THE Shepherd's Contemplation: OR, AN ESSAY ON WAYS AND MEANS TO PAY THE PUBLIC DEBT, AND TO SEAT CONGRESS-MEN ON WOOL-PACKS. IN A LETTER TO GEORGE WASHINGTON, President of the United States of North-America, AND TO ALL THE OTHER GENUINE AMERICAN PATRIOTS.
BY PASTOR AMERICANUS, A Patriot, and the Poor Man's Friend.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by W. W. WOODWARD, at Franklin's Head, No. 41, Chesnut-street. 1794.
DEDICATION. To the MEMBERS of the PHILADELPHIA COUNTY SOCIETY for Promoting AGRICULTURE and Domestic MANUFACTURES.
THE following Letter, drawn up with a view of making American Wool our staple Commodity; and extend the Design of those concerned in the said Society, and in our National Manufactory—is earnestly Dedicated, by their sincere Friend,
PATRIOTS! By this short ensuing Scheme, you will perceive the subject of it, viz. a Plan calculated to thrive, without the assistance of the peculator's Bank, and the most effectual method of preserving the Commonalty or middling sort of the People, and raising the Poor, which is congruous to the doctrine of Equality.
To George Washington, AND TO ALL THE OTHER GENUINE AMERICAN PATRIOTS.
THE reason of my presuming to address you on the subject of the culture of Wool, is, because it is a matter on which the gradual abolition of our National Debt depend, i. e. upon industry and population of America, as the same is held forth in the following observations. That this is the real fact, I shall now undertake to prove: so always, and provided, That you will patronize the following scheme— What say you, Gentlemen, to this matter?—Now this great principle of patriotism, I prove thus:
Permit me, gentlemen, in passing, just to observe, that here, and no where else, lies all the life of our true policy —To cloath and feed ourselves, and our neighbouring nations. I take this as a postulatum that will without difficulty be granted.
Therefore,
Secondly, I shall, gentlemen, open myself fully on that important subject; not for the sake of telling you a long story (which I know the genuine patriots, are not particularly fond of) but for the sake of the weighty instruction that I flatter myself, will necessarily result from our Shepherd's scheme. It shall not be longer if I can help it, than so serious a matter requires. The American Shepherd addresses us in this manner: He says, the reasons for my preferring this Shepherd's scheme, are: First, It is because I want to see a plan for improving the present condition of the poor white people. Next, It is because I wish to be beneficial to my country. Thirdly, It is because I wish to throw my mite into the best public treasury, and therein improve it.
Come—help me raise the ever memorable Shepherd's Hall, and the profit thereof will be commensurable to your [Page 5] public spirit: yes, and will be your exceeding great reward. I labour not for myself only, but for all them that patronize the said scheme.
He says, too, the position by me maintained is, that this scheme is more excellent, than the Yankie's Tontine bank; which is as follows:
First, It is a scheme to increase the declining number of sheep in America, and make wool our staple commodity.
Secondly, The short of the matter is this: Let it be supposed, that a number of well disposed persons appropriate a small sum of money each to the culture of wool.
Thirdly, Again, let it be supposed, that 6000 sheep may be pastured three miles round the Shepherd's Hall. Now here arises a necessary query to those well disposed persons, viz. What will three years produce of the said pasture be?
That the culture of wool will produce an incredible treasury may be seen from the English manufactures. This scheme properly executed will make the American exports exceed her imports, which is the highest degree of our American patriotism. Q. E. D.
Again, let it be supposed, that government will be propitious to the said Shepherd's company, and give them a tract of land, &c. And that government will lend them a sum of money at 4 per cent. The reason whereof is, because the increase of the people will by industry reimburse the costs, and populate or furnish a barren part of our land with the best sort of people. Three things are here very remarkable: First, That the state will thereby obtain 4 per cent. Secondly, That government will thereby obtain a number of useful people. Thirdly, That government will thereby thus obtain the mechanic arts, and that this plan properly executed will employ a number of emigrants, viz. Shepherds, Ploughmen, and many other artificers, &c. in all an industrious and independent city.
