Part 17 (2/2)

_Made up from the Public Accounts for one year, ending the 5th day of January, 1798; but differing with regard to the value, from those accounts; in which the price is estimated on data established many years ago, when the articles of commerce imported and exported were not rated at above half the sum they now fetch,_ exclusive _of duty._

_It is, therefore, to be understood that the following Estimate of Foreign Articles is made up according to the_ present value, _as nearly as it has been possible to ascertain it, by the payment of the Convoy-duties, under the Act 38 Geo. 3. cap. 76--It exhibits a very astonis.h.i.+ng picture of the immense opulence and extent of the commerce of the Metropolis; and accounts in a very satisfactory manner for the vast resources of the Country, which have been manifested in so eminent a degree in the course of the present and former wars._

From whence Number of Average Value of Goods Value of Goods Total Value of arrived. vessels Tonnage. Imported. Exported. Goods imported including and exported.

repeated voyages.

. s. d. . s. d. . s. d.

East Indies 53 41,456 6,544,402 10 2 3,957,905 5 1 10,502,307 15 3 West Indies 346 101,484 7,118,623 12 8 3,895,313 18 7 11,013,937 11 3 British Continental Colonies 68 13,986 290,894 4 10 1,347,250 1 7 1,638,144 6 5 Africa and Cape of Good Hope 17 4,336 82,370 15 0 449,077 19 3 531,446 15 1 Southern Fishery 29 7,461 250,689 3 2 54 16 4 250,743 19 6 Greenland Fishery 16 4,769 64,142 0 8 0 0 0 64,142 0 8 United States of America 140 32,213 1,517,386 2 8 3,898,864 12 9 5,416,250 15 5 Mediterranean and Turkey 72 14,757 390,794 19 10 118,914 3 7 509,709 3 5 Spain 121 16,509 776,686 12 2 171,073 4 6 947,759 17 8 Portugal 180 27,670 414,359 7 2 438,877 16 2 853,237 3 4 France 56 5,573 15,951 17 8 859,974 16 0 875,926 13 8 Austrian Flanders 66 5,104 21,027 3 2 118,064 2 2 139,091 5 4 Holland 329 19,166 673,241 17 4 1,538,120 3 6 2,211,362 0 10 Germany 235 37,647 2,658,011 8 2 8,014,260 3 0 10,672,271 11 2 Prussia 608 56,955 220,827 14 0 211,662 12 0 432,490 6 0 Poland 69 17,210 207,477 0 0 35,468 18 3 242,945 18 3 Sweden 109 14,252 152,707 6 10 169,293 18 4 322,001 5 2 Denmark and Norway 202 48,469 94,821 3 6 711,082 10 8 805,903 14 2 Russia 230 56,131 1,565,118 7 6 452,106 16 7 2,017,225 4 1

Foreign Coasting (Including repeated voyages.) Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney 46 5,344 218,916 12 8 83,281 12 1 302,198 4 9 Ireland 276 32,824 1,878,971 7 2 659,922 14 1 2,538,894 1 3

British Coasting[53]

(Including repeated voyages.) Coal Trade 3676 650,000 1,700,000 0 0 10,000 0 0 1,710,000 0 0 English Coasting incl. Wales 5816 500,000 3,900,000 0 0 2,200,000 0 0 6,100,000 0 0 Scotch Coasting 684 60,000 300,000 0 0 300,000 0 0 500,000 0 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 13,444 1,779,326 30,957,421 8 2 29,640,568 4 6 60,597,989 12 8

[Footnote 53: No rule being established, whereby the British Coasting trade can be valued, the Estimate here given is grounded on the supposition, that the value of each cargo must amount to a certain moderate sum.--The aggregate of the whole is believed to exceed the estimate considerably.]

RECAPITULATION.

s.h.i.+ps and Tonnage.

Vessels.

Foreign and Coasting Trade as stated in the foregoing Table 13,268 1,773,326

Value of Merchandize imported .30,957,421 8 2 Value of Merchandize exported 29,640,568 4 6 ------------------ Total imported and exported 60,597,989 12 8

To which add the Local Trade within the limits of the Port, in the Upper and Lower Thames, and the River Lea 235,000 0 0

_With a view to give the mind of the Reader a competent idea of the whole of the property upon the River Thames, which is exposed to hazard, the following estimate is added_, viz.--

1. Value of the Hull, Tackle, Apparel and Stores of 2144 British, and Coasting vessels, trading to the port of London, without including, as above, the repeated voyages 8,825,000 0 0

2. Value of the Hull, Tackle, and Stores of 3507 Lighters, Barges, Punts, Hoys, Sloops, &c. employed in the Trade of the Thames, River Lea, &c. 350,000 0 0

3. Value of 3349 Wherries, b.u.mboats, and Police Boats employed on the River, &c. 25,000 0 0 ---------------- 70,032,989 12 8

4. Value of Goods, including Coals, exposed in Craft and upon the Quays, to the risque of pillage on an average each day in the year; (Exclusive of the Public a.r.s.enals, s.h.i.+ps of War, Gunboats, Transports, and Hoys, for conveying Navy, Victualing, and Ordnance Stores, nearly equal to five Millions more) 235,000 0 0 ---------------- General Total 70,267,989 12 8 ----------------

Let the mind only contemplate this proud view of the Commerce of a Single River, unparalleled in point of extent and magnitude in the whole world; where 13,444 s.h.i.+ps and vessels discharge and receive in the course of a year above three _Millions of Packages_, many of which contain very valuable articles of merchandize, greatly exposed to depredations, not only from the criminal habits of many of the aquatic labourers and others who are employed, but from the temptations to plunder, arising from the confusion unavoidable in a crowded port, and the facilities afforded in the disposal of stolen property.--It will then be easily conceived, that the plunder must have been excessive, especially where from its a.n.a.logy to smuggling, at least in the conceptions of those who were implicated; and from its gradual increase, the culprits seldom were restrained by a sense of the moral turpitude of the offence; and where for want of a _Marine Police_ applicable to the object, no means existed whereby offenders could be detected on the River.[54]

[Footnote 54: While every thing connected with the present state of Europe, and the whole Commercial world, appears favourable for the accomplishment of the aggrandis.e.m.e.nt of the port of London, by the establishment of Docks (already in part adopted by the Legislature) and by a general Warehousing System, there is no opinion more erroneous and delusive than that which supposes that arrangements of this kind will supersede the necessity of a Police for the protection of the trade, and for the preservation of the public peace within these extensive repositories.

In what manner are from two to three thousand labourers, who must be frequently employed at the same time within these Docks, (and those too of a cla.s.s that have been accustomed to plunder, and are not restrained by any sense of the turpitude of the action) to be over-awed and controlled, if no Police shall be conceived necessary?

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