11 



Foreign Trade, the nearest approximation to tlie 

 principle of " Free Trade," consistent witli the 

 cons\(\evaX\onsoi National protection and constancy 

 of individual pursuit, cannot be too ardently desired 

 nor too sedulously promoted.' 



Preparatory to a more connected view of the 

 subject under consideration, three important 

 changes, which have occurred during the last fifty 

 years, of a decided character in their bearing upon 

 Production, Trade and Navigation, will be noticed; 

 — incidental to wliich, some observations will be 

 offered upon the nature and effects of Market. 



The changes to be noticed, are ; — 



The change of most of the dependent British 

 provinces of North America, to independent and 

 rival maritime States. 



The abolition of the British trade in slaves. 



And the change /row« comparatively low, to high 

 constituents of cost, in respect of the agricultural 

 productions of the United Kingdom. 



Each of the two first mentioned of these changes ; 

 namely, the change of most of the tlcpendent Bri- 

 tish provinces of North America to independent 

 and rival maritime States, and the abolition of the 



' See Appendix A. 



