X79*» political pfogrefs of Britain. 267 



It seems to have been long a maxim of the mono- 

 polizing directors, of our southern masters, to extir- 

 pate as fast as pofsible every manufacture in this 

 country, that interferes with their own *. Has any 

 body forgotten the scandalous breach of national 

 faith, by which the Scottifh distilleries have been 

 brought to destruction ? Has not the manufacture of 

 starch also been driven, by every engine of judicial 

 torture, to the last verge of its existence ? Have not 

 the manufacturers of paper, printed callicoes, malt 

 liquors and glafs, been harrafsed by vexatious me- 

 thods of exacting the revenue ? Methods equivalent 

 to an addition of ten, or sometimes an hundred pet- 

 cent, of the duty payable. Let us look, around this in- 

 sulted country, and say, on what manufacture, ex- 

 cept the linen, government has not fastened its bloody 

 fangs. 



By an oriental monopoly, we have obtained the 

 unexampled privilege of buying a pound of the same 

 tea, for six or eight shillings, with which other na- 

 tions would eagerly supply us for twentypence : 

 Nay, we have to thank ouv present illustrious mi- 

 nister, that this trifling vegetable has been reduced 

 from a price still more extravagant. His popularity 

 began by the commutation act. Wonders were pro- 

 mised, wonders were expected, and wonders have 

 liappened I A nation, consisting of men who call 

 themselves enlightene4, have consented to build up their 



• The linen manufacture is the only one that ever was seriously encou- 

 raged by government in Scotland, and that it is well known was done 

 merely to divert the Scots from atrempting to engage in the favour.te 

 w«i//f/i manufacture of England. It- was perhaps foreseen that n j encou- 

 rai-mcnt would crcr citabli&thaC ai a national manufacture 'n tliit touutrr. 



