31To Thomas Jefferson from Noah Webster, Jr., 31 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer of this, Mr. John Jenkins, will present with this, a Method of teaching the art of penmanship, which appears to me to be in some measure novel and very ingenious. If his plan should make the same impression on you, I flatter myself it will receive your patronage and encouragement.—I have the Honor to be Sir, with great respect your obedt hum Servt RC ( NNP ); endorsed by TJ as...
32III. Extracts from Speech of William Pitt, April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Extracts from a Speech of Mr. Pitt’s in the British house of Commons published in a London Gazette of April—1790. The exports of GBritain Sterg. £18.513.000 N.B. of this Sum £13.494.000. was Bh. Manufactures Imports £17.828.000 9224 Vessels in 1773 navigated by 63,000 Seaman. } Tonnage 11.085 do. in 1778 83000 do. A statement of the Duke of Portlands of 1783 states the manufactures of...
33IV. Notes on American Trade with Ireland, [1790?] (Jefferson Papers)
Ireland [1790?] Dublin, West Coast the emporium, more flax ceed and potash, exported from the U.S. than to all the other ports put together—and also more linen imported than from all the other ports together, altho the vessells generally return, in only a small part loaded, as a full cargo of Linnen would amount to £80,000 Sterling, and the Cargoes of seed, and Ashes seldom to more than 3. or...
34I. The Governor of Massachusetts to the Secretary of State, 25 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Having laid your Letter of the 24th. of August last before the Legislature of this Commonwealth; an order passed that assembly appointing a Committee to meet as soon as may be, and consult, and determine the proper means of obtaining full, and authentic information respecting the Whale, and Cod fisherys as heretofore, and now carried on in this Commonwealth and to lay the same before the...
35Enclosure: Peleg Coffin, Jr. and Others to John Hancock, 13 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Pursuant to a Resolution of the Legislature of Massachusetts passed the 17th Ultimo we have endeavoured to collect full and Authentic information respecting the Cod and Whale fisheries as heretofore, and now carried on in this Commonwealth. Your Excellency must be sensible that in executing the business assigned us we could derive no Aid from any Public office establish’d in this Government...
36II. Tench Coxe’s Notes on the Dutch and Prussian Fisheries, [ca. 23 November 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Notes on the Dutch Fisheries . 1st the Whale fishery. The whale Fishery was carried on previous to the year 1645 by the Groenland or northern Company, who had obtained an exclusive right from the Government for that purpose. Their charter expired in the Year 1741, after which the business declined so much, that the States found little enducement to renew the privilege, but declared the fishery...
37III. Tench Coxe’s Notes on the American Fisheries, [ca. 23 November 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Since the discovery of the Compass every nation, adjacent to the Ocean, has manifested great and constant solicitude about the fisheries within their intermediate reach; and the skillful and enterprizing have extended their views to the most remote foreign Scenes. The two greatest naval powers of Europe have discovered very high ideas of this object by their free use of bounties and...
38IV. Tench Coxe to the Secretary of State, 29 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Coxe has the honor to enclose to Mr. Jefferson a letter containing some further information concerning the fisheries: also the table of prices refer’d to in his notes, and a little estimate of the profits of the cod fishery. Mr. Anthony was bred to the Sea out of Rhode Island, is a man of judgment and probity, and is now a partner of one of the principal houses in Philadelphia, who do half...
39Enclosure I: Joseph Anthony to Tench Coxe, 27 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter of the 18th Instant to Hewes & Anthony was duly Receaved, the Contents of which; and of the Inclosures fell more Immediately under my Notice, from my being a Native of New England, and in Early life Conversant in the Business to which this Enquiry Relates, the whole of which I have had under Consideration, and here give you the most Correct and Early Information, that I can...
