171 



bers, nature and natural means only, a revolution of 

 the wheel of fortune, an exchange of situation is among 

 possible events : that it may become probable by su- 

 pernatural interference ! The ahnighty has no attri- 

 bute which can take side with us in sucli a contest. — 

 But it is impossible to be temperate and to pursiie this 

 subject through the various considerations of policy, 

 of morals, of history natural and civil. We must be 

 contented to hope they will force their way into every 

 one's mind. I think a change already perceptible, since 

 the origin of the present revolution. The spirit of the 

 master is abating, that of the slave rising from the dust, 

 his condition mollifying, the way I hope preparing, un- 

 der the ausyjices of heaven, for a total emancipation, 

 and that this is disposed, in the order of events, to be 

 with the consent of the masters, rather than by their 

 extirpation. 



QUERY XIX. 



The present state of manufactures, commerce, inte- 

 rior and exterior trade ? 



We never had an interior trade of any importance. 

 Our exterior commerce has suffered very much from 

 the beginning of the present contest. During this time 

 we have manufactured within our families the most 

 necessary articles of clothing. Those of cotton will 

 bear some comparison with the same kinds of manu- 

 facture in Europe: but those of wool, flax and hemp 

 are very coarse, unsightly, and unpleasant : and such 

 is our attachment to agriculture, and such our prefer- 

 ence for foreign manufactures, that be it wise or un- 

 wise, our people will certainly return as soon as they 

 can, to the raising raw materials, and exchanging them 

 for finer manufactures than they are able to execute 

 themselves. 



The political csconomists of Europe have established 

 it as a principle that every state should endeavour to ma- 



