HEMP. 223 



In the year 1763, we imported 11,000 tons 

 from Russia ; and Sir John Sinclair informs 

 us, that in the year 1785, the quantity ex- 

 ported from St. Petersburg, in British ships, 

 amounted to 17,695 tons, which would be 

 the produce of 88,475 acres of land. In the 

 year 1788, we imported from Russia 58,464 

 tons, the produce of nearly 300,000 acres, 

 which at 20/. per ton, would net the Rus- 

 sians 1,269,280/. In the year 1783, France 

 consumed 200,000 tons of hemp, of which 

 more than one third was imported. 



An act strongly demonstrating the folly 

 of laying prohibitions on articles of com- 

 merce, (which often strengthens those whom 

 it intends to disable,) was committed by the 

 Russians, in the year 1718, when they en- 

 tered into a combination with the Swedes 

 to deprive England of naval stores ; and 

 would suffer none to be exported out of 

 their own dominions, but in their own ships, 

 and at their own exorbitant prices ; which 

 instead of ruining our trade and navigation, 

 turned our attention to our colonies, and 

 induced us to procure from North America 

 not only a sufficient supply for the use of 

 Great Britain, but a large surplus for ex- 

 portation. 



