270 On Commerce. 



where the skill of the artist almost rivals the blossoms of 

 Nature, Must we not procure the greater part from other 

 countries? And unless the present order of the universe is 

 changed, no human art can cultivate, to any extent, many 

 of the dyeing-woods, and many other articles which are, es- 

 sentially necessary in our manufactures. Any person tole* 

 rably conversant with these branches of trade or manufac- 

 ture, will easily perceive that I might strengthen my argu- 

 ment by a great variety of observations : but for this my 

 own time will not admit; besides, it would be occupying too 

 much room in your useful Miscellany. 



I will now beg leave to examine how far this country can, 

 or actually does, produce all that is necessary for health. As 

 I make no pretension to a knowledge of the materia medica, 

 I will confine my observations to such articles as are generally 

 admitted to be essentially useful. Bark is certainly acknow- 

 ledged to be of very extensive utility, But from whence is it 

 procured? — from a far country. Opium, however much it 

 maybeabused, — (and this is no solid argument against its great 

 usefulness,' indeed I am apt to think, that in all the more 

 excruciating pains and acute diseases to which the human 

 frame is< liable, it is of far more essential benefit than any 

 other medicine) ; — even this commodity we have to procure 

 from a distant country. Mercury and camphire likewise oc- 

 cupy a large space in the apothecary's shop. Indeed I am apt to 

 .think, thar by far the greater part of the medicines at present 

 in most estimation are the produce of other countries : even 

 wine, in a medical point of view, is in many cases of the 

 greatest utility. 



It may here be necessary to observe, that Mr. Lapis asks- 

 with considerable confidence, How long an English bricks 

 maker could support himself upon wine in place of porter j? 

 I never meant to say that wine, as a common beverage to a 

 •British labourer, was preferable to good English malt liquor. 

 No : but my meaning was, that it was a very useful and 

 often a very necessary article ; that the high duty was im- 

 politic and cruel, as depriving all the lower orders, I may al- 

 most add all the middling class of society, of that which in a 

 variety of circumstances is essentially useful. But more of 



this 



