Page images
PDF
EPUB

was not very good withal,) we proceeded to Portsmouth with the vessel, for the purpose of completing our crew.

Here, by dint of persuasions and potations, by words and whiskey, we made out to pick up our remaining complement of men, and to complete pretty much such a picked crew as I have described in the beginning of this chapter. Our complete complement, it may readily be judged, was not a very complete compliment to the character of American privateers.

We had to scour the neighboring towns to procure some of our men, and one of our lieutenants and myself were despatched into the county of York, in the then District of Maine. Here we procured three Down-Easters, who received our bounty-money, and mounted our blue ribbon in their apologies for hats, but who contrived to elude our vigilance, and made off with the badges, and we never saw the varlets again. The winter of our worthy sub's discontent was not made glorious summer by these sons of York; he was extremely vexed at the circumstance; but for myself, I liked the ride and the frolic, and was in no great hurry to exchange this frolic on the land for our frolic on the water.

During our stay at Portsmouth, the great fire occurred, by which a large portion of that flourishing town was consumed, and a blow inflicted upon its prosperity, from which, I believe, it has not yet recovered. Our schooner was moored in the river, near the town, but the officer in command found it necessary to remove her down to near the navy-yard, on account of the danger from the sparks and burning fragments which were flying in every direction. Several of our officers were on shore at the time, and I happened to be among them, and we all endeavored to render all the assistance in our power to the suffering inhabitants. Our captain was particularly active and efficient, as were also the United States officers and sailors who were there.

There was there a privateer schooner, the Brutus, of Baltimore, on board of which a great many children and females, who had been deprived of their homes by the flames, were conveyed; and it was found necessary, in the course of the night, to remove her down the river; and many a heart was anxious for the fate of its loved ones, until it was discovered, the next morning, that they were safe on board the Brutus.

Having got together our crew, and made all proper arrangements, we set sail from Portsmouth on Christmasday, A. D. 1813. The experience of the last cruise had proved to us that our vessel had improved in buoyancy, but not in speed. She was not a very crack sailer, however much we might crack on her. Her best play was before the wind, which is not usually the case with clipper-built schooners.

The day was near its close when we got under weigh, and dark clouds hung over the far-off blue hills; but we had a favorable breeze, and, despite the inexperience and drunkenness of many of our men, we got out to sea without any accident.

We had just cleared the point at Great Island, when we perceived a small, dark object in the water, lying directly in our track, and apparently awaiting our approach. On coming up with it, it proved to be a small boat of the kind which is commonly called a dory. It contained a man who had come off alone from the eastern side of the river, and who was a deserter from the United States brig Rattlesnake, which was then in the harbor of Portsmouth. He wished to enlist with us; and, as he was a prime seaman, we were by no means very scrupulous as to the rights of "Uncle Sam" in the case. He joined with us, and proved to be one of our most efficient men, but, withal, such a reckless, unprincipled rascal, that if he came to a peaceful end, the gallows and the hangman have been defrauded of their due.

(To be Continued.)

MANUFACTURE OF WOOL, SILK, COTTON AND FLAX, ANCIENT AND MODERN.*

SINCE man was, by the Divine Justice, condemned to provide for his own wants by his own labor, the chief occupation of all the branches of the race has been to clothe and feed themselves. With the advancement of science and the developement of inventive genius, the taste for both food and raiment has become more refined, and the wants of civilized people more diversified. It may be said, that the food of the bulk of the people in all countries remains now nearly what it ever has been; but the supply has become greater in proportion to the inhabitants of different countries, according to the fertility of the soil, the industry of the people, and in the improvements in the instruments of labor. Governments have, in modern times, attempted, by means of parchment laws, to extract from a barren soil, an unintelligent people, with rude and primitive instruments, food, on terms as advantageous as an industrious people, with the aid of eminent science, can extract from a fertile soil. Under pretence of effecting this object, they have compelled consumers to forego all the benefits of a more favored region which commerce would confer on them. The effect has been greatly to retard the progress of the people of all countries. In fact, it has been the avowed policy of many modern princes to preserve the statu quo, as that in which the people enjoy the greatest happiness. When we look upon the progress of the human race, from the rude ages to the present comparative high state of civilization, we become struck with the presumption that fixes upon any stage of advancement, as that beyond which it is not desirable to go; and to retard its progress, restrictions upon individual business, and prohibitions of intercourse, are rigidly administered.

