Drugs, Brimstone, Grindstones, Coals, Chalk, Sail Cloth, Cordage, Paints, Malt Liquors & Cheese. There are indeed few articles the British Market affords, but what are in some proportion imported here, except such as are among the Number of our Staple Commodities particularly mentioned in the Answer to N° 11. If the Brokers in Great Britain employed as Shippers of goods were for one year obliged to give in the value of the Goods when they apply for Cockets, the exact amount of what the Inhabitants of each Province in America take from thence would be easily ascertained. In this Country it is not possible to make such a Calculation with any Degree of Precision, for as the Amount of the Goods never appears on the Cockets, no judgment can be formed of their Value from the Quantity or Number of pieces.-Silks for Instance come out from 25 to 2 Shillings per yard, and in general the other Articles differ in the same proportion from the first cost of the highest to that of the lowest in quality. viiae of Articles Imported from Great Britain. When no particular Stop is put upon the Trade with Great Britain, it is generally estimated here that the annual Imports from thence into this Colony, amount on an Average to Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling. Exports to Groat The Goods exported from hence to Great Britain that are the produce of this Colony are chiefly pot and pearl ashes, Pig and Bar Iron, Peltries, Beeswax, Masts and Spars with Timber and Lumber of all kinds;—And of the produce of the West Indies and Honduras Bay, Log Wood and other Dye Woods and Stuffs, Sarsaparilla, Mahogany, Cotton, Ginger and Pimento with some Raw Hides—And Tar, Pitch and Turpentine, the produce of North Carolina. vaiae tbereof The annual amount of the Exports to Great Britain on an Average, is One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Pounds Sterle exclusive of the Cost of Ships built here for the Merchants in England to the Amount of Thirty Thousand Pounds Sterling annually. Question N° 9. What Trade has the Province under your Government with any Foreign Plantations, or any part of Europe besides Great Britain; how is that Trade carried on, what Commodities do the People under your Government send to or receive from Foreign Plantations, and what is the annual Amount thereof at an Average? Trade with Foreign ANSWER A considerable Trade is carried on from this Province to the Foreign West rianiations &ca India Islands, Surrinam and Honduras Bay: Provisions and Lumber are the principal Articles with which they are supplied from hence.-The Returns are generally in Sugar, Molasses, Dye Woods, Mahogany, Hides, Silver and Bills of Exchange, with Africa. There are a few Vessels employed annually in the Affrican Trade, their outward Cargoes are chiefly Rum and some British Manufactures.-The high price and ready Sale they meet with for their Slaves in the West Indies, induce them always to dispose of their Cargoes among the Islands. Madeira & Teneriffe. To Madeira and Teneriffe the Trade from hence is considerable. The outward Cargoes are composed of Wheat, Indian Corn, Flour, Provisions in General, Lumber and Beeswax.-The returns are made in Wines, the greatest part of which are carried directly from Madeira to the British & Foreign West India Islands, there sold and a West India Cargoe purchased with which the Vessel returns. Spani.h A other of Cape Finnistre. When Grain is scarce in Europe there is also a very considerable Trade from Enrol*" PouthtaJd hence to the Spanish parts in the Bay of Biscay and to other Foreign Ports in Europe lying to the Southward of Cape Finnistre. To these places are exported, Wheat, Rye, Flour, Indian Corn and Beeswax; and the returns are in Specie, Bills of Exchange and large Cargoes of Salt-Sometimes the Vessels employed in this Trade take in a Load of Wines and Fruit, and call at some of the Outports in England for clearances agreeable to Law.—The Trade is Carried on in Ships belonging to British Subjects and navigated conformable to the Acts of Trade. value or Foreign The annual Amount of the Commodities exported from hence to Foreign Countries is on an Average, One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds Sterling; and the foreign Imports on an Average One Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling. Expori« to Ireland Besides the Trade to the Foreign Ports in Europe, there is every year a great Quantity of Flax seed and Lumber and some Iron sent to Ireland, in ships generally belonging to that Kingdom, which come out annually with passengers and Servants; as also Linens, Beef and Butter. To Gibraiter and The Province hath likewise some Trade with Gibralter and Minorca; the Cargoes out generally consist of Grain, Flour, Provisions of other Kinds, Lumber, Naval Stores and Rice.—As they are British Ports, it has ever been the practice here to allow enumerated goods to be shipped to them, the Master of the Vessel giving the enumerated Bond at the Naval Office.