The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

FRENCH COMMERCE.

Memorial of the Engravers and Printers employed at the Manufactories of Printed Calicoes in the city of Rouen, to the First Consul of the French Republic.

"General First Consul,

If there be a principle at present generally agreed upon, it is, that the power and true greatness of empires are the patrimony of the industrious and commercial nations. England, more than any other nation, presents a model worthy of imitation. This empire, consisting of a territory of but small extent, and containing scarcely more than ten millions of individuals, possesses, notwithstanding, a marked preponderance in the commercial system of the whole world. Far from the war having proved disastrous to this power, amidst the calamities of the nations of the continent, it has established a domination of such colossal magnitude, that for a long period no nation can enter into competition with her.

"France, more than any other power, seems destined, by the genius of her inhabitants and her position, to excite that competition, to balance the value of the products of industry, and to maintain the contest in every thing which relates to the perfection of any production; and this merit is allowed to her by the unequivocal suffrages of all nations.--

But the cause which paralyses our industry and our commerce, originated in circumstances of, perhaps, a more powerful operation than any which have been hitherto alleged.

"The French government, almost constantly occupied during six years with its own political dissensions, and having to carry on a war at home and abroad, could but little employ itself in examining these circumstances, and in preventing their effects. The epoch of a general peace induced a hope of less disastrous consequences. We made bold to inform you, Citizen General, that it is of extreme urgency that you should fix your attention upon the city of Rouen and the department. Our manufacturing industry is on the verge of ruin, if speedy measures do not stop the decay produced by false theories, and the spirit of the commercial system.

"Some have ventured to assert, that French industry can be carried to the highest perfection only by the stimulus of a rival industry. Where, then, is this rivalry to be found? Is it in the execution of the processes for completing the products of our industry, or in the want of the raw materials necessary to this perfection? Is it in the channels of consumption for a commerce as yet but of very small extent, from the want of confidence? or, in a word, is it from a more fatal consequence in the little national spirit possessed by Frenchmen?

"Foreign industry, and particularly that of our powerful rival, enjoys a degree of protection too little regarded by the French merchant, and which, though hitherto overlooked, has rendered it predominant. Ours, on the contrary, compelled to trust to its own efforts, exhibits only decay, and complete depression. On the one side there is an abundance of raw materials, and at moderate prices; and immense capitals, and resources always presented by the public banks, enable the manufacturer to attempt and to support every speculation. On the other, those materials are scarce, and very dear: capital is not advanced for the promotion of our manufactures, but at a ruinous interest: in a word, an exchange destructive of commerce and confidence dries up every source of national prosperity; every thing makes in favour of the rivals of our manufacturing industry, and we must be speedily involved in total ruin! Yet there are persons who can maintain that France must have the advantage in a competition where the means are unequal!

"We hold the same opinions as to the perfection of the objects of industry; but what increases the value of things, if the sale be not certain, and if the nation give greater advantages to foreign products? Our reflections are fixed on the present state of affairs. Scarce has maritime peace been proclaimed, when the introduction of merchandize commences, the French warehouses are overstocked, our manufactures languish and forebode general ruin. The French soil has not rejected the foreign commodities; avarice and extortion have favored their circulation. See what is the result. The productions of industry incumber the warehouses of our manufacturers; labour is repressed; workshops are shut up; thousands of workmen are thrown out of employment, without even a prospect of being able to gain wherewith to support their numerous families.

"'Tis but an imperfect view of the picture. Let us consider the future. By and by, if such a system do not cease, if French commerce prefer the products of foreign nations, if our manufactories and workshops receive no encouragement, all is over! All the shops are shut, manufacturing industry abandoned. Talents paralysed, and thousands of citizens, with their families, reduced to the most frightful poverty! While we are representing to you our fears and alarms, there is not a fourth part of us in a state of activity. Every day witnesses many unfortunate men swelling the list of victims. Those who are yet retained, are retained only in consideration of old services: and they are threatened soon to share those calamities with which that class are afflicted, if the government do not speedily remove the evil.

"This is not all. Our hands once become idle, a thousand other states participate our misfortunes by a necessary consequence; our junction stops their labours, every thing is linked together in a state; if you dam up a brook at the source, the fertile plains it watered are struck with barrenness.

"We are exposing, General Consul, great and touching truths. Oh! That you could hear the cries of want, the sighs and the despair of the families of our unfortunate companions! they are absolutely naked, and can see nothing before them but more profound distress.

"General Consul, we expect, from your solicitude, a period to those miseries which weigh upon us in so terrible a manner. A few moments more, and our important city will possess no more workmen; many of them will be devoured by want and misery. Disgust and offers from foreigners will have caused the emigration of the rest! What powerful considerations!

"We have spoken the truth; government is worthy to hear it. We hope that the First Magistrate of the Republic will turn his paternal regard towards one of the most industrious departments, to the workshops of our manufacturers, that their labours may receive encouragement! The workman asks only one favor, that his hands may be constantly employed, that his work may suffice for supplying his wants.--Then his wishes will be accomplished."