The significance of these figures lies not only in the amounts set down directly to the West Indies, but also in the great increase of exports to Germany, and the high rate maintained to France, Belgium, and Holland, with which war existed. Of these exports 25 per cent in 1792, and 43 per cent in 1800, were foreign merchandise, chiefly West Indian—re-exported.
[335] In 1800 the captured islands sent 9 per cent of the British imports.
[336] Moniteur, An vii. pp 478, 482.
[337] Am. State Papers, vol. ii. p. 8.
[338] Moniteur, An vii. p. 502.
[339] Ibid., p. 716; Couzard's speech.
[340] Moniteur, An vii. p. 555; Dentzel's speech.
[341] Ibid.; Lenglet's speech.
[342] Ibid., pp. 582, 583. The figures are chiefly taken from the speech of M. Arnould. A person of the same name, who was Chef du Bureau du Commerce, published in 1797 a book called "Système Maritime et Politique des Européens," containing much detailed information about French maritime affairs, and displaying bitter hatred of England. If the deputy himself was not the author, he doubtless had access to the best official intelligence.
[343] In consequence of the law of Jan. 18, 1798, the British government appointed a ship-of-the-line and two frigates to convoy a fleet of American vessels to their own coast.—Macpherson's Annals of Commerce, vol. iv. p. 440.