market 
 under 12 inches ; the general size is from 13 to 
 16 inches square, and from 30 to 40 feet long. 
 In some few instances, however, a few pieces may 
 be found to square even from 16 to 30 inches ; 
 and some sticks, perphaps, to run the length of 
 60 feet. 
 
 The quality of Quebec white oak is con- 
 sidered superior to any which we import 
 from any other part of America, or even from 
 Europe. This may be proved by inspecting 
 the prices current at those ports, wherein all 
 the variety of qualities we import are to be 
 found. 
 
 Before oak can be exported from Canada, 
 it must be inspected by a person, appointed by 
 government, for that purpose, and stamped as 
 
 * Canadian oak, from whatever part of the St. Lawrence 
 it is shipped, is generally termed Quebec oak, » 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 171 
 
 merchantable. That which is rejected as un- 
 merchantable is not allowed to be exported. 
 
 The faults for which it is considered un- 
 merchantable are, its being red oak, under 20 
 feet long, — under 12 inches upon the side, — 
 having unsound knots, — being crooked or ill- 
 squared, — and its being ringed, which last is 
 the most general and the greatest of all faults. 
 
 Ringed timber is that which has begun to 
 rot or decay in the heart. When this disease 
 has but just commenced, it requires a good 
 judge to discover the defect, which, in a cir- 
 cular manner, appears, by shewing a small 
 shade of difference in the colour. 
 
 From this variety of the quality of oak in 
 the Quebec market, a proportionate variety of 
 prices are produced ; the unsound, perhaps, 
 selling at dd. per foot, and the best at 2s, 6d, 
 Hence is the difference of the quality and cha- 
 racter of Quebec-built ships most satisfactorily 
 accounted for ; being built of timber which 
 differ 400 per cent, in price ; their quality must 
 .of necessity differ materially, and, therefore, no 
 wonder that opinions the most opposite, con- 
 cerning their durability, may be formed by those 
 unacquainted with this circumstance, 
 
172 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 The quality of Quebec oak, compared with 
 English and American oak,* may be judged 
 of by the price it bears in the London and 
 Liverpool markets. In London its price is 
 generally a medium between that of the best 
 and that of the worst quality of English oak, — 
 maintaining a price about 20 to 30 per cent, 
 higher than the worst, and about the like pro- 
 portion under the best; and, in Liverpool, it 
 will be found to have com^manded, for a num- 
 ber of years past, a price about 20 per cent, 
 higher than that imported from America. 
 
 The quantity of oak timber exported from 
 Quebec, 
 
 LOADS. 
 
 In 1804, was 2626 
 
 In 1806 5452 
 
 In 1810 --- 22,532 
 
 Pine-timber. — There are two kinds of pine 
 or fir timber exported from British North-r 
 America, viz. red and yellow. There is 
 
 * The oak-timber imported from the United States is ge-j 
 nerally termed American oak, in contradistinction to that 
 imported from Quebec. 
 
 i 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 173 
 
 none of what is properly termed white pine 
 exported from these provinces. 
 
 At the port of Quebec, as well as in the other 
 ports of the St. Lawrence, pine-timber, as well 
 as oak, must be inspected, and found mer- 
 chantable before it can be exported. 
 
 Neither red nor yellow pine is merchantable 
 under 12 inches on the side, nor under 20 feet 
 long. 
 
 Yellow pine runs from 14 to 22 inches on 
 the side, and, in some instances, even to 30, 
 and from 30 to 45 feet in length : it may be 
 had, however, 50 to 60 feet long, and upwards. 
 It is generally perfectly straight, and remark- 
 ably fre^ from knots. Indeed, many sticks, 
 and even whole lots, are to be found without 
 even a single knot ; this is to be accounted for 
 by the extraordinary length of the timber of 
 the Canadian forests in general. When the 
 trees are felled, they must be greatly reduced 
 in length, that they may be the more conve- 
 niently hauled to the rivers which are to float 
 them to market ; a large proportion of the top 
 part, with all the knots, is consequently cut 
 off. 
 
 Red pine was little known in Canada be- 
 
1*74 tMPORTlNCE OF THE 
 
 fore the year 1808^ when there was a small 
 quantity exported. In 1809, the quantity 
 shipped was very considerable; indeed, a& 
 soon as it was particularly inquired after^ it wa^ 
 furnished in abundance. Quebec and other 
 British American red pine, for strength and 
 durability, is equal to any which we import 
 from any other country whatever. 
 
 The quantity of pine-timber exported froro 
 Quebec, 
 
 LOADS* 
 
 In 1804 was 1,012 
 In 1806 - - - - 2,761 
 In 1810 69,271 
 
 Masts. — Government have been for some 
 years past principally supplied with masts 
 from our American provinces. These colonies 
 furnish mast of the largest dimensions, even to 
 35 inches. The proportionate dimensions of 
 masts are three feet in length to every inch in 
 diameter, at the partners, with the addition of 
 Aine feet. A thirty 35-inch mast is, therefore^ 
 114 feet long, which is about the greatest length 
 wanted in the Royal Navy. Yellow-pine- 
 masts, of the largest dimensions, are to be had 
 
BRItlSH AMERICAN COLONIES. 175 
 
 in the greatest abundance ; but of red pine 
 there are few to be found above 20 or 21 
 inches. 
 
 The number of masts and bowsprits exported 
 from Quebec, 
 
 PIECES. 
 
 In 1804 was 115 
 
 In 1806 354 
 
 In 1810 7,655 
 
 Deals. — The deals (or pine-plank, as they 
 are tecknically termed in Canada) which are 
 exported from that country, run generally 
 from 2 to 3| inches thick, 7 to 1 1 broad, and 
 12 feet long. They are not reckoned by any 
 particular standard, but are sold by the thou- 
 sand superficial feet, of their respective thick- 
 nesses, reckoning 1200 to the thousand. 
 
 There is no branch of the Canadian timber- 
 trade more capable of improvement than this ; 
 nor would any other improvement which could 
 be introduced, be attended with more beneficial 
 effects both to the British and Canadians. It 
 has, indeed, within these last few years, been 
 greatly improved. A few years back the deals 
 and boards which were brought to market con^ 
 
176 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 sisted of the most irregular dimensions, both in 
 length, breadth, and thickness. What are now 
 produced, however, are principally reduced to 
 some particular standard, generally to 12 feet 
 long and either to 2, 2|, or 3 inches thick, and 
 from 7 to 1 1 inches in breadth, but principally 
 7, 9, or 1 1. It is to Mr. Usborne, late of 
 Quebec, that the public are principally in- 
 debted for this improvement in the manufacture 
 of deals in Canada. There yet remains a great 
 deal to be done, however, in the improvement of 
 this branch of the Canadian timber-trade, both 
 as regards the manufacture or preparation of the 
 article, and as respects an increase in the quan- 
 tity exported. — The British government have it 
 in their powsr, and ought to secure, a demand 
 for deals in Canada ; and the Canadian go- 
 vernment have it in their power, and ought to 
 encourage their preparation throughout the 
 country, generally. 
 
 It is of importance to observe, that, although 
 throughout the most populous part of Lower 
 Canada, particularly upon the banks of the 
 St. Lawrence, below Montreal, that no trees 
 fit for being converted into masts or square 
 timber, now remain; yet, nevertheless, upon 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. l'^7 
 
 those wood-lands which necessarily yet re- 
 main, such as those parts which are unfit for 
 agricultural purposes, parts reserved for fuel, 
 &c. there are to be found abundance of trees, 
 fit for deals, of various lengths. Indeed, by 
 adequate protection and encouragement, a 
 sufficient quantity might be furnished, not only 
 for the supply of Great Britain and her West- 
 Indian settlements, but also for all Europe. 
 
 The chief support of the American shipping 
 has been the exportation of deals, boards, and 
 staves, which have been of late principally ob- 
 tained from those parts of the United States, 
 which have been for many years cleared of all 
 the trees fit for masts or square timber. The 
 consideration of this circumstance shews the 
 importance of endeavouring to discover the 
 cause why such a valuable source of wealth is 
 so much neglected in the British North-Ame- 
 rican provinces* 
 
 The quantity of deals and boards exported 
 from Quebec, 
 
 PIECES. 
 
 In 1804 was 69,067 
 
 In 1806 66,166 
 
 In 1810 31M32 
 
 N 
 
178 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 Staves. — The exports of staves are princi- 
 pally from Canada, from whence the most 
 abundant supplies may be obtained. Quebec 
 staves form a very important item of the ex- 
 ports of Canadian lumber. As they constitute 
 broken stowage to ships, which take in cargoes 
 of masts and timber in the ports of the St. Lau- 
 rence, at the full rate of freight, — whereas, from 
 most other ports, the broken stowage of ships, 
 timber-load, affords comparatively but a mere 
 trifle of freight,— renders theai of vast import- 
 ance to the ship-owner, and they consequently 
 afford great encouragement to the exportation 
 of lumber in generaL 
 
 The encouragement of the exportation of 
 staves from Canada is^ indeed, in many respects^ 
 of great importance ; they are not only a va- 
 luable article for the assortment of other car- 
 goeS) but constitute an immense tonnage fon 
 the exclusive employment of ships in the car-; 
 riage of them alone. 
 
 Their quality is excellent, commamiing m 
 the London market, at the present moment, 
 prices equal to those imported from I>antzic. 
 
 Staves is an article of indispensable necessity 
 to the mother-country; to. obtain supplies^ 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 179 
 
 therefore, from her own colonies, must be a 
 very desirable object ; and, consequently, the 
 abundant quantity, and excellent quality, of 
 those to be obtained from Quebec, must be, to 
 her, considerations of great importance. 
 
 The quantity of staves exported from Que- 
 bec, 
 
 PIECES. 
 
 In 1804 was 1,061,195 
 In 1806 - - - - 1,803,234 
 In 1810 3,887,306 
 
 The most important articles of British North- 
 American produce and manufactures being 
 lumber and agricultural produce, I shall there- 
 fore endeavour to shew, tliat these colonies are 
 capable of supphjing the most extensive demand 
 which the mother country and all the other colo- 
 nies, which she possesses, can afford for timber; — 
 that,\f their resources are encouraged tofloxo in 
 their proper channel^ they are adequate to supply 
 our West-Indian settlements with flour ^ provi- 
 sions^ 8^c. ; — and that it only requires a little 
 well-directed attention to render them capable 
 of supplying the mother-country with hemp and 
 flax\ 
 
 n2 
 
180 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 THE BRITISH NORTH-AMERICAN COLONIES CA- 
 PABLE OF SUPPLYING THE MOTHER-COUNTRY 
 AND HER OTHER COLONIES WITH TIMBER. 
 
 As to how far the British provinces are ca- 
 pable of supplying the mother-country and her 
 West-Indian possessions with lumber, it may 
 be observed, that no person in any degree ac- 
 quainted with these parts would dispute the 
 adequacy of the British-American forests to 
 such supplies. 
 
 If, therefore, they do not supply these mar- 
 kets, it must be for one of the following reasons, 
 viz. either that there is not a sufficient popu- 
 lation to prepare and bring the produce to 
 market, or that other markets, coming into 
 competition with these colonies, obtain a pre- 
 ference. 
 
 With respect to the adequacy of the popula- 
 tion to furnish so large a quantity, it may be 
 fairly stated, that this very population has been 
 hitherto completely adequate to supply the 
 market to the utmost extent which has been 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 181 
 
 hitherto called for. There may, indeed, have 
 been a scarcity of a few particular articles in 
 some solitary instances ; but, in every one of 
 these, such partial scarcity has been uniformly 
 produced by a sudden demand, occasioned by 
 some unexpected contingency. 
 
 In the greatest demand for lumber which 
 has ever occurred, where a reasonable time for 
 cutting down, preparing, and transporting, the 
 articles, has been allowed, the market has been 
 uniformly supplied to a commensurate extent. 
 For, since the additional duty has been im- 
 posed upon timber from the United States, and 
 the supplies from the north of Europe became 
 limited, on account of the war, the exportations 
 from these provinces have experienced such an 
 immense increase as is at least sufficient to 
 convince us, that the supplies hitherto obtained 
 from them afford no criterion whatever from 
 which we could fairly judge of the extent to 
 which they are capable of furnishing these ar- 
 ticles : and, moreover, at this immensely-aug- 
 mented demand has been most abundantly 
 answered, at moderate prices, it is equally de- 
 monstrable that the quantity hitherto obtained 
 
182 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 from these colonies will not, in the smallest 
 degree, prove them inadequate to supply the 
 mother-country, and her West-Indian islands 
 also, with all the lumber they require. 
 
 By inspecting No. 2, in the Appendix, it 
 will be found that the exports of lumber from 
 the British provinces, in 1806, was 95,975 
 loads, and in 1810, 311,114, of which 160,932 
 loads were exported from Quebec, being about 
 five times the quantity exported from that port 
 in 1806; yet, notwithstanding this vast increase 
 which took place, no scarcity was upon the 
 whole experienced. For, although there might 
 have been a short supply of some particular 
 articles, there were more of other articles than 
 could be taken off; and this superabundant 
 quantity, perhaps, amounted to ten times that 
 of the deficiency. 
 
 Notwithstanding the immense shipments 
 which were made from Quebec in 1808, 1809, 
 and 1810, as will be found in the list of exports 
 from that port, as stated in No. 1, there still 
 remained a considerable number of articles 
 unshipped in the fall of the latter year. And 
 in that fall, although the prospect of a greater 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COI^NJES^ 1S3 
 
 demand the ensuing season was very evident, 
 timber was contracted for at even lower prices 
 than those at which contracts were made in the 
 preceding year. 
 
 Indeed, one of the most convincing and de- 
 cisive proofs of the abundant resources of 
 lumber which the Canadas possess is, that 
 excepting the article of oak-timber, prices ac- 
 tually continued declining from 1807 to 1810, 
 notwithstanding the enormous increase which 
 had continued to take place in the quan- 
 tity exported, (as has been already stated). 
 The price at which staves and pine-timber 
 (which articles constitute the principal bulk 
 of the exports of lumber) sold, during the 
 summer, and which were contracted for in 
 the fall of 1810, was not much above half 
 the price which prevailed during the sum- 
 mer of 1807. 
 
 Another most important circumstance that 
 may be noticed, concerning the abundant re- 
 sources of lumber which these colonies possess, 
 is, that in three or four years the increase in 
 the exports of that article, from the port of 
 Quebec alone, was equal to the whole supply 
 of our West-Indian possessions. For, by in- 
 
184 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 spectiug Nos. 2 and 6, in the Appendix, it will 
 be found that the increase in the exports of 
 that article, from the port of Quebec, from the 
 year 1806 to 1810, was 127,998 loads, whilst 
 the annual supply of our West-Indian settle- 
 ments was only about 117,740 loads. . And it 
 is of material importance to remark, that, not- 
 withstanding this increase, so far from the ex- 
 tent of the supplies which may be obtained 
 from the Canadas being ascertained, that the 
 market was equally well supplied with every 
 species of that article, and the capability of a 
 still farther increase apparently greater than it 
 was four or five years before, when there was 
 but about one-fifth part of the quantity ex- 
 ported. 
 
 Indeed, it is evident, as the pernicious laws 
 and regulations which affected the exportation 
 of lumber from British America ceased to ope- 
 rate, the exports of that article experienced a 
 proportionable increase. 
 . These important and now-established facts 
 shew the genuineness of the opinions of those, 
 who, a considerable time back, advocated the 
 capability of these provinces to furnish our 
 West-India^n possessions with their supplies of 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 185 
 
 lumber. For, but a few years ago, those who 
 asserted that the British provinces possessed 
 this capability, were literally, laughed at. Such 
 opinions being held up to ridicule by mer- 
 chants, whose profits were arising out of mea- 
 sures at variance with the interests of their 
 country, were then ridiculed or disregarded, 
 and, therefore, the arguments used to prove 
 that the pernicious consequences of those im- 
 politic commercial treaties, which we had en- 
 tered into with other countries, and that most 
 mistaken policy by which the commercial in- 
 tercourse between our West-Indian islands and 
 the United States was regulated, were the 
 causes which prevented the British provinces 
 from supplying our West-Indian possessions 
 with lumber, were considered as futile and 
 ridiculous. 
 
 The advocates for the American interest had 
 only to urge in reply, what these colonies, thus 
 crippled and discouraged, had hitherto done ; 
 and this bare assertion was considered, bv the 
 superficial politician of the day, a sufficient 
 refutation of this now -indisputable and sub- 
 stantiated fact, For, in the short period of 
 three or four years, the increase of the tx- 
 
186 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 portation of lumber, from the Canadas alone, 
 was equal to the whole demand of our 
 West-Indian islands ; anci that the oak- 
 timber, exported in 1810, from Quebec only, 
 was more than equal to half the quantity 
 annually used in the whole of our government 
 dock-yards, are facts so broadly founded, that 
 not all the sophistry of those, who, either from 
 sinister motives or erroneous hypotheses, es- 
 pouse the cause of the American government, 
 nor all the eloquence of the advocates of the 
 United States in the British parliament can, 
 in the remotest degree, controvert. 
 
 For, although our own legislators, misled by 
 the advice and information of interested in- 
 dividuals, continued ignorant of this valuable 
 source of national wealth, and, in that igno- 
 rance, persisted in damming up its current with 
 the very rubbish which they removed to clear 
 a commercial channel for our bitterest enemieSj 
 yet the operation of time and circumstances 
 have brought about events which have exhibit- 
 ed to full view the vast importance to this trade ; 
 and, in the short space of four years, raised the 
 freights earned by our ships, in the exportation 
 of the produce of these provinces, from less 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 187 
 
 than jf; 1,000,000 to nearly j£ 2,500,000* 
 Our enemies, by their insatiable avarice, en- 
 couraged by that tameness with which we sub- 
 mitted to their artifices, — by their inordinate 
 ambition, engendered by British pusilanimity,— 
 and by their unmerited envy and hatred, blasting 
 their own malignant purposes, have thus re- 
 vealed to us this most important fact. 
 
 The Americans, by their embargo, with- 
 held all those supplies with which they were in 
 the habit of furnishing us ; and Buonaparte, 
 by the rigors of what he termed his continen- 
 tal system, prevented our supplies from the 
 north of Europe; and, what is a still more 
 important consideration, the rigorous measures 
 of this oppressive and too-successful tyrant, 
 prevented, at least in a considerable degree, 
 the operation of the baneful effects of our 
 ruinous licensing system, and thereby produced 
 a most uncommonly large demand upon Ca- 
 nada for lumber ; — a demand, however ,_which, 
 notwithstanding its having been so large and 
 unexpected, was as abundantly answered as 
 
 * See No. 8, in the Appendix, 
 
188 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 that which was experienced three or four years 
 preceding, when no more than one-fifth part 
 of the quantity was required. 
 
 It was then made clearly manifest, that 
 the quantity of lumber, which had hitherto 
 been shipped from the British colonies, bore but 
 a very small proportion to the quantity which 
 these provinces were capable of furnishing. 
 Neither is it yet known to what extent they 
 could furnish this article for exportation, for 
 all which has hitherto been required has been 
 obtained. 
 
 Government have never found any difficulty 
 in obtaining abundant supplies of all the 
 timber they required ; such as square oak, 
 masts, spars, red and white square pine, deals, 
 staves, &c. 
 
 For, up to the present moment, notwith- 
 standing the immense increase in the demand 
 for lumber of every description, which has 
 lately been experienced, they have always 
 found contractors ready to engage to furnish, 
 at reasonable prices, the largest quantities 
 which they have ever advertised for ; — this is 
 the best proof of the abundance which may 
 
 be obtained. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 189 
 
 Any partial scarcities, in the supply of mer- 
 chants orders, which may have occasionally 
 happened, are solely to be attributed to the 
 demand having been occasional and unex- 
 pected ; and because the orders were not sent 
 in time to have the articles contracted for from 
 the people who fell the timber in the woods 
 and float it to the shipping-ports ; whereas, the 
 extent of the quantity wanted, by governinent, 
 being known the year before it is required for 
 shipping, has been uniformly furnished in the 
 most ample abundance. The amount of the 
 quantity which may be sufficient to supply the 
 demand for merchants, however, is always, ia 
 some measure, uncertain ; and, consequently, as 
 the anticipated demand, is over or under-rated, 
 the scarcity or abundance will be proportion* 
 ably commensurate. Indeed, the greatest irre- 
 gularity and uncertainty of demand, and, con- 
 sequently, a proportionate fluctuation of prices 
 has prevailed for a number of years past. 
 
 The alternation of peace or war in the north 
 of Europe has had no inconsiderable influ- 
 ence in this respect ; but the most incalculable 
 irregularities and inconveniencies, experienced 
 by these provinces, in the demand for lumber. 
 
190 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 as well as other articles, have arisen from the 
 importations received into Great Britain fey 
 licences : and these irregularities were the sole 
 cause of the partial scarcities, which have, in 
 some solitary instances, appeared in these co- 
 lonies. 
 
 Now, however, as an interposition of provi* 
 dence has divulged the secret, and. convinced 
 us, (I had almost said, against our inclination,) 
 that we were in the possession of an abundant 
 source of the most valuable species of national 
 wealth, of which we continued ignorant, and 
 has clearly shewn us, that it. was only our owa 
 impolitic laws, and the improper arrangement 
 of our commercial concerns by government^ 
 that prevented our receiving the most abundant 
 supplies from these colonies, let us not again 
 check the growing prosperity of these valuable 
 colonies by regulations similarly pernicious. 
 
 Considering the very small proportion that 
 the tonnage of the manufactures which we 
 export, bears to our imports or tonnage em- 
 ployed ia foreign trade; and that this pro- 
 portion is rendered still smaller by the quantity 
 exported in foreign bottoms, it will appear that 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 191 
 
 the support of our shippinjo' must, and does, 
 depend upon the carriage of our imports. 
 
 For it will be found that, although the amount 
 of the manufactured goods which we export, is, 
 in point of value, enormously great, yet, in point 
 of bulk, they are comparatively small; and, con- 
 sequently, the amount of their tonnage, when 
 compared with the exient of the tonnage of 
 our merchant-shipping, is comparatively tri:fling. 
 
 The advantages which the country in general 
 derives from the exportation of our manufac- 
 tures are great in proportion to the amount of 
 their value ; but the advantages resulting to our 
 shipping-interest, in particular, is but of trifling 
 importance in proportion to the comparative 
 smallness of their tonnage. 
 
 It, therefore, necessarily follows, that, by far 
 the greater proportion of our ships clearing- 
 out, upon foreign voyages, are obliged to sail 
 in ballast ; and, therefore, the competition for 
 the outward freights is such, that goods are 
 frequently carried out at such a low rate, that, 
 in many instances, the ships that sail in ballast 
 are more successful than those which take 
 goods on freight ; the principal dependence 
 is consequently upon the homeward freight 
 
192 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 It follows, of course, that the most bulky ar- 
 ticles, or such articles as require the greatest 
 quantity of tonnage, must necessarily be of 
 the greatest importance in this respect ; and, 
 considering the many bulky commodities which 
 the British North- American provinces produce, 
 hence the intimate connexion between the im- 
 provement of our shipping and the encourage- 
 ment of these colonies. One of the most im- 
 portant of these articles of produce is timber, 
 which, although it be but of comparatively 
 small value, is, nevertheless, of infinitely more 
 importance to us, in every commercial point of 
 view, than all the riches in India :- — the timber 
 we have imported from these provinces has 
 lately afforded fiYe times as much employment 
 to British ships as the gross amount of all our 
 Asiatic imports. 
 
 The comparatively small value of timber 
 to its bulk, however, does not lessen its con- 
 sequence as an article of trade ; but, on the 
 contrary, renders it of more importance. For, 
 let it be remembered, that a ton of pine or fir 
 timber pays proportionably the same freight 
 as a ton of any of the most valuable articles 
 which we import. It matters not to the ship- 
 
BRITISH AMEItlCAN COLONIES. 193 
 
 owiiei% whether his ship carries pine timber, 
 worth onlyj at shipping, 20^. a ton, or indigo 
 worth ^700 a ton ; — whether she carries cod- 
 fish from Newfoundland, or gold-dust from 
 the coast of Africa, since competition must of 
 necessity bring the freight of the one, compara- 
 tively, as low as the freight of the other. 
 
 It is obvious, indeed, that the bulkier the 
 article the more it becomes a national object 
 to secure the freight of it : and, therefore, it 
 is equally desirable to secure the carriage of 
 the timber we import, as it is important to 
 protect and encourage our merchant-shipping, 
 — that shipping which supplies our navy with 
 men, and forms the very basis of that com- 
 merce by which alone we have become great, 
 by which we are enabled to support the great 
 expense that .cures our dignity and indepen- 
 dence ; nay, perhaps, our veiy existence as a 
 nation. Consequently, the bent of all such of 
 our commercial regulations as in any way con- 
 cern the importation of timber into this country 
 ought to be carefully directed, so as to effect 
 this important purpose. And in no way would 
 it be more easily accomplished than by a proper 
 attention being paid to the inexhaustible sup^ 
 
104 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 plies of this article, which may be obtained 
 from O'ur American provinces : the value, there- 
 fore, of these colonies to the mother-country 
 is great in proportion as her shipping is im- 
 portant to her. 
 
 When we reflect that, agreeably to the opi- 
 nion which generally prevailed, a considerable 
 number of intelligent persons have, even up 
 to the period of the occurrences which have 
 stated, respecting the late increase in the quan- 
 tity of lumber exported from the British Ame- 
 rican provinces, insisted that these colonies 
 were not capable of supplying our West-Indian 
 islands with that article. We cannot help con- 
 eluding that their opinions, regarding the other 
 productions of these provinces, may be also 
 founded upon principles equally erroneous, and, 
 therefore, their conclusions as false as they 
 have evidently been regarding lumber. For, 
 that these provinces are capable of supplying 
 our West-Indian settlements wath that article 
 is a fact now established beyond all doubt; 
 and, if this capability is not put in requisition, 
 it is the fault of the British government. 
 
 Of all our improvements in commerce, whe- 
 ther in opening new channels or improving the 
 old, the improvement of the trade of our own 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 195 
 
 colonies is the most important, considering 
 that in this we enjoy, without rivalship, the 
 undivided benefit resulting from it. And, in 
 no instance, does this maxim more aptly appl;f 
 than in our trade and intercourse with our 
 American provinces, especially in the exporta- 
 tion of timber from these colonies, which, as 
 has before been observed, is not only most ad- 
 vantageous and encouraging to the improve- 
 ment of our commerce in general, but of the 
 most material consequence to our shipping-in- 
 terest in particular. 
 
 We have, however, in every article of im- 
 portance, but particularly in lumber, neglected, 
 discouraged, and sacrificed, the interests of 
 these colonies to the United States, almost up 
 to the present period : the birth of American 
 independence, which ought to have brought 
 and secured to these provinces a multiplicity of 
 privileges and advantages, was a death-blow 
 to their prosperity. 
 
 Indeed, the Americans enjoyed benefits from 
 this country, to the prejudice both of our co- 
 lonies and' of our shipping-interest, of such a 
 nature, as, I believe, no nation ever enjoyed 
 from another before, namely, exclusive of the 
 
 o2 
 
J 96 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 greatest advantages over other foreigners, the 
 rights and privileges of British subjects. 
 
 For their produce being admitted into this 
 Country, at the same rates of duty as the produce 
 of our own colonies, whilst they, as an inde- 
 pendent nation, had the ports of all other coun- 
 tries, as well as those of Great Britain, open 
 to them ; whereas, the produce of our own 
 colonies being confined to the mother-country 
 for a market, they were thereby, at all times, 
 but particularly at such periods as they expe- 
 rienced a want of demand from other countries, 
 encouraged in glutting our markets with lum- 
 ber and other articles, thereby creating the great- 
 est irregularities in our supplies. Our colonists 
 were, therefore, unable to make head against 
 such a current of difficulties and disadvan- 
 tages; — being confined to the British ports, 
 where they were denied the rightful privi- 
 leges, which belonged to them,* both they and 
 our ship-owners were obliged, tamely, to sub- 
 mit to this monopoly of our supplies of Ame- 
 rican timber, by the United States, notwith- 
 standing the forests of our own provinces 
 produced that article, comparatively, of a far 
 
 * See Nos. 3 and 4, in the Appendix, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 197 
 
 ^■■■■■■BiaBHBaHBia^i^BBHHaBaB^MB^aB^i^iaaaHia^MaaaH^BaBBaHBBHaBnanaDaBiBaBnBBM 
 
 better quality, whilst our own ships, otherwise 
 unemployed and rotting in port, could haie 
 transported it to the British market. 
 
