From the Dutch East-Indies, we have imported large quantities of coffee, sugar, pepper, and other spices, and have generally paid for them, in money, or in cargoes shipped from Europe, or in bills of ex. change. The late wars in Europe, in which the Dutch were unfortunately compelled to engage, threw this trade into the hands of the American merchant, and its progressive increase will appear from the following estimate of imports from 1795 to 1801

In 1802, the quantity of coffee imported from the Dutch East-Indies, and Cape of Good Hope, was six million eight hundred twentyfive thousand two hundred and three pounds, and valued at $1,706,300, in 1804 was eight million three hundred ninety-five thousand seven hundred and eighty-three pounds, and valued at $2,098,945, and in 1807, was eight million eight hundred forty-two thousand five hundred and sixty-eight pounds. The quantity of pepper imported in 1802, was five million two hundred seventy-five thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven pounds, in 1804, four million nine hundred forty-six thousand two hundred and eighty-four pounds, and in 1807, two million five hundred eight thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven pounds. A considerable proportion of the pepper is procured by the Americans, directly from the natives of the islands.

ITALY.

The trade of the United States with Italy has consisted principally in carrying dried fish, sugar, coffee, pepper, and cocoa, and in bringing from thence, silks, wines, brandies, fruit, some lead, and cheese. The amount and increase of this commercial intercourse will be seen, from the following estimate of the exports and imports from 1795 to 1801, and of the exports from 1804 to 1813.

CHINA AND THE NORTH-WEST COAST OF AMERICA.

The trade of the United States with China commenced soon after the close of the revolutionary war. The first American vessel, that went on a trading voyage to China, sailed from the port of New-York, on the 22d day of February 1784, and returned on the 11th of May 1785. She was three hundred and sixty tons burthen, commanded by Captain John Green, and Samuel Shaw, Esq. agent for the owners. The Americans were well received by the Chinese government, and since that time, our trade with China has greatly increased.

In 1789, there were fifteen American vessels at Canton,* being a greater number, than from any other nation, except Great-Britain. For many years, we have imported more Chinese goods, than were wanted for our consumption, and which we have again exported to other countries. The principal articles imported, are teas, silks, nankeens, and China ware. Of these, tea is of the greatest value. The quantity of this article, imported and consumed within the United States, has increased with the increase of population. The following is a statement of the quantities of the several species of tea, paying duties, after deducting the exportations from the importations, for each of the years from 1790 to 1800.

It may be observed, that as some tea might have been exported without the benefit of drawback, the whole may not have been consumed in the United States, but the difference cannot be great, as it is believed, that most of the tea exported had the benefit of the drawback.

1797

206,177

224,592

2,008,399

1798

1,392,271 185,359 1,079,139 333,349 194,616 283,861 1,890,965 1799 3,412,674 309,598 240,861 538,370 4,501,503 1800 1,891,434 694,802 533,613 677,785 3,797,634

Total, 20,444,145 3,002,806 2,380,542 2,172,975 28,000,548

Making in the whole for eleven years, twenty-eight million five hundred and forty-eight pounds, consumed in the United States, being on an average of these years, two million five hundred forty-five thousand five hundred and four pounds a year.

The following quantity of teas of all kinds was imported and exported from 1801 to 1812, viz. :

Making an average consumption for these twelve years of three million two hundred seventy-seven thousand one hundred and ninety-four pounds a year.

The value of goods paying duties ad valorem, which includes nankeens, all silk and cotton goods, and China ware, imported in 1797, from China and the East-Indies generally, but principally from the former, amounted to $922,161. The average value of goods paying the same duties, from China and other native Asiatic powers during the years 1802, 1803, and 1804, was about two millions three hundred thousand dollars.

From 1805 to 1813, the value of the same goods was as follows, viz.:

The balance of trade with China, as it appears on the customhouse books, is much against the United States; as few articles, either domestic or foreign, are shipped directly from the United States to that country. The payments for Chinese goods have been generally made in specie, the exportation of which is not entered at the custom-house, or in seal skins, taken in the South Seas, and furs procured on the North-West Coast of America, and carried from those places, directly to China, without being brought to the United States. The amount of specie exported to China, it is difficult to ascertain, with precision. From information, however, derived from well informed merchants concerned in the trade, and from the value of imports, it cannot for some years past have been less, (except during the late war) than between two and three millions annually. The amount of trade in seal skins and furs, it is much more difficult to ascertain, The great prices obtained at Canton, for furs procured on the North