The war period was one of abnormal and unnatural excitement in all kinds of trade, which, ceasing all at once with the peace, was followed by the usual depression. In their distress and discontent, the people, as much from necessity as from choice, began to look about them and to study how they could supply themselves from their own resources, independent of Great Britain. This was the beginning of home manufactures. In this the colonies were encouraged by the arrival of skilled artisans Irom England.

In May articles began to appear in the papei-s congratulating the public on the patriotic and frugal spirit that was beginning to reign in the province of New York. The principal gentlemen of this city clad themselves in country manufactures or turned clothes, the material of which was largely made by the industrious farmers of Westchester County. Spinning was daily in vogue by the people of Westchester. Materials being more wanted than industrious hands in the city, the farmers of Westchester soon supplied this need by sowing more flax-seed and raising more sheep. At this time sassafras, balm and sage were greatly in use instead of tea, and the patriotic inhabitants declared it to be more wholesome. Funerals and mourning, which were then expensive luxuries, were modified and their extravagance curtailed. In September we find it annoiuiced that women's shoes were made cheaper and better than in England, and that there was a good assortment on hand ; wove thread stockings were made in sundry places ; the making of linen, woolen and cotton stuff'swas fast increasing ; gloves, hats, carriages, harness and cabinet-work were j^lenty. The people were now self-dependent; cards now appeared recommending that no true friend of his country should buy or import English goods, and the dry-goods men were warned that their importations would lie on hand, to their cost and ruin.