Benjamin Franklin 760 
that our people in the northern colonies double in 
about twenty-five years, exclusive of the accession 
of strangers. That I speak within bounds, I appeal 
to the authentic accounts frequently required by the 
Board of Trade, and transmitted to that Board by 
the respective governors; of which accounts I shall 
select one as a sample, being that from the colony 
of Rhode Island; a colony that of all the others 
receives the least addition from strangers. For the 
equal (the difference being only £122,930 10S. 4d.), and in the second 
term, the exports to those islands had only increased £404,504 2S. 1d. 
Whereas the increase to the northern colonies is £3,927,789 3S. id., 
almost four millions. 
Some part of this increased demand for English goods may be 
ascribed to the armies and fleets we have had both in North America 
and the West Indies; and so much for what is consumed by the sol- 
diery; their clothing, stores, ammunition, &c., sent from hence on 
account of the government, being (as is supposed) not included in 
these accounts of merchandise exported; but, as the war has occa- 
sioned a great plenty of money in America, many of the inhabitants 
have increased their expense. 
N. B.—These accounts do not include any exports from Scotland to 
America, which are doubtless proportionably considerable; nor the 
exports from Ireland.—F. 
Certain discrepancies in the above figures are hereby given as origi- 
nally printed. —EDITOR. 
1 Copy of the Report of Governor Hopkins to the Board of Trade, on 
the Numbers of People in Rhode I sland. 
In obedience to your Lordship’s commands, I have caused the 
within account to be taken by officers under oath. By it there appears 
to be in this colony at this time 35,939 white persons, and 4,697 blacks, 
chiefly negroes. 
In the year 1730, by order of the then Lords Commissioners of Trade 
and Plantations, an account was taken of the number of people in 
this colony, and then there appeared to be 15,302 white persons, and 
2,633 blacks. 
Again in the year 1748, by like order, an account was taken of the 
number of people in this colony, by which it appears that there were 
at that time 29,755 white persons and 4,373 blacks. 
StepHEN HOPKINS. 
CoLONY OF RHODE ISLAND, Dec. 24, 1755- 
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