The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-04-11


From the National LsteiliSenser.
SOLID NATIONAL PROSPERITY.
Notwithstanding all that has been said against
the embargo, it may be questioned, Whether
within any year since her independence, Ameri-
ca has made greater progress i'll solid wealth
than during the last To thUoe who view only the
surface of things, this remark may be considered
as visionary but it will only require dspass-
onate attention to facts of the greatest notoriety
and considerations Of indisputabe accuracy, to
induce us, at the least, to withhold arrogant
rejection of it.
In the eastern section of the Union there has
been an astonishing progress made in rnanufac-.
lures, IN the middle section internal improve
meats have advanced with unprecedented steps,
wnic III tine southern and western states, aitnoi
most severely pressed, much labor has been adj
vantageously employed in the improvement of
their farms. That this has been the case, the in
creased price of lands, and the undiminshed
price OF labor, are almost conclusive proofs
These are the great barometers of national pros
perIty; and while they keep up. it may be conf
oenty affirmed that the country is free from gene
raj distress. The cotton manufactures of Rhode.
| island have assumed . magnitude that promises
to rival those of Britain and similar associations
IN Massachusetts have become so numerous as to
require general act of her legislature regulating
the mode OF conducting their operations. In Com
nectcut the patriotism and perseverance of Col,
humphreys, both in the introduction and raising
oftke best sheep, and the manufacture OF the fl
nest cloths, have overcome almest every difficult
". In Newly DIRK, Chancellor Livingston sus.
tains vigorous competition: In New Jersey,
the raising OF sheep has commanded great and
successful attention, in which no one has been
more Instrumental than Mr. Miles Smith, AN en-
hghtened and wealthy emigrant from England,
whose virtues and principles every way qualify
nm for the citizen of republic. Passing on to
fenhsyvanIa, the favorte seat of arts, enterprise
and industry, Philadelphia and its neighboorhood
eelsPiay the characteristics of hourshing manu-
iacturlng settlement, and Pittsburg, at distance
| OF three hundred miles, with the powerful agen-
cy OF steam IN cotton mandatory has begun to
draw upon the inexhaustible riches of perhaps
the hcbiest coal mines on earth. When this re-
source shall be brought into full activity, what
may we not expect from place, in the midst OF
terllie country, at the head of a navigation that
leads to the ocean by a circuit Of two thousand
miles, and through country, part of which is
already well settled, and all of which will in a
snort period OF time, sustain crowded populate
on. In Philadelphia and its vicinity, property has
never risen with such rapidity; aud never has
fhiadelplIIa received SO much Improvement as
during the last year. If any one wishes to form
toieraoie idea ofthe manufactures in and about
TINS place, he has only occasion to pass through
Germantown, aourisling village, commencing
ABOUT hve miles from the city, and continuing al
most without interruption five miles further,
town almost exclusively supported by manufac-
lures.
ne state OF Delaware, on the fine waters of
the Srandywine, follows boldly in the footsteps
oil her more opulent sister. Progressing TO the
state OF Maryland, we find capital of a million
i2rhe.i, and animmense establishment rising in
the neIghborhooa of Baltimore, with every pro-
mise Oh success. Let us not pass our own city,
without noticing. with becoming modesty, an in
rant institution, the germ, perhaps offuture great
ness, with Il capth Of 100000 S subscribed for
bridge, nearly finished, exceeded in workman
snip or size by few in the United States. We
might proceed, and shew that even in the
southern and Western states, hitherto exclu-
siVeiy devoted to agriculture, the spirit of manu-
factures has given birth to many promising ex-
pertinent. But we have said enough II shew
ti'at our citizens, however they may value trade,
nave too much genius and energy, wien driven
oy necessity, not to find other fields of cccupa-
ton.
Our surprise will be diminished at the general
prosperity ct the country, notwithstanding the al
most total suspension Of commerce, when we
compare the Insignificant amount of that com
merce, IN its most flourishing state, with the a.
| mount of the total consumption Of the country.
q ne foreign goods consumed in this country have
never, perhaps exceeded forty millions of dol
lars IN value; while the total consumption Of the
country does not fall short of eight hundred mil.
lions How admirably fitted is this fact toh1m-
Die the vaunting arrogance ofthose who ascribe
every thing to external commerce 1t proves
that small ameoratioD or advance in the great
occupations of agriculture and manufactures
outweighs in utility the bodest strides of com.
merce and, perhaps, of itself sufficiently &C.
counts for the general prosperity
Lett, moreover, be regarded, that the in.
terhai improvements OF the last year are but as
the seed sown, and that by far the greater por.
ton OF the harvest is still to be reaped and,
consequently, the ensuing years are likely TO be
last - 80
E-rFrdet Of letter from Savannah, dated
March ~
The governor Of Florida has laid duty
on imports OF - per cent, & exports Of per
cent. which has caused some agents to leave
Ameiia Island; from which place the cap
.alnS OF vessels must go to st. Augussin to
eater and clear, a distance Of a hundred miles