243 



to fecure to the cotton manufaftures of the country the poffeffion, at 

 lead of our own home market, by duties impofed on the importation 

 of all munins and callicoes, except of the manufafture of Britain, and 

 a duty of one fliilling per yard on callicoes painted or ftained, with- 

 out exception.* 



It may be proper, with refpeft to the cotton manufafture, to ftate 

 the difadvantages, under which it labours, and indeed muft continue 

 to labour, in this country ; as I have done with refpeft to the woollen 

 manufafture.— The primum of this manufafture is not only the produce 

 of foreign regions, but all thofe regions are far remote— the Levant— 

 the Weji Indies— South America. This, in the very firft inftance, adds 

 a confiderable charge for carriage, to the firft coft of the commodity. 

 In addition to its being the growth of diftant countries, cotton is an 

 article of very great bulk, it requires a vaft deal of room for ftow- 

 age, a circumftance that ftiU further enhances the price of freight, and 

 ftorage. To crown all, the firft coft of cotton, on the fpot where it 

 is produced, is very confiderable ; fo that when this comes to be added 

 to the freight, and all the other expences incident to the importation, 

 together with the profit of the merchant importer ;— a very large fum, 

 (moft part of which goes out of the country, often to return no more) 

 is dravni from the manufaaurer, for the raw materials of his art ; be- 

 fore he can fet his people to work. 



The fupply oi primum depending on fuch diftant, regions, muft be- 

 come very precarious, in the event of a foreign war. The charges of 

 infurance and encreafed price of freight will, at any rate, injure the 

 profperity of the manufafture ; by rendering the primum both fcarce 

 and dear; but if the fupply, by the capture of fhips, or their being 

 prevented from failing by the enemies' cruifers, fliould totally fail ; a 

 numerous body of workmen will be entirely thrown out of employ- 

 ment, and left with their families, a prey to famine. 



It may be objefted to the cotton manufafture, that moft of its 

 branches minifter aimoft entirely to luxury, either in finery or furni- 



( H h 2 ) ture ; 



* It muft be remembered all along that this traft was written long prior to the Union of 

 this country with Great Brilain. 



