or even example, seems to have formed in | 3d of Edward IV.; which prohibition was rethem all at once the great qualities which it newed by the 39th of Elizabeth, and has been required, and to have inspired them both with continued and rendered perpetual by subse abilities and virtues which they themselves quent laws.

could not well know that they possessed. If The importation of the materials of maapon some occasions, therefore, it has ani-nufacture has sometimes been encouraged by mated them to actions of magnanimity which an exemption from the duties to which other could not well have been expected from them, goods are subject, and sometimes by boun we should not wonder if, upon others, it has ties. prompted them to exploits of somewhat a different nature.

Such exclusive companies, therefore, are nuisances in every respect; always more or less inconvenient to the countries in which they are established, and destructive to those which have the misfortune to fall under their government. Note 34.

CHAP. VIII.

CONCLUSION OF THE MERCANTILE SYSTEM.

The importation of sheep's wool from several different countries, of cotton wool from all countries, of undressed flax, of the greater part of dyeing drugs, of the greater part of undressed hides from Ireland, or the British colonies, of seal skins from the British Greenland fishery, of pig and bar iron from the British colonies, as well as of several other materials of manufacture, has been encouraged by an exemption from all duties, if properly entered at the custom-house. The private interest of our merchants and manufac turers may, perhaps, have extorted from the legislature these exemptions, as well as the greater part of our other commercial regulations. They are, however, perfectly just and reasonable; and if, consistently with the ne THOUGH the encouragement of exportation, cessities of the state, they could be extended and the discouragement of importation, are to all the other materials of manufacture, the the two great engines by which the mercan-public would certainly be a gainer. tile system proposes to enrich every country, The avidity of our great manufacturers, yet, with regard to some particular commodi- however, has in some cases extended these ties, it seems to follow an opposite plan: to exemptions a good deal beyond what can justly discourage exportation, and to encourage im- be considered as the rude materials of their portation. Its ultimate object, however, it work. By the 24th Geo. II. chap. 46, a pretends, is always the same, to enrich the small duty of only 1d. the pound was imcountry by an advantageous balance of trade. posed upon the importation of foreign brown It discourages the exportation of the mate-linen yarn, instead of much higher duties, to rials of manufacture, and of the instruments of which it had been subjected before, viz. of 6d. trade, in order to give our own workmen an ad- the pound upon sail yarn, of 1s. the pound vantage, and to enable them to undersell those upon all French and Dutch yarn, and of of other nations in all foreign markets; and L.2: 13: 4 upon the hundred weight of al by restraining, in this manner, the exportation spruce or Muscovia yarn. But our manuof a few commodities, of no great price, it facturers were not long satisfied with this reproposes to occasion a much greater and more duction: by the 29th of the same king, valuable exportation of others. It encourages chap. 15, the same law which gave a bounty the importation of the materials of manufac- upon the exportation of British and Irish ture, in order that our own people may be linen, of which the price did not exceed 18d. enabled to work them up more cheaply, and the yard, even this small duty upon the imthereby prevent a greater and more valuable portation of brown linen yarn was taken away. importation of the manufactured commodities. In the different operations, however, which I do not observe, at least in our statute book, are necessary for the preparation of linen any encouragement given to the importation yarn, a good deal more industry is employed, of the instruments of trade. When manufac- than in the subsequent operation of preparing tures have advanced to a certain pitch of linen cloth from linen yarn, To say nothing greatness,. the fabrication of the instruments of the industry of the flax-growers and flaxof trade becomes itself the object of a great dressers, three or four spinners at least are number of very important manufactures. To necessary in order to keep one weaver in congive any particular encouragement to the im- stant employment; and more than four-fifths portation of such instruments, would interfere of the whole quantity of labour necessary for too much with the interest of those manufac- the preparation of linen cloth, is employed in Such importation, therefore, instead that of linen yarn; but our spinners are poor of being encouraged, has frequently been pro- people; women commonly scattered about in hibited. Thus the importation of wool cards, all different parts of the country, without sup except from Ireland, or when brought in as port or protection. It is not by the sale of wreck or prize goods, was prohibited by the their work, but by that of the complete work

tures.

of the weavers, that our great master manufac- to L.2, 4s. the ton. The bounty upon pitch turers make their profits. As it is their interest was likewise reduced to L. 1, and that upon turpentine to L. 1: 10s. the ton.

