第648页 / 共2651页

It must have some tendency to sink their price in a barbarous,

and to raise it in an improved and manufacturing country. It must

have had some tendency, therefore, to sink it in ancient, and to

raise it in modern times. Our tanners, besides, have not been

quite so successful as our clothiers, in convincing the wisdom of

the nation, that the safety of the commonwealth depends upon the

prosperity of their particular manufacture. They have accordingly

been much less favoured. The exportation of raw hides has,

indeed, been prohibited, and declared a nuisance; but their

importation from foreign countries has been subjected to a duty;

and though this duty has been taken off from those of Ireland and

the plantations (for the limited time of five years only), yet

Ireland has not been confined to the market of Great Britain for

the sale of its surplus hides, or of those which are not

manufactured at home.