 They had likewise, as has been already 
 fully explained, the supplies of our West-In- 
 dian plantations so completely secured to them, 
 that of 117,740 loads annually imported into 
 these colonies, they had an opportunity af- 
 forded them, by the impolicy of our govern- 
 ment, of furnishing 113,600; whilst the dis- 
 advantages, which our own provinces laboured 
 under, were such as prevented their obtainmg 
 any larger share of this profitable ti-ade than 
 about 3439 loads. And, moreover, they had not 
 onlythefurnishingofthesuppliesoftheseislands 
 thus far secured to their market, but the car- 
 riage of the goods to their ships ; so that out 
 of £ 1,766,639, which appears to be about the 
 amount of the freight of the principal articles 
 of lumber, flour, grain, provisions, &c. annu- 
 ally imported into these settlements, their ships 
 earned ^1,477,301, whilst British ship-owners 
 were suffering the greatest distress, for want of 
 employment for their shipping. 
 
 The most convincing proof of the sacrifice 
 of our interests, in respect to the neglected 
 resources of lumber, which these pro- 
 
198 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 vinces possess, (according to what 1 have 
 already stated,) will be found in the com- 
 parative amount of their exports of this ar- 
 ticle, which, for six or seven years previous to 
 the interruption of our commercial dealings 
 with America, was nearly stationary ; but, 
 upon an interruption of this commercial inter- 
 course taking place, when a fair opportunity 
 was afforded them, immediately increased to 
 an enormous extent; — the Canadas having, in 
 the space of three or four years, increased 
 their exports of lumber five-fold ; and the other 
 two provinces having, in the same short period, 
 nearly doubled theirs : — the exports of timber 
 from these provinces were thereby, in four years, 
 raised from 96,975 loads to 311,114; adding 
 no less than ^'1,721,040 to the freights earned 
 by British shipping. 
 
 If these colonies, from the transient occur- 
 rences of these four years, produced the vast 
 addition to the freights of our ships in the car- 
 riage of our timber, with still as much, or even 
 more, apparent capability of increase as they 
 appeared to possess a few years before, when 
 they were shackled and discouraged, — what 
 might not the operation of measures calcula- 
 ted to encourage the exportation of that article 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. IQQ 
 
 have produced in the course of thirty years ? — 
 which is the lapse of time since American in- 
 dependence, and the period of our first, peace 
 with that country ; — and I sincerely hope, that 
 as the Americans have, even in opposition to 
 their own interests, by wantonly and malici- 
 ously lending themselves the degraded tool of 
 the scourge of the human race, put a period 
 to this peace and amity, that our eyes will be 
 so far open to our own interest as to make the 
 commencement of this war the termination of 
 the sacrifice of the rights and privileges of 
 British colonists and British ship-owners to that 
 degraded country. 
 
 CAPABILITY OF OUR NORTH-AMERICAN PRO- 
 VINCES TO SUPPLY OUR WEST-INDIAN SET- 
 TLEMENTS WITH AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, 
 SUCH AS FLOUR, BREAD, GRAIN, PROVI- 
 SIONS, &C. 
 
 One of the most-important objects, which 
 would be answered by the exportation of flour, 
 &c. from these colonies, is the supply of our 
 West-Indian possessions. 
 
200 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 The adequacy of these provinces to such 
 supplies is a subject which has often been dis- 
 cussed in the British parliament, and by the 
 parties immediately interested. But, although 
 these discussions have certainly brought forth 
 much important information, I may safely say, 
 they have never produced a single measure cal- 
 culated to bring about this desirable end. 
 
 Hovrever, that these provinces, or, even the 
 Canadas alone, are capable of supplying our 
 West-Indian settlements with flour, ^c, is a 
 proposition which I have no doubt I shall be 
 able to demonstrate in the clearest manner. 
 
 Of the supplies of flour, bread, and provi- 
 sions, hitherto obtained from our North- Ame- 
 rican colonies, the principal part has been fur- 
 nished by the Canadas : and, moreover, as 
 these two provinces, from the superior excel- 
 lence of their soil, the immensity of their terri- 
 torial extent, and other local advantages, possess 
 considerably the most extensive and improve- 
 able resources, not only with respect to fur- 
 nishing these, but every other species of agri- 
 cultural produce, it is to these provinces, 
 therefore, that we must principally look for 
 these important articles. I shall, consequently, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES, 201 
 
 confine my observations respecting agricultural 
 produce more particularly to the Canadas. 
 
 By looking into No. 6, in the Appendix, it 
 appears that 1,300,000 bushels of wheat and 
 other grain are equal to the annual supply of 
 our West-Indian settlements with flour, meal, 
 bread, and grain. The amount of these arti- 
 cles, hitherto exported from the Canadas, no 
 doubt, falls short of this demand, being only, 
 upon an average of eight years, equal to about 
 one-fourth of the requisite quantity, as appears 
 by No. 2, in the Appendix : this cicumstance, 
 however, and my present proposition, namely, 
 that the British provinces, or, even the Cana- 
 das alone, are capable of yielding these sup- 
 plies, can be satisfactorily accounted for. 
 
 Indeed, the causes which have hitherto dis- 
 couraged the exportation of flour and lumber, 
 as well as every other kind of produce, from 
 our American possessions, have been so many, 
 and operated so powerfully, (as may be ob- 
 served by what has been already stated,) as to 
 constitute matter of surprise, that the exports 
 from these settlements should have been so 
 considerable. 
 
 The demand upon these provinces for flour 
 
202 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 and lumber having been of late greatly in- 
 creased, and this increased demand for lumber 
 being abundantly answered, whilst the exports 
 of wheat and flour experienced but little in- 
 crease, does not by any means disprove my 
 proposition ; for, although the disadvantages 
 which our colonies laboured under may, in 
 many respects, have alike hindered the expor- 
 tation of these articles, yet, in others, their 
 effects were very different in their operation. 
 
 For example, the Canadian forests affording 
 an inexhaustible supply of lumber, and there 
 being a sufficient number of hands to be ob- 
 tained to cut it down and float it to market, 
 the largest quantity which has or would be 
 wanted to complete the supplies, of which I 
 baye stated these provinces to be capable of 
 furnishing, has, therefore, been, and will con- 
 tinue to be, furnished in abundance. For, ex- 
 clusive of the lumber which the forests of the 
 British provinces produce, that of all the im- 
 mense tract of the United States territory lying 
 upon Lake Champlain, the south banks of the 
 St. Laurence and its tributary streams, must 
 also either be shipped from the ports of the St, 
 Laurence, or remain an incumbrance to the 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 203 
 
 ground : — the waters upon which it grows must 
 float it to market, — to the ports of the St. Lau- 
 rence, or it is not worth the cutting down. — If 
 there is no demand for it in ports of the British 
 provinces, it must remain growing in the forest, 
 or be destroyed and consumed to make way 
 for agricultural improvements, — And even al- 
 though the British government should again, 
 (as they have for the last thirty years,) by the 
 strange and unaccountable encouragement and 
 facilities which they have unjustly given to 
 American commerce, neglect and discourage 
 the interests of British subjects in this valuable 
 commerce ; yet it will at least be some conso- 
 lation, (however small,) to reflect that that part 
 of the timber of this extensive country, which 
 might thus be prevented from being shipped in 
 the St. Laurence, cannot be shipped from the 
 ports of the United States, so as to come in 
 competition with shipments from the British 
 provinces. 
 
 But how very different the case is with re-^ 
 spect to flour and provisions; their exportation 
 is capable of being diverted into various chan- 
 nels, accordingly as it may be affected by po- 
 
204 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 litical circumstances. These articles being 
 the surplus produce of the lands already clear- 
 ed and cultivated, and constituting a conside- 
 rable portion of the means of the inhabitants 
 for supplying themselves v\^ith other necessaries ; 
 and from their small bulk, compared with lum- 
 ber, they are, therefore, capable of conveyance 
 by channels, through which lumber, from its 
 greater bulk, is incapable of being transported, 
 will, therefore, be raised in abundance through- 
 out this fertile country, and will certainly find 
 a market, whether the British government en- 
 courage (or I may say allow) the exportation 
 of them through the St. Laurence or not. 
 
 It is, indeed, to be regretted, that the first 
 fruits of the commerce of the vast tract of fertile 
 country now settling along the Canadian fron- 
 tiers have been expelled the Canadian market, 
 by the impolitic measures of the British govern- 
 ment.* For when any branch of trade or com- 
 merce is once established in any particular chan- 
 nel, the longer it is confined to that direction the 
 
 * See pp. 89 to 10^. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 205 
 
 more difficult it will be to divert it from its wont- 
 ed course. And it may be observed, that the 
 current of commerce, arising out of the agricul- 
 tural produce of this extensive and fertile coun- 
 try, cannot, like that arising from the exporta- 
 tion of the wood of the forest, be checked in 
 the fountain, but has and will continue to find 
 another course, until om* government shall open 
 that which is most congenial to it. 
 
 The ports of the St. Laurence are certainly 
 the most convenient for the commerce of all 
 that vast tract of country, lying upon the 
 banks of that noble river ; and the chain of 
 lakes which it unites, as well that upon the 
 American side as that upon the Canadian. In- 
 deed, nothing short of such confused and vac- 
 cillating measures as have hitherto marked the 
 disposition of all our commercial concerns in 
 that quarter of the world, will be sufficient to 
 prevent the trade of this part of America from 
 flowins: in this its most natural channel, 
 
 A well-directed line of policy, respecting 
 these colonies, would, no doubt, add to the 
 Canadian exports the whole produce of this 
 important portion of the United States ; the 
 
200 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 rapid settlement, fertility, and improvement of 
 which, and its contignity with the navigable 
 waters and shipping ports of the St. Lanrencey 
 have lately so greatly excited the jealousy and 
 roused the attention of the American govern- 
 ment. 
 
 The exportation of wheat and flour from Ca- 
 nada, viewed in all its bearings, is a subject 
 which exhibits a variety of circumstances that 
 altogether form the most complete anomaly, 
 which we could conceive it possible to be pro- 
 duced. 
 
 It is a notorious fact, that flour and provi- 
 sions have been carried from the very banks of 
 the St. Laurence to the ports of the United 
 States, a distance of many hundred miles, by 
 various tedious and expensive means of con- 
 veyance, by land-carriage, by canals, by rivers, 
 &c. at an immense expense and loss of time ; 
 and, notwithstanding the goods were for the 
 supply of our West-Indian islands, commanded 
 a better price in the ports of the United States, 
 even after all this loss of time and accumulated 
 expense, than they would have brought in the 
 port of Montreal, where, compared with the 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 207 
 
 ••■■'"■ ' ■• ■ M^i— —n iM.i. ;; ! ;; ■ n . .■.■ m , . -r- 
 
 American ports, the produce might have been 
 carried in a much shorter time and at a much 
 smaller expense. 
 
 The cause of this transportation was very 
 obvious. Insuperable obstacles were thrown 
 in the way of produce being shipped from the 
 Canadas to our West-Indian settlements; and, 
 consequently, the prices of wheat and ilour 
 were regulated, in these provinces, by the de- 
 mand for wheat for the British market. 
 
 And, it is no less extraordinary than true, 
 that, whilst these very occurrences were taking 
 place, the question, whether or not, or how 
 far, our American provinces were capable of 
 supplying our West-Indian possessions with 
 American produce, was, at various times, 
 gravely discussed in the British parliament,— 
 evidence examined, with all the usual formali- 
 ties ; and the opinions, which appear to have 
 been the result of these inquiries, were, that, 
 although these provinces might, at some future 
 day, do much, yet they were not now capable 
 of supplying the British settlements in the 
 West Indies,— no, not exien with lumber, nor 
 with ships to carry it from the United States : 
 and, therefore, as heretofore, we continued to 
 
208 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 apply to the Americans for these supplies, and 
 generously, to the exclusion of our own ships, 
 employed theirs to carry the goods to market. 
 
 Exclusive of the information which might 
 have been derived from this unaccountable 
 transportation of flour from the neighbourhood 
 of the St. Laurence, to the ports of the United 
 States, a practice which had prevailed in Ca- 
 nadian commerce ever since the American 
 independence, was also sufficient of itself to 
 indicate the existence of some insurmountable 
 obstacle to the shipment of Canadian flour to 
 our West-Indian plantations, namely, the ship- 
 ment of wheat from Canada to Great Britain, 
 and flour from Great Britain to the West In- 
 dies, being tantamount to sending wheat from 
 Canada to Great Britain to be manufactured 
 for the West-Indian market, whilst it could 
 have been manufactured to as great perfection 
 in the Canadas as in Great Britain, and sent 
 from Quebec to the West Indies at compara- 
 tively as low a freight and by a shorter pas- 
 sage. 
 
 It, therefore, appears, that, between mer- 
 chants commissions, shipping charges, freight, 
 insurance, out-lay of money, &c. not less than 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 209 
 
 4s, 6d. per bushel* upon the wheat, was ac- 
 tually sacrificed. 
 
 It may, therefore, be asked, why not manu- 
 facture the wheat m Canada, and ship the flour 
 to the West Indies ? — One wouki be ready to 
 conchide, that, if this was not done, it must 
 have been for want of mills to manufacture it, 
 ships to carry it, or merchants to carry on the 
 trade. With regard both to a want of ships 
 for this trade, or of merchants to embark into 
 it, ho such inconvenience existed, nor, indeed, 
 could possibly be supposed to exist : neither 
 could there be said to be a want of mills. 
 
 Although, for some years after the indepen- 
 denceof the United States, the mills to be found 
 in the country might not have been sufficient 
 to convert the whole wheat which was pro- 
 duced into flour ; yet, as there were many 
 
 ■•£.s. d 
 * Commission upon wheat, at 7*. 6</. per bushel 44 
 
 Shipping charges, &c ^ 3 
 
 Freight 27^: 
 
 Landing and warehousing in Great Britain^ 
 
 interest, commission, waste, <ic. and )> 1 3 
 merchants profit 
 
 \ 
 
 ^0 4 G 
 P 
 
210 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 mills subsequently erected, upon a large scale 
 and according to the most-improved principles, 
 there is no doubt but that had such encourage- 
 ment and protection been given to the exporta- 
 tion of flour from Canada to the West Indies^ 
 as to have secured a steady demand, the mills 
 would have been found atlequate to manufac- 
 ture all the wheat raised in the country. 
 
 Neither can it be supposed that either capi- 
 tal or enterprise was wanting. Indeed, where- 
 ever channels have been open^ed to British 
 commerce, it has invariably happened, that 
 every branch has been so eagerly grasped at as 
 to prove, that, instead of either of these re- 
 quisites being wanting, there generally appears 
 a superabundance of both. 
 
 If, however, the shipment of Canadian pro- 
 duce to the West Indies can be said to have 
 ever been a channel opened to Bi4tish com- 
 merce, it may very properly be observed, that 
 those \y ho opened it left it in such an i^nfini^hed 
 and slovenly state, that it only proved a trap 
 to ensnare(the British merchant, and detei* him 
 froni coming in competition with the Ameri- 
 cans, in the supplying of our West-Indian set- 
 tlements» 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 211 
 
 It may not bc^ improper to inquire who sus- 
 tains this loss of 4^. dd, per bushel upon wheat, 
 incurred in the transportation of that article 
 from Canada to Great Britain, and flour from 
 Great Britain to the West Indies, as already 
 stated. 
 
 Respecting' this inquiry, it may be observed, 
 that these islands appear to have b^eii supplied 
 with /lour from Great Britain, the British pro- 
 vinces, and the United States ; and that a large 
 portion of the surplus produce of Canadian 
 wheat, and also a considerable proportion of the 
 flour, exported from the United States, were 
 regularly shipped to Great Britain ; and that 
 the prices of flour, both in the British provinces 
 and the United States, must have, therefore, 
 been regulated by the price in Great Britain, 
 and, consequently, comparatively much lower. 
 
 it is obvious, therefore, that our West-In- 
 dian colonists could have been supplied with 
 flour at a much lower rate from either of these 
 markets than from the mother-country ; and it 
 consequently follows, that had either the' British 
 provinces or the United States been allowed to 
 have afforded these supplies in a regular manner, 
 the prices in the West Indies would have cor- 
 
 p2 
 
211^ IMPORTANCE OF THJl 
 
 resjoonded with the prices in these markets, 
 added to the expense of transportation. 
 
 But of these three markets, Great Britain 
 had only a fair, uninterrupted, and unrestrict- 
 ed, opportunity of importing this article into 
 our West-Indian islands. For, the imports from 
 the United States were precarious and uncer- 
 tain, from their being only made in Conse- 
 quence of the occasional suspension of our na- 
 vigation-laws, by which they were expressly 
 prohibited: — and the importation of produce 
 from the British provinces was a trade which 
 the irregular imports from the States, coupled 
 with the peculiarities of the climate, and the 
 local situation of these provinces, rendered ex- 
 tremely speculative and uncertain. — Great Bri- 
 tain, from her extensive and regular intercourse 
 with the West Indies in other commodities, 
 had, therefore, compared with the American 
 provinces, abetter opportunity of securing a 
 fair average of that market for her exports of 
 flour and provisions. 
 
 Let us suppose the price of flour .in Great 
 Britain, either at any particular period, or, upon 
 an average, before any of the late restrictions 
 were laid upon our intercourse witb America, to 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 213 
 
 have been ^3 per barrel : the prices, both in 
 Canada and the United States, being generally 
 regulated by the prices in Great Britain, andj 
 as the expense of transportation from either 
 country to England would be about X'l? 1^^ 
 price of flour in those markets must have con- 
 sequently been\£2 per barrel. Here, there- 
 fore, appears the mystery — wheat continuing 
 to be sent from Canada to Great Britain, and 
 flour as regularly shipped from Great Britain 
 to the West-Indian market, which was open to 
 the Canadians upon the same terms as to the 
 British — and the expense of transportation from 
 each country, comparatively, about the same. 
 Nothing can account for this, as I have already 
 explained, but the great irregularities, which 
 prevailed in the West-Indian market, from the 
 manner in which the supplies from the United 
 States were introduced, coupled with the pe- 
 culiarities respecting the British provinces, — 
 but, as already observed, peculiarities which, 
 unattended by such absurdities, would have 
 proved to be but little or no inconvenience.* 
 
 * See observations upon the opening of the ports of ouv 
 colonies to the Americans, chap. iii. 
 
214 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 It is evident that the importation of flour 
 into the West Indies, from Great Britain, must 
 have been found upon the whole to have an- 
 swered the purpose of the importer, as may 
 be concluded from the quantity imported, as 
 stated in No. 6, in the Appendix ; it must have 
 one time with another paid the expense of 
 transportation. This expense, which we may 
 compute at 20^. per barrel, as already ob- 
 served, added to the price in Great Bri- 
 tain, estimated at ^3, the price in the West 
 Indies must have, therefore, averaged ^4 per 
 barrel. 
 
 Now, in the second place, as this average 
 price of flour in Great Britain would not have 
 afforded more than £2 per barrel in Canada; 
 the expense of transportation being 20^.; and 
 the expense of transportation, from Canada to 
 the West-Indies, being even comparatively less 
 than from Great Britain, it is obvious that, 
 unless some great impediment had interrupted 
 this intercourse, that either the inhabitants 
 of our West-Indian settlements would have 
 had flour from Canada at ^3 per barrel 
 instead of £4; or, that the Canadians would 
 Jiave received ^3 per barrel for their flour, in- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES 215 
 
 stead of £1 : or, at any rate this 20^. per bar- 
 rel must have been shared between them. 
 
 As it therefore appears, from the very consi- 
 derable and regular importation of flour and. 
 bread into the West Indies from Great Britain^ 
 that the price of flour must have, one time with 
 another, amidst the fluctuations to which it was 
 rendered liable, been so high as to. have afford-; 
 ed the importer the expense of transportation, 
 it is evident, therefore, that this loss of 20s. per 
 barrel upon flour, being equal to about 4^. 6d 
 per bushel upon wheat, must have fallen upon 
 the Canadian farmer. — 
 
 And who proiitted by this enormous loss, oc- 
 casioned by our legislative tolerations, interfe- 
 rences, or arrangements, concerning this inter- 
 course between our West-Indian settlements 
 and the United States? The Americans only. 
 The ports of these islands, whenever any scar- 
 city took place, were opened to American pro- 
 duce, which was admitted free of duty or any 
 sort of restraint, and again shut when supplies 
 were obtained; — their opening and shutting thus 
 becoming each a consequence of the other.^ 
 
 * See Page 93 to m. 
 
216 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 Instead, therefore, of being as originally in- 
 tended, to encourage and defend the interests 
 of Great Btitain and her colonies, our naviga- 
 tion-laws were absolutely perverted to serve the 
 Americans, and sacrifice the interests of the 
 British colonist and the British merchant, for 
 whose exclusive interest these laws were origi- 
 nally framed. 
 
 Had the supplying of our West-Indian 
 islands been so regulated, that the West-Indian 
 market would have afforded a regular and 
 steady demand for flour in Canada, this 4^. 6d. 
 per bushel would have at once operated in sti- 
 mulating the Canadian farmer to greater exer- 
 tions in the growth of wheat, and also as a pre- 
 mium to encourage the transport of the pro- 
 duce of that part of the United States which 
 borders upon Canada to the St. Laurence. 
 
 It may be further remarked respecting the 
 surplus-produce of wheat, &c. raised in Cana- 
 da, as stated in Nos. 1 and 6, in the Appendix, 
 and the annual consumption of the manufac- 
 tures from that article in the West Indies, that 
 this surplus appears to bear but a small propor- 
 tion to the annual consumption of these islands. 
 Nothing, how^ever, could be more absurd and 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 217. 
 
 unreasonable than to draw the conclusiort of 
 inadequacy from this circumstance, the re- 
 sources and capabilities of these provinces 
 never having* been put to the test. 
 
 Surely no person in any degree acquaint- 
 ed with the subject could argue that their 
 resources were ever yet fairly put to the 
 test, or were ever directed to, or in any manner 
 encouraged to assume this channel, whilst such, 
 positive and manifest proofs as have been addu- 
 ced exist, that Canadian flour, as well as other 
 Canadian produce, is positively excluded the 
 West-Indian market. Whilst wheat continues to 
 be shipped from Canada to Great Britain, and 
 flour from Great Britain to the West Indies, 
 their inadequacy to such supply is inadmissi- 
 ble, as a reason why these provinces do not 
 supply their sister colonies with flour. 
 
 Had the parliamentary inquiries, which have 
 been made, concerning the adequacy of the 
 Cartadas to yield these supplies, been directed 
 to the circumstance of this unaccountable 
 transportation, the true causes might have been 
 discovered and removed, and the Canadas 
 rendered, not only adequate to these supplies 
 at this day, but also capable of furnishing the 
 
218 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 iiiother-cotintry with a considerable quantity.— 
 Our legislators would have discovered that the 
 fluctuation of prices, and uncertainty of de- 
 mand, to which the West-Indian market was 
 rendered liable, and the risks and disappoint- 
 ments to which the Canadians were subjected 
 in their attempts to supply these islands with 
 flour, were the effects of their own impolitic 
 measures, and the true causes which pi^vented 
 these provinces from furnishing our West- 
 Indian possessions with an abundant supply. 
 
 The eifectual supply of our West- Indian 
 islands with flour from the Canadas must ne- 
 cessarily be connected with several subordinate 
 arrangements, the encouragement and protec- 
 tion of which are essential in producing that 
 effect, and also, to the existence of such a trade 
 after it may have assumed that channel. — Ar- 
 rangements must have been entered into by a 
 variety of classes of people in these provinces, 
 for carrying into effect the transportation of 
 wheat and flour from the United States to the 
 ports of the St. Laurence ; — for erecting mills 
 for the manufacture of such inn ports of wheat ; 
 — for establishing ships in the trade for the regu- 
 lar transportation of produce to the West Indies, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 219 
 
 But neither of these arrangements could have 
 been made upon any reasonable grounds of 
 success, whilst so much uncertainty existed 
 with regard to the West-Indian market. 
 
 Having pointed out the causes which have 
 prevented the Canadas from supplying our 
 West-Indian colonists with flour, &c. and 
 clearly shewn, that the smallness of the quan- 
 tity of that article hitherto exported from these 
 provinces is no proof of their being inadequate 
 to furnish these islands with the most abundant 
 supplies, I shall now endeavour to prove, that 
 they may in a very short period be rendered 
 capable of yielding more than sufficient to sa- 
 tisfy the greatest demand which our settlements 
 in the West Indies require. This capability 
 consists, in the first place, in the supplies which 
 might be draxvnfrom the United-States side of the 
 St. Laurence; secondly, in the further exten- 
 sion of agriculture upon the vast tracts of fer- 
 tile land, still unsettled in these provinces ; and 
 thirdly, in the agricultural improvements of 
 which the land noxo under cultivation is capable. 
 
 With respect to the first position, viz. the 
 supplies to be drawn from the United-States 
 side of the St. Laurence, it may be observed. 
 
2^0 IMPORTANCE Ot THfi 
 
 that' although this is not the most important 
 source, yet it is the one from whence the most 
 immediate increase in the exports of flour could 
 be drawn. It appears plain, however, from what 
 has already been stated, that the transportation 
 of flottr from the United-States side of the St. 
 Laurence to the ports of that river, has beeii 
 greatly discouraged, and more particularlj'^ 
 by the irregularities which have hitherto ex- 
 isted in the mode of furnishing the West-Indian 
 market. 
 
 The most effectual means which could be 
 adopted, for the encouragement of this trade, 
 would be absolutely to prohibit flour from be- 
 ing imported from the United States, into onr 
 West^Indian settlements ; or otherwise, at all 
 times to allow the importation of such flour, 
 but in our own ships only, and liable to a duty 
 equal to the comparative difference of freight 
 and insurance, as might be found operating 
 against the importer of produce, into our AVest- 
 Indian islands from Canada, as relates to im- 
 ports from the ports of the United States, (pro- 
 vided such a difference did exist,) with a small 
 addition over and above that difference, as a 
 protecting duty. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 221 
 
 It may appear to some persons, unacquaint- 
 ed with many minute circumstances relating to 
 this trade, that the imposition of such a dnty 
 might occasion exorbitant prices in our West- 
 Indian settlements: but, compared with the 
 prices which have hitherto been paid in. these 
 settlements, this would certainly not be the 
 case. For, it will be observed, from the obser- 
 vations ah^eady stated, that the great irregula- 
 rities which existed in. the mode of supplying 
 these colonies must have raised the prices 
 double or treble to what this difterence of 
 freight and insurance could, at the highest, be 
 possibly estimated. 
 
 In the event of the exportation of this ar- 
 ticle from the ports of the St. Laurence be- 
 ing unshackled, and such exportations being 
 also unrestricted from the ports of the United 
 States, otherwise than their carriage being con- 
 fined to British ships, and liable to the protect- 
 ing duties just mentioned, it is very unlikely 
 that the difference could exceed 7s. 6d. per 
 barrel; whereas, it appears,. the inhabitants of 
 _our West-Indian possessions must have paid at 
 the rate of 206*. per barrel higher for their 
 flour, than.theprc>pQrtioiiate price at. which the 
 
222 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 -*'*—-- • ■ - - ,1 -- _>-^'^ -^ ~" - --^^-^ - ■- 
 
 Caiiadians sold their wheat for the British 
 market. 
 
 Undoubtedly such measures would soon 
 ■haVe the effect of furnishing the ports of the St, 
 llaurence, with considerably larger supplies 
 than the demand of our West-Indian colonies 
 would require. 
 
 Whatever, therefore, the price of 'M)ur may 
 ha?e been previous to such an effect being pro- 
 duced, it is obvious, that it must from that pe- 
 riod correspond with and be ruled by the 
 prices in the British market. Thus, a short time 
 w^ould produce a most important advantage 
 to the inhabitants of our West-Indian colonies, 
 considering that the price of flour in these set- 
 tlements and Great Britain must then as^B^arly 
 Correspond as does the expenses of transport- 
 ation from Canada to these markets respective- 
 ly ; thereby bringing about a reduction of the 
 price to these West-Indian colonists, equal to 
 the amount of the expense of the transportation 
 of flour from Great Britain to the West Indies. 
 
 Secondly, with respect to the further exten- 
 sion of agriculture, upon the vast tracts of fer- 
 tile land still unsettled in these provinces, it 
 may be remarked, that such an extension may 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN OdLONIES. 5^3 
 
 take place, either by an increase of the propor- 
 tionate quantity which the cultivated land bears 
 to the population,— by an increase of the popti^ 
 lation, or by both. 
 
