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of both: the northern, will take both the manufactures and raw materials.
East India goods of every kind. Philadelphia and New York have begun a trade to the East Indies. Perhaps Boston may fol low .their example. But their importations will be sold only to the country adjacent to them. For a long time to come, the States south of the Delaware, will not engage in a direct commerce with the East Indies. They neither have, nor will have ships or sea men for their other commerce : nor will they buy East India goods of the northern States. Experience- shews that the States never bought foreign goods of one another. The reasons are, that they would, in so doing, pay double freight and charges ; and again, that they would have to pay mostly in cash, what they could obtain for commodities, in Europe. I know that the American merchants have looked, with some anxiety, to the arrangements to be taken with Portugal, in expectation that they could, through her, get their East India articles on better and more convenient terms; and I am of opinion, Portugal will come in for a good share of this traffic with the southern States, if they facilitate our payments.
Coffee. Can they not furnish us with this article from Brazil ?
Sugar. The Brazil sugars are esteemed, with us, more than any other.
Chocolate. This article, when ready made, as also the cocoa becomes so soon rancid, and the difficulties of getting it fresh, have been so great in America, that its use has spread but little. The way to increase its consumption, would be, to permit it to be brought to us immediately from the country of its growth. By getting it good in quality, and cheap in price, the superiority of the article, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America, which it has in Spain, where they can get it by a single voyage, and, of course, while it is sweet. The use of the sugars, coffee, and cotton of Brazil, would also be much extended by a similar indulgence.
Ginger and spices from the Brazils, if they had the advantage of a direct transportation, might take place of the same articles from the East Indies.
Ginseng. We can furnish them with enough to supply their whole demand for the East Indies.
They should be prepared to expect, that in the beginning of this commerce, more money will be taken by us, than after a while. The reasons are, that our heavy debt to Great Britain must be paid, before we shall be masters of our own returns ; and again, that habits of using particular things, are produced only by time and practice.