To conclude: The jealous Britons* justly fearful lest they themselves should have lost their wool marts, made a law, [Page 6] viz.—That no English ram should be conveigled to North America; a plain proof this, that we may make wool a staple commodity, and out-vie England: just in proportion to the differential quantity of the land in England, and the quantity of land in the United States of America. All that I would be understood to imply, is, that when the number of our sheep increase proportionable to the number of our acres of land; then we shall actually and de facto out-vie England, and thereby make ourselves independent, or not depend upon England, &c. or not depend upon manufactories. It is plain, therefore, that our imports of woollen drapery will there by decrease, and our exportation of woollen drapery will thereby increase.
What has been said, respective to the nature of the preceding scheme implies its importance. But the way to facilitate it will more fully appear in considering the formation of the articles of the company of the American Shepherds.
☞ N. B. Observe—that the subscription money is not to be paid until the said company shall be established with articles, and a power sufficient to take this matter in hand. When once a company can be established, with a fund sufficient to begin, there is no doubt but that it will have 6000 sheep in every county in each state: yes, 6000 sheep in every American township.
To constitute the capital of the said company, subscriptions for shares therein, at one Spanish dollar each, payable after the articles of the said company are made, and when a sufficient number of persons have subscribed, they will have the right to form the articles of the constitution of their company of the American Shepherds.
Any person, partnership, society, church, or body politic, may subscribe for as many shares as he, she, or they may think proper.
Books, for the purpose of subscribers entering their names, &c. will be handed about by divers well disposed persons.
POSTSCRIPT;
BEING a short caution and warning to the careless inhabitants of the United States of North-America, and miscellaneous notes on the folly, shame, and danger, of our being dependant on the British, and other foreign markets.
Note 1. Americans! This—all this—is pre-meditated against you, viz. War and ruin, by the perfidious court of London. It is plain, therefore, that we ought to prohibit her merchandize.
Note 2. Our present mercantile system is—that we depend on the culture of European wool; if so, then we are not yet independent! Is this common sense? Is this a proof of our being independent? Is this the way to pay our National debt? Is this a prudent scheme? Whoever thinks so, must be little acquainted with independency, and domestic manufactures.
Let it be supposed, that the murrain among the European sheep, and the pestilence, or an epidemical fever among the European people occasion the culture and manufactures of European wool to fail; if so, then the indolent Americans shall look to the culture of American wool, and see that they are all naked, the rich and the poor, and are not ashamed. ‘This being sub judice it is only prophetic; and what is prophecy but a narrative preceding the fact.’
Note 3. Being an extract of a letter from Calcutta, dated the 10th of November 1791.— ‘We should think that no cotton can be carried home from Bombay this year, and even the year following. They have had about Surat and those places a most dreadful famine, which occasioned an unheard of mortality among the natives. When this calamity will end, is not known yet: and those of the inhabitants who serve it, will first think of cultivating rice before they meddle with cotten.’
‘You cannot expect a single pound of cotten from this country; whatever quantity we have here, will all go to China.’ *—I must add, that this extract is an apology for the preceding letter, and for the miscellaneous notes added to it.
Note 4. Argument 1. It is argued, That if our American hat-makers buy imported, foreign Wool, and that the [Page 8] directors of our National Manufactory give a generous price for American Wool; then it is high time to make Wool our staple commodity:
But the first is true; therefore also the last.
Note 5. Argument 2. If too great attention to commerce will soon introduce idleness and luxury; and though it may enrich a few particular persons, it will impoverish the country—then our government will one day be a mere bankrupt.
But the first is true—Ergo also the second will be true.
Note 6. Argument 3. By improving the productions of Nature, by manufactures, the national riches are augmented, and it is by carrying these fruits of industry to other nations, that a solid commerce is established in a great empire. —The American merchant will make his own reflections.
Note 7. This—being the one only way to be independent of England, ought to determine your doubts on this head. Let this then, my countrymen, call forth your consideration. The subject is public good, and certainly merits, by its importance, the attention of every person in woollen drapery.
Any person who may reject this scheme, is requested to produce a better.—That I do in Truth—what all pretend, and most men believe they do; I love my country.— This disposition has moved me to do, what every man ought to do, to given attention to its interest, and to endeavour to promote its good.