Breck, Samuel (1747-1809) to Tobias Lear re: prospects for manufacturing, prosperity in America
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02794.003 Author/Creator: Breck, Samuel (1747-1809) Place Written: Boston Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1789/02/14 Pagination: 3 p. + address 22.6 x 19.6 cm Order a Copy
"Happily for America the Spirit of perfect Liberty has opperated [sic] to produce the best effects, with us, Industry, Economy & Temperance, are allowd to exceed in every Class of Citizens that of any former period & I am convinced . . . a few years will render America the most desirable Country in the world [. . . .] [I] congratulate you on the arrival of this important period, which promises so amply to compensate America for her Toils & Hazards through a long & distressing War!" Breck was a prominent American merchant. Docketed on address leaf.
Sir Boston Feby 14th, 1789
In Consequence of your much esteemed fav. of the 2oth I wrote to Col. Wadsworth to forward to you some patterns of Broad Cloth manufacturing at Hartford by a company who are under his immediate patronage; several gentlemen in this town are furnish[ed] with good cloth from that place and I doubt not you will be very much gratified with the specimens he will exhibit - enclosed is a pattern of cloth manufactured in the vicinity of this town and of which I have a said of cloaks. The price, altho made under every disadvantage, is not so high as foreign cloth, & probably a superior kind will hereafter be sold much lower, experience proves that our labour especially that part which depend on females, can be had at a less rate than in Europe owing to the length of our winters, which, while under the British Gouvernment [sic] were spent in idleness, are now well [2] improved in promoting manufacturers which Miss Lauey cannot counteract. Happily for America the spirit of perfect liberty has opperated [sic] to produce the best effects, with us, Industry, Economy, & Temperance, are allowed to exceed in every class of citizens than of any former period! I am persuaded that such rapid improvements are making in the arts & sciences that a few years will render America the most desirable country in the world. In this town a manufacturing of said cloth is established which already gives bread to near two hundred people & the prosperities, that in one or two years more it will support six or seven hundred. This business so natural to our country & useful to its Citizens. I have been induced to promote by furnishing a considerable capital to carry it on.
Hemp in the course of two or three years will be supplied in abundance by our farmers, consequently we shall no longer depend on a distant nation [3] for the sailing of our ships. Agriculture is increasing astonishingly & this state the last year exported in Beef, butter, Fallow & Tanned Hides to the amount of one hundred thousand pounds altho' previous to the war, we annually imported offshore articles very large quantities. It is true our whale fishery has suffered exceedingly, but it is probably even extensive commerce to the East Indians will compensate for that loss. I will not however occupy <text lost> of your time on these subjects but only congratulated you on the arrival of this important period which promised so amply to compensate America for her toils & hasards [sic] through a long & distressing war!
You will allow the opinion I have of your attachment to our country to plead my apology for writing this long letter. Pray make my most peacefull [sic] compliments to his Excellency General Washington & believe me to be Sir
your obedient servant
Tobias Lear Esquire Sam Breck
[Docket]
From Saml. Breck Esqr.
14th Feby 1789 --
[Address]
Tobias Lear Esquire -
Mount Vernon --
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