 The increase ^f the proportionate qtiantity 
 of cultivated land t<) the ' population may be 
 promoted by the encouragement of the export- 
 ation of timber and ashfes^ and also, by a 
 steady demand and , encotlraging prices^^ ^fojr 
 agricultui-'al produce.- "^^^^ ^-y'^l-i'^^-u /{;:!!;? 
 
 The vast tracts of fertile land to be possess- 
 ed at alow rate, and situate in the most healthy 
 and agreeable climate, proves highly encourag- 
 ing to the increase of th^ population, both by 
 multiplication and emigration: indeed, land is 
 to be obtained upon such easy ternjs, that the 
 poorest man, if he is but industrious, may soon 
 acquire a freehold in these fertile provinces. 
 Emigrations into Canada are principally from 
 the mothfer-country and the United Stiates* 
 Notiiing, h6A^5ever, ca4i be said hitherto to ha^i^e 
 Encouraged emigration tb Canada, except the 
 superiority of the soil. But, so- powerfully lias 
 this circumstance operated, that the emigration 
 Tphich has prevailed for several years past from 
 the United States has been very considerable 
 
224 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 in(leed. Sacb are the causes, and such have 
 been the effects, that, (except in that part 
 of the United States bordering upon the 
 Canadas,) throughout ahnost the whole extent 
 of the eastern states, but particularly New 
 England, one may ride for days together with- 
 out seeing a spot of what could be properly 
 termed good land, — in many parts, hundreds of 
 miles without seeing a spot worth cultivating, 
 — in many districts, the generality of the peo- 
 ple poorly clothed and miserably lodged, and 
 here and there the farms deserted, and the farm- 
 houses tumbling down ; and, upon inquiring 
 concerning them, it will be found their desertion 
 was occasioned by emigration either to Canada 
 or to those parts of the United States which lie 
 upon the banks of the St. Laurence. 
 
 But, upon the other hand, one may travel in 
 the Canadas, especially above Quebec, for days 
 together, without meeting with any considera- 
 ble interruption of the most superior soil; — • 
 one may, for hundreds of miles, pass through 
 unmterrupted tracts of land of the first rate 
 quality, and all over the country find the inha- 
 bitants comfortably lodged, well clothed, and 
 in every respect enjoying, abundance. It there- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 225 
 
 fore appears that several of the most important 
 circumstances contribute materially to encou- 
 rage the settlement of the waste-lands in these 
 provinces. 
 
 Thirdly, as to the agricultural improve- 
 ments of vrhich the land now under cultivation 
 is capable, it may be observed, that it is cer- 
 tainly a most important object, and ought, above 
 all other improvements, to be attended to. It 
 would not only directly augment the exports 
 from these colonies, but also afford considerable 
 facility to various other most important ad- 
 vantages which they possess. 
 
 With respect to the smallness of the crops 
 which are here produced, from the very superior 
 quality of the soil, and the industry of the 
 inhabitants, being circumstances which have 
 already been noticed, it appears clear that con- 
 siderable improvements in agriculture might be 
 easily effected.* 
 
 * The author in making the necessary observations, and in 
 collecting such information as he conceived necessary, in wri- 
 ting a statistical account of the Canadas, which he has nearly 
 ready for publication, necessarily devoted the most particular 
 attention to the quality of the soil and the state of agriculture. 
 Hehas.therefore,fromthe superior qualityand unimproved state 
 
226 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 If an increase of four bushels an acre were 
 produced, still the crops would be but very 
 small; only about 16 or 17 bushels per acre* 
 
 Such an increase, however, w^ould yield 
 1,953,852 bushels; which, with the 330,483 
 now annually exported, upon an average, would 
 make 2,284,335 bushels, being nearly equal 
 to double the amount of the supplies of our 
 i West-Indian plantation s.f 
 
 Estimating also the small proportion which 
 the land under grain bears to the amount 
 of cleared land, an increase of the quan- 
 
 of the land, and from his experience and knowledge of the prac- 
 tice of husbandry, in some of the best cultivated districts of the 
 mother-country, deemed it his duty to write a treatise, shew- 
 ing those agricultural improvements, which are most pecu- 
 liarly adapted to these provinces, with the most appropriate 
 systems of cropping, rules of farm -management, &c. This, 
 with some observations upon the best means of overcoming 
 the prejudices, which, amongst the Canadians, (as well as 
 amongst the people of any other country wherein improve- 
 ments, or any change of system, is unknown,) must be found 
 to exist against any deviation from their old-established 
 practice, are intended to be submitted to the Board of Agri- 
 culture, in order to an application being made to the board 
 of trade and plantations, in behalf of our interest in the im- 
 provement of these extensive and valuable colonies. 
 
 * See page 58. t See No. 6, in the Appendix. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 22T 
 
 tity under grain (if accompanied with ^n 
 improvement of agriculture in general) might 
 Certainly be made to great advantage. Such 
 an increase to the extent of 100,000 acres, 
 being only an addition of about one-fifth to the 
 quantity computed to be now under grain, and 
 about the fiftieth part of the cleared land in 
 the Canadas,'* and also supposing it to produce 
 only sixteen bushels per acre, would yield 
 1,600,000 bushels ; which, with the above 
 2,284,335, would make the annual exports 
 3,884,335 bushels. 
 
 An improvement to this extent might cer- 
 tainly be brought about without much diffi- 
 culty, provided the proper means were used 
 to effect so desirable an object. 
 
 The circumstances favourable to the improve- 
 ment of agriculture in Canada are an excellent 
 soil, a favourable climate, a steady demand for 
 produce, and that activity, industry, and emu- 
 lation, which exist amongst the inhabitants ; 
 whilst the only circumstances, which militate 
 against such improvements are, the ignorance 
 of the Canadian cultivators of the modern 
 
 * See page 56. 
 
 q2 
 
22B IMI^ORTANCE OF THE 
 
 improvements in agriculture and their attach- 
 ment to old-established practices. For nothing 
 is more obvious than that industry and emula- 
 tion may exist under the greatest ignorance and 
 the most obstinate tenacity of the old beaten 
 path, as well as under the most successful 
 discoveries to which experiment can lead. 
 
 Under such circumstances, it is evident 
 that improvements judiciously introduced must 
 be attended with the most certain success. 
 
 The difficulty of eradicating the prejudices 
 of the Canadian farmers, by introducing agri- 
 cultural improvements, would not be greater 
 than what would be experienced in the intro- 
 duction of any improvement amongst the far- 
 mers, or any other class of people, in any 
 other country. 
 
 A proof that the people are not altogether 
 averse to new experiments, and that they are 
 disposed to follow up such practices as they 
 may find profitable, is to be found in the circum- 
 stance of the introduction of the growth of bar- 
 ley, and the cultivation of peas, already noticed. 
 
 The growth of barley was unknown in Ca- 
 nada until a few years back, when a gentle- 
 tnan, in the prosecution of some speculations 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 229 
 
 in that article, introduced it, and the example 
 was almost instantaneously followed. 
 
 The principal difficulty experienced in such 
 introductions is in finding individuals amongst 
 the older residents disposed to try the experi- 
 ment ; but this is a difficulty very far from being 
 insurmountable. When once any new dis- 
 covery is made, and the improvement adopted 
 by only one such individual, and is found profit- 
 able, there is no doubt but that it will be ge- 
 nerally adopted. For, whatever the neighbours 
 of the person who first adopted the improve- 
 ment may have formerly thought of such 
 projects, or whatever antipathy they may 
 have entertained against them, the temp- 
 tation of profit and the fear of being consi- 
 dered less ingenious than a neighbour, who 
 excelled them in nothing else, and whom, 
 to esteem, in any respect, superior to them- 
 selves would be to them the greatest mortifica- 
 tion, would induce them not only to follow his 
 example, but would also set their ingenuity to 
 work and stimulate them to improve upon his 
 principles. 
 
 From the view taken of the improveable ca- 
 pabilities of the Canadas, in respect to furnish- 
 ing wheat, as well as other agricultural pro- 
 
230 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 H I ' i M n if » l» « n I ,1. 1 .. .1.. «.,. i»»— — MWKa— — 1 1 i '>i i 
 
 duce, for exportation, it is obvious that these 
 hitherto - neglected colonies might, in a very 
 short time, be so improved as to yield the most 
 extensive supplies. There is, indeed, no doubt 
 that, in a few years, under good management, 
 they might not only furnish our West-Indian 
 settlements with their supply of flour, but 
 also the mother-country with all the wheat, 
 hemp, and flax, which she requires from foreign 
 parts ; unless she should be still determined to 
 be dependent upon foreign countries for her 
 supplies of these important articles. 
 
 Canada capable of producing hemp and 
 flax sufficient for the supply of the 
 mother-country with these articles. 
 
 In reference to the question as to how far 
 the Canadas are capable of producing a quan- 
 tity of hemp and flax sufficient to supply the 
 wants of the mother-country, it may be ob- 
 served, that, as far as relates to the exte^it and 
 quality of the land under cultivation, and also 
 their population, they certainly do possess this 
 capability. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 231' 
 
 To prove this point, it willbe only necessary 
 to notice the circumstances which have pro^ 
 moted or retarded the production of flax and 
 hemp in these provinces. 
 
 This fundamental cause may be justly traced 
 to the extreme ignorance of the Canadians, 
 with respect to agriculture in general. 
 
 Upon this cause a variety of others are 
 hinged, such as, the reduced state of the land 
 in point of fertility ; the defective knowledge 
 of the natives^ concerning these crops ; and 
 their tenacity of antient habits and established 
 practices. Athough these circumstances have 
 been already noticed, it is nevertheless neces- 
 sary here to make some further observations, 
 in order to shew how far these impediments 
 are capable of being removed, and to what 
 extent they stand in the way of the cultivation 
 of hemp and flax in particular. 
 
 Although the exhausted state of the soil is a 
 cause which, to a certain degree, operates 
 against the cultivation of these crops generally, 
 and in particular where combined with certain 
 other causes, actually prevents their cultiva- 
 tion, yet, under other circumstances, it would 
 not by any means prevent their being cultivated 
 
232 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 to advantage, even to an extent sufficient to 
 supply the British market. 
 
 There are certain parts of every farm fit for 
 the profitable production of either hemp or 
 flax, or both ; and therefore upon the judi- 
 cious choice, both in respect to extent and 
 situation of the parts chosen for the production 
 of these crops, will depend their profitable cul- 
 ture ; hence folio v^s the absolute necessity of a 
 general knowledge of agriculture. 
 
 The generally reduced state of the land, the 
 want of a thorough knowledge of the manage- 
 ment of hemp and flax, and a defective know- 
 ledge of agriculture in general, are causes 
 which, combined, must inevitably prevent the 
 profitable cultivation of these crops. For, under 
 such circumstances, either an injudicious 
 choice may be made of the land destined for 
 these crops, or too large a proportion may be 
 appropriated to that purpose; and therefore, even 
 supposing the farmer by accident to have made 
 a proper choice of the land, as to its fitness to 
 produce the crops in question, he may never- 
 theless so derange his system or mode of crop- 
 ping as may occasion considerable loss and 
 inconvenience, notwithstanding the hemp and 
 flax produced may have been very abundant 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 233 
 
 Where the cultivation of these articles is un- 
 dertaken by persons unacquainted with agricul- 
 ture in general, notwithstanding they may toler- 
 ably well understand the management of hemp 
 and flax, such persons are not only likely to fail 
 in rendering good crops of them profitable, but, 
 from an injudicious choice and improper ma- 
 nagement of the land selected for their growth, 
 will certainly often meet with a double loss 
 and disappointment, by their total failure. 
 
 With respect to popular prejudices against 
 new introductions, and a blind adherence to 
 established practices, I have already shewn, 
 that, were proper means introduced, — such 
 means indeed as might be reasonably expected 
 to succeed under like circumstances in any 
 other country, these prejudices might not only 
 be easily overcome, but the improvements 
 which they might have given way to woulcj 
 certainly be follov/ed up with energy. 
 
 Considering that very good crops of ilax are 
 generally produced, but ruined in the manage- 
 ment which succeeds the operation of pulling, 
 it is therefore evident, that a little well-directed 
 attention to this circumstance would meet 
 with the most certain success in improving and 
 encouraging the cultivation of this crop. And it 
 
^34 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 is also evident that, besides the direct advantages 
 which would be derived from this end being 
 accomplished, another important purpose would 
 thereby be easily effected, namely, the cultiva- 
 tion of hemp; an improvement which, com- 
 pared with the cultivation of flax, would prove 
 much more profitable to the farmer, and of in- 
 finitely greater consequence to the mother- 
 country. 
 
 Our annual importation of hemp is about 
 250,000 cwt. and of flax about 1 75,000 cwt. 
 50,000 acres of land under hemp, at 5 cwt. 
 each, and 50,000 acres under flax, at 3f cwt. 
 each, would produce these respective quantities. 
 
 The cleared land in the Canadas is esti- 
 mated at about 5,002,428 acres f and, sup- 
 posing that of the 360,000 inhabitants there are 
 only employed in agriculture 300,000, there 
 must, in that case, be 50,000 families of six per- 
 sons each, employed in husbandry, and 50,000 
 farms, averaging about one hundred acres. 
 
 Thus it appears, that if each farmer were to 
 sow one acre of hemp and one acre of flax, 
 and the crops produced of only the middling 
 quality which I have stated, our supplies of 
 
 See page 56. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 235 
 
 these important articles would be obtained 
 from our own provinces, and consequently all 
 our anxieties about obtaining a precarious 
 supply from our enemies relieved ; besides, 
 our colonies would be thereby improved, and 
 our manufacturers proportionably benefited. 
 
 Every farm is capable of producing either 
 hemp or flax; and therefore in proportion as 
 any particular farm might be found more 
 adapted to the production of any one of these 
 articles, respect should be paid to that circum- 
 stance, either with regard to the respective 
 proportions of these crops, or an absolute 
 preference given to the one considered the 
 most profitable: there are, however, but very 
 few instances where the land is not capable of 
 profitably producing both. 
 
 But supposing that only two-thirds of the 
 farmers were to sow hemp and flax, in that 
 case were each to sow one acre and an half 
 of hemp and the same quantity of flax, the 
 whole of our supplies would thereby be pro- 
 duced. Or further, to suppose that only half 
 the number of farmers as above were to culti- 
 vate these crops, still our supplies would be 
 produced by each only cultivatmg two acres of 
 hemp and two acres of flax. 
 
230 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 From what has been advanced concerning 
 the importance of the colonies which we pos- 
 sess in North America, and the danger in 
 which they are placed by the present war, it is 
 evident they are, in the highest degree, en- 
 titled to our protection. — Compared with any 
 of our other colonial establishments, — with our 
 colonies in the West Indies,— ^ with our colonies 
 in the East Indies, — or with our Mediterranean 
 establishments, and estimated by the propor- 
 tionate quantity of our shipping they employ, 
 I have shevm that they rank the highest :* — 
 if valued by the present proportionate amount, 
 and the sure prospect of future increase of the 
 demand and facility they afford us for vending 
 our manufactures : it is clearly demonstrated that 
 they have decidedly the precedence.f — Should 
 
 * Appendix, Nos, 8 and 17. t No. 2. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 237 
 
 they be estimated according to the loyalty of 
 their inhabitants ; — recent occurrences and the 
 uniform conduct of these brave people prove 
 that they are second to no colonies that Great 
 Britain now has or ever did possess. Possess- 
 ing then these important properties, in such a 
 pre-eminent degree, are they not entitled to a 
 proportionate degree of our care and attention, 
 and a commensurate share of those means 
 which we possess, for the protection of our 
 colonies in general ? 
 
 Perhaps some may be scarcely inclined to ad- 
 mit that these colonies are actually in danger. 
 I would, however, most earnestly remind such 
 persons, that the loss of our colonies, in the last 
 American war, was occasioned solely by the 
 extravagant contempt which we entertained of 
 the strength of the Americans as an enemy, — 
 by the inadequacy of the forces sent out, and, 
 more especially, to the tardy and apparently re- 
 luctant manner in which they were furnished. 
 
 Instead of a respectable force being sent at 
 once, such as might have been deemed suf- 
 ficient to destroy and disperse this enemy, 
 whose power we then held in so much con- 
 tempt, our troops were sent out in handfuls, — st 
 
238 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 few al a time ; and, when these were destroyed, 
 a few more; and so on, to the end of the war, 
 which, as might have been expected, brought 
 with it the loss of our valuable colonies, and 
 our humiliation and disgrace before this other- 
 wise contemptible enemy. 
 
 And what but the same spirit of infatuation 
 could have so long delayed sending a military 
 force to Canada, after the declaration of the 
 present war against us by the United States ? 
 What but the same lethargy, and blind insensi- 
 bility to danger, which occasioned the loss of our 
 colonies at that time, could have so long with- 
 held the trifling and inadequate supply of troops 
 which havebeen hitherto sent to these provinces ? 
 Indeed, it is notorious that our government, in 
 sending out these small supplies, have allowed 
 our enemy full time to prepare for their recep- 
 tion, and in every respect appear determined 
 to carry on this war a la North and Gage. 
 
 The danger of the Canadas consists chiefly 
 in their small population being disposed along 
 an immense extent of the frontier of a populous 
 hostile coimtry. — Their safety consists, in the 
 first place, in the combined circumstances of the 
 river St, Laurence, and the strong garrison of 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 239 
 
 Qutbec being the key to the country, and of our 
 fleets being uble to command the navigation of 
 the St. Laurence ; in the second place, in the 
 loyalty of their inhabitants^ and the firm attach- 
 ment of the Indians to the British interest ; and, 
 in the third place, in the aid of a British army. 
 
 With respect to the first of these defensive 
 properties, viz. the strength of the garrison of 
 Quebec, and the power which we possess of 
 commanding the navigation of the river St, 
 Laurence, it may be observed, that, although 
 these are certainly valuable properties, yet, 
 unattended by the other two, they would 
 be found comparatively of little avail. For, 
 were the Americans in possession of the 
 country, and the Canadians indifferent to our 
 interests, and we in possession of the river St. 
 Laurence, notwithstanding that that river is, 
 and necessarily must be, the channel of com- 
 merce to the extensive country upon its waters ; 
 yet we should, in that case, be only so far in 
 possession of the Canadas, by merely holding 
 the St. Laurence, as we should be in posses- 
 sion of the Russian empire, by having the com* 
 mand of the mouths of the Baltic and Black Sea. 
 
 The command which the possession of the 
 
240 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 garrison of Quebec and the river St. Lau- 
 rence has over the Canadas are valuable ad* 
 vantages, and certainly of vast importance: 
 but they are only to the possession of the Ca« 
 nadas, as the capital is to the kingdom, or as 
 the citadel to the city. In the defence of the 
 country, they are strong and important posi- 
 tions ; but to rest the safety of our possession 
 of the country, in any considerable degree, 
 upon them, would be little better than volun- 
 tarily resigning it to the enemy. 
 
 Our government, however, must have trusted 
 the safety of these provinces principally to these 
 circumstances, otherwise they would have been 
 more prompt in furnishing the means of de- 
 fending them at the commencement of hosti- 
 lities, and, at this moment, would have had a 
 much greater force in that country. 
 
 Regarding the loyalty of the Canadians, and 
 their attachment to their parent-country, they 
 are certainly of vast importance in the defence 
 of these colonies. If proofs of this were want- 
 ing, let us look back to the late American war,, 
 and witness their zeal and enthusiasm in the 
 British cause in the present struggle. The Ga- 
 nadas, consisting as yet but of a small popu- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIEf. 241 
 
 Jation, and extended along the American fron- 
 tier, and, consequently, exposed to an enemy 
 of immensely superior strength in point of 
 numerical proportion, are, therefore, however 
 unshaken their zeal and undaunted their cou- 
 rage, inadequate to the defence of these colonies. 
 With a reasonable supply of troops from the 
 mother-country, however, — even with half the 
 number to which the importance of these pos- 
 sessions entitle them, which would be at least 
 double the force which is there at present, they 
 would be safe beyond all doubt or apprehension. 
 The firm attachment of the Indians to our 
 interest is a circumstance which adds greatly 
 to our means of defending and securing our 
 Canadian possessions ; and, indeed, consti- 
 tutes the principal means of our holding these 
 colonies. It may be, therefore, necessary to. 
 take notice of the circumstances to which we 
 owe this important alliance. For we must not 
 suppose that the Indians esteem us merely be- 
 cause we are British, nor hate and despise our 
 enemies in that quarter merely because they 
 are Americans ; they, as well as civilized na- 
 tions, must have more potent reasons, and 
 more stimulating motives, for their friendship. 
 
 R 
 
?42 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 The friendly alliance of the Indians is de- 
 rived from various causes : — in the first place, 
 from the American encroachments upon their 
 rights and privileges ; in the second place, 
 from the good-zvill of the frontier nations, pur- 
 chased by the presents annually made them by 
 our government ; and, in the third place, from 
 an extensive intercowse which has been culti- 
 vated with them, almost over the xvhole northern 
 continent of America, by our fur-traders. 
 
 With regard to the first of these causes ; the 
 rapid progress which the settlements of the 
 United States has made towards the interior 
 upon all sides, and the little ceremony ob- 
 served by the Americans in obtaining posses- 
 sion of their new territory, has produced 
 several wars between the Americans and the 
 Indians, and thereby created and kept up in 
 the Indian breast a constant rancour and an- 
 tipathy towards these intruders. 
 
 Our government, upon the other hand, has 
 carefully avoided the smallest misunderstand- 
 ing with them upon the score of territorial right ; 
 and, likewise^ studiously courted and secured 
 their friendship by an annual distribution of 
 presents to the mtions inhabiting the frontiers. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 243 
 
 ■I ■ ■ ' J I - . . ,. . I ' i ■ ■ I I I II I III 
 
 Our fur-trade with the Indians, however, 
 has certainly done infinitely more towards se- 
 curing their friendship than all the other causes 
 jointly considered. 
 
 This trade is principally carried on by a 
 company of merchants, consisting of several 
 establishments, but generally styled the North- 
 West Company. 
 
 The concerns of this house have been so 
 organized, and their plans and schemes of 
 operation conducted upon such an extensive 
 scale as to have extended their trade over a 
 very large proportion of the continent of North 
 America ; even from the coast of Labradore 
 nearly to the Pacific Ocean ; and from the vi- 
 cinity of Lousiana, almost to the Frozen Sea, 
 which bounds the continent upon the North. 
 
 The trade carried on by this company with 
 the Indians has been so industriously prosecuted 
 and judiciously and honourably conducted as to 
 have rendered it not only extremely profitable, 
 but highly honourable to the company, from 
 their having thereby secured to the British na- 
 tion the friendly disposition of all the Indian 
 nations, to whom their commercial intercourse 
 has extended. For, in all their intercourse 
 
 r2 
 
244 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 with these savages, they have not only avoided 
 quarrels, but have universally commanded re- 
 spect, and secured the friendship and esteem 
 of that uncultivated and war-like race, both 
 for themselves and the British in general. 
 
 It is evident, therefore, that it is to this mer- 
 cantile establishment that we are indebted for 
 the cordial co-operation of the Indians against 
 the Americans. 
 
 Considering that it was in a great measure 
 from our Indian alliance, during the last Ame- 
 rican war, that we secured the Canadas at its 
 termination, it may therefore be fairly conclu- 
 ded that it is, in some degree, to the honour- 
 able principles upon which our fur-trade has 
 been carried oo, that we are indebted for the 
 possession of the Canadas at the present day. 
 
 Indeed, our Indian alliance would, had it 
 not been from the most culpable ignorance of 
 our negotiators, have then secured to us what 
 now constitutes the richest and best portion of 
 all that part of the United States, which lies 
 east of the Allegany moantains, viz.-^that vast 
 fertile country, situated upon the south side of 
 the St. Laurence and the lakes, to the head- 
 waters of the rivers which empty themselves 
 into the St. Laurence and its chain of lakes. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 245 
 
 ■laaaNaBBHaHaaBiBBBaaaitaaBiSi^aMMaHBBEaBaaaBaaii^HBaBB^Hii^BMaeaaaMaBaMi^aBain 
 
 But so miserably deficient, in point of in- 
 formation, were our negotiating magi upon this 
 occasion, that they appeared blind to their 
 countries' rights, in respect to the protection 
 of this most valuable branch of British com- 
 merce, (the fur-trade,) and ignorant that our 
 faithful Indian allies had any interests, entitled 
 to our notice, in this treaty ; otherwise they 
 never would have ceded to the Americans that 
 very country, of which these allies were then 
 in possession, — in which the Americans had 
 literally not a soldier in arms, — they would 
 have never given up that fine country upon the 
 south banks of the St. Laurence and its lakes, 
 thereby wresting from these friendly Indians 
 (who had already suffered so much in our 
 cause,) their paternal inheritance; — driving 
 them, by this disgraceful treaty, from their an- 
 tient possessions, of which the hostile armies 
 of America could not dispossess them. — 
 
 They must have been totally ignorant 
 that there was any thing respecting the fur- 
 trade worthy of attention, or even that there 
 existed any such branch of industry in British 
 commerce, otherwise they would not have 
 ceded the forts or posts of Michilimakinac, 
 
246 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 Detroit, Niagara, &c. and, allowed the 
 boundary line to reach the middle of the 
 St. Laurence and the lakes, thereby, in a 
 great measure, shutting up the door of acr 
 cess to the fur-trade against us. Indeed, 
 they appear to have entered into negotia- 
 tion with our rebel-colonists, with a deter- 
 mination to insist upon nothing that was con^ 
 tended for by that party ; for, being in posses- 
 sion of the whole country, upon the south side 
 of the St. Laurence and the lakes, as well as 
 upon the north side, and, as I have already 
 mentioned, holding the forts of Niagara, De- 
 troit, and Michilimakinac, who could have sup- 
 posed that there were to be found British nego- 
 tiators so very ignorant as to have given up all 
 that extensive country. 
 
 The settlements of the State of Main had 
 not then reached farther to the eastward (be- 
 ing towards New Brunswick) than the riv^r 
 Penobscot. 
 
 That river, therefore, ought to have been 
 the boundary between the United States and 
 New Brunswick ; and, upon the Canadian 
 side, the boundary line ought to have run from 
 lake Kersisango to the head of lake Champ- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN PROVINCES. 247 
 
 lain ; from thence to a point about equal dis- 
 tances, between lake Erie and the river Ohio, 
 at Pittsburg ; and, from thence, to the west- 
 ward, in that parallel of latitude. 
 
 Such a boundary line would have secured 
 us the free and uninterrupted navigation of the 
 St. Laurence and the lakes, and the possession 
 of one of the finest and most fertile countries in 
 the world. The cession of this country, then 
 in our possession, without an equivalent, gla- 
 ring and unaccountable as that sacrifice was, 
 was rendered still more culpable by our being 
 then, as already observed, .in possession of 
 New York and Rhode Island, both which, 
 with this fine country, were given up by the 
 ministers of that day. ' 
 
 My reason for taking so particular notice of 
 these gross mistakes, which were committed in 
 negotiating the last peace with America, is in- 
 tended for the double purpose of stimulating 
 to adequate exertions, for regaining that w hich 
 we so foolishly, and with so much simplicity, 
 gave away : — and to remind our ministers, that 
 America actually gamed nearly as much terri- 
 tory by negotiation, at the end of the late war, 
 as she did by a bloody contest of seven ycars^ 
 
248 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 that they may, when they come to negotiate, 
 endeavour to regain what has been so wantonly 
 and foolishly thrown away. 
 
 Respecting the impolicy, of which the 
 British government has been guilty, in suffer- 
 ing the Americans to take possession of Loui- 
 siana, but particularly the latter, it may be 
 remarked that this acquisition of the United- 
 States government was not merely a territorial 
 extent, — not a forest, the settlement of which 
 would be a work of ages, but an immense aug- 
 mentation to their population, — a country, in 
 every respect, superior to any they ever before 
 possessed ; and in this point of view it was 
 considered by one of the most subtle politi- 
 cians, who organized the immense power of 
 Buonaparte, — Talleyrand, whose opinions of 
 the importance of these colonies, and the fer- 
 tility of the country, on the banks of what he 
 terms the Nile of America, may be seen, from 
 the following extracts, from a pamphlet, writ- 
 ten by him at the period when Buonaparte was 
 first consul. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 249 
 
 " ^ Our nation had the vain honour of confer- 
 ring a name on a portion of the globe, not ex- 
 ceeded by any other portion of it, in all the 
 advantages of climate and soil. Before the war 
 of 1757, it was an immense valley, watered by 
 a deep and beneficent river. This river first 
 acquires importance in the latitude of forty-five, 
 north. It flows in a devious comse about two 
 thousand miles, and enters the bay of Mexico, 
 by many mouths, in latitude 29. In these lati- 
 tudes is comprised the temperate zone, which 
 has been always deemed most favourable to the 
 perfection of the animal and vegetable nature. 
 This advantage is not marred by the chilling 
 and sterilifying influence of lofty mountains, 
 the pestilential fumes of intractable bogs, or the 
 dreary uniformity of sandy plains. Through 
 the whole extent, there is not, probably, a 
 snow-capt hill, a moving sand, or a volcanic 
 eminence. 
 
