' Essays 43
enhance their value, will not industrious English
farmers, hereafter settled in those countries, be much
better able to pay for what shall be brought them
in the way of fair commerce?
If it is asked, What can such farmers raise, wherewith
 to pay for the manufactures they may want
from us? I answer, that the inland parts of America
in question are well known to be fitted for the production
 of hemp, flax, potash, and, above all, silk;
the southern parts may produce olive oil, raisins, currants,
 indigo, and cochineal; not to mention horses
and black cattle, which may easily be driven to the
maritime markets, and at the same time assist in
conveying other commodities. That the commodities
 first mentioned may easily, by water and land
carriage, be brought to the sea-ports from interior
America, will not seem incredible, when we reflect
that hemp formerly came from the Ukraine, the
most southern parts of Russia, to Wologda, and
down the Dwina to Archangel; and hence, by a
perilous navigation, round the North Cape to England
 and other parts of Europe. It now comes from
the same country up the Dnieper, and down the
Duna, with much land-carriage. Great part of the
Russian ¢ron, no high-priced commodity, is brought
three hundred miles by land and water from the
heart of Siberia. Furs (the produce too of America)
are brought to Amsterdam from all parts of Siberia,
even the most remote—Kamtschatka. The same
country furnishes me with another instance of extended
 inland commerce.
It is found worth while to keep up a mercantile

~60!