224 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[February, 
and influence, were not only restrained by motives of policy and 
self-interest, but they recollected that twelve moons had not 
yet passed away, and that the big ship, with whose visit they had 
been threatened, might yet come to their shores.* 
Hence it appears evident, that a regular system of piracy on our 
commerce with Sumatra was only prevented by the conflicting 
passions of fear and cupidity on one part, and the increased cau- 
tion and vigilance of shipmasters on the other. From the con- 
current testimony of every person familiar with the Malay char- 
acter, and who happened to be on the coast at the period alluded 
to, we are fully convinced, that had not our government sent an 
armed vessel to redress our grievances, or had the commander 
of that vessel acted with indecision and want of energy, the 
United States' commerce on that coast would, in a very short 
time, have been totally annihilated. 
To what extent the commercial interests of our country were 
actually affected by the piratical capture of the Friendship, we 
are not prepared to say, with any degree of precision ; but official 
records show that our imports from and exports to India and China, 
were, for the years 1830, 1831, and 1832, as follows : — 
Imports from — Exports to — 
1830, 
China 
13,878,141 
$166,290 
domestic produce 
585,903 
foreign 
do. 
Asia generally- 
94,451 
56,318 
domestic 
do. 
229,290 
foreign 
do. 
1831, 
China 
3,083,205 
244,790 
domestic 
do. 
1,046,045 
foreign 
do. 
Asia generally 
77,861 
48,268 
domestic 
do. 
251,126 
foreign 
do. 
1832, 
China 
5,344,907 
336,162 
domestic 
do. 
924,360 
foreign 
do. 
Arabia 
24,025 
Asia generally 
111,180 
42,838 
domestic 
do. 
469,489 
foreign 
do. 
Cape of Good Hope 12,015 
From the above it will be seen, that in the year eighteen hun- 
dred and thirty-one, the commencement of which was distinguished 
by the piratical capture of the. Friendship, mercantile confidence 
was impaired ; or, from some cause or other, our imports from the 
east were much reduced in amount from those of the preceding year. 
But after the visit of the Potomac, and the punishment of the 
* See page 226. 