 " This valley is of different breadths. The 
 ridge which bounds it on the east is in some 
 places near a thousand miles from the great 
 
 * From the New Quarterly Review, No. b. 
 
250 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 middle stream. From this ridge, secondary 
 rivers, of great extent and magnificence/ flow 
 towards the centre, and the intermediate re- 
 gions are an uncaltiyated Paradise. On the 
 west, the valley is of similar dimensions, the 
 streams are equally large and useful, and the 
 condition of the surface equally delightful. 
 
 "i We must first observe, that, in gaining pos- 
 session of this territory, we shall not enter on a 
 desert, where the forest must be first removed 
 before a shelter can be built ; whither we must 
 carry the corn and the clothes necessary to pre- 
 sent subsistence ; and the seed, the tools, and 
 the cattle, which are requisite to raise a future 
 provision. 
 
 " There cannot, in the first place, be ima- 
 gined a district more favourable to settlement. 
 In addition to a genial climate and soil, there 
 are the utmost facilities of communication and 
 commerce. The whole district is the sloping 
 side of a valley, through which run deep and 
 navigable rivers, which begin their course in 
 the remotest borders, and which all terminate 
 in the central stream. This stream, one of the 
 longest and widest in the world, is remarkably 
 distinguished by its depth, and freedom from 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 251 
 
 mmmmmmmmmmummmmmmmmmimimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm^mmHl 
 
 natural impediiuents. It flows into a gulf 
 which contains a great number of populous 
 islands. Among these islands are numerous 
 passages into the ocean, which washes the 
 shores of Europe. Thus, not only every part 
 of the district is easily accessible by means of 
 rivers, but the same channels are ready to con- 
 vey the products of every quarter to the 
 markets most contiguous and most remote. 
 
 " The Nile flows in a torrid climate through 
 Br long and narrow valley. The fertility which 
 its annual inundations produce extends only 
 two or three leagues on either side of it. The 
 benefits of this fertility are marred by the 
 neighbourhood of scorching sands, over which 
 the gales carry intolerable heat and incurable 
 pestilence, and which harbour a race of sa- 
 vages, whose trade is war and pillage. Does 
 this river bestow riches worthy of the greatest 
 efforts of the nation to gain them, and shall 
 the greater Nile of the western hemisphere be 
 neglected ? A Nile, w^hose inundations diffuse 
 the fertility of Egypt twenty leagues from its 
 shores, which occupies a valley wider than 
 from the Duna to the Rhine, which flows 
 among the most beautiful dales, and under the 
 
252 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 ^ LJ \ ■.■■:■■ ^ ^^-^ -^ ^ ^ II I III I I 111 I'l I IIMl' III' 
 
 benignest seasons, and which is skirted by a 
 civilized and kindred nation on one side, and 
 on the other by extensive regions, over which 
 the tide of growing population may spread it- 
 self without hindrance or danger. 
 
 " Bat of what avail will be all these advan- 
 tages, unless a market be provided for the pro- 
 duce of the soil ? Now this market is already 
 provided. For all that it can produce, France 
 alone will supply thirti/ millions of consumers. 
 The choicest luxuries of Europe are coffee, 
 sugar, and tobacco. The most useful mate- 
 rials of clothing are cotton and silk. All these 
 are either natives of the Mississippi valley, or 
 remarkably congenial to it. The cultivation of 
 these, and the carriage to market, are as ob- 
 vious and easy as the most ardent politician 
 can desire. The whole extent of the river will 
 be our own, and in the lower and most fertile 
 portion of its course, the banks on both sides 
 will be our indisputable property. 
 
 " The friend of the health, longevity, and 
 useful pleasure of the human species, and of 
 the opulence of France, could not devise a 
 better scheme than one which should enable 
 every inhabitant of Europe to consume half a- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 253 
 
 pound of sugar a day, and assign to French- 
 men the growth, the carriage, and the distri- 
 bution of thus much.* Now this scheme is no 
 other than the possession of the American 
 Nile. But this end may be too magnificent to 
 be deemed credible. Let us, then, confine our- 
 selves to the consumption of France ; for this 
 alone will be adequate to the employment, and 
 conducive to the wealth, of a vast number of 
 cultivators. 
 
 " A much less beneficial luxury is coffee, 
 but this our habits have equally endeared to us. 
 We have hitherto drawn it from the same foun- 
 tain which has supplied us with sugar: the 
 trade in it must follow the same destiny, the 
 same benefits will flow from increasing the 
 suppl}^, and from drawing the supply from the 
 valley of the Mississippi. 
 
 " I shall pass over, without mentioning, many 
 other articles, such as tobacco, indigo, and the 
 like, for which France and the rest of Europe 
 
 * 225,000,000 cwt. the produce of an area, not exceed- 
 ing that of Guienne, Normandy, and Britanny, are not a 
 twentieth part of the valley of the Mississippi, — ^Trans^ 
 
 LATOR. 
 
854 IMPORTANCE OF tHE 
 
 will supply an unlimited consumption, and 
 hasten to articles which are of more import- 
 ance, and these are cotton and provisions. 
 
 " The most beautiful production of nature is 
 cotton. It was more than the caprice of fashion 
 that went to the extremities of the East in 
 search of this material, for there is none capa- 
 ble of a greater number of uses, of so many 
 forms, and such various colours. Its texture 
 may constitute the lightest and most beautiful 
 of ornaments, or the best defence against 
 the intemperature of the air. 
 
 " The nations of the East have used it im- 
 memorially, and from them has it gradually 
 been brought to Europe. The use of it seems 
 to have been limited by nothing but the power 
 of procuring it. Like sugar, the use of it has 
 increased since it has been naturalized to the 
 soil of America. The consumption has, in 
 like manner, been eager to outrun the supply. 
 
 " The American States ha'oe, of late, become 
 sensible of the "oalue of the commerce in cotton^ 
 and their success supplies us with a new ex- 
 ample, and a powerful inducement to appro- 
 priate, in part, the territory of the Mississippi 
 to the same culture. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 25!ir 
 
 ** But now come the fearful and scrupulous 
 head to dash these charming prospects. Ob- 
 stacles to these great achievements multiply ia 
 his timorous fancy. He expatiates on the 
 length of the way ; the insalubrity of unculti- 
 vated lands ; of a climate to which the consti- 
 tution and habits of the colonists are unconge- 
 nial ; of a soil, part of which, and that acces- 
 sible and most valuable, lies under a torrid 
 §un, and is annually inundated, 
 
 " Now all these difficulties are imaginary. 
 They are real in relation to a Jirst settlement. 
 They ought to be taken into strict account, tf 
 our projects extended to New Holland or to 
 California. In all real cases, these difficulties 
 have been great by reason of the avarice, in- 
 justice, and folly, of the colonizing nation ; and 
 the wisest plans could not totally exclude, 
 though they would greatly lessen and easily 
 surmount them. But Louisiana is not a new 
 settlement : It is one of the oldest in North 
 America. Ail the labours of discovering and 
 of setting the first foot on a desert shore, were 
 suffered and accomplished long ago. 
 
 ** The Spaniards must be thoroughly aware 
 that their power in Mexico and Peru exists by 
 
^56 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 the weakness and division of their vassals, and 
 by the remoteness and competition of their 
 European enemies. Unwise and imbecile as 
 that nation has generally appeared in latter 
 times, the admission of the French to a post 
 from whence their dominions may be so easily 
 annoyed at present, and from which their fu- 
 ture expulsion is inevitable, is a folly too egre- 
 gious even for them to commit, and of which 
 the most infatuated of their counsels has not 
 hitherto given an example. 
 
 " If Spain should refuse the cession, there is 
 an end to our golden viexvs. Our empire in the 
 new world is strangled in its cradle ; or, at 
 least, the prosecution of our scheme must wait 
 for a more propitious season. But, should the 
 fortune of our great leader continue her smiles ; 
 should our neighbour be trepanned or intimi- 
 dated into this concession, there is removed, 
 indeed, one obstacle, of itself insuperable ; but 
 only to give way to another, at least, equally 
 hard to subdue ; and that is, the opposition of 
 England, 
 
 *' That nation justly regards us as the most 
 formidable enemy to her greatness. Of late, 
 if her pride would confess the truth, she would 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 257 
 
 acknowledge that not her greatness only, but her 
 very being was endangered, either by the influ- 
 ence of our arms, or the contagion of our ex- 
 ample. She w^as assailed in her vitals, as the 
 confusions of Ireland will testify. She was 
 attacked in her extremities, as the expedition 
 to Egypt, a mere prelude to the conquest of 
 Hindostan, will prove. Her efforts to repel 
 both these attacks, were suitable to their import- 
 ance, and evince the magnitude of her fears. 
 The possession of the vantage-ground enabled 
 her to crush the Irish. Her naval supe- 
 riority, and the caprice of the winds, en- 
 abled her to check our victorious career in the 
 east. 
 
 " Will they suffer France to possess herself 
 of the most effiectual means of prosecuting fu- 
 ture wars to a different issue? Their navy 
 and their commerce are, at present, all 
 their trust. France may add Italy and Ger- 
 many to her dominions with less detriment 
 to England than would follow from her ac- 
 quisition of a navy, and the extension of her 
 trade. Whatever gives colonies to France, 
 supplies her with ships and sailors ; raanufa^^ 
 
 s 
 
258 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 tiires and husbandQieii. Victories by land can 
 only give lier mwtmous subjects ; who, instead 
 of angnienting the national force, by their riches 
 or numbers, contribute only to disperse and en- 
 feeble that force ; but the growth of colonies 
 suj3plies her with zealous citizens, and the 
 increase of real wealth and effective numbers is 
 the certain consequence. 
 
 '' What could Germany, Italy, Spain, and 
 France, combining their strength, perform 
 against England ? They might assemble in 
 millions on the shores of the channel, but there 
 would be the limit of their enmitv. Without 
 ships to carry them over ; without experienced 
 mariners to navigate these ships, England 
 would only deride the pompous preparation^ 
 The moment we leave the shore her fleets are 
 ready to pounce upon us ; to disperse and 
 destroy our ineffectual armaments. There lies 
 their security : in their insular situation and 
 their navy consist their impregnable defence. 
 Their navy is, in every respect, the offspring of 
 their trade. To rob them of that, therefore, is 
 to beat down their last wall and fill up their 
 last moat. To gain it to ourselves, is to enable 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 259 
 
 US to take advantage of their deserted and de- 
 fenceless borders, and to complete the humi- 
 liation of our only remaining competitor. 
 
 " The trade which enriches England lies 
 chiefly in the products of foreign climates. But 
 her Indian territories produce nothing which the 
 Mississippi could not as easily produce. The 
 Ganges fertilizes a valley less extensive. Its 
 Deltas, as well as those of the Nile, are in the 
 same latitudes, and these rivers generate the 
 same exuberant soil, only in smaller space and 
 in less quantities than the great western Nile : 
 but the Mississippi comprehends, in its bosom, 
 the regions of the temperate zone as well as 
 the tropical climates and products. The arc- 
 tic circle in America will be equally accessible 
 to us and to the English.. Our antient posses- 
 sions in Canada xvill in due season return to us 
 of their oxvn accord ; and, meanwhile, a double 
 portion of anxiety, and double provision of 
 forts and garrisons, will fall to the lot of the 
 usurping English. The progress of the French 
 will expose their islands, first to be excluded 
 from the markets of Europe, and next to be 
 swallowed up by military power. At present, 
 the protector and the enemy are at an equal 
 
 s 2 
 
260 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 — ' ■' ■ I I i 1, I .i mmim''- 
 
 distance ; but then there will OBly be a narrow 
 frith between the Mississippi and the isles, be- 
 tween the invaders and the objects they covet, 
 while the defenders would be, as now, afar 
 off; neither apprised of our designs nor able 
 to defeat them. 
 
 ** This nation could not bury itself in a more 
 inaccessible fortress than this valley. The 
 months of this river, as to all attacks by sea, 
 are better than the bastions of Malta. All 
 around the entrance is impassable to men and 
 horses, and the great channel is already har- 
 ried by forts, easily extended and improved. 
 A wise policy would teach the English to di- 
 vert our attention from this quarter, by the sa- 
 crifice of Valetta or Gibraltar. 
 
 *' Can we imagine the English so vigilant, so 
 prudent in all affairs connected with their ma- 
 ritime empire ; so quick in their suspicions ; 
 so prompt in their precautions ; can be blind to 
 the dangers v/iih. which this cession xvill menace 
 them? No defeats or humiliations, short of 
 their island, will make them acquiesce in such 
 arrangements. 
 
 " It is contrary to all probability that either 
 Spain or England will be tractable on this oc- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 261 
 
 casioii ; but, if the danger, by being distant, is 
 invisible to them; or if the present evils, arising 
 to England from continuance of the war, or to 
 Spain from the resentment of the French go- 
 vernment, should outweigh, in their appre- 
 hensions, all future evils, and prevail on one 
 to grant, and on the other to connive at the 
 grant, by what arguments, by what promises, 
 by what threats, by what hostile efforts, shall 
 we extort the consent of the American States? 
 How shall we prevail on them to alienate the 
 most valuable portion of their territory ; to ad- 
 on'it into their vitals a formidable and active peo- 
 ple, whose interests are incompatible, in every 
 point, xvith their own; xvhose enterprises will 
 inevitably interfere and jar xvith theirs; whose 
 neighbourhood zvill cramp all their movements ; 
 circumscribe their future progress to narroxv 
 and ignominious bounds j and make incessant in- 
 roads on their harmony and independence ? 
 
 "- Long ago would the lesser princes of Italy 
 and Germany have disappeared, if Sweden, 
 France, Prussia, and Austria, had not stood 
 ready to snatch the spoil from each other. 
 Long ago would the Turkish robbers have 
 been driven back to their native deserts, if any 
 
262 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 single nation of Europe had been suffered by 
 the rest to execute that easy task. But the 
 Spaniards know that Spain and America must 
 one day fall asunder. Why then should they 
 decline a present benefit, in order to preclude 
 one means of an event, which yet, by other 
 means, if not by these, will inevitably hap- 
 pen? 
 
 " As to England, all the disadvantages with 
 which this event is said to menace them are 
 real. All the consequences just predicted to 
 her colonies, to her trade, to her navy, to her 
 ultimate existence, will indisputably follow. 
 The scheme is eligible to us chiefly on this account, 
 and these consequences, if they rouse the 
 English to a sturdier opposition, ought like- 
 wise to stimulate the French to more strenuous 
 perseverance. 
 
 * • But, in truth, every Frenchman must laugh 
 with scorn at the thought of British opposition. 
 What would the Spaniards say, were they told 
 by the English — You must not give away this 
 colony. Though a great incumbrance to you, 
 and a great benefit to those whom it is your 
 interest and duty to oblige, you must, by no 
 means, part with it. What patience, either 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 2(j3 
 
 in France or JSpain, would tolerate an inter- 
 ference thus haughty, from an enemy to both? 
 But when is this opposition to be made? This 
 is not a subject of debate between the agents 
 of England and France. It falls not under 
 their discussion It cannot, therefore, be the 
 occasion of their interviews. There is no room 
 for opposition to what comes not under our 
 notice. The cession must be made without 
 their knowledge. It is only to be published by 
 its execution, and when the French are safely 
 lodged in the Mississippi, the gainsayings of 
 the English will be too late, 
 
 '^ But there is a nearer, and, it must be own- 
 ed, a more formidable, nation to gain. If 
 there be any truth in the picture heretofore 
 drawn, of the value of this province to France, 
 it must be, in .a still greater proportion, of 
 value to the American States. If the powers 
 of this rising nation were intrusted to the hands 
 of one wise man ; if the founder of the nation 
 was still its supreme magistrate, and he had no 
 wills to consult but his oxvn, the French, most 
 probably, would never be allowed to set their 
 foot on that shore ; but the truth, the desirable 
 truth, is, that opposition is the least to be 
 
264 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 dreaded from those who have most reason to 
 oppose us. They, whose interests are most 
 manifest, may be most easily deceived : whose 
 danger is most imminent, may most easily be 
 lulled into security. They, whose vicinity tq 
 the scene of action puis it most in their power 
 to enact their own safety ; whose military force 
 might be most easily assembled and directed to 
 this end, we shall have the least trouble in di- 
 viding, intimidating, and disarming. 
 
 " I come now to the last difficulty, which 
 the most scrupulous objector has discovered ; 
 and this difficulty will be dissipated with more 
 ease than the rest. On what foundation does it 
 repose^ hut the visionary notion, that the con- 
 duct of nations is governed by enlightened views 
 to their own interest ? The rulers of nations 
 have views of their own, and they are gained 
 by the gratification of these private views. The 
 more individuals there are that govern, and the 
 more various their conditions and their charac- 
 ter, the more dissimilar are their interests, and 
 the more repugnant these interests to those of 
 each other, and the interests of the whole. 
 
 " Was there ever a people who exhibited so 
 motley a character ; who have vested a more 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 265 
 
 limited and precarious authority in their rulers ; 
 who have multiplied so much the numbers of 
 those that govern ; who have dispersed them- 
 selves over so w ide a space ; and have been led, 
 by this local dispersion, to create so many 
 clashing jurisdictions and jarring interests, as 
 the States of America? 
 
 '' They call themselves free, yet a fifth of 
 their number are slaves. That proportion of 
 the whole people are ground by a yoke more 
 dreadful and debasing than the predial servi- 
 tude of Poland and Russia. They call them- 
 selves one, yet all languages are native to their 
 citizens. All countries have contributed their 
 outcasts and refuse to make them a people. 
 Even the race of Africa, a race not above, or 
 only just above, the beasts, are scattered every 
 where among them, and in some of the dis- 
 tricts of their empire, are nearly a moiety of 
 the whole. 
 
 " Such is the people whom we, it seems, are 
 to fear, because their true interest would make 
 them our enemies ; with whom we are to con- 
 tend in negotiation, or, if need be, in arms! 
 We, who are as much a proverb for our skill 
 in diplomatics as in war; who have all the 
 
266 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 unity in counsels ; the celerity in execution ; 
 the harmony of interests ; the wisdom of ex- 
 perience ; and the force of compactness, of 
 Avhich this patchwork republic is notoriously 
 destitute. Their numbers ! That, when the 
 parts are discordant, is only fuel more easily 
 kindled, and producing a more extensive and 
 unquenchable flame. Five millions of jarring' 
 and factious citizens are far less formidable 
 than a disciplined and veteran legion of as 
 many thousands. 
 
 ** But the great weakness of these States 
 arises from their form of government, and the 
 condition and the habits of the people. Their 
 form of government, and the state of the 
 country, is a hot -bed for faction and sedi- 
 tion. The utmost force of all the wisdom they 
 possess is exerted in keeping the hostile parts 
 together. These parts are unlike each other, 
 and each one has the individualizing preju- 
 dices of a separate state ; all the puerile jea- 
 lousies of the greatness of others ; all the 
 petty animosities which make neighbours quar- 
 rel with each other without cause. How slight 
 an additional infusion is requisite to set this 
 heterogeneous mass into commotion ? to make 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 267 
 
 the different parts incline different ways, on 
 the great question of war ? 
 
 ** 21ie master of the Mississippi will be 
 placed so as to controul, in the nnost effectual 
 manner, these internal waves. It is acknow- 
 ledged that he holds in his hands the bread of 
 all the settlements westward of the hills. He 
 may dispense or withhold at his pleasure. 
 See we not the mighty influence that this 
 power will give us over the councils of the 
 States?" 
 
 From the above extracts we learn the impor- 
 tance of which our enemy considered this terri- 
 tory ; whether looked at as a valuable acqui- 
 sition in point of produce or the means of fu- 
 ture annoyance.— How then is it possible to 
 account for that infatuated blindness which 
 could tamely permit the fradulent transfer of 
 so valuable a province. 
 
 The inhabitants of this extensive, populous, 
 and fertile country, hated the Americans, and 
 would have been glad to have been placed 
 under our protection. Our government, how- 
 ever, tamely looked on, whilst the United States 
 took possession of this fine country in trust 
 
268 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 for Buonaparte ; being the first step of a pro- 
 ject concerted between the American govern- 
 ment and this Corsican tyrant, for wresting the 
 Canadas from us. 
 
 Passing over, however, all former transac- 
 tions, now is the time to rectify at once all for- 
 mer mistakes, by taking immediate possession 
 of this desirable country. Its own intrinsic 
 value renders it infinitely more than equal to 
 balance every expense of such an undertaking, 
 even were the cost more than ten times the 
 amount which probability may indicate. 
 
 Its value to ns is greatly enhanced by its 
 contiguity to our West-Indian possessions, — by 
 the favourable disposition of the people towards 
 us, — by its being the key to the rich and fertile 
 plains upon the rivers Mississippi and Ohio, — 
 by the door which it would open to the intro- 
 duction of our manufactures into one of the 
 most populous and richest of all the Spanish 
 colonies, (Mexico,) — and, by the command it 
 would give us over the United States. 
 
 The possession of this territory would be, 
 to use Talleyrand's expression, ** a rein by 
 " which the fury of the States may be held at 
 *' pleasure." The Indians to the northward, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 269 
 
 being already devoted to our interest, the pos- 
 session of this country would place the 
 Indian force of almost the whole continent of 
 North America at our disposal. Thus should 
 we be enabled, at all times, to keep the United 
 States in check, almost without the aid of Bri- 
 tish troops. 
 
 In a commercial point of view, the acquisi- 
 tion of this territory would be of immense im- 
 portance. It would, at all times, secure to us 
 an opportunity of' supplying the southern and 
 western parts of the UniteJ States with our 
 manufactures. And the Canadas, also, afford- 
 ing us the like privilege upon her northern 
 frontiers, we should thereby have, at all times, 
 secured to us a door of ready access to one of 
 the most valuable fields of British commerce. 
 
 The possession of all these colonies would 
 render the whole border of the United State* 
 a permanent channel, which the American go- 
 vernment never could prevent from being the 
 means of vending our manufactures throughout 
 the interior of her country, even whatever her 
 disposition might be in this respect. 
 
 The produce of Louisiana is lumber, wheat, 
 rice, Indian corn, provisions, cotton, indigo, 
 tobacco, &c. 
 
270 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 These are articles of great importance, both to 
 ourWest-Indiaii inlands, and the mother-country. 
 The carriage of the produce of that country 
 would also be of great importance to our ship- 
 ping-interest : the additional employment it 
 would afford our ships would be imuiense. 
 
 In fact, such an acquisition would be advan- 
 tageous to all parties ; to the mother-country, 
 by opening a new and extensive market for her 
 manufacture,^ — by securing to her an immeuse 
 augmentation to the employ of her shipping, 
 besides insuring her, both in peace and in war, 
 an abundant supply of several articles of the 
 greatest importance. — The possession of this 
 territory would not only secure to our West- 
 Indian possessions an abundant and regular 
 supply of every article of American produce ; 
 but, in time of war, would, in many respects, 
 prove a protection and defence to them. 
 
 And, what is most important, the many ad- 
 vantages which the inhabitants of Louisiana 
 would derive from our being in the possession 
 of it, would undoubtedly secure their firm at- 
 tachment to our interest. — The act of our 
 taking possession would be the immediate re- 
 mission of many heavy duties to which they 
 are now liablcj and the hnmediate opening of 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 271 
 
 a market for their produce ; whilst the produce 
 of the United States would continue blockaded 
 in their ports. There is no doubt but that these 
 advantages, coupled with the hatred which the 
 inhabitants of that country bear to the Ameri- 
 cans, would render its possession at once secure. 
 
 From the view which has been taken of our 
 provinces in America, particularly the Canadas, 
 it is evident, that amidst the various important 
 concerns which at present interest the British na- 
 tion, those matters respecting her colonies in that 
 quarter form a subject of the first importance. 
 
 Although these possessions have for many 
 years almost escaped her notice, yet the mag- 
 nitude of their vast and neglected resources, in- 
 capable of longer concealment, have at length at- 
 tracted attention, and now exhibit an inexhaus- 
 tible mine of wealth. — They present a permanent 
 source of maritime facilities and naval strength, 
 which to any nation would be of the greatest im- 
 portance. In the possession of the United States,* 
 
 * The Americans, being allowed to catch fish all round the 
 coast of these colonies, and encouraged to sell them in our 
 West-Indian islands, may be said to have been already actually 
 
272 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 they would soon raise her to the highest rank of 
 maritime power. — With the privileges of the 
 British ship-owner sacrificed to America to the 
 same extent they have been for the last thirty 
 years,* they would be sufficient to give her 
 the absolute dominion of the seas. To Great 
 Britain, therefore, these colonies are invaluable. 
 
 At the conclusion of the late American war, 
 the loss of the colonies, which now form part 
 of the United States, was considered as im- 
 mense, and almost irreparable. 
 
 The colonies which then remained in our 
 possession, however, and which now constitute 
 our present possessions in that quarter, esti- 
 mated either by the consequences which would 
 inevitably result to this country from their loss, 
 or by their actual value whilst in our possession, 
 are of infinitely more importance to us novv 
 than those were to us at that period. I shall 
 therefore make a few observations concerning 
 them in both these respects. 
 
 The loss of them, and their annexation to 
 the United States, would be dangerous in the 
 
 put in possession of one of the principal maritime resources of 
 these colonies by the British government. 
 * See No, 6, in the Appendix. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 273 
 
 extreme. By some it may be considered but 
 idle speculation to suppose the loss of these 
 colonies as even possible. But, let it be re- 
 membered, that they who, during the late 
 American war, apprehended the ultimate loss 
 of our colonies, were also considered as ti- 
 morously anticipating evils which would never 
 happen; and apprehending losses which would 
 never be sustained. Were we not then taught, 
 by fatal experience, however, that our extra- 
 vagant contempt of the power of our enemy 
 might prove the means of our defeat, — of 
 placing victory in the hands of the imbecile, 
 and of humbling us even before weakness it- 
 self? as that instance and subsequent events 
 have fully proved. — 
 
 For, the result of the late war with the Ame- 
 ricans was, that they, almost without an army, 
 actually heat us out of the field. They have 
 alsOy without a navy, ever since, axved us into 
 tame submission to the rnost gross violation of 
 the maritime laws of Eui^ope, And, whilst 
 their government was almost without form or 
 consistency, they threatened us into conces- 
 sions, by which they have acquired an amount 
 of merchant-shipping equal or even greater 
 
 T 
 
274 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 than our own :^ the greater proportion of 
 which— lamentable to state ! — has been reared 
 and supported by a sacrifice of the rights and 
 privileges of British ship-owners and British 
 merchants.^ 
 
 Respecting the means which the Americans 
 possess, of constructing and raising a navy, 
 let us but for a moment reflect upon the follow- 
 ing circumstances, viz. what powerful fleets 
 nations of but small and trifling population, 
 compared with that of America, have, in some 
 instances, by careful nursing and proper pro* 
 tection reared upon only the pickings of the 
 carriage of the goods of other nations, such as 
 Holland, Venice, &c. Ought we not then to 
 view with a scrupulous eye the maritime ad- 
 vantages possessed by America — her geogra- 
 phical and political situation ; — her vast extent 
 of coast; — the rapid increase of her popula- 
 tion, and the vast and unparalleled growth of 
 her commerce; — her extensive resources for 
 the support of her shipping; — the amount 
 of her tonnage, and number of the sailors 
 
 * See No. 14 in the Appendix, 
 ^ Ke-e Chap. Ill, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 275 
 
 who man her merchant-shipping; — the abmi- 
 dance of timber and other materials, with 
 which her country abounds, fit for the construc- 
 tion of ships of the largest dimensions, and 
 that her harbours are full of shipwrights suffi- 
 cient to build a navy in a very short period ;*— 
 and the striking events, and alarming effects, 
 as to the aggrandisement which our mistaken 
 policy produced in her commercial affairs in 
 general in the short period of thirty years. 
 Let us seriously reflect upon these important 
 facts, and deeply ponder on the consequence to 
 which we should render ourselves liable, either 
 in risking the safety of our American colonies, 
 or in allowing the United States the undue ad- 
 vantages she formerly enjoyed over our own 
 merchants. 
 
