laboring poor of America,
comprehending slaves under that denomination, are clothed in three
of the simplest manufactures possible; to wit, oznaburgs, plains,
and duffel blankets. The first is a linen; the two last, woollens. It
happens, too, that they are used exactly by those who cultivate
the tobacco and rice, and in a good degree by those employed in the
whale-fishery. To these manufactures they are so habituated, that no
substitute will be received. If the vessels which bring tobacco, rice,
and whale-oil, do not find them in the ports of delivery, they must be
sought where they can be found; that is, in England, at present. If they
were made in France, they would be gladly taken in exchange there. The
quantities annually used by this description of people, and their value,
are as follows:

Oznaburgs 2,700,000 aunes, at sixteen sous the aune, worth
2,160,000

Plains 1,350,000 aunes, at two livres the aune,
2,700,000

Duffel Blankets 300,000 aunes, at seven and 4/5ths livres each
2,160,000
----------
7,020,000

It would be difficult to say, how much should be added, for the
consumption of inhabitants of other descriptions; a great deal surely.
But the present view shall be confined to the one description named.
Seven millions of livres, are nine millions of days' work, of those who
raise, spin, and weave the wool and flax; and, at three hundred working
days to the year, would maintain thirty thousand people. To introduce
these simple manufactures, suppose government to give five per cent, on
the value of what should be exported of them, for ten years to come: if
none should be exported, nothing would be to be paid: but on the other
hand, if the manufactures, with this encouragement, should rise to
the full demand, it will be a sacrifice of three hundred and fifty-one
thousand livres a year, for ten years only, to produce a perpetual
subsistence for more than thirty thousand people (for the demand will
grow with our population); while she must expend perpetually one million
two hundred and eighty-five thousand livres a year, to maintain the
three thousand five hundred and seventy seamen, who would supply her
with whale-oil. That is to say, for each seaman, as much as for thirty
laborers and manufacturers.

But to return to our subject, and to conclude.

Whether, then, we consider the _Arret_ of September the 28th, in a
political or a commerc