26? political progrefs of Britain. Feb. ■£■%, 



windows, that they might enjoy the permifsion of 

 sipping in the dark, a cup of tea, ten per cent, cheaper 

 than formerly ; though not lefs than three hundredper 

 cent, dearer than its intrinsic price. A second ex- 

 ample of the blefsed consequences of an East India com- 

 pany, is about to be exhibited in the course of this 

 winter sefsion. It has been long a great grievance 

 to these " honourable merchants," that we ourselves 

 can manufacture cotton stuffs, both cheaper and bet- 

 ter than the Gentoo articles of that sort which they 

 import into this country. A tax is therefore intend- 

 ed to be laid on the cotton manufactures, equal to a 

 prohibition. I mention this from the best authority*, 

 and I wifli to afk my countrymen, whether they are 

 prepared to submit to this last extremity of disgrace 

 ■and injustice ? The object of this statute cannot be 

 revenue, but destruction. This is indeed no new sys- 

 tem in the management of this country. In the Ex- 

 cise annals of Scotland, that year which expired on 

 the 5th of July 1790, produced for the duties on 

 ■soap, sixty-Jive thousand pounds. On the fifth of 

 July last, the annual amount of these duties was on- 

 \j forty -fit) e thousand pounds ; and by the same hope- 

 ful progrefs, in two years more at farthest, our mas- 

 ters will enjoy the pleasure of extirpating a manufac- 



• It is well known, that for several years past the East India company 

 Jsave bcrn selling coarse India muslins below prime cost, with the inten- 

 tion of ruining that branch of the manufactures of this country; but in 

 \ain. IJiave not before heird that the bold measure mentioned in the 

 text has been seriously intended ; and though, from the manner in which 

 this ingenious correspondent writes, he would seem to be well informed, 

 yet I cannot help doubting, if any minister will ever be so fuol hardy «s 

 •to attempt a measuri so extriTagmtlj i.T.pslitic. Edit. 