 The vast extent, even nineteen hundred miles, 
 of navigfeible coast, full of populous towns, 
 and convenient harbours, occupied by the Unir 
 
 * One hundred and twenty shipwrights, &c. are necessary 
 to build a seventy-four-gun-ship in six months. A similar 
 number employed in each of thirty of the sea-port towns of 
 the United States, are therefore capable of building no less 
 than sixty line-of-battle ships in the course of twelve months. 
 
 i'2 
 
276 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 ted States, — her immense shipping, and the 
 mode by which it has been acquired, are cir- 
 cumstances which, as well as the late over- 
 grown power of Buonaparte upon the conti- 
 nent of Europe, ought to excite our most se- 
 rious attention, and to be met by measures of 
 proper precaution. 
 
 These circumstances, minutely investigated 
 and maturely weighed, will be found, perhaps, 
 to forebode to us consequences nearly as 
 alarming as those which we might apprehend 
 from the reduction of the whole continent of 
 Europe, under the grasp of Buonaparte or 
 any other tyrant. For such a continental com- 
 bination against us, alarming as it would 
 necessarily be, could only be expected to con- 
 tinue but for a short period, as has of late been 
 most fortunately demonstrated. 
 
 The great body of such an empire acq^uired 
 and forced together by the unnatural grasp of 
 tyranny and oppression, and composed of na- 
 tions varying in manners, customs, languages, 
 and laws; differing from each other upon points 
 of the most essential importance, and, conse- 
 quently, convulsed by internal discontent, 
 would be but little calculated to mature anv 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 277 
 
 maritiiite project which would be adequate to 
 create and organise a fleet, in any degree capa- 
 ble of coping with the British navy. But, 
 on the contrary, America not only pos- 
 sesses the most extensive maritime resources 
 and facilities, but is a country united by the 
 same language, manners, and customs, and, 
 already bound together by one government; 
 and, moreover, every individual under that go- 
 vernment, having already benefited by an ex- 
 tensive shipping, are therefore intoxicated with 
 national pride at their late successes, and, 
 teeming with the idea of naval rank and 
 power, to which our half measures have 
 lately so much contributed. The measures 
 therefore, which might be adopted by a coun- 
 try so circumstanced, would be framed with 
 comparatively more consistency, and prosecu- 
 ted with more energy, and consequently must 
 produce effects proportionably of a more for- 
 midable and permanent nature, than those to 
 be apprehended from the measures of any con- 
 tinental coalition which could possibly be 
 brought together. 
 
 Who in this country, that values its inde- 
 pendence, would not be alarmed, were we 
 
278 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 to recognise France, Holland, Germany, Prus- 
 sia, Sweden, Denmark, and Russia, all organi- 
 sed under one government; or even the mari- 
 time districts of these countries ? There is not, 
 perhaps, a loyal subject in the country, pos- 
 sessed of common sense and sound understand- 
 ing, and an ordinary degree of discernment, 
 who would not apprehend consequences, which 
 would give him the most serious alarm. 
 
 But how different our ideas and apprehen- 
 sions appear to be in respect to the United 
 States! Although that government occupies a 
 coast, which, compared with the vast extent of 
 the continent of Europe, is equally extensive, 
 and, (having reference to that part of the 
 population only, who are employed and enga- 
 ged in maritime affairs,) is, perhaps, equally 
 populous, and indeed infinitely superior in 
 point of a variety of maritime facilities.— Notwith- 
 standing she possesses an amount of shipping, 
 ajid every other means which constitute the 
 sources from whence a navy is derived and sup- 
 ported, almost equally extensive as those posses- 
 sed by all these nations, yet these circumstances 
 appear to give us no serious concern .— Otherwise, 
 we should not have tamely looked on, whilst 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 279 
 
 the Americans made such an extensive aug- 
 mentation to their maritime resources as the 
 possession of Louisiana. — We should not, by 
 opening' the norts of our East-Indian colonies 
 to their trade at large, whilst shut against the 
 great body of British merchants, have added 
 largely to their shipping by crushing our own. — 
 We should have neither encouraged nor al- 
 low^ed them to have caught cod-fish upon the 
 banks of our own coasts, and dry them upon 
 our own shores, for the supply of our West- 
 Indian settlements ; whilst the fish caught and 
 cured by our own colonists, were spoiling in our 
 merchants warehouses ybr xvmit of a market.— 
 We should not have secured to them the sup- 
 plying of our West-Indian settlements with 
 lumber, whilst that article was to be had in 
 abundance in our own colonies, and our own 
 ships rotting in port for want of employment. — 
 Neither should we have charged a lower duty 
 upon their produce, imported into this country, 
 than what we charged upon the produce of 
 other foreign nations, whilst they never char- 
 ged lower, but in many instances higher, duties 
 upon our produce and manufactures than they 
 charged upon those of other nations ; nor have 
 
280 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 meanly submitted to their charge of a counter- 
 vailing duty of ^ 3 per ton in favour oj their 
 ships, whilst we charged only 22flf. per ton in 
 favour of ours. 
 
 The inhabitants of the United States — those 
 colonists who rebelled against the mother-coun- 
 try, as well in the treaty which acknowledged 
 their independence, as in all subsequent trea- 
 ties, have in all our commercial arrangements 
 with them, had not only the greatest advantages 
 allowed them, over the " most favoured na- 
 tions," but even been put upon a more favowra- 
 ble footing than our own colonists, — ^ a more 
 favourable footing than the true and faithful 
 inhabitants of these provinces, whose blood 
 and treasure were, and are at this very moment, 
 cheerfully sacrificed to the salvation of these 
 colonies to the British nation. 
 
 It would have been comparatively well for 
 our loyal colonists, had they been put upon an 
 equally favourable footing as the Americans. 
 For, it will be observed, from what has been 
 already stated, that Ave allowed the latter to 
 import their produce into Great Britain, in 
 their own ships, at nearly the same rate of 
 duties as was charged upon that from our own 
 colonies, and also kept the ports of our West- 
 
 i 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 281 
 
 Indian islands almost constantly open to them 
 as a market, where no duty was charged upon 
 their produce, thereby allowing them, although 
 foreigners, the rights of British colonists. 
 These unprecedented advantages, coupled w ith 
 the privileges which their independence as a 
 nation gave them of trading, I may say, to all 
 the ports of the world besides, secured to 
 them an uniform demand for their produce, and 
 employment to their ships, thereby at all times 
 encouraging the growth and exportation of 
 th^r produce. 
 
 It is therefore evident that from our govern- 
 ment having neither allowed our colonists to 
 trade to foreign ports, nor protected their in- 
 terests according to the established laws of the 
 land, by an adequate difference of duties in 
 their trade with herself, the British market 
 being over-stocked with importations from the 
 United States must have proved tenfold more 
 discouraging to the British colonists than to 
 the Americans. 
 
 Had American produce been liable to the 
 same duties as the produce of other foreign 
 countries, in that case, the difference of those 
 payable upon the produce of the United States, 
 and those payable upon that of the British 
 
282 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 provinces, would have given our colonists such 
 advantages, — such fair, just, and equitable ad- 
 vantages, as would have balanced those which 
 the Americans derived from their commercial 
 intercourse with ports, from which the British 
 colonists were excluded. Had this been the 
 case, at this very period these provinces would 
 have had a population double to that which they 
 have at present, and would have been more 
 than sufficient to supply the mother-country 
 and her West-Indian colonies with lumber, 
 grain, flour, fish, &c.: at this period, the Ame- 
 rican shipping, compared with what it is now, 
 would have been small, and the amount of Bri- 
 tish shipping proportionably greater, wdth am- 
 ple employment. 
 
 In fact, in every instance so completely have 
 the Americans been our superiors at negotia- 
 tion, that the result of all our treaties with 
 them, and of all our commercial arrangements 
 in which they were concerned, have amounted 
 either to the robbery of the British provinces 
 of their legitimate rights and privileges, or a 
 sacrifice of our shipping-interest, and indeed, 
 in most instances, to both.* 
 
 * See Chap. III. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN tOLONIES. 283 
 
 Reciprocity of interest has been uniformly 
 understood to be an axiom, in the negotiation 
 of all treaties, and, consequently, might have 
 been reasonably looked for in those we entered 
 into with America ; but there we look for it in 
 vain: — instead of reciprocity, we find, from 
 what has been advanced, nothing but the 
 grossest partiality and the most unjust advan- 
 tages granted the Americans. 
 
 The advantage which they had over us, in 
 respect to the expense of navigating their 
 ships, being unattended to by us, as already 
 observed, operated as a powerful auxiliary in 
 giving effect to the direct advantages we allow- 
 ed them, and indeed almost entirely excluded 
 ours from any participation of the carriage of 
 their produce in general. But, in respect to 
 lumber in particular, this disability brought 
 with it consequences, which were, in the ex- 
 treme, destructive of our interests ; namely, by 
 preventing the shipment of lumber from the 
 British provinces, where our ships would, 
 without being rivalled, have earned the whole 
 freights. For the 28^. per ton against our ships, 
 as stated in No. 5, with only about 1^. iOd. per 
 ton, countervailing duty, as stated in No. 3, to 
 
284 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 balance it, actually shews 26.9. 2d. per ton in 
 favour of the American ships : having identi- 
 cally the same effect as a countervailing duty 
 charged by the British government, upon tim- 
 ber imported from the British provinces, in 
 favour of the importation of that article from 
 the United States. 
 
 I do not urge that this great value and ac- 
 cumulated expense of navigating our ships 
 was, abstractedly considered, any disadvantage 
 which we brought upon ourselves, or, that it 
 is one that we could have directly removed : 
 ibut, I say it ought to have been so attended 
 to, as to have put us upon the alert to prevent 
 other circumstances from coming to its aid, to 
 the injury of our shipping. 
 
 Had not the inhabitants of the British pro- 
 vinces possessed a soil far superior to that of 
 the United States, and, therefore, proportion- 
 ably a superior quality of timber, from the 
 comparatively high freights occasioned by the 
 great expense of our ships, they could have 
 made no exports of that article, whilst this 
 commercial regulation or absurdity existed, 
 which admitted United-States timber at a re- 
 duced duty. This providential circumstance, 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 285 
 
 however, — the accidental superiority of their 
 himber, procured them a small share of this 
 trade, notwithstanding the powerful operation 
 of this expense of navigating their ships, aided 
 by the low duty we charged in favour of the 
 United States. 
 
 In whatever light we view the numerous 
 and enormous advantages allowed the Ameri- 
 cans, they will be found to be downright con- 
 cessions and sacrifices ; for we could not be 
 said to have had, in any single instance, even 
 the shadow of an equivalent. 
 
 The principal advantage which we have 
 been said to derive from our commercial deal- 
 ings with America, has been the demand she 
 afforded us for our manufactures. But, in this 
 respect, did she give us a preference ? No ; her 
 market was open to the manufactures of other 
 countries as well as to ours, and the same du- 
 ties charged upon ours as upon those from 
 other countries. 
 
 Indeed, for several years past, it has been 
 matter of deep concern to those Britons who 
 derive the smallest pleasure from reflecting 
 upon our former naval superiority, — who are in- 
 spired with the leavSt spark of zeal for our fu- 
 
286 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 ture greatness and independence, to have seen^ 
 previous to our present differences with Ame- 
 rica, our ships lying rotting in port, — our mer- 
 chant dock-yards all dwindling to decay, and 
 many of them even deserted, and our ship- 
 wrights and sailors sent, by our impolitic pro- 
 ceedings, to America to build and man the 
 shipping of the United States, for which our 
 government had so liberally provided employ- 
 ment, — sent there in furtherance of the scheme 
 which may be truly said to have been founded 
 by American wisdom, foresight, artifice, and 
 low cunning, upon British imbecility and pusil- 
 lanimity, for turning over the British shipping 
 to the United States. 
 
 And to what do we owe the temporary 
 check, which has been put to these pro- 
 ceedings ; for it is still a question, whether or 
 not it may be rendered permanent ? Why ; more 
 to the pampered temper, hatred, and ill-hu- 
 mour, of this spoiled child than to our own 
 wisdom or foresight. 
 
 The Americans having already gained every 
 point they disputed with us, became impatient for 
 immediate possession of the source from whence 
 we derived our maritime superiority. Consi- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 287 
 
 dering as too tardy the means by which \ve were 
 in effect yielding them up the tindent, and encou- 
 raged to attempt wresting, by force, what our 
 government was systematically granting by 
 mean concession, they have thereby saved it to 
 the British nation for the present. — They have, 
 indeed, in this instance, afforded a pause 
 for surveying and reflecting upon past occur- 
 rences, that I sincerely hope will teach us the 
 necessity of proceeding with caution in all our 
 future negotiations and transactions with them, 
 which is my sole motive, (and, indeed, a very 
 important one,) for bringing these past trans- 
 actions under review. 
 
 However, notwithstanding these bonuses, 
 generously granted by our government to the 
 United States, had so far exceeded the bounds 
 of prudence, as not only to lose sight of that of 
 reciprocity, but actually to place our merchant- 
 shipping upon the verge of ruin, and, conse- 
 quently, our navy and nation at large in jeo- 
 pardy; yet, the British nation in general, not 
 only countenanced ministers in these sacrifices, 
 but appeared still inclined, and did, all along, 
 urge them on to further concessions. 
 
 It therefore appears, that all ranks of so- 
 eiety in tliis country had, with one consent, 
 
2B8 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 agreed to comply with the unreasonable de- 
 mands of America; and, indeed, all in their 
 turn have lent their aid or shewn their good- 
 will in furtherance of the enormous encroach- 
 ments of the government of the United States. 
 
 Indeed, upon every occasion the country in 
 general appeared disposed to out-strip govern- 
 ment in making sacrifices to America. For, 
 when our ministers, having at last become sensi- 
 ble of the impolicy of further concessions, began 
 to make a stand, appearing inclined to retract 
 where it could be consistently done, they were, 
 in these laudable exertions, opposed and as- 
 sailed by clamorous parties of various descrip- 
 tions, both in and out of parliament. This 
 was particularly the case of late, when they 
 endeavoured, and, indeed much to their credit, 
 persevered in asserting the established mari- 
 time laws of Europe, — laws, which had so 
 much contributed to the high rank which we 
 hold amongst other nations, — laws, the rigio 
 observance of which, is indispensably neces- 
 sary to the support of this elevated situation, 
 and, consequently, essential to the very exis- 
 tence of our independence. 
 
 It is proper here to remark, that, from the 
 facts which have been stated, the principal^ 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 289 
 
 sacrifices were commenced immediately after 
 Ihe American war, and were made with the 
 greatest liberality up to the commercial treaty 
 into which that government frightened us in the 
 year 1794. ^ 
 
 At the commencement of the restrictions 
 which the Americans imposed upon their com- 
 mercial iiitercpurse with tliis country, the sa- 
 crifice of the commercial, shipping, and colo- 
 nial interests of Great Britain had actually 
 become so notorious, as has been already 
 stated, as was suflScient to induce a belief, that 
 the British government, in their commercial 
 arrangements with the Americans, had no con- 
 cern for the interests of this country. These 
 foreigners had the ports of our colonies kept 
 open to them against the wise laws of our 
 ancestors, and contrary to the example and 
 sound policy of other nations ; — they were en- 
 couraged to supply our settlements in the West 
 Indies with fish* and lumber, when the fishe- 
 
 * The demand for fish in our West-Indian settlements, 
 upon an average of three years, ending 1807, was 456,221 
 cwts. 97,486 of which was furnished by the mother-country, 
 leaving 358,735 cwt. which should have been supplied from 
 our own American fisheries. But, strange and unaccount- 
 able as it may appear, although our own fisheries produced 
 
 u 
 
290 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 ries and timber-trade of our own colonies were 
 in the most depressed state; — they were en- 
 couraged to trade to our settlements in the 
 Mediterranean, and to our Asiatic establish- 
 ments, and, in particular, to supply these with 
 masts and spars, as well as every other kind 
 of lumber, whilst British colonists were, and 
 are to this very moment, excluded these pri- 
 vileges ; at least with the trifling exception of 
 some few ports in the Mediterranean, wherein 
 they have lately been allowed the great privi- 
 lege of coming in competition with these foreign- 
 ers in a trade, which, according to the laws of 
 the land, ought to have been altogether sacred 
 to British subjects. And, moreover, they have 
 been allowed upxvards of three thousand per cent 
 advantage over our ship-owners in the counter- 
 vailing duty charged by them and us, respective- 
 ly, besides their produce being admitted into 
 
 817,351 cwt. and, from their discouraged state, were ca- 
 pable of the greatest improvement ; yet the British govern- 
 ment encouraged the Americans to supply 168,125 cwt. of 
 this 358,735, whilst, from their impolitic measures, they so 
 cramped this valuable branch of trade from our American 
 colonies, that only 170,610 was supplied from our own fish- 
 eries in that quarter.— See No. 18, in the Appendix. 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 291 
 
 this country at a lower duty than that charged 
 upon other foreign produce, to the great discou- 
 ragement of our colonial and shipping interests ; 
 whereas, they allowed us no advantage over 
 other foreigners, but, on the contrary, singled 
 us out for many insults and disadvantages. 
 These enormous, these unaccountable and dis- 
 graceful sacrifices were continued to the Ame- 
 ricans, as long as their insufferable ambition 
 and hostile disposition, engendered by our 
 pusilanimity, would allow the enjoyment of 
 them. 
 
 It is notorious that a reformation of the 
 abuses which existed in the management of 
 our maritime and commercial concerns with 
 America, previous to the commencement of 
 the present war with that country, was highly 
 necessary. This circumstance should there- 
 fore be duly attended to, in any negotiation 
 into which we enter with that country. Re- 
 garding the footing upon which we stood with 
 the United States previous to the present war, 
 however, it is but just to remark, that our 
 present ministers deserve some degree of merit 
 for the stand they made in our continued pro- 
 gress of concession to that country as well as 
 
 T 2 
 
292 IMPORTANCE OP THET 
 
 for some attempts at a reformation of former 
 abuses. 
 
 In this, however, they were assailed by the 
 strongest opposition,— by the clamour of an 
 interested party, who were heard from various 
 parts of the country, — and by what is called 
 the opposition in parliament, who have upon 
 every occasion strenuously advocated the 
 cause of America, even to the fullest extent of 
 her unreasonable demands. 
 
 As the reformation of the shameful abuses 
 which have existed in the disposition of all our 
 arrangements with America has fallen to the lot 
 of our present ministers, it is most devoutly to 
 be hoped they will perform it scrupulously 
 agreeable to our maritime laws, as far as 
 relates to our shipping; — congenial with the in« 
 terests of the community at large, as respects 
 our commerce and colonies in general; — and in 
 every respect becoming the dignity of the Bri- 
 tish nation. 
 
 The uniform hostile disposition which Ame- 
 rica has evinced towards us renders it the im- 
 perious duty of ministers, in their conduct to- 
 wards her, both to adopt the most prompt and 
 decisive measures in defending our Anierican 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 293 
 
 provinces during the present war, and to pro- 
 ceed with the greatest caution and circumspec- 
 tion in negotiating a peace. The most wary 
 and guarded conduct in all our proceedings 
 with a country of such immense and unprece- 
 dented growth, both as respects her popula- 
 tion and commerce, is highly necessary. In 
 the short space of 20 years, she has doubled 
 her population, which is now nearly 8,000,000 ; 
 encreased her exports from about 16,000,000 
 to 118,000,000 dollars; her shipping from 
 939,000 to 1,911,250 tons ;— and, before she 
 had either raised an army or fitted out a navy, 
 has actually, by her threatenings and artful ne- 
 gotiation, nearly doubled her territorial extent,* 
 and trebled her maritime resources.^ 
 
 Is it not trifling, then, with the most serious 
 
 ^- This acquisition will be fouocl in her possession of 
 Louisiana. 
 
 t The permission granted her for fishing upon the coast 
 of our American colonies — her possession of Louisiana, — 
 and the general sacrifice of our maritime laws, which was 
 commenced immediately after her independence, and made 
 in the most unlimited manner, up to her actual hostilities 
 against us, has certainly trebled her maritime resources. 
 
294 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 and impottant concerns of the British nation, to 
 overlook, as we have hitherto done, the unprece- 
 dented growth and aggrandizement of this im^ 
 mense country?-— To risk ahnost improtected 
 our valuable Canadian possessions to the attack 
 of this artful and successful enemy, and by our 
 neglect of these provinces excite the disaffection 
 of their inhabitants, and thereby turn their un- 
 paralleled loyalty and patriotism into cold indif- 
 ference to our interests, must be considered a 
 crime of the first magnitude committed against 
 the British nation. 
 
 Whatever importance, however, these colo- 
 nies derive from an apprehension of the con- 
 sequences which might result from their loss 
 and annexation to the United States, they de- 
 rive infinitely more from the great advantages 
 which may be drawn from their valuable in- 
 herent properties and extensive resources. 
 
 The loss which we sustained, by the dis- 
 memberment of those of our colonies, which 
 now form part of the United States, by the 
 last American w^ar, was considered immense, 
 and it certainly was a loss of great magnitude; 
 but those provinces, which then remained to 
 us, being our present possessions in that quar 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. 295 
 
 ter, are, in every respect, as I have already 
 observed, of infinitely more importance to us 
 now than the colonies then lost were to us at 
 that time. 
 
 At the commencement of the late Ameri- 
 can war, the colonies which we lost then 
 only annually exported produce to the amount 
 of about o£'l,752,142; those that remained in 
 our possession, now annually export to the 
 amount of about ^3,000,000.— Then 193,890 
 tons of shipping were all that was annually 
 employed in the exportation of the produce of 
 the colonies we lost at that time ; 309,994 tons 
 are now annually employed in the exportation 
 of the produce of the colonies^now in our pos- 
 session. — Then the amount of our manufac- 
 tures, &c. annually imported into the colonies 
 which Ave lost, was only about ^2,732,036, 
 whilst the possession of these provinces afford- 
 ed no further facilities in this respect, than that 
 which their own consumption produced ; but 
 the amount now annually imported into the 
 colonies which remained and is now in our 
 possession, is upwards of ^5,000,000, inclu- 
 ding goods vended through these settlements 
 into the United States, into which they con- 
 
296 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 stitute a door of access, more than 1200 
 miles in width, for the introduction of our 
 manufactures into that country. -^ A door, 
 which, if the British are sufficiently awake 
 to their own interests in keeping it ^pen, 
 will not only render embargo, non-intercourse, 
 or, even war itself, ineffectual in preventing 
 the most extensive importation of our manu- 
 factures into the United States ; but, what 
 is also of infinite importance, it will, both in 
 peaoe and in war, render the duties charged 
 upon our manufactures imported into the Uni- 
 ted States, operate as pi'emiums or counter- 
 vailing duties for encouraging their introduc- 
 tion from the British settlements, and thereby, 
 not only render prohibitory measures ineffec- 
 tual, but, what is also of immense importance, 
 a preference to the manufactures of other na- 
 tions impossible. 
 
 In fact, notw ithstandiiig the advantages which 
 the United States have derived from her neu- 
 trality,, during the convulsed state of Europe 
 for the last twenty years, her great acquisition 
 of territory, and the enormous commercial sa- 
 crifices w^iicli she has enjoyed from Great Bri • 
 t'din ever since her independence ; yet, the ex- 
 
BRITISH AMERICAN PROVINCES. 297 
 
 ports, both in point of tonnage and value, from 
 our remaining provinces, shackled and discou- 
 raged as they have been, have, compared with 
 the American exports, experienced an equal 
 ratio of increase. 
 
 Our East-Indian possessions, which have 
 of late occupied so much of our attention, 
 appear of great consequence, and are certainly 
 possessions of great magnitude. — Boasting a po- 
 pulation of 60,000,000, whilst the vast patronage 
 necessarily attached to colonies of so great a 
 population and extensive territory, certainly 
 render their importance very conspicuous : but, 
 in point of real worth to the nation, they fall 
 infinitely short of our American colonies. For, 
 it will be observed, and it is worthy of remark, 
 that these Asiatic possessions only employ an- 
 nually, in their exports to this country, about 
 40,000 tons of shipping ; whilst our American 
 colonies, in their exports, employ upwards of 
 300,000 tons. 
 
 In 1810, the imports, from our East-Indian 
 colonies, amounted only to about ^5,000,000, 
 while the imports from our American colonies 
 amounted to upwards of that amount, with the 
 
298 IMPORTANCE OF THE 
 
 most flattering prospect of en crease.* Of these 
 respective imports, too, the freight upon those im- 
 ported from the East-Indies amounted only to 
 about ^£1,200,000, whilst, of those imported 
 from our American pro-vinces, upwards of 
 ^2,500,000 was composed ©f the earnings of 
 British ships, — the most valuable species of 
 British commercial revenue. Regarding, more- 
 over, these imports, which in point of value 
 appear nearly of an equal amount, it may be 
 observed, that four or five ships, manned 
 with a few enervated foreigners, who must, 
 under a heavy penalty, be returned to their 
 native country, are sufficient to import Asiatic 
 produce and manufactures to the amount of 
 a million sterling; whilst to import of the 
 produce of our American colonies to that 
 amount an immense fleet, manned with several 
 thousand of the hardiest seamen (our own 
 countrymen) must be employed. 
 
 * See Nos. 11 and 12. 
 
 J 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
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 307 
 
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308 APPENDIX. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 There appears to have been 10,695 tons of goods, besides 
 lumber, exported from Quebec in 1806; and, considering that 
 ships generally carry about a ton and a half measurement- 
 goods, per ton register measurement, 7,134 tons register 
 were therefore equal to have carried these articles ; and, 
 therefore, of the 33,996 register tons, cleared out from this 
 port, there must have remained 26,862 for lumber, as stated 
 in the table. 
 
 Reckoning a ton register capable of carrying 1^ load, 
 (equal to 1^ ton of 40 cubic feet,) it appears tliat the quan- 
 tity of lumber exported from Quebec, in 1806, mtist have 
 been about 32,234 loads; being 40,293 tons of 40 cubic 
 feet, as in the table. 
 
 It appears, also, that the quantity of all kinds of goods, 
 besides lumber, exported from Quebec, in 1810, was about 
 15,549 tons ; and, considering that 10,366 register tons is 
 equal to have carried these goods, and that, in that year, 
 there were 143,893 tons register-measurement cleared out 
 from this port, 133,527 must have been used in the carriage 
 of lumber, and consequently must have transported about 
 160,232 loads of that article ; being equal to 200,290 tons 
 of 40 cubic feet, as in the table. 
 
 The increase, therefore, in the exports of lumber from the 
 Canadas, in the space of these four years, was 128,008 loads, 
 or, 160,001 tons of 40 cubic feet. 
 
 In estimating the quantity of lumber exported from the 
 lower ports of the British provinces, in 1806 and 1810, (as I 
 am not in possession of the detailed particulars of the ex- 
 ports made from these ports, having only the amount of the 
 register tonnage cleared out,) I shall, therefore, compute the 
 quantity of lumber exported, by deducting an amount of 
 tonnage computed to have been used in tlie exportation of 
 articles other than lumber, equal to the quantity of tonnage 
 employed in the carriage of such articles from the Cana- 
 das, deducting, over-and-above that amount, 30,000 register- 
 tons for the carriage of fish from Newfoundland, viz. 
 
 Register Ton. 
 
 Cleared out from the low^r ports in 1806 - 90,251 
 
 Deduct for the carriage of all goods ex- 
 cept lumber, and fish exported 
 
 from Newfoundland 7,134 
 
 — for fish from Newfoundland - 30,000* 37,134 
 
 Tons 53,117 
 
 * See No. 18. 
 
APPENDIX. 309 
 
 Thus it appears, that 53,117 tons register-measurement, 
 had been used in the carriage of lumber, being equal to have 
 carried 63,741 loads. 
 
 Cleared out from the lower ports in 1810 166,101 
 
 Deduct for the carriage of all goods other 
 than lumber and fish exported from 
 
 Newfoundland 10,366 
 
 — for the carriage of fish from New- 
 foundland - 30,000 
 
 40,366 
 
 Tons employed in the carriage of timber 125,735 
 
 This 125,735 tons, register-measurement, at IJ load per 
 ton is equal to have carried 150,882 loads. 
 
 The following recapitulatory statement of these remarks, 
 respecting lumber, exhibit an interesting view of the exports 
 of that article from the British American provinces, viz. 
 
 Exports in 1806. 1810. 
 
