245 



advantages, that fupcrior capital, and fuperior Ikill can add, on our part.— 

 We have nothing, but the hghtnefs of taxes, the comparative cheapnefs of 

 provifions, and a country abounding in ftreams, and favourable to the crea- 

 tion of machinery. A country with fuperior capital, will find various means, of 

 fupplanting her rival, in the market, — by the aftivity, and induftry of her 

 agents, by giving long credits, to the foreign merchants, that import, or fliop- 

 keepers, that vend the fabricks, in queflion; and even, by felling her manu- 

 fadtured goods, for a time, at a certain lofs, if the former meafure, fliould 

 prove infufEcient. Should the legiflature of the country, which fuffers by 

 thefe meafures attempt to traverfe them, by the impofition of protecling 

 duties, and even by cnadion of prohibitory claufes; they will endeavour, 

 to difarm the laws of their force, and withdraw their fabricks from their 

 operation, by fome change in the form, and denomination. Thus, for 

 inftance, the Britijh manufafturers contended that Ginghams* were not 

 included in the act, impofmg a duty on callicoes printed, or ftained. They 

 may enter them under wrong denominations, to avoid the payment 

 of higher duties ; or they may violate thefe laws altogether, and introduce 

 their manufa<flures, by the illicit method of fmugglingf. 



To give fome idea of the difficulties, which our cotton manufaftures mufl 

 encounter, from the powerful rivalfliip of Britain; it is fufficient to mention 



that 



* Ginghams, are a flriped fabrick and the colours are given to the yarn before it is woven, 

 on which pretence, it was contended that they were not included in the defcription 

 of callicoes printed, or gained, where the colours are fuppofed to be given to the 

 jjiece after it is woven. This quibble was overruled at the cuftom-houfe. Corderoys, 

 and other fabricks of that kind were entered as fuftians, on the duty affigned in the book of 

 rates, but being feifed as for a falfe entry; the owners of the goods brought an aflion at law; 

 there was a judicial determination in favour of the fcifure, and fuch goods hare fince paid a 

 duty ad •valorem. In like manner the cotton manufacture of thread, which is employed in 

 making (lockings, and is called hofier's twift, was attempted to be entered as cotton yarn, 

 on the duty fixed for that article in the book of rates, but this attempt failed, and the com- 

 modity pays a duty ad 'valorem, I mention thefe inftances to (how how artful and induf- 

 trious, the Briti/h manufaiSurer and their agents are to take every, advantage in the introduc- 

 tion of their fabricks into this country. 



■|- Some late curious accounts of the great fair of Leipfic, which may be found in the 

 Monthly Magazine, will ferve to give fome idea of the extraordinary aiSivity and ability of 

 the Britifh manufafturers. 



