AMERICA. 469 
loft in contemplating the vaft traft of country that could 
afford an habitation for them. 
Manufactures, in the United States, are as yet in their 
infancy; the country abounds, however, with the raw 
materials for almolt every purpofe ufeful to mankind. Iron 
is- found in various parts of the continent, in great abun¬ 
dance, and of almolt every quality; and manufactures of 
edged tools, implements of hnlbandfy, fire-arms and mili¬ 
tary weapons, fpikes, nails, &c. are carried on to a confi¬ 
derable extent. The latter articles are manufactured 
chiefly by water-mills, the finifhing of which employs a 
great number of boys, vhofe early habits of induftry are 
of importance to the community, to the prefent fupport 
of their families, and to their own future comfort. It is 
no lefs curious than true, that in certain parts of the Uni¬ 
ted States, the making of nails is anoccaiional family ma¬ 
nufacture. 
Copperfmiths and brafs-founders, particularly the for¬ 
mer, are numerous in the United States. The material 
is a natural production of the country. In many parts of 
the States mines of copper have been aCtually wrought. 
Lead alfo abounds in great plenty, and requires little to 
unfold it to an extent more than fufficient for every do- 
meftic occafion. A prolific mine of it has long been open 
in the fouth-weftern parts of Virginia; and, undera pub¬ 
lic adminiftration, during the late war, yielded a confide- 
rable fupply for military life. This is now in the hands 
of individuals, who not only carry it on with fpirit, but 
have eftablifhed extenfive works at Richmond, in the 
fame Hate. 
As an important inftrument of manufactures, folTil coal 
may, without impropriety, be mentioned among the fub- 
jeCts of the prefent remarks. There are feveral coal¬ 
mines in Virginia now worked; and appearances of their 
exiflence are familiar in feveral of the other ftates. As 
an article of houfehold fuel it is an interefting produc¬ 
tion ; and its importance to navigation, as a boundlefs 
fource of traffic coaftwife, is fignally exemplified in Great 
Britain. 
There is fcarcely any manufacture of greater importance 
to the United States, than that of (kins. The direCt and 
very happy influence it has upon agriculture, by promo¬ 
ting the raifing and growth of cattle of different kinds, is 
a very material confideration. Tanneries are now carried 
on as a regular bufinefs in many of the dates, and they 
conftitute in forne places a valuable item of incidental fa¬ 
mily manufacture. Cabinet wares, and houfehold furni¬ 
ture, likewife conftitute an extenfive branch of their do- 
meftic trade. 
Manufactures of the feveral Aperies of grain have made 
confiderable progrefs in the United States; and are entitled 
to peculiar attention, not only becaufe they are molt of 
them fo intimately connected with the fubfiftence of the 
people, but becaufe they enlarge the demand for the molt 
precious products of the foil. Breweries are now carried 
on very fuccefsfully; and, in order to difcourage the ufe 
of fpirituous liquors, a low duty has been intpofed upon 
them; which, however, has been the means of introdu¬ 
cing the excife-laws into America. 
Manufactures of flax, hemp, and cotton, have already 
made confiderable progrefs in the United States. Cotton 
works, not long fince eftablifhed at Beverly, inMaffachu- 
fett’s; at Providence, in the ftate of Rhode Illand; and 
at New York; feem to have overcome the firft obftacles 
to fuccefs: producing corduroys, velverets, fuftians, jeans, 
and other fimilar articles, of a quality which will bear a 
comparifon with the like articles from Manchefter. Some 
effays are alfo making in the printing and ftaining of cot¬ 
ton goods; and there are feveral fmall eftablilhments of 
this kind lately fet on foot, that bid fair to grow into the 
firft importance. A promifing effay towards the fabrica¬ 
tion of cloths, kerfeymeres, and other woollen goods, is 
likewife going on at Hertford, in Connecticut. Specimens 
of the different kinds which we have fcen, evince that 
thefe fabrics have already attained a confiderable degree 
Vol. I. No. 30. 
of perfection. Houfehold manufactures of woollen arti¬ 
cles are carried on, in different parts of the United-States, 
to a very interefting extent; and many thoufands of fa¬ 
milies I pin and make up their own clothing. Hats of wool,, 
and of wool mixed with fur, are made in large quantities; 
and conftitute a very productive manufacture, rapidly ex¬ 
tending over the whole North American continent. 
