Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE - The Works, vol. 5 (Correspondence 1786-1789)

Return to Title Page for The Works, vol. 5 (Correspondence 1786-1789)

Search this Title:

Also in the Library:

Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE - Thomas Jefferson, The Works, vol. 5 (Correspondence 1786-1789) [1905]

Edition used:

The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Federal Edition (New York and London, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904-5). Vol. 5.

Part of: The Works of Thomas Jefferson, 12 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE

j. mss.

Paris July 17, 1786.

Dear Sir,

—I have now the honour of inclosing to you an estimate of the Exports & Imports of the United States. Calculations of this kind cannot pretend to accuracy, where inattention and fraud combine to suppress their objects. Approximation is all that they can aim at. Neither care nor candour have been wanting on my part to bring them as near the truth as my skill and materials would enable me to do. I have availed myself of the best documents from the custom houses which have been given to the public: and have been able to rectify these in many instances by information collected by myself on the spot in many of the states. Still remember however that I call them but approximations and that they must present some errors as considerable as they were unavoidable.

Our commerce divides itself into European & West Indian. I have conformed my statement to this division.

On running over the Catalogue of American imports, France will naturally mark out those articles with which she could supply us to advantage: & she may safely calculate that after a little time shall have enabled us to get rid of our present incumbrances, and of some remains of attachment to the particular forms of manufacture to which we have been habituated we shall take those articles which she can furnish on as good terms as other nations, to whatever extent she will enable us to pay for them. It is her interest therefore, as well as ours, to multiply the means of paiment. These must be found in the catalogue of our Exports, & among these will be seen neither gold nor silver. We have no mines of either of these metals. Produce therefore is all we can offer. Some articles of our produce will be found very convenient to this country for her own consumption. Others will be convenient, as being more commerciable in her hands than those she will give in exchange for them. If there be any which she can neither consume, nor dispose of by exchange, she will not buy them of us, and of course we shall not bring them to her. If American produce can be brought into the ports of France, the articles of exchange for it will be taken in those ports: & the only means of drawing it hither is to let the merchant see that he can dispose of it on better terms here than anywhere else. If the market price of this country does not in itself offer this superiority, it may be worthy of consideration whether it should be obtained by such abatements of duties, and even by such other encouragements as the importance of the article may justify. Should some loss attend this in the beginning, it can be discontinued when the trade shall be well established in this channel.

With respect to the West India commerce, I must apprise you that this estimate does not present it’s present face. No materials have enabled us to say how it stands since the war. We can only shew what it was before that period. New regulations have changed our situation there much for the worse. This is most sensibly felt in the Exports of fish, and flour. The surplus of the former, which these regulations throw back on us, is forced to Europe, where, by increasing the quantity, it lessens the price: the surplus of the latter is sunk: and to what other objects this portion of industry is turned, or turning, I am not able to discover. The Imports too of Sugar & Coffee are thrown under great difficulties. These increase the price: and being articles of food for the poorer class (as you may be sensible on observing the quantities consumed) a small increase of price places them above the reach of this class, which being very numerous, must occasion a great diminution of consumption. It remains to see whether the American will endeavour to baffle these new restrictions in order to indulge his habits; or will adapt his habits to other objects which may furnish emploiment to the surplus of industry formerly occupied in raising that bread which no longer finds a vent in the West Indian market. If, instead of either of these measures, he should resolve to come to Europe for coffee & sugar, he must lessen equivalently his consumption of some other European articles in order to pay for his coffee & sugar, the bread with which he formerly paid for them in the West Indies not being demanded in the European market. In fact the catalogue of Imports offers several articles more dispensable than coffee & sugar. Of all these subjects, the committee and yourself are the more competent judges. To you therefore I trust them with every wish for their improvement, & with sentiments of that perfect esteem & respect with which I have the honour to be, Dear Sir, your most obedient, & most humble servt.1

[1 ]

ESTIMATE OF THE EXPORTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
to europe.Louis.to west indies.Louis.total.Louis.
Fish      107,000        50,000      157,000
Fish Oil      181,688          9,562      191,250
Fish Bones          8,400          8,400
Salted Meats          131,500      131,500
Live Stock        99,000        99,000
Butter, Cheese        18,000        18,000
Flour, Bread, 660,000 barrels      330,000      330,000      660,000
Wheat, 2,210,000 bushels      331,000      331,000
Indian Corn Pulse        30,000        61,000        91,000
Rice, 130,000 barrels      189,350        70,650      260,000
Indigo        51,700        51,700
Tobacco, 87,000 hogsheads   1,306,000       1,306,000
Potash, 20,000 barrels        49,000        49,000
Peltry      184,900      184,900
Flax Seed        79,500        79,500
Hemp        21,000        21,000
Iron, Copper        84,000          6,000        90,000
Turpentine, &c., 60,000 barrels        29,410          1,840        31,250
Timber, Lumber        82,000      164,000      246,000
Hops, 300      216,500      216,500
Miscellanies        22,000        22,000
——————————————————
   3,303,448      941,552   4,245,000
ESTIMATE OF THE IMPORTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
From Europe and Africa.Woollen cloths of every description,
Linens of every description,
Hosiery, Hats,
Gloves, Shoes, Boots, Sadlery & other things of leather,
Silks, Gold and Silver Lace, Jewellery, Millinery, Toys,
East India goods,
Porcelaine, Glass, Earthenware,
Silver, Copper, Brass, Tin, Pewter, Lead, Steel, Iron in every form,      Louis.    l.    s.
Upholstery Cabinet Work, Painters’ Colours,  3,039,000    0    0
Cheese, Pickles, Confitures, Chocolate,
Wine, 2,000 tons, at 100 louis, 200,000 louis Brandy, Beer,
Medicinal Drugs Snuff, Bees’ Wax,
Books, Stationery, Mill Stones, Grind Stones, Marble,
Sail Cloth, Cordage, Ship Chandlery, Fishingtackle, Ivory, Ebony, Barwood, Dyewood,
Slaves, Salt, 521,225 bushels, at 24 sous, 26,061 louis 6 livres,
From the West Indies.   Louis.  l. s.     927,438    8    8
Salt, 500,484 bushels, at 24 sous  25,020  416
Fruits    2,23912
Cocoa, 576,589 lbs., at 12 sous  25,79812
Coffee, 408,494 lbs., at 16 sous  15,24914  8
Sugar, 10,232,432 lbs.168,007
Molasses, 3,645,464 gallons, at 24 sous186,28119  4
Rum, 3,888,370 gallons, at 2 livres 14 sous437,44115
Ginger, Pimento    1,395  1  4
Cotton, 356,591 lbs., at 24 sous  17,82913  4
Skins    7,870  6
Indigo, 4,352 lbs., at 5 livres 8 sous       979  616
Ivory, Turtle Shell       247  416
Lignum vitæ, Sarsaparilla, Fustic, Annotta    5,170
Logwood  13,62421
Mahogany  23,280
——————————
  3,966,438    8    8