'It remains with the States to determine what measures they will take, to discourage a commerce, the most impoverishing and ruinous that can be imagined,-to promote a more beneficial intercourse with the rest of Europe,-and to support their own manufactures and navigation; for on such measures alone can they have any dependence in future.'

The measures alluded to were such a reorganization of the Government, as would enable Congress to pass laws to promote the ends alluded to.

The following alludes to the proceedings of the Boston association of manufacturers and tradesmen' in 1785, and to their resolutions for the encouragement of domestic industry. It is from a letter of Mr. Adams, dated June 17th, 1785.

'I forgot a circumstance of some consequence. His Lordship said he had seen, in the gazettes, some proceedings in Boston, which he was very sorry to see. I answered that I had seen them in the same gazettes, as I supposed, and had no more authentic account of them; that I had no authority to say any thing officially about them; but as an individual I might say, that the observations I had just had the honor to make to his Lordship, concerning the state of the commerce between the two countries, would be sufficient to explain to his Lordship the motives of those proceedings, and to convince his Lordship of the probability of such sentiments and proceedings becoming general throughout the United States, and alienating the commerce of that country from this, either by increasing manufactures in America, or opening new channels of commerce with other countries, which might easily be done, unless some arrangements were made which might facilitate remittances.'

But we have already exceeded the limits proposed to ourselves in this article, and can allude only with brevity to a few other points. Very valuable papers relative to, the Northeastern boundary, are contained in the fourth volume of the work; among them a deposition of Mitchel,-the author of the map, which was used in drawing up the article on this subject, in the treaty of peace. Mr. Barclay's memoir on the empire of Morocco, in the same volume, is excellent. The whole conduct of this gentleman in the successful negotiation of a treaty with Morocco, is a model of prudent and successful management with a barbarous prince; if barbarous he ought to be called, who displayed, throughout the negotiations, a liberality and good faith, which might be studied to advantage by half the governments of Christendom. A separate treatise on the commence

ment of our relations with the Barbary powers might be drawn up from the rich materials contained in these volumes. The negociations with Gardoqui, the Spanish Chargé d'Affaires, are full of interest. They were conducted by Mr. Jay, on the part of the United States, with the ability and discretion. which characterized that great man, we had almost said, beyond all his contemporaries. It is certainly not too much to say, that with any thing less than his unerring sagacity and never surpassed perception of right, in the office which he filled, that of Secretary for foreign affairs to the Continental Congress, the efforts of our ministers abroad, to conduct our relations with foreign powers from 1783 to 1789, with any tolerable respectability, could hardly have succeeded.

The last volume closes with very curious papers relative to the opening of the China trade. Our readers, we are sure, will think us warranted, in quoting the whole of the following letter.

From Samuel Shaw to John Jay.

NEW YORK, MAY 19th, 1785. 'Sir,-The first vessel, that has been fitted out by the inhabitants of the United States of America, for essaying a commerce with those of the empire of China, being, by the favor of Heaven, safe returned to this port, it becomes my duty to communicate to you, for the information of the fathers of the country, an account of the reception their subjects have met with, and the respect, with which their flag has been treated, in that distant region; especially as some circumstances have occurred, which had a tendency to attract the attention of the Chinese towards a people, of whom they have hitherto had very confused ideas; and which served, in a peculiar manner, to place the Americans in a more conspicuous point of view, than has hitherto attended the ntroduction of other nations, into that great and extensive empire.

'The ship employed on this occasion is about three hundred and sixty tons burthen, built in America, and equipped with forty-three persons, under the command of John Green, Esq. The subscriber had the honor of being appointed agent for their commerce, by the gentlemen, at whose risk this first experiment has been undertaken.

'On the 22d of February, 1784, the ship sailed from New York, and arrived on the 21st of March at St. Jago, the principal of the Cape de Verd Islands. Having paid our respects to the Portuguese Vice Roy, and with his permission taken such

refreshments as were necessary, we left those islands on the 27th, and pursued our voyage. After a pleasant passage, in which nothing extraordinary occurred, we came to anchor in the straits of Sunda, on the 18th July. It was no small addition to our happiness, on this occasion, to meet there two ships, belonging to our good allies, the French. The commodore, Monsieur Dordelin, and his officers, welcomed us in the most affectionate manner; and as his own ship was immediately bound to Canton, gave us an invitation to go in company with him. This friendly offer we most cheerfully accepted; and the commodore furnished us his signals by day and night, and added such instructions for our passage through the China seas, as would have been exceedingly beneficial, had any unfortunate accident occasioned our separation. Happily we pursued our route together. On our arrival at the island of Macao, the French consul for China, Monsieur Vieillard, with some other gentlemen of his nation, came on board to congratulate and welcome us to that part of the world, and kindly undertook the introduction of the Americans to the Portuguese Governor. The little time we were there, was entirely taken up by the good offices of the consul, the gentlemen of his nation, and those of the Swedes and Imperialists, who still remained at Macao. The other Europeans had repaired to Canton. Three days afterwards we finished our outward bound voyage. Previous to coming to anchor, we saluted the shipping on the river with thirteen guns, which were answered by the several commodores of the European nations, each of whom sent an officer to compliment us on our arrival. These visits were returned by the captain and supercargoes in the afternoon, who were again saluted by the respective ships, as they finished their visit. When the French sent their officers to congratulate us, they added to the obligations we were already under to them, by furnishing men, boats, and anchors, to assist us in coming to safe and convenient moorings. Nor did their good offices stop here. They furnished us with part of their own banksall, and insisted further, that until we were settled, we should take up our quarters with them at Canton.

