2350. EAST INDIES, Trade to.—
Philadelphia
and New York have begun trade to the
East Indies. Perhaps Boston may follow their
example. But their importations will be sold
only to the country adjacent to them. For a
long time to come, the States south of the Delaware
will not engage in a direct commerce with
the East Indies. They neither have, nor will
have ships or seamen for their other commerce;
nor will they buy East India goods of the northern
States. Experience shows that the States
never bought foreign goods of one another.
The reasons are that they would, in so doing,
pay double freight and charges; and again that
they would have to pay mostly in cash what
they could obtain for commodities in Europe.
I know that the American merchants have
looked with some anxiety to the arrangements
to be taken with Portugal, in expectation that
they could, through her, get their East India
articles on better and more convenient terms;
and I am of opinion, Portugal will come in for
a good share of this traffic with the southern
States, if they facilitate our payments.—
To John Adams. Washington ed. i, 493.
(P.
1785)
