T1IE WEALTH Of NATIONS.

435

find another employment. But that part of it which waslixed in workhouses, and in the instruments of trade, couldscarce be disposed of without considerable loss. The equi-table regard, therefore, to his interest requires that changes ofthis kind should never be introduced suddenly, but slowly,gradually, and after a very long warning. The legislature,were it possible that its deliberations could be always directed,not by the clamorous importunity of partial interests, but byan extensive view of the general good, ought upon this veryaccount, perhaps, to be particularly careful neither to esta-blish any new monopolies of this kind, nor to extend furtherthose which are already established. Every such regulationintroduces some degree of real disorder into the constitutionof the state, which it will be difficult afterward to cure with-out occasioning another disorder.

How far it may be proper to impose taxes upon the impor-tation of foreign goods, in order, not to prevent their impor-tation, but to raise a revenue for government, I shall considerhereafter when I come to treat of taxes. Taxes imposed witha view to prevent or even to diminish importation, are evidentlyas destructive of the revenue of the customs as of the freedom

CHAP. III.

Of the extraordinary Restraints upon the Importation of Goods<}f almost all Kinds, from those Countries with which theBalance is supposed to be disadvantageous.

PART I.

Of the Unreasonableness of those Restraints even upon thePrinciples of the Commercial System.

To lay extraordinary restraints upon the importation of goodsof almost all kinds, from those particular countries with whichthe balance of trade is supposed to be disadvantageous, isthe second expedient by which the commercial system pro-poses to increase the quantity of gold and silver. Thus intireat Britain , Silesia lawns may be imported for home con-sumption, upon paying certain duties. But French cam-bricks and lawns are prohibited to be imported, except intothe port ot London , there to be warehoused tor exportation.Higher duties are imposed upon the wines of France thanupon those of Portugal , or indeed of any other country. Bywhat is called the impost 1092, a duly of live and-twenty