to sell the complete manufacture as dear, so it is to buy the materials as cheap as possible. By The second bounty upon the importation extorting from the legislature bounties upon of any of the materials of manufacture, acthe exportation of their own linen, high du- cording to the order of time, was that granted ties upon the importation of all foreign linen, by the 21st Geo. II. chap. 30, upon the imand a total prohibition of the home consump-portation of indigo from the British plantation of some sorts of French linen, they en- tions. When the plantation indigo was worth deavour to sell their own goods as dear as three-fourths of the price of the best French Dossible. By encouraging the importation of indigo, it was, by this act, entitled to a bounforeign linen yarn, and thereby bringing it ty of 6d. the pound. This bounty, which, into competition with that which is made by like most others, was granted only for a li our own people, they endeavour to buy the mited time, was continued by several prolonwork of the poor spinners as cheap as pos- gations, but was reduced to 4d. the pound. sible. They are as intent to keep down the It was allowed to expire with the end of the wages of their own weavers, as the earnings session of parliament which followed the 25th of the poor spinners; and it is by no means for March 1781. the benefit of the workmen that they endeavour either to raise the price of the complete work, or to lower that of the rude materials. It is the industry which is carried on for the benefit of the rich and the powerful, that is principally encouraged by our mercantile system. That which is carried on for the benefit of the poor and the indigent is too often either neglected or oppressed.

Both the bounty upon the exportation of linen, and the exemption from the duty upon the importation of foreign yarn, which were granted only for fifteen years, but continued by two different prolongations, expire with the end of the session of parliament which shall immediately follow the 24th of June 1786.

The encouragement given to the importation of the materials of manufacture by bouncies, has been principally confined to such as were imported from our American plantations.

The third bounty of this kind was that granted (much about the time that we were beginning sometimes to court, and sometimes to quarrel with our American colonies), by the 4th Geo. III. chap. 26, upon the importation of hemp, or undressed flax, from the British plantations. This bounty was granted for twenty-one years, from the 24th June 1764 to the 24th June 1785. For the first seven years, it was to be at the rate of L.8 the ton; for the second at L.6; and for the third at L.4. It was not extended to Scotland, of which the climate (although hemp is sometimes raised there in small quantities, and of an inferior quality) is not very fit for that produce. Such a bounty upon the importatior. of Scotch flax in England would have been too great a discouragement to the native produce of the southern part of the united kingdom.

The fourth bounty of this kind was that The first bounties of this kind were those granted by the 5th Geo. III. chap. 45, upon granted about the beginning of the present the importation of wood from America. It century, upon the importation of naval stores was granted for nine years from the 1st Jafrom America. Under this denomination nuary 1766 to the 1st January 1775. Durwere comprehended timber fit for masts, ing the first three years, it was to be for every yards, and bowsprits; hemp, tar, pitch, and hundred-and-twenty good deals, at the rate of turpentine. The bounty, however, of L.1 the ton upon masting-timber, and that of L.6 the ton upon hemp, were extended to such as should be imported into England from Scotland. Both these bounties continued, without any variation, at the same rate, till they were severally allowed to expire; that upon hemp on the 1st of January 1741, and that upon masting-timber at the end of the session of parliament immediately following the 24th June 1781.

L. 1, and for every load containing fifty cubic feet of other square timber, at the rate of 12s. For the second three years, it was for deals, to be at the rate of 155., and for other squared timber at the rate of 8s.; and for the third three years, it was for deals, to be at the rate of 10s.; and for every other squared timber at the rate of 5s.

The fifth bounty of this kind was that granted by the 9th Geo. III. chap. 38, upon the importation of raw silk from the British plantations. It was granted for twenty-one years, from the 1st January 1770, to the 1st January 1791. For the first seven years, it

