Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-07-29
MEMORIAL
on THIS QUESTION:, WHITTIER IT BE
= ADVANTAGEOUS ron FRAseE TO
= TAKE POSSESSION or Louisiana. ?

Presmtedto the French Government by
M. LpiRgston, the Amerieas
1iinister al Paris. =
Translated for the N. England PsiIadi-
UNI, BY Mr.. Nanerede Of Boston.l
"THIS quessionpresentsI itself in two
L points Of view: First, in the rela-
zion of commerce and manufacturer
9 Secondly, in those ef the positive ORE
: lasiye force Of FRINGE. - w..
- Colonies do not excite interest for
: their own sakts, but only as respects the
influence they may have on nation; and
N one man alone smore useful by re-.
= manning at home, than two by removing
. ara distance, 4 wise nation does not seek
30 colonies, until she has q supefabun-
dance Of population, which she cannot
ausefnlly employ in any other way.
. Though very considerable, the popu-
slation Of France is very far from having
reached theterm which renders colonies
necessary: Her soil, climate, and local
situation give her, as 4 commercial, and
especially as 4 manufacturing nation,
great advantages over all the nations OF
Europe; The spirit Of invention, the
taste andindustry Gifts inhabitants, place
her in the first rank. But those adyan-
!. tages are wonderfully abridged by the
want Of capitals sufficient to make use of
them. "A rival nation, greatly inferior
in every one Of these particulars, by in
creasing the national fortune, furnish it
with the means Of maintaining that very
superiority. =. z!s -. -. i
Capitals increase the number Of manu-
features, by the introduction Of machines,
by the regular payment of workmen, by
the reduction Of the interests of money,
and especially BY ,he possession Of new
markets. ~. -,- !, s7. -: :. - 4
None but rich individuals can under-
take those slow md expensive speeulati-
.ons, which often give the superiority 10
manufacture. A poor merchant cam
not undertake long voyages, returns
from which are slow they are reserved
for the wealthy, who can give credits
long enough to tempt foreign nations to
give his articles the preference over those
ofother nations, which expect quickre-
turn for theirs. The want of capitals in
France, is such, that no manufacturer
has at his command quantity of articles
sufficient to answer the demands; and
consequently no foreigner can be sure 70
obtain from his French correspondent
vherewith to make his return without
fetarding his vessel in port, or, at least,
without being obliged to take a consider
able quantity of articles Of inferior quail
~, picked up in a number of different
manufactures so that If he commits any
fraud, no one can be charged with it,
This renders manufaE ture of very little
importance in the eyes Of a Frenchwork.
man. - = --~' ~- ----4-7e-
Heneewhen a foreign vessel, especial.
1y if owned al y great distance, sells her
cargo in France, she is ordered TO take
nothing but wines or brandies, because
they are the only articles which the own
sris sure to procure in sufficient quanti-
ties, in the fixed time. 49,
In| England, on the contrary, he will
find all sort Of goods in one hour, from
one manufacture. the reputation ofWhich
would suffer, il the whole supply were
not of the same quality with the sample.
This consideration viii ever induce 4 70.
reigner to apply to an English, in prefer
snee TO French merchant, for. a pur.
chase ofgoods Of the same kind. Hence
Sargoes are sold in France, and the pro.
ceeds carried TO England, there TO be
sold for articles which France might sup.
ply, Observation-Disclosures were rich enough
20 answer every demand, in a short time
without compelling the purchaserto hav,
recourse 10 a great number Of manpfac
lures.
This Inconvenience can only be reno
we'd by increasing the capitals Of mann
facturers.Itwouidb be too great adeviatioi
~