c Schomberg, Alexander Crowcher 3
Historical and political remarks
upon the tariff of the commercial
treaty
The
Robert E. Gross
Collection
A Memorial to the Founder
of the
(Dojc/iottahi ji
4= Business Administration Library
(IniverM/u *>/ vauiornia
Los Angeles
HISTORICAL and POLITICAL
REMARKS
UPON THE
TARIFF
OP THE
COMM tlAL TREATY:
WITH
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
pi
LONDON:
Printed for T. CADELL, in the Strand,
(I
f.IDCC LXXXVIl,
The
Robert E. Gross
Collection
A Memorial to the Founder
of the
Business Administration Library
Los Angeles
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
IT is propofed in the following pages to
offer Tome general obfervations upon the
conftrudtion of Treaties, and the qualifications
of a Commercial Negotiator ; to point out that
revolution in the trading fyftem of Europe,
which was effected by an acknowledgment of
the independent fovereignty of the United
States of Hollarv^at the Treaty of Munfter,
and to confider, principal variations and im-
provements fince >cnat period, in a deduction of
fome remarkaKe fads from the hiftories of
France and England. Such an Inquiry, impar-
tially conducted, may not be thought unfeafon-
able, at a time when the public attention is fixed
on an important object fo intimately connected
with it. The particular reafons for what has been
attempted towards changing the form of our
pj j it Commercial Treaty, will hereafter be ex-
plained : in the mean while it will aplpear fuffi-
cient j uflification to alledge, that by varying the
fituation of a picture, there is fometimes a chance
of bringing it into fuch a light as fhall produce a
Jfibre ftriking effect, and difcover beauties and
clions which had before efcaped the eye of
"t ' B the
C 2 ]
the obferver. It is hoped, moreover, that this
Inquiry will not upon the whole be found lefs
interefting or fatisfactory, if, preferring the in-
vefligation of truth to the gratification of party,
it prefent itfelf, at firft, under a form feldom
adopted in popular treatifes.
MAN may be confidered as acting both in a
natural and in a focial capacity. There are cer-
tain rights and obligations peculiar to each, of
a quality immutable and f'T^enfable. The
proper confideration of thef(^ marks out the
diftinclion between the Law oi • Nature and the
Law of Nations; and, at the fame time
teaches us, why, though different in their ap-
plication, they mufl in their origin be the fame.
That which in one cafe is faid to be the law oi
nature, regulating the conduct of individual
men, is in the other, only the fame law applied
to the dire&ion of individual communities.
States, thus contemplated, aflume the perfonai
properties of men, and may acquire rights,
and contract obligations, by exprefs engage-
ments. Hence arifes what has been termed,
the Conventional Law of nations; which, though
capable of being variously modified, and adap
i
L 3 .1
to the exigences and characters of particular
ftates, yet fpringing, as we have feen, from the
fame pure fource, the law of nature muft be
admitted, like that primary law itfelf, to bind
the faith of focieties in public treaties and ne-
gotiations.
Since, then, all thofe rights, which dates
derive from the neceffary or natural law of
nations, become, when thus qualified, the
objects of poiitive convention, the conflruction
of fi Lich folemn contracts muft furely be a work
of great difficulty-- id importance ; requiring,
in the negotiator, a lingular combination of
fpeculative and experimental fagacity, and,
in the contracting parties, a decided love of
natural equity, and an inviolable attachment to
national faith. Public Treaties, and the perfons
of Ambaffadors, have accordingly been held
facred in all ages and nations ; though, as com-
munities are ever actuated by the fame paffions,
and governed by the fame principles, as die
individuals which compofe them, we mould not
wonder to find them often expofed to corrup-
tions and abufes. Many writers have em-
* Puffendorf. Law of Nature and Nations, B.
II. chap. iii. § 23.
Vattei,, Pref, to The Lazv of Nations.
B 2 ployed
C 4 ]
ployed themfclves in tracing thefe corrup-
tions to their fource, in pointing out their fatal
confequences, in urging arguments for the
neceffity of national honour, and in illuftrating
the duties of fecial magiftracy. But, in their
reafonings on this fubject, they feem to have
overlooked a point of no fmall importance :
for, perhaps, it is the remote caufe of all thofe
corruptions which we lament. We know, that
in private contracts, precifion and perfpicuity
are indifpenfable ; yet, what is the cafe with
refpect to national convemvryv, which, as they
involve the interefts and happinefs of kingdoms,
cannot, either in their arrangement, or their
language, be too clear and unequivocal ? We
are told of an Italian Politician, who ufed to
boaft, that he never fpoke on critical conjunc-
tures, but in lb equivocal a manner, that his
words would bear a double conftruction : this
pernicious fophiftry, ofren unintentionally per-
haps, has been fuffered too much to prevail in.
rhe fcience of negotiation, and has rendered
the ftyle of fome public treaties lb embarrafTed
and obfcure, and their form fo perplexed, and
void of defign, that it is very difficult to dif-
cover their meaning. It has been made an ob-
jection to fuch inflruments, that they abound
C 5 ]
in ncedlefs repetitions, and circuitous phrafes;
but, in the inftance before us, let us confider
the folemnity of the compact, and the fatal
confequences of its infringement, and we fhall
allow, that no precaution, which can give new
force to the condition, or flint up an avenue
to fubterfuge, ought to be deemed fuperfluous.
The fault in fad feems to be, that their lan-
guage is in general too defultory, carrying the
affectation of order without its distinctions, and
abounding in terms vague and indecilive. The
reafon is clearly tb ; fJ Inftead of confulting the
fpirit of the age in which they live, or the cha-
racter and habits of the ftates with whom they
treat, many negotiators have been content to
copy the forms and phrafes of their predecef-
fors ; which, however apt in their original ap-
plication, muft now neceffarily be often ufed
without either meaning or effect*. It is no
great recommendation of thefe forms, that they
* Of this we have ftriking proofs, whenever any ex-
traordinary occafiton has rendered it abfolutely neceflary
for negotiators to leave the beaten track. Compare,
with a view to ftyle, the treaties between England and the
Cherokee nations ; or the kingdoms of Morocco, Tunis,
and Algiers, and thofe with France, and other civilized
ftates. Jenkinson'j Colkftion of Treaties, Vol. I. p. 228.
Vol. II. p. 302. 315. V. III. p. 15. 18.
B 3 originated,
C 6 ]
originated, for the mod part, in the Italian
fchool of politics.
The diftrefs to which the power of France
and Spain often reduced the ftates of Italy,
during the 16 th century, and their frequent
civil wars, gave rife among them to numberlefs
evafions, in their public negotiations; which,
had they been fuffered to pafs away, with the
occafions that prompted them, might now have
almoft been looked upon as excufable ; but by
the pernicious fedulity of fome learned men,
they have been fo careft^ collected and ar-
ranged as to form, in a manner, a fyflematic
code of political chicane ; abounding in princi^
pies which are as difgraceful to national wifdom,
as inimical to natural juftice. Hence it hap-
pens, that the adjuftment of thefe folemn corn-
pads has fometimes been treated as little more
than a trial of dexterity in the art of over-
reaching ; where it is the intereft of each party
to circumvent the other by finefTe, to perplex
hufinefs by fuhtleti.es, and. to introduce every
propofal in dark and ambiguous language. *
When we recollect with what fcrupulous order
the ceremonial of a congrefs for fettling thefe
national
* One of their principles feems to have been, that trea-
ties with infidels need not be confidered as binding. But
(to reaibn from Vattel) the law of nature, and not re?
C 7 1
national compads, is conduded, and refled on
the ftudies and habits of thofe perfons who com-
pofe it, we are naturally led to exped fome ap-
pearance of arrangement in the refult of their
deliberations. But this is not always the cafe.
How many treaties are there, the materials of
which feem thrown together, without any de-
fign, or even an attempt at arrangement, info-
much that it is almoft impoffible to form a clear
idea of what may be their objed or effeft, till
viewed under a new difpofition ; fince it is not
uncommon, befide the want of order in particu-
lar articles, to ^nd 'an interefting ftipulation
abruptly fufpended by the intervention of a
new fubjed, and as unexpededly refumed in
fome other part of the treaty. *
Y Thefe
ligion, regulates the treaties of nations, who negotiate
with each other in the quality of Men, not of Chriftians,
Mufiulmans, &c. A religion which fhould teach the con-
trary, and allow of infidelity in fuch contrads, could ne-
ver proceed from the Author of Nature, who is always con-
stant and faithful, [L*w of Nations, B. II. ch. xii. § 162.)
Let it be remembered, that Mahomet urged to his followers,
the neceffity of an inviolable obfervance of treaties. Ock-
LEY's Hi ft. of the Saracens, V. I. p. 76.
* This want of order in arrangement is feelingly re-
gretted by a great Political Arithmetician, in the cafe of
public papers, laid before the Houfe of Commons ;
(Young'j Annals of Agriculture, No. xxix. p. 396.) and
B4 ic
[ 3 ]
Thefe objections will receive flrong confirma-
tion in the inftance of marine treaties, in which
the negotiator has certainly better opportunities
of preferving fimplicity of language and ar-
rangement, than in the more multifarious bufi-
nefs of a general pacification. In no branch
of diplomatics, however, have thofe principles
of natural equity, which conflitute the law of
nations, been more accurately defined, or more
happily adopted into common practice, than in
the regulations of commercial inter courfe. We
nwft not therefore be furprifed, if, in the mi-
nuter departments of fuch f^gotiations, fome
deficiencies mould occur; for they require an
infight into remote confequences, which nothing
but long and practical experience in mercan-
tile affairs can furnifh, and which, therefore,
feldom falls within the reach of a ftatefman.
The eftablifhment of a Committee, for the pur-
pofe of preparing bufinefs of this kind for
public debate, compofed of men qualified, by
their education and profeflion, to form accurate
opinions on fubjects of trade, and who, by an
cxteniive correspondence, are accuftomed to
inveftigate the caules, and forefee the effects,
it mull be obvious to every perfon, who has had occalion
to confult a collection of treaties, or any other documents,
with a view to accurate information.
of
[ '9 ]
of every variation in the commercial balance,
it can never be doubted would remove all de-
fects of this kind, and is recommended by the
example of the greater!: trading republic of
modern times. A committee of the Privy
Council can never be adequate to fuch an
undertaking in its full extent, for the fame
reafons which difable many negotiators ; and
the judgments of individual merchants is ob-
jectionable ; becaufe, however qualified in
other refpects to give advice, they muft of ne-
ceffity clafh in their interefts and prejudices, fo
as to make it difficult to draw as clear a deci-
fion from among them, as would be the refult of
an experienced committee. Without fome fuch
plan as this, it is furely unreafonable to expect
that perfection in marine treaties, which their
importance requires ; becaufe, however brilliant
in the higher branches of his office, a negoti-
ator is very rarely qualified for the profeffional
labour of detail and calculation.* This appears
on
* Though I entirely agree with Mr. Young in his
idea of the mifchievous effects of the monopolizing fpirit, I
cannot fubfcribc to his opinion that this evil can be in-
ereafed by fuch an eftablifhment as a Chamber of Commerce.
*< Annals of Agriculture," Vol. III. p. 452. On the con-
trary I am at prefent perfuaded it mufr, among other ad-
vantages, contribute much to counteract it. In this I am
poffibly miftuken, and fincercly wifhthat he would take an
[ ™ ]
on the flighteft view of the department ; but,
were we to conlidcr it more fcrupuloufly, it
would be found to demand fucli a variety and
extent of talents, as few minds are capable of
difplaying. Befide a general knowledge of the
trade, and reciprocal interefts, of the contracting
powers, he ought to be precifely acquainted with
their feveral kinds of induftry and fkill ; to dis-
cover their wants, to calculate their refources,
and to weigh with nicety the ftate of their fi-
nances, and the proportionate intereft of their
money ; nay, further, he mould be able to afcer-
tain the comparative population and ftrength of
each country, together with the price and qua-
lity, both of firft materials, and alfo of the
labour beftowed upon them ; for this purpofe he
fhould inquire into the operations of every
clafs of merchants and manufacturers con-
cerned in the treaty, fhould confult their ex-
pectations on each of its feveral branches, and
collect their hopes and fears on the effect of fuch
a commercial revolution, on the competition of
rival nations. A good treaty of commerce, in-
dependent of the art of negotiation, is pro-
early occafion to enter more fully into this important fub-
jecl, for which, by his long experience and acute genius
uft fuch matters, he is fo eminently qualified.
nounced
C " 3
nounced by one, who well knew the extent and
difficulty of the fubjedt, to be " a mafterpiece
of (kill." *
The Abbe de Mably is of opinion, that
particular regulations in commercial treaties are
contrary to the true intereft of ftates. Were
this doctrine once eftablifhed, the bufinefs might
be comprifed in a very narrow compafs, and all
this detail of qualifications rendered uneffential
in the character of a plenipotentiary. After
certain general rules for the freedom of com-
merce and navigation are adjufted, he thinks it
would be more prudent for each party to trull
for the reft, to their internal policy, and to
enact, among themfelves, fuch laws as may be
calculated to promote domeftic induftry, and to
enable their own fubjects to furpafs their neigh-
bours in all the great articles of traffic : " For,"
he adds, " every advantage granted to foreign
trade is, in fome degree, a check upon your
own. It creates a competition ; and, what was
at firft a particular privilege, becomes a general
right : in the mean time, that branch of your
domeftic trade, whatever it be, inflead of re-
ceiving an extenfive circulation from the unre-
ftrained induftry of the people, is thus confined
* Po s t r. E T H w a y T E *s Commercial Interefl of Great Bri-
tain, V. II, p. 42;,
bv
[ 12 J
by foreign competition, and, in the end, en-
tirely ftagnates."* But fuch a fcheme as this
feems objectionable on many accounts. It is at
prefent only necenary to obferve, that its adop-
tion would defeat the leading idea of marine
compacts, which are intended, not merely to
lay down general rules for the freedom of com-
merce and navigation. Thefe are now fuffici-
ently understood, and practifed by every civi-
lized power, being founded on certain immu-
table principles, which have one only criterion
of juftice ; but rather to reconcile the interefts
of the contracting parties, in many particular
branches of trade ; which, depending, in a great
degree, on the variable tafte, manners, and
ingenuity of mankind, muft for ever (land in
need of periodical revifions. That fuch are the
leading objects in modern conventions, will ap-
pear more fully from the following reflections.
The Treaty of Munster, among other
vifible effects on the law of nations, produced
a confiderable revolution in the commercial
policy of Europe. When, by this Treaty,
the United States of Holland obtained the
acknowledgment of their fovereignty, they vh
goroufly applied themfelves to thofe arts, by
which alone they had been enabled to maintain
* Droit Publique ds V Europe, Tom II. p. 561.
the
[ i3 ]
the conteft, and to fecure, at lafl, their free-
dom and independence. Ambition, not ava-
rice, is ufually the characteriftic vice of nations ;
but, whatever tranfient influence ambition may
have had on the oppofers of Spaniili tyranny,
during the ftruggle, it was a paffion by no
means calculated to take root and thrive in the
conflitution of a Dutch republic. What had
coil them fo much unabated labour to obtain,
they refolved to preferve by a uniform fyftem of
fhrewd, . fclf-interefted policy.* That com-
merce, which had been gradually increafing for
more than half a century, it was now their firft
care to extend and confirm by cautious nego-
tiations.
The inactivity ofthofe maritime flates, which
had always confidered traffic as an object of too
little dignity to be made the foundation of na-
tional grandeur, afforded them the opportunity ;
accordingly in lefs than fifteen years from the
Treaty of Munfter, there was fcarcely a power
of any confequence with whom they had not
formed an advantageous alliance, merely with
a view to commercial privileges. The perfection
to which they carried the trade of freightage,
* See c lbc Political Maxims oi John de Witt, a woik
which proves its author to have been equally calculated to
fliine in the Compting-houfe and the Cabinet.
was
t H ]
was a ilroke of policy peculiar to themfelves ;
and to this they were firft led as much, proba-
bly, by their fituation as their avarice. Among
many other new regulations for its fupport,
they appear to have introduced thofe laws
for adj ufting neutral traffic with belligerent
ftates, which now make fo marked an article in
all treaties of navigation and commerce ;* the
laws alio of contraband were greatly improved
by them, and the various fpecies of mercantile
property more accurately defined and fecured.-j~
The
* The Hanfe Tozvns were the predecefibrsof the Dutch in
the Carrying-Trade, but never enjoyed it fo exclunvely, or
in a manner fo effectually fecured to them. It feems as if the
article, alluded to above, was firfl admitted by France,
in a treaty of defenfive alliance between her and Holland,
in 1662 ; and, being renewed in the Marine Treaty of
1678, has been fince continued, and repeatedly confirmed.
As this Treaty of 1662 was taken as the D*afis of that com-
mercial compact, which followed the Triple Alliance in
2668, it was admitted alfo at that time by the Englifli, and
repeated in the treaty of 1674, which now regulates, for
the moftpart, ourtrade with Holland. Jenkinson's Dif-
courfe on the ConduSl of Great Britahi to Neutral Nations*
p. 30. — Collection of Treaties, V". I. p. icp, 202. 2 1 1.
\ The regulations of contraband are founded on very
rational principles, long in ufe among maritime ftates.
In the " Confolato del Mare," a code of high antiquity,
\ve read:-— " in hoitium eft partibus qui ad bellum necefla-
ria hoili adminiftrat." tit, 276. But there are many diftin>
[ '5 ]
The fcience of negotiation became thus enriched
with clearer maxims of maritime jurifprudence,
and almoft a new title added to the code of the
law of nations.
There are marine treaties between many
European ftates, to be found in the hiftory of
very early ages ; though they chiefly confifl of
combinations for mutual defence againft pirates,,
whofe depredations in the Mediterranean and
Baltic obftrufted the commercial intercourfe of
thofe times, and rendered alliances of this fort
very neceflary ; yet this was not, as fome have
afTerted, their only object. The utmoft extent
of their views, however, feems to have com-
prehended little more than provifions for cer-
tain tolls and duties, and general engagements
for the protection of the perfons and property of
tions neceflary to modify this rule. See Molloy De Jure
Maritime et Navali, B. I. c. i. § 12. et feq. The fourth
article in the treaty of 1674, already mentioned, was fug«
gefted by Queen Elizabeth's remarkable capture of the
Hanfeatic fhips, bound to Lifbon, with corn, for the fup-
ply of the Spaniards. It has been uniformly held, that
goods calculated merely for luxury or pleafurc, can never
be ranked as contraband. Upon this principle, in the
year 1676, when the French and Dutch were at war, the
Englim permitted the French to build a pleafure yacht for
their King at Portsmouth, and it was not confidered as a
breach of the neutrality. Molloy, ut fupra, §. 24.
merchants
[ 16 ]
merchants trading to, or refident in, their rt-
ipective dominions.* Even in ages much nearer
our own, we have frequent inftances of the
contracted fcale of their negotiations. There
is indeed, a Treaty between England and
France, in the year 15 14, which comprifes
fome articles of reciprocal advantage in many
ufeful branches. But this is, I believe, almoft
the only exception.^ Even the Society of the
Hanfe Towns, a confederacy, both in its object
and importance, unrivalled in ancient or modern
hiftory, though known to have made conlidera-
ble progrefs in commercial policy, as far as
regards municipal inftitutions, yet, if we except
fome cautious ftipulations, for privileges and pro-
tection in the ports of England and Denmark,
never appears to have engaged very deeply, or
to have adopted any fyflem in its negotiations
with foreign powers. § Whoever fhall compare
the maritime conventions of earlier ages with
<c the particular article concerning navigation
" and commerce," inferted in the Treaty of
* Rymer's Feeder^ Tom. V. p. 740. 763.
f Ibid. Tom. XIII. p. 412.
§ We rdenhagen, T>e Rebus publicis Ha?ifeatkis, Tom.
I. p. 73, and the Convention at Lubec, in 161 3, Tom. II.
p. 140.
Munfter
I '7 ]
Munfter, the fubfequent Treaty between Hol-
land and England, or England's Treaty with
Portugal in 1654, by which (he acquired a free
trade to the Portuguefe Colonies in Eaft India,
will be convinced that the Treaty of Munfter
is the a?ra whence we ought to date our prefent
fyftem of naval and mercantile policy.* Till
that period, the outline was faint and contract-
ed ; it has lince gradually acquired boldnefs
and extent. In fhort, it was referved for the
fuperior fagacity of modern nations, founded
on the experience of pail ages, and for thofe
more humane virtues, which now characterize
and adorn fociety ; to introduce an enlarged
fpirit of hofpitality into our marine conventions,
which has given an expanfion and {lability to
trade beyond all former examples ; which has
opened an unreferved communication between
almoft every region of the habitable earth, and
nearly fwept away all ancient prejudices, arifing
from diftin&ion of language, manners, or
government. This fpirit has lately diffufed its
influence over the rude inhabitants of the Baltic
coafts,| and feems at laft about to complete
its
* Jenkinson's Collection of Treaties, V. I. p. 42, 45, 72.
% Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Great Bri-
tain and RuJJia y in 1766. Jenkinson'j Treaties* V, III. p.
C 224,
[ 18 ]
its work, by marking out the ground for a ire-
conciliation between two great kingdoms, whofe
hereditary enmity has too often difturbed the
tranquillity of Europe.* From, thefe neceffary
reflections, we are now naturally led to the
immediate fubject of our prefent inquiry, and
to fome other matters, connected with it.
224.— Treaty of Commerce between RuJJia and Denmark, in
1782, V. III. p. 268. — Between RuJJia and Portugal, in
J 7^3» V. III. p. 314; and, in the fame year, An Edicl of the
Emprefs for a Free-Trade) V. III. p. 331.
* " Commerce," fays the Author of The Spirit of Laws,
c< is a cure for the moil definitive prejudices ; and to this
" it is we are in a great meafure indebted for the prefent
" polifh of European manners 5 becaufe, having diffufed a
" general knowledge of the manners of all nations, there
\ " naturally arifes a comparifon between them, and hence
" refults the advantage." Efprit de Loix, Liv. XX. ch. i.
Treaties are the Statute Laws of a ftatefman. Confider-
ing their importance, it is furprifing that we have no col-
lection of them fufhciently complete. Rymer brings them
down to the year 1642; from that period, Thurloe's
State Papers may be ufe fully confulted. A General Collec-
tion of Treaties, in 4 vols. 8vo. publifhed in 1732, and
JinkLNSOn's Collection of Treaties, in 3 vols. Svo. concludes
them at the late Peace in 1783. A well arranged code of
public treaties, with fuch hiftorical and political remarks
as (hould not only illuftrate every material article in them,
but alfo mould compare and connect their partial and ge-
neral effects, would furely be a valuable acquifition to the
diplomatic fciep.ee.
The
[ *9 ]
The Treaty of Navigation and Com-
merce between France and Great Britain,
iigned at Verfailles the 26th of September
1786, confifts of 47 articles. Having premifed,
according to ufual form, that there mall fubfift
a reciprocal and perfect liberty of navigation
and commerce, between the fubjects of the two
contracting parties, for all kinds of goods in
their refpecrive dominions in Europe,* it pro-
ceeds, in the firft place, to extend certain pri-
vileges and protections to the perfons and pro-
perty of merchants refident in either country,
and permits them, even in cafe of a rupture
between the two crowns, to remain, and con-
tinue their trades, without any interruption ;
but in cafe their conduct iliall render them fuf-
pected, ' the term of twelve months is allowed
them to remove, with their families, property,
and effects. -j~ Befides free permiffion to vifit,
dwell in, and pafs through each other's domi-
nions without paffports, the fubjects of both
kingdoms have licence reciprocally to import
in their own (hips all merchandizes and goods,
not prohibited by law, into the dominions of
either party, to re fide therein, and to buy and
fell lawful merchandizes there, in any manner
whatever ; nor are they, on this account, to be
* Art, 1, f Art, 2.
C 2 liable
liable to any duty or impofition, except fuch as
lhall be afterwards fpecified, or to which the
inhabitants of the country are liable ;• it is
therefore thought reafonable to abolifh the
Capitation Tax, and the Argent du Chef, and
to prohibit the future introduction of any fuch
arbitrary impoft.j Freight duty, like wife, on
fhips belonging to his Britannic Majefry, is
removed, and, in return, the duty of five
millings is taken off French fhips. -j~ Difputes
in the ports of either kingdom, between the
commander of a fliip and his feamen, are to be
fettled, for the prefent, by the magiftrate of
the place ; requiring the perfon accufed to give
the accufer a written declaration, witnefled by
* Art. 4, c. The laws of England have ever been fa-
vourable to merchants. By Magna Charta the effects of
foreign merchants are protected againft feizure or confifca-
tion, in cafe of war. Cap. xxx. Upon which Montesquieu
obferves, how high an idea one muft entertain of the fpirit
of a nation, where fuch a claufe is made an article of its li-
berty! Efprit desLoix, Liv. XX. eh. xiii.
X Art. 12. In countries where the eafe, comfort, and
fecurity of the inferior ranks of people are little attended
to, Capitation Taxes are very common ,• becaufe, being
levied at little expence, and rigoroufly exacted, they af-
ford a very fure revenue to the ftate. Smith's Wealth
of Nations, B. V. chap. ii. V. Ill, p. 330, Edit. 1786.
f Art. 15.
the
[ « ]
the magiftrate, whereby he (hall be bound to
anfwer that matter in his own country, and after
this it fhall not be lawful for the feamen to de-
fert or detain the triip. For the ftill further
encouragement of foreign merchants in both
countries, among other fmaller privileges, they
are permitted to keep their accompts, and to
hold correfpondence, in what language they
pleafe, nor, unlefs in cafe of bankruptcy, are
their books, or other inftruments of trade, liable
to be feized or infpe&ed.* They are moreover
left entirely free to tranfact their own affairs, or
to employ whom ever they (hall think fit ; as alfo
to load and unload their (hips, without interrup-
tion or interference of any Port-Officer whatever. ||
To complete the catalogue of thefe immunities,
they are permitted the free exercife of religion,
and the rights of fepulture in the dominions of
either fovereign.j Thefe articles, thus fele&ed
and clafled, feem properly to fall under one
head, and may form the firft divifion of the
Treaty.
