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by our own people； they endeavour to buy the work of the poor
spinners as cheap as possible。 They are as intent to keep down
the wages of their own weavers as the earnings of the poor
spinners； and it is by no means for the benefit of the workman
that they endeavour either to raise the price of the complete
work or to lower that of the rude materials。 It is the industry
which is carried on for the benefit of the rich and the powerful
that is principally encouraged by our mercantile system。 That
which is carried on for the benefit of the poor and the indigent
is too often either neglected or oppressed。
Both the bounty upon the exportation of linen； and the
exemption from duty upon the importation of foreign yarn； which
were granted only for fifteen years； but continued by two
different prolongations； expire with the end of the session of
Parliament which shall immediately follow the 24th of June 1786。
The encouragement given to the importation of the materials
of manufacture by bounties has been principally confined to such
as were imported from our American plantations。
The first bounties of this kind were those granted about the
beginning of the present century upon the importation of naval
stores from America。 Under this denomination were comprehended
timber fit for masts； yards； and bowsprits； hemp； tar； pitch； and
turpentine。 The bounty； however； of one pound the ton upon
masting…timber； and that of six pounds the ton upon hemp； were
extended to such as should be imported into England from
Scotland。 Both these bounties continued without any variation； at
the same rate； till they were severally allowed to expire； that
upon hemp on the 1st of January 1741； and that upon
masting…timber at the end of the session of Parliament
immediately following the 24th June 1781。
The bounties upon the importation of tar； pitch； and
turpentine underwent； during their continuance； several
alterations。 Originally that upon tar was four pounds the ton；
that upon pitch the same； and that upon turpentine； three pounds
the ton。 The bounty of four pounds the ton upon tar was
afterwards confined to such as had been prepared in a particular
manner； that upon other good； clean； and merchantable tar was
reduced to two pounds four shillings the ton。 The bounty upon
pitch was likewise reduced to one pound； and that upon turpentine
to one pound ten shillings the ton。
The second bounty upon the importation of any of the
materials of manufacture； according to the order of time； was
that granted by the 21st George II； c。 30； upon the importation
of indigo from the British plantations。 When the plantation
indigo was worth three…fourths of the price of the best French
indigo； it was by this act entitled to a bounty of sixpence the
pound。 This bounty； which； like most others； was granted only for
a limited time； was continued by several prolongations； but was
reduced to fourpence the pound。 It was allowed to expire with the
end of the session of Parliament which followed the 25th March
1781。
The third bounty of this kind was that granted （much about
the time that we were beginning sometimes to court and sometimes
to quarrel with our American colonies） by the 4th George III； c。
26； upon the importation of hemp； or undressed flax； from the
British plantations。 This bounty was granted for twenty…one
years； from the 24th June 1764 to the 24th June 1785。 For the
first seven years it was to be at the rate of eight pounds the
ton； for the second at six pounds； and for the third at four
pounds。 It was not extended to Scotland； of which the climate
（although hemp is sometimes raised there in small quantities and
of an inferior quality） is not very fit for that produce。 Such a
bounty upon the importation of Scotch flax into England would
have been too great a discouragement to the native produce of the
southern part of the United Kingdom。
The fourth bounty of this kind was that granted by the 5th
George III； c。 45； upon the importation of wood from America。 It
was granted for nine years； from the 1st January 1766 to the 1st
January 1775。 During the first three years； it was to be for
every hundred and twenty good deals； at the rate of one pound；
and for every load containing fifty cubic feet of other squared
timber at the rate of twelve shillings。 For the second three
years； it was for deals to be at。 the rate of fifteen shillings；
and for other squared timber at the rate of eight shillings； and
for the third three years； it was for deals to be at the rate of
ten shillings； and for other squared timber at the rate of five
shillings。
The fifth bounty of this kind was that granted by the 9th
George III； c。 38； upon the importation of raw silk from the
British plantations。 It was granted for twenty…one years； from
the 1st January 1770 to the 1st January 1791。 For the first seven
years it was to be at the rate of twenty…five pounds for every
hundred pounds value； for the second at twenty pounds； and for
the third at fifteen pounds。 The management of the silk worm； and
the preparation of silk； requires so much hand labour； and labour
is so very dear in America that even this great bounty； I have
been informed； was not likely to produce any considerable effect。
The sixth bounty of this kind was that granted by 2nd George
III； c。 50； for the importation of pipe； hogshead； and barrel
staves and heading from the British plantations。 It was granted
for nine years； from 1st January 1772 to the 1st January 1781。
For the first three years it was for a certain quantity of each
to be at the rate of six pounds； for the second three years at
four pounds； and for the third three years at two pounds。
The seventh and last bounty of this kind was that granted by
the 19th George III； c。 37； upon the importation of hemp from
Ireland。 It was granted in the same manner as that for the
importation of hemp and undressed flax from America； for
twenty…one years； from the 24th June 1779 to the 24th June 1800。
This term is divided； likewise； into three periods of seven years
each； and in each of those periods the rate of the Irish bounty
is the same with that of the American。 It does not； however； like
the American bounty； extend to the importation of undressed flax。
It would have been too great a discouragement to the cultivation
of that plant in Great Britain。 When this last bounty was
granted； the British and Irish legislatures were not in much
better humour with one another than the British and American had
been before。 But this boon to Ireland； it is to be hoped； has
been granted under more fortunate auspices than all those to
America。
The same commodities upon which we thus gave bounties when
imported from America were subjected to considerable duties when
imported from any other country。 The interest of our American
colonies was regarded as the same with that of the mother
country。 Their wealth was considered as our wealth。 Whatever
money was sent out to them； it was said； came all back to us by
the balance of trade； and we could never become a farthing the
poorer by any expense which we could lay out upon them。 They were
our own in every respect； and it was an expense laid out upon the
improvement of our own property and for the profitable employment
of our own people。 It is unnecessary； I apprehend； at present to
say anything further in order to expose the folly of a system
which fatal experience has now sufficiently exposed。 Had our
American colonies really been a part of Great Britain； those
bounties might have been considered as bounties upon production；
and would still have been liable to all the objections to which
such bounties are liable； but to no other。
The exportation of the materials of manufacture is sometimes
discouraged by absolute prohibitions； and sometimes by high
duties。
Our woollen manufacturers have been more successful than any
other class of workmen in persuading the legislature that the
prosperity of the nation depended upon the success and extension
of their particular business。 They have not only obtained a
monopoly against the consumers by an absolute prohibition of
importing woollen cloths from any foreign country； but they have
likewise obtained another monopoly against the sheep farmers and
growers of wool by a similar prohibition of the exportation of
live sheep and wool。 The severity of many of the laws which have
been enacted for the security of the revenue is very justly
complained of； as imposing heavy penalties upon actions which；
antecedent to the statutes that declared them to be crimes； had
always been understood to be innocent。 But the cruellest of our
revenue laws； I will venture to affirm； are mild and gentle in
comparison of some of those which the clamour of our merchants
and manufacturers has extorted from the legislature for the
support of their own absurd and oppressive monopolies。 Like the
laws of Draco； these laws may be said to be all written in blood。
By the 8th of Elizabeth； c。 3； the exporter