 Loads. Loads. 
 
 From the Canadas - 32,234 160,232 
 
 From the lower provinces, &c. 63,741 150,882 
 
 Loads 95,975 311,114 
 
 Loads. 
 
 Exports in 1810 311,114 
 Ditto in 1806 - 95,975 
 
 Increase in these four vears 215,139 loads. 
 
 OAK TIMBER. 
 
 The quantity of oak timber exported from Quebec, in 
 1806, reckoning each piece 33|^ cubic feet, was 5,540 loads, 
 and, ill 1810, 22,520 ; the increase in these four years being 
 17,080 loads. 
 
 GRAIN. 
 
 The average quantity of wheat annually exported from 
 Quebec, for eight years, ending 1810, (flour and biscuit reck- 
 oned into wheat and included), was 304,000 bushels<J and, of 
 other grain 26,483, making the gross exports of grain 
 330,483 bushels. It may be remarked, however, that the 
 exports in 1801 were upwards of 1,000,000 bushels. 
 
310 APPENDIX. 
 
 Value of the Exports from the whole of British 
 North America, for five Years, ending in 1810. 
 
 The value of exports from the Lower Provinces cannot be 
 so precisely ascertained as the value of those made from the 
 Canadas. The exports from the Upper Provinces, being all, 
 (except the small quantities exported from Gaspe and St. 
 ^ohns,) cleared out at the Custom-House of Quebec, ren- 
 ders their value easily ascertained. 
 
 In the absence, however, of official documents respecting 
 particular details of the exports from the lower ports, as we 
 have an official statement of the tonnage of the shipping 
 cleared out from these, we may from that circumstance form 
 a tolerably correct estimate of the value of the goods ex- 
 ported. As this amount of tonnage, after making a deduc- 
 tion for the carriage of cod-fish from Newfoundland, con- 
 siderably exceeds the tonnage cleared out from Quebec, it 
 cannot be doubted that the value of the exports from these 
 ports must have also exceeded the value of the exports 
 made from Quebec, particularly as I have included the 
 226,603 cwt. of fish, exported from Nova Scotia, New 
 Brunswick, and Cape Breton : — In forming the following es- 
 timate of the value, however, I shall only state them at an 
 equal amount. 
 
 Value exported from Quebec in 1806 - - - ^'551,570 
 Ditto from the Lower Ports, in the same year, 
 
 estimated at---------- 551,570 
 
 Value of the Cod-fish exported from Newfound- 
 land ------- 354,448* 
 
 Total value of exports from British North Ame- 
 rica in 1806 ------- -^ - o£'l,457,588t 
 
 Value exported from Quebec in 1807 - - - - 681,740 
 Ditto from the Lower Ports, in the same year, 
 
 estimated at --------- - 681,740 
 
 Value of cod-fish exported from the Lower Ports^ 
 
 estimated at --------- - 354,448* 
 
 Total value of exports from British North Ame- 
 rica in 1807 --------- c£'l,717,928t 
 
 * The exports of cod-fish from Newfoundland, upon an average of 
 the four years, ending 1.808, was 590,748 cwt. which, at 12s. per cwt. 
 amounts to ^354,448. 
 
 t These are exclusive of the exports to the United States by way of 
 St. John's, and also of those made from Gaspe. 
 
APPENDIX. 311 
 
 Value exported from Quebec in 1808 - - -cfljOOOjOOO 
 Ditto from the Lower Forts, in the same year, 
 
 estimated at - - 1,000,000 
 
 Value of cod-fish exported from the Lower 
 
 Ports, estimated at - 354,448^ 
 
 Total value of exports from British North Ame- 
 rica in 1808 o£'2,354,448t 
 
 Value exported from Quebec in 1809 - - - 1,112,668 
 Ditto from the Lower Ports, in the same year, 
 
 estimated at - - - 1,112,668 
 
 Value of cod-fish exported from the Lower 
 
 Ports, estimated at 354,448* 
 
 Total value of exports from British North Ame- 
 rica in 1809 - - «£'2,579,784t 
 
 Value exported from Quebec in 1810 - - - 1,078,048 
 Ditto from the Lower Ports, in the same year, 
 
 estimated at 1,078,048 
 
 Value of cod-fish exported from the Lower 
 
 Ports, estimated at ------- - 354,448* 
 
 Total value exported from British North Ame- 
 rica in 1810 £2,510,544t 
 
 Imports of British and Colonial Produce and Ma- 
 nufactures INTO our North-American Colonies, 
 for the Domestic Consumption of these Settle- 
 ments, FOR FIVE Years, ending in 1810. 
 
 Respecting the Imports of British and colonial pro- 
 duce and manufactures made into our American Provinces, 
 it may be observed that, although I have not been able to ob- 
 
 Ibid. t Ibid. 
 
312 APPENDIX. 
 
 tain official documents, by which their precise value could be 
 ascertained, yet, nevertheless, a very correct computation 
 of their amount may be made, by taking the value of the 
 exports from these settlements, as a criterion. 
 
 In reference to this computation, it may be also observed, 
 that it is more than probable, the value of the exports of 
 these colonies exceeds that of their imports. Otherwise the 
 trade of these settlements must have produced effects very 
 different from what their thriving state indicates ; it would 
 have had the same tendency, as the conduct of an indivi- 
 dual whose expenditure exceeds his income. The large 
 supplies furnished the British government's establishments in 
 that country, and the exports from Gaspe, however, neither 
 of which is included in the estimate of the value of exports 
 stated in No. 2, will constitute an ample allowance for this 
 economical difference. 
 
 The imports, therefore, of British produce and manufac- 
 tures, &c. furnished by our own merchants and manufac- 
 turers, as well as carried by our own ships, may be fairly 
 estimated at an amount equal with the exports, as stated 
 above, and would therefore stand as follows : — 
 
 Value of the British and colonial produce 
 •nd manufactures imported into our colonies 
 in North America for the consumption of 
 
 these settlements only in 1806 - c£l,457,588 
 
 in 1807 - 1,717,928 
 in 1808 - 2,354,448 
 in 1809 - 2,579,748 
 in 1810 - 2,510,544 
 Respecting these imports, it is also of importance to ob- 
 serve, that since the restrictions imposed, by the American 
 government, upon our commerce with that country, there 
 has been upwards of o£'3,000,000 of our manufactures annu- 
 ally imported into the British American colonies, for the 
 United-States market. The gross amount of the imports 
 of British manufactures, <fec. into these provinces since that 
 period would therefore stand thus : — 
 
 In 1808, for the consumption of these pro- 
 vinces ---------- £2,354,448 
 
 Ditto, for the United-States market, about - 3,000,000 
 
 Total amount of imports of British manufac- 
 tures, &c. made into our American pro- 
 vinces in 1808 --=----- ^5,354,448 
 
APPENDIX. 313 
 
 In 1809, for the consumption of these pro- 
 vinces 2,579,748 
 
 Ditto, for the United-States market, about - 3,000,000 
 
 Total amount of imports of British manufac- 
 tures, &c. made into our American pro- 
 vinces in 1809 c£5,579,748 
 
 In 1810, for the consumption of these pro- 
 vinces --------- 2,510,544 
 
 Ditto, for the United-States market, about - 3,000,000 
 
 Total amount of imports of British manufac- 
 tures, &c. made into our American pro- 
 vinces in 1810 - - - £5,510,544 
 
 Value of the Imports made into Great Britain 
 FROM British North America, for five Years, 
 
 ENDING IN 1810. 
 
 A very correct statement of the value of the imports 
 from our American colonies may be made by adding the 
 amount of the frieghts and other charges to the invoice 
 value of the goods, a^ follows : — 
 
 To invoice value, or amount of the exports 
 
 from British North America in 1806 - - £1,457,588 
 
 To freight, 124,247 register tons, at 
 
 ^8 each ----.-_> 992,976 
 
 To sundry other charges,* at £l per 
 
 ton 124,247 
 
 . 1,117,223 
 
 Total value of our imports from British Ame- 
 rica in 1806 -.------- ^2,574,811 
 
 * Premium of insurance, commissions, warehouse aad other rents and 
 charges. 
 
314 APPENDIX. 
 
 To invoice value, or amount of the exports 
 
 from British North America in 1807 - - 1,717,928 
 
 To freight, 129,846 register tons, at 
 
 of 8 each ----..- 1,038,768 
 
 To sundry other charges, at £l per 
 
 ton 129,846 
 
 1,168,014 
 
 Total value of our imports from British North 
 
 America in 1807 <£2,886,542 
 
 To invoice value, or amount of the exports 
 
 from British North America in 1808 - - 2,354,448 
 
 To freight, 189,573 register tons, at 
 
 0^8 each - - 1,516,584 
 
 To sundry other charges, at £l per 
 
 ton 189,573 
 
 ~ 1,706,157 
 
 Total value of our imports from British North 
 
 America in 1808 - .£4,060,605 
 
 To invoice value, or amount of the exports 
 
 from British North America in 1809 - - 2,579,748 
 
 To freight, 236,564 register tons, at 
 
 o£'8each ------- 1,892,512 
 
 To sundry other charges, at £l per 
 
 ton - - 236,564 
 
 — 2,129,076 
 
 Total value of our imports from British North 
 
 America in 1809 - c£4,708,824 
 
 To invoice value, or amount of the exports 
 
 from British North America in 1810 - - - 2,510,544 
 
 To freights, 309,994 register tons, 
 
 at £8 each ------ 2,479,952 
 
 To sundry other charges, at £l per 
 
 ton--------- 309,994 
 
 2,789,946 
 
 Total value of our imports from British North 
 
 America in 1810 ^ - = - - = - - o£'5,300,490 
 
APPENDIX. 315 
 
 A considerable proportion of the cod-fish, and a small part 
 of the other articles exported from these colonies, being 
 shipped to our West-Indian settlements and foreign coun- 
 tries, no doubt, make some small diminution of the value of 
 our imports from these possessions, as stated above. The 
 amount, however, of this diminution is not very consider- 
 able ; and, indeed, upon taking a minute view of the sub- 
 ject, these will hardly appear to be such in reality. For 
 these indirect shipments, being carried by British ships, and 
 the business transacted by British merchants, they are there- 
 fore generally drawn for on Great Britain, and consequently 
 the gross proceeds of the sales remitted also to this coun- 
 try ; and such of those remittances as are from foreign coun- 
 tries are generally made in foreign produce, which other- 
 wise most probably would not have been imported. The 
 freight, profit, &c. of these are therefore as net a gain to 
 the British merchant ; and, of course, the transaction as 
 advantageous to the nation in general as if the fish, flour, 
 &c. had been brought to Great Britain and re-exported. 
 Yea, under certain circumstances, it is infinitely more advan- 
 tageous to both ; for, had the goods been brought to Great 
 Britain, perhaps, from the accumulated expense, no profit 
 might have resulted to the merchant, and consequently the 
 public could have derived no permanent advantage from such 
 a trade as, under these circumstances, it would of necessity 
 have been relmquished. — See note to No. 17. 
 
316 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
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APPENDIX. 
 
 319 
 
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320 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 THE HIGH PRICE OF BRITISH SHIPS, &C. 
 
 The vast Disadvantage which British Ships are under, in cases wherein 
 Foreign Ships come in competition with them for Freight, shewn bj^ a 
 comparative Statement of the Charges to which British and American 
 Ships were respectively liable, upon a six months' vo^'age, previous 
 to the present War with the United Stales : the Ships supposed to be of 
 equal Quality and Tonnage. 
 
 English Ship, 360 Tons, valued at 
 ^10,080, ^eing £2S per Ton. 
 
 American Ship, 360 Tons, valued at 
 ^7,200, being £'iO per Ton. 
 
 Dr. 
 
 To pro visions and all other ex- 
 penses in fitting out for the 
 voyage, up to the period of 
 the ship sailing, — expenses 
 at her loading-port in Ame- 
 rica, — and all charges and 
 expenses upon her return, 
 up to the period of deliver- 
 ing her cargo, (except pre- 
 mium of insurance and sai- 
 lors' wages) ------- 
 
 To premium of insurance upon 
 ^12,000, at 6 per cent. - 
 
 To wages, viz. master ^12j 
 mate £6 ; twelve men at 
 £5 each ; three men at ^4 
 each ; one boy at ^2 ; and 
 one at £1 each per month, 
 for six months ------- 558 
 
 To extra expenses incurred by 
 sailors running away • - - 
 
 To interest of capital, profit, 
 a corapensiition for manage- 
 ment, wear-and-tear, &c. 
 say 9.0 per cent, per ann, 
 upon the ship valued at 
 ^10,080 
 
 850 
 
 720 
 
 50 
 
 1008 
 
 Dr. £ 
 
 To provisions and expenses in 
 fitting out for the voyage, 
 taking in the cargo, and all 
 charges up to the period of 
 the ship'i> sailing, — expenses 
 at the port of delivery in 
 Great Britain, — and also all 
 charges and expenses which 
 she may incur, up to the 
 period of her being safely 
 moored in the American 
 port where she took in her 
 cargo, (except premium of 
 insurance and sailors' wages 850 
 
 To premium of insurance upon 
 ^'9000, at 4 per cent. - - 360 
 
 To sailors' wages, viz.' master 
 ^12; mc-te £7; fifteen 
 men at ^4 each ; and two 
 men at £2 : 13 : 4 each per 
 monih, for six months - - - 500 
 
 To interest of capital, profit, 
 a conapensation for manage- 
 ment, wear-and-tear, &c. 
 20 per cent, per ann. 
 upon the ship valued at 
 ^7200 
 
 Cr. 
 
 or f 
 ^4 : 18 per ton measure- I 
 ment, (40 cubic feet) - - } 
 
 By amount of freight, 
 £7: 7 per ton register 
 
 ;i86 
 
 2430 
 
 Loss — £756 
 
 Cr. 
 
 By amount of freight, at' 
 £7 : 7 per ton register, 
 or ^4 : 18 per ton mea- 
 suremeni,(40cubic feet) , 
 
 720 
 
 2430 
 
 •^2430 
 
 N. B. Considering that merchant-ships, particularly of the dimensions 
 above-mentioned, or upwards, generally carry not less than a ton and an 
 half of goods by measure per register ton, this loss of £756, which the 
 British ship incurs is therefore equal to ^2 : 2 per ton, register mea- 
 surement ; — £1 : 15 per load, of .50 cubic feet; — or £l : 8 per ton of 
 measurement goods.* 
 
 * The disproportion between-British built ships and ships built in the 
 Baltic is much more in favour of the latter. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 321 
 
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322 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 'Ti . ^ O O O 
 
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 he annual 
 
 080 Tons, 
 :s that the 
 
 
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 « 
 
 
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 of even Numbers, 
 Lumber into these 
 ! Quantity annuall 
 and other Countrie 
 
 , 
 
 
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 to Wheat 
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 5 3,439 ; 
 
 
 
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 113,600 Loads ; the E 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX, 
 
 323 
 
 No. 7. 
 
 The Number of Merchant Ships, with the Amount of their 
 Tonnage, annually built in Great Britain, for the last Twenty- 
 five Years, with an Estimate of the Quantity of Oak Timber 
 used in the United Kingdom, for Maritime Purposes. 
 
 Year. 
 1789 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Tonnage 
 
 Year. 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Tonnage 
 
 Year. 
 1806 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Tonnage 
 
 627 
 
 58,027 
 
 1798 
 
 702 
 
 79,872 
 
 606 
 
 58,772 
 
 1790 
 
 577 
 
 57,137 
 
 1799 
 
 689 
 
 83,658 
 
 1807 
 
 629 
 
 58,161 
 
 1791 
 
 624 
 
 58,760 
 
 1800 
 
 845 
 
 115,349 
 
 1808 
 
 455 
 
 46,859 
 
 1792 
 
 655 
 
 66,95] 
 
 1801 
 
 918 
 
 1 10,206 
 
 1809 
 
 448 
 
 51,248 
 
 17>3 
 
 652 
 
 65,583 
 
 1802 
 
 1,021 
 
 115,573 
 
 1810 
 
 501 
 
 68,281 
 
 1794 
 
 555 
 
 55,600 
 
 1803 
 
 1,194 
 
 118,238 
 
 1811 
 
 597 
 
 88,121 
 
 1795 
 
 540 
 
 63,235 
 
 1804 
 
 778 
 
 81,595 
 
 1812 
 
 870 
 
 115,630 
 
 1796 
 
 628 
 
 84,928 
 
 1805 
 
 718 
 
 71,603 
 
 1813 
 
 760 
 
 94,198 
 
 1797 
 
 630 
 
 78,250 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Average A-" 
 
 1 
 
 Average A-' 
 
 1 
 
 Average A-'\ 
 
 mount of tons / 
 
 mount of tons # 
 
 mount of tons / 
 
 annually built \ 63,385 
 
 annually built \ 97,011 
 
 annually built \ 72,658 
 
 for the 9 years \ 
 
 for the 8 years \ 
 
 for the 8 years i 
 
 ending 
 
 1797. ^ 
 
 y 1 
 
 ending 
 
 1805. , 
 
 y 1 
 
 ending 
 
 1813. J 
 
 ' 1 
 
 Average of the 25 years, ending 5th Jan. 1813, viz. Ships 868.— Tons 76,635. 
 
 An Estimate of the Quantity of Oak Timber annu- 
 ally USED mR ALL MARITIME PURPOSES IN GrEAT 
 
 Britain, viz. 
 
 Loads, 
 For the building of new merchant ships, the tonnage 
 of which, instead of 76,633 tons, which appears, 
 from the above statement, to be the average amount 
 built yearly for the last 25 years, I shall, for the 
 sake of round numbers, state at 80,000, which, at 
 one load per ton, is*--------- 80,000 
 
 For repairing merchant ships f ------- 10,000 
 
 For the supply of his Majesty's dock-yards - - - 40,000 
 
 Loads - 130,000 
 
 * Considering that this estimate is made in reference to Quebec oak, which is> 
 in general, die-square, and not under twelve inches upon the side, a load per 
 ton is more than equal to the quantity requisite. 
 
 t With the timber obtained from broken-up ships, 10,000 loads, will coa- 
 etitute a sufficient quantity for repairs. 
 
 y2 
 
su 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 8. 
 
 A Statement of the rapid Increase of the Employment which British 
 Shins havp lately rereived from our American Pr'^vinces, viz. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Aravjunt of tUe register ton- 
 
 
 Amount of the tonnage an- 
 
 nage cleared out from the 
 
 
 nually cleared out from Que- 
 
 lower ports of the British 
 
 Gross amount of 
 
 bec since the year 
 
 1797. 
 
 i)rovinces in the years 1807 
 tu 1810. 
 
 the register tons 
 cleared out frond 
 our North- Ame- 
 rican provinces. 
 
 Year 
 
 Number 
 
 ■Register 
 
 Year. 
 
 Number 
 
 Register 
 
 
 of Ships. 
 
 Tonnage. 
 13.349 
 
 of Ships. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 
 1797 
 
 87 
 
 
 
 
 
 1798 
 
 78 
 
 11,882 
 
 
 
 
 • 1 
 
 1799 
 
 125 
 
 17,941 
 
 
 
 
 
 1800 
 
 140 
 
 16,837 
 
 
 
 
 
 1801 
 
 175 
 
 25,736 
 
 
 
 
 
 1802 
 
 197 
 
 32,999 
 
 
 
 
 
 1803 
 
 208 
 
 26,493 
 
 
 
 
 
 1804 
 
 173 
 
 26,883 
 
 
 
 
 
 1805 
 
 170 
 
 26,506 
 
 
 
 
 
 1806 
 
 193 
 
 33,996 
 
 1806 
 
 690 
 
 90,251 
 
 124,247 
 
 1807 
 
 239 
 
 42,293 
 
 1807 
 
 6^1 
 
 87,543 
 
 129,846 
 
 1808 
 
 334 
 
 ? 0,275 
 
 1808 
 
 883 
 
 119,298 
 
 189,573 
 
 1809 
 
 434 
 
 87,825 
 
 1809 
 
 1,132 
 
 148,739 
 
 236,564 
 
 1810 
 
 661 
 
 143,893 
 
 1810 
 
 1,091 
 
 166,101 
 
 309,994 
 
 Estimate of the Amount of the Freights of tiie Exports from our 
 American Provinces in the Years 1806 and 1810 respectively^ 
 shewing the Increase in the course of these four Years. 
 
 Amount of the register tonnage 
 of ships cleared out from Que- 
 bec in 1806, - - 33,996a^8pertonj 
 
 Ditto, ditto, in 1810, 143,893 a ditto - - 
 
 Amount of the register tonnage 
 cleared out from the ports 
 of the Lower Provinces in 
 1806, - - - - 90,251 a ditto - - 
 
 Ditto, ditto, in 1810, 166,101 a ditto - - 
 
 Total amount of the freights of the exports from 
 the British American Provinces in 1806 - 
 
 Total amount of tjie freights of the exports from 
 our British American Provinces in 1810 - 
 
 Freights in 
 1806. 
 
 £ 
 271,968 
 
 722,008 
 
 993,976 
 
 Freights in 
 1810. 
 
 £ 
 
 1,151,144 
 1,328,808 
 
 2,479,952 
 
 N. B. According to the above statement, the increase of freights from Quebec 
 in the four years ending in 1810, was ------- ^b79,176 
 
 Ditto, ditto, from the Lower Provinces in 1810, was - - - 606,800 
 
 Total increase in the four years ending in 1810* £i,4i85,976 
 
 * This increase in the course of th^sefour years exceeds the whole earoiagt 
 cf British ships in all our trade to the East Indies and China. 
 
APPENDIX, 
 
 325 
 
 No. 9. 
 
 The extensive and improveable Resources of British Ame- 
 rica, exhibited by a Comparative Statement of the Amount 
 of Tonnage cleared out from tlie Ports of these Colonies, 
 and the United States, respectively, viz. 
 
 Cleared out upon an average of three years, ending 1772, viz. 
 
 From thf Colonies which revolted 
 aiid now form the United States. 
 
 For Great Bri- 
 tain.- - - - 
 
 For the West- 
 Indies - - • 
 
 Ships. 
 
 6S28 
 
 Tons. 
 
 81,951 
 
 2,297; 111,939 
 
 Total 
 
 Total 
 amount 
 of Ton 
 nage. 
 
 193,890 
 
 From the loyal Colonies whrch now 
 constitute the British provinces. 
 
 For Great Bri- 
 tain- - - - 
 
 For the West 
 Indies • - 
 
 Ships. 
 
 250 
 15 
 
 Totis 
 
 9,582 
 735 
 
 Total 
 
 Total 
 amount 
 of Ton- 
 nage 
 
 10,317 
 
 Amount of tonnage cleared out from the British provin 
 ces for Great Britain, the West Indies, 6cc. in 1810, 
 (being no less than about 30 times the amount cleared out 
 111 1772) - - - 
 
 Deduct the amount cleared out from the colonies which 
 we lost, and that now form the United States- . . > . . 
 
 Ships, Tons. 
 
 1,75^ 
 
 Tons 
 
 309,994 
 193,890 
 
 116,104 
 
 Thus it appears, that the tonnage of the exports, from the 
 provinces which we now possess in America, exceeds that of 
 the exports which were made from the colonies which we lost, 
 at the commencement of the late American war, no less than 
 116,104 tonSy—2i most convincing proof of how much more 
 consequence our present possessions, in that country, are to 
 us now than what those which we lost were to us at^he tim« 
 they revolted. ^ 
 
326 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 10. 
 
 The Importance of British America, exhibited by a compa- 
 rative Statement of the Imports which Great Britain has 
 received from these Provinces, and the United States re- 
 spectively, viz.; , i 
 
 
 Imported upon an average of six years, ending 1774. 
 
 
 From the colo lies which revolted 
 and now constitute the United States. 
 
 ^1,752,142 
 
 From the loyal colonies which now 
 constitute the British American pro- 
 vinces. 
 
 «£'123,372 
 
 
 In 1807. 
 
 
 From the United States, being the 
 year preceding the restrictions im- 
 posed- by the American government, 
 and therefore amongst the greatest of 
 our imports frOm that country. 
 
 ^6,531,410 
 
 From tlje British provinces. 
 ^2,886,542 
 
 
 In 1808. 
 
 
 From the United States.* From the British provinces. 
 
 
 ^4,060,605. t 
 
 
 In 1809. 
 
 
 From the United States.* 
 
 l^rom the British provinces. 
 ^4,708,824 t 
 
 
 In 1810. 1 
 
 
 From the United States.* 
 
 From the British provinces. 
 ^5,300,490.t 
 
 * The restrictiT© and hostile measures of the American government have 
 interrupted any importations being received direct from that country since 
 J807, except by licence 3 the amount of these, however, have been but 
 trifling since that period. 
 
 t See remarks upon No. 2. 
 
APPENDIX. 327 
 
 [No. 10, continued.] 
 
 Thus it appears that the value of our imports from these 
 colonies, in 1810, amounts to upwards of an eighth part of the 
 average value of the gross amount of our imports from all 
 parts,* and nearly equal in point of value to the East-Indian 
 and Chinese produce and manufactures which we import. 
 This statement, therefore, exhibits a very interesting view of 
 the trade of our American provinces. The vast importance 
 of this valuable branch of our commerce will be seen in 
 the clearest point of view, however, by observing that more 
 than half the value of these imports is derived from the earn- 
 ings of British ships. 
 
 Although, in point of value, our imports from the East 
 Indies and China, and from our British North American 
 provinces, may be about equal; yet they differ greatly in 
 favour of the latter, in point of the national advantages, which 
 we derive from our trade with these respective colonial 
 establishments. Three or four ships may import, of the 
 riches of India, to the amount of a million sterling : — but to 
 import, to the amount of a million of lumber, from the Cana- 
 das, an immense fleet of ships, manned with hardy sailors,— 
 our own countrymen, must be employed ! ! 
 
 * The average value of our imports, for the last ten years, amounts to 
 about ^38,000,000, exclusive of those from Ireland, 
 
328 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 11. 
 
 The great and rapidly increasing Demand from British America 
 forBritish Manufactures, exhibited by a comparative State- 
 ment of the Value of our Exports to the United States, 
 and to our American Colonies respectively, viz. 
 
 Exported upon an average of three yearsy ending in 1774. 
 
 United States. 
 
 To the colonies which re- 
 volted, and now constitute 
 the United States - - - 
 
 £ 
 
 ,732,036 
 
 British Provinces. 
 
 To the loyal colonies which 
 now constitute the British 
 American provhices - - 
 
 379,411 
 
 Exported in 1807. 
 
 To the United States. 
 
 11,864,513 
 
 To the British provinces 
 
 1,717,9528 
 
 Exported in 1808. 
 
 To the United States ahout 
 
 5,^41,739 
 
 To the British provinces* 
 
 5,354,448 
 
 Exported in J 809. 
 
 To the United States t 
 
 To the British provinces* 
 
 5,579,748 
 
 Exported in 1810, 
 
 To the United States. t 
 
 To the British provinces* 
 
 5,510,544 
 
 _l 
 
 * About ^3,000,000 of these have been for the United States. See No. 2. 
 t From the operation of the American embargo and non-intercourse mea- 
 sures few exports were or could be made to the States in these two years. 
 
APPENDIX. 329 
 
 [No. n, continued.] 
 
 This statement of the amount of produce and manufac^ 
 tures exported to our North American colonies, in the ab- 
 sence of official documents, is estimated upon the truest 
 principles which could be adopted, namely, the amount of 
 the exports from these colonies, as stated in the obser\'ations 
 upon No. 2. From a comparison of the relative value of 
 their exports and imports, made, at the periods as above 
 stated, with those of other countries similarly situated, or, 
 even with the trade of these provinces at former periods, it 
 will be found, from the propositions stated, and inferences 
 drawn in making this statement that our exports to these 
 parts must be considered rather under than over-rated. 
 
 The imports of British produce and manufactures, &c. 
 into these settlements, in 1806, was £1,457,588, and, in 
 1810, .£5,510,544, an increase of upwards of one-third of 
 the greatest of any one year's demand from the United States, 
 and about three times the amount annually exported to our 
 vast possessions in the East Indies.* 
 
 This increase has no doubt been partly for the supply of 
 the United States. This circumstance, however, does not 
 lessen the importance of these colonies ; but, on the con- 
 trary, increases their consequence, by shewing that the 
 American government have it not in their power to prohibit 
 our manufactures. This commercial facility, afforded us by 
 the local situation of these provinces, proves the vast impor- 
 tance of which the possession of Louisiana and the Florida*, 
 from their commanding situation, would be to the British 
 nation in this respect. 
 
