18^G.] Silks. 375 



mendable ones — defeating the smuggler, l)ringing to the Exchequer the 

 duty, and reducing the cost of the pieventive-service. The preventive- 

 service is very expensive, very unpopular, very inefficient ; and the re- 

 duction, or even the extinction of it not undesirable. It is of no real 

 service to the revenue : it costs at least as much as it saves. Now, by 

 throwing open the trade, as it is termed, that is by admitting silks, 

 hitherto absolutely prohibited, on a duty of 30 per cent., it seems to 

 be supposed silks would prefer coming boldly and safely up the river to 

 running the risk of encountering the preventive-service ; the government 

 would thus secure the benefit, first of the duty, then a second advantage 

 in being enabled to reduce the coast-blockade, and besides these bles- 

 sings, the credit of ruining the smuggling trade. They will be disap- 

 pointed, but apparently such are their views ; and surely more justifiable 

 than the questionable purpose of protecting a monopoly. The chances 

 are, that smuggling can be effected at 13 or 20 per cent., and if so, of 

 course very little silk will visit the ports to pay 30. 



We have said we think the minister's measures will eventually turn 

 out mere nullities. Then how shall we account for the alarm, the dis- 

 tress, the suspension of the Silk- Trade ? Is it to be supposed, that 

 alarm is fictitious, that distress mireal, that suspension unimperative, or 

 that the manufacturers cannot understand their own interests, and are 

 unable to trace the effects of these measures, as well as we scribblers in 

 Monthly Magazines ? No, no ; we believe the distress real enough, and 

 the necessity for suspension imperative enough ; but as for the alarm, we 

 are inclined to attribute but little of it, and none of the distress, to their 

 apprehensions of these formidable measures. The very period of oc- 

 currence is enough to start the doubt. It is synchronous neither with the 

 origin nor with the natural operation of these measures, but with the great 

 and general distress arising from the tremendous shock that has struck 

 credit to the earth. We do not say that, because events happen at the 

 same time, they must have the same cause ; but this we say, that if tlie 

 same cause be competent to the effect, and be at the same time indis- 

 putably productive of similar effects, it is no improbable inference to 

 ascribe them to that same cause, particularly if we can point to facts, 

 which corroborate the same conclusion. Now it is notorious, that the 

 last year's imports of raw and throwTi silk were nearly double those of 

 the preceding year, though in both those years the intentions of the 

 government were distinctly avowed. Does this augmentation of the raw 

 materials — does the redoubling of the manufacture, look like apprehen- 

 sion of the direful effects now attributed to the abrogation of the pro- 

 hibitory laws ? No : the fact is, the manufacturers opposed the minister 

 in the outset, because they liked the prohibition ; but by degrees they 

 became reconciled to the protection, because they soon discerned it 

 would come to the same thing, and proceeded with fresh vigour. Nay, 

 not content with the prudent employment of their tangible capital, they 

 strain their credit to the very utmost, and work up goods to the fullest 

 extent of their power. They overdo the matter ; they make more than 

 is wanted, till suddenly comes a check upon credit — an appalling anni- 



is taxation. Tliere is but one source — the pockets of the community. If the word 

 revenue is to be confined, as it sometimes seems to be, to the customs, then tlie im- 

 provement of the revenue is susceptible of a^ less invidious construction, as enabling 

 the government to relieve tlie public of more obnoxious burdens. 



