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by our own people; they endeavour to buy the work of the poor

spinners as cheap as possible。 They are as intent to keep down

the wages of their own weavers as the earnings of the poor

spinners; and it is by no means for the benefit of the workman

that they endeavour either to raise the price of the complete

work or to lower that of the rude materials。 It is the industry

which is carried on for the benefit of the rich and the powerful

that is principally encouraged by our mercantile system。 That

which is carried on for the benefit of the poor and the indigent

is too often either neglected or oppressed。

     Both the bounty upon the exportation of linen; and the

exemption from duty upon the importation of foreign yarn; which

were granted only for fifteen years; but continued by two

different prolongations; expire with the end of the session of

Parliament which shall immediately follow the 24th of June 1786。

     The encouragement given to the importation of the materials

of manufacture by bounties has been principally confined to such

as were imported from our American plantations。

     The first bounties of this kind were those granted about the

beginning of the present century upon the importation of naval

stores from America。 Under this denomination were comprehended

timber fit for masts; yards; and bowsprits; hemp; tar; pitch; and

turpentine。 The bounty; however; of one pound the ton upon

masting…timber; and that of six pounds the ton upon hemp; were

extended to such as should be imported into England from

Scotland。 Both these bounties continued without any variation; at

the same rate; till they were severally allowed to expire; that

upon hemp on the 1st of January 1741; and that upon

masting…timber at the end of the session of Parliament

immediately following the 24th June 1781。

     The bounties upon the importation of tar; pitch; and

turpentine underwent; during their continuance; several

alterations。 Originally that upon tar was four pounds the ton;

that upon pitch the same; and that upon turpentine; three pounds

the ton。 The bounty of four pounds the ton upon tar was

afterwards confined to such as had been prepared in a particular

manner; that upon other good; clean; and merchantable tar was

reduced to two pounds four shillings the ton。 The bounty upon

pitch was likewise reduced to one pound; and that upon turpentine

to one pound ten shillings the ton。

     The second bounty upon the importation of any of the

materials of manufacture; according to the order of time; was

that granted by the 21st George II; c。 30; upon the importation

of indigo from the British plantations。 When the plantation

indigo was worth three…fourths of the price of the best French

indigo; it was by this act entitled to a bounty of sixpence the

pound。 This bounty; which; like most others; was granted only for

a limited time; was continued by several prolongations; but was

reduced to fourpence the pound。 It was allowed to expire with the

end of the session of Parliament which followed the 25th March

1781。

     The third bounty of this kind was that granted (much about

the time that we were beginning sometimes to court and sometimes

to quarrel with our American colonies) by the 4th George III; c。

26; upon the importation of hemp; or undressed flax; from the

British plantations。 This bounty was granted for twenty…one

years; from the 24th June 1764 to the 24th June 1785。 For the

first seven years it was to be at the rate of eight pounds the

ton; for the second at six pounds; and for the third at four

pounds。 It was not extended to Scotland; of which the climate

(although hemp is sometimes raised there in small quantities and

of an inferior quality) is not very fit for that produce。 Such a

bounty upon the importation of Scotch flax into England would

have been too great a discouragement to the native produce of the

southern part of the United Kingdom。

     The fourth bounty of this kind was that granted by the 5th

George III; c。 45; upon the importation of wood from America。 It

was granted for nine years; from the 1st January 1766 to the 1st

January 1775。 During the first three years; it was to be for

every hundred and twenty good deals; at the rate of one pound;

and for every load containing fifty cubic feet of other squared

timber at the rate of twelve shillings。 For the second three

years; it was for deals to be at。 the rate of fifteen shillings;

and for other squared timber at the rate of eight shillings; and

for the third three years; it was for deals to be at the rate of

ten shillings; and for other squared timber at the rate of five

shillings。

     The fifth bounty of this kind was that granted by the 9th

George III; c。 38; upon the importation of raw silk from the

British plantations。 It was granted for twenty…one years; from

the 1st January 1770 to the 1st January 1791。 For the first seven

years it was to be at the rate of twenty…five pounds for every

hundred pounds value; for the second at twenty pounds; and for

the third at fifteen pounds。 The management of the silk worm; and

the preparation of silk; requires so much hand labour; and labour

is so very dear in America that even this great bounty; I have

been informed; was not likely to produce any considerable effect。

     The sixth bounty of this kind was that granted by 2nd George

III; c。 50; for the importation of pipe; hogshead; and barrel

staves and heading from the British plantations。 It was granted

for nine years; from 1st January 1772 to the 1st January 1781。

For the first three years it was for a certain quantity of each

to be at the rate of six pounds; for the second three years at

four pounds; and for the third three years at two pounds。

     The seventh and last bounty of this kind was that granted by

the 19th George III; c。 37; upon the importation of hemp from

Ireland。 It was granted in the same manner as that for the

importation of hemp and undressed flax from America; for

twenty…one years; from the 24th June 1779 to the 24th June 1800。

This term is divided; likewise; into three periods of seven years

each; and in each of those periods the rate of the Irish bounty

is the same with that of the American。 It does not; however; like

the American bounty; extend to the importation of undressed flax。

It would have been too great a discouragement to the cultivation

of that plant in Great Britain。 When this last bounty was

granted; the British and Irish legislatures were not in much

better humour with one another than the British and American had

been before。 But this boon to Ireland; it is to be hoped; has

been granted under more fortunate auspices than all those to

America。

     The same commodities upon which we thus gave bounties when

imported from America were subjected to considerable duties when

imported from any other country。 The interest of our American

colonies was regarded as the same with that of the mother

country。 Their wealth was considered as our wealth。 Whatever

money was sent out to them; it was said; came all back to us by

the balance of trade; and we could never become a farthing the

poorer by any expense which we could lay out upon them。 They were

our own in every respect; and it was an expense laid out upon the

improvement of our own property and for the profitable employment

of our own people。 It is unnecessary; I apprehend; at present to

say anything further in order to expose the folly of a system

which fatal experience has now sufficiently exposed。 Had our

American colonies really been a part of Great Britain; those

bounties might have been considered as bounties upon production;

and would still have been liable to all the objections to which

such bounties are liable; but to no other。

     The exportation of the materials of manufacture is sometimes

discouraged by absolute prohibitions; and sometimes by high

duties。

     Our woollen manufacturers have been more successful than any

other class of workmen in persuading the legislature that the

prosperity of the nation depended upon the success and extension

of their particular business。 They have not only obtained a

monopoly against the consumers by an absolute prohibition of

importing woollen cloths from any foreign country; but they have

likewise obtained another monopoly against the sheep farmers and

growers of wool by a similar prohibition of the exportation of

live sheep and wool。 The severity of many of the laws which have

been enacted for the security of the revenue is very justly

complained of; as imposing heavy penalties upon actions which;

antecedent to the statutes that declared them to be crimes; had

always been understood to be innocent。 But the cruellest of our

revenue laws; I will venture to affirm; are mild and gentle in

comparison of some of those which the clamour of our merchants

and manufacturers has extorted from the legislature for the

support of their own absurd and oppressive monopolies。 Like the

laws of Draco; these laws may be said to be all written in blood。

     By the 8th of Elizabeth; c。 3; the exporter 

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