—The Returns are Specie, Bills of Exchange and Salt. Question N° 10 What Methods are there used to prevent illegal Trade, and are the same effectual? Meane to prevent illegal Trade ANSWER At this Port there is generally one of His Majesty's Ships of War, stationed near it's prjncjpai Entrance, except during the Four Winter Months when she is obliged on account of the severe Weather and the Ice to come to the Wharf.—The Custom House Officers are Eight in number, viz. The Collector, Comptroller, Surveyor and Searcher, Land Waiter, Tide Surveyor and three Tide Waiters; There is also a Naval Officer. The Tide Waiters are mostly employed on Board of Vessels that arrive with dutiable goods, so that there are but three other out door Officers to look after the business of a very extensive Harbour, lying on two sides of the Town, which is situated on a point between two large Rivers. As all Articles of Commerce, Provisions and Fuel are conveyed to Town by Water in a Number of small Boats, from landings that lay on each side of both Entrances to the Port, the strictest attention of the Officers of His Majesty's Ship, or the vigilance of the Collector and Comptroller (who speak favorably of their present out door Officers) cannot altogether prevent the illegal Trade in a port situated as this is; there can be no doubt therefore but that assistance different from what the Officers have at present, would be very necessary, and tend much to the increase of His Majesty's Revenues in this Province. Question N° 11. What is the natural produce of the Country, Staple Commodities & Manufactures, and what value thereof in Sterling money may you annually export? ANSWER Commodities and Produce Staple The natural produce and Staple Commodities of this Province, are Wheat, Manufactures Indian Corn, Oats, Rye, Pease, Barley and Buck Wheat, Live Stock, Masts and Spars, Timber and Lumber of all Sorts, Furrs, Skins, Beeswax, Iron Ore, Pork, Beef, Flour, Pot and Pearl Ashes.-And its Manufactures are, the making of Pig and Bar Iron, Distilling of Rum and Spirits, Refining of Sugar and making Chocolate; from Molasses, Brown Sugar, and Cocoa imported.-The making of Soap and Candles, Hats, Shoes, Cordage and Cabinet Ware, Tanning, Malting, Brewing and Ship Building. vaiae of those Arttcles exported The annual amount of the above mentioned Articles exported (Hatts excepted) is on aQ Average pour Hundred Thousd Pounds Sterling. What Mines are Where? Mines QUESTION No 12. ANSWER There are few Mines yet discovered in the Province.—One of Iron Ore in the Manor of Livingston in the County of Albany belonging to Robert Livingston Esquire.— Another of Iron also in Orange County, the property of Vincent Mathews1 Esquire and one in the Manor of Philipsburgh in the County of Westchester lately leased for 99 years (pursuant to the Royal Order) to Frederick Philipse Esquire. It is called a Silver Mine, but from the small Quantity of Silver the Ore has hitherto yielded, may perhaps more properly be classed among the Richer Sort of lead mines.—The Works belonging to the First are carried on to great Advantage. QUESTION N° 13. What is the Number of Inhabitants, Whites and Blacks? Number of Inhabitants ANSWER By tne \aat Account taken in 1771, the Number of Inhabitants stood thus Total Number of Inhabitants in 1771.. 148,124 19,883 168,007 Supposing the increase from 1771 to 1774 to have been no more than the Average Proportion of the Increase between 1756 and 1771, there must be added to compleat the number of Inhabitants to the present Time VINCENT MATHEWS of Mathewsfield, Cornwall, Orange county, was, it is supposed, son of Colonel Peter Mathews, who came to this country as captain under Governor Fletcher; was afterwards proprietor in Orange county, and died in 1719. Vincent was appointed clerk of that county in 1786, (Commissions, III.,) and died in June, 1784. It appears by his will, which is on file in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals, that he was married first to Catalina Abeel, of Westen. hook, Columbia county, by whom he had four children, Fletcher, James, David and Bridget, who married a Jones. By his second wife, Elizabeth, he had a daughter of the same name, who married Theophilus Beekman of New-York. David was Mayor of New-York, in which city Fletcher also resided. James was the father of General Vincent Mathews, who died at Rochester, at the head of the Bar in Western New-York, in 1846. The family was originally from Ireland. Turner's History of Phelps and Gorham Purchase, 614.- Ed. QUESTION No 14 Are the Inhabitants increased or decreased within the last Ten Years; how much and for what Reasons? Increase or inh»bitants ANSWER The Number of Inhabitants in 1771, as appers in N° 13 was.. 168,007 1756 } Whites.. 83,233 96,775 71,232 Which shews the increase from 1756 to 1771 to be... 1771 to 1774 14,244 Increase of Inhabitants from 1756 to 1774 a Period of 18 years.... 