252 | Memoir of the Life of Eli Whitney. 
i 
to the number,) were the three men who did most for mankind of 
any of their cotemporaries; and, in the sense in which he intended 
it, the remark is probably true. 
Fabrics of cotton are now so familiar to us, and so universally dif- 
fused, that-we are apt to look upon them rather as original gifts of 
nature, than as recent products of human ingenuity. The following 
statements, however, will show how exceedingly limited the cotton 
trade was previous to the invention of the cotton gin. 
In 1784, an American vessel arrived at Liverpool, having on 
board, for part of her cargo, eight bags of cotton, which were seized 
by the officers of the custom house, under the conviction that they 
could not be the growth of America.* The following extracts from 
old newspapers, will exhibit the extent of the cotton trade for the 
lent years, 
Cotton from America arrived at Liverpool. 
1785. January. Diana, from Charleston, 1 bag. 
February. Tenign, from New York, 1 do. 
June. Grange, from Philadelphia, 3 do.—6 bags. 
1786. May. Thomas, from Charleston, 2 do. 
June. Juno, from Charleston, 4 do.—6. 
1787. April. — John, from Philadelphia, 6 do. 
June. Wilson, from New York, 9 do. © 
Grange, from Philadelphia, 9 do. 
August. Henderson, from Charleston, 40 do. 
Dec. John, from Philadelphia, 44 do.—108. 
1788. January. Mersey, from Charleston, 1 do. 
- Grange, from Philadelphia, 5 do. 
June. John, from do. 0. 
July. Harriott, from New York, 62 do. 
Grange, from Philadelphia, 111 do. 
Polly, from Charleston, 73 do.—282. 
The whole domestic exports of the United States in 1825 wee 
valued at 66,940,000 dollars, of which value, 36,846,000 wasia cor 
ton only. In general, this article is equal to some millions mor? than 
one half the whole value of our exports. The average growth 
for the three years previous to 1828, was estimated at 900; 
anise iaiadace ev 
al 
* See Southern Review for May, 1831. 
