223 



fcvere in it, notwithftanding all the difcouragitig and baneful effefts of a 

 jealous competition. I fay, merely, that, where we have rich and power- 

 ful rivals, the profpeft of fuccefs in any manufafture becomes problematical, 

 and the purfuit of it hazardous, and it may be prudent in us, to attach our- 

 fclves to other manufactures, where we may find lefs danger, of competi- 

 tion. 



I would be underftood to fpeak only of a competition, with fuperior ca- 

 pital, and fuperior fkill, which give a decided fuperiority. There may be 

 a degree of rivahhip, which will be far from proving injurious. When 

 the (Irength of two contending manufactures is fairly matched, the one 

 is a check on the other ; and the mutual jealoufy only excludes fu- 

 pinenefs and fraud, the common effects of monopoly; and invigorates 

 the exertions of induftry, on both fides. When the manufacture of 

 one country has no more chance in the contefl:, with the manufac- 

 ture of another, than a fmall frigate, engaging a line of battle dip ; 

 is it not folly in the legiflature of a country to prolong fuch a fruit- 

 lefs ftruggle, by the dint of bounties and protecting duties ? 



Manufactures mufl be confidered, alfo, with regard to the recep- 

 tion, which, independent of rivalfliip, they are likely to find in fo- 

 reign markets J and the return which they promife to bring, either in 

 fpecie, in the raw materials of their own, or of other manufactures, 

 or, in a quantity of the neceffaries not produced in the country, 

 which exercifes the manufactures In queftion. Thus the people oi Ly- 

 ons, in contemplation of the Levant trade carried on extenfively a 

 peculiar branch of the woollen manufafture, adapted for compofing 

 the turbans of the Iflamites. 



CHAP. 



