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INTRODUCTION. 



years, carried on by Spain against the Netherlands. 

 Almost every branch of industry, which would in any 

 way interfere with those of Spain was strictly pro- 

 hibited; while the inhabitants of Spain were freely 

 permitted to pursue whatever might contribute to their 

 wealth, comfort, or aggrandisement. America was for- 

 bidden to pursue those arts which are in some measure 

 necessary to every civilized community. The insulting 

 threat of an English minister, that he would not per- 

 Init us to forge even a hob nail, was in Spanish Amer- 

 ica literally carried into effect. In the first instance, as 

 gold and silver, and a few of the precious productions 

 of the colonies unknown in Europe, were all that was 

 wanted of them; they were so restricted in the manu- 

 factories and agriculture, as to be compelled to pro- 

 cure from the metropolis, cloths, household furniture, 

 wines, oil, and even some kinds of provisions. In 

 fine as a general rule, every thing which could be 

 procured in Spain, America was forbidden to culti- 

 vate or manufacture. 



In order to secure to the Spanish merchant the 

 whole benefit of the American commerce, the Amer- 

 icans were not permitted to own a single ship. The 

 domestic commerce between the different American 

 viceroyalties, which would have tended so much to 

 their mutual comfort and advancement, was in general 

 prohibited, or placed under such discouraging restric- 

 tions as to be productive of the same effect. No fo- 

 reigner could enter the colonies without special li- 

 cense, no vessel of any foreign nation could be receiv- 

 ed into their harbors, and no one was permitted to 

 trade with them without permission, under the penalty 

 of death. Those portions of South America, such as 



