five, which is now charged upon the article, would have a tendency to aid the bufinefs internally.

It occurs, as an objection to this, that it may have an unfavourable afpect towards literature, by raifing the prices of books in univerfal ufe, in private families, fchools, and other feminaries of learning; but the difference, it is conceived, would be without effect.

As to books which usually fill the libraries of the wealthier claffes, and of profeffional men, fuch an augmentation of prices as might be occafioned by an additional duty of five per cent. would be two little felt to be an impediment to the acquifition.

And with regard to books which may be fpecially imported for the ufe of particular seminaries of learning, and of public libraries, a total exemption from all duty would be advifeable, which would go far towards obviating the objection juft mentioned; they are now fubject to a duty of five per cent.

As to the books in most general family ufe, the conftancy and univerfality of the demand would ensure exertions to furnish them in the different states, and the means are completely adequate. It may also be expected ultimately, in this and in other cafes, that the extenfion of the domestic manufacture would conduce to the cheapness of the article.

It ought not to pafs unremarked, that to encourage the printing of books is to encourage the manufacture of

paper.

REFINED SUGARS AND CHOCOLATE

Are among the number of extenfive and profperous domeftic manufac tures, in the United States.

Drawbacks of the duties upon the materials of which they are refpectively made, in cafes of exportation, would have a beneficial influence upon the manufacture, and would conform to a precedent which has been already furnished in the inftance of molaffes, on the exportation of distilled fpirits.

Cocoa, the raw material, now pays a duty of one cent per lb. while chocolate, which is a prevailing and very fimple manufacture, is comprised in the mafs of articles, rated at no more than five per

cent.

There would appear to be a propriety in encouraging the manufac ture by a fomewhat higher duty on its foreign rival, than is paid on the raw material. Two cents per lb. on imported chocolate would, it is prefumed, be without inconvenience..

WINES.

The manufacture of wines, is an object worthy of legislative attention and encouragement in the United States. Successful experiments have already been made, by fome new fettlers of French people, on the river Ohio, which evince the practibility of the manufacture of wines of excellent quality; and as grapes are the fpontaneous production of all the United States, and, by culture, might be raifed in any defirable quantity, and in great perfection, this manufacture, with proper legiflative encouragement, might be carried on to fuch an extent, as greatly to diminish, and in time, perhaps, wholly to preclude foreign importations,

MAPLE SUGAR.

The manufacture of maple fugar, though it has for many years been carried on, in the fmall way, in the eastern States, has but very lately become an object of public attention.-The eastern and middle States furnish a fufficient number of maple trees to fupply the United States with the article of fugar; and, it is afferted, of a quality "equal, in the opinion of competent judges, to the best fugars imported from the Weft India Inlands," A perfon, whofe judgement on this fubject is much to be relied on, as well from his experience in the bufinefs, as his established character for candor and integrity, has given it as his opinion, "That four active and industrious men, well provided with materials and conveniences proper for carrying on the bufinefs, may make, in a common feason, which lafts from four to fix weeks, 4000lbs. of sugar, that is 1000lbs. to each man." If fuch be the amazing product of fix weeks labour of an individual, what may be expected from the labours of the many thousands of people who now inhabit, and may hereafter inhabit, the extensive tracts of country which abound with the fugar maple tree? This manufacture is fo important and interesting, that it respects the wealth and prosperity of their country, and the cause of humanity, that it deferves the countenance of every good citizen, and even national encouragement. No lefs than eighteen millions of pounds of Weft India fugars, manufactured by the hands of flaves, is annually im ported into and confumed in the United States. In proportion as this quantity can be leffened by their own manufacturers, by the hands of freemen, the wealth of the United States will be increased, and the caufe of humanity promoted.

The foregoing heads comprise the most important of the feveral kinds of manufactures which have occurred as requiring, and, at the fame time, as most proper for public encouragement in the United States; Vol. I.

3 A

and

and offer fuch meafures for affording it, as have appeared beft calculated to answer the end propofed.

The measures, which have been fubmitted, though fome of them may haye a tendency to infure the revenue, yet when taken aggregately, they will, for a long time to come, rather augment than decrease it.

There is little room to expect that the progrefs of manufactures will fo equally keep pace with the progrefs of population as to prevent even a gradual augmentation of the product of the duties on imported articles.

As, nevertheless, an abolition in fome inftances, and a reduction in others of duties which have been pledged for the public debt is proposed, it is effential that it should be accompanied with a competent fubftitute. In order to this, it is requifite that all the additional duties which shall be laid be appropriated, in the first inftance, to replace all defalcations which may proceed from any fuch abolition or diminution. It is evi, dent at first glance, that they will not only be adequate to this, but will yield a confiderable furplus,

There is reafon to believe that the progrefs of particular manufactures in the United States has been much retarded by the want of skilfol workmen and it often happens that the capitals employed are not equal to the purposes of engaging workmen of a fuperior kind from Europe. Here, in cafes worthy of it, the auxiliary agency of government would in all probability be useful. There are alfo valuable workmen in every branch who are prevented from emigrating folely by the want of means. Occafional aids to fuch perfons, properly administered, might be a fource of valuable acquifition to the States,

The propriety of ftimulating by rewards the invention and introduction of useful improvements is admitted without difficulty. But the fuccefs of attempts in this way muft evidently depend much on the manner of conducting them. It is probable that the placing of the difpenfa tion of thofe rewards under fome proper difcretionary direction, where they may be accompanied by collateral expedients, will ferve to give them the fureft efficacy. It feems impracticable to apportion by general rules specific compensations for discoveries of unknown and difpropor tionate utility.

