be in a
condition to be able to assure to themselves a good share; and the great
importance of which, joined to the fear of seeing escape from their
hands this only and last resource, has induced them to take the
resolution to lay open respectfully their observations concerning this
important object to your High Mightinesses, with the earnest prayer that
you would consider them with a serious attention, and not interpret in
ill part this measure of the petitioners, especially as their future
well-being, perhaps even that of the whole Republic, depends on the
decision of this affair.

No man can call in question that England has derived her greatest forces
from her commerce with America; those immense treasures, which that
commerce has poured into the coffers of the state; the uncommon
prosperity of several of her commercial houses, the extreme reputation
of her manufactures, the consumption of which, in quantities beyond all
bounds, contributes efficaciously to their perfection, are convincing
proofs of it. However it may be, and notwithstanding the supposition,
too lightly adopted, that we cannot imitate the British manufactures,
the manufacture of painted linens of Rouen; those of wool of Amiens, of
Germany, of Overyssel; and the Pins of Zwoll prove visibly that all
things need not be drawn from England; and that, moreover, we are as
well in a condition, or shall soon be, to equal them in several
respects.

Permit us, high and mighty Lords, to the end to avoid all further
digression, to request in this regard the attention of your High
Mightinesses to the situation of commerce in France at the beginning of
the war. Continual losses had almost ruined it altogether. Like ours,
several of her merchants failed of capitals; and others wanted courage
to continue their commerce; her manufactures languished; the people
groaned; in one word, every thing there marked out the horrors of war.
But, at present, her maritime towns, overpeopled, have occasion to be
enlarged; her manufactures, having arrived at a degree of exportation
unknown before, begin to perfect themselves more and more, in such a
degree, that the melancholy consequences of the war are scarcely felt in
that kingdom. But, since it is incontestible that this favourable
alteration results almost entirely from its commerce with America, that
even this has taken place in time of war; which, moreover, is ever
prejudicial, we leave it to the enlightened judgment of yo