72 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA, AND ITS METEOROLOGY. 



themselves near the coast when they arc very far off (having 

 been drifted by the currents). On the other hand, ships are 

 often cast on the coast by sailing in the eddy of the Stream, 

 which causes them to outrun their common reckoning. Every 

 year produces new proofs of these facts, and of the calamities 

 incident thereto." 



188. The discovery of the Jiigh temperature of the Gulf Stream fol- 

 lowed by a decline in Southern commerce. — Though Dr. Franklin's 

 discovery was made in 1775, yet, for political reasons, it was not 

 generally made known till 1790. Its immediate effect in navi- 

 gation was to make the ports of the Northern States as ac- 

 cessible in winter as in summer. AVhat agency this circumstance 

 had in the decline of the direct trade of the south, which followed 

 this discovery, would be, at least to the political economist, a 

 subject for much curious and interesting speculation. I have 

 referred to the commercial tables of the time, and have compared 

 the trade of Charleston with that of the northern cities for 

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

 became generally known to navigators. The comparison shows 

 an immediate decline in the southern trade and a wonderful 

 increase in that of the north. But whether this discoveiy in 

 navigation and this revolution in trade stand in the relation of 

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



189. Statistics. — In 1769 the commerce of the two Carolinas 

 equalled that of all the New England States together ; it was 

 more than double that of New York, and exceeded that of 

 Pennsjdvania by one-third.* In 1792, the exports from New 



* From MPhersorCs Annals of Commerce. — Exports and Imports in 1769, 

 valued in Sterling Money. 