The great use which any country may make of a fund of this nature to procure and import foreign improvements, is particularly obvious, Among these, the article of machines form a most important item.

The operation and utility of premiums have been adverted to, together with the advantages which have refulted from their difpenfation under the direction of certain, public and private societies. Of this, fome ex perience has been had in the inftance of the Pennsylvania fociety for the

promotion

promotion of manufactures and useful arts; but the funds of that affociation have been too contracted to produce more than a very small portion of the good to which the principles of it would have led. It may confidently be affirmed, that there is fcarcely any thing which has been devised better calculated to excite a general fpirit of improvement than the inftitutions of this nature. They are truly invaluable.

In countries where there is great private wealth much may be effected by the voluntary contributions of patriotic individuals; but in a community fituated like that of the United States, the public purse must fupply the deficiency of private refource. In what can it be so useful as in promoting and improving the efforts of industry?

BANK.

Connected with the agriculture, commerce, and manufactures, is the bank of the United States, the happy effects, and benefits of which, have been experienced to a very confiderable degree. This bank was incorporated by act of congrefs, February 25th, 1791, by the name and ftile of The Prefident, Directors, and Company of the Bank of the United States. The amount of the capital ftock is ten million dollars, one fourth of which is in gold and filver; the other three fourths in that part of the public debt of the United States, which, at the time of payment, bears an accruing interest of fix percent. per annum. Two millions of this capital stock of ten millions, is subscribed by the prefident, in behalf of the United States. The stockholders are to continue a corporate body by the act, until the 4th day of March 1811; and are capable, in law, of holding property to an amount not exceeding, in the whole, fifteen million dollars, including the aforefaid ten million dollars, capital ftock. The corporation may not at any time owe, whether by bond, bill or note, or other contract, more than ten million dollars, over and above the monies then actually depofited in the bank for fafe keeping, unlefs the contracting of any greater debt shall have been previously authorised by a law of the United States. The corporation is not at liberty to receive more than fix per cent. per annum for or upon its loans or discounts, nor to purchase any public debt whatever, or to deal or trade, directly or indirectly, in in any thing except bills of exchange, gold or filver bullion, or in the fale of goods really and truly pledged for money lent, and not redeemed in due time, or of goods which fhall be the produce of its bonds; they may fell any part of the public debt of which its ftock shall be com pofed, Loans, not exceeding 100,000 dollars, may be made to the

United States, and to particular states, of a fum not exceeding 50,00 dollars.

Offices for the purposes of difcount and depofit only, may be established within the United States, upon the fame terms, and in the fame manner, as fhall be practifed at the bank. Four of thefe offices, called BRANCH BANKS, have been already established, viz. at BosTON, NEW YORK, BALTIMORE, and CHARLESTON. The faith of the United States, is pledged, that no other bank shall be established by any future law of the United States, during the continuance of the above corporation.

MILITARY STRENGTH.

The governments of Europe, for the most part, though they in many things differ materially from each other, agree in keeping up a large military force, the excufes for which, are the jealoufies they entertain of each other, and the neceffity of preferving a ballance of power. To render these excufes plaufible, national prejudices and animofities have been artfully encouraged, and the people, blinded by thefe, have been brought to acquiefce in the schemes of their governors, in creating a power which being entirely at the difpofal of the latter, has often been used against the juft rights of those whofe property is exhausted for its fupport. But if the policy of keeping standing armies was fully investigated, it would be found to have its origin, not in the jealoufies of one nation with refpect to another, but in the tyrannic principles and fears of different governments, with respect to their subjects at home. The fact is notorious, that the origin of most of the old governments, has been in conqueft and ufurpation. Few of them which fubfift in Europe, have originated where they ought, (from the people) the confequence of which has been, that princes, anxiously concerned for the prefervation of their own power, and dreading that their fubjects fhould recover their just rights, have found it neceffary to detach a large part of them from the general mass, and by military habits and rewards, to blind them to their own interefts, and to unite them more intimately to themfelves. Standing armies are therefore unneceffary, and inconfiftent in a republican goverment; America of courfe has none. Their military ftrength lies in a well-disciplined militia. According to the late cenfus, there were in the United States, eight hundred and fourteen thousand men of fixteen years old and upwards, whites, and these have fince rapidly increased. Suppofe that the fuperannuated, the officers of government, and the other claffes of people who are excufed from mili tary duty, amount to one hundred and fourteen thoufand, there will