THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION TO THE WELFARE OF FRANCE: GIVING ALSO An Account of their Productions, and the reciprocal Advantages which may be drawn from their Com- AND FINALLY, POINTING OUT THE ACTUAL SITUATION OF THE UN IT E D S T A T E S. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF ETIENNE CLAVIERE, AND J. Pierre BRISSOT DE WAR VILLE. L O N D ON: PRINTED AT THE Logographic Press, 1789. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Wherein it is stated, that whilst the English poffefs much in- formation, on the commercial connections, which may exist between Europe and the United States, France, whose interest it is to establish them on her part, discovers but little knowledge of this Commerce, or zeal to enter into it. Causes of this indifference. The want of the liberty of the press for political discussions, is one of the principal. The great inconveniences attached to the prohibition of books.--- The political advantages which would result from the liberty of the press; no moment more favourable than the present to ask for it, and to provoke the reform of abuses of kind.-Reflections on the sources whence facts have been drawn, on the general spirit of this work, on the order of the ideas, &c. CHAPTER, I. page 1. Of exterior Commerce ; the Circumstances which led to it, and of the means of alluring it to a nation. the lowest price. league with each other by commercial connections. The nature of things must furnish these circumstances; what is the nature of things ? CHAP. ( i ) CHAPTER II. page is Of exterior Commerce, considered in its Means of Exchange, and its Balance. Examination of what is understood by the balance of trade between two nations. fignificant expression that the balance of an account paid of the nation which pays it, nor of an advanta- dit; and that the only method of estimating the encrease of commerce, is by the encrease of population, III. That it is impossible to fix the quantity of money exist ing in a country; and that all the calculations on this head, reft upon an uncertain and defective basis, because it is impoflible to collect all their elements. IV. That metals are not real riches. V. That considered as agents of exchange, it would be more advantageous to substitute paper for them in interior commerce, and not to be afraid to employ metals in exterior commerce, to which this paper cannot be applied. It results from these demonstrations, that a trade may be opened between two nations, without the aid of money; that a nation will have so much the more of it to exchange for foreign productions, as it shall have a greater number of these confidential establishments, by which money is advantageously replaced. CHAPTER III. page 29 Application of the foregoing general Principles, to the reciprocal Commerce of France and the United States. That France has every Means of procuring a great Commerce, and 11:0je which must assure it to her in the United States ; that ܕ that her Productions are proper for tben, and that her partie merce. Examination of the productions of France, of her industry and of her geographical and natural position. the attention to the interior of France, than to open to her a great exterior commerce. time bring on an interior reform, and that France is, in kets. new people, and a civilized people, who have numerous manufactures. them., Reflections on the inferiority of French manufactures to Eng lish fabrics in certain articles—The causes pointed out. CHAPTER IV. page 41 i That the United States are obliged by their present Necesties and Circumstances to engage in Foreign Commerce. sidered it in an abstracted point of view only. things. obliged to employ themselves in exterior commerce. wants of necessity, of convenience, and even some of luxury; It 1 a |