INFLUENCE OF THE GULF STREAM UPON COMMERCE. 



63 



pared the trade of Charleston with that of the northern cities for 

 several years, both before and after the discovery of Dr. Frankhn 

 became generally known to navigators. The comparison shows 

 an immediate decline in the Southern trade and a wonderful in- 

 crease in that of the North. But whether this discovery in navi- 

 gation and this revolution in trade stand in the relation of cause 

 and effect, or be merely a coincidence, let others judge. 



83. In 1769, the commerce of the two Carolinas equaled that 

 of all the New England States together ; it was more than double 

 that of New York, and exceeded that of Pennsylvania by one 

 third.* In 1792, the exports from New York amounted in value 

 to two millions and a half ; from. Pennsylvania, to $3,820,000 ; 

 and from Charleston alone, to $3,834,000. 



But in 1795, by which time the Gulf Stream began to be as 

 well understood by navigators as it now is, and the average pas- 

 sages from Europe to the North were shortened nearly one half, 

 while those to the South remained about the same, the customs at 

 Philadelphia alone amounted to $2,941, 000,t or more than one 

 half of those collected in all the states together. 



Nor did the effect of the doctor's discovery end here. Before 



* From Mcpherson's Annals of Commerce. — Exports and Imports in 1769, valued in 



Sterling Money. 



To Gr. Britain.] Sou. of Europe. I West Indies. \ Africa. 



New England 



New York 



Pennsylvania 



North and South Carolina. 



Total. 



£ s.d. 

 142,775 12 9 

 113,382 8 8 

 28.112 ' ' 



£ 

 81,173 



50,885 13 

 203,762 11 11 



405,014 13 l| 76,119 12 10 



£ s. 



2 308,427 9 



66,324 17 



178.331 7 



87,758 19 



£ s.d.\ £ s.d. 



17,713 9 550,089 19 2 



1,313 2 6 231,906 1 7 



560 9 9 410,756 16 1 



691 12 1 569,584 17 3 



New England 



New York 



Pennsylvania 



North and South Carolina. 



223,695 11 6 



75,930 19 7 



204,979 17 4 



327,084 8 6 



IMPORTS. 



25,408 17 9 314,749 14 5| 180 



14,927 7 8 97,420 4 697 10 



14,249 8 4 180,591 12 4 



7,099 5 10 76,260 17 11 '1.37,620 10 



564,034 3 8 

 188,976 1 3 

 399.830 18 

 535,714 2 3 



Massachusetts . 

 New York . . . . 

 Pennsylvania . . 

 South Carolina. 



+ Value of Exports in Dollars.X 



2,519,651 

 2,505,465 

 3,436.000 

 2,693,000 



2,688,104 

 2,535,790 

 3,820,000 

 2,428,000 



3,755,347 

 2,932,370 

 6,958,000 

 3,191,000 



1794. 



5,292,441 

 5,442,000 

 6,643,000 

 3.868,000 



1795. 



T~1796. 



r,117,9f,7; 9,949,345 



10,304,000 

 11,518.000 

 5,998,000 



12,208 

 17,513,866 

 7,620,000 



t Doc. No. 330, n. R., 2d Session, 25th Congress, 

 taien from M'Pherson, and previously quoted. 



Some of its statements do not agree with those 



