Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-11-20

In late number of thc London Tra7eI
,er we find the following article.
DETENTION or AMERICAN SHIPS.
To the EaGtsr af TIE Traveller.
La a commercial country it is expedi.
ens that the ear of governments should be
open to the solicitations or remonstrances
OF merchants; and it is also natural for the
leading men in trade to form a sort of Sc.
ciety, watching over the interests of the
line in which they are more particularly en-
gagged. Hence we see, that committees of
various classes confer with the minister, as
sfsen as any question is agitated which can
a&ect their interests.
There exist only one body of Merchants
who seem not to understand the incaIcula-
bic value ofthis privilege or rather, whose
concerns being more minute, cannot dedi-
cate a portion of their time to enquiry af-
ter subjects of general tendency, and
whose landed or preliminary influence be-
ing comparatively small, do not feel sufici-
emily bold TO stand forward, even on the
best grounds allude TO the Merchants
trading with Germany, Holland, and
France.
The Importance of their commerce
seems to have been overlooked, as often az
1t came into competition with any other oS.
jeet; and it seems forgotten thas upon
them and their prosperity hinges chiefly
the welfare of our whole commercial and
manufacturing sys.em., TAey are the sole
purchasers of most of the manufactures i'm.
ported by the East India Company, and Of
more than one half of its raw commodities.
They are almost the only buyers of the
coffee, besides very large proportion OF
the sugar, and other articles, brought from
the West Indies. They are the chief en-
couragerscf the sugar rehneries and con.
tribute, in no contemplate degree to the
prosperity of our manufacturing >,owns.
The Cusssm house entries prove sufficient
ly these assertions in confederation OF
which it nay be remarked that any slagna-
ton or bankruptcy among this class of mer-
chants Is the unerring torsrunner OF an uni.
versal decline in the prices of all articles,
as the experience of the year 1899 amply
shcWs. The Importance of their trade is
still more increased, as it is that through
which our national Industry diffuses itself
over France aud Holland, and brings back
specie in return thus producing the two.
fold effect of earichins Us, and imPoverish-
ing our enemy.
The most dangerous rivals that these
merchants have ever met with are the A
mericans that nation navigate cheaper
than we can its situation and produce are
peculiarly adapted to the West India trade,
from whence il obtains colonial articles
bullion, with the latter of which it engages
in very advantageous operations to tbs r.
lndles. Byremaining neutral the, American
property saves one half of ths premiums OF
insurance paid by us and the ships which
convey to Europe the produce of the East
and West Indies returns home with linens,
a very lucrative trade. TIE effect OF
this speculative SYSTEM has been, that the
European markets cease, IN great mea-
sure to send orders here, for the goods,
with which the Americans supply them
much cheaper than We can.
The merchants trading to Germany,
France and Holland, are thus materially
injured, our commerce., navigation and
manufactures in general, are undermined
by rival. whose capital is chiefly borrow.
edin London, and the lasisy of whose laws
respecting Mercantile engagements, pecu.
liarly favor the spirit Of adventure. Hence
or;cos MS diHarnnce hetween the Drlces
which the West India planter now obtains
for his produce, and what he obtained IN
the year 1888. Hence We see the +. India
Company now selling tor nine pence the
pepper formerly soldlas 6fteen.or 20 pence,
and almost all lis other raw manufactured
goods at similar depreciation. Ho" tar
this may go on it IS impossible TO say, but
. l. -. LhLaro