 • The average amount of British produce aud manufactures, aunuallj 
 exported from this country, to the East Indies and China, from 1800 to 
 1810, was ^1,218,535 ; and we are informed, from the beat authority, that 
 no increase ia this demand tieed be expected,.. 
 
330 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 12. 
 
 BRITISH IMPORTS. 
 
 Value of the Imports made into Great Britain, in the Years | 
 
 ending 
 
 the 5th January 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 
 
 1809, 
 
 1810, 1811 , 1812, and 1813, viz. 
 
 
 Foreign 
 
 
 EastIn- 
 
 
 
 Years end- 
 
 5c Colonial 
 
 Irish 
 
 DiAN and 
 
 Total amount 
 
 Computed 
 
 ing the 5th 
 
 produce. 
 
 Produce. 
 
 Chinese 
 
 of the official 
 
 real value. 
 
 Januar}'. 
 
 Official value. 
 
 Official value. 
 
 produce. 
 
 value. 
 
 
 
 £ . 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1804 
 
 21,643,577 7 
 23,986,896 J 
 
 Including 
 
 6,348,887 
 
 27,992,464 
 
 
 1805 
 
 Irish produce. 
 
 5,214,621 
 
 29,201,517 
 
 44,492,697 
 
 1806 
 
 21,292,870 
 
 2,970,598 
 
 6,072,160 
 
 30,344,628 
 
 42,595,154 
 
 1807- 
 
 21,841,005 
 
 3,248,131 
 
 3,746,771 
 
 28,835,907 
 
 44,615,715 
 
 1808 
 
 21,9.58,382 
 
 3,491,767 
 
 3,401,509 
 
 28,854,658 
 
 37,488,456 
 
 1809 
 
 19,869,723 
 
 3,910,981 
 
 5,848,649 
 
 29,629,353 
 
 51,133,063 
 
 1810 
 
 26,935,625 
 
 3,475,759 
 
 3,363,025 
 
 33,772,409 
 
 
 1811 
 
 33,146,975 
 
 3,280,747 
 
 4,708,413 
 
 41,136,135 
 
 
 1812 
 
 21,201,450 
 
 3,318,979 
 
 4,106,251 
 
 28,626,580 
 
 
 1813 
 
 19,443,574 
 
 Not. yet made 
 up. 
 
 Ditto. 
 
 Ditto 
 
 
 
 23431,807 
 
 
 4,756,698 
 
 30,932,627 
 
 |42,336,943 
 
 Average of 
 
 } 
 
 
 
 
 
 the official 
 
 } 
 
 
 
 
 Average of 
 
 value. 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 1804 to 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1809. 
 
 From the above official statement the value of our imports, 
 exclusive of those received from Ireland, the real value of 
 which amounts to about <£ 4, 500,000, may be computed to 
 be about £ 38,000,000. 
 
 According to No. 17 there appears to be 1,433,956 tons 
 of shipping employed in the carriage of these imports ; and 
 reckoning the freights or gross earnings of these ships at 
 £9 per ton register, it appears that of this £38,000,000 
 £12,905,554 has been made up of freight, viz. 
 Earned by British ships, £801,408 a £9 per ton, £7,212,672 
 Earned by foreign ships, £632,548 a ditto, £5,692,932 
 
 £12,905,504 
 
 Of this £7,212,672, earned by British ships, nearly 
 £2,500,000 has been in the trade with our North-American 
 colonies. — See remarks on No. 2. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 SSI 
 
 
 No. 
 
 13. 
 
 
 
 
 BRITISH EXPORTS. j 
 
 Value of the Exports made from Great Britain, in the Years 
 
 ending the 5th January, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 
 
 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, and 1813, viz. 
 
 
 British pro- 
 
 
 
 Total a 
 
 
 Years end- 
 
 duce and 
 
 Foreign and 
 
 Irish produce 
 
 mount of 
 
 
 ing the 5th 
 
 manufac- 
 
 colonial mer- 
 
 and manufac- 
 
 the official 
 
 Real value. 
 
 January. 
 
 tures. 
 
 chandize. 
 
 ture. 
 
 value. 
 
 
 
 ■ £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1804 
 
 22,252,027 
 
 9,326,468 } 
 
 Including 
 
 31,578.495 
 
 51,109,131 
 
 1B05 
 
 23,935,793 
 
 10,575,574 S 
 
 Irish produce. 
 
 34,451,367 
 
 153,028,881 
 
 1806 
 
 25,004,337 
 
 9,552,423 
 
 398,085 
 
 34,954,845 
 
 150,482,661 
 
 1807 
 
 27,402,685 
 
 8,789,368 
 
 335,131 
 
 36,527,184 
 
 49,969,746 
 
 1808 
 
 25,171,422 
 
 9,105,827 
 
 289,322 
 
 34,566,571 
 
 66,017,712 
 
 1809 
 
 26,691,692 
 
 7,397,901 
 
 464,404 
 
 34,554,267 
 
 
 1810 
 
 35,104,132 
 
 14,680,514 
 
 502,244 
 
 50,286,900 
 
 • 
 
 1811 
 
 34,923,575 
 
 10,471,941 
 
 474,r343 
 
 +5,869,859 
 
 
 1812 
 
 24,131,734 
 
 7,975,396 
 
 302,54. 
 
 32,409,671 
 
 
 1813 
 
 31,243,362 
 
 11,508,673 
 
 489,506 
 
 43,241,541 
 
 
 Average. 
 
 27,586,075 
 
 9,938,408 
 
 406,944 
 
 37,844,070 
 
 54,122,626 
 
 Average of 
 1804 to 
 1809 
 
332 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 No. 14. 
 AMERICAN SHIPPING. 
 
 A Stateraent of the Amount of the Tonnage of American 
 Ships, exclusive of Ships of War, shewing the immense 
 Increase which it has experienced from the Sacrifice 
 which the British Government made of tiie Rights and 
 Privileges of our Ship-Owners to the United States.f 
 
 Ib the Year 
 
 Value of Exports 
 
 Ion-' of Shippia • 
 owned by the 
 United States. 
 
 Number of 
 Seamen. 
 
 
 DoJlars. 
 
 450,000 
 939,000 
 
 ♦ 1433,000 
 
 * 1,911,250 
 
 27,000 
 
 56,340 
 
 ♦ 86,848 
 
 « 116,760, 
 
 1790 
 
 1800 
 
 From Oct. 1805 
 
 to April, 1808 'i 
 
 being two years & > 
 
 a half. i 
 
 16,000,000 
 62,000,000 
 95,000,000 
 
 •118,750,000 
 
 
 Amount of the tonnage of the American shipping in 1808, 
 exclusive of ships of war ----------- 
 
 Amount of the tonnage of British shipping in 1808, exclusive 
 of ships of wat, and those employed in the transport-service. 
 
 Amount which the Amebican tonnage employed in"l 
 trade exceeded that of the whole British shipping > 
 owned in 1808, exclusive of that erapl^jyed by government j 
 
 ions. 
 
 1,911,250 
 1.815,360 
 
 95,890 
 
 Those of the above numbers which are distinguished with 
 ajn * are not from official documents, but calculated in that 
 ratio of increase which the preceeding years indicate. Indeed, 
 considering the very thriving state of the American shipping in 
 1805, 1806, and the beginning of 1807, I have no doubt it is 
 rather under than over-rated. 
 
 In the above estimation, there is only 120,000 tons of ship- 
 ping and 7,200 seamen added for the addition of Louisiana to 
 the United States. But, from the shipping actually owned by 
 this newly -acquired territory, and the ships which were built 
 in the States in anticipation of this new source of commerce, 
 the American shipping must have, no doubt, received a much 
 greater addition from this French transaction than the amount 
 which 1 have stated. 
 
 t See the observations concerning their intercourse with our West- 
 Indian Settlements,— on the opening of our colonies to their ships in general, — 
 and oh the diflfercnt effects produced by the operation of theii and our coun* 
 lervailing duties. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 333 
 
 No. 15. 
 
 Gross Amount of the Tonnage of British Merchant 
 Shipping. 
 
 The Number of Vessels with the Amount of their Tonnage 
 
 and the Number of Men and Boys annually employed in 
 
 Navigating the same, which belonged to the several Ports 
 
 of the British Empire,— to the Colonies as well as to the 
 
 British Islands, on the 30th Sept. 1803, 1804, 1805, 
 
 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811, and 1812, viz. 
 
 Years ending 30 Sept. 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 1803 
 
 19,828 
 
 2,108,990 
 
 148,600 
 
 1804 
 
 20,713 
 
 2,210,508 
 
 148,598 
 
 1805 
 
 §0,984 
 
 ^,226,636 
 
 152,642 
 
 1806 
 
 21,106 
 
 2,208,169 
 
 150,940 
 
 1807 
 
 21,192 
 
 2,224,720 
 
 152,658 
 
 1808 
 
 21,542 
 
 2,265,360 
 
 151,781 
 
 1809 
 
 21,951 
 
 2,307,489 
 
 155,038 
 
 1810 
 
 22,577 
 
 2,367,394 
 
 158,779 
 
 1811 
 
 22,973 
 
 2,415,619 
 
 157,063 
 
 1812 
 
 22,996 
 
 2;421,695 
 
 159,710 
 
 Average for the last > 
 ten years - - ) 
 
 21,586 2,227,658 
 
 i 
 
 153380 
 
 Amount of our shipping in 1808, as stated above, that period 
 being the commencement of the interruption of our Bsual 
 commercial intercourse with the United States - - - - 
 
 Deduct 450,000 tons, which may be about the amount em- 
 ployed by government in the transport-service, &c. - - - 
 
 Tom, 
 
 2,265,360 
 
 450,000 
 
 Gross amount owned and employed for commercial and all 
 other purposes, (except in the service of government,) both 
 at home and abroad, — in coasting, fishing, foreign trade, 
 kc. &c. throughout the empire = Tens 1,815,360 
 
334 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 16. 
 
 SHIPPING ANNUALLY ENTERED INWARDS. 
 
 The Number of Vessels, with the Amount of their Tomiage, 
 and the Number of Men and Boys employed in navigating 
 the same, (including their respective Voyages,) which en- 
 tered iNv^^AKDs at the Ports of Great Britain from all 
 Parts of the World, including Ireland, the Islands of 
 Jersey, Guernsey, and Man, and the Whale Fishe- 
 ries, &c. in the Years 1790, 1791, 1792, 1799, 1800, 
 1801, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, 
 1811, 1812, and 1813 : viz. 
 
 ar 
 ending 
 5th Ja- 
 nuary. 
 
 BRITISH. 
 
 FOREIGN. 
 
 
 Ships 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 1790 
 1791 
 1792 
 1799 
 1800 
 1801 
 1804 
 1805 
 1806 
 1807 
 1808 
 1809 
 1810 
 1811 
 1812 
 1813 
 
 12,141 
 12,494 
 12,030 
 10,517 
 10,496 
 10,347 
 31,996 
 10,508 
 11,409 
 12,110 
 1 1,213 
 11,316 
 12,656 
 13.557 
 12,908 
 13,869 
 
 1,423,376 
 1,452,498 
 1,587,645 
 1,575,169 
 1,379,807 
 1,378,620 
 1,614,365 
 1,395,387 
 1,494,075 
 1,482,412 
 1,436,667 
 1,314,241 
 1,539,573 
 1.609,588 
 1.522,692 
 1,579.715 
 
 93,004 
 82,979 
 87,148 
 88,963 
 84,997 
 82,7.54 
 95,796 
 102,900 
 94,740 
 96,371 
 
 2,321 
 2,686 
 2,477 
 3,012 
 5,512 
 5,497 
 4,252 
 4,271 
 4,515 
 3,792 
 4,087 
 1,925 
 4,922 
 6.876 
 3.216 
 2,536 
 
 277,599 
 321.684 
 304,074 
 476,596 
 763,236 
 780,155 
 638,034 
 607,299 
 691,703 
 612,800 
 680,144 
 282,892 
 759,287 
 1,176,243 
 687,180 
 518,443 
 
 33,660 
 30,744 
 34,719 
 31,346 
 32.448 
 15,512 
 38,285 
 60,094 
 34,157 
 25,519 
 
 1,700,975 
 1,774,182 
 1,891,719 
 2,051,765 
 2,143,043 
 2,158,775 
 2,252,399 
 2.002,686 
 2,185,778 
 2,095,212 
 2,116,811 
 1,597,133 
 2,298,860 
 2,785,831 
 2,209,872 
 2,098,158 
 
 Aver- 
 age of 
 1804. 
 
 12,154 
 
 1,498.872 
 
 90,965 
 
 4,039 
 
 665,403 
 
 25,648 
 
 2,164.274 
 
 RECAPITULATION. ^ Tons. 
 
 Total amount of British ships annually entered inwards in "> 
 
 our trade with foreign parts, upwards of one-third of which has > 798,872 
 of late been in the trade with our North-American colonies - j 
 
 FoREiON SHIPS annually entered inwards in our trade with foreign ) -.^^ ^^^ 
 
 pans ---------------»-- ^ ' 
 
 Tons 1,463,274 
 Amount annually, entered inwards from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, > 700 ODO 
 
 and Man, and the Whale Fisheries, about 
 
 Gross amount, annually entered inwards, upon an average of the last 7 
 tea years, as above -----_--.--- Tons J 2,164,27* 
 
APPENPIX. 
 
 335 
 
 No. 17. 
 
 SHIPPING ANNUALLY CLEARED OUTWARDS. 
 
 The Number of Vesse 
 
 s, with the Amount of their Tonnage 
 
 and the Number of 
 
 Men employed in navigating the same. 
 
 (including their repeated V oyages,) w hich cleared outwards | 
 
 at 
 
 the Ports of Great Britain to all Parts of the 1 
 
 World, including 
 
 Ireland, the Island 
 
 s of Jersey, | 
 
 Guernsey, and Man, and the Whale-Fisheries, &c. | 
 
 m 
 
 the Years 1790, 
 
 1791, 1792, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1804, 1 
 
 1805, 1806, 1807, 
 
 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, and | 
 
 1813: viz. 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 ■o^-i 
 
 Years 
 
 BRITISH. 
 
 
 FOREIGN. 1 
 
 11^ 
 
 ending 
 5th Ja- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 nuary. 
 1790 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 Total 
 tonne 
 Forei 
 tish S 
 
 12,560 
 
 1,399,233 
 
 1,130 
 
 148,974 
 
 
 1,548,207 
 
 1791 
 
 13,514 
 
 1,511,294 
 
 
 1,306 
 
 184,729 
 
 
 1,696,023 
 
 1792 
 
 13,391 
 
 1,563,744 
 
 
 1,138 
 
 175,556 
 
 
 1,739,300 
 
 1799 
 
 11,085 
 
 1,302,551 
 
 
 2,292 
 
 414,774 
 
 
 1,717,325 
 
 1800 
 
 11,866 
 
 1,445,271 
 
 
 4,893 
 
 685,051 
 
 
 2,130,322 
 
 1801 
 
 10,282 
 
 1,345,621 
 
 
 5,626 
 
 804,880 
 
 
 2,150,501 
 
 1804 
 
 11,072 
 
 1,444,840 
 
 92,943 
 
 3,662 
 
 574,542 
 
 30,414 
 
 2,019,382 
 
 1805 
 
 11,131 
 
 1,463,286 
 
 93,748 
 
 4,093 
 
 587,849 
 
 30,507 
 
 2,051,135 
 
 1806 
 
 11,603 
 
 1 ,494,968 
 
 94,388 
 
 3,930 
 
 605,641 
 
 30,910 
 
 2,100,609 
 
 1807 
 
 12,239 
 
 1,485,725 
 
 94,573 
 
 3,457 
 
 567,988 
 
 29,616 
 
 2,053,713 
 
 1808 
 
 11,428 
 
 1,424,103 
 
 89,715 
 
 3,846 
 
 631,910 
 
 31.411 
 
 2,056,013 
 
 1809 
 
 11,923 
 
 1,372,810 
 
 89,632 
 
 1,892 
 
 282,145 
 
 15,671 
 
 1,654,955 
 
 1810 
 
 12,490 
 
 1,531,152 
 
 192,5^3 
 
 4,530 
 
 699,750 
 
 37,256 
 
 2,230,902 
 
 18J1 
 
 .13,092 
 
 1,624,274 
 
 107,724 
 
 6,641 
 
 1,138,527 
 
 60,870 
 
 2,762,844 
 
 1812 
 
 12,774 
 
 1,507,353 
 
 96,739 
 
 3.350 
 
 696,234 
 
 37,262 
 
 2,203,587 
 
 1813 
 
 ! 14,328 
 
 1,665,578 
 
 105,004 
 
 2,647 
 
 540,902 
 
 27,841 
 
 2,206,420 
 
 •5 
 
 12,208 
 
 1,501,408 
 
 105,898 
 
 3,804 
 
 632,548 
 
 33,175 
 
 2,133,956 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Total amount of British ships annually cleared outwards in our 
 trade with foreign parts, upwards of one-third of which 
 late been in the trade with our North-American colonies 
 
 Foreign ships annually cleared outwards in our trade with foreign ^ 
 parts - 5 
 
 in our 1 
 has of y 
 
 Tons. 
 
 801,408 
 
 632,548 
 
 Carried forward 
 
 Tons 1,433,956 
 
S36 APPENDIX. 
 
 Brought forward Tons 1,433,956 
 
 Amotint annually cleared outward for Ireland, Jersey, Guern- ) ^„^ ^^- 
 
 sey, and Man, and the Whale Fisheries, about - \ 700,(W0 
 
 Gross amount annually cleared outwards, upon an average of the 7 ai<=i*otnt 
 last ten years, as above ... .^ .... .^ . Tons J '^'^^^ 
 
 Thus it appears, that, of the gross amount of the ton- 
 nage of British ships cleared outwards and entered inwards, 
 in our trade with all parts of the world, (except Ireland, 
 Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and the whale fisheries,) 
 beifag 801,408 tons, 250,000 to 300,000 tons (no less than 
 the enormous proportion of one-third) has been of late in 
 the trade with our North-x\merican provinces. 
 
 It is, nevertheless, necessary here to observe, that, as there 
 are considerable exports made from our North-American 
 colonies to our West-Indian settlements and foreign countries, 
 the amount, therefore, of tonnage cleared outward and en- 
 tered inwards in our trade direct to these provinces, do not 
 altogether shew so large a proportion as I have here stated. 
 By minutely investigating the subject, however, it will be 
 found that our Custom-house entries and clearances do not 
 indicate the full extent to which our shipping is supported in 
 the trade with our settlements in North America. 
 
 Regarding the tonnage which is cleared out from the ports 
 of our North-American provinces to our West-Indian settle- 
 ments and foreign countries, these provinces must, with refer- 
 ence to the proportionate amount of our tonnage employed in 
 foreign trade, which they support, in justice be put to 
 their credit. For it is to be observed that British ships are 
 only employed, and therefore were these exports not made 
 it is evident we must employ proportionably a smaller amount 
 of tonnage. 
 
 For instance, it sometimes happens that ships are cleared 
 out from tliis country to the West Indies to take pro- 
 
APPENDIX. 337 
 
 duce from our settlements there to Quebec (or other parts 
 of our provinces in North America,) and Canadian pro- 
 duce from thence back to the West Indies, and then West- 
 India produce to Great Britain. 
 
 Now, although, in the list of ships cleared outwards 
 and entered inwards in the trade of this country, none of 
 such vessels appear cleared out for the British North- 
 American provinces, yet such ships as evidently receive, 
 employment from the exports made from and the imports 
 made into these provinces, as if they had been cleared out- 
 wards and entered inwards upon voyages direct between them 
 and Great Britain. 
 
 Supposing that a voyage direct to the West Indies and 
 back should be six months, and that its being extended to 
 Quebec, as above, should lengthen it to twelve,* and that the 
 freight for each of these parts of the voyage should be £9 
 per ton ; in that case the ship would have only earned £9 
 per ton in a trip to the West Indies and back ; but, in pro- 
 tracting the voyage to Quebec, her earnings would be £18 
 per ton. In such cases, although no ships are cleared out 
 for or entered inwards from Canada, yet it is evident that 
 that colony is entitled to credit for having afforded employ- 
 ment to half the amount of tonnage so employed. 
 
 In estimating, therefore, the extent to which our North- 
 American colonies contribute to the support of that part of 
 our shipping which is employed in foreign trade we must be 
 more guided by the amount of tonnage which is cleared 
 out with their exports than by the amount of tonnage cleared 
 outward and entered inward in our trade direct with these 
 provinces. 
 
 * To extend the voyage, by going to Quebec as here supposed, instead of 
 »ix, it would not add to it more than four months, although, for the sake 
 of perspicuity in elucidating the point under consideration, I have suppo- 
 sed the two parti of the voyage equal. 
 
538 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 18. 
 
 Amount of Fish exported from the British Colonies in North America, in the 
 Years 1805, 1806, 1807, and 1808. 
 
 
 1805. 
 
 1806. 
 
 1807. 
 
 1808. 
 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 From Newfoundland - - 
 
 536,860 
 
 707,967 
 
 536,128 
 
 582,036 
 
 From the other Colonies - 
 
 190,840 
 
 238,799 
 
 ga8,229 
 
 248,544 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 727,700 
 
 946,766 
 
 764,357 
 
 830,579 
 
 Average exported in these four Years. 
 
 C^ts. 
 
 From Newfoundland _-_--- - 590,748 
 
 From the other Colonies -.--_---.,--- 226,603 
 
 Gross average of the exports of fish from the British Colomes 
 
 in North America, in 1805, 1806, 1807, and 1308 - - - 817,351 
 
 Deduct the annual demand from our West-Indian Settlements - 456,221 
 
 Surplus, for which our Merchants and American Colonists would 
 have had to find a market, even had they supplied the whole 
 demand of our West-Indian Possessions ----- Cwt. 361.130 
 
 A Statement of the average Quantity of Fish imported into our West- Indian 
 Settlements, in the Years 1805, 1806, and 1807, being up to the Com- 
 mencement of the Restrictions which the Americans imposed upon their 
 Commercial Intercourse with this Country and her Colonies, distinguishing 
 the Countries from whence imported. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 From the United Kingdom 97,486 
 
 From the British American Colonies --------- 170,610 
 
 From the United States - 188,125 
 
 Average amount of the demand for these three years - Cwt. 456,221 
 
 Of this demand from our West-Indian Settlements, amounting to 456,221 
 cwt. it appears that 97,486 has been furnished by the Mother-Country, 
 leaving 358,735, which should have been supplied from our own American 
 fisheries. But, strange and unaccountable as it may appear, although our 
 fisheries produced 817,351 cwt. and, from their discouraged state, were 
 capable of the greatest improven^ent, yet the British government encou- 
 raged the Americans to supply 188,125 cwt. of this 358,735, whilst, from 
 their impolitic measures, they so cramped this valuable branch of trade 
 from our American Colonies, that only j 70,610 was supplied from our 
 fisheries in that quarter. 
 
 N.B. 
 
 -The above statements are made out from the following authentic 
 document : 
 
APPENDIX. 339 
 
 (A. ) 
 
 Estimate of Qui7itals of Fish exported from the British Colonies in North America and 
 Newfoundland, in the Years 1805, 1806, 1807, and 1808. 
 
 Quintals, or 
 Cwt. qrs. lb, 
 
 1805. D?T/ Fish - - - Cod **... 623,908 
 
 Salmon, 17,491, of 5 lb. each = - - - 780 3 li 
 
 Herrings, 8,178 boxes, 6 lb. each = - - - 438 12 
 
 Pichled Fish 57,441 casks, 200 lb. each = - - 102,573 24 
 
 Quintals, or Cwt. 727,700 19 
 
 1806, Dry Fish - - - Cod 804,819 
 
 Salmon, 17,638, of 5 lb. each =r - - - - 787 1 18 
 
 Herrings, 10,388 boxes, 6 lb. each =- - - - 556 2 o 
 
 Pichled Fish - 78,738 casks, 200 lb. each = - - 140,603 2 8 
 
 Quintals, or Cwt. 946,766 1 26 
 
 1807. Dry Fish Cod 631,537 
 
 Salmon, 12,653, of 5 lb. each = - - - - 564 3 13 
 
 Herrings, 12,666 boxes, 6 lb. each r= - - - 678 2 4 
 
 Pichled Fish 73,683 casks, 200 lb. each = - - 131,576 3 4 
 
 Quintals, or Cwt. 764;357 21 
 
 1808. Dry Fish - - - Cod 695,794 
 
 Salmon, 2,441, of 5 lb. each = - - - 118 3 25 
 
 Herrings, 15,716 boxes, 6 lb. each c= - - - 841 3 i.'0 
 
 PichltdFish - - 74,942 casks, 2001b. each = - - 133,825 
 
 Quintals, or Cwt. 830,579 3 17 
 
 (B. ) 
 
 Estimate of Quintals of Fish impohted into the British West'Indian Islands, in the Years 
 1805, 1806, 1807, and 1808. 
 
 Quintals, or 
 Cwt. qrs. lb. 
 
 1805. Dry Fish 220,357 
 
 In 986 barrels of 100 lb. each = 880 1 12 
 
 Pichled Fish 97,263 barrels of 200 lb. each = - - - 164,755 1 12 
 
 Quintals, or Cwt. 385,992 2 24 
 
 1806. Dry Fish 268,130 
 
 In 729 barrels of 100 lb. each = 650 3 16 
 
 Pickled Fish - - - 142,264 barrels of 2001b. each = - - - 254,042 3 12 
 
 Quintals, or Cwt. 522,823 3 
 
 1807. Dry Fish 239,068 
 
 In 1,281 barrels of 100 lb. each s= 1,143 3 
 
 Picldtd Fish - - - 116,040 barrels of 2001b. each =5 - - - 207,214 1 4 
 
 Quintals, t)r Cwt. 447,426 4 
 
 1808. Dry Fish 190,577 O 
 
 In 3,912 barrels of 1001b. euch = 3,492 3 12 
 
 Pichled Fish - - - 112,247 barrels of 2001b. each = - - - 200,441 8 
 
 Quintal*, or Cwt. 394,510 3 20 
 a 2 
 
340 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ( C. ) 
 
 Comparative Statement of Fisa (dnj and pickled) exported from the British North- American 
 Colonies and Newfoundland to alt Parts; and oj Fish (dry and pickled) impopi ed into the 
 British West -Indian Islands from the said Colonies, Newfoundland, the United Kingdom, and 
 the United States of America, during the Years 1805, 1806, 1807, and 1808. 
 
 Fish exported to all parts from > 
 the British North- American > 
 Colonies & Newfoundland J 
 
 Fish imported from all parts ^ 
 into the British West Indies 5 
 
 Excess Cwt. 
 
 1805. 
 
 1806. 
 
 1807. 
 
 1808. 
 
 Quintals, or 
 Cwt. qrs.lb. 
 
 727,700 19 
 385,992 2 24 
 
 Quintals, or 
 Cwt. qrs.lb. 
 
 946,766 1 26 
 522.823 3 
 
 Quintals, or 
 Cwt. qrs.lb. 
 
 764,357 21 
 447,426 4 
 
 Quintals, or 
 Cwt. qrs.lb. 
 
 830,579 3 17 
 394,510 3 20 
 
 341,708 1 23 
 
 423,942 2 26 
 
 316,931 17 
 
 436.268 3 25 
 
 The three preceding statements are made up from the Accounts (D.) and (E.) which were 
 obtained from the Custom- House, in October, 1809, and when the returns of the exporti 
 from the King's North- American Colonies for the last year are produced, they will shew the 
 competency, as well as the exertions of the British American Colonists, in a more conspicuous 
 manner than in any former year. 
 
 London, April 12, 1810. 
 
 Printed by order of the Committee of Merchants "^ 
 interested in the trade and fisheries of his Ma- > 
 jesty's North -American Colonies - - - - 3 
 
 NATHANIEL ATCHESON, Secretary. 
 
 ( D. ) 
 
 An Account of dry and pickled Fish imported into the British West Indies, in the Years 
 1805, 1806, 1807, and 1808. 
 
 Fish, Dry, 
 From 
 
 The United Kingdom - 
 
 The British Continental Colonies 
 The United States 
 
 rotal imports of Dry Fish 
 
 1805. 
 
 Bar. 
 
 237 
 501 
 148 
 
 986 
 
 Quintals. 
 
 2,774 
 
 99,532 
 
 118,051 
 
 220,357 
 
 1806. 
 
 Bar 
 
 365 
 
 12 
 
 352 
 
 729 
 
 Quintals. 
 
