The account of the number of veffels from whence these averages are taken, includes their repeated voyages. It has decreased fince the war 1690 fhips, or is three-fourths lefs than it was before the war. The quantity of tonnage has decreased 45,001 tons, or rather lefs than half what it was before the war: but five-eighths of these vessels, before the war, belonged to merchants, permanent inhabitants of the countries now under the dominion of the United States; and three-eighths to British merchants refiding occafionally in the faid countries. At that time very few veffels belonging to British merchants, refident in the British European dominions or in the British islands in the Weft Indies, had a fhare in this trade. The veffels employed in this trade can now only belong to British subjects residing in the present British dominions. Many veffels now go from the ports of Great . Britain, carrying British manufactures to the United States; then load with lumber and provifions for the British islands in the West Indies, and return, with the produce of these M ilands, to Great Britain. The veffels fo employed are much larger than thofe in which this trade was formerly carried on, and for this reason the tonnage employed in it has decreased much less than the number of the veffels. The whole of this branch of freight may also be confidered as a new acquifition, and was obtained by your Majesty's order in council before mentioned, which has operated to the increase of British navigation, compared to that of the United States, in a double ratio; but it has taken from the navigation of the United States more than it has added to that of Great Britain. Veffels employed between the remaining British colonies in North America, and the British islands in the West Indies. Number and tonnage of British veffels clearing outwards, and employed yearly in the trade between the remaining British colonies in North America and the British islands in the West Indies, on an average of the years 1770, 1771, and 1772, before the war Number and tonnage of ditto, fo employed, entering inwards, on a like average Medium of the average-number and tonnage of British veffels entering inwards and clearing outwards Number and tonnage of British veffels clearing outwards, and employed yearly in the trade between the remaining British co Ships. Tons. 15-- 753 23-1,240 19---996 lonies in North America and the British iflands in the Weft Indies, on an average of the years 1787, 1788, and 1789, fince the war Number and tonnage of ditto, fo employed, entering inwards, on a like average Medium of the average-number and tonnage of British veffels, entering inwards, and clearing outwards 156-14,513 The account of the number of veffels, from whence these averages are taken, includes their repeated voyages. The number of veffels fo employed has increafed fince the war 137 fhips, being feven times more than it was before the war and the quantity of tonnage has increafed 13,517 tons, being thirteen times more than it was before the. war. Many of these veffels before the war belonged to the inhabitants of the countries which were then British colonies, but are now under the dominion of the United States; they can now only belong to British fubjects refident in fome part of your Majefty's prefent dominions: a part of these veffels, therefore, may be confidered as a new acquifition in confequence of the order in council before mentioned. The great increase of these veffels is to be imputed to the improvement of these remaining colonies, in confequence of the great number of refugees who have reforted thither: it is to be imputed alfo to the more frequent intercourse that fubfifts at present between these colonies and the British islands in the Weft Indies, and to the great number of ships belonging to thefe colonies, or to fome other part of your Majefty's prefent dominions, which go from New foundland to the British islands in the West Indies with fish, \, a branch of freight which was almost wholly engroffed before the war by merchants who were permanent inhabitants of the countries then British colonies, but which are now under the dominion of the United States, and from which branch of freight the fubjects of these states are at present entirely excluded. As the refult of the foregoing deduction, the committee have thought fit to cause the following table to be prepared; allowance is therein made for the repeated voyages which the yeffels employed in thefe different branches of trade are supposed to make in each year; and the number and tonnage of the veffels is reduced in due proportion. This table will fhow your majesty, at one view, the increase and decrease of veffels and tonnage employed in these various branches of navigation, and how far the balance on the whole is at prefent in favour of Great Britain. |