Travels Through North America 



was generally estimated at about one-third less than it really 

 was. 



The greater decrease of the tonnage inwards, compared 

 with that of the tonnage outwards, is to be imputed to the 

 diminished importation of the bulky articles of rice and 

 tobacco. 



It appears by the foregoing account of the vessels em- 

 ployed in this trade since the war, that the number of Ameri- 

 can vessels so employed, 68 ships; and the quantity of 

 British tonnage so employed, exceeds the quantity of 

 American tonnage so employed, 26,031 tons. 



As there was no distinction before the war, between ships 

 belonging to the inhabitants of the countries now under the 

 dominion of the United States and the other parts of the 

 British dominions, it is impossible to state with certainty, 

 what was the proportion of each description of ships then 

 employed in this branch of commerce. 



The vessels so employed, were then of three sorts: 



First — Vessels belonging to merchants resident in the 

 British European dominions. 



Secondly — Vessels belonging to British merchants, oc- 

 casionally resident in those colonies that now form the 

 United States. 



Thirdly — Vessels belonging to merchants, who were 

 natives and permanent inhabitants of those colonies that 

 now form the United States. 



[166] 



