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Alliances and EmbargoThe merchant marine of the United States was again on theoutside looking in, and depression roosted like a raven on theink pot of every American merchant. Man y American merchants,finding no profit in following the usual channels oftrade, sent their vessels to the less frequented corners of thewatery world. 5 In 1802 and 1803, although American tradewith the rest of the world dropped in both value and quantity,Russia saw more Americans than she ever had seen before. In1802, sixty-five vessels cleared Kronstadt for America, an alltimehigh. In 1803, whe n America's total imports were lowerthan they had been for a decade, eighty-four vessels left Kronstadtfor the United States. 6The reason for the amazing jump in trade with Russia in1803 was not primarily the depression, however, but the renewalof bloodshed in Europe. By the spring of that year, thetensions between England and France had again become toogreat for a peaceful world to contain; and on 18 Ma y 1803,England renewed her war on Napoleon and his legions. O n 11May , Jacob Crowninshield had written, with the mixed emo ­tions of an unemployed lawyer about to witness afistfightbetween two litigious millionaires, "The affair of peace or warwill be determined in a day or so. All are anxious. Many ,however, dread it. For m y part I shall regret its taking place.Still, as individuals I think w e ma y turn it to our advantage,but its effects will be dreadful upon Europe." 7 Jacob was rightagain. It is probable that not until World Wa r I did theAmerican merchant marine again carry as great a proportion ofEurope's imports as in the years immediately following1803.When the news of the war reached America, many mer­93