The bounties upon the importation of tar, pitch, and turpentine, underwent, during their continuance, several alterations. Originally, that upon tar was L.4 the ton; that upon pitch was to be at the rate of L.25 for every hunthe same; and that upon turpentine L.3 the dred pounds value; for the second, at L. 20; ton. The bounty of L.4 the ton upon tar was and for the third, at L. 15. The manageafterwards confined to such as had been pre- ment of the silk-worm, and the preparation pared in a particular manner; that upon other of silk, requires so much hand-labour, and good, clean, and merchantable tar was reduced labour is so very dear in America, that ever

this great bounty, I have been informed, was in persuading the legislature that the pro not likely to produce any considerable effect. sperity of the nation depended upon the suc The sixth bounty of this kind was that cess and extension of their particular busigranted by 11th Geo. III. chap. 50, for the ness. They have not only obtained a monoimportation of pipe, hogshead, and barrel- poly against the consumers, by an absolute staves and heading from the British planta- prohibition of importing woollen cloths from tions. It was granted for nine years, from any foreign country; but they have likewise 1st January 1772 to the 1st January 1781. obtained another monopoly against the sheep For the first three years, it was, for a certain farmers and growers of wool, by a simila. quantity of each, to be at the rate of L.6; prohibition of the exportation of live sheep for the second three years at L.4; and for the and wool. The severity of many of the laws third three years at L.2.

which have been enacted for the security of The seventh and last bounty of this kind the revenue is very justly complained of, as was that granted by the 19th Geo. III. chap. imposing heavy penalties upon actions which, 37, upon the importation of hemp from Ire- antecedent to the statutes that declared them land. It was granted in the same manner as to be crimes, had always been understood to that for the importation of hemp and undres- be innocent. But the cruellest of our reve sed flax from America, for twenty-one years, nue laws, I will venture to affirm, are mild from the 24th June 1779 to the 24th June and gentle, in comparison to some of those 1800. The term is divided likewise into which the clamour of our merchants and three periods, of seven years each; and in manufacturers has extorted from the legisla each of those periods, the rate of the Irish ture, for the support of their own absurd and bounty is the same with that of the American. oppressive monopolies. Like the laws of It does not, however, like the American Draco, these laws may be said to be all writ bounty, extend to the importation of undres- ten in blood.

upon a market day, to be there nailed up; and for the second offence, to be adjudged a felon, and to suffer death accordingly. To prevent the breed of our sheep from being propagated in foreign countries, seems to have been the object of this law. By the 13th and 14th of Charles II. chap. 18, the exportation of wool was made felony, and the exporter subjected to the same penalties and forfeitures

sed flax. It would have been too great a By the 8th of Elizabeth, chap. 3, the exdiscouragement to the cultivation of that plant porter of sheep, lambs, or rams, was for the in Great Britain. When this last bounty was first offence, to forfeit all his goods for ever, granted, the British and Irish legislatures to suffer a year's imprisonment, and then to were not in much better humour with one have his left hand cut off in a market town, another, than the British and American had been before. But this boon to Ireland, it is to be hoped, has been granted under more fortunate auspices than all those to America. The same commodities, upon which we thus gave bounties, when imported from America, were subjected to considerable duties when imported from any other country. The interest of our American colonies was regarded as the same with that of the mother as a felon. Their wealth was considered as our country. For the honour of the national humanity, wealth. Whatever money was sent out to it is to be hoped that neither of these statutes them, it was said, came all back to us by the was ever executed. The first of them, how balance of trade, and we could never become ever, so far as I know, has never been directa farthing the poorer by any expense which we ly repealed, and serjeant Hawkins seems to could lay out upon them. They were our own consider it as still in force. It may, however, in every respect, and it was an expense laid out perhaps be considered as virtually repealed by upon the improvement of our own property, the 12th of Charles II. chap. 32, sect. 3, and for the profitable employment of our own which, without expressly taking away the pepeople. It is unnecessary, I apprehend, at nalties imposed by former statutes, imposes present to say any thing further, in order to a new penalty, viz. that of 20s. for every expose the folly of a system which fatal ex- sheep exported, or attempted to be exported, verience has now sufficiently exposed. Had together with the forfeiture of the sheep, and our American colonies really been a part of of the owner's share of the sheep. The se Great Britain, those bounties might have cond of them was expressly repealed by the been considered as bounties upon production, and would still have been liable to all the objections to which such bounties are liable, but

to no other.

The exportation of the materials of manufacture is sometimes discouraged by absolute prohibitions, and sometimes by high duties.

