The Answer of Arthur Dobbs Esqr. Governor of No. Carolina to two Queries from the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations not before answered.

23. Feby. 1763

Quere 3d. What is the present State of the Trade of the Province, the Number of Shipping belonging thereto, their Tonnage, and the Number of Seafaring Men, with the respective Increase or Diminution within ten years last past, and to what Causes is the Increase or Diminution to be inscribed? Are any Trades, Works or Manufactures set up or about to be set up in the Province under your Governmt. which are or may prove hurtful to Great Britain? If there are any such how may they be suppressed diverted or restrained.

Answer. In my Answer to the other Queries I inform'd your Lordships of the Trade of this Province, which is far from being in a flourishing Condition. It is carried on as well by Inland Carriage from Virginia and South Carolina, as by Shipping to the several Ports. I have not been able to obtain a compleat Account of the Number of Shipping &c. owing to the Death and Removal of Officers. I now subjoin the best Account I cod. procure, & is at a Medium of many years, vizt. Number of Shipping 296 (mostly small) Tonnage 11,862, and Seafaring Men about 1500, whereof the proportion for the several ports is as follows

I must observe that the Tonnage as above estimated is deemed about a third short of the real Burden of the Vessels, the same being taken from the several Registers, wherein it is usual not to insert above two thirds of the true Tonnage. I must also observe that the above Account comprehends the total Number of shipping trading annually to this Province, not above 50 of them being owned here. I do not find any Increase or Diminution in the Shipping tho' from the Increase of Inhabitants by Births as well as Migrations from the Northern Colonies it were reasonable to expect it, and am of opinion wod. have been sensibly increased, if not checked by the present war, and the enlarged Inland Trade from Virginia.

There are no Trades Works or Manufactures, nor likely to be, in this Province, which may prove hurtful to Great Britain.

Quere 4. What Quantity and Sorts of British Manufactures do the Inhabitants annually take from hence?

Answer. The British Manufactures imported by Shipping into this Province are computed at a Medium of some years past to amount to £28,500 ⅌ ann. whereof about a third is brought from Great Britain directly, the rest Coastways from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, &c. These Manufactures consist of coarse Linnens and Woollens, and all kinds of Cloathing, hard ware, nails, Earthen ware, pewter & Tin manufactured, powder and Lead, Stationary and Haberdashery wares. It is not easy to estimate the Quantity brought Inland from Virginia, but from the Number of Factors from that Colony dispersed through the Province it must greatly exceed the Import into any of our Sea ports; The Quantity from So. Carolina by Land is much smaller. These Manufactures are of the same kinds with the above, and too often such as are become unsaleable at the place of their Import.

Arthur Dobbs

No. Carolina.
Answer to 3. & 4 Quere from The Lords of Trade. not before answered.

Read May 3. 1763

E. 61.