40Enclosure II: Answers to Queries on the Fisheries by Joseph Anthony, [ca. 27 November 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Queries MS ( DLC ); queries in the hand of a clerk, answers in the hand of Joseph Anthony; address leaf bears the following in Tench Coxe’s hand: “The Honorable Thomas Jefferson Esquire” and the following notation by TJ (the first word being in the printed style similar to that used in the report on the fisheries of 1 Feb. 1791): “Fisheries. < Cod & whale Fishery > Papers from Mr. Coxe”; at...
41Enclosure III: Joseph Anthony’s Table of Prices (Jefferson Papers)
Dried Fish. The average of 1770 to 1775 Not dumb’d Fish in 1789 to 1790 Best Cod ⅌ 112 18 /to 25/L.M. 16/ L.Money 2nd. quality 14/ to 15/ 12/ @ 13/ 3rd. do. if any such 12/ @ 13/ 10/ @ 11/ 4th. do if any such Scale Fish.
42V. Memoranda by James Madison, [January 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
G. Britain from At war At peace May 1689 to Sepr. 1697 = 8y. 4m. to May 1702 = 4y. 8m. May 1702 to
43VI. Christopher Gore to Tobias Lear, 10 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
A few weeks since, a gentleman by the name of Stokes, arrivd from Great Britain at some port in the Southern States on his way to Nantucket, to which place he went, and remained there some weeks. He then came to Boston, and embarked for Halifax. From what I have heard I am induc’d to believe this gentleman came from England, by the direction of Lord Hawkesbury and Mr. Grenville, for the...
44VII. Jefferson’s Notes and Outline for the Report, [January 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Observations Our advantages for the cod fishery are Champion says the cost of supplies to N.F.L. from U.S. and from Engld. are as 4:7 Resources for making seamen. We have no market for half of our common fish. Which renders W.I. markets so essential. Fisheries are manufactures, because they create produce. Every man we employ in fishing counts as 2. because withdraw him, and it leaves empty...
45VIII. The Secretary of State to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, [1 February 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
I have now the honor of enclosing you the Report on the subject of the Fisheries of the United States which the House of Representatives had required from me. However long the delay, I can assure you, Sir, with truth that it has not been a moment longer than the difficulty of procuring and digesting the materials necessarily occasioned. I enclose at the same time extracts from a letter of Mr....
46IX. Report on the American Fisheries by the Secretary of State, 1 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State, to whom was referred by the House of Representatives, the representation from the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the subjects of the Cod and Whale Fisheries, together with the several papers accompanying it, has had the same under consideration and thereupon makes the following Report. The representation sets forth that, before the late war,...
47No. 1: An Historical View of the Cod-fisheries of France, England, and the United States (Jefferson Papers)
An Historical View of the Cod-fisheries of France, England, and the United States. France England United States Vessels Tonage Seamen Rentals Value Dollars Vessels Tonage Seamen Rentals Value Dollars Vessels Tonage Seamen Kentals Value Dollars 1577
48No. 2: State of Code fishery of Massachusetts from 1765 to 1775. From 1786 to 1790, Inclusive (Jefferson Papers)
State of Code fishery of Massachusetts from 1765 to 1775. From 1786 to 1790, Inclusive Vessels annually Tonnage Seamen. Kentals to Europe @ 3.5 D. Kentals to W: Indies @ 2.6 D. Vessels annually Tonnage Seamen Rentals to Europe @ 3.D. Rentals to West Indies @ 2. D. Marblehead 150 7,500 1200 80,000 40,000 90 5,400 720
49No. 3: Abstract of the Produce of the Fisheries exported from the United States, from about August 20th. 1789, to … (Jefferson Papers)
Abstract of the Produce of the Fisheries exported from the United States, from about August 20th. 1789, to September 30th. 1790. Fish dried Fish pickled Oil-Whale Oil spermaceti Whale bone Candles spermaceti Total Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value
50No. 4: Abstract of articles imported into the United States from British colonies for one year, commencing the 15th. … (Jefferson Papers)
Abstract of articles imported into the United States from British colonies for one year, commencing the 15th. August 1789 and ending on the 14th. of August 1790, as far as the accounts have been rendered. 6,343 barrels of pickled Fish. Cwt. 3,701. 2.20 ℔ s. of dried Fish. Note. Oil and Lumber imported, paying a Duty ad valorem, the quantity of each can only be ascertained by the several...