* Art. 17. |1 Art. 18.
t Art. 5, latter part. Moft of thefe immunities have
been partially introduced into all commercial Treaties,
even as far back as the middle of the laft century. See
Treaty of Commerce between England and Portugal in 1654.-
Art. XIV. and between England and France^ in 1655. Art.
XII.
C 3 The
L ** ]
The tariff declaring the duties apportioned
to feveral forts of goods and merchandizes by
this compact, the mode of levying them, and
fome Cuftom-Houfe regulations, may be fo
connected as to form a fecond divifion , though
ftrictly confidered, the fixth article alone con-
tains the tariff of the treaty. Of this article,
therefore, it is unneceflary here to fpeak, for
an obvious reafon. I (hall proceed to the other
parts of this fecond divifion. After fpecifying
the rates on the moft efTential objects of com-
merce, and agreeing not to alter them, but by
mutual confent, it is flipulated, that all other
merchandizes whatever, belonging to the fub-
jects of the two fovercigns, fhall be admitted
into their refpective dominions on the footing of
the moft favoured European nation, and that
fuch fubjects themfelves mail be included in all
additional advantages, which may hereafter be
on either fide extended to navigation and com-
merce. * So likewife, in cafe either of the
contracting parties fhall eftablifh prohibitions,
or fhall augment the duties upon any part of the
growth or manufacture of the other's country,
not fpecined in the tariff, thefe fhall be ex-
tended generally to the fame goods and mer-i
* Art. 7.
chandizes
[ *3 ]
chandizes of the mofl favoured European na-
tion ; and, if it fliall revoke prohibitions, or
diminifh duties, on the growth and manufac-
tures of any other European nation, the fame
advantages lhall be granted to the other con-
tracting party, on condition of reciprocity. *
In all this, however, there is a refervation 4- to
France in favour of Spain, agreeable to the
24th Article of the Family Compact of 1761,
and to England, in confequence of her Con-
vention with Portugal in 1703. No pretence
of any fraud or defect whatever, ihall hereafter
impower any perfon to infpect or confifcate the
exportations of either country, but the buyer
and feller are perfectly free to adjuft their own
price and bargain. % Neither fliall fhips or car-
goes be fubject to conhfcation, on account of
any manifeftly unintentional miflake or error in
their entry or declaration ; nor merchants, or
matters of mips, be liable to any penalties on
this fcore, if the goods omitted fliall not have
been landed prior to the declaration. § And
* Art. 11.
f Art. 7. and 11. For the particulars of thefe referva-
tions fee The Family Compatt in Jenkinson's Treaties,
Vol. III. p. 70; and T7je Treaty of Commerce between Eng-
land and Portugal^ Vol. I. p. 353.
% Art 8. § Art. 10.
C 4 further.
[ *4 ]
further, to prevent impofitions and frauds,
fach merchandizes as are contained in cafks,
chefts, and other cafes, fhall henceforth only
pay duty for their real weight *.
The third head, under which the Treaty
may be diflributed, is, by much, the mod: ex-
tenfive, comprising many very material points
of maritime jurifprudence. In the firft place,
in order to regulate the doctrine of contraband
in time of war, by clear and exact principles,
we have, in feparate articles, two large cata-
logues of fuch goods as do or do not fall un-
der that defcription ; <f the refult of which is,
that all arms, military implements, and fol-
diers on their voyage to employment in a mili-
tary capacity, in either the fleets or armies of
an enemy, fhall be deemed contraband ; as
alfo money and provifions which are in the
act of conveyance to any place of an enemy,
befieged, blocked-up, or inverted, and as fuch
they may be feized and confifcated; in all
other cafes, the mips and merchants of either
contracting party have full liberty to fail to the
ports belonging to the enemies of the other
party ; and to pafs, not only between fuch ports
and neutral places, but alfo from one port of
* Art. 9. f Art. 22, 2},
the
[ *5 ]
the enemy to another, and therein to traffic,
without oppofition or difturbance ; and the like
immunities are extended to the perfons and pro-
perty of enemies found on board the fliips of
either of the two contracting parties. But, on the
other hand, the perfons or property of either of
the contracting parties, found on board enemies
fhips, though not falling under the title of con-
traband, are not to enjoy the fame privilege,
it being a fettled maxim, that free (hips make
free cargoes, and the contrary.* For the effec-
tual prevention of difputes and mifunder-
flandings, m thefe matters, it is farther agreed,
that in cafe either party (hall be engaged in war,
the mips of the other party fhall be furnifhed
with pafTports, drawn up according to a form
annexed to the treaty ; and alfo with certificates,
lpecifying the feveral particulars of the cargo,
the place v/hence the (hip failed, and whither
flie is bound ; and fuch (hip, falling in with
the men of war or privateers of the other party,
having exhibited her paflport and certificate
* Art. 20, 29. Much ufeful information and found
reafoning on this fubjeft may be found in Jenkinson's
Difcourfe on the conduB of Great Britain 'with refpett to neu-
tral nations, prefixed to his Collection of Treaties • and in
Molloy, De Jure Maritimo ei Navali, B. I. ch. iii. §. 9.
and the following.
(to
C 26 ]
(to which the mailer is compellable), iliall
have liberty to proceed on her voyage without
fearch, chafe, or any moleftation whatever.*
But if a merchant fhip be not provided with
fuch pafTports and certificates, yet, upon ex-
amination before a proper judge, and upon fuf-
ficient proof of her belonging to the fubjects
of either party, fhe be found to contain no con-
traband goods, fhe may be releafed, together
with her cargo, in order to proceed on her
voyage, jf It is alfo provided, that even in cafe
of a difcovery of contraband goods, it fhall
not be lawful to proceed to any act whatever of
breaking open, or removing the fame, till the
lading fhall be brought on fhore, in the prefence
of proper officers, and an inventory made by
them of the faid goods. Neither fhall it be
lawful to make any ufe or advantage of them till
after fentence of confutation, pronounced upon
them, in due and lawful procefs, before the
Judges of the Admiralty ; the (hip itfelf, and
the other goods therein, being entirely free from
confifcation or detention on account of the pro-
hibited goods, agreeable to a llipulation in a
former article. %
Art. 24. 26, 27. f Art. 33.
To
% Art. 20.
[ *7 ]
To thefe provifions for the free and honour-
able maintenance, of commerce, in times when
either of the parties mall be engaged in hoftili-
ties, and for the prevention of fraud and fubter-
fuge, which are the never failing fources of
difcontent and animofity, it is further agreed,
that no acts of hoftility or violence fhall be
exercifed by the fubjects, &c. of either of the
two crowns againfl the fubjects of the other on
any pretence whatever ; neither mall they receive
for fuch purpofe a commiffion or patent of any
kind, from any prince or (late, at enmity with
either party, to act or arm as privateers or let-
ters of reprifal, againfl: them, under the fevereft
punifhment, befide being liable to make full
reftitution and fatisfaclion to thofe whom they
have injured. Nor in all either of the contract-
ing parties grant letters of reprifal againfl the
other, unlefs in the cafe of an injury, after pro-
per application made to the minifler reiident in
the injured country, no redrefs can be obtained,
and juflice is obftinately denied or delayed. -}-
Nor
f Rcprijah) by the laws of England, are of two forts,
ordinary y and extraordinary. The ordinary are either
within the realm or without. Thofe within the realm are
granted by the Lerd Chancellor, by Writ of Chancery,
with
I] *s ]
Nor fliall any privateers, bearing commit
fions of a Hate at enmity with either party,
be iuffered to arm in the ports of the other
party, to carry on any traffic there, or
even to purchafe more provifions than may
enable them to reach the neareft port of that
inimical ftate : moreover, no fhelter or refuge
fliall be given to fuch as have made prize of
any fhip or vefTel belonging to either party ;
nor fliall the fliips or goods of one party be fuf-
fered to be taken within cannon-lfiot of the
coaft, or in the ports, &c. of the other * On
the
with the approbation of the King or Council, to arreft the
merchant ftranger's goods here in England, of that nation
which hath committed the injury. Thofe granted in the
ordinary way, to repair injuries out of the realm, are always
under the Great Seal, and are confidered as irrevocable,
and as creating and veiling, as it were, a national debt in
the grantee, to be fatisfied, as is directed in the patent, out
of the goods of that nation whence the injury proceeds.
Extraordinary Reprifah are called Letters of Marque, and
are granted by the Secretaries of State, with the approba-
tion of King and Council. They are during the King's
pleafure ; and, being intended only to harafs or weaken
the enemy in war, are always revocable. Molloy, B. I.
ch. ii. Fitzherbert, Nat. Brev. fol. 114. Stat. 4.
Hen. V. c. vii. xiv.-Ed. IV. c, iv. et 4 Inft. 124, 125. 137.
* Art. 3. 16. 40. latter part 41. It has been deemed a
violation of the law of nations to aflault an enemy in the
port,
C *9 3
the contrary, their majcfties' ihips of war, or
the privateers belonging to their fubjects, may
carry the fhips and goods, taken from their ene-
mies, whither they pleafe ; neither fliall any
prize of this kind, brought by them into their
refpective ports, be liable to inquiry, fearch,
detainer, or feizure. * Ships of either of the
two nations, retaken by the men of war or pri-
vateers of the other, if they have not been in
the power of the enemy twenty -four hours,
fliall be reftored to the owners, upon their pay-
ing a flated fum, fpecified in the article, for
their redemption, -f* And in all difputes re-
flecting the legality of prizes, the judge fliall
direct an inventory and an appraifement to
be made of the effects, and fliall require fecu-
rities from the captor, for paying the coils,
and from the claimant, for paying die value of
port, or under the protection, whether of friend, ally, or
neuter. See a very remarkable cafe of Sir Kenelm Dig-
by, with the French, Venetians, and the Grand Seignor.
Molloy, B. I. ch. iii. §. 7.
* Art. 40, firft part.
■j- Article 34. Hale's Hljiory of Pleas of the Crown,
p, 163. Confulatu Maris, cap. 283. 287 : but in general this
law of Reflitutlon is extended, in all poflible cafes, in
favour of the owner. Molloy, De Jure Maritimo et Na-
<vali, B. I. ch, ii. §. 2i»
the
[ 3° ]
the prize on either iffue of the (hit ; and in fuch
cafe of proper fecurities given, the execution
of the Judge's fentence fhail not be fuf-
pended by reafon of any appeal. * Ships or
merchants of either kingdom, differing any
injury or outrage frotn the men of war or pri-
vateers of the other, ihall have ample repara-
tion ; to which intent the perfons and effects of
the offending party (hall Hand bound ; but in
the caie of any kind of torture ufed by a captor
upon the mailer, crew, or paffengers, not only
the captured (hip itfelf, together with the per-
fons, merchandizes, and goods, iliall be forth-
with releafed, but alfo fuch as (hall be con-
victed of the crime, together with their accom-
plices, ihall fuffer the mod fevere puniihment.
With this view, all commanders of privateers,
before they receive their commidion^ &c. iliall be
obliged to give fufEcient fecurity, by good bail,
as fpecified in the article, that they will make
complete fatisfaction for all injuries or damages
which may, during the cruize, be committed by
themfelves, their officers, or others in their
feryicc. *f- The fhips of either party driven by
florm
* Art. 36.
•f Art. 30. 42. 31. Thefe articles, originally inferted
in the Treaty between France and England in 1677, are,
fays Molloy, for their excellency, fit to be a ftandard to
all
[ 3i J
ilorm into any port of the other, fhall not be
compelled to unlade, or pay any duty ; and
in cafe, having firft obtained lawful permifiion,
they unlade, and fell a part of their cargo, for
the purpofe of victualling or refitting, they
fhall only pay duty for that part. And when
entered into port, in any manner whatever, they
are unwilling to land their cargoes, or break
bulk, they fhall not be obliged to give an ac-
count of their lading, unlefs fufpe&ed, on fure
evidence, of carrying prohibited goods to the
enemies of either of the two contracting powers.
In cafes of fhipwreck, all that fhall he faved
muft be reflored upon claim made, to the pro-
prietors or their factors, paying only the ex-
pences of the prefer vation, according to the
eftablifhed rates of falvage. *
After all thefe mutual agreements, with re-
flect to their conduct towards each other, the
contracting parties think it for the (till greater
fecurity of trade and navigation, to combine
againfl the common enemy of commercial in-
tercourfe ; it is accordingly determined not to
admit, harbour, protect, or affift in any port,
city, town, or dwelling whatever, any Pirates,
all the nations of Europe. De Jure Maritimo et Naval!,
B. I. ch.iii. §. 8, 9.
* Art. 19. 25. 37.
4 or
C 3* ]
or Sea-Rovers, and that perfons convicted in fo
doing fhall fuffer condign punifhment; more-
over, that all the mips and cargoes, taken by pi-
rates, and brought into the ports of either king-
dom, ihall be feized, and the property, being
iufficiently proved in the Court of Admiralty,
mall be delivered to the owners or their factors,
even though it has parTed into other hands by
fale, if it be proved that the buyers knew, or
might have known, that they had been pirati-
cally taken. And iimilar cautions ill all be ufed
with all ihips and merchandizes taken on the
high feas, and brought into the ports of either
nation. * Such is the fum of the various mate-
rials
* Art. 39. This Law of Rcfiiiution to the owner of his
property, piratically taken, is founded on Stat. 27 Ed. III.
c. xiii. and is in the true fpirit of the famous Atinian
Law, De Ufucapione, which provided, that prefcription
fhould not avail againft goods fraudulently taken. "Quod
furreptum eft, ejus rei aeterna aucloritas efto." But com-
mon law bars the claim of the owner, if his goods have been
fold in market overt. Aulus Gelli us, Lib. XVII. c. vii,
Rolle's Abridg. 530. Yelvertox, 135. I. SlDERFIN r ,
320. 367. By 28 Hon. VIII. c. xv.-n and 12 W. III.
c. vii. — 4 Geo. I. ch. xi. §. 7, all pirates fhall be tried
as felons, and -(hall be excluded their clergy. Moreover,
piracy and robbery on the feas is excepted out of the
general pardon of felonies, both at common and ftatute
law, for it is a fpecial offence, and therefore fhould be
efpecially
[ 33 j
rials felected out of the Treaty, which appear
more immediately intended to promote the free-
dom and fecurity of commerce and navigation ;
and to them may properly be fubjoined the fol-
lowing articles, without which the wifeft and
moil equal code would want its full effect and
fanction.
In as much as it is propofed, by the prefent
Treaty, in all the aforementioned refpe&s, the
Protection of individuals, — Their Perfonal Li-
berty, — The Safety of Merchandize, Goods, and
Effects, — The Succeflion to Perfonal Eftates, — ■
all matters relative to the Lading and Unlading
their mips, and other privileges and immunities,
that the fubjects of the two Crowns {hall, in their
refpective dominions, be on the foot of the
moil favoured nation ; and that there fhall be an
impartial adminiftration of juftice ; care is to be
taken that all judgments and decrees, upon
marine cafes, in the Court of Admiralty fhall
efpecialry mentioned. Coke, 3 Inft. tit. Admir.--.20 Geo. II,
c. Hi. § 13. Molloy, B. I. ch. iv. " Formerly it was
" only cognizable by the Admiralty Courts, which proceed
41 by the rules of the civil law, but Stat. 28Hen.VIII. c. xV.
" eftablifhed a new jurifdi&ion for this purpofe, and fince
" that time marine felonies are tried by commiffions of oyer
" and terminer, under the King's Great Seal," Black-
" stone's Comment, & IV. ch. xix. § $.
D be
C 34 ]
be given in conformity to the rules of equity,
and to the (lipulations of this Treaty, by Judges
who are above all fufpicion, and who have no
manner of intereft in the difputed caufe.* And
upon proper complaint of injuftice, their Majef-
vies mall refpcftively caufe any fcntence to be
revifed and re-examined in their councils, and
mall provide that juftice be done to every com-
plainant within the fpace of three months.
Further, in matters of difpute, the fubje&s ot
each party may employ fuch advocates, nota-
ries, ibllicitors, and factors, as they think fit. J
And, laftly, for their mutual advantage, their
Majefties ihall refpeclively appoint national Con-
fuls, in the dominions of each other, to fuperin-
tend the in,terefh, and to guard the privileges of
their trade, -j-
This
* Art. 44. 32. The original Court, to which queftions
of this fort are permitted in England, is, the Court of Ad-
miralty ; and the Court of Appeal is, in effect, the King's
Privy Council, the members of which are, in confequencc
of Treaties, commiffioned under the Great Seal for this
purpofe. 22 Geo. II. c. iii. Blackst. Cmmtnt, B. III. ch. v,
Clerke's Praxis Curiae Admir.
% Art. 35. 38.
f Art 43. The term of this Treaty is by Art. 46, fixed
^t twelve years, at the expiration of which, a twelvemonth
is to be allotted for its neceffary revifion. It is always
prudent.
[ 35 1
This clofes the third and lad general diviiion
of the Treaty. Should there be any truth in what
was before infifted upon, namely, that as dif-
order is a radical defect in every work of human
fkill, it is particularly objectionable in matters
of fo extenfive and important a nature as na-
tional compacts, then this new diftribution may
not it is hoped be without its advantage ; fince
even the prefent treaty with ail its excellencies
will not perhaps be found altogether free from
this common defect. If, therefore, by thus pre-
fuming, not only to comprefs and arrange its
materials, but, in fome instances, to vary its
language, I (hall be thought to have given it
a more interefting and intelligible form, this
merit muft at leaf!: be allowed me to claim, that
I could not have felected from the whole diplo-
matic code a more honourable teftimony to the
juftice of my affertion.
Among other hafty obfervations on this Trea-
ty, it has been difcovered to be derived, through
the Treaty of Utrecht, from one ratified between
France and England in the year 1677. But,
inftead of refting our inquiries upon a period
prudent, fays Vattel, to limit the term of a commercial
treaty; becaufe, from the nature of its object, conjunctures
may arife to make it, in many points oppreflive to one of
the contracting parties. I<avj of Nations, B. II. ch. ii. § 29.
D 2 which
[ 36 ]
which To necefTarily excites unfavourable ideas of
the motives for fuch a negotiation with France,
it would be more candid to carry them back to
a remoter age, efpecially, if in that age we can
trace it to a lefs corrupted fource. The Treaty
of 1677 has fmall claims to originality. With
regard to its principal ftipulations, they are to
be found in the commercial part of the Treaty
of Munfter, the acknowledged parent of the
mofl eiTential branches of all our fubfequent ne-
gotiations;* and, more particularly, (becaufe
there applied to the fame object) of a treaty
between France and England in the year 1655.
Which though, like the reft, it was chiefly em-
ployed on the then new and favourite topic of
neutralities, and on general points of maritime
jurifdiclion ; yet, obviouily having for its object
the eftablifhment of a reciprocal trade between
the two countries, may, in this refpecl:, be con-
sidered as the genuine archetype. -j~ Hence,
therefore, our inquiries will mod properly begin.
By this Treaty it was agreed, that the fubjects
of England, Ireland, and Scotland might freely
* Treaty of Commerce between England and Holland
in 1654. Cotteft. of 'Treaties, V. I. p. 42.— With Sweden-
Portugal— Denmark p. 69. 71. 75. With Holland again
in 166S, p. 190, and again in 1674.
f Collect, of Treaties, V. I, p. 8.2.
import
C 37 ]
import into France the growth and manufactures
of their country, and, in return, iliould receive
as freely, the wines, woollen and filk goods of
France.* This article gave great offence to
Spain. It appears, from a memorial prefented
to Cromwell by the Spanifh AmbaiTador,
that (he was the only power of any maritime
confequence, whom he had omitted in his com-
mercial alliances. And (lie urges her fuperior
claim to the Protector's favour, on the ground
of being the firfl State to acknowledge, the
Englifh Republic ; while, on • the contrary,
France had ever been the fecret fomentor of in-
furrections there. % When the treaty was rati-
fied, Spain feized upon the fliips and effects of
Englifh merchants, in all her ports, to a very
confiderable amount; the confequence of which
was the declaration of a war, fo ruinous to Spain,
that fhe never afterwards was regarded by
France as her commercial rival. Befide the
removal of fuch an obftacle, the fame effect
was frill further promoted by this Treaty ; for
France, by her connection with England,
was enabled to claim a mare in the carrying-
trade, till then monopolized by the Dutch, and
* Art. $.
J See the Memorial in Jenkinson's Treaties^ V. J. p. 80.
D3 to
C 33 ]
to efmblifh companies and factories of her own.*
At this period therefore, I think, we may, with
fome propriety, place the rife of her commercial
grandeur.
Commerce, fays Voltaire, was born in
France as early as the reign of Francis I. but
{he died with that King, and did not revive till
a century after. -f* Many fteps had been taken
during the adminiitrations both of Sully and
Richlieu, to regulate and improve the trade
of that country ; their good effects, however,
did not become vifible till the age of Louis XIV.
towards the middle of whofe reign, the cele-
brated Colbert undertook his general reform.
This minifter began with eftabliihing manufac-
tories of various kinds, and holding out encou-
ragements to induftry and oeconomy. The
fchemes of his predecefTors, he faw, had been
rendered abortive for want of that free circula-
tion, which in every country is fo effential to
trade ; for the different provinces, bejng each
* It appears, from the conclufion of this bufinefs, that
Cromwell and Mazarine perfectly underftood each
other. The price of the Treaty was the tradition of the
Royal Family, and their neareft friends, and their banifh-
pient from France. ColIcHlon of Treaties, V. I. p. 85.
f Sieple dc Louis XIV. Tom. II. p, 123.
under
C 39 3
under its own particular government, laid fuch
heavy and irregular duties upon the induftry of
their neighbours, as greatly retarded, and, in
fome inftances, effectually ihut out all commu-
nication among them. With a view to get rid
of thefe obstructions, Colbert removed all ex-
port duties to the frontiers, and caufed a general
book of rates to be made, by which all the pro-
vinces were in future to be equally regulated.
Had he acted thus prudently in other points, his
fyftem would have been unexceptionable ; but,
by proceeding (from a falfe idea of encouraging
domeftic manufactures) to lay heavy duties
and prohibitions upon the importation of all
fuch foreign goods as would compete with their
own, he threw fuch a reftraint upon every
department of trade, as prevented the full
effect of many of his beneficial intentions. u He
" endeavoured," fays the excellent Author of the
Inquiry into the Nature and Caufes of the Wealth
cf Nations, " to regulate the induftry and com-
" merce of a great country, upon the fame model
ic as the departments of a public office ; and,
*' inilead of allowing every man to purfue his
u own intereft, his own way, upon the liberal plan
" of equality, liberty, and juftice, he bellowed
iC upon certain branches of induftry, extraor-
D 4 " dinary
C 40 J
<i dinary privileges, while he laid others under
" as extraordinary restraints. In this, and in
" many other inftances, he fuffered himfelf,
** notwithftanding his great abilities, to be im-
" pofed upon by the fophiftry of merchants
u and manufacturers."* In the year 1662, a
Council of Commerce was created, at which the
King himfelf very frequently prefided, who pro-
moted, by noble premiums, the new eftablifh-
ments in various parts of his dominions. -j~
Among thefe the mod remarkable were the
woollen, (ilk, and gobelin manufactories. The
woollen manufactory, in the province of Lan-
guedoc,j by its neighbourhood to the port of
Marfeilles and to Spain, not only was able to
procure the fmefr. materials at a cheaper rate
than any other country, but was furnifhed alfo
with commodious inland conveyance, by means
of the great canal, and with an eafy tranfport to
* Book IV. ch. ii. and again B. IV. ch. ix. For a fine
delineation of a commercial fyftcm, fee the Political Tejla-
-mcnt of Cardinal Richlieu, upon which it is thought
Colbert firit founded his idea of reform. Part II. ch.
viii. and ix.
-j- Anderson'* Hijlory of Convncrcc, V. II. p. 327.
% A manufactory of fine broad cloths was efrablifTied
alfo at Abbeville, which to this day maintains a great de-
rvee of reputation.
Italy
C 41 ]
Italy and the Levant, where, by underselling
the Englifh, it aflailed the market in a double
capacity ; receiving in return for its imported
induilry, raw materials for the filk manufactories,
on the fame eafy terms. This feemed to threaten
fatal confequences to our Turkey Company, who
might be confidered as almofl in their infancy,*
and, through them, to our woollen trade -, but
encouragements from the Crown, and timely
affiftances from Parliament, co-operating with
the impolitic conduct of the French minifters,
enabled them to withftand die competition.
Indeed, we are told, in a petition prefented to
Parliament by the Weaver's Company, on occa-
fion of the Utrecht Treaty, that between the
years 1664 and 171 3, our trade with thofe
countries had increafed twenty times. The
caufes which contributed to the embarrafTment
and decline of French commerce, were oppref-
five and ill-regulated Curtains, unjuft Monopo-
lies, the Military Ambition of Louis XIV. and,
(till more fatal than all thefe combined, Religious
Perfecution, the molt effectual check upon the
* This Company was erected at the beginning of the
century, by King James I. and its traffic was, about fifty
years after, computed to bring id an annual revenue of
320,000. Anderson'* Hift, Com. V. II. p. 373.
