The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-06-10

Icfoss and description Of persons in Imcri-
ca. Perhaps this picture is exaggerated
but still 1T possesses too many of the Inca
! ..,et.s cs truth. =s.;s, $3.50 s
If the reduction of mercantile profit be
ruin, ourmerchanfs could not have escaped it.
1t the reduction of the price of our produce to
almost nothing be ruin, our turner's would
| have sympathized in the general calamity.
Whot is the state of things !-Extensive
markets are suddctly closed upon us our
articles OF e1ftort remain the same. For
ty-seven millions of produce thrown out of
market: and II millions suddenly thrown in
to channel which had previously absorbed
only So The effects are obvious. All
competition among the sellers to sell--and
none among the purchasers. Our farmers
bidding against each other in the sale of our
native productions. Our merchants bidding
against each other in the English market in
the sale OF their foreign as we'll as domestic
produce. The English markets glutted with
such exports as may be landed and their
ports filled with cargoes prohibited from be-
ing landed by the English laws
What is the effect upon these native pro-
auctions?
Tobacco. 1t has already appeared, that
SO, coo hogsheads are exported from the U.
States-12, 600 hhds. only are consumed in
Great Britain.
FIour.-None is admitted into G.. Britain
Tor consumption, unless the article rises to a
certain price, aud the wants of that king
dom peremptorily demand it.
FISh-is not permitted to be sold in Great
Britain.
acknowledgements In small
quantities.
The farmer would therefore have felt
sensible depression of the prices of his pro-
tduce-Ihe merchant would have suffered
reduction OF his profits, which would have
been still more increased by the inevitable
captures ofhis cargoes by the privateers of
the continent, aud the rise Of insurance.
The second suthosi.isn.
We have hitherto proceeded upon the idea
| that all oar 0eSseis zvouid be boupd directLy
10 q. Britain. 1t is time however to reverse
that supposition.
| 1t is most probable that Immediately after
the promulgation of the English and French
ldecrees, some of cur vessels would have yen
TIRED to sail directly to the Continent. The
prospect OF eXorbitant profit might haze
tempted some to brave the vigilance of the
British cruisers, who swarm over the ocean
! Hhat qVonid tave been thc effect OF THIS
| STATE OF THING S 2
| There is no room to doubt, that the
number of French and British privateers
would have Immediately increased The
demand would have produced supply. The
oi spoil would have invited many
man to pursue the game. The ocean would
nave swarmed with British cruizers and
Piccaroons; & priEateers would have sneak
ed out or every unblockaded port Of Holland
and France. 1t is indeed well established
tact, that no sooner was the Milan Decree
'ssned, than numbers Of vessels III Rotter-
dam ana other Dutch ports were Immediate
| iy hitting out as privateers.a
| What would have been the condition of
our. merchants? How could they expect
that earsoes destined TO Europe, would be a :
Die to escape the B. cruiZers, which traversed
the ocean from one continent TO another p
IT they were bound 70 Holland-they would
be assaIled by the squadrons in the English
channel--f to Portugal, by the blockading
shlPs-if to the Spanish ports of the Medi-
terranean, that immediate. theatre Of the
maritime war, they were sure to be attack
| esi BY the cruizers of Gibraltar, or the En-
glish squadrons, which command that sea-
| threc -tourths of all their cargoes were
tlkely to tall into the hands of the English
'.''S S"Ciy Merchant would nave To purchase.
the safe. transportation of one vessel by the
loss OF three, The profits made on her car
SO, would surely be insufficient to pay for
! these losses. Her cargo would be forced
into competition with the cargocs of other
vessels, captured from his countrymen by the
same prlvateers. and carried into the same
markets. No branch of commerce would be
| abe TO flourish under such immense disa1vap-
taGeS.-Soon the great law of self-preservati-
on would impose nearly the same shackles on
tins Branch OF commerce, as the wisdom of
our country has devised. The only great
eXpedient for avoiding these calamitics.
would have been voluntary embargo
| 3, france has no commits. oned vessels to cor-
Uoy our trade 20 the continent. The prudent
and established par. of the mercantile class
would have retired from such enterprises !:
and II any branch Of this commerce shouLi
still have remained open, il would have been
feebly and unproftably conducted by a few
desperate and daring adventurers, without
stability and without permanent re ,S,.rces.
| According 70 the latest intelligence. the
whole number of American vessels CARR.
! ed into France and Holland--under the De-
cree OF Milan, as far as it can be enunera-
ted, amounts to about htrfy-fue sail. yaiu-
| ed at nearly 1000, 900 81
| Estimating the number OF SfaUish can
lures at one half of these, and the value of
each vessel at the same ratio, it will Weld
about so vessels at $500, 600 S.ZThe tine
| during which the captures were made, can
not be computed at more than three months.
The result will be . loss os ,oCc, ooe g
per month, for Spanish, French and Dutch
captures
| What an enormous deduction from the BRO
\ p. nf ha u 80.