Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-19
(Con,inued J
Mr.. Martin.

n
Mr. Martin.
Where do you get this information
From the brokers | en-; oy, VINO take re
gul&r acc unts OF the tar and turpentnt
imported each yesr from America, and the
Quantity which comes from other parts
have reason 10 bel eve, t,at the greater
part, II not the whole, Came from Ameri-
ca /; | was myself the Importer of part,
which would be here described as coming
from, some other place, Because Imported
il tn ireiind, and il was then brought 10 Liz
verpool, because il could NOT be sold to adj
vantage at the port at which It was.
d. vou apPrehehd that the parts nf this
Importation Of stores, which do not come
from America, come from the north of Eu.
rope Certaihl, part of the tar imported
into Liverpool, comes from the north of Eu-
rope.
Any considerable proportion FROM the
British colonies in North A nerica ? No ;
the hulk ct the tar, and nearly the whole
of the 'turpentine, come from the south TN
states of he United States.
Do you not think that the non-imDorta-
ton act was IN iself a symptom of hostili v
think 1t was solely a symptom of precau-
ton.
How was that measure to operate rs a
measure of prccautin. From all the in.
formation | have had " tn respect to Anne
RIGA, either from my partner, Tfor h We a
partner now there). or from Americans IN
this country, IL ha been uniformly my con-
viction, that it has been far from the iuten-
ton of the Americans, either the Ameri-
can government, or the Inhabitants, the
subjects of America, TO take hostile mea
sures with re pect to this country, and
therefore / consider the measure of the
nor-importatiou act as intended simply as
that kind of restrain, with respect TO the
commercial intercourse between the two
countries, which might operate favorably
IN the event of diff renee with respeci TO
the two countries, aud not as measure m
tended or calcul ted to lead to a rupture.
You nave stated, that when you went to
Birmingham the impression made upon
your mind was, that the deficiency of orders
which had then recently taken place was
in consequence of the orders in council ;
how WAS that Impression made upon your
nnindl Because nothing but h. orders, in
council, as q ptlpable fac, was az all be-
fore the minds ofthe merchants in Birming
n IN, the embargo was no. known aud could
not be known; the taking place of the non
importation act in December, was profile
mdtical, it might or it night not, from the
fact Of lis not having taken place the &r
before; there was strong probability that
" would not; tile orders of the council be-
in al ne before their mind, as a palpable
fact, we're cOnside raiions with them against
shipping goods; and the consideration pro-
ceeded from this, that the orders in council
were In their apprehension, such measures
as won d lead 70 the most serious Interrupt
fion OF our commerce between America and
this country.
John OxIey
How have the orders which were sent r
December and January this year for the
present spring Shipment beeal Nothing
a. all, no orders whatever.
When did the news of the embargo
reach your part of the country! In Janu.
airy.
Late in January? Yes.
Then your mandatory has been very
much affected by some events happening
earIy in November Certainly.
Have you dismissed the hands in youi
employment SINCE that time! A great NUN
Ter of them | have; but | would wish t
be understood that am not a manufactur
er, only spe k as merchant.
Do you understand that the manufacture
ers you employ have dismissed their la
bourers9 A great number of my neigh
bors nave.
Though not a manufacturer yourself, vol
isbing and dressing part.
Have you dismissed the workmen EN-.
pioycd in that? a great many of them.
In what proportion have you and you
neighbors, or those manufacturers whom
you employ, dismissed their hands Fol
the American market, at the most mode
rate computation, houses which have EN-
ployed filty or sixty men, do not employ
more than six or eight.
That you conceive to be general ia tn,
west riding of Yorkshirei ] do.
Notwithstanding the diminution Of tn,
number of hands, does the sock Of manu-
iactures IN your h nds and your neighDpr
d,ninish or accumulate In the manufac
torres it accumulates.
No wI;hstandng the dismissal of those
handai In consequence Of receiv ngno or
ders, It has generally bssn the custom d