85,476 Hence by taking the proportion of the last mentioned number it is found that the Inhabitants of this Colony are increased during the last Ten Years according to the lowest Calculation 47,480. causes of the in "^e Reasons commonly assigned for the rapid population of the Colonies, are crease of Inhabitants doubtless the principal causes of the great Increase in this Province. The high price of Labour and the Plenty and cheapness of new land fit for cultivation, as they increase the means of subsistence, are strong additional Incitements to Marriage, and the People entering into that state more generally and at an earlier period of life than in Europe, the Proportion of Marriages and Births so far exceeds that of populous Countries, that it has been Computed the Colonies double their Inhabitants by natural Increase only in Twenty years. The increase in this Colony has been nearly in the same proportion, but it cannot be denied that the accession to our numbers by Emigrations from the neighboring Colonies and from Europe, has been considerable, tho' comparatively small to the Number thus acquired by some of the Southern Colonies. Question N° 15 What is the Number of Militia and under what Regulations is it constituted? Number of the Militia. Regulations under which it is constituted. ANSWER The White Inhabitants amounting to 161,102 the Militia may be supposed to consist of about Thirty Two Thousand A Law is passed annually or every two years for regulating the Militia; The Act now in force directs That every Man from Sixteen to Fifty years of age (a few excepted) shall enlist himself with the Commanding Officer of the Troop of Horse, or Company of Foot in the place where he resides.—That the Militia armed and equipped (as the Law prescribes) shall appear and be exercised Twice a Year. And imposes Fines on both Officers and Soldiers for every neglect of Duty, with other less material provisions relative to this service The Officers are all appointed by the Governor, and the Whole Militia is under his command and subject to his Orders, agreeable to the power vested in him as Captain General of the Province by the Royal Letters Patent or Commission. As no Act relative to the Militia was passed during the last Session of the general Assembly the above regulations will cease on the first day of May 1774, when the present Militia Law expires by its own Limitation. Question N° 16 What Forts and places of strength are there within your Government, and in what condition? F»rt» & Pllce> of ANSWER The City of New York the Metropolis, is protected by a Fort and a Range of Batteries at the Entrance of the East River or Harbour, in good order and capable of mounting about one Hundred pieces of Ordnance.—Albany and Schenectady are defended by Forts, and both places incircled by large Pickets or Stockades, with Blockhouses at proper Distances from each other, but which since the Peace have been suffered to go to Decay and are now totally out of Repair. The Western Posts are Fort Stanwix, and the Forts at Oswego and Niagara; the two former are Dismantled; a few men only kept at Oswego.—Niagara is ocoupied by a Garrison of the King's Troops. The Northern Posts are, Fort Edward which is abandoned.—A few men only are kept at the Works at the South End of Lake George to facilitate the Transportation to the next Posts, which are Ticonderoga and Crown Point; these are both Garrisoned by His Majesty's Troops, but since the fire which happened at Crown Point, only a small guard is kept there, the principal part of the Garrison being withdrawn and posted at Ticonderoga. Question N° 17. What number of Indians have you & how are they inclined? Number of Indians & how they are inclined ANSWER The Indians who formerly possessed Nassau or Long Island, and that part of this Province which lies below Albany, are now reduced to a small number, and are in general so scattered and dispersed, and so addicted to wandering that no certain account can be obtained of them.—They are Remnants of the Tribes-Montocks and others of Long Island — Wappingers of Dutchess County—Esopus, Papagonk &c in Ulster County and a few Skachticokes. These Tribes have generally been denominated River Indians and consist of about Three Hundred Fighting Men—They speak a language radically the same, and are understood by the Delawares being originally of the same Race. Most of these People at present profess Christianity, and as far as in their power adopt our Customs—The greater part of them attended the Army during the late War but not with the same reputation as those who are still deemed Hunters. The Mohawks the first in Rank of the Six Nation Confederacy tho' now much reduced in Number, originally occupied the Country Westward from Albany to the German Flatts, a space of about 90 miles, and had many Towns; but having at different times been prevailed on to dispose of their Lands they have little Property left, except to the Northward, and are reduced to Two Villages on the Mohawk River and a few Families at Schoharie. The lower Mohawks are in Number about One Hundred and Eighty Five, and the Upper or those of |