INFLUENCE OF THE GULF STREAM UPON COMMERCE. 63 
pared the trade of Charleston with that of the northern cities for 
several years, both before and after the discovery of Dr. Franklin 
became generally know^n to navigators. The comparison shows 
an immediate decline in the Southern trade and a wonderful in- 
crease in that of the North. But whether this discovery in navi- 
gation and this revolution in trade stand in the relation of cause 
and effect, or be merely a coincidence, let others judge. 
83. In 1769, the commerce of the two Carolinas equaled that 
of all the New England States together ; it was more than double 
that of New York, and exceeded that of Pennsylvania by one 
third.* In 1792, the exports from New York amounted in value 
to two millions and a half ; from Pennsylvania, to $3,820,000 ; 
and from Charleston alone, to $3,834,000. 
But in 1795, by which time the Gulf Stream began to be as 
well understood by navigators as it now is, and the average pas- 
sages from Europe to the North were shortened nearly one half, 
while those to the South remained about the same, the customs at 
Philadelphia alone amounted to $2,941, 000,t or more than one 
half of those collected in all the states together. 
Nor did the effect of the doctor's discovery end here. Before 
From M^Pherso7i's Annals of Commerce. — Exports and Imports in 1769, valued in 
Sterling Money. 
EXPORTS. 
To Gr. Britain. 
Sou. of Europe. 
WeBt Indies. 
Africa. I Total. 
New England 
Pennsylvania. 
North and South Carolina. . . 
£ s. d. 
142,775 12 9 
113,382 8 8 
28,112 6 9 
405,014 13 1 
£ S. d. 
81,173 16 2 
50,885 13 0 
203,762 11 11 
76,119 12 10 
£ s. d. 
308,427 9 6 
66,324 17 5 
178,331 7 8 
87,758 19 3 
£ s. d.\ £ s. d. 
17,713 0 9 550,089 19 2 
1,313 2 6,231,906 1 7 
560 9 9,410,756 16 1 
691 12 1 1569,584 17 3 
New YoA 
Pennsylvania 
North and South Carolina. . . 
223,695 11 6 
75,930 19 7 
204,979 17 4 
327,084 8 6 
IMPORTS. 
25,408 17 9 314,749 14 5 
14,927 7 8 97,420 4 0 
14,249 8 4 180,591 12 4 
7,099 5 lOi 76,269 17 11 
180 0 0 564,034 3 6 
697 10 0 188,976 1 3 
399.830 18 0 
137,620 10 0 535,714 2 3 
t Value of Exports in Dollars.% 
1791. 1 1792. 
1793. 
1794. 
1795. 1 1796. 
Massachusetts 
2,519,651 
2,505,465 
3,436,000 
2,693,000 
2,888,104 
2,535,790 
3,820,000 
2,428,000 
3,755,347 
2,932,370 
6,958,000 
3,191,000 
5,292,441 
5,442,000 
6,643,000 
3,868,000 
7,117,907 
10,304,000 
11,518,000 
5,998,000 
9,949,345 
12,208,027 
17,513,866 
7,620,000 
Duties on Imports in Dollars. 
1791. 
1792. 
1793. 
1794. 
1795. 
1796. 
1833. 
Massachusetts 
; New Yorlv 
1 Pennsylvania 
South Carolina 
1,006,000 
1,334,000 
1,466,000 
523,000 
723,000 
1,173,000 
1,100,000 
359,000 
1,044,000 
1,204,000 
1.823,000 
360,000 
1,121,000 
1,878,000 
1,498,000 
661,000 
1,520,000 
2,028,000 
2,300,000 
722,000 
1,460,000 
2,187,000 
2,050,000 
66,000 
3,055,000 
10,713,000 
2,207,000 
389.000 
X Doc. No. 330, II. R., 2d Session, 25th Congress, 
taken from M'Pherson, and previously quoted. 
Some of its statements do not agree with those 
