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freedom of trade; and after it the linen; though the latter much

less than the former。

     Secondly; though a great number of people should; by thus

restoring the freedom of trade; be thrown all at once out of

their ordinary employment and common method of subsistence; it

would by no means follow that they would thereby be deprived

either of employment or subsistence。 By the reduction of the army

and navy at the end of the late war; more than a hundred thousand

soldiers and seamen; a number equal to what is employed in the

greatest manufactures; were all at once thrown out of their

ordinary employment; but; though they no doubt suffered some

inconveniency; they were not thereby deprived of all employment

and subsistence。 The greater part of the seamen; it is probable;

gradually betook themselves to the merchant…service as they could

find occasion; and in the meantime both they and the soldiers

were absorbed in the great mass of the people; and employed in a

great variety of occupations。 Not only no great convulsion; but

no sensible disorder arose from so great a change in the

situation of more than a hundred thousand men; all accustomed to

the use of arms; and many of them to rapine and plunder。 The

number of vagrants was scarce anywhere sensibly increased by it;

even the wages of labour were not reduced by it in any

occupation; so far as I have been able to learn; except in that

of seamen in the merchant service。 But if we compare together the

habits of a soldier and of any sort of manufacturer; we shall

find that those of the latter do not tend so much to disqualify

him from being employed in a new trade; as those of the former

from being employed in any。 The manufacturer has always been

accustomed to look for his subsistence from his labour only: the

soldier to expect it from his pay。 Application and industry have

been familiar to the one; idleness and dissipation to the other。

But it is surely much easier to change the direction of industry

from one sort of labour to another than to turn idleness and

dissipation to any。 To the greater part of manufactures besides;

it has already been observed; there are other collateral

manufactures of so similar a nature that a workman can easily

transfer his industry from one of them to another。 The greater

part of such workmen too are occasionally employed in country

labour。 The stock which employed them in a particular manufacture

before will still remain in the country to employ an equal number

of people in some other way。 The capital of the country remaining

the same; the demand for labour will likewise be the same; or

very nearly the same; though it may be exerted in different

places and for different occupations。 Soldiers and seamen;

indeed; when discharged from the king's service; are at liberty

to exercise any trade; within any town or place of Great Britain

or Ireland。 Let the same natural liberty of exercising what

species of industry they please; be restored to all his Majesty's

subjects; in the same manner as to soldiers and seamen; that is;

break down the exclusive privileges of corporations; and repeal

the Statute of Apprenticeship; both which are real encroachments

upon natural liberty; and add to these the repeal of the Law of

Settlements; so that a poor workman; when thrown out of

employment either in one trade or in one place; may seek for it

in another trade or in another place without the fear either of a

prosecution or of a removal; and neither the public nor the

individuals will suffer much more from the occasional disbanding

some particular classes of manufacturers than from that of

soldiers。 Our manufacturers have no doubt great merit with their

country; but they cannot have more than those who defend it with

their blood; nor deserve to be treated with more delicacy。

     To expect; indeed; that the freedom of trade should ever be

entirely restored in Great Britain is as absurd as to expect that

an Oceana or Utopia should ever be established in it。 Not only

the prejudices of the public; but what is much more

unconquerable; the private interests of many individuals;

irresistibly oppose it。 Were the officers of the army to oppose

with the same zeal and unanimity any reduction in the numbers of

forces with which master manufacturers set themselves against

every law that is likely to increase the number of their rivals

in the home market; were the former to animate their soldiers in

the same manner as the latter enflame their workmen to attack

with violence and outrage the proposers of any such regulation;

to attempt to reduce the army would be as dangerous as it has now

become to attempt to diminish in any respect the monopoly which

our manufacturers have obtained against us。 This monopoly has so

much increased the number of some particular tribes of them that;

like an overgrown standing army; they have become formidable to

the government; and upon many occasions intimidate the

legislature。 The Member of Parliament who supports every proposal

for strengthening this monopoly is sure to acquire not only the

reputation of understanding trade; but great popularity and

influence with an order of men whose numbers and wealth render

them of great importance。 If he opposes them; on the contrary;

and still more if he has authority enough to be able to thwart

them; neither the most acknowledged probity; nor the highest

rank; nor the greatest public services can protect him from the

most infamous abuse and detraction; from personal insults; nor

sometimes from real danger; arising from the insolent outrage of

furious and disappointed monopolists。

     The undertaker of a great manufacture; who; by the home

markets being suddenly laid open to the competition of

foreigners; should be obliged to abandon his trade; would no

doubt suffer very considerably。 That part of his capital which

had usually been employed in purchasing materials and in paying

his workmen might; without much difficulty; perhaps; find another

employment。 But that part of it which was fixed in workhouses;

and in the instruments of trade; could scarce be disposed of

without considerable loss。 The equitable regard; therefore; to

his interest requires that changes of this kind should never be

introduced suddenly; but slowly; gradually; and after a very long

warning。 The legislature; were it possible that its deliberations

could be always directed; not by the clamorous importunity of

partial interests; but by an extensive view of the general good;

ought upon this very account; perhaps; to be particularly careful

neither to establish any new monopolies of this kind; nor to

extend further those which are already established。 Every such

regulation introduces some degree of real disorder into the

constitution of the state; which it will be difficult afterwards

to cure without occasioning another disorder。

     How far it may be proper to impose taxes upon the

importation of foreign goods; in order not to prevent their

importation but to raise a revenue for government; I shall

consider hereafter when I come to treat of taxes。 Taxes imposed

with a view to prevent; or even to diminish importation; are

evidently as destructive of the revenue of the customs as of the

freedom of trade。



                           CHAPTER III



Of the extraordinary Restraints upon the Importation of Goods of

almost all kinds from those Countries with which the Balance is

supposed to be disadvantageous 



                              PART I

Of the Unreasonableness of those Restraints even upon the

Principles of the Commercial System 



     TO lay extraordinary restraints upon the those particular

countries with which the importation of goods of almost all kinds

from balance of trade is supposed to be disadvantageous; is the

second expedient by which the commercial system proposes to

increase the quantity of gold and silver。 Thus in Great Britain;

Silesia lawns may be imported for home consumption upon paying

certain duties。 But French cambrics and lawns are prohibited to

be imported; except into the port of London; there to be

warehoused for exportation。 Higher duties are imposed upon the

wines of France than upon those of Portugal; or indeed of any

other country。 By what is called the impost 1692; a duty of

five…and…twenty per cent of the rate or value was laid upon all

French goods; while the goods of other nations were; the greater

part of them; subjected to much lighter duties; seldom exceeding

five per cent。 The wine; brandy; salt and vinegar of France were

indeed excepted; these commodities being subjected to other heavy

duties; either by other laws; or by particular clauses of the

same law。 In 1696; a second duty of twenty…five per cent; the

first not having been thought a sufficient discouragement; was

imposed upon all French goods; except brandy; together with a new

duty of five…and…twenty pounds upon the ton of French wine; and

another of fifteen pounds upon the ton of French vinegar。 French

goods have never been omitted in any of those general subsidie

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