proved a very great encouragement to American shipping, and an equal discouragement to British. The number of American ships have increased, and are increasing-Many of them built in America by means of British capitals, and owned by British merchants, but navigated by American seamen. ANSWER TO QUESTION II. The commerce and navigation of this country will not be on a worse footing under the general duties lately imposed by Congress, but, on the contrary, will be on a better footing; because those duties are in most of the states considerably less than they were formerly. The difference of the tonnage duty being now only two shillings per ton, and the duty on goods about 7 per cent. on the value, from which American ships have a discount of 10 per cent. equal to 3 per cent. on the value of the goods :-So that now the disadvantage that a British ship of 200 tons, making three voyages in two years, and carrying the same value of goods, as supposed in the preceding answer, will stand as follows: Difference of duty on a ship of 200 tons, at 2s. per ton 20 0 0 Ditto ditto on £2,000 sterling value of goods, at per cent. Add one half for the half-yearly voyage 15 0 0 35 0 0 17 10 Total £52 10 0 Yearly difference between a British and an American ship, and which is equal to 3 per cent. per annum on £1,500, the supposed worth of the ship as above; this is a difference, though greatly lower than the duties formerly imposed by the different States, which will in time give a decided superiority to the Ame-? rican shipping; and it has been found by experience since the peace, that the shipping, employed in the trade to the United States, has been a very bare, if not an unprofitable, trade.---There are other circumstances, which will contribute to the decay of our carrying trade, and the diminution of our merchants, ships, and seamen, and of consequence to the naval power of Great Britain. -Such as these; 1st. Before the unhappy war with America, ships built in America were held as British ships, and great numbers of ships were built there by the British merchants, rather than in Britain, because they were much cheaper; and it is believed it will be allowed, that, after long experience and practice, the British merchants in general may be supposed to understand their true interest.-Now they are restricted to build in Britain alone; and though it must be allowed that a British ship will last longer, she is much dearer.-2dly. British ships are sub[C] jected to a heavy duty on hemp, and to duties on iron, timber, pitch, and tar, employed in ship-building, far exceeding those in other parts of Europe and in America; for instance, the duty on hemp imported into Britain is £3: 13: 4 sterling per ton: In America, five shillings sterling per ton, to take place in May 1790! even though she grows, and will in time be capable of raising. excellent hemp! It is true, similar duties were imposed before the American war; but our situation then in the American trade was different from what it is now-Britain had a monopoly of the American trade-She must now compete, not only with America, but all Europe.- These observations are thrown out for the consideration of Government. ANSWER TO QUESTION III. If it should be thought proper to subject goods brought in Ame rican ships to the duties payable generally on goods brought in foreign ships, and also to equalize the 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 measures will not prevent the same quantity of American produce being brought into this country-more will be brought in British ships-less in American ships.--Since the unhappy separation of America from Britain, our share of the tobacco trade must necessarily be confined to what is wanted for the consumption of Britain and Ireland, or for the supply of the ports of the Baltic, who cannot afford to be direct importers,-the tobacco wanted by France, Holland, and the ports of Germany, will generally be sent directly to these ports, their consumption being equal to about two thirds of the whole tobacco of the growth of America. The consumption of rice in Britain must be inconsiderable But Britain will import tar, pitch, turpentine, lumber, &c. equal to her consumption and no more:-Wheat and flour will also be imported, when our ports are open. ANSWER TO QUESTION IV. There is no security, that Congress will not be encouraged to increase the duties on British and other foreign ships. It is probable that they will increase these duties as their shipping increase, and British capitals can be easily transported to America for that purpose.-Foreigners baye no title to complain of what Congress have done or may do in this respect-they may equalize, if they think proper.-Congress have, in this instance, acted with true political wisdom, and on sound principles of navigation-laws, and they will not be disposed to alter so wise a system. ANSWER TO QUESTIONS V. AND VI. Both British and American ships prefer carrying the produce of America, particularly tobacco and rice, to the ports of other countries, rather than to those of Great Britain and Ireland, excepting so far as tobacco and rice is wanted for the consumption of Britain and Ireland, because it will cost fifteen to twenty shillings on every hogshead of tobacco which shall be sent from Britain to France, Holland or Germany, for the consumption of those countries; and therefore the tobacco and rice, wanted by foreign countries, will generally be sent directly from America to the countries of consumption. Merchants are guided by their interest; and, in a fair and lawful trade, when they consult their interest, they best consult that of the public. An American merchant does not purchase British manufactures, merely because they are British, but on account they are better suited to the taste and fashion of America, and are better in quality, and cheaper.-On the other hand, he does not dislike the manufactures of France, merely because they are French, but on account of their being worse in quality and dearer, and less suited to the taste and fashion of America. It is very true, that since the peace, more tobacco has been imported into Britain than was necessary for the consumption of Britain and Ireland: This has probably arisen from former habits, and from an allowance of ten pounds of tobacco free of duty on every hogshead of tobacco, which was equal, at the present duties to twelve shillings and six-pence sterling per hogshead; and which was a bounty granted when it was unnecessary, perhaps improper, and has been withdrawn about four years ago:-But it is probable, that the importation into Britain will be diminished nearly to the extent of the British and Irish consumption, and what may be wanted for the ports in the Baltic, who cannot afford to be direct importers. It is obvious, that a merchant, who imports tobacco into Britain, and afterwards sends it to Holland, cannot carry on that trade in competition with a merchant who sends tobacco directly from America to Holland, because it will cost from fifteen to twenty shillings per hogshead, as has been already stated, in landing and re-shipping charges, freight, and insurance to Holland. (B.) List of such vessels (and the respective tonnage of each denomination) as entered the port of Philadelphia from the 1st day of September, 1772, to the 1st day of September, 1775, distinguishing each year, and also distinguishing those which were owned in Great Britain, Ireland, and such parts of the British dominions as are not now comprehended within the United States (No. I.); those which were owned in the port of Philadelphia alone (No. II.); and those which were owned in the thirteen colonies which now compose the United States of America (No. III.) ...... Tons. 5,590 30 Brigantines.. 2,925 33 Brigantines.. 2,853 33 Brigantines.. 3,170 18 Schooners 97 ...... 822 22 Schooners.... 1,246 7 Snows 10,507 114 8,668 119 11,338 902 ...... 1772 to 1773. 1773 to 1774. 1774 to 1775. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. 700 6 Ships 46 Brigantines.. 3,856 28 Brigantines.. 2,224 30 Brigantines.. 2,576 80 Schooners 271 6,503 135 Sloops... 3,899 81 Schooners 15,118 250 A Table shewing what proportion the tonnage of Great Britain employed out of the port of Philadelphia bore to the tonnage employed out of that port, and owned therein, upon an average of three years antecedent to the war; and what proportion the tonnage of Great Britain so employed then bore to the tonnage of Philadelphia, united with the tonnage of the other twelve American colonies so employed. Shewing also, what proportion the British tonnage now employed in the trade of Philadelphia bears to the tonnage of all the United States employed out of that port, upon an average of the By the foregoing table it appears, that the tonnage of Great Britain employed out of the port of Philadelphia in the above years was not equal to 1-4th part of the tonnage employed out of and owned in the port of Philadelphia; and that the tonnage of Great Britain then so employed, bore only a proportion as 2 does to 11 to the tonnage of Philadelphia and the other twelve colonies combined so employed. By the above table it appears, that the tonnage of Great Britain' employed out of the port of Philadelphia in the years 1788 and 1789, amounted to within-1-5th part of the tonnage of all the thirteen United States combined so employed. |