 4,637 
 
 113,937 
 
 149,556 
 
 268,130 
 
 1807. 
 
 Bar, 
 636 
 181 
 464 
 
 1,281 
 
 Quifitals. 
 
 6,910 
 
 128,154 
 
 105,004 
 
 239,068 
 
 1808. 
 
 Bar. 
 
 49 
 
 3,194 
 
 669 
 
 ,912 
 
 Quintals 
 31,8031 
 
 147,1001 
 11,67^ 
 
 190,5771 
 
 Fish, Pickled, 
 
 From 
 
 The United Kingdom - - - - - 
 
 The British Continental Colonies 
 
 The United States 
 
 rotal imports of Pickled Fish 
 
 180.5. 
 
 Barrels. 
 48,829 
 23,580 
 24,854 
 
 97,263 
 
 1806. 
 
 Barrels. 
 55,306 
 36,741 
 50,217 
 
 142,264 
 
 1807. 
 
 Barrels. 
 50,386 
 34,305 
 31,349 
 
 116,040 
 
 1808. 
 
 Barrels. 
 
 54.023 
 
 53,833 
 
 4,391 
 
 112,247 
 
 CusTOM-HousE, Lor^don, Oct. 20, 1809. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 341 
 
 (E. ) 
 
 An Account of the Quantity <f Dry and Pickled Cod, and of all other Kinds of Yisn 
 EXPORTED from Canada, Nova-Scotia, New Brunswick, Cape-Breton^ Prince Edward's 
 Island, and Newfoundland, in the Years 1805, 1806, 1807, and 1808, distinguishing each 
 Year. 
 
 1805. Canada .--.-.-- 
 Nova-Scotia 
 
 New Brunswick - - - - 
 
 Cape-Breton- - - - - 
 Prince Edward's Island 
 Newfoundland- - - - ^ 
 
 Total 
 
 1806. Canada 
 
 Nova-Scotia- 
 
 New Brunswick - - - - 
 
 Cape-Breton 
 
 Prince Edward's Island 
 Newfoundland 
 
 Total - - - 
 
 1807. Canada 
 
 Nova-Scotia 
 
 New Brunswick 
 
 Cape-Breton 
 
 Prince Edward's Island 
 Newfoundland- 
 
 Total - - - 
 
 1808. Canada - - 
 
 Nova-Scotia .---.- 
 
 New Brunswick 
 
 Cape-Breton- 
 
 Prince Edward's Island 
 Newfoundland 
 
 Total 
 
 Con. 
 
 Sat M 
 
 
 ■Rtttjo 
 
 
 Mack- 
 erel. 
 
 Casks. 
 59 
 
 59 
 
 Dry. 
 
 Pckled* 
 
 
 
 Quintal. 
 
 1,770 
 
 70,350 
 
 8,870 
 
 16,538 
 
 526,380 
 
 Casks. 
 
 29,504 
 
 437 
 
 11 
 
 1,205 
 
 31,157 
 
 j\o. 
 Sm'ked 
 
 596 
 16,895 
 
 17,491 
 
 Casks. 
 
 731 
 
 1 
 
 1,174 
 
 3,882 
 5,788 
 
 Boxes. 
 Sm'ked 
 
 8,178 
 8,178 
 
 Casks. 
 
 53 
 
 1,446 
 
 18,149 
 
 789 
 20,437 
 
 623,908 
 
 1,316 
 85,410 
 
 11,023 
 7,872 
 
 699,198 
 
 1.527 
 
 44.949 
 
 240 
 
 7 
 
 1,304 
 
 48,027i 
 
 i 
 
 275 
 
 51,359 
 
 !^02 
 
 7 
 
 1,333 
 
 53,176 
 
 100 
 
 972 
 
 16,566 
 
 17,638 
 
 388 
 
 12,265 
 
 12,653 
 
 604 
 1,812 
 
 2.^ 
 2,441 
 
 359 
 
 280 
 
 4,660 
 
 2,662 
 7,961 
 
 28 
 
 11 
 
 1,538 
 
 2,669 
 4,246 
 
 10,388 
 
 100 
 
 1,.532 
 19,173 
 
 52j 
 
 1,136 
 
 709 
 39 
 
 9 
 
 804,819 
 
 150 
 
 87,824 
 
 13,654 
 
 4,721 
 
 525,188 
 
 631,537 
 
 10,388 
 
 21,993 
 
 757 
 
 12.666 
 
 
 
 12,566 
 
 111 
 13,975 
 
 2,080 
 16,166 
 
 3 
 
 92 
 
 95 
 
 349 
 44 
 
 157 
 
 800 
 97,962 
 
 22,244 
 5,034 
 
 569,754 
 
 695,794 
 
 154 
 
 42,567 
 
 153 
 
 587 
 
 1,792 
 
 346 
 
 1 
 
 «,815 
 
 100 
 
 2,2.53 
 
 5,515 
 
 15,687 
 
 29 
 
 484 
 
 248 
 
 20,215 
 
 17 
 
 2,660 
 
 45,253 
 
 15,716 
 
 23,6a 
 
 550 
 
 CusTOM-HousE, London, Oct. 20, 1809. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 America, thoroughly aware of the value and growing impor- 
 tance of our colonies upon her frontiers, shapes her 
 course accordingly, 8. 
 
 , her jealousy and alarm at seeing the immense 
 
 extent of her territory along the Canadian frontier just 
 emerging from a dreary wilderness into a fine fertile 
 country, excited by her knowing that the whole profits 
 and advantages to be derived from its commerce must 
 result to the British, whilst they hold possession of the 
 St. Laurence, 20. 
 
 • , the extensive means she possesses foi" fitting out a 
 
 navy, 174. 
 
 -, a reformation in the abuses in our commercial 
 
 arrangements with her a duty which has fallen to the 
 lot of the ministers of the present day, 292. 
 
 , her rapid growth and immense resources, ibid. 
 
 , her vast population, 293. 
 
 — -' -, the enormous increase in her exports, ibid. 
 
 , her immense shipping, ibid. 
 
 , the vast acquisition of territory she has acquired 
 
 without either an army or a navy, but merely by her 
 threatenings and artful negotiations, ibid. 
 
 Americans, their reasons for conceiving this the most favour- 
 able opportunity ever likely to occur for wresting the 
 Canadas from Great Britain, 13, 
 
344 INDEX. 
 
 Americans, the British government at a loss how to rank 
 them in the list of foreigners, and, in her dilemma, 
 unfortunately placed them, in many respects, even 
 upon a much more favourable footing than either British 
 colonists, British ship-owners, or British merchants, 
 85, 86. 
 
 , during our last war with them, almost without 
 
 an army, beat us out of the field, and, without a navy, 
 have ever since awed us into tame submission to the 
 grossest violation of our maritime laws, 173. 
 
 so much our superiors at negotiation that the 
 
 result of all our treaties and commercial regulations 
 with them have been the injury and sacrifice both of the 
 British provinces and of the British shipping, 282. 
 
 American shipping has been reared and supported principally 
 by a sacrifice of the rights and privileges of British 
 ship-owners, 174. 
 
 , ^ one of its principal sources of support 
 
 has been the exportation of deals and boards, 177. 
 amount of (No. 14.) 332. 
 
 American independence ought to have secured to our re- 
 maining American colonies a multiplicity of privileges 
 and advantages, but, by our impolitic measures, it 
 was a death-blow to their prosperity, 195. 
 
 Agriculture, stale of, 52. 
 
 , means which would promote the extension of, 
 
 to the waste and unsettled lands in Canada, 222. 
 
 Agricultural improvements, those of which the land now 
 under cultivation is capable, 225. 
 
 Agricultural produce, a list of that exported from the 
 Canadas, (No, 1.) 300. 
 
 Atcheson, Mr. extracts from his Collection of Reports, re- 
 specting the impolicy of opening the ports of our 
 West-India islands to the ships of the United States, 
 79. 
 
 ■ — , regarding the hostile measures adopted by the 
 
 United States against our commerce, 82, 112, 116. 
 
 J concerning the impropriety of exempting the 
 
 Americans from an alien or countervailing duty, &c. 
 120. 
 
 respecting the propriety of charging a coun- 
 
 tervailing duty equal to that charged by America, 128. 
 
INDEX. 345 
 
 British North-American provinces, their marking features 
 constitute a subject of the most interesting conse- 
 quence, 2. 
 
 , their important proper- 
 ties, &c. 11. 
 
 -j the rapid improvement of. 
 
 has greatly excited the jealousy of the American govern- 
 ment and urged them on to the present war, 12. 
 
 i the geographical position 
 
 of, 14. 
 
 ■ , the important advantages 
 
 which their extended frontier bordering upon the United 
 States affords to British commerce, 18. 
 
 , their extent of coast 
 
 navigable or accessible to ships from sea, greater than 
 that similarly navigable belonging to the United 
 States, previous to her taking possession of Louisiana, 
 26. 
 
 ^ tlieij. fishing coast^ &c. 
 
 31. 
 
 , their soil, climate, inha- 
 bitants, state of agriculture, exports, &c. 36. 
 
 reasons why they have 
 
 not hitherto supplied our West-India colonies with 
 flour, provisions, lumber, <&c. 92. 
 
 -, their extensive, valuable. 
 
 and improveablcj resources, 169. 
 
 -, of greater importance to 
 
 the mother-counti-y now than the colonies which she 
 lost at the conclusion of the last American war was to 
 her at that period, 172. 
 
 — — — , their capability of sup- 
 plying the mother-country and her West-Indian posses- 
 sions with lumber, 180. 
 
 •, American independence 
 
 which ought to have secured to them a multiplicity of 
 advantages, was, by our own impolitic measures, rather 
 a death-blow to their prosperity, 195. 
 
 capable of supplying 
 
 our West-Indian settlements with flour, bread, grain, 
 provisions, &c. 199. 
 
 --;- , the most important colo- 
 nies we possess aod therefore are entitled to an adequate 
 
346 INDEX. 
 
 share of those means which we possess for the protec- 
 tion of our colonies in general, 236. 
 
 British North-American provinces, their great superiority 
 compared with our Asiatic possessions, 297. 
 
 — -' ' , their vast importance, 
 
 from constituing a door of access by which our manu- 
 factures can be introduced into the States over her most 
 rigid prohibitory measures, 295. 
 
 British commerce, the great facilities which it must receive, 
 from the extended frontier by which our American 
 colonies and the United States communicate with each 
 other, 18. 
 
 British government, in many respects, been actually legisla- 
 ting in favour of the United States, 7. 
 
 , her measures better calculated to pro- 
 mote the interests of the Americans than that of her 
 own colonists, 10. 
 
 her singular conduct in persevering in 
 
 her endeavours to purchase the friendship of the Ame- 
 ricans by mean submission and concession, 110. 
 
 — merchants insulted by the British government, by 
 
 being told, at the same time that the Americans had the 
 ports of our East-Indian settlements open to them, that 
 their being granted the like privilege would endanger 
 the safety of our whole Asiatic possessions, 86 
 
 Canada, reasons why the American government conceived 
 this the most favourable opportunity for wresting it 
 from Great Britain, 13. 
 
 -, geographical position of, 14. 
 
 , the quality of its soil — mry superior, 37, — 224, 
 
 , its climate, 41. 
 
 , description of its inhabitants, 46. 
 
 -, population of, 47. 
 
 , state of agriculture in, 52. 
 
 — . , acres of cleared land which it contains, 56. 
 
 — — — 'y amount of grain produced in, 58. 
 
 — , principal articles exported from, 69. 
 
 , capable of producing hemp and flax sufficient for 
 
 the supply of the mother-country, 230. 
 
 • , wherein its danger consits, 238. 
 
 in what its safety consists, ibid. 
 
 Canadian cultivators, their attachments to old established 
 practices might be as easily removed as the local preju- 
 dices of the people of any other country, 228. 
 
INDEX. 347 
 
 Canadians, their loyalty and patriotism of great importance in 
 the defence of the Canadas^ 240. 
 
 Canadian possessions, risking them almost unprotected as 
 we have hitherto done, calculated to excite the disaffec- 
 tion of their loyal inhabitants, 294. 
 
 Coast, navigable extent of, 25. 
 
 — — , one of the most important properties which charac- 
 terize any country, ihid. 
 
 Colonies, the loss which we sustained in these by the last 
 American war, occasioned by the extravagant contempt 
 in which our government held the Americans as an ene- 
 my, 237. 
 
 Commerce, British, — the great and important facilities 
 which it must receive from the extended frontiers by 
 which the British North-x4merican colonies communi- 
 cate with the United States, 18. 
 
 , Privy-councii system of, 142. 
 
 Commercial greatness of Great Britain derived from the 
 superior excellence of the British constitution, ihid. 
 
 Countervailing duties, the enormous advantages allowed the 
 Americans in those charged by them and us respec- 
 tively, 119. 
 
 ^ have neither for their object the gene- 
 ral policy of the importation of the goods which con- 
 stitute the subject, nor the fund which they furnish, but 
 are specifically intended to affect the ships so as to se- 
 cure the government charging them the carriage of the 
 goods, 120. 
 
 ■, that charged by the British government 
 
 22</. per ton, and that by the American government c£3 
 per ton, for the protection of their shipping respectively, 
 — a diherence of 3,300 per cent, allowed in favour of 
 America, 125. 
 
 -, ours known to exist only by embellish- 
 
 ing an act of parliament, or by the prominent feature 
 they formed in a compilation oi our custom-house du- 
 ties : but the Americans were known to exist by their ope- 
 ration, — by promoting the prosperity of her shipping, 
 and crushing ours, 132. 
 
 — , British, a Table of, 316. 
 
 , American, a Table of, 318. 
 
 , the data by which they were regula- 
 ted by the British and Americans, extremely fa- 
 
348 INDEX. 
 
 vourable to America, and proportionably ruinous to 
 British shipping, 319. 
 
 Duties, United States produce admitted by proclamation at 
 the same rate of, as the produce of our own colonies, 79. 
 
 Deals, Quebec, their dimensions, 175. 
 
 — , the manufacture and exportation of, from Canada, 
 of great importance, and capable of great improve- 
 ment, 176. 
 
 Englishmen, humiliating circumstance of their being obliged 
 to be metamorphosed into Yankies, merely to gain the 
 confidence of the British government, 87. 
 
 Enemies produce, the mischievous effects of our almost un- 
 limited importation of, 150. 
 
 , every species of, of which we could ob- 
 tain sufficient supplies from our own colonies and 
 friendly nations ought to be prohibited, 152. 
 
 the three classes under which it ought to 
 
 be arranged, either for regulating its prohibition or im- 
 portation, 156. 
 
 Exports, Canadian, a list of for the last ten years, 300. 
 
 , — ^ value of, in the years 1806 and 1810, 
 
 shewing their vast increase in these four years, 304. 
 
 , value of, from our North-American provinces for 
 
 five years, 310. 
 
 , to our American colonies and the United States con- 
 
 trasted, 328. 
 
 British, to all parts, value of, 331, 
 
 Fisheries, those of Labradore, Newfoundland, the numerous 
 islands in the gulph of St. Laurence, Sic. secured and 
 protected only by the possession of Canada and our 
 other American provinces, 30. 
 
 , in British America contribute greatly to our mari- 
 time power and independence, 3. 
 
 Fish, quantity of, annually exported from the British Ame- 
 rican colonies, 290. 
 
 -, quantity of, annually exported from Newfoundland, 338. 
 
 — , quantity of, annually exported from the other colonies, 
 except Newfoundland, ibid. 
 
 — , quantity of, annually consumed in the British settle- 
 ments in the West Indies, 289. 
 
 Flour and provisions carried from the very banks of the St. 
 Laurence to the ports of the United States, to be 
 
INDEX. 34^ 
 
 shipped by American ships to our West-Indian settle- 
 ments, 206. 
 
 -, the means which might be rendered ef- 
 
 fectual for drawing a quantity of, from the United- 
 States side of the St. Laurence, sufficient for the supply 
 of our West-Indian settlements, and thereby secure the 
 carriage of them to our own ships, 219. 
 Frontiers, the extent of, by which the British North- American 
 provinces and the United States have now begun to meet, 
 upwards of 1200 miles. The advantages to be derived 
 from this circumstance, 20. 
 Flax, method of cultivating it in Canada. Good crops 
 generally produced, but destroyed in the management, 
 60. 
 ■ — -T-, were each farmer in Canada to raise only an acre of, for 
 exportation, a quantity sufficient to supply the demand 
 of the mother-country would be thereby produced, 234. 
 Geographical position of our North-American provinces, 14. 
 Government, the British, have not only been countenanced 
 by the country in general in making sacrifices to Ame- 
 rica, but have been almost invariably urged on to 
 further concessions, 287. 
 Grain, quantity produced in Canada, 58. 
 Hemp, failure of the attempts hitherto made to introduce its 
 cultivation in Lower Canada accounted for, 63. 
 
 . , failure of the Canadians in their attempts to raise 
 
 it, occasioned by their ignorance of the management 
 of it in particular, and the want of success of tiiose 
 Avho have pretended to instruct them has arisen from 
 an ignorance of agriculture in general, 64. 
 
 only one acre of, cultivated by each farmer in 
 
 Canada, would produce a quantity sufficient to sup- 
 ply the mother-country, 234. 
 
 Imports, of British manufactures, &c. into our North- 
 American colonies, value of, 311. 
 
 , British, from all parts, value of. The proportion 
 
 of these which is made up of the freight of British 
 ships, and how much of this freight in the trade with 
 our American colonies, 328. 
 
 Indians, they neither esteem us because we are British, 
 nor hate our enemies merely because they are Ameri- 
 cans ; but, as well as civilized nations, must Irive 
 more solid considerations for their friendship, 241. 
 
350 INDEX. 
 
 Indians, the circumstances which secure to us their friendly 
 alliance, 241, 242. 
 
 , the nation greatly indebted to the North-West- 
 Company for the friendly disposition of, 243. 
 -, their alliance in the last American war, had it not 
 
 been for the culpable ignorance of our negotiators 
 would have secured to us what now constitues one of 
 the richest and best portions of the United States, 244. 
 
 Lords of the Committee of Privy Council, their observa- 
 tions regarding the United States, recommending a 
 paroper respect being paid to the laws of the land, and 
 an observance of the rules adhered to by other nations, 
 in prohibiting the ships of foreign countries from en- 
 tering the ports of our colonies, 79, 80. 
 
 Lumber, the Americans, restrictions upon their own com- 
 merce, and Buonaparte's continental system, have fully 
 convinced us of the capability of our provinces in 
 North America to supply, not only our West-Indian 
 possessions, but also the mother-country with that 
 article, 187. 
 
 , the low duty charged in Great Britain upon that 
 
 imported from America, has greatly encreased the 
 American shipping, and proportionably crushed the 
 growth of ours, 113. 
 
 , the absurdity of our ever having admitted, the 
 
 high freight to which that of America, on account of 
 distance, is liable, as a plea for a diminution of duty, 
 140. 
 
 '— , capability of the British North-American colonies 
 
 to supply the mother-country and all her other colo- 
 nies with, 180. 
 
 the increase which the Canadian exports of, ex- 
 
 perienced in only four years, equal to the supply of our 
 West-Indian settlements, 184. 
 
 Licensing system, 142. 
 
 Licence, destructive effects of our almost unlimited impor- 
 tations of enemies produce by, 150. 
 
 Louisiana, the impolicy of which our government has been 
 guilty, in allowing the Americans to take possession 
 of, 248. 
 
 —■ , taken possession of by the Americans, in trust for 
 
 Buonaparte, 267. 
 
INDEX. 351 
 
 Louisiana, its value to us greatly enhanced by its contiguity 
 with our West- Indian islands ; by the door it would 
 open for the introduction of our manufactures, both 
 into the tFnited States and Mexico, 268. 
 
 — , by possessing it and the Canadian provinces, 
 
 our territory would completely surround the United 
 States, and thereby place at our disposal the whole 
 Indian force, by which we could keep the Americans 
 in check, almost without the aid of British troops, 269. 
 the act of our taking possession of, would be 
 
 attended with so many important advantages to the in- 
 habitants as would secure their firm attachment to our 
 interest, 270. 
 
 Manufactures, our exports of, important to the nation at 
 large, in proportion to their great value, but of com- 
 paratively small consequence to our ship-owners in 
 proportion to the smallness of their tonnage, 191. 
 
 Marking-features which constitute the essential character 
 of our North-American colonies, 2. 
 
 Ministers allowed America to gain more by negotiation, 
 in making the last peace with her, than she had gained 
 by a bloody contest of seven years, 247. 
 
 -, being at last sensible of the impolicy of further 
 concession to America began to retract, 288. 
 
 , have not only been countenanced in making sa- 
 crifices to the United States, but have been also invariably 
 urged on to the most mean and submissive concessions 
 to them, 287. 
 
 ■ , in attempting to reform the abuses in our trade 
 
 with the United States have been assailed both by the op- 
 position in parliament, who have been the constant ad- 
 vocates of the Americans, and by the clamour of an 
 interested party from various parts of the country, 
 289. 
 
 Nova Scotia, geographical position of, 14. 
 
 New Brunswick, ditto ditto, ibid. 
 
 , and Nova Scotia, their principle articles 
 
 of export, 70. 
 
 Navigable coast of the British North- American provinces, 
 25. 
 
 , compared with the coast of the United 
 
 States, 26. 
 
 Navigation of the St. Laurence and the Lakes, the advan- 
 tage to be derived from it, 22. 
 
352 INDEX, 
 
 Navigation, the principal source from whence flows the 
 riches and independence of nations, 25. 
 
 Navigation-laws, relaxation of, to the United States, by 
 opening the ports of our colonies to their ships, 78. 
 
 . — , the suspension of, by the act of 23 Geo. 
 
 III. c. 39, as far as related to the United States, placed in 
 the power of the Privy Council, who, by vhtue of this 
 act, have persevered io a shameful system of concession 
 to the American government ever since, 79. 
 
 North- West-Company, the British nation in a great mea- 
 sure indebted to that establishment for the friendly 
 alliance of the Indians, 243. 
 
 Negotiators, the enormous sacrifice of the British interest 
 made by those appointed to conduct our negotiations 
 in making the last peace with America, 245. 
 
 Oak Timber, quality of, &c. 169. 
 
 — — , quantity of, exported annually from Quebec, 
 
 sot), 309. 
 
 , quantity of, used in Great Britain, for all 
 
 maritime purposes, 323. 
 
 Pine, yellow and red, their quality, &c. 173. 
 
 Quebec, ships built at, the great difference in the quality of, 
 accounted for, 171. 
 
 St. Laurence, the river of, must be the channel of the trade 
 of all that immense extent of American territory upon 
 its south banks, just emerging from a dreary wilder- 
 ness into a fine fertile country, — its importance to Great 
 Britain on that account, 20. 
 
 — ^ the river of, a few of the advantages re- 
 sulting to Great Britain, from the navigation of it, 
 and the chain of lakes which it unites, 22. 
 
 , the natural channel for the trade of all that 
 
 vast fertile country upon the banks of it and its lakes,— 
 nothing short of the confused and vacillating disposi- 
 tion of all our concerns in that quarter, as has hitherto 
 existed, will prevent our reaping the whole profit of the 
 commerce of that country, 205. 
 
 Ships, Quebec-built, the difference in their quality and 
 the variety of opinions respecting that circumstance 
 accounted for, 171. 
 
 , British, a table shewing the amount of the tonnage 
 
 of, annually built in Great Britain, 323. 
 
 . —.^^ the amount of the tonnage of, annually 
 
 cleared out from Quebec, for fourteen years, 324, 
 
INDEX. 353 
 
 Ships, British, the amount of the tonnage of, cleared out 
 
 from the whole ports of British North^America, for 
 
 five years, its great amount, 324. 
 Shipping, and commerce, our enormous sacrifice of, to the 
 
 United States, lb, 
 ■ .■ ■ , American, one of the principal sources of its 
 
 support has been the exportation of deals and boards, 
 
 177. 
 
 American, a table shewing the amount of the 
 
 tonnage of, which exceeds that of the British merchant 
 shipping, except that employed by government, 332. 
 
 -, British, depends principally upon our imports for 
 
 support, 191. 
 
 , merchant, the gross amount of, 333. 
 
 , a table shewing the amount of, annually entered 
 
 inwards, at the ports of Great Britain, from all parts 
 of the world ; shewing also, what proportion was from 
 foreign ports, and how much of this British ; and also, 
 what proportion in the trade with our American colo- 
 nies, 334. 
 
 , a table shewing the amount of, annually cleared 
 
 outwards from Great Britain to all parts of the world ; 
 shewing also, what the proportion to foreign ports 
 amounted to, and how much of this cleared out to 
 foreign ports was British, and, likewise, what propor- 
 tion of it to our North-American colonies, 335. 
 
 , upwards of one-third of all the British shipping 
 
 cleared out to foreign parts, supported by the trade 
 with our North-American provinces, ihid. 
 
 Ship-owners, British, the great disadvantage under which 
 they labour from the high price of their ships in any 
 competition with foreigners for freight, 163, 320. 
 
 Ship-wrights and sailors, British, by a scheme founded by 
 American wisdom, foresight, and low cunning, upon 
 British imbecility and pusillanimity for turning over the 
 British shipping to America, have been sent to the 
 United States to build and man the American shipping^ 
 286. JP 
 
 Soil of the Canadas, quality of, 37. 
 
 Statesman, the subjects with which he should be acquainted 
 to enable him to negotiate to advantage concerning our 
 American colonies, 3. 
 Staves, American, at this very moment only chargeable at 
 
 a' a 
 
354 INDEX. 
 
 one-third the duty which is charged upon those imported 
 from countries in the strictest amity with us, 117. 
 Staves, Quebec, an important item of the Canadian exports 
 of lumber, 178. 
 
 , their quality considered, in the London mar- 
 ket, equal to that of those imported from Dantzic, ibid, 
 quantity of, exported from Quebec, 179. 
 
 Timber, the low duty charged in Great Britain, upon that 
 imported from America, has greatly increased the Ame- 
 rican shipping, and proportionably crushed the growing 
 prosperity of our own, 113. 
 
 , the absurdity of our ever having admitted the high 
 
 freight of that of America is liable, on account of dis- 
 tance, as a plea for a diminution of duty, 140. 
 
 , capability of the British North-American colonies to 
 
 supply the mother-country and all her other colonies 
 with, 180. 
 
 , Canadian exports of, increased five-fold in the 
 
 course of four years, 182. 
 -, the increase which the Canadian exports of, experi- 
 
 enced in only four years equal to the supply of our 
 West-Indian settlements, 184. 
 
 Talleyrand, his description of the fertility and other valua- 
 ble properties of Louisiana, terms the river Mississippi 
 the Nile of America, 248. 
 
 — — — ^, extract from a pamphlet which he wrote, stimu- 
 lating the government of his country to take measures 
 for securing the possession of Louisiana, 249. 
 
 Trident, our government systematically yielding it up, by 
 mean concession, to the Americans, who, being thereby 
 encouraged to attempt wresting it from us by force, 
 have thereby saved it to us for the present, 286, 287. 
 
 United States government, reasons why they conceived this 
 the most favourable opportunity for wresting the Cana- 
 das from Great Britain, 13. 
 
 -~ — , produce of, admitted into Great Britain at the 
 
 same rate of duties as the produce of our own colo- 
 nies, 108. 
 
 her immense territory, her extensive shipping. 
 
 ^il%. 
 
 and the vast magnitude and increase of her resources in 
 general, deserve our serious attention, as well as the late 
 overgrown pov.er of Buonaparte upon the continent of 
 Europe, 275-0, 
 
INDEX. 355 
 
 United States, her sea-coast and maritime faculties equal to 
 those of Fi-auce, Holland, Germany, Russia, Sweden, 
 Denmark, and Russia, both with respect to extent and 
 the number of people lately employed in maritime af- 
 fairs,- 277-8. 
 
 ■ ■■, the people of, before the commencement of 
 
 the present hostilities, have been by our government 
 put upon a more favourable footing with us than our 
 true and faithful Canadian colonists, whose blood and 
 treasure were and are at this very moment chearfuUy 
 sacrificed to the salvation of our Canadian provinces, 
 280. 
 
 West-Indian colonies, reasons why our American provinces 
 have not hitherto supplied them with flour, lumber, 
 &c. 92. 
 
 West Indies, British settlements in, a table shewing their 
 annual demand for lumber, flour, fish, provisions, &c. 
 and by whom furnished, — by whose ships carried, and the 
 diminutive proportion carried by British ships, 321, 
 
 THE END. 
 

 Marchant and Galabin, Printers, Ingram-Court, London.