Benjamin Franklin Papers - From Tench Coxe (unpublished)

I am to entreat your pardon for not paying earlier attention to the letter covered to me by your Excellency a few weeks ago, which I have now the honor to return. It has principally arisen from my being uncertain in what mode it would be best to proceed with it. On reflexion I have concluded that it might not serve the gentlemen were it made more public by laying it before the Board of Managers of the manufacturing Society, and therefore instead of troubling your Excellency by asking the favor of an interview I have taken the liberty of using this mode of communication.

It is almost a year since accident suddenly turned my attention to the subject of American manufactures. Constant observation since that time, and a variety of experiments and investigations have convinced me, that we may derive considerable immediate, and immense future advantages from them. They divide themselves into two branches the Manufacture of imported materials and the Manufacture of native raw materials. Philadelphia must be the best part of the united states for the former branch, or at least the Banks of the Delaware, because cotton, wool, brass, copper, dye stuffs and other articles may be imported thither from the other States and foreign countries with the most perfect convenience and on low Terms because the climate is healthy, fuel abundant provisions cheap, the materials for building plenty, and the means of acquiring foreign information and foreign artists familiar and in constant practice. The objection made by those who have but hastily thought on the Subject is that you injure the Country by making a manufacturer of a Youth, who should be bred to agriculture. This Observation is unanswerable so far as breeding a native American to a business that will only admit of manual labor. But it is for the interest of agriculture and the landed interest to make a proper number of corn distillers, brewers, millworkers in iron and in short workmen in all branches which are carried on by machines, fire, water, horse &ca. even if the Sons of farmers were called to these Employments. But there is another grand source from which supplies of manufacturers may be obtained—Emigration from foreign Countries. To this end our laws must be made to countenance, assist and protect them as far as is consistent with the Maintenance of a price for our produce and the keeping down the expenses of the farmer. Their planters have put in all the Cotton that they could procure. One of the Board who has lately been in Virginia has informed us that the same Attention has been paid there to this valuable raw material should it succeed, of which from many facts I have no doubt the Cotton branch must be completely established, and judicious Manufacturers from Europe will be easily able to connect themselves with people of character and fortune in this city to pursue the branch upon a proper plan and scale.

One certain consequence of success in this branch will be a cessation of importing cotton goods—a great decrease in the import of woolen goods and a considerable impression even on linen and silk goods.

The iron branch has opened exceedingly—as has the leather branch. The linen has considerably encreased and many others are found to be well worthy of attention.

I have refrained from particular remark on the parts which relate to the Measures of government, as your station and extensive knowledge of our public Affairs would render my remarks presumptous and vain. I shall be sincerely happy in applying my time and attention to any steps in this Matter which your Excellency may desire to pursue. I have the honor of being with very great respect Sir your most obedient humble Servant

The two pamphlets enclosed may serve to inform Mr. Hughes upon the subject of his Enquiries. The facts contained in them as far as they relate to Manufactures I believe will be found truely stated. My following note of prices may be useful. The Southern planters offer to deliver Cotton here at £2 6d. Flax is abundant at 7d. swingled Wool is £2 3d. here but lower on Susquehanna coal is 15d. here on a medium but lower on Susquehanna wood, oak is £10 to £12 per cord here but lower on do. flour is £16 to £18 per Cwt. but lower on do. and will be lower a good deal here. Rye flour is £9 to £10 Beef was sold in our Market last winter at £25 per 100 lb—This article is declining in price must continue to so. The manufacture of native raw materials is extremely important to the United States. Pennsylvania, as her face is exhibited on the Map, appears formed for the purpose beyond any country I know of. An Establishment of this kind on the waters of the Susquehanna would be felt through Lancaster, Dauphin, Luzerne, Northumberland, Huntington, Westmoreland, Bedford, Cumberland and York, for the branches of that great River inters or approach them. The head of the natural Navigation of the Live lies near some of the first Iron works in Pennsylvania, which send their iron unmanufactured to this market at a great expence. On the West and East branch there are great bodies of coal lying at the surface of the earth and wood in the greatest Abundance. The lands watered by this great River produce every species of grain, flax, Hemp, and abounding with grass are fit for cattle, horses and sheep. Should the Government of Pennsylvania ever take measures for the encouragement of manufactures of our own raw materials no place could be fixed on which would be so extensively beneficial—and hope that the establishment of the general government will leave us time to pursue that object in the ensuing year. The cotton branch of which the letter is now in the most promising train. Machines saving labor in the proportion of about fifty to one have been made here by European Artists. They yeild a profit of 6d. to 8d. per yard—and are sold by the single peice at 3d. 3s. per yard, ½ all wide or near it. Upon a careful comparison I can offer to your Excellency that they are 10 per Cent better than English Jeans of the same quality as they can be sold here. This manufacture is considered as one which will be productive of great profit to individuals and great public good. The Machines are on the smallest scale used in England and of course when we extend them to a size which can be moved by water, we may expect them to be much more profitable. In aid of this Manufacture we have endeavoured to turn the Attention of the Southern planters to cotton and have the Satisfaction to assure you that a respectable house in Charleston have wrote ours, that small beer is £10—table beer £12—strong beer £30 and porter £35 per barrel of 31½ G ales. Bohea per single pound is £2 9d. bar iron is £22 10d. Os. on medium in Philada, Lancaster and Reading— Logwood is £5 to £6 per Ton—Indigo the best £6 6d. The importation of Spanish Wool is now in contemplation here. All articles of the produce of this Country we may safely say will fall to as low prices as any European Countries on which similar articles are raised.