A. D. 1785. 77 



their ports. They alio enacted feveral extra duties to be paid by vci- 

 fels belonging to foreigners, and particularly by Britifh fubjeds ; with a 

 permiffion, however, for new veflels, built in MafTachufets, though 

 partly or wholely owned by Britifli fubjeds, to take in cargoes upon 

 equal terms with the citizens of the United ftates, but only for their firft 

 departures. 



But how-much-foever the legiflature and people of Maflachufets might 

 be induced by animofity and diiappointment to point their refentment 

 againft Great Britain, there was another, and a very contemptible, 

 power, who gave them much more ferious caufe of offence. The dey 

 of Algier, that prince of pirates, who makes war upon all whom he be- 

 lieves too weak to punifh him, fuppofing the Americans incapable of 

 either bribing, or compelling, him to abftain from depredations, form- 

 ally declared war againft them this fummer, and fitted out eight corfairs 

 to cruife for their fhips, which muft have proved a very great check 

 upon their trade to Spain and the Mediterranean. 



In the meantime the Americans continued, with the ardour of new 

 adventurers, to pufh their trade to every quarter of the globe. A vellel 

 from Baltimore in Maryland difplayed the American flag at Canton in 

 China, whence fhe imported a cargo of teas, china ware, filks, &c. the 

 whole of which was faid to have been received in exchange for Ameri- 

 can produce. 



The political convulfions, which had for fome time paft diflraded the 

 little commonwealth of Geneva, had driven many of the inhabitants to 

 feek for fettlements in other countries : and a part of them having turn- 

 ed their views towards Ireland, the government, and the people in gen- 

 eral of that country, v>^hich has itfelf fent out fo many thoufands of 

 native emigrants, now offered to receive a colony; and the fum of 

 ^^50,000 was granted by the parliament for defraying the expenfe of 

 their removal, and building a town for them, to be called New Geneva. 

 But the Genevans being refufed fome privileges, which they had de- 

 manded, the greateft number of the intended colonifts altered their 

 mind with refped to fettling in Ireland, and thofe who did proceed to 

 it, not finding things turn out to their expedation, foon left it again. 

 Such was the event of a projed, which for about four years had atcrad- 

 ed a good deal of the public attention, and from which great advantages 

 were predided to accrue, both to the new adopted denizens, and to the 

 country, which fo liberally received them. 



In the early part of the eighteenth century an engine for fpinning 

 cotton was invented by Mr. Paul with the affiftance of fome others in 

 London, who, having obtained a patent, made trial of it at Nottingham 

 and elfewhere, to the great lofs of all concerned. Other Ichemes for 

 Ipinning cotton by machinery have fince been tried, and proved equal- 

 ly abortive. About the year 1767 the difcovery of this great defider- 



