A. D. 1796. 391 



The Spanifli dollar is the only foreign coin legally current fmce the 

 year 1795 : fill other coins of gold and filver are received by weight. 



Though Portfmouth, the only port of entry in the flate of New 

 Hampfhire, has a very good harbour capable of receiving large vellels, 

 the commerce of the town, which is chiefly with the French fugar col- 

 onies has declined of late, and its principal trade now confifts in build- 

 ing vefTels for other places. The veflels belonging to this port in the 

 year 1796 meafured 14,990 tuns, whereof 1,450 tuns were employed 

 in the coafting trade and fifheries, and the remainder in foreign trade. 



Salem in Maflachufet's bay is a handfome town, containing about 

 10,000 inhabitants, and increafing. Though the harbour be fmall and 

 partly dry at low water, the fpirited trade of the inhabitants this year 

 employed 150 vellels meafuring about 20,000 tuns. No fewer than 

 twelve of thefe vefTels were engaged in the trade to the Eaft-Indies ; 

 and the reft, except fifty employed in the coafting and fifhery, trade to 

 mofl parts of the world, many of them being employed in carrying the 

 produce of Virginia and South Carolina to market. 



Bofton, formerly efteemed the capital of Britifh America, is almoft 

 furrounded by the fea, and has a bay or harbour ftudded with ifland, 

 which embarrafs, and defend, the entrance of it. This city carries on 

 a flourifhing trade to moft parts of the world, which this year employ- 

 ed about 90,000 tuns of fliipping. The exports of Bofton in the year 

 1792 amounted to 1,159,004 dollars; and they increafed by an annual 

 augmentation to 4,255,688 in the year 1795, in which year 725 vefTels 

 arrived from foreign ports. Bofton pays 12,958 out of 159,759 dollars 

 raifed by the ftate of MafTachufet's bay for the expenfes of government. 



Newport in Rhode ifland, before the revolution war, contained about 

 10,000 inhabitants. It now contains only about i ,000 indifferent houfes 

 and 5,000 inhabitants. The trade of this place has lately begun to re- 

 vive. About a dozen of vefTels trade to Europe, and tw^o or three to 

 the coaft of Africa, whence they carry flaves to Georgia and the Weft- 

 India iflands. But the greateft number of their vefTels are fmall, and 

 employed in the coafting trade. 



Providence in Rhode ifland rofe upon the decline of Newport during 

 the war, and has now many very good houfes. A diftillery in this 

 town is faid to be the moft extenlive in America. At its iron works, 

 which are alfo very confiderable, cannons, anchors, nails, &c. are made 

 for exportation. This year there belonged to Providence 142 vefTels, 

 meafuring about 14,500 tuns, which traded to the Eaft-Indies, the north- 

 weft coaft of America, Africa, whence they alfo carry flaves to Georgia 

 and the Weft-Indies, Denmark, Germany, and France. The value of 

 the exports in 1795 was i ,400,005 dollars ; but in no preceding year did 

 they ever amount to 1,000,000. 



New York is in all refpeds the fecond city in America, Philadelphia- 