51No. 5., 1 February 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
We the Subscribers being a Committee appointed by the Owners of fishing Vessels in the Town of Marblehead, to take into Consideration the many Grievances and Burdens the Cod fishery now labors under, and to make a Statement of them, which Statement so made to be handed to Colo. Glover, by him to be laid before the Committee of the General Court appointed to consider the same, do report the...
52No. 6: An estimate of the Duties paid by the Proprietors and Navigators of a fishing Vessel of 65 tons and 11 hands (Jefferson Papers)
An estimate of the Duties paid by the Proprietors and Navigators of a fishing Vessel of 65 tons and 11 hands. dolls. Duty on Salt 80.25 Rum 14. Tea 2.54 Sugar 3.3 Molasses .99 Coarse woolens 7.33 Lines, lead and hooks 2.09 Sail cloth, yearly average 2.5 Cordage, cables do.
53No. 7., 1 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Holland England Holland England 1578 Basques 25. 1758 159 52 1612 2 1759 155 34 1615 11 4 1760 154 40
54No. 12: State of the Whale Fishery in Massachusetts from 1771 to 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
Ports from which the Equipments were made. The number of vessels fitted out Annually for the Northern Fishery Their Tonnage The number of vessels fitted out Annually for the Sorthern Fishery Their Tonnage The number of Seamen employed Barrels of Spermaceti Oil taken annually Barrels of Whale Oil taken annually Nantucket 65 4,875 85 10,200 2,025 26,000 4,000 Wellfleet 20 1,600 10
55No. 14: Abstract of Live stock exported from the United States from about August 20th. 1789 to September 30th. 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Abstract of Live stock exported from the United States from about August 20th. 1789 to September 30th. 1790, from Returns in the Treasury Office. French W. Indies All other countries Total Heads Value Heads Value Heads Value Horned Cattle 3573 66,915 1833 33,045 5,406 99,960 Horses 6970 263,281
56No. 15: Grain and Flour imported from the United States of America into the Ports of France, in the Year 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Grain and Flour imported from the United States of America into the Ports of France, in the Year 1789. from an official Statement. French kentals. } equal to } 24,680 Tierces of 500 French pounds each. Rice 123,401 69 Flour 256,545 94 140,959 American barrels. Wheat 2,015,297 3 3,664,176 }
57No. 16: Statement of the Vessels entered in the Ports of France from the U. S. of America in the Year 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Office of the Balance of Commerce of France } Statement of the Vessels entered in the Ports of France from the U. S. of America in the Year 1789. Vessels Tons French 13 2,105 Imperial 3 370 English 43 4,781 Dutch 1 170 Hanseatic 1 200
58No. 17: Abstract of the Tonnage of foreign Vessels entered in the Ports of the United States from October 1st. 1789 to … (Jefferson Papers)
Abstract of the Tonnage of foreign Vessels entered in the Ports of the United States from October 1st. 1789 to September 30th. 1790. France 13,435 Holland 8,815 Sweden 311 Prussia 394 Spain 8,551 Portugal 2,924 Denmark 1,619 Germany 1,368 British Dominions 225,495 262,912
59No. 18: on “the encouragement of our carrying Business,” 1 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
That the encouragement of our carrying Business is interesting, not only to the carrying States but in a high degree also to the others, will result from the following Facts. Dollars. The whole exports of the United States may be stated at 25,000,000 Great Britain carries ⅖ of these in value, that is to say 10,000,000 Freight and Insurance on this in times of peace, are about 22½ per Cent...
60X. Thomas Jefferson to John Hancock, 20 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
With many thanks for the papers and information you were pleased to have procured for me on the important subject of the fisheries, I do myself the honour of now inclosing you a copy of my report to the house of representatives. From the disposition I see prevailing in the principal mass of the Southern members to take measures which may secure to us the principal markets for the produce of...