Sfc. VIII. 7 .

Finances .

3C£

exported to that country, which enables tis tocope with the Germans'in the American markets.The ftaining or printing linen cloth has of latebecome a confiderable article in the manufacturesof Britain : and there is no fort of linen more pro-per for that manufacture than our own. The dutyon foreign linen is drawn back when exported toAmerica , whether plain or ftamped: and, as welofe the bounty on our coarfe linen when ftamp-ed, none but foreign linen is employed in theftamping manufacture. This is an overfight, fuchas our legiflature is guilty of fometimes

It is not always true policy to difeourage theexportation of our own rude materials: liberty ofexportation gives an encouragement to producethem in greater plenty at home ; which confequentlylowers the price to our manufacturers. Upon that

* Early in the year 1774., an application was made toparliament for fupporting the linen manufacture , at thattime in a declining ftati; praying in particular that ftampedlinen fhould be comprehended under the bounty for ccarfelinen exported to America : in order that his Majefty’s loyalfubjeCts might have the fame Favor that is bellowed onforeigners. From an ill grounded jealoufy, that this appli-cation might be of fome prejudice to the Englilh woollenmanufactures,, the bill, in a peevifh fit, was rejected bythe Houfe of Commons. With refpeCt, at leaft , to theprayer concerning ftamped linen, Imayto'diy affirm, thatit was doing wrong, without even a pretext. There isnothing perfect of human invention. Where the legifla-tufe confifts of a Angle perfon, arbitrary and oppreffivemeafures always prevail; where it confifts of a great num-ber, paffion and prejudice cannot always be prevented.

You. II. X