In 1800, the number of vessels employed in the foreign commerce of France, that entered inwards, was seven thousand five hundred and eighty-one; their tonnage two hundred seventy-three thousand, four hundred and eighty six--Of this, ninety-eight thousand three hundred and four tons was French, and one hundred seventy-four thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, foreign. The number of vessels, that cleared outwards, the same year, was eight thousand six hundred and thirty-six, their tonnage three hundred twelve thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven; the French owned one hundred four thousand sixhundred and eighty-seven of this, and the residue was owned by foreigners.* In 1804, the number of trading vessels, belonging to the states and nations around the Baltic, including those of Norway and Holstein, was four thousand one hundred and thirty-four, and their tonnage about four hundred ninety-three thousand, four hundred and seventeen British. The shipping of the Baltic has not, probably, increas ed since that period. The American tonnage, therefore, is more than double that of all the maritime nations of the north of Europe. The share which foreign vessels have had, in the trade of the United States, may be seen in Table No. III. containing a comparative statement of the tonnage of vessels, employed in foreign trade, which entered the ports of the United States, in each year, from the commencement of the government, to the 31st of December, 1815, with the nations to whom the vessels belonged. From this it will be seen that the tonnage of foreign vessels, entering the ports of the United States, at different periods, was as follows, viz.-In 1790, 251,058 to n; in 1796, 49,960; in 1802, 145,519; in 1807, 86,780 ; and in 1815, 212,501, and that this tonnage belonged to the following nations, viz.: * See Macpherson's Annals of Commerce, 4th vol. p. 521. † Oddy. It will be noticed, that the foreign as well as the American tonnage stated in Table No. III. includes the tonnage of the same vessels, in their repeated voyages, in each year. It will also be remembered, that during the late war between the United States and Great-Britain, many American vessels obtained Spanish, Swedish, and Portuguese papers, and of course were entered as vessels belonging to those nations. The effects, which the late general peace in Europe has had on American navigation; and in what manner the interest of American shipping has been and may be affected by the commercial convention with Great-Britain, and by the British colonial and other regulations; and an account of the measures lately adopted by Congress to promote the navigating interest of the United States, have been noticed in Chapter VIII. to which the reader is referred. Although the American navigation, employed in foreign trade, may for a time be diminished, in consequence of the competition of other nations, yet the extensive coasting trade of the United States will tend to increase American shipping and American seamen. While the government, by a navigation act, has lately endeavoured to promote and secure the commercial shipping interest, it has not been inattentive to the interests of the navy. The brilliant success of the American navy during the late war, and in the Mediterranean, has, indeed, made it a favourite with all parties, and justly entitles it to public patronage, in peace as well as in war. By an act of Congress of the 29th April, 1816, the sum of one million of dollars per annum, for eight years, was appropriated for the gradual increase of the navy; and the President of the United States is authorized, by the same act, to cause to be built nine ships, to rate not less than seventy-four guns each, and twelve ships, to rate not less than forty-four guns each, as soon as the timber and other materials can be procured and prepared for that purpose; and also to cause to be procured the steam-engines, and other imperishable materials necessary for building three steam-batteries. It is understood that several large ships are soon to be built in pursuance of the provisions of this act. To insure, in future, a sufficient supply of timber for the navy, by an act of the 1st of March, 1817, the Secretary of the Navy is authorized, under the direction of the President, to cause the vacant lands belonging to the United States to be explored, and to select and survey such tracts as are found to produce live oak and red cedar timber; and the tracts thus selected and surveyed, with the approbation of the President, are to be reserved from any future sales of public lands, and appropriated to the sole purpose of supplying timber for the navy of the United States. On the 1st of January, 1816, the American naval force consisted of Of these, five were rated at seventy-four guns, six at forty-four, four at thirty-six, one at thirty-two, and the residue at, from twentyfour to twelve. 16110 18,604 42 17,933 18,015 85 20,511 59 45,355 89 71,693 17 260 27 484 4 60,924 57 67,895 30 927 45 1,064 11 26,792 74 38,007 77 48,007 53 STATES. TABLE No. I. Registered Tonnage employed in Foreign Trade in each State, from 1793 to 1815. New-Hampshire, 1795. Tons. 95. 1796. Tons. 95. 1798. Tons. 95. 1799. Tons. 95. 1800. Tons. 95. 1793. 1794. 1797. Tons. 95. Tons. 95. Tons. 95. 12,521 25 12,952 25 13,463 46 15,579 46 15,970 50 16,589 48 19,875 14 14,120 18 135,599 68 143,783 61 171,748 12 186,199 59 187,447 47 178,798 41191,067 31213,197 28 186 91 18,841 20 31,260 39 20,327 27 20,159 36 19,686 13 19,802 84 18,562 39 23,549 91 26,045 39 19,634 25| 23,549 44 31,632 63 93,421 67103,945 53 110,983 57111,488 72 120,253 6 97,791 6 637 85 901 27 762 72 1,344 28 1,271 34 860 15 83,623 92 90,568 94 88,400 72 85,476 49 90,944 30 95,631 74 10,167 49 14,438 76 12,601 19 15,515 4 19,645 61 18,603 33 19,214 52 20,949 47 31,360 57 33,753 22 38,567 42 43,731 70 Georgia, Total, 286 18 7,937 52 1,568 40 2,599 43 3,548 1 3,556 84 367,734 23438,362 71529,470 631576,733 25597,777 43/603,376 371669,197 19669,921 35 4,260 48 4,473 42 |