Reflections on the affairs of the United States, occasioned by the present war in Europe. (Recommended to the particular attention of the Owners of Coal and Water falls in the Western country.)*

"It is highly prudent in every nation, seriously to consider the effects which great events in other countries may have produced on their affairs, and to anticipate, in time, the consequences in regard to their interests, to which such events may possibly give

*Tench Coxe, Esq.

NEW YORK, January 7, 1792.

Dear sir,-I lately received, and read with pleasure and profit, the enlarged copy of the examination of Lord Sheffield's publications: and yesterday I was favoured with your letter, enclosing Secretary Hamilton's interesting and able report on the subject of manufactures, for both of which accept my thanks.

No better way can, in my opinion, be devised, for negotiating treaties of commerce, than that of augmenting the national respectability, and exhibiting successive and unequivocal proofs of the resources and union of the states, and of the stability and wisdom and energy of the national govern

ment.

With sentiments of esteem and regard, I have the honour to be, dear sir, your most obedient humble servant,

Tench Coxe, Esq., Philadelphia.

JOHN JAY.

LONDON, December 18, 1794.

Dear sir,-Accept my thanks for your obliging letter of the 8th of last month, and for the book which accompanied it. As yet, I have not had time and leisure to give it that regular and attentive perusal which it appears to merit. It certainly contains much useful information; and from your accuracy, I presume that the facts and statements in it are correct. It will naturally lead both our own people and foreigners to form a favourable and just estimate of the United States, and show, in a strong light, the policy of maintaining that respect for our government and laws, without which, our local and other advantages can neither be enjoyed nor improved.

The manner in which the insurrection has been dissipated, gives me pleasure; and there is reason to hope, that the arts and counsels which produced it, will not be able to operate such another. Our affairs, relative to this country, have a promising aspect: the best disposition towards us prevails here, and indications and proofs of it daily increase. I do really believe that this government mean to give conciliatory measures with the United States a full and fair trial. It never can be wise to cast ourselves into the arms and influence of any nation; but certainly it is wise and proper to cherish the good will of those who wish to be on terms of friendship and cordiality with us. It may seem strange, and yet I am convinced that, next to the king, our president is more popular, in this country, than any man in it.

With the best wishes, and with sentiments of esteem and regard, I am dear sir, your most obedient servant, JOHN JAY.

rise. The enhancement of the cost of our manufactured supplies, by the demand for the immense armaments, by land and sea, now making in Europe, and the impediments to the cheap transportation of our produce by the recent deduction of a large proportion of the vessels which lately carried them at peace freights, with the impossibility of building, in time, a sufficient number of ships to perform the service, and to supply the purchases, by foreign nations, render it a matter of most comfortable reflection that we have made such frequent and full examinations of our capacities in the business of manufactures, and that we have made so great progress in the establishment of many of the most useful and necessary branches. There seems nothing to warrant a belief, that we shall cease to pursue our course in peace. But it is manifest that, even in that desirable situation, the inducements to pursue manufactures are not a little increased by the advanced cost of our supplies, and the diminution of our carriers at peace freights, already mentioned. It will be wise, then, to devise more methods of increasing our manufactures, in order to cheapen and multiply supplies, and to extend the home market for our agricultural productions. It is, moreover, well worthy of remark, that in consequence of the war in Europe, many articles of great importance, in the building of houses, improving new plantations, and supplying the settled country, and the industrious poor, are said to be prohibited to be exported from Great Britain, because they can be applied to military purposes, or may be wanted for themselves. However reasonable or customary, in similar circumstances, this may be, our citizens must actually be subjected thereby to great additional expense, and the charges of improving and cultivating real estates of every description, must be considerably increased. Manufacturers of these prohibited kinds of goods, are therefore rendered indispensable, by the situation of that country which is the principal foreign source of our supplies.

"However improbable or impossible war may appear, in the judgment of many, or most of us, it can do no injury to remark, that the cost of our supplies would be so excessively increased, by that worst of all possible events, and the vessels to carry our produce at peace freights, would be so extremely diminished, if our own should be involved, that nothing but such great and vigorous efforts as that suggested for consideration, could save our cultivators from a very inconvenient expense, in procuring supplies, and the most distressing reduction of the market prices of many articles of their produce.