The clothing of the human race, from all ages down to the present moment, has chiefly consisted of four materials-two of animal and two of vegetable production. Of the first, silk has ever been an article of luxury, but has

entered, to a greater or less extent, in different ages and under different circumstances, into the consumption of the people. The other animal production, wool, has formed by far the greatest basis of human clothing, in all countries and ages. Of the vegetable productions, linen was anciently the most known in Europe; but cotton has, from time immemorial, formed the clothing of the people of India. The use and manufacture of those materials slowly found their way westward, impeded and retarded by oppressions and restrictions of all descriptions. The rapacity of rulers sought to introduce the manufacture of the different articles into their several domains, and then, by the grant of monopolies and barbarous restrictions, smothered them at home, while they sought to prevent the art from leaving them for other countries. Although silk, from the earliest ages, composed the clothing of the inhabitants of Asia, and was known and used as an article of luxury long before the Christian era, yet it was not until the sixth century, under the reign of Justinian, that it was introduced into Europe as a manufacture. A few eggs, concealed in a vegetable stalk, were brought to Constantinople about the year 530, by two monks. The manufacture springing from this soon became "protected" by royal favor. Justinian and his vile consort amassed great wealth by the monopoly. At the end of that century silk was known in England, and Charlemagne wore a linen shirt, a tunic of wool, with a silk border. The manufacture of the article remained confined to Greece some six hundred years, and in the twelfth century was transferred, by force, to Palermo. In the fourteenth century it spread successively through the different countries of the south of Europe to Britain. Cotton was always the chief staple of India; and, down to this day, many of the most exquisite fabries of India cotton have in vain sought to be rivalled by the scientific machinery of Europe. The manufacture of wool

THE HISTORY OF SILK, COTTON, LINEN, WooL, and other Fibrous Substances, including observa tions on Spinning, Dyeing, and Weaving. Also an Account of the Pastoral Life of the Ancients, their Social State, and attainments in the Domestic Arts, etc. New-York: Harper & Brothers.

and linen was introduced into England gradually, by the Romans; and in most countries of Europe it has been spreading, to a greater or less extent, for two thousand years, exposed to legislative oppressions of all kinds, for the protection of some more favored branch of industry.

Although the progress of manufactures in all the countries of Europe, was at all times exposed to the abuses growing out of the mal-administration of the governments, it was not until the 17th century, that the several nations commenced to make war, each on the prosperity of the other; and recognized the mutual injuries thus inflicted, as a principle, under the name of "protection" to home industry. The great object of the labor of the human race, is to procure a sufficiency of food and raiment for all; and for each to obtain as much for as little labor as possible. Every sovereign of Europe saw the importance of having his own people possessed of these necessities to as great an extent as practicable; and it was for this purpose, that, in 1148, the King of Sicily, having overrun the cities of Greece, compelled the silk weavers to go and live in Palermo, and there exercise their art; and they continued to flourish there, because the prosperity of the people of Sicily enabled them to buy the rich goods produced, at a remunerative price. Gradually, in all countries, the first manufacturers became wealthy and influential, and obtained incorporate and special privileges. These were gradually consolidated into the protective system, by which all the manufacturers of one nation were sought to be protected in a monopoly of the home market; that is to say, the principle avowed was, as expressed by Daniel de Foe, the author of Robinson Crusoe, in his Weekly Review, 1708:

"That it is a national evil to have clothing cheap from abroad, rather than to manufacture it dear at home."

The original design of labor thus came to be perverted. Instead of working to provide the greatest quantity of clothes on the best terms, to the whole people, the whole design of government was sought to be to compel the mass of people to buy only of certain per

sons, at such rates as they chose to demand. The makers of these cloths therefore obtained great wealth, while the consumption of the goods was materially retarded. A free competition in the supply from all quarters, would naturally afford the greatest quantity to a people, on the cheapest terms, because every country has some advantage peculiar to itself, which enables it to supply a greater quantity of a given article, for a certain amount of labor, than any other country. Where a mutual interchange of articles, thus peculiarly situated, freely takes place, not only the greatest subdivision of labor, but the best application of the advantages of all climes and localities, to the welfare of the whole human race, is brought about; and therefore, the greatest sum of happiness is obtained. Such a state of affairs eminently exists in the U. States, where perfect freedom of internal intercourse allows of the free application of the capital and skill of the whole country to the development of all its resources, wherever situated. Were such a freedom of intercourse, in the present improved means of communication, to exist between any two nations, their commercial and pecuniary interests would soon become so interwoven, that hostilities between them, from any cause, would be utterly impossible; as a consequence, princes and dynasties would soon cease to exist, because war, with all its paraphernalia, would no longer be at their command to sustain their absurd pretensions. In former ages of the world, when the means of intercourse was slow, and the transportation of goods from one country to another, was almost impossible, separate nations had nothing in common with eacn other, and a war was a matter of no importance, unless to those comparatively few, who were actually exposed to the ravages of a hostile host. Even the cotton manufacture of India, which is mentioned by the first Greek historian, five centuries before Christ, as having existed for an indefinite period, was known only as a curiosity to the Egyptians, at the time of the Christian era, five centuries after rumors of the "wool-bearing trees" of India had spread among the Greeks; and it was not until the 12th century, that the manufacture was introduced into Italy.

We have stated that the silk culture was introduced into Constantinople in the year 530; but it was not until 1622, during the reign of Elizabeth, that some foreigners first made silk in London. It took 1100 years to carry the trade from the Levant to the North Sea.

