ADVERTISEMENT.
America, after having been concealed for so many ages from
the rest of the world, was probably discovered, in the maturity of
time, to become the theatre for displaying the illustrious designs of
Providence, in its dispensations to the human race. These States
arose from the condition of colonies to that of an independent nation,
at an epocha, and under circumstances singularly favourable
for improvement. Previous to our revolution, though refinements
and luxuries had made but little progress, useful education had
been cultivated with care, valuable inventions had been multiplied,
and arts and sciences were in a flourishing state. In giving a scope
to the exertion of their faculties, the inhabitants of the United States
had, perhaps, fewer obstacles to impede their proficiency than the
people of any other country. There existed among them no privileged
orders, no predominant religion, no discouragement to industry,
and no exclusion from office. Wide was the field that was
opened before them for the range of the human mind. They possessed
the advantage of having in view the whole history of mankind,
to warn them against the dangers, and to save them from
the calamities to which other nations had been exposed. The examples
of the wise, the brave, and the good were not wanting to
awaken their emulation. They had an opportunity of profiting in
every thing, by the experience of all who had preceded them.
Since the conclusion of our revolutionary war, the extraordinary
prosperity
of the United States has surpassed the most sanguine
expectation. If the past is to furnish any criterion for forming a
judgment of the future, we are undoubtedly destined, as a nation,
to advance with large and rapid strides towards the summit of national
aggrandisement. Fully persuaded of the magnitude of the
blessings which await us there, the writer wishes to impress the
same conviction on the minds of his fellow citizens. Because, he
thinks, a confidence in the future felicity and glory of their country
will operate usefully in nourishing principles and producing
actions sublime and splendid as their destinies. He doubts not then
that he shall be pardoned by his countrymen for thus venturing to
explore for them the field of futurity; and he hopes the critics
will not be offended by the excursion, when they recollect that it
has ever been reputed poetic ground; for they cannot but remember
the poet and the prophet have been considered so intimately
blended together, that a common name (at least in one language)
was expressive of both. To facts we can appeal for proof, that
our most flattering anticipations have been realised at an earlier
period than we had fixed. The subsequent table of comparative
advancement in numbers and resources, will, it may fairly be expected,
shelter us in future from such ridicule as one British review
attempted heretofore to throw on American writers for their
propensity to poetical predictions.
When the author composed the description of the process of industry
in creating a navy, not one armed vessel belonged to the
government, or any individual in the United States. It will be seen
from the schedule to which reference has been made, what a number
of vessels of war (exclusive of armed merchantmen) the little
intervening time has produced. From thence the uncommon capacity
of a country possessed of such resources, with such exertion
for building, aptitude for navigating, and enterprize for employing
its navigation, may be readily calculated. Nor less important
data have we for calculating the great changes indicative of activity,
energy, and perseverance, which must succeed upon the land.
There are now several independent States (which have been admitted
as members of the union) established in those very western
regions, which the author, in a poem written during the course of
our revolution, predicted would be speedily settled under the most
happy auspices, and where, at the time when the prediction was
published, there existed not one single white inhabitant. The contemplation
of such numerous and unparalleled instances of prosperity
cannot fail to furnish our citizens with increasing motives
of praise and adoration to the Omnipotent, who has thus distinguished
them by his mercies. And such instances ought not less
to silence the scoffs of those foreigners who affected to believe that
nothing but degradation and misery would result from our independence.
If they still entertain similar sentiments, let them examine
the documents which attest the rapid growth of our population
and improvement. Or, if it be practicable, let them take a
nearer view of the sources of our augmenting wealth and strength.
Whoever shall live a few years longer, may doubtless behold, on
that continent, still greater progress in whatever can adorn or
console human nature. Who can hesitate to believe we are now
competent to the defence of our country in every conceivable
crisis? Should the United States be attacked, the writer is firmly
persuaded that he would see himself associated with nearly one
million of his countrymen in arms, determined to maintain their
rights, or perish in the attempt.
TABLE Of the Increase of Population, Improvement of Lands, Revenue, &c. &c. of the United States, from 1774 to 1799 inclusive.
| Years. |
Population. |
Improved Lands, part of 640 millions of Acres. |
Militia. |
NAVY. Vess. |
NAVY. Guns. |
Seamen. |
Exports. Dollars. |
Tonnage. Merchant Vessels. |
Receipts, Revenues, &c. |
| 1774 |
2,486,000 |
20,860,000 |
421,300 |
|
|
15,000 |
6,100,000 |
198,000 |
|
| 1784 |
3,250,000 |
21,500,000 |
541,666 |
|
|
18,000 |
10,150,000 |
250,000 |
|
| 1790 |
3,930,000 |
30,000,000 |
654,000 |
|
|
25,000 |
16,000,000 |
486,890 |
|
| 1791 |
4,047,900 |
31,000,000 |
677,650 |
|
|
28,000 |
18,399,202 |
502,698 |
4,771,342 |
| 1792 |
4,169,337 |
32,000,000 |
694,889 |
|
|
30,090 |
21,005,568 |
567,698 |
8,772,458 |
| 1793 |
4,294,417 |
33,500,000 |
715,736 |
|
|
33,060 |
26,011,788 |
627,570 |
6,450,195 |
| 1794 |
4,423,249 |
34,000,000 |
737,208 |
|
|
39,900 |
33,043,725 |
628,617 |
9,439,855 |
| 1795 |
4,555,946 |
34,550,000 |
759,324 |
|
|
45,000 |
47,855,556 |
747,964 |
9,515,758 |
| 1796 |
4,692,624 |
35,100,000 |
782,104 |
|
|
51,500 |
67,064,097 |
831,900 |
8,740,529 |
| 1797 |
4,833,402 |
35,600,000 |
805,567 |
3 |
124 |
60,200 |
51,294,710 |
876,921 |
8,758,780 |
| 1798 |
4,978,404 |
36,100,000 |
829,734 |
13 |
360 |
62,300 |
61,327,411 |
898,329 |
10,161,097 |
| 1799 |
5,127,756 |
36,300,000 |
854,626 |
42 |
950 |
63,500 |
78,665,522 |
920,000 |
12,777,487 |
Public Debt.
By authentic documents it appears
that the true amount of our national
debt, on the first of January, 1791,
was 74,185,596 dollars 82 cents; and
on the first of Jan. 1800, 70,212,718
dollars 16 cents. By which it is demonstrated
that our debt has been
diminished 3,972,878 dollars 66 cents,
notwithstanding all the embarrassments
to which our principal source of
revenue has been exposed, and the expensive
preparations for defence.
