THE unparalleled progress of the United States since the 

 adoption of the Federal Constitution, is perhaps the grandest 

 epoch of all time. The power and grandeur of Rome, 

 reached after centuries of toilsome labor and protracted con- 

 flicts, has been more than equalled in the short space of half' 

 a century, and the past is but a bright index of the future. 



The position of the American Union, not only in the rela- 

 tions of this country to the whole continent, but to the world, 

 is becoming every day more clearly known and defined. 



The elements of national wealth and independence are 

 becoming every day of increasing importance, and as an 

 effort to indicate to the people of the American Union addi- 

 tional sources of national and individual wealth, and to point 

 the eye of the country to new and valuable opportunities for 

 developing the national industry, this volume is respectfully 

 offered to the public. 



The discussion is divided into three parts. In the first 

 part. I have endeavored to present a view of the Cotton and 

 Rice of our country, and to show the necessity of introducing 

 oilier agricultural staples to meet the increasing wants of 

 America and of the world. 



In the second part is contained a hisrory of the Tea trade, 

 instructions in the best modes of cultivating the Tea and 

 Indigo plants, and their manufacture, with a variety of sta- 

 tistical information on the points involved, commercial and 

 agricultural. 



A history of the Opium trade is presented in a sub-division 

 of the second part. 



In the third, and concluding portion of the work, the 

 author has freely and candidly stated his views in regard to 