4 commercial
[ 4> 1
commercial fpirit of a country. To one remark-
able event of this kind muft be attributed that
total revolution in trade, which has taken place,
during this century, in Europe, I mean the
Revocation of the Ediff of Nantes, in the year 16S5.
In confequence of this ftep, on a moderate com-
putation, about five hundred thoufand perfons
tranfported their fkill, their induftry, and their
flock, into England, Holland, Brandenburgh
and Switzerland, to the great depopulation of
their native country, and neceffarily to the im-
poverifhment of the State. To the immenfe
number of thefe refugees, who fettled in England,
we are indebted for many ufeful improvements,
and curious inventions, in our manufactories of
woollen fluffs, filk, linen, paper, glafs, hats,
watches, cutlery, hardware, and iron. But the
amazing wealth which her extenfive commerce
had accumulated, prevented France from im-
mediately feeling the effects of this ruinous emi-
gration, which perhaps fhe might ftill have
recovered, but for another ftep, which excited
the jealoufy of her neighbouring rival. Too
eager to monopolize the trade of Europe, it had
long been the policy of France, as already hinted,
<o aim at ruining that of England by fuch heavy
duties upon many commodities as amounted to
a total prohibition, though it would have been
much
[ 43 ]
much more for her intereft to liave encouraged
that predile&ion for her growth and manufactures
which then prevailed. In fac% while we had been
giving every poflible encouragement to their
manufactories, and the produce of their foil, they
had been gradually incrcafing the duties upon all
Englim goods.-- The eyes of the country were
at laft opened, and in i6y8,very contrary to the
inclination of the King, an act was palled " to
" prohibit the importation of French goods, ex
" highly detrimental to this kingdom." The
excellent effects of this law were foon felt ; for,
in lefs than twenty years, at the Treaty of
Ryfwick, the amount of our annual exports was
more than doubled :-f- and this notwithftanding
a very material interruption, as the prohibition
* Report of a Committee, &c. in the Hijtory and De-
fence of the late Parliament, in 17 13, p. 227 and 228. Our
cloths, which in 1644 paid only a duty of 9 livres per
piece, or 25 ells J Englifh, paid in 1664, 40 iivres, and
in 1667 this duty was doubled. In 1699, in confe-
quenee of the peace of Ryfwick, it was reduced to 5$
livres, which was adopted in the propofed tariff at Utrecht.
See a piper called " Confequences of a law for reducing
the duties on French wines, brandy, filks and linen, to
thofe cf ether nations, with remarks on Mercator" No. III.
A minifterial work, at that time publiflied by Dan. De
Foe.
-j- AlfDERSQN'i Hift.Cw* V. II. p. 180.
was
C 44 ]
was only laid for three years ; and during
the remainder of Charles the Second's reign, no
parliament had affembled ; the firft act of his
fucceffor was to get it repealed ; fo that, from
1685, to the Revolution, this country, fays
Anderson, had nearly been beggared by an
inundation of French commodities.* In 1689
there was a convention between England and
the United Provinces, for the purpofe of more
effectually checking the French trade ; and in
the fame year another act was paffed to prohibit
their importations, j If to thefe natural effects
of national jealoufy , we add the new fources o£
commerce which England had now opened,
v/ho, no longer dependent on her neighbours,
began to fupply herfelf with wines from Italy,
Spain, and Portugal ; with linen from Holland
and Silefia; with paper, fluffs and filks, by means
of the new manufactories eftablifhed at home ;
and confider alfo, that the duties had now begun
to be appropriated by Parliament to particular
ufes and exigencies of State, and could not there-
fore be readily removed, we fliall not be furprifed
that fuch difficulties mould have arifen at
* Anderson's H : fi. Com. V. II. p. 182. Brltijh
Merchant, p. 319.
t Stat, i W. and M. c. xxxiv. Collision of Treaties,
V. I. p. 2(j2.
Ryfwick,
[ 45 ]
Ryfwick, as to have rendered it impoffible for
the plenipotentiaries to fettle any tariff between
the two nations, or that fince that time mutual
fufpicions and prejudices mould have increafed
thofe obftacles to a commercial communication,
which it is the object of the prefent treaty to
remove.*
While the minifter of Louis XIV. was aiming
to excite a fpirit of induftry among his coun-
trymen, and to extend their foreign trade by
reilriclions and monopolies, an event took
place in England which laid the foundation of
our future maritime glory. This was the paf-
fing of the famous Navigation Act, upon
which, and its falutary confequences, I fhall
proceed to offer a few obfervations : The firft
outline of this Great Maritime Charter, as Sir
Jo si ah Child calls it, -f was fketched in the
Long Parliament, but it was not till nine years
after that it received its legal confirmation. J
As
* Negotiations at Ryfwick, V. II. Mem. xxiv. p. 464,
and the following.
f Preface to his Difcourfe of Trade, in 1698.
J The original idea of this act may be found in flat. 14
TRic. II. c. vi. repeated in 4 Hen. VII. c. x. and again, in
the article of wine, in 5 Eliz. c. v. § 11. Since its pro-
mulgation in 1660, ic has been conftantly receiving addi-
tions
C 46 3
As the ftrength and glory of this nation avow-
edly depend upon its marine, and as this can
only be rcfpectable in proportion to the number
of its tailors and (hipping, nothing could have
been more prudently devifed than an eftablim-
ment for a monopoly of the trade of their own
country, for the faiiors and (hipping of Great
Britain, which is the leading object in this juflly
celebrated Act. Till that time the Dutch had
been the factors of Europe ; and, while they
employed an immenie quantity of men and
fhips in carrying the produce of our foreign
trade, our own marine was laid by neglected,
and our feamen (except when particular cafes
called for an exertion) were totally unoccupied.
The Navigation- Act (truck at the root of this
evil. It excluded the Dutch from being any
longer the carriers to Great Britain, or from
importing to us the goods of any other Euro-
pean country, and, at the fame time, encou-
raged a feminary for a national marine. " It is
•• : not impollible, (fays Dr. Smith) confider-
tions and revifals. By 14 Car. II. c. xi. three frefli claufes
were added; and again, by 15 Car. II. c. vii. it was
confirmed by proclamation. In 1685 it laid five (hillings
per ton on all foreign fhips employed in our coal trade,
and other regulations were added by 1 Jac. II. c, xviii. — ■
9 W. and M. c. xxii. and later ftatutes.
i u ing
C 47 ]
" ing upon what inimical terms we then were
" with Holland, that Tome of its regulations
" may have proceeded from national animoiity,
" though they are as wife as if they had all
" been di&ated by the mod deliberate wif-
" dom." * Its wifdom however has been un-
accountably called in queftion, by fome of
thofe reftlefs fpirits, whofe glory it is, in all
ages, to cavil at the moft prudent acts of Go-
vernment. Their objections are founded on
the example of France, whofe policy it has
ever been to conned herfelf as much as pomble
with neutral nations. This ftep, it is faid,
may at firft feem impolitic, becaufe (he employs
fuch nations as the carriers and factors of her
trade ; but hence arifes the advantage. In
time of hoftilities ihe is enabled to convert her
merchant (hips into private mips of war ; and,
by leaving her trade in the hands of neutral
powers, whatever flie lofes in Freight is thus
made up by the faving of Infurance. But this
reafoning fhould never convince us that it can
be for the real intereft of any commercial coun-
try to encourage a fyftem of maritime neutra-
lities, by entrufting the conveyance of her
trade to foreigners ; for, in proportion as that
* Wtaltb of NatwHs, Vol. II. 3, IV. c. ii,
trade
I 48 J
trade increafes, the positive and relative ftrength
of a ftatc muft be diminifhed in favour of her
rivals. To this may be added, another radical
evil in fuch a meafure : It renders the manu-
factures of a country in fo great a degree fub-
fervient to the humour of ftrangers, that the
revenue and reiburces of the Itate that fells will
be, in fome of their moft productive branches,
totally in the power of the ftate that navigates.
A nation, in fhort, which is dependent upon
another for the exportation of its fuperiiuities,
not only gives up the regulation of its own
markets, but relies on others, both for the
quantity and price of foreign commodities,
Herein confifts the difference between what has
been called an attive and a fajfive trade ; the
former of which diftiiiguiihes the mercantile
fyftem of Holland, from that of all other
ilates, whether ancient or modern ; and it is
chiefly with a view to the iuperior advantages
of fuch a trade, that the bed writers on poli-
tical and commercial matters, fince the publi-
cation of this Act of Navigation, have agreed
in their opinions of its merit. Sir Josiah
Child afferts, that " without it we 'had not
been owners of one half the (hipping nor trade,
nor employed one half the feamen which we did
in his tinie/- not more than thirty years from
its
[ 49 ]
its pafiing. * What opinion the Dutch enter-
tained of it may be gathered, not only from
the earneftnefs with which their plenipotenti-
aries at Breda contended for its repeal, -j* but
from a confefhon of one of the ableft politi-
cians in their Republic, who fays, " by the
" politic act parTed in England, in the year
" 1660, it is much to be feared that the Eng-
" lifh merchants will in time carry away a
" great part of the Dutch trade." J And after-
wards, fpeaking of the comparative ftate of the
two countries — " Since the prohibition of im-
porting any goods in foreign mips into Eng-
land, except fuch as are of the growth and ma-
nufacture of the country to which thofe (hips
belong, all our navigation to that kingdom is
at a (land," § Davenant afTerts, that in the
year 1688, the tonnage of our mercantile (hip-
ping was almoft double its quantity in the year
1666, owing to the falutary operation of the
Navigation- Act ; f| and fo dazzled was the na-
* Difcourfe of Trade, ch. iv. concerning the AH of Navi-
gation, p. 1, which feems to contain a complete anfwer to
mod of the objections, then and fince raifed againft it.
•j- Collection of Treaties, V. I. p. 196.
X De Witt'j Inter ejl of Holland, Part I. ch. xxii.
§ De Witt, Part II. ch. viii,
)| Political Works, B. II. p. 29.
E tion
[ 50 ]
tion by this rapid afcenfion and inCreafing
fplendour of trade, that the writers of
that time conceived the commercial profpe-
rky of England to be in its zenith. * A
particular revolution, effected by the Act in
queilion, is very well remarked by the Author
of the Wealth of Nations. He obferves, that
" fince its eftablifhment the Colony trade has
" been continually increasing, while many
" other branches of foreign trade, efpecially
u of that to other parts of Europe, have been
" continually decaying. Our manufactures for
" foreign fale, inftead of being fuited, as be-
" fore the Act, to the neighbouring market of
" Europe, or to the more diftant one of the
" countries which lie round the Mediterranean
" fea, have, the greater part of them, been
" accommodated to the ftill more diftant one of
" the colonies, to the market in which they have
" the monopoly, rather than to that in which
" they have many competitors." -j- Upon this
ground, alfo, objections have been raifed, to
the expediency of continuing a law, which has
not only thus diverted a copious ftream out of
its proper channel, but has drawn it from a fure
* Anderson, Hijl. Com. V. II. p. 187,
t V. II. B. IV. ch. viii.
[ i) ]
and regular courfe, to one which is now become
at bed very precarious. * To fay nothing of
the weaknefs of the latter part of this aifer-
tion, which our increafing trade with America
now fufficiently demonftrates, it may be urged
againfl thefe obje&ors, that in political quef-
tions it is not always to be confidered only what
will increafe the wealth, but what will contribute
to the flrength and grandeur of a nation. Let
the Navigation -Act, then, be placed in this, its
proper light, and there are few, I believe, who
will be perverfe enough to deny that the naval
fpirit, fo peculiar to our country, is the off-
fpring of that ftatute ; " a ftatute (to ufe the
words of an excellent judge of its effects)
" which alone hath fortunately outweighed all
* Suggefted by thefe, and other principles of the fame
nature, a bill was lately depending in Parliament, for
laying open the trade between America and our Weft-India
Iflands. The object fought was the exclufive trade of
America ; the effect to be produced, among many other
evils, would probably have been, the eftablifhment of their
marine upon the ruins of our own. On this fubject con-
fult Lord Sheffield'* Ohf creations on the Commerce of the
American States, efpecially p. 158 et feq. et 295 et feq.
It is a work which cannot be too flrongly recommended to
the ferious attention of every well-wifher to the manufac-
tures, trade, and maritime power of Great Britain.
E 2 " our
[ 5* ]
" our other follies and extravagancies. Though
" condemned by fome hiflorians, and unnoticed
Ci by others, it hath proved the fertile fource of all
" our naval power, hath operated infenfibly to
" our prefervation, and been the fpring from
" whence hath flowed the wealth and greatnefs
" of England." * Of this, therefore, as of the
allowed confequence of that fpirit, which be-
came generally diffufed among the people, by
the Act of Navigation, I mail now take a fum-
mary view.
Were we to attempt to form our opinions of
the (late of England's manufactures and com-
merce, from the Revolution to the opening of
the prefent century, upon the fole authorities
of political writers at thofe times, it would
be a tafk of great difficulty. Few periods can
furnim more linking contrails of political fenti-
ment. On one fide we are prefented with warm
and encouraging proofs of national profperity,
on the other, with difmal calculations of de-
creafing wealth, and forebodings of general
infolvency. We are now, by the molt au-
thentic documents, convinced that the flatter-
ing fide of the picture was drawn by the cor-
* Jenkikson'j Dlfcourfi', &c. prefixed to his Treaties,
p. xxix.
4. reel
[ Si ]
reel hand of experience, while the oppofite was
nothing more than the hafiy reiult of defpond-
ing theory. * The war which terminated in
the Peace of Ryfwick, was certainly very oppref-
five to the foreign trade of this country, and,
as Mr. Chalmers has ftated from the firft
authority, had depreffed it in the year 1694 to
a very low pitch, -f- but from that time to the
conclufion of the war, it feems gradually to
have revived. During thefe convulfions, how-
ever, domeftic traffic, and the interefts of ge-
neral commerce, were daily gathering that
ftrength and elafhicity which foon enabled them
to throw off their incumbent weight, and to
rife to a point unknown to any former period.
Many new manufactories were eftablifhed, and
many old ones revived ; in mofl of which, the
fltill of the French refugees, united with our
native induflry, now feemed to promife the
highefl perfection. The opening of a national
bank greatly promoted the circulations of capi-
tals, and foreign fifheries afforded a new femi-
* Polexfen'j Difcourfc on Trade, Coin, and Paper Cre-
dits" Davenant'j Difcourfe on Trade in 1698.
f An Eftimate of the comparative Jtrcngtb of Great Bri-
tain, &c. p. 62.
E 3 nary
C 54 ]
nary for our marine. * During the fhort fpace
of four years, from the Peace of Ryfwick to
the acceflion. of Queen Anne, the rapid im-
provement of our national revenue is remark-
ably flriking. In lefs than four days two mil-
lion fterling was fubfcribed, and there were per-
fons ready to fubfcribe as much more. " Till
" that time," fays Anderson, " there had ne-
" ver been fo illuflrious an inftance of England's
" opulence. And after fo expenfive a war,
iC what an riigh idea mud fuch a circumftance
" have given foreigners ot the wealth and gran-
" deur of this country !" -f; Yet, notwithiland-
jng this affertion, founded on documents the
moil incontrovertible, namely, the Papers of
various Public Offices, and the Cuftom-Houfe
Books, together with many collateral confir-
mations, there were not wanting malignant and
* Jos. Gee's Trade and Navigation of Great Britain, edit.
1755, p. 5. At the Revolution the value of our annual
exports was 4,086,0871, In the year 1694, in confequence
of the war, it funk below the amount at the Reitoration,
which was 2,043,0431. and, though at the peace of Ryft
wick in 1697, it had greatly recovered, yet it did not equal
the amount at the beginning of the war.
■f Hifiory of Commerce, V. II. p. 223. At the peace of
Ryfwick, the value of our exports was 37525,9071. in
1701, 6,045,432!.
wrong-
[ 55- ]
wrong-headed men, who, as in the former
reign, reprefented the trade of the nation to be
in a precarious and expiring ftate. * " Such
" proceedings," fays the elegant Eftimator of
the Strength of Great Britain, a caft ajuft cenfure
" on the furious party contefls, during the laft
Si years of Queen Anne, in refpect to the con-
" dition of our commerce ; as if the profpe-
fc rity or the ruin of manufactories and trade,
(i were influenced by the continuance of ftatef-
" men in the pofTefiion or in the expectation of
" emoluments and power." -f The contefls here
principally alluded to, are thofe which broke
out in confequence of the Propofals made in the
Negotiations at Utrecht for a Commercial treaty
with France. This event has been lately fo
often alluded to by party writers, on each fide
of the queftion, and is fo clofeiy connected
with our prefent fubjecl:, that I fhall make no
apology for introducing fome particulars of it.
And to this I am the more willingly led, be-
caufe, among all their mafs of materials, I
have not been able to collect any account of
the tranfa&ion fufficiently difpaflionate to be
* W. Wood'j Survey of Trade. See particularly the vilt
Dedication to King George I. p. 9.
f Chalmers's E/ii mate, &c. p. 84,
E 4 either
[ 56 ]
either faithful or confident. Upon the recollec-
tion of fome circumflances which have been
ftated about the refpective fituations of France
and England, at the latter end of the laft cen-
tury, their flouriihing trade, flill in the remem-
brance of our people, the infant ftate of many of
our mod valuable manufactures, together with
thofe illiberal prejudices, and impolitic jealoulles,
which fettered commerce with heavy duties and
prohibitions, it will not feem furprifing that any
negotiation between the two countries on the
foot of reciprocal advantage, fhould, in the
year. 17 13, have been an alarming and unpopu-
lar meafure.
For the origin of the tranfaction we muft go
back to the year 1709, when the Earl of
Sunderland directed the Commiflioners of
Trade and Plantations to confider on a Treaty of
Commerce with France ; and a correfpondence
was accordingly opened between fome of the firfl
merchants, in each nation. Mr. St. John, after-
wards Lord Bolingbroke, was very affiduous
in this bufinefs ; and, upon the reprefenta-
tions of thefe merchants, and the written refult
of this correfpondence, he drew up a rough
draught of a marine treaty, and laid it before
the Houfe of Commons in 171 1. It was by
them
[ 57 ]
them tranfmitted to a committee of merchants,
and upon their opinion and revifion it was made
the bafis of the Utrecht negotiation.* Many
claufes are faid to have been copied from the in-
effectual propofitions made at Ryfwick, and were
for the mod part of a general nature ; tending
to adjufl the forms and conditions of commerce
and navigation, agreeable to thofe rules of
univerfal equity, which the maritime States of
Europe had for fome time agreed in adopting,
for their mutual convenience. Had the Treaty
contained nothing more than this, it would have
palled without a murmur ; but there were, un-
fortunately, two Articles, which feemed to
ftrike at the root of our national wealth and com-
merce. The former of which in general terms
'placed France and Great Britain in a commercial
relation to each other, on the foot of the mofl
favoured nations ; the latter more particularly
fpecified the nature and extent of thofe terms ;
flipulating, among other things, that no more
cuftoms or duties be paid for goods and merchandizes
brought from France to Great Britain, than what
are payable for goods and merchandizes of the like
nature imported into Great Britain, from any other
country in Europe. 'That all laws made in Great
* Journals of the Houfe of Commons, Vol. XVII. p. 347.
Britain
[ 58 ]
Britain fine e the year 1664, for prohibiting the
importation of any goods and merchandizes, coming
from France, which are not prohibited before that
time, be repealed \ and that the general tariff made
in France in the year 1 664, take place there again,
and the duties payable in France by the fubjecJs of
Great Britain, for goods imported and exported,
be paid according to the tenor of the tariff above-
mentioned, with an exception however to certain
merchandizes, thai is to fay, manufaclures of wool 9
fugar,falted fiflj, and the producl of whales,* The
Treaty containing thefe articles was figned at
Utrecht on the lad day of March, was ratified
by the Queen, and publifhed by Royal Autho-
rity in the month of April 1713. On the 14th
of May it was moved in the Houfe of Commons
for leave to bring in "A Bill to make effectual
"the 8th and 9th Articles of the Treaty,"
which was carried by a majority of 252 votes,
againft 130, and it was accordingly ordered for
the 30th of the fame month, j An order was at
the fame time made for an exact ftatement of
the whole amount of imports and exports of the
woollen manufacture with France, and with
* Art. 8 and 9. Jen kin son's CoUcfiion of Treaties, Vol.
II. p. 45.
% Journals of the Houfe of Commons, Vol. XVII. p. 352,
and the following.
Portugal,
[ 59 ]
Portugal, from 1668 to 1669, and alfo of the
wines of France and Portugal, imported into
London and the Out-ports during 16 years,
namely, from 1696 to 1712, to be delivered
into the Houfe.* No fooner was the bill made
public, than a univerfal clamour was raifed
againfl it by the merchants and manufacturers.
Petitions, Memorials, and Remonftrances were
fent from all quarters of the kingdom. The
Turkey Company, the Companies of Hudfon's
Bay, and of Eaft and Weft India;']; the cloth,
filk, and woollen manufacturers took the alarm,
and it at laft became lb general, that not only
the principal towns and trading companies in
Great Britain, but even our Factories at Ham-
burgh and Portugal fent their Remonftrances
to Parliament.-}- National jealoufy had been
* Commons Journals, Vol. XVII. p. 365, and the follow*
ing, wherein may be feen the various ftatements.
I Commons Journals, Vol. XVII. paflim from p. 350,
f The alarm of the Eaft-India Company arofe from that
part of the 9th Article which ftipulated in favour of goods
and merchandizes of Great Britain to be imported into France.
They confidered themfelves as excluded the benefit of this
claufe, unlefs the favour were extended to the produce of
other countries, to be imported into France, in Englifh mips.
Their fears, however, were appeafed by a promifethat fuch
an amendment mould be propofed.
2 awakened,
[ 6o ]
.wakened, and the minds of the people prepared
to reject any overtures for mutual advantages of"
trade with France, by a Bill which was brought
into Parliament at the opening of that Seflion,
for fuf pending for two months the duty of 25L
per ton on French Wines imported, and which
had produced a very fpirited Memorial from the
Portuguefe Envoy, declaring, in the name of his
royal mailer, that " in cafe the fubject of the 9th
" article of the Treaty mould be confirmed by
" Parliament, and the Wines of France be
" brought down to a level with thofe of Por-
" tugal, he would immediately lay a prohibition
" on all Englifh goods imported to his coun-
" try."* Though of courfe eachfeparate petition,
&c. drew its argument of complaint from the
probable injury which that clafs of men, by
whom it was prefented, were likely to fufFer ;
there was little variety in the general fub-
fxance and tendency of the objections. It was
urged, that Parliament, by pamng the Bill,
■70 iSTd nor only take the regulation of the
balance of trade out of their own hands, but
alio would grant, advantages to France, without
an equal return ; that, by her connection with
* A Hiftory and Dcfmce of the late ParUame?it^ publifhed
in 1713, p. 233.
Spain,
C 61 ]
Spain, and the fuperior convenience of her ports,
(lie could procure fome of the mod valuable
articles on much more eafy terms than En glim
traders could, and the price of labour being two
thirds lower than in England, they could work
up their materials cheaper, and confequently
could underfell them in every market. Thus,
in the firft inftance, they mull lofe the trade of
Spain, Italy, and Turkey, in which their Woollens
alone had brought in, for many years pad, an
annual revenue of 326,000k* That, befides
this lofs, the trade to Portugal, to the amount of
6oo,oool. per ann. muft fall, for it was clear that
country would never confent to admit it on
terms lefs advantageous to her than the Treaty
of 1703,'i: which would be groflly violated by
reducing the duties on French wines, to the fame
* In The Flying Pofi, a newfpaper at the beginning of
this century, a writer, who figns himfelf — " A Dealer in
" Woollens and Linens," fays, " In King William's war I
" fold much Englilh woollen and linen, made in imitation
M of French ; but in the late interval of peace, finding the
" fale flacken, I imported French, paying the prefent high
M duties for every piece, and fold it to fo good profit, that
" I totally quitted the Englifh." No. 3402, July 18, 1713.
J King, in his Dedication of The Englljh Merchant to
Paul Methuen, aflerts, that the exports to Portugal, in
confequence of this Treaty, were in his time from 500,0001,
to 1,500,0001, per ann.
rate
[ 62 J
rate with thofe of Portugal.* That from thefe
confiderations, and fome others which were
ftated, the manufactories of woollen and filks,
juft growing into ftrength, would be particularly
checked and diminifhed, by which an immenfe
dumber of hands would be thrown out of em-
ployment, and thus the landed interefl receive a
fevere blow by thefudden increafe of the poor.;};
Beiide thefe complaints from the mercantile
parts of the kingdom, fcarce a day parTed with-
out fome Pamphlet, either in opposition to, or
in defence of, the Articles ; the principal of
thefe were Mercator and the Examiner in fupport
of the Bill, which were anfwered by the other
party in a paper called The Britijh Merchant y or
Commerce preserved, -f*
On the 30th of May, the Bill was read for
the firft time, and the 4th of- June was named
for the fecond reading ; it was then referred to
a Committee of the whole Houfe for amend-
ment and revifion. Many days were employed
in infpecting the accounts given in, purfuant to
* Art. 2. Colle&lon of 'Treaties, Vol. I. p. 353.
J See the different Petitions, &c. in the Commons Journals,
Vol. XVII.
f This laft Paper has iince been collected and publifhcd
in 3 vols. 8vo.
order,
[ 6 3 ]
order, from the Cuflom-Houfe books, and in
examining merchants and manufacturers; at
laft, on the 18th, the queftion being put, Whe-
ther the Bill, as amended by the Committee,
Ihould be engrofTed, " A debate arofe (fays
*' a political writer of that time) perhaps of the
<c greater! importance to this kingdom, of any
Ce that has happened in Parliament fince that of
" the Abdication"* Among the principal
fpeakers againft it v$N General Stanhope,
who, after much ftrone and pointed reafoning,
entered into a fort or comment on the prohi-
bitory Act of ChafjH II. already mentioned. -f
He was feconded : ;v Sir Peter King, Mr.