The manufacture in England did not prosper to any great extent, however, until in 1685, from 30,000 to 50,000 Protestant silk weavers were driven thither, to seek refuge against the persecutions of the Catholics, when Louis IV. revoked the edict of Nantz. Some 15,000 of these immigrants settling in and near London, located, what is known as Spitalfields, and became the chief seat of the silk manufacture in England. This large accession of silk weavers did not injure those previously established, but producing a great decline in the money value of the articles made, enhanced the consumption to a degree that improved the business of all. It subsequently led, however, to jealousies between Great Britain and France. Although England had received great benefit from those French who had arrived in London, to make silks for the English, yet she sought to prohibit those who remained in France from adding anything to that supply. These mutual jealousies between nations were engendered, or grew up of themselves spontaneously, when no great degree of mutual intercourse had previously existed; when, as yet, no large class of persons, in any one country, had become accustomed to depend upon another large class in another country for articles of necessity. The manufacturers were the first to feel the effects of foreign competition, and to complain of its injurious effects, before the people at large had learned to appreciate its benefits. As therefore, by royal favor, and governmental protection, the manufacturers were already an influential class, and the ruling powers naturally leaned upon them for support in times of emergency, it became easy for that class to obtain, what they called protection, at the expense of the people; more especially as that it is always, in all countries, the active class, or those who have some special object in view, that obtain that which they seek at the expeuse of the many who have no organ

ized opposition to that systematic attack. England, under Charles and Cromwell, began those demonstrations of commercial hostility against other nations, which took the form of navigation laws, prohibitions and restrictions on imports of all sorts, with bounties on exports. In 1687, these material injuries were established as a principle, by France. These examples were followed by all other nations of EuropeAustria towards the close of the seventeenth century. In Germany, from the earliest times, the revenues of petty princes, and lordly tyrants, were drawn from onerous taxes on commerce, rather, however, as a mode of oppression, than with a view to "protect" manufactures. In all the despotic countries, the general principle of raising a revenue, has been to levy the highest duties on those articles most absolutely necessary to common use, and to the support of every individual; and some of them, as France, Spain, Naples, and Austria, have monopolized certain trades, as tobacco and salt, with a view to the profit. England has not done that, but has taxed every thing of necessary in use, excepting water.

The general principle which has been acknowledged by all the powers in relation to protection, has been to prohibit those articles which they suppose most to compete with certain interests at home, which it is intended to favor, but to allow of the free export of the products of national industry; that is to say, to allow the citizens to sell, but not to receive any valuable thing in return. The policy of Turkey has been the reverse of this, but equally plausible. The idea which originally presented itself to the Sublime Porte was, that all the wealth of a nation must arise from the industry of its inhabitants. Hence, if all the proceeds of their industry was, by law, confined in the country, it must necessarily grow rich; exports of Turkish produce were, therefore, strictly prohibited: on the same principle all the produce of other nations brought into the country would in so far add to the wealth of the country. Imports have, therefore, from the time of Solyman the Magnificent, to the present day, been admitted at a duty of three per cent. ad valorem. It, however, escaped the sagacity of the

Moslem, that other nations would not give away their goods, and to receive them argued, that something must be paid for them; and as the export of produce was prohibited, specie speedily vanished from circulation. Hence the law of prohibition gradually fell into disuse. The wisdom of the christian governments erred as far on the other side. They permitted all produce to pass freely out, forgetting, that if their subjects sold, they must receive something in return, and to prohibit returns was to impoverish the country. These mutual restrictions have tended in an eminent degree to check the consumption of manufactured goods, because they artificially enhanced their price; that is to say, they added a new ingredient to the cost of certain articles, beyond the natural ones of the expenditure of capital in its production, and the profits of manufacturers and sellers. In spite of all these restrictions, however, the production and consumption during the present century, have been immensely greater than at any previous period of the world's history. The increase in the production has been owing almost entirely to wonderful discoveries, and the advancement of science, in each branch of manufacture.

Great Britain, in consequence of her commanding geographical position—si

tuated as she is, centrally, surrounded by good harbors, in respect to all the large commercial cities of Europe-her vast mineral resources of coal and iron interstratified and conveniently disposed for cheap use and transit, and possessing an energetic, industrious, and enterprizing people, naturally took the lead in manufacturing, and, isolated from the continent by seas, commanded by her own ships, she has hitherto escaped those devastating invasions that have successively ravaged all the nations of Europe. Her industry has, therefore, been undisturbed, and her productive power has progressed the more rapidly, that the paralyzed industry of the continent has left the field entirely open to her enterprize. Under these circumstances she has been enabled, aided by great discoveries, and inventions in the arts, to maintain the supremacy which has been threatened, but not seriously affected, during the last quarter of a century of profound peace. În tracing the leading events in her manufactures, we shall indicate the general progress. As an indication of the rapidity with which her manufactories have progressed, we annex an official decennial table of the quantities of the raw materials imported into the United Kingdom, and taken for consumption by her manufacturers—

QUANTITY OF RAW MATERIALS FOR MANUFACTURES, TAKEN INTO CONSUMPTION IN GREAT BRITAIN IN EACH YEAR OF EIGHT SUCCESSIVE PERIODS.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
« PreviousContinue »