THE FLAX-TRADE IN BELGIUM. 



245 



such means. Again, let it be remembered, that three or four 

 crops are commonly grown in succession from a single dressing 

 of farm-yard manure, while only one can be obtained from an 

 expensive application of chemical fertilizers. Also, that 

 through the contents of the farm-yard, a never-failing crop is 

 produced upon all soils, in most seasons, and under any circum- 

 stances ; whereas, the good effects, if there be any, of all arti- 

 ficial manures, depend upon soil, upon seasons, and upon cir- 

 cumstances. How united, therefore, and determined ought the 

 agriculturists of Great Britain to be, in adopting systems that 

 will render them independent of foreigners, who are ever prone 

 to offer ungrateful returns for the money lavished upon them, 

 as the following extract from the public prints but too truly 

 confirms : — 



"The Belgian Government has just made a serious increase 

 on the duties on British silk and cotton manufactures, and on 

 machinery imported ; and at a meeting of German merchants, 

 on the 7th ult., at Leipsic, a resolution in favour of spinning 

 thread by inachinery was passed, which object, it is recom- 

 mended, should be supported by a more careful and extensive 

 cultivation of flax, an import duty on English thread, and a 

 bounty on the exportation of linen." 



In my last letter I observed, that the Belgians had become 

 " rich and powerful through their dealings with us but I 

 might have added, upon their own authority, that, in con- 

 sequence of those dealings, many villages have swelled into 

 towns, and cottages into mansions, for their flax-factors. I 

 did not then anticipate so speedy an opportunity of exempli- 

 fying the truth of that remark, nor of showing how little 

 we have to hope from foreign reciprocity. Any lengthened 

 remarks on the above article are unnecessary, for it must be 

 obvious to every inquiring mind, that the relaxation of our 

 restrictive duties has not been followed by the anticipated 

 results. I will, however, briefly observe, that the merchants 

 of Germany are extensively engaged in furnishing this country 

 with flax at a nominal duty ; that they obtain great prices 

 for the article, and take nothing in exchange but British 