Gould, Mr. Hampden, and, above all, by
Sir T. Hanmer, whofe conduct in this bufi-
nefs reflects fuch high honour on his integrity,
that it deferves to be particularly remembered.
Before he had heard the fentiments of the peo-
ple, mod interefted in its fate, he gave his vote
in favour of the Bill ; but his apprehenfions for
the trade, the manufactures, and the landed in-
tereft of his country being now alarmed, by the
numerous and prefling remonftrances againfl it,
■ Hijlory and Defence of the late Parliament, in the year
I7J3, p. 243.
t Ibid. p. 4.3. See alfo Grey's Delates, Vol. V* p. 34.
he
[ 6+ ]
he was not afhamed of correcting his opinion.
After a long and very elaborate diicuflion of
the fubject, and a review of all the grand argu-
ments, both within doors and without, which
had been urged on each fide, he concluded : —
" While I have the honour to fit in this Houfe,
" I will never be blindly led by any miniftry,
" nor be biaffed by what might weigh with
" others — the fear of loling their elections.
" The principles on which I act are, the in-
" tereft of my country, and the conviction of
" my judgment, and on thefe two confidera-.
" tions alone I am againft the Bill." * Mr.
Arthur Moore, who was laid to have been
chiefly employed in conducting the Treaty,
was the leading fpeaker for the Bill. After
very warm debates, which lafted from three
o'clock in the afternoon, till eleven at night, it
* Sir T. Hanmer was, in the following year, elected
Speaker of the Houfe ; and, on his introduction, was com-
plimented by Sir Richard Steele, in a fpeech, which
ended with thefe words. — " It is a demonftration, that the
41 Bill of Commerce was a moft pernicious Bill, and no man
" can have fo great merit to this nation, at this time as he,
u by whofe weight and authority that pernicious Bill was
" thrown out. I rife up to do him honour, and, in fome
" meafure, to diftinguifh myfelf by giving my vote for
" that, his ineftimable fcrvice to his country." Grey's
Debates, Vol. V. p. 40.
was
C H 1
thrown out by a majority of 194 to 185,
tc Thus by nine votes/' fays the Hiftorian of
that Parliament, " did the trade of Great Bri~
" tain, and all its manufactures, efcape the
" mGft fatal blow that ever w r as aimed at it."*
It may not be unamulmg to know what effect
this ejectment of a Bill, which had created fuch
a ferment> produced on the commercial and
manufacturing part of the kingdom. Informa-
tion of this fort cannot be had with greater
marks of certainty than from the newfpapers of
thofe times j for, till the fpirit of party wasfuf-
fered to creep in and debafe their authority,
newfpapers might be confidered as faithful chro-
nicles of popular opinion, and national manners;
" The laft pod from Somerfetfhire/' fays one
of them, " brings advice, that, as foon as the
' c great cloathing town of Froome had the news
" that the Bill was thrown out of the Houfe,
" the clothiers, and others, concerned in the
u woollen manufactory, made extraordinary re-
iC joicings, with ringing bells^ bonfires, illumi-
t( nations, and drinking loyal healths to the
u Queen's Majefty, and the fuccertion of the
" illuftrious Houfe of Hanover." -f In the
* Hijiory and Defence of the late Parliament, p. 247,
f Flying Pof, No. 3392, June 25, 1713.
F next
[ 66 ]
next number is a letter from Canterbury, which
fays — " with joy we hear, that on Thurfday laft/
" the 18th, of June, 194 Patriots did by their
94 refolution fave many thoufands of poor fami-
" lies, amongft the woollen, linen, and filk
" manufactures, from utter ruin." * Such are
the accounts from the weft and eaft, which agree
exactly with what was heard on the occalion
from the central and northern parts of the king-
dom. A letter from Coventry calls the eject-
ment of the Bill, The glorious Negative ; and,
after much more in the fame ftrain, this poft-
fcript is added. " Great inquiries are making
66 how our two members voted on this grand
" queftion ;" **}- a hint which fufficiently explains
Sir T. Hanmer's allufion, and, which, at the
enfuing canvafs for the new Parliament, was
very generally taken. Among other inftances
of this, at the end of an advertifement for the
election of members for the county of SufTex,
* Flying Poft, No. 3393, June 27.
•j- No. 3394» June 30. As a fpecimen of popular wag-
gery at that time, we are told, that " a long pole, with
* two forks, bearing a fleece of wool and a bottle, was
44 carried about with thcfe infcriptions — No Englijh wool
u fat- French wines—Hemp for all thofe who want to foak
f* their Jieeces in claret— No change of fiaple for fpirits"
2 W§
[ 67 ]
we are directed, in large capitals, to remark,
that Hen. Champion, Efq. who oppofes the
two worthy Gentlemen, nominated herein, voted
for the Bill of Commerce with Fravce.' * The
anxiety previous to the iflue of this event, and
the joy on its declaration, were not confined to
this Ifland ; our factories, both in the Levant
and in Portugal, while the Bill was pending,
had feconded their petitions, by procuring leave
for fome of the principal members of their re-
fpe&ive companies, to be admitted into the
mercantile committees, and afterwards to fpeak
in their behalf at the bar of the Houfe. -f- Their
joy on receiving the news of its ejectment was
extravagant, and many days were pafTed in
feftivity and congratulations, j
Thefe particulars, relative to a part of hiftory
to which many imperfect allufions have lately
* No. 342 t, Sept. 1.
f See the Examination of Torriano, an Italian Mer»
chant. Journals, Vol. XVII.
I A Letter from Lifbon, which mentions their rejoicings,
fubjoins a curious fact. " Their zeal here for the eject-
** ment of the Bill is very extraordinary, for the balance
t; of trade with your country is certainly much againft
** Portugal, who has entailed beggary on her pofterity by
*' the Metbuen-Treaty ; at the making of which, in one blow,
" 100 looms were ruined in one Province." Flying Pofi >
No. 3415. July 17, 1713.
F a £>eert
[ 68 ]
been made, I have ftated from the bed autho-
rities, and in the plained manner I was able.
Such reflections as have been fuggefted bv
them, fall more properly into the other part of
this work ; but even there it is fubmitted to
better judgments to decide how far this event
is applicable or not to the bufinefs now before
the nation.* I now proceed with the review
of England's commerce.
Though
* It may be remarked, that thefe very articles in the
Utrecht Treaty, which raifed fuch a ferment in the nation,
and caufed fo much joy when thrown out of Parliament,
were looked upon, by the Negotiators, in the light of a
great conceflion Of France, in confidcration of the Englifh
Minifter having given up to her the right of Fifliery at
Newfoundland : But perhaps hiftory cannot fhew ftronger
inftances of chicanery and fineiTe, than were exhibited by
France through the whole of this memorable negotiation;
or, on the other hand, more linking proofs of the ill effects
of bringing party prejudices into public bufinefs. This,
among many others in the fame collection, is fhewn by the
following letter from Lord Bolingbroke to Mr. Prior,
" Let France depart — the fhameful expedient by which fhe
"thought to bubble us, and all is well ; otherwife, by G-d 7
" both they and we are undone. So my Comps. to M. De.
" Torcy, and let him know, that if they do not agree with
"the Queen, I may be a refugee. Do pray make the
" French afhamed of their fneaking chicane. By heaven !
" they treat like pedlars, or, which is worfe, like Attornies/'
Ses
t 6 9 5
Though the reign of George I. be not re-
markable for the profperity either of our foreign
or domeftic trade, yet fome fuccefsful exertions
were then made, the good effects of which be-
came vifible in the fucceeding reign. The Treaty
cf Aix la Chap elle in 1668, had eftablilhed a good
underflanding between England and Spain,
which, in its confequences, proved highly fervice-
able to our commerce. Upon this foundation
was raifed a very advantageous Treaty, in the
year 17 15, which, notwithstanding the war that
broke out three years after, laid open fome chan-
nels of foreign trade which have never lince been
entirely clofed.* The great relief of duties on
the exportation of Britifli manufactures, J the
improvements in the iron, brafs, copper, and
filk works, and the liberal bounties for the
encouragement of our Fiiheries, are events
which more than compenfate for thofe mad and
fatal delufions, which deform this asra of our
Sec a Report of the Committee of Secrecy to the Hottfe of Com*
mons, June 9th, 1 7 1 5, p. 38, 39, and in the Appendix to the
Report, No. XXII. XXIII. efpecially Lord Bolingbroke's
Letter to De Torcy.
. • Treaties of Peace, Vol.1, p. 195.— Vol. II, p. 173.
+ 8 Geo. I. c. ir.
commer-
F'3
[ ?o ]
commercial hiftory.* Too much caution can-.
not be ufed in reading the political writings in
the reign which followed, when tc not to be
corrupted was the fhame." In this reign
the meaner! artifices of itatecraft and faction
were oppofed to each other ; and, in queflions
of the hlgheft moment, were furfered to ufurp
the place of honefl arguments, and rational
deductions. We cannot have a more convincing
proof of this., than by com oaring a very popular
work at that day, On the Caufes cf the Decline
cf foreign 'Trade, written by Sir Matthew
Decker, with the refuk cf an accurate com-
putation m Anderson's J lift cry of Commerce \
difpafllonately drawn from the moil authentic
fource. By Decker we are told, that c( under
'" the preffure of public debts and taxes, with
€i languishing manufactories, and land every
" day finking in its value, it is not pohible for
" this country long to hold the competition with
V her neighbours. 'M; By Anderson it appears,
that, juft before the war of 1739, there was every
fymptom of public profperity— Lands at a high
* The annual amount cf our exports at the peae'e of
Utrecht was '6,868,4801. At "the death of George I. in
2727, it was 7,591,7391.
I Quarto Edit. p. 37, 46, ^,
price,
C 71 3
iprice, and improving — Much induftry and em*
ployment — A regular intereft upon money at
three per cent, Public credit high, and the
tonnage on the commercial (hipping, which, in
the beginning of the century, was reckoned at
273,693 tons, and had increafed at the acceffion
of Geo. L to 444,843 tons, but at the clofe of
his reign, had funk to 432,832 tons, flood in
the year 1738, at 476,941 tons.* In the year
1728 and 1729, Great Britain had formed
Treaties which proved very beneficial to feveral
branches of her commerce, by procuring a vent for
thofe capitals which had fortunately efcaped the
general wreck of project in the preceding reign,
and which otherwife might have overcharged
fome of the old channels of foreign trade. % The
war which broke out in 1739, and continued for
upwards of nine years, at the fame time that k
s
* Hifi. of Commerce, Vol. II. p. 321, 322. See alfo, in the
flxain of Complaint, Conf derations on the prefent State of
Affairs, by Lord Lyttleton, publifhed in 1738.
% Collection of Treaties, V. II. p. 30, and the following.
During the three firft years of the reign of Geo. II. the
amount of exports was in round numbers, 789,7391. on
the annual average; whereas from 1736 to 1739, the period
of impending ruin, it rofe to 9,993,2321. a ^difference of more
than two millions in favour of this unfortunate aera,
F 4 gave
t r- 3
gave a check to commerce, afforded am pi?
proof, in the national exertions which it excited,
how much our naval and commercial ftrength,
as well as internal refqurces, had been mifrepre?
fented ; and, in the fhort interval of peace which
fucceeded, trade not only recovered its former
level, but role to a point of ftill higher eleva-
tion.* Thefe are now undifputed teftimonies
of increafmg opulence ; yet there were then, as
in preceding times, able writers, who in bold
and pointed terms, pronounced the nation to be
on the verge of bankruptcy. + Among the many
alarms,
* During the war of 1739, the exports had funk to
8,870,499!. At the breaking out of the war of 1755, after
fcarcely a feven year's peace, they had rilen to 12,599,1 12I.
Mr. Chalmers obferves, that "on looking over a table of
•' trade, it appears, that the year of profound peace which
li immediately fucceeds a war, always furniihes a great
*' exportation, becaufe every merchant makes hafte to be
*l rich." He inflances the years 1698, 1 7 1 4, 1749, 1764^
J 784, as epochs of great relative commerce. FJiimate y
&c. p. 2 f 4, and his Chronological Talk of Commerce, oppofjte
p. 207.
t Lord Bolingbrokc's Confederations on the State of the
Nation. But this " all-accomplifhed fhtefman" had been
then too long withdrawn from public life, to form accurate
notions on fuch matters, and his peculiar fuuation naturally
fuggefted fplenetic ones. See alfo Doddington's Diary,
March 1749, S°> and in the following years,
It
C 73 1
alarms, which it was the fafhion of the times to
excite on commercial topics, may be reckoned
the revival of manufactures and trade in Spain,
which a few years before had given rife to de-
fpondency and political invective. There was,
indeed, fome ground for the original report.
When the romantic Duke deRipperda fuc-
ceededthecautiousALBERONiasminifterinSpain,
he found, itisfaid, among that ftatefman's papers,
loofe memorandums of ichemes for the increafe of
population, and the promotion of national in-
duftry. Struck with the general idea, he employ-
ed himfelf, with the afliftance of fome principal
merchants, in digefting a regular plan for that
purpofe. A Committee was formed to confider
on the beft means to recover the trade anc}.
manufactures of the country. Workmen and
artificers were invited from all parts of Europe.
Many clothiers and lhip-carpenters were allured
over from England ; and France loft fome of
her beft artifts from Lyons. At Segovia and
Gaudalaxara, great woollen manufactories were
eftablifhed, and the filk-looms of Valencia,
It is worth remarking, that in the year 1754, by the
' fpirit and liberality of Lord Folkstone, Lord Rom net
and Dr. Steph. Hales, the London Society ', for the e?icou~
rag€7iicnt of Arts, Manufactures^ and Commerce in Great'
Britain^ was firft eftablifhed,
Murcia,
t 74 ]
Murcia, and Catalonia, already threatened to
rival thole in the neighbouring provinces of
France. In fhort, were we to judge from a report
delivered in by a Spanifh Writer at that time, the
whole trade of Europe bad fair, in the courfe of
the prefent century, to fall into the hands of his
countrymen.* One fad however is certain, that
before the manufactory at Segovia had been
three years eftablifhed, the Duke clothed the
Spanifh troops from its looms, j But, in order
to bring thefe fchemes to maturity, the concur-
rence of the Sovereign was necefTary; for all
commercial concerns are, in Spain, under the
direction of the court ; and the principal part of
the royal revenue arifes from oppremve duties,
and exorbitant demands, both on the raw ma-
terials and the manufactures of the country. Till
thefe were removed, nothing effectual could
be done. This therefore proved an infur-
mountable obftacle ; for, as might be expected,
the Court abfolutely refufed to part with any
* Don Jeronimo de Uztariz, cited by Postle-
thwayte in his Commercial hit er eft of Great Britain, who
always diftinguifhes him by the name of the Patriot-
Spaniard, V. II. p. 464.
t Memoirs of the Duke de Ripperda, p. ico> and the
following pa^-es.
of
[ 75 1
of its ancient claims ; on the contrary, it
began, in the true fpirit of Spanilh policy, to
exact heavy fubfidies from the newly-elecled
manufactories. The moft fanguine promoters
of the commercial reform were difcouraged, and,
in their difguft, having unguardedly indulged
themfelves in a liberty of fpeech little fuited to
an arbitrary government, they drew down the
difpleafure of the court, both on themfelves
and their projects. This, among other caufes
of difcontent, ended in Ripperda's difgrace
and baniihment, and totally extinguifhed all
hopes, that Spain would again become a weal-
thy and induftrious country.*
The war which broke out in the year
1755, neceflarily threw obftruclions in the
way of our foreign commerce, and for a time
damped the ardour of enterprize; yet, even
during this war, after the firft difficulties were
furmounted, trade feems to have recovered its
former tone; for in the year 1760 the value of
exported cargoes was considerably higher than
it had been in the laft year of the peace. The
Treaty which terminated the war in 1763,
* Memoirs, &c. p. 115. His manner of life, and his re-
flections on the reverfes of his fortune, in his banifhment at
Segovia, are worth confuitlng.
though
C 76 3
though perhaps it did not hold forth fuch advarw
tages as from our fituation we might reafonably
have expected, yet gave fufficient freedom and
fcope to commercial enterprize. * Chalmers
here gives a very pleafing picture of our opu-
lence, and of the magnificent liberality of our
merchants, who, as he very juflly obferves,
Ci literally faved Europe from bankruptcy by
u the fuperiority of their wealth, and by
' ' the dilintereflednefs of their fpirit.** -f- For
when all mercantile credit and confidence feem-
ed loft by the great failures at Hamburgh, Ber-
lin, and Holland, the Britifh merchants not
only gave as extenfive credit as ever to the un-
fortunate Houfes, but even fufpended the pay-
ment of their own acceptances, in order to re-
mit immenfe fums to relieve the diftrels of thofe
commercial cities, and the Bank of England,
when every bill of exchange was doubtful,
ftill continued to difcount them, j When
* In the laft year of the Peace, as we have already feen,
our export! were at 12,599,1121. In 1760 they amount-
ed to 14,693,2701. by one account, and by another to
14,694,9701. In 1763, at the Peace of Paris they role to
14,925,950,
f Efilmate^ &c. p. 117.
% Chalmers quotes a letter from the Bankers of Ham-
burgh to the Bankers of Amfterdam, in the Gentleman's
Magazine for the year 1765, p. 422. Eftimate % &c. p. 117.
this
C 77 ]
this voluntary preiTure, fo honourable for a
nation to have fuftained, was removed, our
foreign and domeftic commerce expanded be-
yond the example of any former age or coun-
try. From the Peace of Paris to the com-
mencement of the late war, nothing was wanted
to animate and affift the genius of an active peo-
ple. Trade, manufactures, agriculture, and
every fubordinate department of induftry, were
promoted by the wife and patriotic regulations
of the Legiflature. Roads and canals were
forced over places before deemed impafTable.
Wades were enclofed, marines drained, cities
adorned, and various other means adopted to
facilitate and extend domeftic traffic. On the
other hand, by a prudent diftribution of im-
ports and bounties, many branches of manu-
factures were relieved, and carried to a point
of taite and refinement, which, notwithilanding
their fuperior price, has fecured to them fure
and extenfive markets. In ihort, were a period
demanded in which the balance of England's
trade was moil uniformly in its favour, this un-
doubtedly muft be named from i 764 to 1 774 ;
for in thefe ten years, the two trades of Spain
and Portugal only, netted to her a balance of
8,370,131!. Even during the late war, com-
merce
c ?s 3
merce did not fufTer fo alarming a depreflion as
might have been expected from fuch an invete-
rate combination againft us. It appears (fays
Chalmers) that, through the whole courfe
of hoftilities, our traffic never loft its elaftic prin-
ciple. It had an evident tendency to rife in
1779, till the Spanifh war impofed an additional
burthen; there was a fimilar tendency in 1780,
when the Dutch war added in 178 1 no inconfi-
derable weight ; this year, therefore, marks the
loweil degree of its depreffion ; but in the fol-
lowing its vigour fprang up, and revived, and
at the clofe of the war exhibited happy fymp-
toms of that energy which is now every day
more vifibly and extensively exerted. * The
foregoing review of our commercial ftate at
different periods has no great claim to origina-
lity. Its chief merit in many parts is, that of
* EftimatC) &c. p. 143. In the four years which immedi-
ately precede the Colonial war, our exports were at the
average of 15,000,0001. and the net balance in favour of
Britim commerce was 3,884,844!. In 1781, our exports
had funk to 10,569,1871. In 1784 they were at
14,171,3751. It is a fact worth remarking, that in the war:
before laft our commerce was fo far from being embarrafled,
that merchants found it more for their intereft to employ
their capitals in foreign trade than in the Government
loans, to which the Dutch were the principal fubferibers,
but in the late war the cafe was very different.
being
C 79 ]
being a Sketch after an admired work of an able
mailer. *
To correcl the pernicious influence of prin-
ciples which Difcontent fuggefts, and Faction
diffeminates, and to awaken a great, but too
eafily deluded people to a true fenfe of their
political confequence (efpecially in a nation
which has ever been remarked for an unac-
countable propenfity to look upon the gloomy
fide of events), is furely a laudable and patriotic
undertaking. Such is the object propofed by
the author, to whom I have fo often referred
in this latter part of my obfervations. Befide
the fatisfaction which the fcholar and politician
muft receive from works thus uniting authenti-
city of facts with elegance of language, " The
" Eltimateofthe comparative Strength of Great
* An EJlimate of the comparative Strength of Great Britain,
during tb° prefent and four preceding Reigns* Edit. 1786. By
George Chalmers* From the chronological Table of
Commerce infer ted in this work, I have, for the raoft part,
copied the grofs amount of our exports at different periods.
As it is vouched by him to be a faithful tranfcript from the
Ledger of the Inspector General, to which I had no
opportunities of referring, I apprehend it needs no corro-
borative proof of its fidelity. Eftimate, p. 218. N. B. I
have omitted the exports of Scotland throughout. They
appear, upon an average of years, to add about one milliorx
to the revenue,
Britain,
C€ Britain, &c. M has this to recommend it at the
prefent hour, that the delineation it contains
of our commercial hiftory is as exhilarating ^
it is faithful. To the name of Chalmers we
ought with gratitude to add thofe of Lord
Sheffield and Arthur Young, whofe talents,
are fuccefsfully exerted in fimilar works of
genuine patriotifm. * After giving an ac-
curate ftatement of our commercial fituation,-
Young breaks out in the following man-
ner — " An empire has. been rent afunder;
" a whole continent, {o peopled as to clafs at
•* prefent amongft the potentates of the world,
tc has been .detached from Great Britain ; and
<c that event, which was purchafed by the
" French, Spaniards, and Dutch, at an expence
u of probably more than a hundred and forty
" million flerling, as the fureft means of pul-
u ling down this country, has been fo far from
" having any fuch effect, that we are proved,
on the mod authentic records, to be more
flourifhing, and confequently more formi-
dable, than at any former period fince the
" foundation of the monarchy." -f- To what
we mud afcribe this vital ftrength, which nei~
* Sec Lord Sheffield'* Olfervatiom on the Commence of
the American States, 6th Edit. 1784, with an Appendix.
f Annah of Agriculture No. 29, p. 423.
ther
[ 8i ]
ther war or faction, or the fpirit of luxury, has
been able to fubdue, will be obvious on a little
reflection. That the fupport was never trcmjat-
lantky as fome have idly imagined, our preient
commercial fituation fufficiently demonstrates.
May we not rather, with an acute Politician of the
prefent day, attribute this phenomenon of an
almoft uniform fuperiority of our commerce to
fomething like the following principles ? The
fuppreflion of various monopolies and companies
of trade at home, and the undermining of their
exclufive privileges, or, what is the fame thing,
the eluding of their bad effects by means of legal
decifions in our courts of law : The nurfing up
of new trades, and new branches of commerce,
by means of bounties and national premiums :
The giving of drawbacks on the exportation of
fuch goods as were to have paid a duty if con-
fumed at home : The repeal of taxes on raw
materials, and on exported manufactures of our
country : The improvement of engines, and new
difcoveries for the abridgment of labour : The
rapid communication by means of roads, canals
and polls : The happy difcoveries in agriculture,
and the mechanic arts, the fruits of that patriotic
liberality which has been of late fo eminently
• Tucker'^ Four Trafts, p. 213.
G exerted
[ 82 ]
exerted among us in public inftitutions, and
focieties for the encouragement of induftry and
ufeful fkill; and the natural refult of all this
national fpirit, the employment of larger capi-
tals in hufbandry and manufactures, and in the
importation and exportation of goods ; all thefe
circumftances co-operating, would render any
country rich and flourifhing, whether it had
colonies or not.
No wonder then that the Sceptre of com-
merce continues firm in the hands of a nation
where Perfonal Rights are facred, and where
every fpecies of Property finds protection and
fecurity in the freedom of Civil Government
and the equal adminiftration of Law.
THE
• •••till MM (••••• II iiiinii Il!ll»i IMII imiiii
THE
TARIFF.
■ M uiiitlHHnillM'HIllllfMltlillin/li 'l IHIH.'MM
[ 84 ]
ADVERTISEMENT.
THOUGH the kind communication of
fome intelligent manufacturers has put
me in pofleffion of materials fufticiently valu-
able and authentic, I have not, according to
my original defign, entered into fuch details
as this information would enable me to do ;
being unwilling to fwell a pamphlet into a vo-
lume, with matters known to be officially in
other hands, much better qualified to lay them
before the public. The following Remarks
however may not be lefs ufeful, or amufing,
though they convey little information that is
new to a Statefman or a Politician,
G 2 THE
H
R
i. ''T^HEtwo High Contracting Parties have
JL thought proper to fettle the duties on
certain goods and merchandizes, in order to fix
invariably the footing on which the trade there-
in (hall be eftablifhed between the two Nations.
In confequence of which they have agreed upon
the following Tariff, viz.
The Wines of France, imported directly
from France into Great Britain, fhall, in no
cafe, pay any higher duties than thofe which
the wines of Portugal now pay.
G 3 The
C 86 ]
The Wines of France, imported directly
from France into Ireland, (hall pay no higher
duties than thofe which they now pay.
2. The Vinegars of France, inftead of fixty-
feven pounds five (hillings and three-pence,
and twelve twentieths of a pound fterling per
ton, which they now pay, (hall not, for the
future, pay, in Great Britain any higher du-
ties than thirty-two pounds, eighteen (hillings,
and ten-pence, and fixteen twentieths of a
penny fterling, per ton. *
3. The Brandies of France, inftead of nine
(hillings and iixpence and twelve twentieths of
a penny fterling, fhall for the future pay, in
Great Britain, only feven (hillings fterling per
gallon, making four quarts, Engliih meafure.
