252 Memoir of the Life of Eli Whitney. 



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 hags 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 

 subsequent years. 



Cotton from America arrived at lAverpool. 



1785. January. Diana, from Charleston, 1 bag. 

 February. Tenign, from New York, 1 do. 



June. Grange, from Philadelphia, 3 do. — 5 bags, 



1786. May. Thomas, from Charleston, 2 do. 

 June. Juno, from Charleston, 4 do. — 6. 



1787. April. JoAw, 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, ] do. 



Grange, from Philadelphia, 5 do. 

 June. John, from do. 30 do. 



July. Harriott, from New York, 63 do. 



Grange, from Philadelphia, 111 do. 



Polly, from Charleston, 73 do. — ^282. 



The whole domestic exports of the United States in 1825 were 

 valued at 66,940,000 dollars, of which value, 36,846,000 was in cot- 

 ton only. In general, this article is equal to some millions more than 

 one half the whole value of our exports. The average growth 

 for the three years previous to 1828, was estimated at 900,000 



* See Southern Review for May, 1S31. 



