SHEEP HUSBANDRY IiN THE SOUTH. 137 



assert that they could drive all the European nations from the market, 

 with the two or three exceptions heretofore specified ; and with these, as 

 well as the most favored Austro-Oriental regions, they could main- 

 tain a successful competition. The same remark is true of the Austro- 

 Occidental regions of our own continent. And it is difficult to foresee 

 the ultimate extent of this trans-Atlantic demand for wool. Vast portions 

 of the Old World, in those zones where wool must eventually become the 

 principal article of clothing, are but just stepping within the verge of 

 civilization — just laying aside the skins and peltry of the pastoral nomad 

 and the savage hunter, for garments of cloth. In 1771, England imported 

 1,829,772 lbs. of wool ; in 1840, the import was 52,959,221 lbs. ! In 1771, 

 the export of woolens was =£4,960,240. In 1840, the export of woolens 

 was, 665,652,917, and of woolen and worsted yarn c€3,796,644. Making 

 all necessary allowance for the difference in prices, the increase in the ex- 

 port beai's no comparison whatever to that in the import. What seems to- 

 be the unavoidable conclusion] It is that the consumption of a population 

 of 27,000,000 (the population of Great Britain and Ireland) has thus enor- 

 mously swelled within the period o^ sixtij-nine years ! This too in a coun- 

 try with a mild climate — which at the beginning of that period (1771) was 

 as far advanced in social and politicol civilization, and the mass of whose 

 people were as well clothed and better fed, than those of any nati(m 

 on the Eastern Continent ! It is not necessary to follow up this idea.. 

 Progress is an inseparable condition of humanity,* and civilization is its 

 fruit. With the latter, new wants — a demand for greater comforts and 

 luxuries — steadily keep pace ; and with these again keeps pace the increase 

 of population.f Both the latter causes conspire to swell the demand for 

 cloths ; and both causes are at work in this Nineteenth Century, in a ve- 

 locity of ratio which would fill a Malthus and Ricardo with consternation — 

 if, indeed, it did not convince them of the fallacy of their gloomy theories.. 

 I dare to predict that the time will come when the present Russian Em- 

 pire will consume a gi-eater amount of woolens than the whole Eastern 

 Continent now does ! This may not come to pass in a day or a century — 

 but unless retarded by unnatural, not to say unusual causes, our posterity 

 in the third or fourth remove will be likely to witness it ! Away, then, with 

 tliose fallacious fears of over-production of cotton, bread-stufis, etc. — the 

 opposite extreme of Malthusianism — which have disturbed the repose of 

 producers who are not content to let the great natural currents of demand 

 and supply regulate each other ; or rather, who are not content with those 

 fair and just profits which they would receive under such an order of 

 things. I 



But the American wool-grower is not compelled to look to the European 

 market, unless he enormously increases his own production — and contin- 

 ues to increase it with the increase of the population. The Census of 1840 

 shows that the number of sheep in the United States, in 1839, was nearly 

 20,000,000. These have been steadily increasing, and probably now greatly 

 exceed that number. Yet these have never supplied the demand of oar 



' This may not be thought to accord with precc(lin!» etfttemrntfl in relation to the unohancpiibility of 

 Asiatic character and cuetoras. Particular familicH or races of mankind have always advanced Hlowly, hue 

 the couree of the world, as a whole, is onward. Tim circle of civilization widens, and races which come 

 in contact with it, receive it, or are conquered and abuorbed by the civilized races. 



t When I speak of luxuries promoting the increase of population, I do not uso the word in its invidious 

 sense. I mean by it those things which, though not, stxicily speaking, necessaries, tend to promote human 

 comfort. 



X I mean this remark in no ultra spirit Clovernmcntg must be supported and resources raised. Inci- 

 dental protection may be justly aflordcd to the products of a?riculiuial or mechanical skill, under certain 

 circumstances, lint the fewer of these iPHtiicliiiiis that are found neccbBsry, the more rapidly, as a general 

 rule, the wealth tuid comfort of mankind iind nations arc udvimctd. 

 (281J 



