84 -^ Letter on the Manufa£iU,re of Maple Sugar. 



To have nothing more than bare affertion to fupport my 

 declarations, would leave room for a doubt to ariie, but 

 happily that is not the cafe. Emboldened by the repeated 

 teftimony of ocular demonftration, which I have for feveral 

 preceding feafons laid before the eye of the public, do I now 

 report to the members of this ufcful inilitution, that a full 

 fupply of that article of life may be manufa6lured within the 

 boundaries of this State, for the confumption of the United, 

 States ; and the firft fland that I fliall make to defend this 

 report is on the following fimple, fhort, but well founded 

 calculation, to wit : — If one man can procure from a traft of 

 country lefs than ten miles fquare, fifty thoufand pounds of 

 fugar, what could be collefted from fifteen millions of acres? 

 Upwards of eleven millions of pounds, equal to eleven thou- 

 fand hogfeeads of a thoufand weight each; a much greater 

 qua:ntity than has ever been landed in one feafon at all the ports 

 in America. I know that the idea has an extravagant appearance^ 

 and will be thought by mofl people an enthufiaftic, fanciful and 

 vifionary plan ; but let reafon ufurp the throne of prejudice^, 

 then thefc calculations will ftand the teft; allow the firft propo- 

 fition to be juft, all the reft follows of courfe ; none can deny 

 that the quantity firft mentioned has been repeatedly produced 

 from within the boundary of ten miles fquare, nor was one 

 fiftieth part of the trees within that territory made ufe of; but 

 this is a mere aileriion without proof. I only court that what 

 has been already fcen may be believed; then, if my report is 



