Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/586

558 The greatest encouragement is given to seamen, which ought to be made known throughout Europe. Their pay in our Navy is eight dollars per month, with the best chance for prize money that men ever had, and liberty of discharges after every cruise, if they choose it. In the merchant service they now get from thirty to forty dollars per month ; and this leads me to the state of our commerce.

In the Eastern States they are so intent on privateering that they mind little else. However, there is some exportation of produce from thence, and as to imports, they are the best supplied of any part of America, having been surprisingly successful in captures. New-York being in the hands of the enemy, we have nothing to say to it ; and the produce of New-Jersey will be totally consumed by their army and ours. In this State, (Pennsylvania,) we had last season the worst crop of wheat ever known, both as to quantity and quality. This being our staple commodity, and stores prohibited, our merchants have been led to purchase much tobacco in Maryland and Virginia, and their ships are employed in the export of this article, with some flour, boards, bees wax, &c. We have a good many imports, but as fast as goods arrive, they are bought up for the Army, or for the use of neighbouring States, and therefore continue to bear high prices.

The value of ships has risen in the same enormous proportion with every thing else, and ships that were deemed worth ₤1,000 twelve months ago, now sell for ₤3,000, or upwards. Every article belonging to them is also excessively dear, and hard to be got, and the insolence and difficulty of seamen is beyond bearing. In Maryland, Virginia, South-Carolina, and Georgia, they have plenty of valuable produce on hand, but no ships to carry it away, and constant cruisers all along the coast make it very dangerous to send ships from one port to another ; so that look which way you will, you find us surrounded with difficulties — in the land service, in the sea service, and in our commerce.

Agriculture and mechanicks have their impediments, by the enlisting of soldiers, and frequent calls on the Militia. In short, nothing but the most arduous exertions, and virtuous conduct in the leaders, seconded by a spirited behaviour in the Army, and a patient endurance of hardships by the people in general, can long support the contest ; therefore the Court of France should strike at once, as they will reap an immediate harvest. They may sell their manufactures for any price they please to ask ; they will get in payment tobacco, rice, indigo, deer-skins, furs, wheat, flour, iron, beeswax, lumber, fish, oil, whalebone, pot and