The production of filk is attended with great facility in 
molt parts or the United States ; but flourifties moft in Con¬ 
necticut, where filk (lockings, handkerchiefs, ribbons, 
buttons, &c. are now made in tolerable quantities. A 
manufactory of lace has alfo been eftablifhed at Ipfwich, 
in the ftate of Maffachufett’s, which bids fair to anfwer 
every purpofe of the proprietor. 
Different manufactures of glafs are now on foot in the 
United States. The fands and (tones called targo, which 
include flinty and cryftalline fubftances, and the falts of 
various plants, 'particularly kali or kelp, conftitute the 
effential ingredients, and are every where to be found in 
North America. An extraordinary abundance of fuel, 
which is always at hand, gives great advantage to the un¬ 
dertaking. Confiderable progrefs has been likewife made 
in the manufacture of gunpowder; and the encourage¬ 
ment given to it by the government, bids fair to make it 
an extenfive article of commerce. 
Manufactures of paper are among thofe which are ar¬ 
rived at the greateft maturity in America, and are moft; 
adequate to a national fupply. That of paper hanging is 
alfo a branch in which refpeCtable progrefs has been made. 
Refined fugars and chocolate are among the number of 
extenfive and profperous domeftic manufactures; and that 
of maple fugar particularly, has of late become an inte¬ 
refting object of national attention. It is made from the 
Cap or juice of the Acer, or maple-tree, which grows 
fpontaneoufly in North America; and yields, by an eafy 
procefs, great quantities of fugar, in every refpeCt equal 
to that which is imported from the Weft-India iftands. 
The manufacture of wines is alfo growing into rcfpeCca- 
bility among the United States. Successful experiments 
have been made by fome French fettlers on the river 
Ohio, which evince the practicability of producing home¬ 
madewines of excellent quality ; and, as grapes are the 
fpontaneous production of the country, and, by culture, 
might be raifed in any quantity, in great perfection, this 
manufacture bids fair to diminifh, and in time, perhaps, 
wholly to preclude, foreign importation. It is further a 
pleafure to remark, that public improvements of every 
kind, in the United States of America, appear to go hand 
in hand with the exrenfion of their commerce, and the 
growth of their manufactures. In the fpace only of three 
years, from the end of 1790 to the end of 1793, more 
public funds and private capitals have been applied to the 
improvement of roads and rivers, and the cutting of ca¬ 
nals, than have been expended from the firft fettlement of 
the colonies up to that time. 
The naval and military' eftablifitments of the United 
States are wifely kept upon a narrow footing. To aim 
at fuch a navy as the principal maritime powers of Europe 
poffefs, would be a ufetefs wafte of their revenue. As 
they have no poffeftions to proteCt abroad, nor any ambi¬ 
tious view of extending their dominions, it is deemed fuf- 
ficient that firips enough be kept to repel any hoftile at¬ 
tempt of thofe nations of Europe that are weak on the 
fea; becaufe circumftances exift, which render even the 
ftronger ones weak as to them. Provider.cc lias placed the 
richeft and moft defencelefs European poffeftions at their 
door, and obliged its moft valuable commerce to pafs by 
their (bores. To proteCt either of thefe, a fmall part on¬ 
ly of any European navy would ever be detached acrofs 
the Atlantic ; and the dangers to which the elements ex- 
pofe them there, have been too often fatally experienced 
by the principal potentates of Europe. Hence a fmall 
naval force will at all times be fufficient to cope with fuch 
detachments, as well as to proteft the American territory, 
and annoy the commerce of their enemies. Their, mili- 
6 D taryy 
