Rural Economy in New England 303 



relaxation of many of the restrictions on the commerce of their 

 colonies during the wars in which France and England were engaged. 

 In the years 1807-1809, on the other hand, the figures fell much 

 below the average, owing to the Embargo and Non-Intercourse laws 

 then in effect. The figures for 1810, a normal year, were $1,229,308, 

 corresponding quite closely with the average for the whole period.^ 



The pertinent question for the purposes of our essay is: What 

 part of this sum represented the food products shipped from New 

 England farms? In answering the question we must not be misled 

 by the frequent references to the active trade carried on by the coast 

 towns of Connecticut and Rhode Island with the West India islands. 

 When we remember how small were the vessels employed (according 

 to the terms of Jay's treaty of 1794 they were limited to 70 tons),'' 

 and that they regularly made only two voyages each year,^ we are 

 more likely to proceed with caution. Then there is to be considered 

 the share in this trade which was carried from the ports of the Middle 

 and Southern states, such as Philadelphia and Charleston. The 

 superiority of the back-country of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland 

 and Virginia in the production of grain, especially of wheat, had been 

 apparent as early as 1790."* In fact, the seacoast towns of the New 

 England states were continually importing flour and grain from the 

 Middle and Southern states, partly for consumption and partly for 

 re-export.^ On the other hand in the export of provisions, the three 

 states of southern New England were at this time superior to any 

 other group. They were credited with about one-half of the total 



' These figures are taken from Seybert, Adam. Statistical Annals. Philadel- 

 phia. 1818. pp. 134 ff. 



- Hildreth, Richard. History of the United States, rev. ed. 6 vols. New York. 

 1877-1880. Vol. IV. 540. 



'This is the statement made by Jordan, G. W. Claims of Colonists. 90-91. 



■• The figures for the export of the principal grains, 1791-1792, given in Coxe, 

 View, p. 414, are: 



Wheat Corn Rye 



Virginia 395,000 bu. 685,000 bu. — 



Pennsylvania 131,000 414,000 10,00 bu. 



New York 186,000 227,000 956 



Maryland 140,000 232,000 42 



Massachusetts 154 78,000 1,600 



Connecticut — 36,000 — 



Rhode Island 438 5,100 — 



* Governor Sullivan, of Massachusetts, wrote to President Jefferson in 1808: 

 "The seaport towns are supported almost entirely by bread from the Southern 

 and Middle States." Quoted in Adams, Henry. History of the United States. 

 1801-1817. 10 vols. New York. 1889-1891. Vol. IV., pp. 254-255. 



