134 Political Economy. 
and from the progress of improvement, be any longer successful- 
ly corrected. 
The coarse woollen cloths of England, could not be afforded 
so cheap, nor made so good, as they are now made, but for the em- 
ployment in that manufacture of the refuse wool of the superfine 
cloths. Circumscribe therefore the market for either, and both 
must become dearer, or worse.* 
Tin shreds, and old iron hoops, would be of as little value in 
England, as they are here, if she did not supply with copperas 
nearly all the civilized world.f 
The residues left in the processes, now employed for bleaching 
and other purposes, render many chemical preparations in Eng- 
land cheap, and exportable. Diminish the vent for these, and 
bleaching, and similar operations, will become more expensive. 
The articles, out of fashion, or, turned by new improvements 
out of use, would become waste in England, and involve in ruin 
those who manufactured them, or bought them for sale, if the 
world were not before her, if an extensive foreign trade did not 
cause them to find a vent, in regions where different tastes pre- 
vail? or which are regularly somewhat behind hand in matters of 
fashion and civilization. | In consequence of this resource she is 
able always to consume herself, at moderate prices, what is new- 
est, and what is best. Without it, all manufacturing operations 
must be carried on with much more timidity, and on a smaller 
scale, that is, with less profit. Improvements, and the spirit of 
exertion would be checked. The better article could not be 
brought forward, till the worse was sold off, or could only be of- 
fered at a price so high, as to compensate for the loss of the lat-* 
ter. The rewards of industry, and ingenuity, would become more 
precarious, and consumption itself would dimmish, for want of the 
* They are as much economized in our owncountryj where all refuse wool- 
len can be vroiked up into home made carpets. T. C. 
■{- 1 see no reason why we should not supply ourselves. It can be done to 
profit. T. C. 
t I can well remember the outcries at Birmingham on account of the very 
convenient substitution of covered for metal buttons, of strl7i^s for shoe buc- 
kles, and buckles of the breeches knees. The Prince of Wales was petitioned 
to countenance buckles and buttons ; and parliament I believe interfered 
avainst covered buttons. Surely this is not a benefit, but an evil resulting' 
from the system of commercial maniifactare, T, G. 
