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The fine manufacture, on the other hand, was not, in those times,

carried on in England, but in the rich and commercial country of

Flanders; and it was probably conducted then, in the same manner

as now, by people who derived the whole, or the principal part of

their subsistence from it. It was, besides, a foreign

manufacture, and must have paid some duty, the ancient custom of

tonnage and poundage at least, to the king. This duty, indeed,

would not probably be very great. It was not then the policy of

Europe to restrain, by high duties, the importation of foreign

manufactures, but rather to encourage it, in order that merchants

might be enabled to supply, at as easy a rate as possible, the

great men with the conveniencies and luxuries which they wanted,

and which the industry of their own country could not afford

them.