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It is proved, that having no manufactories, they are forced to recur to European manufactures; that they cannot establish any of their own for a long time to come, because they have but few hands, and that agriculture ought to employ all their care.

It is proved that, according to phyfical, political and moral relations, they ought to perfevere in employing themselves exclufively in agriculture, and to renounce even the tranfportation of their own productions into Europe.

It is proved, that this is the only means of preferving their republican manners, and of retarding the progrefs of luxury.

Finally is is proved, that in giving themfelves up to culture,

and in neglecting manufactures, they will lefs perceive the fcarcity of money; that they will find the means of fupplying its place, and of carrying on a very advantageous exterior commerce of exchange.

These different points being established, it is proposed to shew, that of all the nations of Europe, France is that with which it beft fuits the United States to league themselves by commerce, both having wants and productions which correspond with each other. This truth is made appear in prefenting the double catalogue of reciprocal importations and exportations to be made between France and the United States.

CHAPTER V.

page 65

Of the Importations to be made from France into the United States, or of the Wants of the United States and the Produc tions of France which correspond thereto.

SECTION I.

Wines.

Three questions are therein difcuffed.

page

66

ift. Is it proper for free America to cultivate the vine and to

make wine?

The

The negative is maintained; and it is proved that the vine is an incommodious and a little lucrative property; that wine at two low a price would be a dangerous production in republics, whofe manners form their bafis, &c. That it is better to get wine from abroad.

2d. Ought not free America, in renouncing this culture, to give the preference to French wines?

That this question can fuffer no difficulty; that French wines are, without difpute, the most wholesome and agreeable.

3d. What means ought to be taken to insure them a prefer

ence?

In meliorating the cultivation of the vine; in improving the manner of making wine; in inftituting establishments which would render the profits lefs precarious. Different means propofed for this purpofe.

SECTION II.

Brandy.

page 79

Of the moral and political inconvenience of the low price of brandies.

Of the fuperiority of the brandies of France over those of other countries, and even over rum.

Of the facility of infuring to the first the preference in the United States, to all other nations.

Examination of the queftion; if it be important to the French Government to favour the diftillation of brandies.

Reafons for why this diftillation ought to be profcribed. It confumes a deal of combustible, and combustible becomes very rare.

The exportation of brandy adds nothing to the revenue, and that of wine brings in a great deal.

The exportation of brandy diminishes the confumption of French wines abroad; this brandy forms the principal ingredient in made wines prepared there.

The diftillation of brandy is for the vineyard proprietor but a laft refource which ruins him.

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SECTION III. Oils, Olives, dried Fruits, &c.

page 87

Articles of a fure and advantageous fale from France to the

United States.

SECTION IV.

Cloths.

page 88

People governed by a free conftitution ought to prefer cloth to any other kind of manufacture.

Its different qualities accord better with the different climates of the United States.

The manufacture of cloths being complicated, is not proper for the free Americans in their present state.

Those they manufacture ought to be confined to coarse ftuffs.

For fine cloths they ought to have recourfe to Europe. That France may please herself in the rank of those nations which pretend to furnish these cloths to free America. The first effays of this kind made by France, badly received, ought not to discourage her manufacturers.

Caufes of the difcredit of thefe cloths. That this difcredit

cannot continue, because the French manufacture fine cloths, and understand dying, better than any other people.

Examination of the causes which make the competition of French with English cloths difadvantageous to the former.

This advantage does not come from the inferiority of French cloths, but from the want of French wools, and from their high price, whilft wools are cheap and plenty in England.

Caufes of this difference of price.

That the dearness of French wools, holding to the scarcity of

fheep, may be removed, by taking means to encrease the breed of sheep.

Caufes which are in oppofition to this encrease.

Means of encouraging it.

Until this end be obtained, the admiffion of American wools ought to be encouraged.

SECTION V.

Linens.

page 104

Two fpecies of linen drapery are diftinguished. The first comprehending linen properly fo called, with which sheets, &c. are made.

The manufacture of thefe linens being fimple, and fufceptible of being affociated with the labours of the field, the free Americans are right in undertaking this manufacture. There are but certain linens, very fine, for which they will have recourfe to Europe.

The fecond fpecies of linen drapery contains tiffues, compofed of thread of different colours; fuch as painted linens, handkerchiefs, &c.

The manufacture of the greatest part of this linen drapery, being complicated, belongs to Europe.

The English having invented machines which fimplify this manufacture; and manufacturing better and cheaper, may obtain the preference.

If France were left to her natural means, and not restrained by any obftacle, fhe might enter into a competition with England.

Examination of the arret publifhed in 1785, to favour this.

manufacture of linens, and to entice foreign manufacturers into France.-Motives, which ought to prevent them from fettling there.

SECTION VI. Silks, Ribbons, Silk Stockings, Gold and Silverpage 117

Laces, &c.

For the fupplying of which articles, France will have the preference in the United States.

Her looms and frames are numerous; her filks fine, and lefs dear than elsewhere.

The manufacture of filks is not proper for the United States. Motives which ought to prevent them from ever undertaking it.

a 3

Motives which ought to prevent their confuming any filk.If they import any, it ought to be for no other purpose than that of furnishing Spanish America.

SECTION VII.

Hats.

page 122

The manufacture of hats belongs to Europe, and France must have the preference for this article.

SECTION VIII. Leather, Shoes, Boots, Saddles, &c. page 123 The Englif have a great fuperiority in all thefe, over the French.

The principal caufes of this fuperiority.-The true fpirit of commerce reigning in England; the trader honouring himfelf by his profeffion, confecrates a great capital to it, and lets his capital remain in trade. The contrary is the cafe in France; commerce being degraded, but small capitals are employed, and are quickly withdrawn: leather is overcharged with duties, the tanner has little or no profit.-Duties and impediments to be removed, if it be wifhed to encourage tanneries in France.

Glafs-Houfes.

SECTION IX. page 128 The French Government ought to lose no time in fuppreffing glafs-houfes. Bottles only, might conftitute an article of exportation: but the glafs-houses are too pernicious, laying the forefts in wafte, which are already too much impaired. It is preferable to encourage the free Americans to build glafs-houfes they will have in it a double advantage.

SECTION X.

Iron and Steel.

page 131

It is neceflary, and for the fame reason, to fupprefs the French forges. The Americans must one day furnish Europe with iron. In the mean time, France cannot enter into a competition with the North in this article.

Her intereft ought to incline her to get iron from abroad.

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