Our woollen manufacturers have been more successful than any other class of workmen,

7th and 8th of William III. chap. 28, sect. 4, by which it is declared that Whereas the statute of the 13th and 14th of king Charles II. made against the exportation of wool among other things in the said act mentioned, doth enact the same to be deemed felony, by the severity of which penalty the prosecution of offenders hath not been so effectually put in execution; be it therefore enacted, by the

authority aforesaid, that so much of the said | But in the particular counties of Kent and act, which relates to the making the said of-Sussex, the restrictions are still more troublefence felony, be repealed and made void.' some. Every owner of wool within ten miles The penalties, however, which are either of the sea coast must give an account in writimposed by this milder statute, or which, ing, three days after shearing, to the next though imposed by former statutes, are not officer of the customs, of the number of his repealed by this one, are still sufficiently se- fleeces, and of the places where they are lodg vere. Besides the forfeiture of the goods, ed. And before he removes any part of them, the exporter incurs the penalty of 3s. for he must give the like notice of the number every pound weight of wool, either exported and weight of the fleeces, and of the name or attempted to be exported, that is, about and abode of the person to whom they are four or five times the value. Any merchant, sold, and of the place to which it is intended or other person convicted of this offence, is they should be carried. No person within disabled from requiring any debt or account fifteen miles of the sea, in the said counties, belonging to him from any factor or other can buy any wool, before he enters into bond person. Let his fortune be what it will, to the king, that no part of the wool which whether he is or is not able to pay those heavy he shall so buy shall be sold by him to any penalties, the law means to ruin him com- other person within fifteen miles of the sea. pletely. But, as the morals of the great If any wool is found carrying towards the body of the people are not yet so corrupt as sea side in the said counties, unless it has those of the contrivers of this statute, I have been entered and security given as aforesaid, not heard that any advantage has ever been it is forfeited, and the offender also forfeits taken of this clause. If the person convicted 3s. for every pound weight. If any person of this offence is not able to pay the penalties lay any wool, not entered as aforesaid, within within three months after judgment, he is to be transported for seven years; and if he returns before the expiration of that term, he is liable to the pains of felony, without benefit of clergy. The owner of the ship, knowing this offence, forfeits all his interest in the ship and furniture. The master and mariners, knowing this offence, forfeit all their goods and chattels, and suffer three months imprisonment. By a subsequent statute, the master suffers six months imprisonment.

fifteen miles of the sea, it must be seized and forfeited; and if, after such seizure, any per. son shall claim the same, he must give security to the exchequer, that if he is cast upon trial he shall pay treble costs, besides all other penalties.

When such restrictions are imposed upon the inland trade, the coasting trade, we may believe, cannot be left very free. Every owner of wool, who carrieth, or causeth to be carried, any wool to any port or place on In order to prevent exportation, the whole the sea coast, in order to be from thence transinland commerce of wool is laid under very ported by sea to any other place or port on burdensome and oppressive restrictions. It the coast, must first cause an entry thereof cannot be packed in any box, barrel, cask, to be made at the port from whence it is incase, chest, or any other package, but only in tended to be conveyed, containing the weight, packs of leather or pack-cloth, on which must marks, and number, of the packages, before be marked on the outside the words wOOL or he brings the same within five miles of that YARN, in large letters, not less than three port, on pain of forfeiting the same, and also inches long, on pain of forfeiting the same the horses, carts, and other carriages; and and the package, and 3s. for every pound also of suffering and forfeiting, as by the weight, to be paid by the owner or packer. other laws in force against the exportation of It cannot be loaden on any horse or cart, or wool. This law, however (1st of William carried by land within five miles of the coast, III. chap. 32), is so very indulgent as to debut between sun-rising, and sun-setting, on clare, that this shall not hinder any person pain of forfeiting the same, the horses and from carrying his wool home from the place carriages. The hundred next adjoining to of shearing, though it be within five miles of the sea coast, out of, or through which the the sea, provided that in ten days after shearwool is carried or exported, forfeits L. 20, if ing, and before he remove the wool, he do the wool is under the value of L. 10; and if under his hand certify to the next officer of the of greater value, then treble that value, to- customs the true number of fleeces, and gether with treble costs, to be sued for within where it is housed; and do not remove the the year. The execution to be against any same, without certifying to such officer, untwo of the inhabitants, whom the sessions der his hand, his intention so to do, three must reimburse, by an assessment on the days before.' Bond must be given that the other inhabitants, as in the cases of robbery. wool to be carried coast-ways is to be landed And if any person compounds with the hun- at the particular port for which it is entered dred for less than this penalty, he is to be imprisoned for five years; and any other person may prosecute. These regulations take place through the whole kingdom.

outwards; and if any part of it is landed without the presence of an officer, not only the forfeiture of the wool is incurred, as in other goods, but the usual additional penalty

