2l8 



Sect. 5. 



The Comparifon of ManufaSlures with refpe6l to the peculiar Clrcumjlances 

 of the Country continued. 



It ftiould be confidered, whether a country has long exercifed a manu 

 faflure, fo as to have acquired, with fuperior ikill, a confiderable degree 

 of attachment to it. Where a manufafture has long prevailed, and pa- 

 rents, from generation to generation, have been in the habits of training 

 up their children, to the knowledge of their own art ; it is natural for 

 thefe people to become partial to what feems to have been a fort of heredi- 

 tary poffefllon in their families. Where a manufacture has been Iqng efta- 

 bliflied in a country, the people mull mechanically, and imperceptibly, have 

 acquired more than ordinary /kill and dexterity in the different procefles, 

 and operations, fo as to make their fabricks of fuperior excellence, and 

 Talue. They may, even, by long experience, have difcovered fecrets, 

 by which the procefs may be fliortened, or the fabric rendered more per- 

 feft, in point of beauty, durability, or other eflential requifites. It will 

 be much better policy, to employ the capital of the country in arts, like 

 thefe, which are already well underftood, and have been fuccefsfully prac- 

 tifed j and where the produced advantages are already known and afcer- 

 tained ; than, from a fpirit of innovation ; and on a calculation, probably 

 fallacious, of fuperior gains, from a new manufafture, to withdraw the 

 capital and labour of the country, from old eflablifhed fabricks ; and fet the 

 people, to learn, and cxercife new manufaflures. 



Much 



