214 



to all thefe, the profit of the importer, which muft come out of the 

 pocket of the manufafturer. 



A very flight acquaintance with commercial hiftory, may convince 

 us, of the precarious and tranfitory nature of manufaftures, that depend 

 on foreign countries, for their prima. Venice, and the other Italian 

 flates, carried on the woollen manufafture, when the reft of Europe 

 emaiued ignorant and uncivilized ; but, when other countries, that pro- 

 duced wool, began to manufafture their own materials, the Italian ma- 

 nufaftures declined. The Flemings firfl; perceived their advantages, for 

 a commercial intercourfe with the north of Europe ; and, though they 

 were without wool of their own, yet, being nearer, than the Italians, 

 to the countries that produced it, particularly England, they were en- 

 abled to procure the raw material, on cheaper terms ; and, in a fhort 

 time, to underfell their rivals ; and fuperfede them in the foreign 

 market.* 



The fpirit of commerce began to develope itfelf in England, under 

 Henry the /eventh. His fon and fucceffor continued to protefl, with all 

 his power, the arts and commerce of the country ; the fame policy 

 was adopted by Elizabeth, and the fucceeding princes. — Detailed re- 

 gulations were eftabliflied, both, to prevent the degradation of the ma- 

 nufafturcs in wool, and to promote their advancement, to a ftate of 

 perfeftion ; and the exportation of the raw material, which for a long 

 time had been the principal export of the country, was retrained by 

 law. When the Englijh began thus to direft their induftry, to the 

 manufacture of their own wool, they not only were foon able, to fup- 

 ply themfelves, but gradually got pofTeffion of a great part of the 

 iweign market. Thus, the Flemings, not having wool of their own, 

 were unable to bear a competition, with the Englijh, when they learned 

 to work up their own raw materials ; and loil the manufa(flure for 

 which they had been fo famous. 



It 



* Wool was for feveral centuries, the principal and moli valuable part of the 

 Englifh exports. 



