HISTORY OF FLAX IN EGYPT. 



253 



It is evident from the history of Sampson, that the cultiva- 

 tion of Flax and the arts of spinning and weaving were 

 practised by the Philestines ; but the Hebrews were essen- 

 tially an agricultural people, equally averse to commerce and 

 manufacturing industry. Solomon exerted himself to reform 

 the national habits. He "established an emporium at Ezion- 

 geber, to open a trading communication with the eastern 

 seas, whilst his connection with the Tyrians enabled him to 

 participate in me} commerce of the Mediterranean. He 

 wished to make manufactured goods one part of his exports, 

 by entering into a league with the reigning Pharaoh to 

 receive linen-yarns at a stipulated price, or, as the words may 

 be rendered at a fixed duty. This early example of a com- 

 mercial treaty for regulating a tariff of intercourse, is curiously 

 illustrated by the recent discoveries in Egyptian antiquities. 

 We. find from them that the Pharaohs had very large 

 spinning establishments, such as we should at present call 

 factories, so that there was in the valley of the Nile not only 

 enough yarn left for home-consumption, but also for exporta- 

 tion. Had Solomon resembled our continental neighbours in 

 Germany, who now threaten to increase the duty on our Flax 

 yarns, although they cannot, for their own wants, spin by 

 machinery, he would have shown a contracted mind on 

 commercial matters ; but he was aware that protection would 

 so enhance the price of yarns to his people, that they 

 could not bring their goods into a foreign market and 

 meet their rivals — just as matters are in our own times. If 

 we increased the duty on Flax, our French neighbours, who have 

 now commenced the spinning of yarns, would, in a short time, 

 take from us our American and Indian trade ; therefore, our 

 only hope is to try (as our soil and climate will answer for the 

 cultivation of the plant), to grow what we can spin and 

 manufacture ; and as English skill and perseverance are well 

 known to be equal, if not superior to those of any nation in 



