EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 103 



The act of KJ90, whieh was but one of ninny early restrictive measures 

 which t'nun tliat time beeame a settled policy in regard to colonial in- 

 dustry, compelled their people to employ their wool in coarse but sub- 

 stantial household fabrics, but kept them wholly dependent upon 

 England for the finer products of the loom, a dependence that has not 

 ceased, for, notwithstanding the great strides made by the American 

 industry, the United States is still the largest foreign consumer of 

 British woolens. 



It is thought, however, by some that the law was probably less 

 instrumental in checking the disposition to manufacture at that time 

 than it would have been in an advanced stage of the business. On 

 account of the remoteness of the colonies from the sovereign state, and 

 the great extent of their seacoast, it would have proved no more 

 effectual in preventing an exportation for which they were prepared 

 than the laws of Parliament then were against the exportation of wool 

 from Great Britain. It was thought, a few years later, that about 

 five-eighths of the entire English wool crop, in defiance of the laws, 

 found its way, surreptitiously, into the markets of France and the 

 Continent. There is little doubt that the liberality of Great Britain 

 towards her colonies, in permitting one-half and often the whole of the 

 duties paid on foreign linens and other goods imported into Engand 

 to be drawn back upon their exportation to the colonies; and still more, 

 the giving of large bounties for the importation thence of naval stores 

 and certain materials of manufacture, had more influence at this period 

 in diverting them from manufactures with a view to exportation than 

 any prohibitory enactments.* 



While it is true that the colonists were somewhat diverted from man- 

 ufactures because they could not export them, the fact was not over- 

 looked that they were diligent in homespun industry for home use, and 

 Lord Cornbury-, the royal governor of New York, urged the policy of 

 encouraging the purchase of English goods by exchanging them for 

 colonial naval stores. And he gave as an additional reason for recip- 

 rocal trade : 



Besides, the want of wherewithal to make return to England put them upon a 

 trade which, I am sure, will hurt England in a little time; for I am well informed 

 that upon Long Island and Connecticut they are setting up a woolen manufacture, 

 and I myself have seen serge made upon Long Island that any man may wear. Now, 

 if they begin to make serge they will, in time, make coarse cloth and then fine; we 

 have as good fuller's earth and tobacco-pipe clay in this province as any in the 

 world; how far this will be for the service of England I submit to better judgment; 

 but, however, 1 hope I may be pardoned if I declare my opinion to be that all these 

 colleneys which are but twigs belonging to the main tree (England) ought to be 

 kept entirely dependent upon and subservient to England, and that can never be if 

 they are suffered to go on in the notions they have, tha*, as they are Englishmen, so 

 they may set up the same manufactures here as people may do in England; for the 

 consequence will be if once they can see they can clothe themselves, not only com- 

 fortably, but handsomely, too, without the help of England, they who are already 



* Bishop's History of American Manufactures. 



