358 



duilry, ami the arts, by large eftabliflim^nts of raanufaftures, to be 

 carried on by government, on its own account. In this manner, great 

 funis are annually laviflied, which ferve only to retard and injure, what 

 it means to promote. 



Toicnfixnd fuppofes, that the yearly lofs by the porcelain manufac- 

 ture, at Buon-Retiro is, 1,436,188 reals. Tlie annua! expence of the 

 glafs manufaflure carried on, in like manner, by government, he flates 

 at 1,136,884 reals, and the lofs by the cloth manufafture, of wiiich 

 government is the proprietor alfo, is extremely heavy. See what a 

 diminution of the capital of the country, and, in confequence of the 

 induftry, which fliould be fed, and fet in ailion by that capital, mud 

 refult, from thefe annual lofles ! 



A fimilar fate has attended a fimilar attempt of the archbifhop of 

 Toledo, as we find it flated, by the fame writer. " The good arch- 

 " bifliop," (fays he) " here (at Toledo) feeds feven hundred perfons, 

 " who are employed, in the filk manufafture ; but, unfortunately, with 

 " the beft intentions in the world, he has compleated the ruin of the 

 " city. By his weight of capital, he has raifed the price of labour ; and of 

 " the raw material ; while, by carrying fo great a quantity of manufaftured 

 " goods to the common market, he has fo funk the price of the commodity, 

 " that thofe, who ufed to employ from forty to fixty workmen, now but two 

 " or three ; and thofe people, who are employed by the prelate, far from fup- 

 *,' porting thenifclves, require forty thoufand ducats a year, over and above." 



Thefe examples, and the reafonings on them, will in fome meafure, 

 apply to the courfe, which was purfued by the Dublin Society, for the 

 advancement of the filk and woollen manufa(flures ; and explain to us 

 the caufes, which have rendered the patriotic wifties and endeavours of 

 that body, fo unavailing, in this particular refpeft. T'oung's, account of 

 this matter appears to me fo judicious, that I fliall tranfcribe his words. 

 *' To encourage the manufafture of IriJ}} woollen cloths, and Irifi 

 " filks, the fociety have two warehoufes, where goods are fold, on their 



" own 



