3^2 



ordinary powers of making laws and regulations for tliemfelves, and 

 poffefled of a monopol)' in the art they exercifed. This very art was fuppofed 

 to contain in it, certain wonderful arcana, fome abftrufe difcovery, not to 

 be communicated, except to fuch, as were duly initiated, by a long appren- 

 ticefliip. Thus, the terms, — trade, and myftery, became fynonymous. 



IVIonopolies, and excluiive privileges, may have their ufe, while arts, 

 and manufaiflures are ftruggling for their exiftence, and in their infancy ; 

 but they cripple the vigorous progrefs of their youth, and paliy the ftrength 

 and exertions of their maturity. They confine manhood to the leading 

 firing, and the go-cart. It is now underftood, that the mod effeftual mode 

 of encouraging induftry, is, to leave the exertions free, and fuffer every 

 man, to find out for himfelf, and purfue, without interruption, or molef- 

 tation, that fpecies of employment, which feems to Wm mofl: likely to reward 

 his labour, with a return of profit. 



The monopolies, and exclufive privileges of corporations, guarded, as 

 they are, by a number of bye-laws, are wholly inconfiftcnt with that choice 

 of employment, and freedom of exertion, which are the very foul of induf- 

 try. In faft, we find the cuftoras, and regulations of corporations, and 

 guilds, profcribe induftr}', and the importation of capital, by the exclufion 

 of deferving aliens. They are injurious to the true interefls of commerce, 

 and deflructive of all improvement, in manufaflures, which they tend to 

 render ftationary : for a fair and open competition is, of all things, moft fa- 

 vourable to the difFufion of induftry, and perfeftion of all the produftions of 

 art, while, on the other hand, it is the natural effeftof a fecure monopoly, 

 to deftroy the true commercial fpirit ; to perpetuate a culpable indolence, 

 and total difregard, for advancement, and perfeftion of manufaclures. 



While corporations endeavour to banifh, or profcribe, the induftrious 

 manufafturer, with his capital ; or, if they do not totally drive him away, 

 to raife a tax, on his labour, and exertions, for the emolument of their own 

 members ; they interrupt the exertions, and diflraft the attention of their 

 own members, by the idle aftivity, and low cabal, of corporation politics. 

 Thefe fcenes of caricatured intrigue, and plebeian ambition, produce riot, 



intemperance, 



