He returned to America in 1787, and was afterwards, for some years, engaged in the same trade, as commander of much larger vessels. These two first and successful voyages induced others to engage in the trade; and as early as 1789, fifteen American flags arrived at the port of Canton, a greater number than from any other nation, except Great Britain.* The principal articles imported into the United States from China, have been teas, silks, nankeens, and china-ware. During the late wars in Europe, the Americans, not only supplied their own country, with the article of tea, but shipped large quantities of it to different parts of Europe, to supply the wants of the belligerent nations, who were dependent on neutrals for this, as well as many other necessary foreign articles. The American trade with China may be divided into that which is direct from the United States, and that which is carried on generally, on American account, and embracing not only that between the United States and China, but that also carried on by the Americans between China and other parts of the world. The amount of the commerce of the United States with China is next to that of Great Britain. And the former, by the ancient British treaty, enjoy all the privileges of the British; and the Americans have also since negotiated a treaty of commerce and navigation. The following is a statement of the quantities of the several kinds of teas, paying duties (the exports being deducted from the imports), for each year from 1790 to 1800: Making the annual consumption for these eleven years, about 2,500,000 pounds. The following quantity of teas, of all kinds, was imported and exported, in each year, from 1801 to 1812. Making an average annual consumption of about 3,350,000 pounds. Macpherson's Annals of Commerce. From 1821 to 1833 we include the value, as estimated at Canton, as well as the quantity of teas imported and exported, in each year, during this period; and it will be remembered, that the value is estimated at Canton. Making an annual consumption, during this period, of about 7,000,000 pounds. TABLES showing the Imports and Exports of Tea into and from the United States, annually, from 1821 to 1841, inclusive. III.-IMPORTS, Exports, and Quantities of Tea, remaining on Hand, distinguishing the Kinds, from the Year 1821 to 1832, inclusive. Total...... 25,205,787 67,776,981 92,982,768' 5,499,138 12,568,866 18,068,004 19,706,649 55,208,115 74,914,764 IV.-IMPORTS, Exports, Value, and Quantity of Tea on hand, showing what came directly from China, and what from other Countries, from the Year 1833 to 1841, inclusive. The following statement shows the quantities of black and green teas, respectively, imported from 1833 to 1841, inclusive, according to the Canton table, which corresponds so closely with the entire quantity imported, per table No. IV. considering the different modes of arriving at the fact, as to justify the belief that it cannot be far from correct. V.-COMPARATIVE Statement of Exports of Teas from Canton to the United States, from the 30th of June, 1832, to the 30th of June, 1841. Chests. Pounds. Chests. Pounds. Chests. Pounds. Chests. Pounds. Chests. Pounds. Total Green .... 197,804 17,050,960 160,234 14,421,060 During the period from 1821 to 1832, the quantities remaining on hand at the end of each year, amounted to 74,914,764 lbs, or an average of 6.242,897 lbs. annually; and from 1833 to 1841, to 114,944,350 lbs., or 12,771,594 lbs. annually showing a considerable increased consumption, as will appear further by the following statement:Assuming that the balance on hand at the close of 1820 (for we have no actual data prior to 1821), to be the same as at the end of 1821.... The imports from 1821 to 1832 were lbs. lbs. 4,586,223 92,982,768 97,568,991 18,068,004 Deduct exports same time.............. Also the quantity on hand at the close of 1832 10,899,469 29.992,813 112,672,025 12,519,113 6,612,960 GENERAL View of the Trade between the United States and China, from 1833 to 1841, The value of Teas imported, therefore, appears to be annually about 4,698,894 dollars, and to consitute rather exceeding 75 per cent of the value of the whole cargoes;-which have averaged since 1834, 177,430 dollars each. The trade has employed yearly about thirty-five vessels, averaging 390 tons, with crews of eighteen men and boys. STATEMENT exhibiting a View of the General Trade between the United States and Canton, according to Valuations made in Canton, annually, during the Years ending June 30, 1804, to 1844. We have not been able to procure any returns upon which any reliance can be placed for the blank years in the above table. The returns for 1844 we have received from the British consul at Canton.-See his detailed statement of the American trade at Canton for that year hereafter: which, with other returns of the British and foreign trade of that port, has been prepared with great pains and all possible accuracy by him. |