106 NOTES ON ECONOMICAL SCIENCE. 



high price of labour is a proof that there is abundance of employment.* 

 Neither can home manufactures keep capital in the country; for in a 

 country like ours there is abundant profitable employment both for all 

 the capital belonging to the inhabitants, and also for all that can be 

 introduced from abroad, of which the amount is considerable ; none, 



lated iu the country, seekiog employment at even a moderate return, made the 

 application of extensive capital to industrial undertakings easy, "whilst a rapid 

 Buccession of most important improvements in machinery gave an unheard of im- 

 pulse to certain branches of industry — from these causes with the trade which 

 her insular position and nautical tastes had gradually-formed, England flourished 

 notwithstanding the check arifcing from the mistaken principle of protection which 

 was probably the leas felt on account of the long wars in which she was engaged. 

 Some of her ablest merchants and statesmen had caught glimpses of the truth on 

 this subject, but Adam Smith in his great work ineontestibly proved the evils of 

 protection. For a time, as is usual in such cases, he was admired by thoughtful 

 inquirers, but treated as a mere theorist by mereh^mts and politicians. Improved 

 education and improved intercourse overcame this difficulty, and at length 

 strengthened by the opiuions of the leading merchants, Mr. Huskisson made the 

 first important step towards the relaxation of protection. The benefit attending 

 every step made and the advancement of the public mind in knowledge of the 

 subject, political economy having now become a recognised science, and engaged 

 the attention both of men of eminent talent, and not a few of them of great prac- 

 tical experience in mercantile and monetary affairs, the progress became irresis- 

 tible and resulted in the present general free-trade policy of Great Britain. It is 

 easy to say that we became great first and made our change when it could not 

 injure us. The plain fact is that the change was made from a conviction of the 

 truth and consequent practical wisdom of a great principle, and is a lesson to the 

 world at large. Similar reproaches have been made respecting slavery and 

 respecting our Indian empire. England, like other nations, has been guilty of 

 oppression and crime through mistaken policy and prevalent bad feeling at the 

 time, but it is her special glory that she is first in growing wiser and learning 

 better, and that with improved knowledge, her free institutions ensure altered 

 conduct and eSforts to repair the mischief done. Her course respecting protec- 

 tion is honourable alike to her intelligence and her principle, and has b,^en re- 

 warded by a success which ought to teach others, and if it has no other efifect, at 

 least leaves them without excuse for the follies they commit. 



* It is said that the present state of our country affords little or no employment 

 for women or children, and that the number of persons idling about our streets 

 and living by begging or theft, proves the insufficiency of employment. It seeoDB 

 to me, I confess that the more our women can be spared from any other employ, 

 ment than domestic labours and duties, the better for us all. It would indeed be 

 idle to expect that they can all be freed from any other form of labour, but if we 

 allow for their share in rural occupations, for the number required for peculiarly 

 feminine employments, and for those who engage in such trades as printing 

 watchmaking, &c., which depend more on perseverance and ingenuity or tact than 