The

of 3s. for every pound weight is likewise in-though it may, perhaps, have been a little curred. affected by these regulations. The growing Our woollen manufacturers, in order to of wool is not the chief purpose for which the justify their demand of such extraordinary re-sheep farmer employs his industry and stock. strictions and regulations, confidently asserted, He expects his profit, not so much from the that English wool was of a peculiar quality, price of the fleece, as from that of the carcase; superior to that of any other country; that and the average or ordinary price of the latter the wool of other countries could not, without must even, in many cases, make up to him some mixture of it, be wrought up into any whatever deficiency there may be in the ave tolerable manufacture; that fine cloth could rage or ordinary price of the former. It has not be made without it; that England, there-been observed, in the foregoing part of this fore, if the exportation of it could be totally work, that whatever regulations tend to sink prevented, could monopolize to herself almost the price, either of wool or of raw hides, the whole woollen trade of the world; and below what it naturally would be, must, in an thus, having no rivals, could sell at what improved and cultivated country, have some price she pleased, and in a short time acquire tendency to raise the price of butcher's meat. the most incredible degree of wealth by the The price, both of the great and small cattie most advantageous balance of trade. This which are fed on improved and cultivated doctrine, like most other doctrines which are land, must be sufficient to pay the rent which confidently asserted by any considerable num- the landlord, and the profit which the farmer, ber of people, was, and still continues to be, has reason to expect from improved and culmost implicitly believed by a much greater tivated land. If it is not, they will soon number by almost all those who are either cease to feed them. Whatever part of this unacquainted with the woollen trade, or who price, therefore, is not paid by the wool and have not made particular inquiries. It is, the hide, must be paid by the carcase. however, so perfectly false, that English wool less there is paid for the one, the more must is in any respect necessary for the making of be paid for the other. In what manner this fine cloth, that it is altogether unfit for it. price is to be divided upon the different parts Fine cloth is made altogether of Spanish of the beast, is indifferent to the landlords wool. English wool, cannot be even so mix and farmers, provided it is all paid to them. ed with Spanish wool, as to enter into the In an improved and cultivated country, therecomposition without spoiling and degrading, fore, their interest as landlords and farmers in some degree, the fabric of the cloth. cannot be much affected by such regulations, It has been shown in the foregoing part of though their interest as consumers may, by this work, that the effect of these regulations the rise in the price of provisions.' Accord has been to depress the price of English wool, ing to this reasoning, therefore, this degrada not only below what it naturally would be in tion in the price of wool is not likely, in an the present times, but very much below what improved and cultivated country, to occasion it actually was in the time of Edward III. any diminution in the annual produce of that The price of Scotch wool, when, in conse- commodity; except so far as, by raising the quence of the Union, it became subject to the price of mutton, it may somewhat diminish same regulations, is said to have fallen about the demand for, and consequently the proone half It is observed by the very accurate duction of, that particular species of butcher's and intelligent author of the Memoirs of meat. Its effect, however, even in this way, Wool, the Reverend Mr. John Smith, that it is probable, is not very considerable. the price of the best English wool in Eng- But though its effect upon the quantity of land, is generally below what wool of a very the annual produce may not have been very inferior quality commonly sells for in the considerable, its effect upon the quality, it market of Amsterdam. To depress the price may perhaps be thought, must necessarily of this commodity below what may be called have been very great. The degradation in its natural and proper price, was the avowed the quality of English wool, if not below purpose of those regulations; and there seems what it was in former times, yet below what to be no doubt of their having produced the effect that was expected from them.

it naturally would have been in the present state of improvement and cultivation, must This reduction of price, it may perhaps be have been, it may perhaps be supposed, very thought, by discouraging the growing of wool, nearly in proportion to the degradation of must have reduced very much the annual price. As the quality depends upon the produce of that commodity, though not below breed, upon the pasture, and upon the manage what it formerly was, yet below what, in the ment and cleanliness of the sheep, during present state of things, it would probably the whole progress of the growth of the fleece, have been, had it, in consequence of an open the attention to these circumstances, it may and free market, been allowed to rise to the natural and proper price. I am, however, disposed to believe, that the quantity of the annual produce cannot have been much,

naturally enough be imagined, can never b greater than in proportion to the recompence which the price of the fleece is likely to make for the labour and expense which that atten