4. Oil of Olives, coming directly from
* The prefent duties on Fincgars are .for every ton im-
ported 13I. if by flrangers, 14I. 10s. by 18 Geo. II. c. ix.
By 3 Geo. III. c. xii. an additional duty of 1 61. are laid on
all French Vinegars, to which 81. 8s. a ton more are laid by
18 Geo. III. c. xxvii. and another 81. in addition to, this by
iq Geo. III. c. xxx. On home Vinegar, there is for every
barrel containing 34 gallons, a duty of 8s. gd. by 10 and
1 1 W. III. c. xxi. and by 19 Geo. III. c. xxv. an. additi-
onal duty of 3 five per cents, which, is further regu-
lated by 21 Geo. III. c. xvii. and 22 Geo. IX C. c. lxvi. —
Every maker of Vinegar for fale is required by 24 Geo. III.
c. xli. to take out an annual licence of 101.
France,
[ 8 7 ]
France, fliall for the future, pay no higher du-
ties than, are now paid for the fame from the
moft favoured nations. *
5. Beer mail pay reciprocally a duty of thirty
per cent, ad valorem, \
6. The
* The Oil of Olives is that which is moft generally ufed in
Medicine, Food, and Manufacture. It appears to have been
brought to great perfection by the ancients. Molt of their
georgical writers have dwelt upon the method of cultiva-
ting this fruit, and of preparing it for oeconomical ufes.
See Columella, p. 73, and Varro, p. 105, in Script ores
de Re Rufticd, edit. 1734. The Olive delights in a dry foil,
and thrives in the moft barren fpots, -as on the mountains
of Pifa, and-the coaft of Genoa, where the eye can difcover
nothing but vaft rocks of ftbne ';' but it grows beft on gen-
tle hills, defended from North winds and expofed to the
fea air ; though the people of Lucca and Tufcany, by their
extreme induftry, make it fucceed even in low grounds.
Dr. Symonds, f>n the Soil of Italy, in Young'.? Annals of
Agriculture, V. IT. p. 211. ' Much of the oil ufed in our
woollen manufactories is from Gallipoli imported hither
immediately from Naples. We take great quantities alfo
from the South of France and 'from Candia. All Olive Oils
imported in foreign fhips, though by Britifh fubjecfts, are
liable to Aliens duty, 12 Car. II. c. xviii. § 9. Baldwin"
on the Britifj Cufloms, p. 45.
f When goods are to pay ad valorem, that value muft be
afcertained by the tvoo Books of Rates fet forth by Parlia-
mentary Authority, 12 Car. II. c. iv. and 11 Geo. I. c. vii.
G 4 or
C 88 ]
6, The duties on Hardware, Cutlery, Cabinet
Ware, and "Turnery, and alfo all works both
heavy and light, of Iron, Steel, Copper, and
Brafs, fhall be clafled ; and the higheft duty
fhall not exceed ten per cent, ad valorem.
7. All
or if not rated, by the oath of the importer, or by the
price at a public fale.
It is known that the French make Beer, not only with
barley, but with wheat, oats, and rye ; a fort made with oats
and birch water is flrongly recommended in Nephritic cafes.
Ebiltf. rr^.No.XCVII.p.6135. The chief trade of France
in this article is domeftic, namely with Paris, Picardy, and
French Flanders. Their duties are regulated by the Tariff
of 1664, and are upon exportation, at the rate of 26 fols
the ton, and upon importation 12 fols the barrel, with an
additional rate far England.
By 1 Geo. III. c. vii. Itrong beer or ale may be exported
with an allowance of 8s. the barrel to the brewer by
way of drawback. Hops are under a variety of reftric-
tions in our laws. 9 Ann. c. xii. among other things
annexes a penalty of 50I. to the removal of hops before
they have been bagged and weighed, and a like penalty on
not entering the places of curing and keeping them, with
20I. for concealing hops, as alfo on any brewer who fhall
fubilitute any other bitter ingredient. By 10 Geo. III.
c. xliv. a penalty of iool. is inflicted for ufing falfe
(tales and weights. By 14 Geo. III. c. 68. the Officer
fhall forfeit 5I. if he neglect to weigh the bags or pockets,
and to mark on them the time, weight or tare, the planter's
name and place of abode, and the date of the year in
whicij
C 8 9 ]
7. All forts of Cottons, * manufactured in the
dominions of the two Sovereigns in Europe,
and alfo Woollens, whether knit or wove, in-
cluding Hofiery, mall pay 1 in both countries,
an import duty of twelve per cent, ad valorem ;
all manufactures of Cotton or Wool, mixed
with Silk, excepted, which (hall remain pro-
hibited on both fides.
8. Cambrics and Lawns -f- mail pay, in
both countries, an import duty of five millings
or
Which fuch hops were grown. The altering, forging, or
obliterating of fuch mark incurs a penalty of iol. By a
late act, five per cent, is added to the other duties on hops;
* We have an account of the induftry of the town of
Manchefter as early as the year 1641. "The town of
Manchefter buys linen yarn of the Irifh in great quantities,
and weaving it, returns the fame again in linen ; neither
doth her induftry reft here, for fhe buys cotton-wool in
London, that comes from Cyprus and Smyrna, and works
it into fuftians, vermillions, dimmities, &c." Lewis
Roeerts, Treafure of Traffic, There is a great cotton
manufactory at Rouen in Normandy. It was with
concern, that in the year 1784, I heard of Several Englifh-
men employed there, two of whom had worked for 13
years at Manchefter. Cotton works have, within thefe
few years, been eitabliQied, with fuccefs, both in Ireland
and Scotland.
f By 32 Geo. II. no Camhrics or French Ltnvns fhall
be
[ 9° ]
or fix livres Tournois, per demi piece of feven
yards and three quarters, Englifh meafure ; and
linens made of flax or hemp, manufactured in
the dominions of the two Sovereigns in Europe,
fhall pay no higher duties, either in Great Bri-
tain or France, than linens manufactured in
Holland or Fianders, imported into Great Bri-
tain, now pay.
And Linens made of flax or hemp manufac-
be imported, unlefs they be packed in bales, cafes, or
boxes, covered with fackcloth or canvafs, containing
each ioo whole pieces. Thefe fhall be imported only for ex-
portation, to be lodged in the'King's warehoufes, and not to
be delivered out but under the like fecurity and reflrictions
as prohibited Eaft-India goods : and no cuftoms or duties
whatever mall be paid or fecured thereon, other than half
the old Tubfidy, which is to remain by law after the goods
arc exported. ' Other reftrictions on the importation, the
wearing and the felling of foreign Carnhrids and Lawns are
to be found in 18 Geo. II. c, xxxvi. — 21 Geo. II. c. xxvii.
—4 Geo. III. c. xxxvii. — and 7 Geo. III. c. xliii. We are
at prefent fupplied from the manufactories of Ireland and
Scotland. It may be queftioncd, whether thofe countries will
long find it their intereft to promote fuch fabrics as Cambric^
j£rfW», or Gauze, to the check of their linen works, for it
feems like preferring a precarious article of manufacture to
one which is fecure. It is faid, that there are in 6-lafgow
alone more than 1000 Muflin looms. St. Queritin and
Cambray are as principal manufactories for all thefe articles
as any in France.
tured
C 91 ]
turcd in Ireland or France, fhall reciprocally
pay no higher duties than linens manufactured
in Holland, imported into Ireland, now pay.
9. Sadlery mall reciprocally pay an impofl
duty of fifteen per cent, ad valorem.
10. Gauzes of all forts (hall reciprocally pay
ten per cent, ad valorem.
11. Millinery made up of Muflin, Lawn,
Cambric, or Gauze of every kind, or of any
other article admitted under the prefent Tariff,
mail pay reciprocally a duty of twelve' per cent,
ad valorem ; and if any articles fhall be ufed
therein, which are not fpecified in the Tariff,
they fhall pay no higher duties than thofe paid
for the fame articles by the moft favoured Na-
tions.
12. Porcelain, Earthen-ware and Pottery,
fhall pay reciprocally twelve per cent, ad valo-
rem.
13. Plate-glafs, and Glafs-ware in general,
mail 'be admitted on each fide, paying a duty of
twelve per cent, ad valorem.*
CUSTOMS.
* Moft of the duties on Glafs granted by 19 Geo. II. c.
xii. were repealed by an act paffed in 1777, and the
following duties im^ofed ; for all plate enamel, ftained and
pafte glafc, and on all window glafs, and every other kind
of white glafs, the fum of one fhilling and four pence the
pound
L 9* ]
CUSTOMS,
A fuccind and generalaccount of the Cus-
toms neceffarily claims a place in a work of this
nature.
Though the firft formal Eftablifhment of
Customs and duties on the imports and ex-
ports of this kingdom occur in the reign of
Edward I. yet by that very act we are informed
of their prior exiftence. At the opening of the
fourteenth century, this King, upon confideration
of the many immunities and privileges granted
by him to foreign merchants, refiding in and
pound weight; and for all green glafs in bottles, four
{hillings for every dozen of quarts ; and for materials ufed
in the manufacture of plate and phial glafs, eighteen milling*
and eight pence the cwt. for making of broad. window glafs,
feven fhillings cwt. for making of crown glafs, fourteen
{hillings cwt. and for common bottles, &c. three {hillings
and fix-pence cwt.
Few manufactures require a larger capital or greater
profits to fupport it, than this ; for a fingle furnefs cofts
^3^00, and is five or fix years in building; belide fuch
accidents as in many other branches are immaterial, are in
this of the highcft confequence, for merely the burfling of
a pot of glafs in the fire, will often incur a lofs of £250.
France has nine principal Glafs Works, five of which are
in the foreft of Lyons, the other four in the diftrict of Eu,
at Beaumont, near Rouen, and in Rue St. Antoine, at
Paris. Our principal Plate Glafs manufa&ure is near
Prefcot in Lancafliire.
4 trading
C 93 ]
trading with this iiland, by the advice and ccnfent
of his Parliament, publiihed a declaration of thefe
privileges, annexing as the price of his protec-
tion certain Cuftoms and Duties to be paid by
them on merchandizes either imported or ex-
ported.*
Gilbert conceives thefe privileges to have
confifted chiefly in having the full ufe of the
King's warehoufes, weights, meafures, &c.J
This royal declaration is called Chart a Mer-
catoria,§ and may be confidered as containing
the ^mple elements of that very intricate fyftem
of impofts, which has been gradually accumu-
lating ever fince, to the great hindrance and
confufion of commerce.
It is unnecefTary here to enumerate the feveral
fpecies which arofe between that sera and the
great Statute of 12 Carol. II. c. iv. which
eftablifhed the fubfidy of tonnage and poundage,
or as it is more technically called, the Old
Sublidy, which is the foundation of our prefent
Cuftoms ; neither is it the prefent purpofe to dwell
* Rymer's Fcedera, Tom. III. fol. 269. See the anfwer
given by Edward II. to Philip the Fair, upon his requefting
to have French Merchants releafed from a certain duty,
% Hiftory of the Exchequer, p. 214.
§ Fcedera, Tom. IV. foj. 361,
Qn
[ 94 ]
on the difpute whether or not the Cudoms be part
of the revenue of the Crown by Common haw :
a point which, above all others, contributed to
thofe violent druggies between prerogative and
privilege at the beginning of the lad century.*
I fhall only obferve that it appears from
Magna Chart a that certain cudoms, as on Wool,
Woolfells, and Leather, were paid to the
Crown, previoufly to any act of parliament.
Still the right has condantly been difputed,
and the rolls of parliament fvvarm with indances
of protedations againd it. Black stone thinks
that Sir Edward Coke has plainly fhewn that
the King's fird claim to Cudoms was by Grant
cf Parliament, 3 Edward L-f- which probably
alludes to that very event already mentioned, as
the fird formal edablilhment of our Cudoms ;
and Hale fays, even of Prifage (a duty
peculiarly belonging to the Crown) " That is a
" cudom fettled in the Crown by Common Law,
* See a fketch of thefe ftruggles prefixed to the celebrat-
ed Cafe of Impofitiom in State Trials, Vol. XI. It may here
be remarked, that the a£t. which granted the duties of
tonnage and poundage after the Reftoration, has thefe cau-
tious words: " No rates can be impofed on merchandizes
" imported or exported by fubjecls or aliens, but, by Confetti
41 of Parliament" 1 2 Carol. II. c. iv. fee. 6,
•j- Commentaries, B. I. 'c. viri.
" yet
C 95 3
<c yet not fo infeparable from the Crown, nor fo
" perfonal to the King, but it may be difcharged
" or transferred."-)**
The following are the principal branches of
our prefent Cuftoms.
i. The Old Subsidy, which confifts of a
tonnage duty on Wines imported, and a pound-
age duty on other goods imported.
2. Petty Customs or Aliens Duty,
payable by Merchant- Strangers on all goods
imported, which are liable to the fubfidy of
poundage.
3. Additional Duty on tonnage and
poundage added to the former.
4. One per Cent, inwards, payable upon
all Imports to Great Britain, from any place of the
Mediterranean Sea, beyond the port of Malaga,
in any veffel that hath not two decks, fixteen
guns, and the proportion of two men to each
gun.
5. Composition on petty Seizures.
The moiety paid to the Crown by the Com-
mimoners of the Cuftoms for feizures under the
f See a Treatife lately publifhed in Har grave's Law
TraBs, from a MS. of Lord Chief Juftice Hale, in three
parts, the laft of which treats with great legal erudition on
"The Cuftoms of Goods imported and exported,"
value
[ 96 ]
value of forty {hillings, for which they are
allowed to compound.
Thefe five only, in the ftricl: {cr{q of the
revenue laws, are properly called the Customs.
There are however various others by the names
of Imports on Wines, Vinegar, Tobacco, Coin-
age, Duties, Excife, &c. whence the Crown
revenue arifes ; though moft of the diftin&ions
are now dropped, except by the officers imme-
diately concerned, their produce being all
blended together under the one denomination
of the Customs.* We may obferve that
originally thefe duties were levied both on im-
portation and exportation, but for many years,
with few exceptions, the new Cuftoms have
been raifed on importations only.
The ftatute of 12 Carol. II. c. iv. eftablifhes
two very plain fyftems. By the one a fpecific
fum is charged on a certain quantity, a ton
of wine, for example ; by the other, rates or
imaginary values are annexed to all other goods
of common importation, and a proportional
duty is levied on each article. Had the fim-
plicity of this plan been ftricHy followed in all
fubfequent imports, that confufion and inequa-
* Cunningham's Hiftory of Taxes, p. 88, and the
following. Blackstone's Comment, B. I. c. viii.
lity
L 97 J
lity which prevails in our Cuftoms would have
been avoided ; but this is fo far from being the
cafe, that even in lefs than twelve years from the
publication of this act, the legiflature began to
deviate from its principles, and, regardlefs of the
original rates therein annexed, charged feveral
articles according to their meafure and weight.*
Since that time almofl every ftatute which has
added a frefli duty, has unavoidably increafed
the perplexity. " It were to be wifhed (fays the
" lad compiler of our cuftoms) that the whole
" of our im polls had been framed upon a more
" uniform plan, and that both the convenience
" and beauty of fyftem had been preferved. But
iC the defect cannot now be ealily removed." £
The great extent of the Books of Rates, § and
the want of perfpicuity in the arrangement, calls
aloud
* 22 Carol. II. c. iv. 2$ Carol. II. c. vii.
i Baldwin - in the preface to his Survey of Britifo
Cuftoms, &c. p. 4.
§ The Cuftoms are chiefly contained in two books of
Rates, fet forth by Parliamentary authority,- one by 12
Carol. II. cv iv. the other by 1 1 Geo. I. c. vii. It was.tothe
liberality, no lefs than to the perfeverance of the Houfe of
Peers, that the public were at laft indebted in 1696, for
the eftablifhment of the Infpeftor General of the imports and
exports, and for the Cufto?n-houfe Ledger, which contains
the particulars and value of both, and which forms there-
H fore
[ 98 1
aloud for an attempt at reformation* The
perfon who (hall engage in fuch a taik, I would
wifh to remind of what the great Financier ot
France has obferved on the fame perplexed
flate in which he found the nTcal legiilation of
his country. " This ftrange arrangement of our
" cuftoms," fays he, "has abfolutely f upported
<e itfelf by its own defects ; the multiplicity of
" particular cafes, the accumulation of rules, the
f\ confufion of principles ; in fhort, all that
" antique contexture woven into fo many knots,
" has conftantly prefented the idea of an im-
" menfe enterprife, whenever attempts have
" been made to proceed to a reform, by ftudying
" details : But when I took a contrary method,
" by making myfelf matter of the whole collec-
<c lively by reflection, and by taking pains to
" difcern the principle divifions, and the ele-
" ments, as well as the rejults of each, the whole
" affair became fimplifted."* As. great a fource
of confufion and inequality as any, is, the great
fore the moll ufeful record, with regard to trade, that any
country pofleiTes. Chalmers's EJiimate of the Com*
par-ati-ve Strength^ &c. pref. p. 7.
* Necker's Adminif ration of the Finances, V. II. p. 167,
of Mortimer's Tranflation. This miniiler's plan is a
beautiful example of Analyfis, for the imitation of a
ilatefman in any department.
difference
[ 99 3
difference which often fubfifts between the real
and the nominal value of duties on foreign ani-
cles. When the rates were affixed in the reign
of Charles II. they were then equal to the real
values, but fince that time, the decline of the
value of money, with other caufes, has contri-
buted to raife the prices above the rates, info-
much that often when the duties are 25 or 26
per cent, on the rates, this will not be more than
7 or 8 per cent, on the real value. In the
article of linens this is obvioufly the cafe, and it
caufed no fmall contradictions in the reports and
opinions on that manufacture, when it was taken
into conlideration by parliament fome few years
ago.
The bulk as well as the form of our Cuftoms
has been alfo a fubjed of complaint to fome
writers on commercial politics. The duties on all
exports of Britifh Manufacture, except on fome
few articles which were regarded as materials, were
removed in the year 1722, but no relief was
given to imports ; on the contrary, they have,
in moft inftances, been gradually burthened with
new duties. Thefe high and numerous imports,
it has been thought, are attended with many
evils in fuch a country as England. Among
the principal perhaps may be reckoned a check
Hz on
[ I0 ° ]
on the increafe of capitals, and the poflible im-
provements of manufactories; an encouragement
to fmuggling, and above all, by enhancing the
price of articles necefTary in the conftruction and
fitting out of (hips, as hemp, flax, iron, &c. the
confequent difcouragement to navigation and
commerce. I have chofen thefe inftances,
becaufe it is by a fuperiority in them that our
mercantile fyftem is characterized ; and were
fuch falutary reliefs permitted to co-operate with
this national fpirit, it is not eafy to conceive what
might in time be the extent and perfection of
our foreign trade and domeftic induftry. Mr.
Locke was ever cf opinion that high duties
encouraged rather than deprefled the confump-
tion of foreign commodities. " The emulation,"
fays he, " ever is, who fhall have the fined,
" that is, the deareil things, not the moft con-
*f venient or ufefuL How many things do we
f< value and buy becaufe they come at dear rates
" from Japan and China, which, if they were
" our own manufacture or produce, would be
tc contemned or neglected ? Have not feveral of
" our commodities offered to fale been defpifed,
** and the very fame eagerly bought for
" French at a double price ? You muft not
" think therefore that the raifing their price will
" leffen
t 101 3
m lefTen the vend of fafhionable foreign com.
** modities among us, but rather increafe it :"*
and De Witt in his Memoirs purfues precifely
the fame train of argument;! which feems
confirmed by an obfervation of Gee, on the
fafhion of preferring French Wines, after the
duties were laid on at the latter end of the lad
century : for, fays he "though they were raifed
" tOj£8o per ton, or more, fome particular im-
<c porters chofe rather to keep up thofe high
£C prices than to have them cheaper ; and being
" afked why they thus chofe to keep up the
cc prices, they anfwered, that gentlemen would
" not think it good unlefs it coil 5 or 6 millings
cc a flafk."-^ It is true indeed, that impofls may
be carried fo far as to become prohibitions, and
in that cafe alfp they might be as prejudicial as in
the other; for as fays Swift humoroufly, "in the
" Arithmetic of the Cuftoms, two and two do
4C not always make four, but often only One."
It is not on foreign Articles alone that many
Writers on finance have argued for the relief
* Locke's Confederations on Trade, &c. p. 93, and again
p. 116.
X Edit. Ratifbon, p. 77. Dr. Smith computes that
.taking together all the reflraints upon French goods at the
commencement of the late war, they muij have amounted to
75 per cent.
*J- Trade conjidered, &c. p. 141.
H 3 of
C Io2 ]
of Cuftoms. The exportation ofdomeftic eorrir
modities, notwithstanding much beneficial re-
form, has been opprefled by them. It will be
faid, perhaps, that in moil cafes Drawbacks
have been applied to counteract the effects of
thefe duties ; but, befide the injudicious mode
often of applying them, the policy of the mea-
fure itfelf (except in the cafe of foreign goods
imported for re-exportation) may be queftioned.
The various frauds practifed in this line frequently
brings a certain lofs on the revenue, without
either altering or extending the ftate of the
Trade; for it is a known fact, that this mode of
encouraging commerce and manufactures alone
amounts to near a million a year. * It was ever
confidered as the moft prudent plan in fifcal
police, and as fuch was, as we have feen, in a
great meafure adopted in this country, to dis-
charge all Cuftoms payable on domeftic manu-
factures at their exportation, and alfo on the
raw materials ufed in them at their importation.
By the firft, the merchant will be encouraged
to fend more goods on better terms abroad;
and by the laft, the manufacturer will be enabled
to fell cheaper at home.
WINES.
Before the Revolution, the ^Era of thofe mer-
Young's Annals of Agriculture^ &c. No. I. p. 44.
cantile
[ «*3 ]
cantile jealoufies between France and England,
which gave rife to the monopolizing fyftem of
rcftridtions and prohibitions, the Wines of Bour-
deaux and Languedoc were fold in London at
eighteen and twenty pounds a Ton, and more
than two-thirds of the confumption through the
whole Kingdom was imported in Englifh bot-
toms. * But in the year 1 7 1 3 , in confequence
of heavy duties, their price had rifen to nine
millings the gallon, which, according to a re-
gulation of 5 Anne, ch. xxvii. fixing the Wine
Ton at 252 gallons, amounts to 1 13 1. 8s. the
Ton. f-
From general obfervation it appears, that
the mod thriving, and the richeft-flavoured
Vineyards, are thofe fituated between the 40th
and 50th degrees. In thefe latitudes, we find
Portugal, Spajn, France, Switzerland, Italy,
Hungary, part of Greece, and the Southern
Circles of Germany, countries which undoubt-
edly produce excellent Wines. For general
ufe, thofe of France have ever been preferred ;
and among them, the Wines of Burgundy,
Champagne, and the neighbourhood of Vienne,
are efteemed the beft. I fhall readily be ex-
* Dayenant's Political Works, V. III. p. 146, Edit.
f A weekly Paper of that day, called the Brijrol Pofi-
JBoy, Np. 625.
H 4 cufed
[ io 4 ]
cuied reciting the long catalogue of names by
which they are diftinguifhed, when it is known,
that the province of Burgundy alone produces
eighteen or twenty different forts : they ufually
receive their titles either from the fpot of culti-
vation, or the various modes of preparing the
liquor. The Wines of the fouthern provinces
are of a ftronger body than thofe made in other
parts of the kingdom; Languedoc, in particu-
lar, produces a fort which has all the fulnefs of
the Portugal grape, with a very fuperior flavour,
and is purchafed in the country for about
12I. the Ton. Bourdeaux, Rochelle, Nantes,
Rouen, Marfeilles, Toulon, are the principal
places where the Wines of France are fhipped
for exportation, and it is calculated that near
6000 Tons are fent annually to England from
Bourdeaux alone. According to the ftatement
of Mr. Necker, France exports yearly, in
Wines and Brandies, to the value of 1 ,640,625!. *
yet it is well underftood that this branch of
trade, under proper regulations, might frill be
confiderably increafed. At prefent, befide the
original expences of the land, and the necefTary
cofts of preparing its produce, the proprietor of
a -Vineyard is chargeable with heavy duties at
every flep he takes towards exportation ; the
* Jdminif ration of Finance, &c. V. II. p. 117.
conveyance
C i«5 ]
conveyance of the Wine to Bourdeaux, a Com*
miffion to the boat-mafter upon its receipt and
delivery, Fees to the officers for affixing the town
mark, and certain port duties before the goods
can be difcharged, or the bill of freight delivered.
Notwithstanding thefe difadvantages, there
are circumftances which render this fpecies
of property in France more eligible than moft
others. It was not, as fome imagined, becaufe
the land was unfit for any other purpofe, that
the proportion of Vineyards had fo much in-
creafed fome years ago as to require an edict to
reftore fuch eilates as had been purchafed and
planted, to their original cultivation; for it was
found that much land, which had produced ex-
cellent crops of corn, was at that time converted
into Vineyards. It is very natural to prefer a
fpecies of property which is free and fecure, to
one which is cafual and reftricted. Property in
Wine, by reafon of the perfon who holds it being
at liberty either to (tore it up, or to carry it to a
home or a foreign market, has, in France, thefe
advantages over property in Com, Belide, with
very few exceptions, the Wine-trade is not like
that of Corn, entangled with monopolies, fo
that the expences and rifk of cultivation, at
leaf!:, are anfwered by the competition of pur-
chafers. Contrary alfo to the cuftom on eftates
in Corn lands, the proprietor of a Vineyard
ufually
[ jo6 ]
ufually keeps it in his own hands, and as fuch
a flock as would be necefiary in the manage-
ment of a farm is never required in a Vineyard,
he thence derives an obvious advantage; for,
as it has been obferved, while thofe who are
employed in its cultivation fometimes want even
the necefTaries of life, the landlord makes from
three to five pounds an acre.
