434

Til E N A 1 U It 1C AND CAUSES OF

inoval, and neither the public nor the individuals will suffermuch more from thyoccasional disbanding some particularclasses of manufacturers, than from that of soldiers. Ourmanufacturers have no doubt great merit with their country,but they cannot have more than those who defend it withtheir blood, nor deserve to be treated with more delicacy.

To expect, indeed, that the freedom of trade should everbe entirely restored in Great Britain, is as absurd as to ex-pect that an Oceana or Utopia should ever be established init. Not only the prejudices of the public, but what is muchmore unconquerable, the private interests of many indivi-duals, irresistibly oppose it. Were the officers of the armyto oppose with the same zeal and unanimity any reduction inthe number of forces, with which master manufacturers setthemselves against every law that is likely to increase thenumber of their rivals in the home market; were the formerto animate their soldiers, in the same manner as the latterinflame their workmen, to attack with violence and outragethe proposers of any such regulation; to attempt to reducethe army would be as dangerous as it has now become to at-tempt to diminish in any respect the monopoly which our ma-nufacturers have obtained against us. This monopoly has somuch increased the number of some particular tribes of them,that, like an overgrown standing army, they have becomeformidable to the government, and upon many occasions in-timidate the legislature. The member of parliament whosupports every proposal for strengthening this monopoly, issure to acquire not only the reputation of understanding•trade, but great popularity and influence with an order ofmen whose numbers and wealth render them of great impor-tance. If he opposes them, on the contrary, and still moreif he has authority enough to be able to thwart them, neitherthe most acknowledged probity, nor the highest rank, northe greatest public services, can protect him from the mostinfamous abuse and detraction, from personal insults, norsometimes from real danger, arising from the insolent out-rage of furious and disappointed monopolists.

The undertaker of a great manufacture, who, by the homemarkets being suddenly laid open to the competition of fo-reigners, should be obliged to abandon his trade, would nodoubt suffer very considerably. That part of his capital whichhad usually been employed in purchasing materials and inpaying his workmen, might, without much difficulty, perhaps,