44 A P P E N D I X, No, IV. 



the ifland, its difappearance mufl: be owing to fome caufe, 

 either phyficaly or morale and it imports the nation much to 

 know what has been the real caufe of a phenomenon of fuch 

 great national importance. And, 



2. Though it be certain that we now do poflefs combing 

 wool of a very good quality ; yet, as we have already loft 

 the fine carding wool, which was of a quality ftill more fuper- 

 eminently excellent than our combing wool can boaft, there 

 is great reafon to fear, that, unlefs we difcover the caufe of 

 the deterioration of our clothing wool, and obviate it, that; 

 through the operation of the fame malign influence, if not 

 guarded againft, we may gradually fufFer the combing wool 

 to be debafed, till it alfo fhall become inferior to that of 

 fome of our neighbours. 



That this change has proceeded from natural caufes, no 

 perfon can fuppofe. The climate and the paftures are fo 

 little altered fince that time, as to be altogether inadequate 

 to the producing this effedl. Indeed the probability is, that, 

 were it not for other caufes, the changes produced in refpeft 

 of paflure muft have been favourable to the growth of wool, 

 inftead of the reverfe. 



This change muft therefore have been effe(5led by moral 

 caufes ; and among thefe, no one, unlefs it be fome radical 

 change in the laws, feems to be capable of producing an ef- 

 fe6l that would have been fufEcient to controul the com- 

 mercial fpirit, whofe influence on human affairs is un- 

 bounded and indefinite. 



In revifing the fyftem of legiflation that has prevailed in 

 Britain refpecTiing this article, before and after the period 

 here in oueftion, we do accordingly find that a fyftem of 

 legiflation, refpetfting the commerce of wool, was adopted 

 foon after the days of James I. extremely difl'erent fron^ 

 that which had been followed before that time in this coun- 

 try, which gives reafon to fea- the deplorable change th^t 



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