NOTES ON ECONOMICAL SCIENCE. 105 



tably conducted without protection are always advantageous, as sup- 

 plying what is wanted on the spot in the form and style most suited 

 to the locality, and as increasing the variety of human employments, 

 and consequently the chance of every body being employed in the 

 way that best suits him. Where there is every reason to believe a 

 particular manufacture fitted for a country, but preliminary difficulties 

 have prevented its introduction, it may be worth while to oifer induce- 

 ments to engage in it by bounties, but these are always temporary 

 and at best the policy of such fostering of special employments is 

 doubtful. The idea that the introduction of home manufactures would 

 increase the total amount of employment of labour must be delusive, 

 because the whole employment of labour depends on the amount of 

 work to be done, and of capital that can be employed in doing it ; but 

 in a young country there is always a superabundance of work to be 

 done, there will therefore always be as much employment as the 

 moveable capital in the country can make profitable, and the general 



any one avlicle must always be few compared with the consumers, protection 

 injures the majority for the advantage of the few, the rule against^ it thus obtained 

 must be carried out honestly and fearlessly, without stopping to listen to the 

 statements of particular manufacturers, and it is by no means necessary that we 

 should be able to explain every possible case arising, in order to justify the 

 general law. I have no doubt that cue who had enjoyed opportunities for observ- 

 ing all the facts, could show in detail that the general law was as true and useful 

 in relation to the specific cases alleged as proof to the contrary, as I plainly see it 

 to be in other cases ; but I rely on the certainty of the general law and decline to 

 argue individual cases any further than whether they really fall under the law. 

 We might just as well admit a great moral law and proceed to argue that in cer- 

 tain instances we Were at liberty to set it aside for our own convenience. As to 

 the prosperity of manufactures in some parts of the United States, no one doubts 

 that protection will enrich a class, the question is whether it benefits the whole 

 community, and if the inhabitants of the United States generally, and especially 

 of those states which are themselves engaged in other kinds of industry, are con- 

 tent to pay, in the form of increased price, a tax for the benefit of New England 

 or Pennsylvania manufacturer?, we have no right or disposition to object to it, 

 though we may have our own opinion of the wisdom thus displayed. 



It is a very fashionable mode of reasoning to reproach Sngland, because, beyond 

 all other nations, through the action on her government of the best public opinion> 

 when she has found out a mistake or fault committed, she has endeavoured to 

 repair it. Circumstances favoured with her the use of manufacturing industry. 

 Coal is abundant and available in an extensive distriet ol her country, and the 

 invention of the steam engine showed how it could be properly used as a source 

 of manufacturing power. A crowded population, glad of employment at very 

 moderate wages invited enterprise, and the wealth which had gradually aocumu- 



