Salt.  I do not know where the northern States supplied themselves with salt, but the southern ones took great quantities from Portugal.

Cotton and Wool.  The southern States will take manufactures, of both:  the northern, will take both the manufactures and raw materials.

East India goods of every kind.  Philadelphia and New York have begun a trade to the East Indies.  Perhaps Boston may follow their example.  But their importations will be sold only to the country adjacent to them.  For a long time to come, the States south of the Delaware, will not engage in a direct commerce with the East Indies.  They neither have nor will have ships or seamen for their other commerce:  nor will they buy East India goods of the northern States.  Experience shows that the States never bought foreign goods of one another.  The reasons are, that they would, in so doing, pay double freight and charges; and again, that they would have to pay mostly in cash, what they could obtain for commodities in Europe.  I know that the American merchants have looked, with some anxiety, to the arrangements to be taken with Portugual, in expectation that they could, through her, get their East India articles on better and more convenient terms; and I am of opinion, Portugal will come in for a good share of this traffic with the southern States, if they facilitate our payments.

Coffee.  Can they not furnish us with this article from Brazil?

Sugar.  The Brazil sugars are esteemed, with us, more than any other.

Chocolate.  This article, when ready made, as also the cocoa, becomes so soon rancid, and the difficulties of getting it fresh, have been so great in America, that its use has spread but little.  The way to increase its consumption would be, to permit it to be brought to us immediately from the country of its growth.  By getting it good in quality, and cheap in price, the superiority of the article, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America, which it has in Spain, where they can get it by a single voyage, and, of course, while it is sweet.  The use of the sugars, coffee, and cotton of Brazil, would also be much extended by a similar indulgence.

Ginger and spices from the Brazils, if they had the advantage of a direct transportation, might take place of the same articles from the East Indies.

Ginseng.  We can furnish them with enough to supply their whole demand for the East Indies.

They should be prepared to expect, that in the beginning of this commerce, more money will be taken by us than after a while.  The reasons are, that our heavy debt to Great Britain must be paid, before we shall be masters of our own returns; and again, that habits of using particular things are produced only by time and practice.

That as little time as possible may be lost in this negotiation, I will communicate to you at once, my sentiments as to the alterations in the draught sent them, which will probably be proposed by them, or which ought to be proposed by us, noting only those articles.