按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
degrading； in some degree； the fabric of the cloth。
It has been shown in the foregoing part of this work that
the effect of these regulations has been to depress the price of
English wool； not only below what it naturally would be in the
present times； but very much below what it actually was in the
time of Edward III。 The price of Scots wool； when in consequence
of the union it became subject to the same regulations； is said
to have fallen about one half。 It is observed by the very
accurate and intelligent author of the Memoirs of Wool； the
Reverend Mr。 John Smith； that the price of the best English wool
in England is generally below what wool of a very inferior
quality commonly sells for in the market of Amsterdam。 To depress
the price of this commodity below what may be called its natural
and proper price was the avowed purpose of those regulations； and
there seems to be no doubt of their having produced the effect
that was expected from them。
This reduction of price； it may perhaps be thought； by
discouraging the growing of wool； must have reduced very much the
annual produce of that commodity； though not below what it
formerly was； yet below what； in the present state of things； it
probably would have been； had it； in consequence of an open and
free market； been allowed to rise to the natural and proper
price。 I am； however； disposed to believe that the quantity of
the annual produce cannot have been much； though it may perhaps
have been a little； affected by these regulations。 The growing of
wool is not the chief purpose for which the sheep farmer employs
his industry and stock。 He expects his profit not so much from
the price of the fleece as from that of the carcass； and the
average or ordinary price of the latter must even； in many cases；
make up to him whatever deficiency there may be in the average or
ordinary price of the former。 It has been observed in the
foregoing part of this work that； 〃Whatever regulations tend to
sink the price； either of wool or of raw hides； below what it
naturally would be； must； in an improved and cultivated country；
have some tendency to raise the price of butcher's meat。 The
price both of the great and small cattle which are fed on
improved and cultivated land must be sufficient to pay the rent
which the landlord； and the profit which the farmer has reason to
expect from improved and cultivated land。 If it is not； they will
soon cease to feed them。 Whatever part of this price； therefore；
is not paid by the wool and the hide must be paid by the carcass。
The less there is paid for the one； the more must be paid for the
other。 In what manner this price is to be divided upon the
different parts of the beast is indifferent to the landlords and
farmers； provided it is all paid to them。 In an improved and
cultivated country； therefore； their interest as landlords and
farmers cannot be much affected by such regulations； though their
interest as consumers may by the rise in the price of
provisions。〃 According to this reasoning； therefore； this
degradation in the price of wool is not likely； in an improved
and cultivated country； to occasion any diminution in the annual
produce of that commodity； except so far as； by raising the price
of mutton； it may somewhat diminish the demand for； and
consequently the production of； that particular species of
butcher's meat。 Its effect； however； even in this way； it is
probable； is not very considerable。
But though its effect upon the quantity of the annual
produce may not have been very considerable； its effect upon the
quality； it may perhaps be thought； must necessarily have been
very great。 The degradation in the quality of English wool； if
not below what it was in former times； yet below what it
naturally would have been in the present state of improvement and
cultivation； must have been； it may perhaps be supposed； very
nearly in proportion to the degradation of price。 As the quality
depends upon the breed； upon the pasture； and upon the management
and cleanliness of the sheep； during the whole progress of the
growth of the fleece； the attention to these circumstances； it
may naturally enough be imagined； can never be greater than in
proportion to the recompense which the price of the fleece is
likely to make for the labour and expense which that attention
requires。 It happens； however； that the goodness of the fleece
depends； in a great measure； upon the health； growth； and bulk of
the animal； the same attention which is necessary for the
improvement of the carcase is； in some respects； sufficient for
that of the fleece。 Notwithstanding the degradation of price；
English wool is said to have been improved considerably during
the course even of the present century。 The improvement might
perhaps have been greater if the price had been better； but the
lowness of price； though it may have obstructed； yet certainly it
has not altogether prevented that improvement。
The violence of these regulations； therefore； seems to have
affected neither the quantity nor the quality of the annual
produce of wool so much as it might have been expected to do
（though I think it probable that it may have affected the latter
a good deal more than the former）； and the interest of the
growers of wool； though it must have been hurt in some degree；
seems； upon the whole； to have been much less hurt than could
well have been imagined。
These considerations； however； will not justify the absolute
prohibition of the exportation of wool。 But they will fully
justify the imposition of a considerable tax upon that
exportation。
To hurt in any degree the interest of any one order of
citizens； for no other purpose but to promote that of some other；
is evidently contrary to that justice and equality of treatment
which the sovereign owes to all the different orders of his
subjects。 But the prohibition certainly hurts； in some degree；
the interest of the growers of wool； for no other purpose but to
promote that of the manufacturers。
Every different order of citizens is bound to contribute to
the support of the sovereign or commonwealth。 A tax of five； or
even of ten shillings upon the exportation of every ton of wool
would produce a very considerable revenue to the sovereign。 It
would hurt the interest of the growers somewhat less than the
prohibition； because it would not probably lower the price of
wool quite so much。 It would afford a sufficient advantage to the
manufacturer； because； though he might not buy his wool
altogether so cheap as under the prohibition； he would still buy
it； at least； five or ten shillings cheaper than any foreign
manufacturer could buy it； besides saving the freight and
insurance； which the other would be obliged to pay。 It is scarce
possible to devise a tax which could produce any considerable
revenue to the sovereign； and at the same time occasion so little
inconveniency to anybody。
The prohibition； notwithstanding all the penalties which
guard it； does not prevent the exportation of wool。 It is
exported； it is well known； in great quantities。 The great
difference between the price in the home and that in the foreign
market presents such a temptation to smuggling that all the
rigour of the law cannot prevent it。 This illegal exportation is
advantageous to nobody but the smuggler。 A legal exportation
subject to a tax； by affording a revenue to the sovereign； and
thereby saving the imposition of some other； perhaps； more
burdensome and inconvenient taxes might prove advantageous to all
the different subjects of the state。
The exportation of fuller's earth or fuller's clay； supposed
to be necessary for preparing and cleansing the woolen
manufactures； has been subjected to nearly the same penalties as
the exportation of wool。 Even tobacco…pipe clay； though
acknowledged to be different from fuller's clay； yet； on account
of their resemblance； and because fuller's clay might sometimes
be exported as tobacco…pipe clay； has been laid under the same
prohibitions and penalties。
By the 13th and 14th of Charles II； c。 7； the exportation；
not only of raw hides； but of tanned leather； except in the shape
of boots； shoes； or slippers； was prohibited； and the law gave a
monopoly to our bootmakers and shoemakers； not only against our
graziers； but against our tanners。 By subsequent statutes our
tanners have got themselves exempted from this monopoly upon
paying a small tax of only one shilling on the hundred…weight of
tanned leather； weighing one hundred and twelve pounds。 They have
obtained likewise the drawback of two…thirds of the excise duties
imposed upon their commodity even when exported without further
manufacture。 All manufactures of leather may be exported duty
free； and the exporter is besides entitled to the drawback of the
whole duties of excise。 Our graziers still continue subject to
the old monopoly。 Graziers separated from one another； and
dispersed through all the different corners of the country；
cannot； without great difficulty； co