332 On the Marithne Commerce of Bengal. 



nued, is due to the exertions of the supreme government 

 for its protection. 



. In 1 793, we find the tonnage inward and outward to 

 consist of 737 vessels, burthens 291,190 tons ; and of these 

 573 were English country i-hips, carrying 209,279 tons. 

 In 1794, the total of arrivals and departures was reduced to 

 441 sail, burthen 163,484 tons ; of which 286 were English 

 country ships, carrying 96,321 tons; so that the general 

 trade of the port, since the commencement of the present 

 war, has decreased 127,706 tons, and the Indian trade on 

 British ships ] 12,948 tons, being a declension of more than 

 one-half of the covmtry trade. 



The documents from which the foregoing statements 

 have been drawn, are, as we have already mentioned, the 

 port lists of arrivals and departures, which are registered in 

 the master attendant's office, and may be received as accu- 

 rate, so far as they extend, with respect to number. But 

 we cannot say so much as to tonnage, for there being no 

 tonnage duties paid here, the ships are never measured, and 

 their burthen is of course estimated, or taken from the in- 

 formation of the commander. Nor does this list exhibit 

 such vessels as are piloted by native pilots or by their own 

 commanders, which is the case with the native craft, or 

 vessels belonging to and navigated by natives from the 

 northern ci rears on the coast of Coromandel. 



It is also much the practice with native commanders of 

 other vessels outward bound to save the pilotage charged 

 by the company's pilots, which, on ships drawing much ' 

 water, falls very heavy, particularly on vessels sailing under 

 foreign colours. To estimate, therefore, the maritime com- 

 merce of Bengal from these documents, particularly the 

 exports, would be to undervalue it greatlv. We lament 

 the u ant of better materials ; but taking them as an occa- 

 sional guide, and referring to such other sources of informa- 

 tion as we have been able to procure, we shall attempt to 

 form some general idea of its magnitude, and the channels 

 through v.hich it flows. 



The exports to Europe and to the United States of Ame- 

 rica, in importance and extent constitute by far the most 

 considerable portion of tlie commerce of Bengal. Thev 

 may be comprised under the general heads of cotton and 

 t'llk wrought and unwrought, sugar, drugs, and dyes, in- 

 cluding indigo and saltpetre. As the medium adopted for 

 the remittance of the surplus revenues of these provinces, 

 the company's investment occupies the greatest share in 

 this trade, being umjuestionably the most valuable. 



In 



