It appears, by the foregoing account of the veffels employed in this trade since the War, that the Number of British vessels, so employed, exceeds the Number of American vessels, so employed, 98 fhips; and the Quantity of British Tonnage, so employed, exceeds the Quantity of American Tonnage, fo employed, 26,031 tons. As there was no diftinction before the war between ships belonging to the inhabitants of the countries now under the dominion of the United States, and the other parts of the British Dominions, it is impoffible to state, with certainty, what was the proportion of each defcription of fhips then employed in this branch of Commerce. The Veffels, fo employed, were then of three forts. First-Veffels belonging to Merchants refident in the British European Dominions. Secondly-Veffels belonging to British Merchants, occasionally refident in thofe Colonies, that now form the United States. Thirdly-Veffels belonging to Merchants, who were Natives and permanent Inhabitants of thofe Colonies, that now form the United States. The following Table will fhew the Proportion of each Defcription of Veffels, claffed in the manner before mentioned, then employed in this Branch of Commerce, according to the beft information that can be obtained: From the foregoing Table it is evident, that the Proportion of Vesfels, classed under the beforementioned descriptions, varied according to the different Colonies, now forming the United States, with which the Commerce of Great-Britain was then carried on; the quantity of shipping fo employed which belonged, either to the inhabitants of Great Britain, or to British Merchants occafionally refident in the faid Colonies, being much greater in the commercial intercourse, then carried on with the Southern Colonies, than with the Northern Colonies, particularly thofe of New England.-But, upon the whole, there is reason to believe, from calculations founded on the foregoing Table, as well as from other information, that the Proportion of Tonnage, employed before the War in this branch of Commerce, which belonged to the Inhabitants of Great Britain, was about 4-8ths and an half; and the Proportion, which belonged to British Merchants, occafionally refident in the Colonies now forming the United States, was about one-eighth and an half, making together nearly fix-eighths of the whole; and that the Proportion of Ton nage 1 of vef ing to who es and habi Co DOW nited nage fo employed, which belonged to Merchants, who were then Natives and permanent Inhabitants of the Colonies now forming the United States, was rather more than two-eighths of the whole. At present the Proportion of Tonnage, employed in this branch of Commerce, belonging to the Merchants of Great Britain, is nearly fix-eighths of the whole; and the Proportion of Tonnage, belonging to the Merchants of the United States, is rather more than twoeighths of the whole; fo that, in this view of the fubject, though the Quantity of Shipping, employed between Great Britain and the countries now under the dominion of the United States, has fince the War decreased on the whole in the degree before ftated, yet, allowing for this decrease, the share of the shipping which belongs to the Merchants of Great Britain, has encreased in the proportion of one-eighth and an half; (the share of the fhipping, which before the War belonged to British Merchants, occafionally refident in the Colonies now forming the United States, being transferred to Merchants refident in Great Britain), and the fhare of the fhipping fo employed, which now belongs to Merchants, fubjects of the United States, and permanent Inhabitants thereof, is nearly the fame as it was before the War. Veffels employed between Great Britain and the remaining British Colonies in North America. Number and Tonnage of British veffels clearing out- Number and Tonnage of ditto, fo employed, entering inwards, on a like average Medium of the Average-Number and Tonnage of Bri Ships. Tons. 273-12,857 tish veffels entering inwards, and clearing outwards 261-11,219 of Number and Tonnage of British veffels, clearing outwards, employed in this trade, on an average the years 1787, 1788, and 1789, fince the War Number and Tonnage of ditto fo employed, entering inwards, on a like average Medium of the Average-Number and Tonnage of British Veffels entering inwards, and clearing outwards 486-61,858 249-30,355 367-46,106 By the foregoing Averages it appears, that the Number of Vessels employed between Great Britain and the remaining Colonies in North America, being all British ships, has increased since the War in the proportion of about One-half, being 106 veffels more than it was before the War; and the Quantity of Tonnage has increased 34,887 tons, being in the proportion of about four times more than it was before the War. Veffels employed between Great Britain and the Number and Tonnage of British veffels clearing out- Indies, Indies, on an average of the years 1770, 1771, Number and Tonnage of ditto, fo employed, en- Medium of the Average-Number and Tonnage of British veffels, entering inwards, and clearing outwards Number and Tonnage of British veffels clearing outwards, and employed yearly in the trade between Great Britain and the British Islands in the Weft Indies, on an average of the years 1787, 1788, and 1789, fince the War Number and Tonnage of ditto, fo employed, entering inwards, on a like average Medium of the Average-Number and Tonnage of British veffels, entering inwards, and clearing outwards Ships. Tons. 420-75,143 563-85,821 491-80,482 531-128,207 588-139,265 559-133,736 By these last averages it appears, that the Number of Veffels employed between Great Britain and the British islands in the West Indies, being all British fhips, is, fince the War, 68 fhips more than before the War, and has therefore increased in the proportion of about one-feventh; and that the Quantity of Tonnage is, fince the War, 53,254 tons more than it was before the War, and has therefore increased in the proportion of more that fiveeighths. It is of importance alfo to obferve, that, before the War, a part of the ships annually employed in bringing to Great Britain. the |