204 



of fuch fmall original, and large derivative value, that the (lock of 

 national produce, or the capital of the country, will acquire more, by 

 the cultivation of thefe manufaftures, with a preference, than it can 

 lofe, by reforting to other countries, for articles of the jirjl necejftty. It 

 is on thefe principles that a country, which has brought to perfeftion 

 a variety of curious and elaborate manufactures, may find it contribute mofl 

 to public profperity, to employ its productive hands, in manufactures, and to 

 refort to its neighbours, for a fupply of corn ; rather than it fliould employ 

 them, in the cultivation of the foil. On the other hand, if the country yields 

 any productions of the earth, that are of great value, and in gene- 

 ral demand, the inhabitants may find it a meafure of prudence, to re- 

 linquilli the general detail of manufafture, to countries lefs favoured by 

 nature ; and attach themfelves to hufbandry, which offers fuch advan- 

 tages, to the branches of manufactures, which are neceflarily depen- 

 dent on it, or with which it is intimately connected.* 



In eftimating the comparative excellence of manufacftures, or the de- 

 gree of encouragement, which one may deferve from the legiflature, 

 in preference to another, where the natural advantages of the country 

 are equally favourable to many ; there is another point of view, in 

 which manufactures may be confidered ; namely, with refpeCt to agri- 

 culture, and their tendency to promote it. Such manufactures as have the 

 greatefl tendency to promote agriculture have [cateris paribus') the faireft 

 claim to encouragement from the legiflature. The capital, that is ac- 

 quired to any country, by manufactures and commerce, is all a pre- 

 carious and infecure poflTeffion, till fome part of it has been fecured , 

 and realized, in the cultivation of lands. 



When 



* This is obvioufly the cafe in the Wejl Indies ; the people of tlie American dates 

 alfo, find it prudent, to employ the whole capital of the country in agriculture, and im- 

 port the manufaflures of which they ftand in need. Of late years, however, the poli- 

 tical economy of America has undergone fome change ; and, were they not checked by 

 the exorbitant price of labour, the United States would make a confiderable progrefs 

 in manufaflures ; as it is, they have applied themfelves, with much fpirit, to the manu- 

 factures of cotton, and of paper. 



