53^ 



partiailar channel?, Ids profitable to the fociety, than thofc, In which 

 tlicy would fiow, of their own accord.* 



In fa<S, the whole idea of bounties feems to be ill conceived. To 

 increafe the profperity of the country, you encreafe its burthens. You 

 rake the money out of the pocket of the manufafturer, with one hand, 

 in the vain hope of imprefiing him, with an opinion of your libera, 

 lity, while you beflow it on him, with the other. 



I am afraid, too, that bounties are calculated, rather to promote 

 ra(h and fudden fits and ftarts of fpeculation, in mere projeiflors, and 

 fchemers, than a fettled fobcr fpirit of permanent and progreflive in- 

 duftry, in the minds of intelligent traders and manufafturers ; and that 

 they fcarcely reach the induflrious poor. 



But fuppofing, for a moment, the general utility of bounties ; is it 

 not to be apprehended, that the fums granted, under the pretence of 

 encouraging induftry, in this mode, may be diflipated, and fail of pro- 

 ducing any beneficial fruit to the country ? — Is not the diftribution of 

 bounties and premiums, liable to be made the fubjeft of intrigue and 

 cabal, to prove an objecl of peculation, and become a caufe of ex- 

 pence, in clerks, accountants, and other officers ; fo that the perfons, 

 who fhall receive and pocket the greateft portion, of the funds, in- 

 tended for the encouragement of manufaftures, fliall be, not the manu- 

 fa(^urers, but the pampered, full-blown, important, humble fervants of 

 tbe public ? — Thus, may a very little public good be purchafed, at a 

 very enormous public coft. Suppofmg the diftribution free from mal- 

 verfation, and needlefs expence ; flill, the perfons, to whofe province it 

 may fall, to decide on the merits of the claimants, will be too often 

 milled by falfe reprefentatious, and impofnion, fometimes, through the 

 want of that technical knowledge, which the fubjeft, before them may 

 require. Great is the influence and power of arrogant pretenfion and 

 Ihamelefs affcrtion ; particularly, where there is any thing, like corporate 



ading 



* See Zmith ubi fupra. The tader need fcarcely be reminded, that this Seflion was 

 •written long before the Union. 



