Norwich bulletin., 1909-07-03

After the Revolution the revival of industries and the increase of com mercial relations with other portions of this country and with foreign coun- tries, leading 10 a greater volume of imports and exports. together win the difficulty of the two miles Of land transportation following the ocean transportation. suggest the two main reasons for the growth Of the village Of Chelsea at the expense of the village of Old Norwich.
 The commerce Of Norwich had suf- fered less during the war than had that of more exposed ports, and hcr mercnants and shipmasters were bet ter prepared to take advantage Of the general impulse which was given Co maritime pursuits by the proclamS- ton of peace. The West India trade was a tempting path of adventure. back and forth sailed the little vessels. carrying sheep and horses. oven and COWS. provisions and lumber. from Connecticut and bringing back molss- ses. salt and West India rum from Turks island. Surlnam. St. Kits. Martinique or Demerara.
 Many of the merchants imported their own goods in their own shirs. In 179t one merchant. Joseph Wil- Hams. owned six trading vessels. kept In the West India trade.
 During the fourteen years prior to the Revolutionary war. goods were bought here by one merchant. direct from England. to the amount of .wen- ty thousand five hundred and sixty seven pounds sterling. As there were. during a part Of this time four other traders uf not mOre). who imported their own goods. this may De con- sidered as an extensive business for so recent a place as ours. and with SO small a population. The largest amount received ir one year. accord ing to the Invoice book of this mer- chant, was in 11Gl-the importation in five Invoices being three thousand ono hundred and fifty pounds: and the smallest. durirg iT6S. in only two in- ~oices. comprising six hundred and forty-six pounds. During the years 1766-69 nothing was received. Most of those goods were brought out in Eng fish ships 'o Boston ard New York except in a single instance Crebruary. 1761. one invoice was brought to Rhode Island Newport. probsblyl. After that time the importers were owners of the ships as well as the car .o--cs they paid the irsarsnce on the rssseis-and r VIC find them commanded hy men bearing. in this community. he fa-hiIiar narnes of Allen. BilllrRs. Chester. and Parker. The goods were consigred direct, and landed at New ..opion The largest part came from London. though in 176S. and after wards. a Full moiety was shipped from Bristol. At that time. Liverpool now SO famous for it's share in the Ameri- can trade. was not thought of-that city having then only 1S.500 inhabit- ants and was wholly, engrOssed by the slave traffic.
 The insurance from London to Bos- ton. or New York. varied. according to the risk of being taken by the en- emy (France). ranging from five to fifteen guiueas per cent-usually with an engagement to return a part of the premium if the vessel took convoy. Tn 1759 and i761 the ship had gunpowder on board. and the insurance was Ave guineas per cent in one case and eight in the other-.'to return two for Channel convoy. three for a North American convoy, or four for convoy for Boston or Piscatua and arrtvcns