RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE AMERICAN NAVY. OF F CHAPTER E⠀⠀⠀⠀RNIA Rise and Progress of the American Navy, from its Origin to the commencement of the Revolution, 1775. IT is not the intention of the author of this work, to puff off a conqueror, or emblazon a hero; but to delineate the exploits of great and good men. To accomplish this, it will be necessary to exhibit to view not only their own personal achievements, but to unite them with a general sketch of the great events which have marked the rise and progress of American commerce, and the American Navy; that by associating causes and effects, the reader may enjoy an extensive view of the whole field. This subject will not only be interesting, but exhibit to the world, at the same time, a train of the most astonishing events, which have ever been recorded in the whole family of man. The commerce of the first settlers of North America, in the fore part of the 17th century, was confined to the article of small furs and peltry, principally, which were procured of the natives; to these were soon added, tobacco, grain, provisions, lumber of various kinds, &c. and before the middle of that century, the whale and cod fisheries, and ship building, afforded valuable arti cles of commerce. Before the century closed, hemp, flax, oil, copper ore, pig and bar iron, whale fins, indigo, flax seed, and rum, were added to their exports, and the whole taken collectively, laid the foundation of a commerce, that with England alone, at that time, exceeded one million sterling annually, exclusive of their trade with France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, and the other commercial nations of Europe, and the West Indies. About the first of the 18th century, tar and pitch were ranked among their exports. Cotton was introduced into Carolina soon after, and was added to the commercial staples of the south, and ranked among their most valuable exports. Such was the progress of the commerce of British. America, at the commencement of the Revolution in 1775, that their annual exports amounted to more than 4000,000l. sterling. The cod and whale fisheries formed very important items in this commercial aggregate. At that time the number of vessels employed in the cod fisheries amounted to six hundred and sixty-five, and their tonnage to twenty-five thousand six hundred and thirty; manned by more than four thousand seamen. The annual amount of fish exported, exceeded 350,000 quintals, which, at $3 the quintal, exceeded the sum of $1,050,000, besides pickled fish in barrels, of about one half or two thirds of that sum, making an annual aggregate of more than $1,500,000. These fish were sold principally in the south of Europe, and the West Indies and brought in exchange specie, wine, brandy, West India goods, &c. The commercial advantages of the whale fishery were also at the same time very considerable. This fishery commenced at the island of Nantucket in 1690, along the American coast, and as early as 1715, they employed six sloops of 30 tons each; but as adventurers engaged in the pursuit, it extended into other regions and other climes. As early as 1730, the Americans employed more than 300 tons of shipping in this fishery, and at the commencement of the Revolution, the colony of Massachusetts employed more than 13000 tons, and more than 4000 seamen. The enterprise of the Americans at that time is very hand |