Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/298

 COMMERCE WITH a vessel of 400 tons to about 50s. 6cl. The difference on '23s. 6d. is just within a shilling of the difference between the port-charges of London and Liver- pool, in favour of the latter. This, on the export or import cargo of a vessel of 400 tons, worth pro- bably in all not less than L. 80,000, will amount to a fraction of about three-fifths per cent. The Americans, who can afford to build the cheapest blocks in the world, and who have, from the nature of their country, the greatest command of large timber, have never thousrht of buildino; for their China trade vessels of I'^^OO tons burthen ; and, as has been already stated, carry on their success- ful commerce, after an experience of ei6 years, in ships of less than one third these dimensions. A free trader is well manned, as stated already, with seven men to a ton ; the East India Com- pany's ships require between twelve and thirteen ; and allowing for the difference of wages, are navi- gated for much more than double the charge. The East India Company's ships take at least 420 days to make a voyage to Bombay, and 480 to Bengal or to China. * An American trader to China usual- age in iivo T/cara, for they must he useless in the Thames while they are not in the actual performance of their voy- age. An American ship will make two voyages in the same time.
 * The China sliips, in fact, make no more than one voy-