"It will be perceived that the plan is laid upon a scale which

is not likely, at this time, to be carried into execution in any one place. It is necessary, therefore, to remark, that it is not intended in any view, but to exemplify what might be done with a given capital. The owners, however, of certain great water situations might, safely and advantageously, lay out their circumjacent grounds in a town plot, with such views, and they might sell or let, on ground rents, such ordinary building lots, or such situations for water works, as purchasers or tenants might apply for, leaving the plan to mature by time and the natural attractions and advantages of the several scenes; or improvements might be commenced upon a scale of 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, or 20,000 dollars, as capital might be obtainable, and prudence might appear to justify. In all events, it is conceived, that a profitable attention to our situation may be promoted, and possibly some reflections, favourable to the United States, and to the proprietors of particular estates, and many vicinities, may be suggested, by the publication of the plan at the present very interesting crisis."--Federal Gazette.

* Tench Coxe, Esq., Lancaster.

WASHINGTON, February 11, 1801.

Dear sir,-Your favour, of January 25th, came to hand some days ago, and yesterday a gentleman put into my hand, at the door of the senate chamber, the volume of the American Museum for 1798. As no letter accompanied it, I took it for granted it was to bring under my eye some of its contents. I have gone over it with satisfaction. This is the morning of the election by the house of representatives. For some time past, a single individual had declared he would, by his vote, make up the ninth state. On Saturday last he changed, and it stands at present, eight one way, six the other, and two divided. Which of the two will be elected, and whether either, I deem perfectly problematical: and my mind has long been equally made up for either of the three events. If I can find out the person who brought me the volume from you, I shall return it by him, because I presume it makes one of a set. If not by him, I will find some other person who may carry it to Philadelphia if not to Lancaster. Very possibly it may go by a different conveyance from this letter. Very probably you will learn, before the receipt of either, the result, or the progress at least, of the election. We see already, at the threshold, that if it falls on me, I shall be embarrassed, by finding the offices vacant, which cannot be even temporarily filled, but with the advice of the senate; and that body is called on the 4th of March, when it is impossible for the new members of Kentucky, Georgia, and South Carolina, to receive notice in time to be here.

The summons for Kentucky, dated, as all were, January 31st, could not go hence till the 5th, and that for Georgia did not go till the 6th. If the difficulties of the election are got over, there are more and more behind. Until new elections shall have regenerated the constituted authorities, the defects of our constitution, under circumstances like the present, appear very great. Accept assurances of the esteem and respect, dear sir, of your most obedient servant, TH: JEFFERSON.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.-In the House of Representatives. Oct. 25, 1786. Ordered, that Mr. Clarke and Mr. Bowdoin with such as the honourable senate may join, be a committee to view any new invented machines that are making within this commonwealth for the purpose of manufacturing sheep's and cotton wool, and report what measures are proper for the legislature to take to encourage the same.

Sent up for concurrence,

ARTEMAS WARD, Speaker.

In Senate, Oct. 25, 1786.-Read and concurred, and Richard Cranch, Esq. is joined.

SAMUEL PHILLIPS, JUN. President.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, Nov. 1786.

The committee of both houses appointed to view any new invented machines that are making within this commonwealth for the purpose of manufacturing cotton and sheep's wool, have attended that service, and examined three very curious and useful machines, made by Robert and Alexander Barr, for the purpose of carding and spinning of cotton, and ask leave to report the following resolve, which is submitted.

RICHARD CRANCH, per order.

Resolved, that there be granted and paid out of the public treasury of this commonwealth, to the said Robert and Alexander Barr, the sum of two hundred pounds, to enable them to complete the said three machines and also a roping machine, and to construct such other machines (connected with those already exhibited) as are necessary for the purpose of carding, roping, and spinning of sheep's wool, as well as of cotton wool; they to be accountable for the expenditure of the same, and to lay their accounts of the whole expense of those several machines before the general court for allowance. And it is also

Resolved, that all those machines before-mentioned, when finished, shall be delivered by the said Robert and Alexander Barr to a committee of the general court to be hereafter appointed; to be disposed of as the legislature shall think meet, for the purpose of promoting, extending, and encouraging the manufacture of woollens and cottons within this commonwealth. And it is further

Resolved, that a gratuity, such as the general court may hereafter agree upon (when a full trial shall have been made of the utility and public advantage of those machines) shall be given to the said Robert and Alexander Barr, as a reward of their ingenuity, and as an inducement to other ingenious artists and manufacturers to bring their arts also into this commonwealth.

In Senate, Nov. 16, 1786.-Read and accepted. Sent down for concurSAMUEL PHILLIPS, JUN. President.

rence.

In the House of Representatives, Nov. 16. 1787-Read and concurred. ARTEMAS WARD, Speaker.

Approved-JAMES BOWDOIN.