As

The day of our arrival at Canton, and the two following days, we were visited by the Chinese merchants, and the chiefs and gentlemen of the several European establishments, and treated by them in all respects as a free and independent nation. such, during our stay, we were universally considered. The Chinese themselves were very indulgent toward us, though ours being the first American ship that had ever visited China, it was some time before they could fully comprehend the distinction between Englishmen and us. They styled us the new people; and

when by the map we conveyed to them an idea of the extent of our country, with its present and increasing population, they were highly pleased at the prospect of so considerable a market for the productions of theirs.

"The situation of the Europeans at Canton is so well known, as to render a detail unnecessary. The good understanding commonly subsisting between them and the Chinese was, in some degree, interrupted by two occurrences, of which, as they were extraordinary in themselves, and led to a more full investigation of the American character by both parties, than might otherwise have taken place, I will, with your permission, give a particular account.

'The police at Canton is, at all times, extremely strict, and the Europeans there are circumscribed within very narrow limits. The latter had observed, with concern, some circumstances which they deemed an encroachment on their rights. On this consideration, they determined to apply for redress to the Hoppo, who is the head officer of the customs, the next time he should visit the shipping. Deputies accordingly attended from every nation, and I was desired to represent ours. We met the Hoppo on board an English ship, and the causes of complaint were soon after removed.

The other occurrence, of which I beg leave to take notice, gave rise to what was commonly called the Canton war, which threatened to be productive of very serious consequences. On the 25th of November, an English ship, in saluting some company who had dined on board, killed a Chinese, and wounded two others, in the Mandarin's boat along side. It is a maxim of the Chinese law, that blood must answer for blood; in pursuance of which they demanded the unfortunate gunner. To give up this poor man was to consign him to certain death. Humanity pleaded powerfully against the measure. After repeated conferences between the English and the Chinese, the latter declared themselves satisfied, and the affair was supposed to be entirely settled. Notwithstanding this, on the morning after the last conference, (the 27th,) the supercargo of the ship was seized while attending his business, thrown into a sedan chair, hurried into the city, and committed to prison. Such an outrage on personal liberty spread a general alarm; and the Europeans unanimously agreed to send for their boats, with armed men, from the shipping, for security of themselves and their property, until the matter should be brought to a conclusion. The boats accordingly came, and ours among the number; one of which was fired on and a man wounded. All trade was stopped, and the Chinese men-of-war drawn up opposite the factories. The EuVOL. XXXIX.--NO. 85.

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ropeans demanded the restoration of Mr. Smith, which the Chinese refused, until the gunner should be given up. In the mean while, the troops of the province were collecting in the neighborhood of Canton; the Chinese servants were ordered by the magistrates to leave the factories; the gates of the suburbs were shut; all intercourse was at an end; the naval force was increased; many troops were embarked in boats ready for landing; and every thing wore the appearance of war. To what extremities matters might have been carried, had not a negotiation taken place, no one can say. The Chinese asked a conference with all the nations, except the English. A deputation, in which I was included for America, met the Fuen, (Fo-yuen,) who is the head magistrate at Canton, with the principal officers of the province. After setting forth, by an interpreter, the power of the Emperor, and his own determination to support the laws, he demanded that the gunner should be given up, within three days; declaring that he should have an impartial examination before their tribunal, and if it appeared that the affair was accidental, he should be released unhurt. In the meantime he gave permission for the trade, excepting that of the English, to go on as usual; and dismissed us with a present of two pieces of silk to each, as a mark of his friendly disposition. The other nations, one after another, sent away their boats, under protection of a Chinese flag, and pursued their business as before. The English were obliged to submit; the gunner was given up; Mr. Smith was released; and the English, after being forced to ask pardon of the magistracy of Canton, in the presence of the other nations, had their commerce restored. On this occasion, I am happy that we were the last who sent off our boat, which was not disgraced by a Chinese flag; nor did she go, until the English themselves thanked us for our concurrence with them, and advised to the sending her away. After peace was restored, the Chief and four English gentlemen visited the several nations, among whom we were included, and thanked them for their assistance, during the troubles. The gunner remained with the Chinese, his fate undetermined.

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"Notwithstanding the treatment we received from all parties was perfectly civil and respectful, yet, it was with peculiar satisfaction that we experienced, on every occasion, from our good allies the French, the most flattering and substantial proofs of their friendship. "If," said they, we have in any instance been serviceable to you, we are happy; and we desire nothing more ardently, than further opportunities to convince you of our affection." The harmony maintained between them and us was particularly noticed by the English, who more than once observed, that it was matter of astonishment to them, that the descendants of