It mould appear that the cultivation of Vine-
yards has proved in France very favourable to
population; for it has been aflerted, that the
fame fpace which, in a Corn country, employs
1400 perfons, requires more than 2600 when
planted with Vines. * If this be really the cafe,
would it not fhew more wifdom in the French
Government, if inftead of i filling Edi£h for
difvineyarding large tracls of country, it would
turn its attention towards a removal of the un-
merciful refcrictions, both upon the tranfporta-
tion and exportation of Corn ? «j- This, by lay-
ing open a larger market for the vend of the
commodity, would induce many to fet their
hands heartily to the plough, and by lowering
the price of grain, would enable the peafantry
to live lefs wretchedly than they do at prefent.
* Beausobre, Etude de la Politique^ &c. Tom. I. p. 51.
•j- This was in fome meafure done in 1768, but not in a
manner fufficiently liberal to produce its full effecl.
4 By
L 107 1
By fuch a meafure, the increafe of farms would,
IX is highly probable, be fo far from diminifhing
the number or extent of Vineyards, that it would
rather encourage and improve them ; with this
difference, perhaps, that many fertile fpots, now
rnifapplied to the culture of the vine, would be
feen bearing plentiful harvefts of grain, while
the barren heaths of Guienne, the mountains
of Auvergne, and other unprofitable parts of
the country, would be glowing with luxuriant
vintages. This reciprocal benefit is actually feen
to take place, in fome inftances, even under the
prefent regulations ; for it is remarked, that
Corn is no where better cultivated in France,
than in the richefl Wine provinces.
Befide the advantage that France will derive
from England, fhould the prefent Treaty take
effect, a large market is now open to her Wines in
America, which hitherto was fupplied chiefly from
Madeira, Lifbon, and Fayal, unlefs indeed this
extenfive country mould fucceed in cultivating
the vine in fome of her fouthward provinces.
This is far from being improbable, when we
recollect the refult of an experiment once made
there. " Between thirty and forty years ago, a
" provincial act paffed in South Carolina, by
« which a bounty of 60 1. proclamation-money
" was to be given to any perfon that mould '
" produce a pipe of found merchantable Wine,
" made
C 108 ]
•* made from vines of the growth of the colony.
" A man of the name of Thorpe did receive
*< the bounty for three pipes; his Vineyard was
" within thirty miles of Charles-Town, and was
" under the care of a certain Portuguefe pro-
" cured for the purpofe, but at his death the
" land was converted to other ufes." * Lord
Sheffield is of opinion notwithstanding, that
America is never likely to be a good Wine
country; but mould this really prove to be the
cafe, it will be owing to other caufes than de-
feds either of foil or climate, principally per-
haps to that preference which is at prefent given
to the cultivation of rice and tobacco. But
how, it may be afked, is England likely to be
affected by fuch a revolution in the state of
French agriculture, and fo wide an extenfion
of the Wine trade ? Without adverting to the
common, but very just argument on the fupe-
rior advantage which every commercial country
ought to obtain from rich and induflrious com-
petitors over one whofe customers are poor and
indolent, let it be remembered, that fair com-
petition muftj in every point of view, be a fpur
to industry ; in any (ingle branch of trade its
• Lord Sheffield'j Ohfervations on the Commerce of tht
American States, p. 56, a Note.
good
[ 109 ]
good effects are foon vilible among that parti-
cular clafs of merchants or manufacturers ; but
when it is encouraged between different depart-
ments of trade, it then becomes manifeft in the
general induftry and opulence of a nation. The
fame reafoning may be applied to the cafe of
two neighbouring kingdoms, where a competi-
tion, efpecially of the latter fort, muft naturally
tend to increafe the demand and improve the
quality of thpfe articles in which they refpec-
tively excel. There is not much caufe, there-
fore, for England's jealoufy at any increafe of
demand on the vintages of France. What lofs
does the woollen-draper fuftain by the improv-
ing trade of his neighbour the wine-merchant ?
Has he not rather caufe to rejoice in an event
which, by furnifhing the whole neighbourhood
with a richer cuftomer, muft necefTarily bring
into his hands fome fhare of his fuccefs ? In the
fame manner both reafon and experience mould
teach us, that from this dreaded extenfion of
the Wine-trade of France, our own ftaple com-
modities will necefTarily derive many future
benefits in the woollen, iron, and hard-ware
manufactories. But, it is urged, this is not the
only objection — Portugal is a Letter cuftomer
than France, and therefore we ought in return
to deal with her in preference. Suppofe, for a
moment,
[ no j
moment, that this were a fact, ' c Are' the frieafc*
*' ing arts of underling tradefmen to be thus
c < erected into political maxims for the conduct
f* of a great empire?" * A liberal trader pur-
chafes at the cheaper! and beft market, with no
regard to fuch little interefts as this. It ap-
pears, however, from undeniable proofs, that
our favourite trade with Portugal has long been
on the decline^ and gradually turning more and
more againit us for almoft thefe laft thirty years.
At prefent our exports to that country fcarcely
amount; upon an average of ten years, (except
during the ftiort fpace of our late Spanifh hofti-
lities, which naturally caufed them to increafe)
to one half of what they did in the year 1760. -J*
The fact is, the interchange of the two coun-
tries was never fettled upon a fair and equal
foot of reciprocity, and the Portuguefe thus
taking advantage of an original defect in the
Methuen-Freaty , have allowed the woollen ma-
nufactures of other countries to compete with
ours in their markets. In the article of linens
* Smith's Wealth of Nations, B. IV. ch. iii.
f Where the imports are materials for manufacture, a
trade may be coniiderably againit a country, and yet be,
upon the whole, a beneficial one. This was the cafe with
our Ruffia trade; but it does not hold good in the prefent
inftance of our intercourfe with Portugal,
they
[ "I ]
they have decidedly given the preference to
France; and as to our cottons, they have put
them under an abfolute prohibition. The
clamours that have conftantly been raifed on
every attempt in this country to reduce the
enormous duties on French Wines, and the
threats of Portugal to withdraw from a Treaty
fhe has fo palpably violated, ought furely to
give us no alarm; the prefent effects of that
Treaty will not juftify it. But what would be
the confequence fuppofing thefe threats to be
actually executed, and the prohibitions on both
fides eftablifhed ? Why, clearly this ; that Por-
tugal has effectually loft a market for near
1 2,000 tons annually of fuch Wines as no other
country will purchafe of her ; while the fuperior
quality and cheapnefs of our woollens muft fecure
them a market any where, and " probably
cc under another name, and by another channel,
" even in Portugal itfelf." *
BR AN-
* Lord Sheffield, to whofe excellent writings I am
indebted for the above remark, has in a clear manner
fhewn, that in Ireland the confumption of Portugal Wine
has greatly increafed within thef: laft twenty years, and
that French Wines have proportionably diminifhed. {Obfer-
valtons, Amenc. Comm. in the Appendix, p. 291) Ireland
exports to Portugal cambletsand butter; her woollens were
not included in the Treaty of 1703. The preference fhe
has
C i* J
BRANDIES.
The Wine Brandy of France is in the highefl
eftimation, and by a decree of Parliament in
the year 1699, this is the only fort permitted to
be fold in Paris, under a heavy penalty.
The provinces of Poictou, Anjou, Tou-
raine, Orleans, and the diflrict of Nantes pro-
duce the beft that is applied to home-confump-
tion ; the different kinds for exportation are
made in Bourdeaux, Cogniac, Charente, Bur-
gundy, and Champagne ; though the aforenamed
provinces of Poiftou, &x. fupply a great deal
alfo for this purpofe. Brandies, indeed, are made
in almofl all the wine countries, though it is ob-
ferved, that the fuperior wines make the word ;
accordingly in many places they only apply
them to this fervice when they are pricked, or
other wife injured. The rich- flavoured vintages
of Greece, and of the fouthward parts of Italy,
afford very little Brandy, and of an inferior
quality : the yearly export of this article
has lately given to the Portuguefe Wines, is with a view
of being put on a foot, in this reipecl, with great Britain;
and there is reafon to think, that flie is able to reap con-
fiderable benefit from fuch an admiffion. Her exports to
Portugal in 1783, were 174,4931. her imports, 92000I. and
it is faid thefc were paid for by her exported Butter alone.
from
[ »3 ]
from France is computed at more than half
a million fterling ; * at the latter end of the
laft century, when the duty was no more than
9I. a ton, this country imported annually up-
wards of 6000 tons ; -}* in confequence of the
high duties at prefent iub lifting, the confump-
tion has long been diminiihed, and upon an
average of late years the quantity imported has
funk three fifths. The merchants of Rochelle
and Nantes feldom freight a {hip either for Ame-
rica, Africa, or the North Seas, without making
Brandy a part of the cargo. We receive a con-
fiderable quantity of our coniumption through the
hands of the Dutch, who carry on an extenfive
trade with France in this article. It has been
a received opinion, that although neither Eng-
lifli malt or molalfes fpirit have ever been
brought to the perfection of Wine-Brandy,
yet the fault is not lb much in the grain or fruit
whence the extract is made, as in the manner
of preparation, Both grapes and grain have
the fame principles of oil, lak, phlegm and
earth, and differ only in the quantity and con-
nection of thofe principle::. A patent, not many
years ago, was obtained - for making Brandy
* Necker'j* Admiaiflration of Finance^ Vol. II. p. 207.
■\- 'Conjugations qn Trade, &c. in the year 1724.
I from
[ iH 3
from carrots and parfnips ; the latter, it was
found, after a variety of curious experiments,
made a liquor very nearly refembling the Wine-
Brandy.
If the motives for complaint be exactly
Rated, it is not without reafon, that our Weil-
India merchants have taken alarm at the reduc-
tion of duties on this article, imported from
France, as propofed in the Tariff. From the
memorial prefented by them to the Minifter,
the refult of their meetings, and the opinion
of intelligent individuals on the fubject, the
following appears to be the fum of their ap-
prehenfions and their wifhes.
They requeft that the Rum of the Britifh
Weft-India Iflands fhould be put upon the
fame foot with regard to the Brandies of
France, that the wines of Portugal are to the
wines of France ; for, unlefs fuch a proporti-
onate adjuftment of duties take place, the fale
of a foreign produce will be encouraged to the
detriment, and perhaps the ruin, of what may
be termed a domeftic one. It is well known
that Rum muft pay more freight from the place
of production than Brandy, and that it fuffers
more by leakage and evaporation, requires
larger capital, and from the nature of the
trade renders the merchant liable to greater lofs
of
[ "5 ]
of intereft upon it. This, among other in-
fiances, might be exemplified in feveral late ob-
structions of the intercourfe between the Iilands
and North America, which, to the great dis-
advantage of the trader, mud necelTarily always
turn the fuperfluous Rum into the Britifh mar-
ket. It appears moreover, that while thefe ob-
structions have rifen in this ftaple of Weft-
India trade, the French have been induftrioufiy
facilitating the vend of their brandies by a
variety of regulations. That the interefts of
the fugar-trade are fo naturally connected with
thofe of Rum, that whatever impedes the one
muft injure the other. * That this trade is of
no fmall atTiitance to the marine fkill and fpirit
of Great Britain, by reafon of the length of
the voyage and the number of Britifh fliips and
feamen employed in it, whereas the Brandy-
trade will be carried on in fhort trips between
England and France, with a large proportion
of French vefTels and crews. That on this
account, added to the consideration that prime
colli, freight and infurance are all higher, the
quantity of Rum fmuggled from the Weft-
Indies is very fmall, compared with that of
* It is faid the Rum infures to the planter the expences
and cafualties of thefugar; and they reckon, that each
hogihead of fugar produces from 40 to 60 gallons of Rum.
I 2 Brandies
[ n6 ]
Brandies from France ; the duties therefore on
the former are more faithfully collected. That
as the prime cod of Brandy in France is upon
the average is. 2fd. a gallon, and that of Rum
2s. 4d. in order to preferve a juft proportion
in the reduction of the duties on each, if
thofe on Brandies, as propofed in the Tariff,
be lowered two (hillings and fixpence the
gallon, thofe on Rum mould be lowered one
(hilling and nine pence. *
Such appear to be the principal grounds of
complaint from this refpectable body of mer-
chants, whofe remonflrance, there is little
doubt, will have its due weight in the delibera-
tions of Parliament, efpecially when it is con-
iidered alfo what an injury our home-diftilleries
may receive by precipitately expofing them to
an unequal competition. Will it not, more-
over, admit of a doubt, whether the propofed
rate of reduction of the duties on French Bran-
dies befufficient to prevent fmuggling, for even
the duty of 7s. the gallon, is almoft 500 per
cent, on the prime coft, and whether by fuch
an ineffectual reduction of the duties, the reve-
v % ill not fuftain a considerable lofs with-
* See " the Memorial of the General Meeting of the
\Veft-Iodia Merchant* and Planters," prefented to the
Lords Commiflioiiers of the Treafury.
out
[ »7 ]
out any adequate compenfation or advantage to
the public. *
IRON, STEEL, and COPPER.
There is fcarcely any branch of manufacture
in which labour and ingenuity are feen to add
more to the original value of materials than in
that of Iron and Steel ; of this the beautiful fa-
brics of Birmingham and Sheffield afford nume-
rous examples, and it is equally as evident in
the flupendous foundries at Carron and Cole-
broke Dale, as in the minuteft operation of the
* The principal laws which regulate the duties on the
importation of Brandies, are 7 and 8 W. III. c. xx. lay-
ing a duty of 30I. the ton on iingle, and 60I. the ton on
double proof, repealed by 6 Geo. II. c. xvii. § 2; which,
inftead of it, levies an excife of is. for every gallon of
Iingle proof, to be paid by the importer before landing,
over and above all other duties, and of 2s. on double proof.
See, alio 2 W. and M. c. ix. § 12. 12 W. III. c. xi.
§ 8. 3 Ann. c. iv. v. 5 Ann. c. >:ix. made perpetual by
1 Geo. I. c. xii. 6 Geo. I, c. xxi, § 12. 8 Geo. I. c. xviji.
§11.6 Geo. III. c. xlvii. The ad patted 1 W. and M.
c. xxxiv. which entirely prohibits the importation of French
goods, appears by the preamble to have been intended prin-
cipally for the encouragement of the home diflilleries ;
this is the more probable, becauie in the following year a
heavy duty was laid on the exportation of corn. 2 W. and
M. c. ix.
I 3 workmops
[ us ]
workfhops at Salifbury and Woodftock. In
reflecting on the various applications of theie
metals to agricultural, naval, military, mecha-
nical, and economical purpofes, we are imme-
diately ftruck with their extenfive utility and
importance, and are abfolutely loft in amaze-
ment, when we attempt to trace them through
all their gradations and forms, from the cannon
or the anchor to the lancet or the watch-fpring.
Though iron ore is known to be very plentiful
in this kingdom, it is not poffible to afcertain,
with any accuracy, what proportion of the pro-
duct is worked up, becaufe it is not only in-
termixed with* foreign iron, but is very com-
monly concealed under a foreign name. In
the year 17 19, when a bill " for extending the
laws concerning tl\e importation of naval ftores
from the Britifli American Colonies," was agi-
tated, it was computed that two thirds of what
was confumed in this kingdom, was imported
from Sweden and Ruflia. * It appears, that on
an average of ten years, our trade in this arti-
cle with the Baltic may be reckoned at 27,500
tons, value 314,0001.
In the year 1 749 another bill was propofed
for encouraging the importation of bar-iron
* Gee, Trade con/tiered, p. 16.
from
[ " 9 ]
from America, in the courfe of which the fpint
of monopoly defcended to very fhameful expe-
dients, to prevent its taking effecT:. Among
other things it was boldly afTerted, that Ameri-
can Iron was of a quality very inferior to Swe-
difh, though by the Officer's Reports, then pre-
fented to the Houfe, it was (hewn that various
experiments made a few years before, in the
King's dock-yards, had proved it in all refpects
of equal goodnefs. It was alfo urged, that if
we withdrew from the iron trade of the Baltic,
we mufh forego the advantages of importing
their hemp and flax ; but the event, as far as
it was tried, did not juftify fuch apprehenfions. *
The fact was, their fears were of a more felfifh
nature. The proprietors of our iron-foundries
knew it was not for their intereft that an event
ihould take place, which would lower the price
of the metal, and thus by a narrow-minded policy
they attempted to facrifice a public benefit to
their own advantage. The bill, however, paf-
fed, but more, as it feems, from a diflatisfac-
tion then prevailing between our court and SweT
den, than from any patriotic motive. By the
permimon granted to import boih pig and bar
* Postlethw ayte's Commercial Difi. Art. Naval
Stores.
1 4 iron
C *v> 3
iioii fjom America in Brkifli veiTels duty free,
no incontklerable advantages have been given
to our foundries over thofe of other nations, *
which added to the fuperior dexterity of our
workmen, and the large capitals employed, have
fecured us the market, even in countries whence
we import the materials for this manufacture ;
it mould ever be remembered, that if a duty
upon raw materials be allowed in moil cafes to
be prejudicial to the manufacture, it muft on
iron perhaps be more fo than on any other com-
modity ; for being a principal article in naval
{lores, it is of the highefl importance in fuch a
country as this ; betide, as it may ferve in almofl
all inftanccs for ballad, Sec. and is therefore of
cafy tranfportation, even the freight on fuch a
merchandife ought to be very moderate.
While the aforementioned Bills were depend-
ing in Parliament, a general alarm was fpread
through the country, by reports of great wafte
and deilruction of the woods in all thofe parts
where Iron works were erected. Postle-
tiiwayte, writing in the year 1759, lays, that
" Where Cord-wood had before been fold at 5
* The American iron mines have an advantage over
thofe of Ruflia in their proximity to the coafl ; for fome
of the molt productive mines in Siberia arc above 3000
miles from Petcrfburgh.
« and
[ 121 ]
" and 6 (hillings the Cord, it then fold ^t
" upwards of 12 or 14, and in fome places was
" all confamed ; it is neceflary therefore," he
adds, u to preferve our timber from thefe con-
ft fuming furnaces, left they at laft lay hold o£
<( our Oaks.''* This is reported to have been
the cafe in Ireland alfo, where they have often
been obliged to procure even building timber
from Norway, j It is well known that the iron
works in Mendip-hills had long fince cleared
away all the oaks in that foreft, and that not-
withstanding the fuccefsful adoption of Pit-coal
in fome of our moil extenfive works, woods are
Hill preferved in many places for the fupply of
the foundries. *f-
The ufe of wood in the iron works of France
is very general, owing to the great fcarcity of
coal in that country, and yet it is a remarkable
fad, that the provinces, where thofe manufac-
* Commercial Inter eft of Great Britain, V. I. p. i$i.
\ The clamours of that day were increafed by the fclf-
intereir of Wood, who made hlmfelf afterwards fo well
known in the Copper Coinage of Ireland. This man had
a leafe of all the mines on the Crown Lands of thirty-nine
counties, whole furnaces were fupplied with pit-coal ; befide
iron work in various parts of the kingdom. Anderson's
Hift. of Commerce, V. II. p. 303.
f Campbell's pp/U 9 Survey of Great Britain, V.II. p. 43,
tories
[ I22 ]
rbries are eftablifhed, and efpecially Burgundy,
fupply the Metropolis with more than two thirds
of its fuel, j
Great improvements have of late years been
made in the procefs of every branch in this
valuable manufacture. The life of coak in
England inftead of charcoal, though fome are
of opinion that it debafes the quality of the iron,
has been found to anfwer for many of the larger
works, and the application of fleam to fome
of the moll laborious operations, inch as the
draining of coal, the fupplying blafts to the
furnaces, the railing the forge hammer, promifes
ftill further advantages.
The iron works in Colebroke Dale, are fup-
t Necker's Admin'iflrat. of Finance, &c. V. I. p. 25$,
At la Chaufade in the generality of Moulins, is an iron
foundry, which during the late war furnifhed moft of the
extra anchors ufed in the Royal Navy of France. With
half the labour there employed, the combined navy of
France and Spain might have been iupplied from fuch
foundries as thofe of Colebroke Dale or Carron. At Moulin s
they excel in cutlery and in (mail works, but in general
Englifh goods of this fort have the preference even
in the French markets ; for it is a known fact, that Englifh
jewels and various toys and trinkets, Bijouterie d'Anglcterre y
are fold openly and avoivedfy as fuch at the Palais Royal at
Verfailles % Fontainbkau, and even within the hearing of his
Majcfty. Tucker's Third Letter to Mr. Necker, p. 45.
i pofed
[ **s ]
pofcd to be the moft extenlive in England,
employing upwards of one thoufand hands.
" The founders there earn from eight (hillings
" to ten millings and lix-pence a week, and
" boys of fourteen years old, feven millings, at
" drawing coal bafoetsin the pits."* Forpitcoal
is here principally ufed in making the bar iron.
The neighbouring hills fupply both in
fufficient quantities, and every ftep in the
procefs is performed on the fpot, from digging
the iron ore to the lad finifti of the manufacture.
Nothing can convey to a ftranger greater ideas
both of the flock of raw materials, and the
ingenuity of the workman in this lingular fpot,
than the Bridge of cafl iron, which now opens a
communication between two populous fides of
the Severn, and the waggon -ways paved with the
fame metal. The following pichirefque remark
will give a fketch of the fcenery, and relieve the
necefiary drynefs of the fubjecl:. " Colebroke
" Dale is a winding glen between two.immenfe
" hills, which break into various forms, being all
" thickly covered and forming moft beautiful
" meets of hanging woods. Indeed too beautiful
"to be much in unifon with that variety of
* Young's Aunals of Agric. &c. V. IV. p. 167.
cc horror 4
C in 3
<£ horrors which art has fpread at the bottom.
" The noife of the forges, mills, &c. with all
£C their vafl machinery, the flames burfting
" from the furnaces, with the burning of the
" coal and the fmoak of the lime kilns, are
" altogether horribly fublime, and would unite
" well with craggy and bare rocks like St.
" Vincents at Briftol." * The principal works
belong to Mr. Derby, Mr. Wilkinfon, Mr.
Reynolds, and MefTrs. Bancks and Onions ;
the lad of thefe are the proprietors of a
machine for boring cannon from the folic!
caft; another of which is erected at Willey, by
Mr. Wilkinfon.
It has been obferved, that for many years
no cannon has been caft in that part called the
Dale Works, in which Quakers are employed;
" it being inconfiftent with the principles of that
" peaceable feci:, to make engines for the de-
" ftrudtion of their fellow creatures." J
The
* Young's Annals, &c. V. IV. p. 168. See alfo a more
particular account in the fame volume, p. 343, &c. by
E. J. Harries, Efq. of Hen wood.
X Ut fup. p. 348. The only articles in which our
iron manufactories feem to have fuffered during the Lite
war, were Nails and Axes, but it is faid the Am'
demand for thefe articles is now returning. Ut fup. p.
> 5 s.
Iron
[ «a i
The great irregularities and doubts in out
Mine Laws contributed very much to retard the
progrefs of improvement, in the preparation and
working up of Copper, though it was known to
abound in many parts of the kingdom, till the
prefent century. Since that time it has been
brought to great perfection, and applied to
almoft as great a variety of ufes as iron, efpe-
cially in domeftic utenfils, for which it is
peculiarly calculated by reafon of its malleabi-
lity, flexibility, elafticity, and ductility.* The
principal copper mines in Europe are thofe near
the Hartz and at Mifnia in Germany, in the
Archbifhopric of Saltzburg, in Bavaria, Wir-
temburg, and Treves. In France, at Amiens,
Abbeville, Rheims, Troyes, and Beauvais in
many parts of Norway and Sweden, in the
Dutchies of Parma and Placentia, near Brefcia,
and in Sicily.']; Our own country produces
Iron imported according to the navigation-act, pays
£2, 8. 6. a ton, and has a drawback on exportation of
£2. C. 2; in 1778, an additional 7s. 7d. If not imported
according to the act, there is a duty of £2. 17. 10. a ton,
and the drawback is £2, 14. 6. Iron wares manufactured
not otherwife rated, or not prohibited, pay on importation
123. 4d. and draw back on exportation us. 5d. The du-
ty on iron wares manufactured in Ireland, is 14s. 3d. V;. a
cwt. on importation.
* Campbell's Politic. Survey, Sec. V. II. p. 45.
t Beavsosre, Etude de la Politiq. Tom. I. p. 152.
great
C t%» ]
great plenty of this metal, particularly in Corn-
wall, Staffordfhire, Somerfeifhire, and Cumber-
land. The mines of Cornwall, which produce
about a fifth part of the ore ufed in England, are
computed to afford to the value of £200,000*
annually ; and in Anglefey, there is a mountain
which has abed of this ore more than forty feet
in thick nefs, which fupplies annually between
fix and feven thoufand tons, and employs above
forty furnaces in fmelting it. Befide the pure
native Copper, there is a fpecies produced
by precipitation in vitriolic fprings in different
parts of Europe. Thofe of Wicklow in Ireland,
are very productive. It is faid that one ton of
iron bars laid on thefe fprings, produces a ton
and nineteen cwt. of Copper mud, and that
each ton of the mud when fmelted yields
iixteen cwt. of the purefl Copper, which fells
for £10 a ton more than the Copper which is
fluxed from the ore.*|* The Copper mills at
Namur
* Phllofophical Tranfamons, V. XLVfl. p. $02, V.
