...The importation and consumption of foreign articles into the Colonies increased with the increase of wealth and population. The following is an account of the value of imports from GreatBritain, into Pennsylvania, at different periods.* In 1723 the imports amounted only to 1730 they were 1737 1742 1747 1752 £15,993 194 1757 In 1766 Doctor Franklin, in his examination before the House of Commons, stated, that the value of imports at that time into Pennsylvania, was computed by the merchants, to be above £500,000. The tables of Lord Sheffield, in his "Observations on American Commerce," taken undoubtedly from the custom-house books, shew the value of the trade between Great-Britian, and that part of America now the United States, from 1700 to 1780, to be as follows: It is difficult to ascertain with accuracy, the value of the trade of the Colonies, previous to the year 1776. A smuggling trade was carried * Fourth volume of Franklin's Works. on to a considerable extent, not only with the foreign West-India islands, but some parts of Europe. The custom-house books, therefore, do not furnish a true account of the whole trade of the Colonies. They must, however, be resorted to, as the best source of information. We have before stated, that for some years previous to the American revolution, the trade of the Colonies was limited to Great-Britain, to that part of Europe lying south of Cape Finisterre, to the West-Indies and to Africa. Table No. I. at the end of this chapter contains the official value in sterling money of the exports and imports from each of these countries, for the year 1769. From this it appears, that the exports from the several Colonies, now the United States, during that year, to Great-Britain amounted to And that the imports from Great-Britain, amounted to Those who are anxious to see the quantity, as well as the value of the various articles exported from the Colonies prior to the revolution, and the countries to which they were sent, so far as the custom-house books will shew, may consult table No. II. annexed to this chapter, which contains an account of the principal articles exported from the North American Colonies, including the islands of Newfoundland, Bahama, and Bermuda, with their official value, and places of destination, for the year 1770.† * Taken from Macpherson's Annals of Commerce, vol. 3, page 571. The total value of the articles exported, as American produce, during the year 1770, from the Colonies now the United States, including those exported from other Provinces, and from New-Foundland, Bahama, and Bermuda, was £3,356,159 10 2 As little was exported from the other Provinces and the islands, except fish from New-Foundland, the value of the exports from the Colonies, now the United States, in that year, must have been, at least, three millions sterling, or about thirteen and a half millions of dollars. The value of the imports from Great-Britain into the Colonies, for several years previous to a final rupture between them, in 1775, was different in different years, in consequence of those disputes, which led to a separation, and of the non-importation agreement entered into among the Colonists. The average value for the years 1771, 2, and 3, is stated by some, at more than three millions.* It is allowed, however, that the imports for those years were beyond example great. It is difficult also to ascertain the amount of tonnage employed in the trade of the Colonies, and particularly the amount owned by the Colonists themselves. The amount of tonnage entered from January 5th, 1770, to January 5th, 1771, was three hundred thirty-one thousand six hundred and forty-four, and the amount cleared, three hundred fifty-one thousand six hundred and eighty-six.† It will be observed, that the amount is taken from the custom-house books, and includes the entry of the same vessel, two or three times, or as often as the voyages were in the course of the year, and repeated although the tonnage as registered is generally less than the real amount, yet the tonnage as entered and cleared is probably much above its real amount. The tonnage of vessels built in the Colonies in the years 1769, 1770, and 1771,† was as follows, viz. See Macpherson's Annals of Commerce, vol. 3, p. 570. Of this amount, a little more than one half was built in Massachu setts and New-Hampshire. The trade of the Colonies was no doubt highly beneficial to Great-Britain, and was made more so, as she conceived, by her system of colonial policy; and while she confined herself to the regulation of the external trade of the Colonies, the Colonists acquiesced, though many of those regulations were considered by them, as injurious and oppressive. But when Parliament not only imposed internal taxes upon the Colonies, without their consent, but declared, that they had a right to bind them in all cases whatsover, this led to a resistance on their part, which finally ended in a separation. Some account of the footing on which the trade of the United States was placed with Great-Britain, and her dependencies, subsequent to the peace. of 1783, will be given hereafter. The total value of the articles exported, as American produce, during the year 1770, from the Colonies now the United States, including those exported from other Provinces, and from New-Foundland, Bahama, and Bermuda, was £3,356,159 10 2 As little was exported from the other Provinces and the islands, except fish from New-Foundland, the value of the exports from the Colonies, now the United States, in that year, must have been, at least, three millions sterling, or about thirteen and a half millions of dollars. 哆 not you' # The value of the imports from Great-Britain into the Colonies, for several years previous to a final rupture between them, in 1775, was different in different years, in consequence of those disputes, which led to a separation, and of the non-importation agreement entered into among the Colonists. The average value for the years 1771, 2, and 3, is stated by some, at more than three millions.* It is allowed, however, that the imports for those years were beyond example great. It is difficult also to ascertain the amount of tonnage employed in the trade of the Colonies, and particularly the amount owned by the Colonists themselves. The amount of tonnage entered from January 5th, 1770, to January 5th, 1771, was three hundred thirty-one thousand six hundred and forty-four, and the amount cleared, three hundred fifty-one thousand six hundred and eighty-six. It will be observed, that the amount is taken from the custom-house books, and includes the entry of the same vessel, two or three times, or as often as the voyages were in the course of the year, and repeated although the tonnage as registered is generally less than the real amount, yet the tonnage as entered and cleared is probably much above its real amount. The tonnage of vessels built in the Colonies in the years 1769, 1770, and 1771, was as follows, viz. # See Macpherson's Annals of Commerce, vol. 3, p. 570. |