LXVIII. p. 94, and 101 ; Watson'j Chemical EJfays, V. I,
ch. 6.
X Boslase, Nat. Hijlory ofCornvjall, p/207. Thcfub-
crdinate manufactories of brafs, verdigris, vitriol and pins
have fprung from the improvements made in the copper
branch. In the laft it is truly afltonhliing to confider the
many
[ *»7 ]
Namur are perhaps the mod extenfive in Eu-
rope, and it was there that the water engine now in
common ufe, was firfl applied in the year 1695,
to put the ponderous machinery of thefe works
in motion.* If we may rely on the reprefen-
tations given, the ancients far exceeded us in
their manner of tempering and refining this
metal ; at prefent the advantages of dexterity in
this branch, are not confined fo particularly to
one country as to make it an object of commer-
cial jealoufy. It is probable therefore that the
interchange between France and fingland for
commodities of Copper or Brafs, will be compa-
ratively fmall, and that they will continue to draw
their fupplies chiefly from their own materials
and induftry.J
many fubdi virions of labour which are required to make
an article, fo proverbially infignirlcant. The engravers
and bell-founders alfo employ great quantities of this
metal.
* Beau sob re, Etudi delaPollt, T. II. p. 154.
} We are laid to export annually 2000 tons of vitriol.
Thefc works have lately much declined, by reafon of the
home confumption being fupplied with the acid, as pro-
cured from the burning of fulphur. Watson's Chem.
V , I. r>. 226,
HEMP,
[ 123 ]
HEMP, FLAX, LINEN.
Hemp and FlAx, confidered as the mate-
rials of various kinds of fabrics, are of the
highefl confequence, and it may be obferved
of them, that they place the connection between
agriculture and manufacture in a ftronger light
than any other produce of the foil. * There
are few countries in Europe which do not grow
them ; thofe round the Baltic, particularly Ruffia,
produce fuch great quantities, that they may be
truly ftyled their ftaple commodities. -}- The
Flax cultivated in Germany is intirely worked
up at home, for the exportation of the raw ma-
terials is ftrictly prohibited ; in confequence of
this, the looms of that country fupply France
with a great proportion of her linen goods,
though of late years much attention has been
paid to the cultivation of Flax in the provinces
* We read of two officers in the Roman empire, called
Procurators Linificii % who fuperintended the two great
ftorehoufes at Ravenna and Vienne. From this circum-
itance much learned debate has been ftarted concerning
the Hate of the cultivation and manufactories of Hemp
and Flax amono- the ancients.
o
f It is calculated that Ruffia alone imports into England
Hemp to the amount of 400,000!. annually.
of
[ I2 9 ]
of Picardy, Brittany, Maine, Dauphine, and
Alface. Flax alfo is plentifully produced in
Flanders, especially between Ghent and Cour-
tray, where perhaps it is an object of more de-
licate hufbandry than in any other part of Eu-
rope. The conduct of the Flemiih. on this ar-
ticle affords a good leffon to monopolifers o*
every clais; for though linen and lace be the
great manufactures of their country, they permit
the free exportation of Flax on this principle, that
it encourages production and improves cultiva-
tion, and in the end renders the commodity both
cheaper and better. The Flax in the province
of Zealand is in high efteem, and is ufed by
the Dutch in the fabric of their finer linens,
though it may be remarked, that weaving and
whitening are in general the only parts of the
whole procefs performed to any great extent in
Holland, and that moil of the thread is fpun -in
Germany and Pruflia. The city of Bologna
iupplies Venice with both Hemp and Flax;
and in Spain the provinces of Valencia, Grenada,
and Murcia, furnifh the great manufactories of
fail-cloth and cordage eftablifhed at Port Real,
and the linen fabrics in fome of the neighbouring
diftricts. In this iiland, particularly in Scot-
land, great attention has been paid to this
branch of culture, though much difpute has
K arifen
[ *3° ]
arifen on the expediency of parrying fuch a
meafure to any length in South Britain.* It
has been urged, that Hemp and Flax fo much
exhauft and impoverifh the land, that it re-
quires conftantly to be manured, and to lie fal-
low every third year at leaft; that the plants
are exotics and degenerate in this country, fo
that it is found neceliary to recruit them very
frequently : to this it has been added, that to
encourage their culture would be againft the
inter eft of fuch a country as England, becaufe
it would moil probably operate to the dif-
couragement of the growth of Wool ; moreover,
that the fame effect would be produced here as
is in France by the fubftitution of vineyards for
farms; for as it is reckoned, that one acre of
Flax will fet as many hands to work as twenty
acres of Wool, it would in all probability too
much reduce the price of land. The decreafe
of the importation of Irifh Wool and Woollen
Yarn into England about fifty years ago, it is
afTerted, was not owing, as generally furmifed,
to its being run to France and other countries,
but to the great increafe of the linen manufactures,
* Sec various Reports delivered to the Houfe in 1773,
when Parliament was petitioned for a further aid to the
linea manufactures.
4 efpecially
[ i3i ]
cfpecially in Uliler, which, for their fupply,
had planted fuch quantities of Flax, that they
had not fheep fufhcient for their own markets,
whereas not many years before they fupplied
themfelves and the neighbouring provinces. *
Many of thefe objections, however, are dif-
proved by experiment and obfervation. It has
been found that there is much land in the north
of England and in Scotland, which produces
both Hemp and Flax as high and as ftrong as
any imported from Riga ; and that in fome other
parts, they are cultivated in as fine a ftate as in
the fouthern climates, infomuch, that Englifh.
Hemp has been known to fetch from 34 to 40s.
the cwt. when what was brought from the Baltic
flood at 28 to 35 s. and this cultivation is carried
on in rich and deep foils without any fymptoms
of impoverifhment or degeneration; on the
contrary, we are told of a prodigious large field
in the ifle of Axholm in Lincolnfliire, which
though fowed with Hemp, has not been fal-
lowed for many years, and always produces
* A Letter to a Member of Parliament in 1732, cited
by Anderson, Hifi. Comm. Vol. I. p. 340. It is faid
that Flax, infufed in water, communicates a poifonous
quality to it, which gave rife to Stat. 33 Hen. VIII.
c. xvii, forbidding its be. ng watered in any running flream
or common pond.
K 2 excellent
excellent crops ; * this is 'alfo, in a great mea-
fure, the cafe at Spalding Moor in the Eaft
Riding of Yorkfhire. \ But be the fact as it
may, furely there is room enough for very fair
and extenfive experiments of it, on fome of the
numerous moors and barren heaths of fand
which disfigure this ifland.
The mod reafonable objection feems to be
the danger of diminifliing the growth of Wool*
by occupying much pafture land for thefe pur-
pofes, and confequently of facrificing the in-
tereft of an anoient and valuable manufactory, to
one which is by no means fo productive or fo
natural to the people. Experience has now
clearly proved, that the manufacture of Linen is
very profitably eflablimed and carried on in
countries where land and labour are cheap ; on
this account it has ever been the care of our
Legiflature to encourage it in Scotland and
Ireland. By an Act pafTed in 1728, great ad-
. vantages were granted to fuch as mould intro-
duce the Linen fabric into the Highlands, and
lince that time it has received occafional
lupport by various premiums and bounties.
* Gee on the Growth of Hemp and Flax.
f Campbell'j \ Politic. Survey, &c. Vol. II. p. 89.
Their
[ m ]
Their good effects are fufficiently fhewn by the
following flatements :
The value of the Linen damped for fale in
Scotland, was
From 1728 to 1733 - - £. 662,938
From 1747 to 1752 - - 1,344,814
In 1754 alone - - - 506,816
In 1760 - - - - 522,153
In 1773 ----- 462,751
In 1774 49 2 >°55
In 1775 5 6l ;5 2 7
In 1777 7 IO > 6 33
In 1779 55 I > I 4-8
In 1780 622,187
In 1782 ----- 775,098
In 1783 366,983
Andini784 932,617
Thus it appears, that though there was a fudden
defed in 1 7 7 3 , it recovered and has almoft doubled
itfelf within the fhort fpace of thefe laft ten
years! The ftatutes made in the years 1696
and 1697,* " For encouraging the Linen manu-
" fadories of Ireland, and for admitting the
" free importation of Flax and Hemp from that
" kingdom into England," were the means of
* 7 ^nd 8 W. III.
K 3 carrying
[ 134 ]
carrying over many French refugees, and laid
the foundation of her fabrics in Linen and
Cambric; and two other Ads in 1703 and
1 704, which extended this permiffion in favour
of Ireland to the Engliili plantations in Ame-
rica *, (till further promoted their increafe.
Thefe privileges were not bellowed inconii-
derately; they were the refult of mature and
folid reafoning on the natural and political
fituation of that ifland, and have fully anfwered
their propofed . end. Some years previous to
the paffing the firfl of thefe Acts, Sir William
Temple, among other reflections on the fub-
ject, obferves, that " of all women, the Irifh
" were the apt eft and bed calculated to fpin
" linen thread well; who, labouring little in
" any kind with their haods, have their fingers
*' more fupple. and foil tban others of as poor
" condition amongfl us. This," he adds,
<c may certainly be improved into a great ma-
* nufacture of Linen, fo as to beat down the
,c trade of France and Holland, without crofling
iC any ihtereft of trade in England. Beficie
" this, the foil and climate are peculiarly fit
ic for the growth of Flax and the whitening of
*' Linens. "~|~ This has been amply verified
* 3 and 4 Ann. c. viii.
|. Mifctllanies, p. 15. Ed, 1681,
in
[ >35 ]
in the progrefs which the manufacture has made
during the prefent century. The particulars of
this matter have been fo frequently brought be-
fore the public of late years, that it would be
needlefs to enlarge upon them here. * The
following facts will be fufficient to (hew. how
profitably fuch a branch of trade may be adopt-
ed, when circumftances like thofe in Ireland
or Scotland, concur to favour the cultivation of
its materials. It is calculated that an acre of
land will bear from 3 to 6 cwt. of flax, which
is worth 40s. a cwt. at the average therefore of
4 cwt. this will fet the produce of each acre at 81.
The number of acres thus cultivated in Ireland
is computed at 13,000. So that the amount of
the whole produce is 104,0001. This produce
is raifed in its value eight times when in its
manufactured date, which brings it to 832,0001.
but it is faid, that a quantity equal to one
fifth of the raw materials grown in the country
is imported annually, this by adding 1 70,0001.
more, makes the whole annual amount of the
linen manufacture upwards of one million fler-
ling. A ton of flax is fuppoled to employ
* Lord Sheffield onthelriJJ) Trade. Arrangements with
Ireland conjidered ; with the Reports of the Linen Committees^
in 1773} and Vol. IX, Parliamentary Regifter.
K 4 annually
C 136 ]
annually 40 perfons, and from the foregoing com-
putation it appears, that the quantity uled is
about 3125 tons, fo that this manufactory em-
ploys upon the whole 125,000 hands. .In
Scotland about 1540 tons are annually worked
up, which gives employment to 61,200 hands;
thus the linen manufactures in both countries,
may together be reckoned to employ 186,200
hands. From the fuperiority of wages it has
lately been feared, that the newly erected cot-
ton works in many parts of Ireland may materi-
ally injure the linen branch ; for a workman will
there earn from 13s. to 15s. a week, a lad of
13 years old 8s. or 9s. and at the fpinning-jenny
as much as 15s. — whereas at linen weaving the
worker of fine goods can earn no more than 8 s. 6 d.
and of coarfe goods no more than 6s. 3d. a week.
Girls alfo, who at flax fpinning get only 2s. or
3s. a week, will earn in the cotton works from
9s. to us. But the properties of flax appear
in a more finking point of view, when it is
conlidered as the material of the lace, manufac-
ture. In Flanders where it has been, in this
branch, carried to its higheft perfection, they
reckon that one pound only, which is worth
from 4d.to $d. will, when worked up, be raifed
to the value of 7000 florins, upwards of 600I.
which
[ *37 ]
which probably is as ftrong an inftance of the
lucrative effects of human ingenuity as can be
produced in the cafe of any other raw material
whatever. * And it has therefore been calcu-
lated, that if France were to exchange on equal
terms, her wines for the lace of BrufTels, (he
would give the produce of many thoufand acres
of wines for every (ingle acre of flax ~j~
By 17 Geo. IT. ch. xxx. the affixing coun-
terfeit (lamps to foreign linens imported, in
imitation of the (lamps on I rim and Scotch
linens, and expoiing them to fale, as alfo the
affixing counterfeit (lamps to any linen manu-
factured in Great Britain or Ireland, and ex-
* A table exhibiting at one view the comparative price
of firft materials with their proportionately improved value,
in every branch of manufacture and art, would be a cu-
rious and ufeful work.
f There is an excellent book on the fubjectof this chap-
ter, by Mr. Marcandiee, of which there is an Englifli
tranflation in 1764. I quote the tranfiationfrom an opinion,
that even adepts in the French language will read works like
this, and all others which treat of agriculture, manufactures,
or finance, to the beft advantage in good Englifli tranllatioas,
becaufe they mult contain many terms of art and revenue,
and 'a variety of political idioms which it is difficult to com-
prehend ; for the fame reafon in matters of fcienee alfo it
is, in general, better to give extracts from foreign books in
*>ur own language.
pofing
C 138 3
pofing the fame to fale, will incur the forfeiture
of the goods and a penalty of 5I. for each piece.
The different duties on the importation of this
article are principally regulated by 10 Ann. c.
xix. 12 Ann. c. ix. and 7 Geo. III. c. Iviii.
and Ixxii.
W O O L.
During the 12th and 13th centuries the cloth
manufactories of the Netherlands were the moil
flourifhing in Europe, but being ill fupplied
with materials at home, they carried on an ex-
tenfive trade with this Ifland. To fupply this
great demand, a fociety of merchants, called
afterwards the IVaol Staplers, combined for the
purpofe of collecting the Wool in various parts
of the country to convey it to the fea ports for
exportation, and it appears that this branch of
foreign traffic was for many years, not only
permitted, but encouraged ; indeed, it mould
feem that, ftrictly fpeaking, the firfl legal prohi-
bition occurs as late as the year 1660, by which
forfeiture of the goods and fhip, and a penalty
of 20s. for every irieep, and 3s. for every pound
of wool exported, is incurred. * I am, neverthe-
* 12 Car, II, c. xxxii. § 3.
lefs,
C *39 ]
lefs, aware that as far back as the reign of Ed-
ward III. temporary reftraints had been laid, and
that both James and Charles iffaed proclama-
tions, and after them, the Long Parliament in-
terpofed its authority with this view ; * it
mould alfo be remembered, that though a fub-
fidy on the raw material was very common in
earlier times, yet the firft regular grant on the
manufacture occurs in 21 Edward III. " This/'
fays Hale, " was founded on reafon and equi-
ty, for as the King-had a cuftom of inheritance
fettled in him of Wools exported, and much of
our Wool now began to be draped into cloth
and thus exported, it was thought fit, that he
mould have his proportionate benefit of this
commodity exported in manufatture as well as in
Jpecie" -f- It was in this king's reign alfo, that the
woollen manufactory firft gained a rooted efta-
blifhment in this country. Rymer has preferved
a letter of protection, fent by Edward in the
year 133 1 , to a manufacturer in Flanders, to
invite him and his family to fettle in England ; %
and
* Rymer'j Feeders Tom. IV. fol. 744- Tom, XIX.
fol. 155.
f Hargrave'j l>u> Trafis, cap. xxvi. and cap. ix. of
the third part of Hale's MS.
j Fxdera, Tom. IV. fol. 496. For various regulations
of Ed. Ill, in this article, fee alfo Tom, IV, fol. 702-
[ i 4 o ]
and many other families we are informed fol-
lowed their example. De Witt, fpeaking of
this event, obferves, that before the removal
of the weaving trade to England, the Engliiri
were little better than fhepherds ; but this flep
was the foundation of her commercial glory,
and the ruin of the Netherlands. " *
It was then that our anceflors began to feel
their real interefl, and difcovered that whilft
men, women, and children were bufied in work-
ing up the fleece, they were alfo fed with the
mutton. Then our people multiplied, they ac-
quired wealth and power, and left the Nobles
of the land mould forget the fleece, they were
feated upon woolsacks in the Senate Houfe. -f*
Notwithftanding the increafed demand for home
confumption, which muft necefTarily have fol-
lowed this event, we find that the duties from
the foreign fale of raw wool amounted, even
then, to 250,000!. annually. ;j; This ftrongly
720. 723. 736. 744. 751. 757. Very coarfe cloths were ma4e
in England before this time, and it was not till the reign of
Elizabeth that the manufactory of the very fine fort was
eftabliflied,
* Interefl of Ho Hand, p. 27.
- -j- Moorl'j Conjiderations on the exorbitant Price ofProvi-
Jions, p. 42.
X Memoirs of Wool, V. I. p 8:»
illuflratcs
[ HI ]
illuftrates an obfervation, that the market for
this article in the rude beginnings of improve-
ment is very feldom confined to the country
which produces it ; becaufe being eafily tranf-
ported without any preparation, and affording
materials for many manufactures, the induftry
of other countries may occafion a demand much
beyond that of its native country. * The un-
juftifiable feverity of our ftatutes againft the
exporters of Wool has been compared to the
fpirit of Draco's laws. The 8th Eliz. c. iii. is a
difgrace to any penal code ; it is however virtu-
ally repealed by the ftatute of Charles above-men-
tioned, which is itfelf alfo, with refpect to the
penalty, expreflly repealed. But cruel and
impolitic as fuch prohibitions may now appear,
they might at that time have been neceflary ;
for before fuch manufactories have arrived at a
tolerable degree of perfection, fifcal law re-
quires to be fanctioned with heavy penalties, in
order to prevent the unprofitable exchange of
fabrics, in return for raw materials.
At the clofe of the lafl century the practice
of owling 9 as it was termed, that is fmug-
gling the Wools of England and Ireland
into France, was a fubject of heavy complaint, -j-
* Wealth of Nations, B. I. c. ii.
f Anderson'* Hijtory of Commerce, Vol. II. p. 126.
The
[ I 4 2 ]
The unlimited extent of our market rendered
the conduct of our own ftaplers inexcufable in
this refpect, and a very fit object of parliamen-
tary control : but, after the reftrictive claufes
in 7 and 8 W. Ill, c. 2S, it might naturally be
expected, that iuch a ftep would be taken by
the filler kingdom. An attempt to monopolize
a branch of trade, by pairing laws to limit its
price in the market, is in effect little elfe than
to bedew bounties upon fmuggling. Statutes
may pafs and penalties may be inflicted, but it
will never prevent materials of general demand
from finding their way clandeftinely to the mod
advantageous purchafer. * This the Venetians
experienced in the 16th century, when they
aimed at a monopoly of the raw filks of Cyprus
at a ftated price, and actually appointed officers
to watch and regifter the exportations of that
ifland, yet with all their care, the inhabitants
contrived to fmuggle immenfe quantities of this
article to Marfeilles, and various other French
and Italian ports in the Mediterranean. -Jr In the
fame manner and for the fame reafons the Irifli
* 12 and 22 Geo. II. in a great meafure remedied this evil,
and it was further relieved in 1778, and again in 1780 and
X781.
f Mauroceni ? Hijloria Fenctix, p. 543, Edit. Argen-
tor. 1692.
woollen
C 143 ]
woollen trade found its way into France. It
was carried to fuch an alarming length about
thirty years ago, that it became a matter of very
ferious conii deration. The advantages which
France muft derive by fuch a contraband trade
are obvious, when it is underftood that for many
purpofes, her own wool is too coarfe and iliort
in the ftaple, but being mixed in the proportion
of two packs to one of Irifh or EnglilTi wool, it
can be worked up very profitably into what is
termed the beft fecond cloths, which are thofe in
moil general ufe. It was then and has fince been
the received opinion, that no other mode of pre-
venting this grievance, could be more benefici-
ally adopted, than that of permitting the Irilh to
fend their manufactured woollens to England,
under a duty at importation, to be drawn back on
exportation to foreign countries. * A propofed
Bill " for preventing the fmuggling of Wool,"
&c. has lately been the caufe of general meetings
in fome of our coaft counties, the refults of
» The effect of the woollen trade of France on our mar-
ket, at the beginning of this century, is exemplified by the
following fact : When the plague raged at Marfeilles, the
demand of foreign countries for woollen goods werefo large,
that wools of both England and Ireland were infufficient to
fupply them. Jos. Gee, Trade and Navigation, &c. p. 67.
Postlethwayts'j Commercial Inter ej} y &c. V. L p. 363.
which
[ |44 ]
which are already before the public. The fpirited
reiblutions of the meeting held in the county
of SufTex, called forth a letter from Mr.
John Anstie, who maintains that the prefent
laws are lb defective as to want a thorough revi-
fion, and, that, although it is difficult in this
branch lb to regulate them, that they (hall not
impofe redactions on particular peribns, yet
he trulls, that fuch confiderations will have no
weight in decifions of Parliament *
I fhall now proceed to flate a lew particulars
refpcCting this valuable material and its manu-
facture. In point of quality the Wool of Spain
claims the firfl rank, and of this what is called
the Efcurial Fleece is the fineft and the deareft.
It fells fometimes on the fpot for 6 livres, about
5s. a pound, which is more by two livres than
the average price of Spanifh wool in France.
The wools of Caftille and Arragon, and the
black wool of SaragofTa, are alfo in high eflima-
tion. When next to Spain, England is allowed
• See A Letter to the Land Owners, Wool Growers, CSV.
in the County of Sujfex, dated Devifes, Nov. 21, in the
" Morning Chronicle," It was upon the refult of an ex-
amination of Mr. Anstie and Mr. Affleck before a
Committee of the Houfe of Commons, and in confe-
rence of their report, that leave was given to bring in
the Bill.
to
[ HS ]
ti? produce this article in the greateft perfec-
tion, it muft not be underftood in too general
a fenfe ; for there is fcarcely any thing more
variable in its price and quality than Engiifh
wool. The fleeces in the neighbourhood of
Rofs, in Herefordfhire, are extremely fine,
and have been known to fell as high as
2s. ,4d. the pound, though at other times they
fetch as low a price as is. — they were lately
at i6d. the pound. The South Downs pro-
duce wool from 9d. to is. iod. the pound; this
is alfo the average price of fome of the fine
foreft wools, which when mixed with the Spa-*
nifh, ferve to make the fecond priced fine
cloths. The wool near Bridgnorth and about
the Wrekin in Shropshire, is in general bought
at is. 6d. the pound, and this is ufually the
price of Lemfter wool. In many parts of Lin-
colnshire it is at 6d. in the Weil Country at
4?d. and on Romney Marfh, it has been
known to fell at 3d the pound. In fhort, it
would appear, upon a more particular investiga-
tion, that between the extremes of Hereford-
shire and Kent, there are all the various prices
from 2s. 6d. to 3d. in the pound. A univer-
fal average through the kingdom therefore, as
it is in many other cafes, muft be in this in-
ftance deceitful and unfatisfactory, and it has
L accordingly
[ i 4 6 ;i
accordingly been feted to be from Sd. to is.
the pound. One obfervation, however, may
arife from fuch a ftatement, namely, that the
average price, fince the reign of Ed. III.
has fallen, for wool was then fold at about
2I. 16s. a pack, or 2-fdU a pound: this has
happened becaufe our prohibitions on exporta^
tion, our grants of importation, duty free, from
Spain, and our monopoly of the exportation
from Ireland, all conipired to enlarge the
market (lock, notwithstanding the great in-
creafe of demand from the improved (late of
fociety, and the extention of our manufaclo-
ries. * As the quality of an article, in a great
meafure, regulates its price, this alfo is found
to be proportionally various in different parts of
the kingdom, •f It is unneceffary to enter
largely into this matter. I (hall only obferve,
that the wool of Herefordshire and Shropshire,
* Smith'j Me?noirs of Wool) V. I. p. 6. 17. 44. V. II.
p. 9. 54. 176, 182. Prohibited exportation has, in Por-
tugal, a fimilar influence on the price of its gold and
filver. N. B. The price of wool in very early times is
eaiily afcertained, becaufe it was common to pay the King's
fubfidy in this article. The average price in Ireland has
lately been from gd. to 143.
f Wool in quantity alfo is remarkably uncertain, for it
has been known, that 20 fleeces of fine wool havefcarcely
weighed more than one of a larger fort.
and
£ HI 3
and fome of the heath wools are preferred to
mix with the Spanifh, for the beft fuperfine
cloth, and that it is principally from the wool of
Lincolnshire, Nottingham, Northamptonfhire,
and parts of Kent, that our worded goods are
manufactured. That of Lincolnfhire, though
coarfer dian the Kentifh wool, being longer
in the flaple, is in great requeft for the Norwich
manufactories, and it has been thought that
both of them might be fuccefsmlly fubftituted
in the room of Spanifh wool for making the
chain of the finer cloths ; a matter which furely
deferves fome attention, when it is remembered
how much the quantity of fine wool is dimi-
nifhed lately in Shropfhire and many other parts
of England, from the introduction of a large
breed of fheep, by means of inclofures and
artificial graffes. The Scotch wool, it is ima-
gined, if it were not greafed and tarred to
preferve the animal, would, in many parts,
equal the finenefs of our Herefordfhire fleeces.
Spanifh wool is purchafed in England from
2s. 3d. to 3s. od» a pound, though the late
average has been from 3s. yd* to 4s. It is faid
that -Sg. of what is ufed is of the quality from
3s. 2d. to 3s. 9d. a pound, and that a. yard of
broad cloth requires two pounds and a half of
L % this
[ i4» ]
this wool. France has never excelled in th£
growth of this article, but has always de-
pended upon foreigners, for the materials of her
beft woollen manufactures. By the Family
Compact, fhe imports the wool of Spain, free
of all duty for ever, and it is to be feared that
(he is indebted to the flocks of Lincolnfhire and
Kent for many of thofe long combing fleeces,
which are worked up at Amiens, Abbeville,
and the various manufactories of Normandy,
and Bretagne, * which fhe receives principally
through the Low Countries.
The province of Berry, famous for a peculiar
kind of Cloth which goes by its name, is faid to be
fupplied with wool from fheep of its own growth,
and we are lately told that M. D'Aubenton, near
Montbard, in Burgundy, has a breed of fheep
whofe wool is fo fine as to be fold at five livres
the pound. This gentleman is one of the princi-
pal promoters of a fpirit which is now gone forth
in France, for encouraging and improving the
* Amiens and Abbeville, in Picardy; Darnetal, Fef-
champ, Caen, St. Lo, Alenc^on, Renncs, Bourg, and St.
Brieux, in Bretagne, are the chief woollen manufactories,
though there are many others of note in thofe provinces :
they are, for the moil part, employed on ratteens, ferges,
and fine cloths, fome of which they profefs to make entirely
•f Spanifh wool.
growth
[ 149 ]
growth of Wool : He is the author of a work
called Inftruftion pour les Bergers et pour les Pro-
prietor es de Froupeaux, which, though not fa
extenfive as M. Carlier's Traite des Betes a-
Laine, from its form and the fimplicity of its
ftyle, is better calculated to have its intended
effect. Thefe are mentioned, as good antidotes
to any defpondencies which may arife upon
hearing of fuch national exertions among our
neighbours, for they prove that their country-
men are at prefent fo very far behind us in the
cultivation of fheep, and labour againft fuch a
variety of natural and political obftructions, that
there can be little room for jealoufy on our part.
Much has been faid of the lownefs of wages
and the cheapnefs of materials in this branch of
French manufacture, yet it is very demonflrable,
that both their very fine cloths and their coarfe
woollens are as dear as in England. The belt
cloths of Sedan, Louviers, and Abbeville, fell
at twenty millings the EnglifTi yard, and they
are generally thought to be of a (lighter texture
and lefs durable than our fuperfines. At
Auxerre, Samur Macon, Grenoble, Vienne,
Aries, and many towns in the province of
Orleans, coarfe woollen Serges are for their
ouality, found to be higher priced than the fame
L 3 article^
r 150 i
articles are with us : Their fecond cloths alfo,
which do not excel ours of twelve fhillings the
yard, either in the texture or the drefling, are
fold at Vervins, Fontaine, Chalons, and other
parts of Champagne, and about Poi&iers, from
fifteen to lixteen livres four fols the y£rd : At
Romantin indeed, in the generality of Orleans,
there is a manufactory of white cloths, made
with equal proportions of Spanifh and Berry
wool, which is in high eflimation, and from
certain local advantages, fends out its goods
better fmifhed, and at a more reafonable price..
Of the preference given to our woollens before
thofe of France, Lord Sheffield has related
a curious inftance. " In the late war, when
" France granted a fum of money to Congrefs,
f£ for cloathing the American troops, Mr.
" Laurens, jun. was employed to provide it;
<e but inftead of laying out the money in France,
!{ he went to Holland, and bought Englifh
¥ cloths, and fent them to America. The
" French Minifler complained, but Mr. L.
" juftined himfelf by faying it was his duty to
u do the beft he could with the money, and that
ic the Englifh cloths of equal price with the
" French, were much better."*
* Q\feryqtians on the Commerce of the American State*, p. 1 1«
In
C «*« ]
In the preparation of our woollen cloths, and
the manner of offering them to the market, the
procefs in the north of England and in the weft,
is remarkably different. It may readily be con-
ceived by a little reflection, how, not only the
price of the commodity and its propofed quality,
but the induftry alfo, and even the morals of
the workmen may be affected by this circum-
ftance. Let us compare with fuch a view the
(late of the two manufactories ; though it muft
be confeffed, that by the general afTimilation of
manners and cufloms, which has fpread of late,
years into the remoteft provinces, and among all
ranks of life, the lines of contraft are gradually
growing fainter.
In many parts of Yorkfhire, the woollen
manufactory is carried on by fmall farmers and
freeholders, who both buy and grow wool, and
whofe wives, daughters, and fervants fpin it in
the long winter evenings, and at fuch times as
they are not employed in their farms and dairies ;
the mailer of the family either fells this produce
in the yarn market, or has it wove up himfelf.
It is then milled, cleanfed, and brought to
market, but when fold there, he can be paid for
no greater number of yards than the cloth will
meafure after having been well foaked in water.
Thus all frauds in flretching, tendering, &c. are
L4 effectually
[ *5* ]
effectually prevented. The perfons who buy
this cloth, generally ad upon commiflion, at a
very low rate ; and afterwards get the cloth
dyed, dreffed, and fmiihed. The whole in this
manner paries through various Lands indepen-
dent of each other, and being thus independent,
they are all rivals, and are animated with the
fame defire of bringing their goods to market
upon the cheapen: terms, and of excelling each
other. Their journeymen likewile are little
removed from the degree and condition of their
.mafters, and know that the induftry and frugality
of a few years will enable them to fet up for
-themfelves. Thus they are generally moral,
ibber, and diligent, the goods are well made
and cheap, and a riot or a mob fcarcely known
amongft them. In the Weft, this whole bufinefs
is carried on by a very different procefs, and the
effects are accordingly oppofite. Here one
perfon with a great ftock and large credit, buys
the wool, is mailer of the whole manufactory
from the firft ftage to the laft, and employs
perhaps a thoufand perfons under him ; thefe,
many of them, work together in the fame (hop,
confequently have opportunities to corrupt each
other, and to cabal againft their mafters. They
have little hope of advancing themfelves by
their induftry, and therefore think it no crime to
get
[ «53 ]
get as much wages as poflible, and too often
reconcile their confciences to frauds on their
matter's property. It is needlefs to point out
the other ill effects of fuch management ; they
have frequently made themfelves fufficiently
notorious in riots and infurreclions.* I fhall not
enter into any particulars on either of thefe
manufactories, but cannot forbear adding one
remark more before I quit the fubject.
In a Letter ligned A Woollen Draper, we
are told of above five hundred clothing towns in
France, upon the authority of a Lift, publifhed
about fix and twenty years ago.j Now ad-
mitting this to bear as ftrongly on the point as
poflible, if the writer really be that Woollen
Draper which he would wifh to/eem, he cannot
be ignorant of the infufficiency of fuch a ftate-
ment alone, to eftablifh any eftimate. But I
can take upon me to afTert on my own obferva-
tion and inquiries, that from fome of the towns
enumerated in his lift, the fcanty trade carried
on in the year 1760, has totally vaniihed, that in
* As I never remember to have met with a clearer ac-
count of this well-known diftinclion between our northern
and weftern Clothiers, I did not fcruple to adopt it almofr.
in the very words of a Pamphlet now become fcarce, called
Jnjlru&ions for Travellers ^ by Dr. Tucker.
j P. 14, and the Lilt annexed to the Letter*
fome
[ »*4 ]
fome others, particularly in Champagne and
SoifTbns, the buiineis is conducted on a very
contracted fcale, for the mod part in a few
private houfes, and that in many places which
formerly were famous for their fine cloths, the
looms are now principally employed in the
working of Serges, Etamines, and light Druggets,
It muft at the fame time be confeffed that new
manufactories both of fine and coarfe Woollens
have been erected in that kingdom, and that
fome old ones have been extended ; but num-
bers aloue are an inadequate teft in this matter ;
it may admit of a doubt, if we except Langue-
doc, whether the broad looms of Gloucefterfhirc
and Wiltfhire do not annually fend to market,
almofl as large a quantity of the very beft cloths,
as all the provinces of France. How long this
may continue to be the cafe, is another queftion.
On this fcore, the Woollen Draper merits
every commendation for the zealous and fenfible
manner in which he (lands forth to call the atten-
tion of his countrymen and fellow traders to a
point fo clofely connected with their future com-
mercial welfare. To a perfon whofe inquiries
have never been directed to the fubject, it is not
tafy to explain how wide an influence the ftate
of our Woollen trade has on national profperity.
Falling on many ot&er branches of manufacture,
an
C *S5 3
an injury may be comparatively partial, and
though perhaps feverely felt for a time, by
that clafs of artificers whofe flock and fkill are
engaged, will not occafion much diftrefs, beyond
a certain neighbourhood and a particular rank
of men : But the Manufacture of the Fleece is
accompanied by fuch a train of connections and
dependencies through which it both commu-
nicates and receives fupport, difperfes 'employ-
ment and wealth among fuch a variety of
departments, and is fo undiftinguifhably united
with our Landed Property, that it neceffarily
involves in its fate, the interefts of the whole
community, from the Yeomanry to the Throne.
On the difcuffion therefore of an article fo ex-
tenfive and important in its confequences, we
have no reafon to doubt that the wifdom of the
Legiilature will be difpaflionately exerted :
That on one hand they will not fufTer the
prejudices of falfe patriotifm or the low jealoufies
of trade to obftruct the meafure, if it appear to
be expedient, merely becaufe it may confer
equal and reciprocal advantages ; nor on the
other, be prevailed upon by fpecious arguments
and interefled declamation, to run any rifk of
facrificing the produce perhaps of more than
Jialf the looms in the Weft of England, to the
unnecefiary
[ *S& ]
unneceffary Porcelains of Worcefter, or the
ornamental Toys of Sheffield, Salifbury, and
Birmingham.
GENERAL REFLECTIONS.
There is fcarcely any point in Political
CEconomy which has been fo varioufly dif-
cuffed, as the effecl of the price of lab cur on Com-
mercial Competition.* It mould be obferved, that
the queflion of high and low wages is not to be
determined merely by the pay of the workmen,
but by the proportion which fuch wages bear to
the prices of all other articles, either native or
foreign, and by comparing the manufactured
product alfo of different countries, with a view
to difcover at what average price the fame goods
can be equally well made in each. By fuch a
mode of inquiry it will in general be found, that
labour in a country of low wages is compara-
tively dearer, than where wages are high, and
that confequently in mofl cafes the rich country-
will be able to underfell the poor one, becaufe
its goods will more than compenfate by their
quality for any excefs of price. It cannot be
* Tucker's Four Trafis, Tra&. I.— -Smith's Wealth qf
Rations, B.I. c. viii. Edit. 1786.
doubted,
[ ttf 3
doubted, that as " the liberal reward of labour
€t is the neceffary effect, fo is it the natural
tc fymptom of increafing wealth ;" for when the
productive powers of labour and ingenuity are
thus excited, induflry muft in all its departments
become more refined, as well as more dextrous
and active in its exertions. In a manufactory
where the different proceffes are distributed to
different workmen, each will in his distinct
branch be more expert than if he were under the
necessity of undertaking many different branches
at once in order to gain fubfiftence. Such
dexterity begets competition, and this necefla-
rily reduces the price; " whereas in the country
** of low wages, it is in the power of one wealthy
" man, to monopolize the trade, and to fee
" what price he chufes on his goods."* That
the low price of labour will not command a
market, may be fhewn by the following in-
stances : When the iron of Sweden arrives in
England, it has paid duties of export, import,
and the expence of freight ; to this muft be
added the costs of carriage to and from the
places of manufacture, the price of the labour
there bestowed upon it, and the duty to which
it is liable on its return home under this new
* Four Traflsj p. 34.
form ;
r '53 ]
form ; yet with all this accumulated charge upon
it, we are able to undersell the Swedes them-
felves in their own market ; and every attempt
on their part at competition has proved hitherto
ineffectual. It is exactly the fame cafe with the
Bay Yarn of Ireland, which, notwithftand-
ing all the charges of importation, conveyance
and manufacture, is worked up here and
returned cheaper to the Irifh market, than
if it had been manufactured at home. It is not,
as fome have lately afferted, the higher price of
our labour which has given the French an ad-
vantage over us in the Levant and Portugal
trades, but rather the indifference of our manu-
factures, and their unwillingnefs to accommodate
their fabrics to the tafte of thofe markets, in
which, by reafon of the climate, cheap cloths of
a flight texture will ever be preferred to fuch as
are more durable. After all, it may be doubted
whether it would be worth while for our
clothiers to attempt the recovery of this trade,
at the rifk of facrificing a better ; for every
loom employed in the weaving of Druggets,
mult occupy materials and labour which might
be more profitably applied in the working of
broad cloths ; add to this, that the fame com-
petition which would be ferviceable in higher
branches, by rendering the goods cheap, mufl
here
[ 159 ]
here be prejudicial, becaufe the original low
price of the commodity, would fink the neceffary
reduction of profits beneath the merchant's con-
iideration. An effort made at Penryn, in Corn-
wall, about 30 years ago, proved unfuccefsfui
for want of proper encouragement, and almoft
ruined the patriotic projector.* Ireland indeed
by being admitted to the advantages of the
Methuen-Treaty, might in time, perhaps, be
enabled to fupplant France in the Drugget
trade. But the circumftance of being undersold
is not the only ground of apprehenfion for the
fafety of trade, with thofe who draw their argu-
ments from a comparifon between the value of
labour in different countries. The danger of
emigration has been largely infifted upon, and
fears have been fuggefted that manufactories
will be transferred from a dear country, to one
where the means of fubfiftence are cheap. It
would be lofs of time to fliew the fallacy of fuch
a fuppofition, and the abfurdity of conceiving
* I will not fuppofe fo little virtue to be in that part of
'England, as the Author of Propojitions for improving the
Manufactories, &c. of Great Britain, in 1763, would infi-
nuate, when he fays, "this gentleman was almoft, ruined,
iC becaufe he thought it his duty to vote againft the prefent
•«* reprefentatives of the borough of Penryn, at the laft
*' general election." p. 32.
a that
[ 160 ]
that artificers of any clafs would voluntarily
exchange high wages for low, or, in other words,
would quit good provifions and comfortable
habitations, for meagre fare and wretched hovels.
In fad, the high price even of the neceflaries of
life, has feldom been injurious to the progrefs
of induftry, nay in ibme inftances it has been
the means of calling forth new and fuccefsful
exertions of labour and ikill, and has led to
very important difcoveries in Arts and Manufac-
tories. It was when the Piedmontefe were oppref-
fed by the taxes and exactions of the Sforzas,
who for fome years perfifted in heavy affefTments
of their harvefts, and their markets, that they
firft carried their fabrics of filk to a degree of
refinement and expedition, by the introduction
of mechanifm into fome parts of the procefs,
that no European country was able to enter into
competition with them.* It is not difficult in
fhort
• Muratori, Diflert. VII. Tom. III. It Is through
them we are indebted to this circumftance, perhaps, for
Lombe's flupendous Machine, on the river Derwent, near
Derby. He procured a model of it in Piedmont, by work-
ing under the difguife of a common Weaver. — By 5 Geo.
II. c. viii. Sir. T. Lombe obtained 14,0001. as a reward
for this fervice to the Silk Manufactory. The Machine
contains 26,586 wheels, and 97,746 movements, which
work
[ i6i ]
ihort to conceive, that, in a ftate where the
balance between the prices of labour and of
wages is left to regulate itfelf, and is never made
the object of civil policy, the rate of common
fubfiftence and of the conveniences of life may
be fo low as to prevent any improvement in
manufactures, if not entirely to exclude them.
In opulent countries fuperior fk.il! may often
countervail the effect of high wages. This is
obvious in all thofe articles where labour and
materials are the leaft part of the value, and may
be exemplified in molt of the articles in the
warehoufes of Manchefter and Birmingham,
A want of tafte and variety in their fabrics was
formerly the general complaint againft our
Englifh manufacturers, and they were on that
account frequently fupplanted by their neigh-
bouring rivals, the French, whofe accommo-
dating invention was continually devifing new
forms and patterns of goods, and ftudying
textures fuited to the tafte and climate of their
various cuftomers ; but of late years a total
revolution has been effe&ed in our manufac-
work 73,726 yards of organzine filk thread every time the
water wheel goes round, which it does thrice in a minute.
Its erection in this country was confidered as fuch an injury
to Piedmont, that an Italian artilt, it is faid, was fent over
to England to aflaflinate the proprietor*
M cures ;
[ ,62 j
tures; for while in feme of them, men of fcien-
tific and liberal minds have, by a feries of well-
conducted experiments, produced new forms
and combinations of materials, others have
beftowed upon them fuch variety, ftrength, and
beauty of workmanfhip, that they are diftin-
guifhed by a decided preference in almofl every
market. This is the cafe in Switzerland, with
refpect to our cottons, woollens, and various
articles of houfehold furniture, our finer works
in iron and fteel, the claflical productions of
our Engliflj Etruria, and the long catalogue of
toys and trinkets, notwithftanding the vicinity
of France, and the boafted cheapnefs of her
labour.* It is frill more pointedly the cafe in
America, for when that country had contracted
a debt of four million flerling, to the merchants
of this ifland, for accumulated flores of Britifli
manufacture, they attempted to feek fupplies in
their own induftry, and in the trade of France
and Holland ; but what has been the con-
fequence ? after many fruitlefs attempts to fuper-
fede the ufe of our manufactures, they have
at lafl chofen to become our cuftomers again,
becaufe, as their merchants confefs, our fabrics
are better and cheaper than thofe of other coun-
* Tucker's llrird Letter to Necker, p, 39, 41.
4 tries,
[ <«3 3
tries, and this they think it for their advantage
to do j though (as it hath been obferved) " at
" an expence 6f 40 per cent, at lead dearer than
" they might have done had they continued
" their allegiance;" it appears alio that even
in the late war, fuch was the preference given to
our cotton manufactures, that the Manchefter
traders could have found employment for many
thoufand additional hands.*
Examples might eafily be multiplied, if it
were necefTary, to fhew the fallacy of conclu-
fions, in favour of the manufacturing intereft,
drawn from the low price of provifions and
labour. Our filler kingdom would furnifh
many ; for there, notwithstanding the patriotic
bounties of the Dublin Society, and a great
variety of parliamentary aids, Britifh manufac-
tures of almoft every fort, under the difad-
vantages of Freight, Duties, Land Carriage,
and Commimon, are able fuccefsfully to com-
pete with Irilh goods in their own market.
The more labour and ingenuity is exerted in
any manufacture, the ftronger will thefe prin-
ciples be found to operate on the competition in
favour of the rich country. Timber and metals
♦Lord Sheffield's Commerce of the American States^
p. 28.
M 2, may
[ l6 4 ]
may be procured more readily, and purchafed
cheaper in the forefts of Norway, and at the
mines of Siberia; but trace thefe materials
through the whole progrefs of their fabrication
in different countries, the mod advantageous
market will be found among people who are
i ich and flouriming, whofe artificers more than
compenfate by their dexterity and expedition
for the advanced price of their wages. The
tedious and aukward procefs of undivided
labour, a neceflary effect of flender capitals,
mud fhrink from fuch a competition, nor pre-
fume to oppofe any negative or partial benefits
to be derived from poverty, to that fpirit of
enterprize, that habitual induflry and fkill,
which are in opulent kingdoms excited, che-
rifhed and improved, by the animating influ-
ence of large Demand, the fecurity of Stock,
the unimpeded circulation of Capital, high
Credit, and extenfive Correfpondence.
It is in fuch countries, that the happy effects of
liberal reward are exemplified in a variety of in-
ventions, conducive to the real comforts of life,
and in works of ingenuity and tafle, which inno-
cently add to the elegancies of fociety : even exotic
manufactures, under fuch circumftances, will be
tranfplanted and carried to maturity, with corn pa-
2 ratiyely
[ 1 65 ]
ratively lefs care and expence than foreign vegeta-
bles : another country may indeed, in fome arti-
cles, enjoy certain local and natural advantages,
againfl which competition would be impolitic,
and in fuch a cafe there is no doubt, greater
benefit would arife by becoming her cuftomer,
than by wafting capitals in extravagant projects,
which might be very productively employed in
native manufactories. " It would be an unrea-
fonable law to prohibit the importation of all
foreign wines, merely to encourage the making
of Claret and Burgundy in Britain," * and in
this inftance it might be for the intereft of a
country to be underfold by foreigners in her
own market ; but I cannot agree to make fo ge-
neral an application of this rule as fome writers
have done, or to fubfcribe to that unqualified
pofition, that whenever a manufactory cannot
(land the ted of competition, the fooner it is
abolifhed the better : great allowances fhould
be made for the periodical derangements to
which all artificial fy Items are liable, nor are
our fabricks of filk and cotton to be immedi]
ately abolifhed, though they may not enjoy
that uninterrupted train of fuccefs, which ufu-
ally attends a manufacture fupplied with native
; IFealtb of Nations, B. IV. ch. ii.
M 3 materials.
[ 166 ]
materials. Had fuch policy been puriued, the
wealth of Coventry had never been added to
the general flock, * nor Pai/ley have fupplanted
the iilks of Spit alfi elds, or fupplied (as is
known to be the cafe with that manufacture)
moft countries in Europe with its gauzes. The
materials of the cotton manufactory are entirely
of foreign growth, but being eftimated, as
every manufactory ought to be, in proportion
to its power of improving fuch materials, and
according to its demand of ikill and labour,
there are few which can claim a preference.
It may be doubted, whether, in any branch of
bufinefs, larger capitals are at prefent embark-
ed than in this ; yet it is not many years fince
doubts were entertained, how far it might be
expedient to encourage a manufacture which
feemed fo likely to intrench upon the interefts
of our woollen trade ; ^ and the fame bad policy
* The average annual amount of ribbands manufactured
at that place is about 500,0001. Klysler in his Travels,
in the year 1750, having fpoken of the difficulties with
which the lilk manufacture of this country long ftruggled,
adds, " but now in Italy itfelf the lilks of England are
moft efteemed, and bear a greater price than thole of Italy ;
{o that at Naples when a tradefman would highly recom-
mend his goods, he protefts they are right Englifh." CV-
1c Hi on of Travels, V. II. p. 276.
f An Examination of the Commercial Principles of the
tiat ion, 8vo. p. 137. 1762.
which
[ i6 7 ]
which has oppreffed many other branches, was
foon after exerted upon this, by fubjecting its
materials to a duty on importation. Nothing
but that fupenority of ikill and capital, which
characterizes the trade of England, and ena-
bles it to maintain the market under many dif-
advantages, could have fupported the fabricks
of Manchefler thus taxed, againft the fpirited
exertions of the Rouen manufactory, conducted
by an Englifh. artift, * and aflifted in its capital
by large periodical Supplies from Government.
That the cotton manufactory has, in fome
meafure, been injurious to the woollen branch
cannot be difputed, but whether this ought to
be confidered as a univerfal injury, may admit
of doubt; fuch an inference cannot furely be
drawn from any influence it has had in the
. neighbourhood of its fettlement, eidier in Eng-
land or Ireland, nor from its general effects on
our national wealth and population, -f- But as a
proof
:V: Mr Holker. Two of Arkwright's Mills are now
erected in the neighbourhood of Rouen. The judicious
bounty of our Kixg, to the newly erected Cotton-
works, at Eton, is worthy of grateful remembrance.
-j- It is computed, that in Lancafhire, Chefhire, Derby-
ftiire, Nottinghamfhire, and Leicefterfhire, above 500,000
M 4 perfons,
[ i68 ]
proof to how great a length the contracted
jealoufies of trade may be carried, we have
heard even the Linen manufactory exclaimed
againft, as an exotic. About fifteen years ago,
when a bill was propofed for its encouragement,
the zealous advocates for the woollen trade
were not content to oppofe the Bill on what
might have been admitted as tenable ground,
but attempted to convert a political objetlion to
the expediency of the meafure into a phyfical
impediment to the production of the materials
neceliary in this fabric. If it be allowed to
argue from our home confumption, we may quef-
tion whether under proper regulations our Linen
manufactory might not be rendered as produc-
tive as our Cotton ; for it has been computed,
that we afford at prefent a market to Ireland in
this article, to the amount of one million fterling
annually, and that although four fifths of this
perfons, including women and children, are employed in
the cotton branch. In Ireland, befide the eftablifhments
near Dublin, there are now large Cottonworks in the
county of Kildare. Their rapid progrefs may be infer-
red from this circumflance, that a folitary cottage on the
Bog of Allen, in the year 1780, is now converted into a.
flourifhing town. Sheffield's State of Ireland, p. 197.
importation
[ i69 3
importation be for home confumption, we ftill
find employment for our own manufactories to
an equal if not a greater amount.* Men who
fuffer themfelves to be thus governed by the
felfifli and illiberal principle of monopoly, will
find perpetual occafion for jealoufy and alarm,
fince every benefit conferred upon another
branch of trade, mult feem to operate as an in-
jury to their own. Each clafs has fome partial
view to gratify for its profeflional advantage ;
that which will fuit the Manchefter trader may
prejudice the merchant of Leeds, and the gratifi-
cation of both thefe will raife an outcry in Bir-
mingham, and Staffordfhire. But it is not the
flourifhing or the declining ftate of any particular
manufacture, that neceffarily implies general
ruin, or that ought to impede a meafure falutary
to the reft. Minds truly patriotic are fwayed in
their operations by nobler motives, and aim at
objects more extenfive and important than the
gratification of private intereft.
It fhould be the object of a commercial
country to obferve a fcrupulous impartiality
in the extenfion of its care to every ufeful branch
* A report of the late board of trade, relative to the
linen manufa&ure in July, 1780. Sheffield's State of
Jreland*
of
[ *7° ]
of trade, and to diftribute its bounties and pro-
tections in fuch an equal manner among all
clafTes of manufactures, that they may have no
private or detached intereft, but growing up
together in due fubordination, may form one
compact fyftem of national induftry.
FINIS,
I