it is fcarcely poffible to add any new information of importance upon this interefting fubject. All that remains to be done, and it is what the judicious Author of the pamphlet before us feems to have done with fuccefs, is to apply thefe principles to particular cafes, to call them forth as occafion may require, and to prefent them in fuch a point of view as may appear most striking to those whose conduct they are meant to influence. That our Readers may judge of this matter for themfelves, we fhall infert a fpecimen of the work, where, fpeaking of the benefit refulting from the employing of machines, the Author in a plain and popular style, proceeds thus: To illuftrate this fubject, and make it, if poffible, fill plainer, let us fuppofe that there were only two woollen manufactories in this nation, and no foreign commerce; that one of these manufactories was fituated in the north, and the other in the fouth; that they employed each coo hands; that provifions were nearly at the fame price in both parts of the kingdom, and they made the fame kinds of goods. If thefe manufactories were 200 miles afunder, their markets would meet about half way, and neither of them would expect to fell their goods beyond this natural line; because the expence of carriage would be against the manufacture that was fent beyond thefe limits. Let us fuppofe, however, proviñons to rife in the fouth, and confequently the price of labour to rife there also; but both to remain the fame as at first in the north. The northern manufactory would foon gain upon the fouthern markets, and instead of 100, would gradually fupply 110, 115, 120, &c. miles, while the space the fouthern manufactory could fupply would gradually contract to 90 miles, 85 miles, 80 miles, &c. fo that the demand there would be daily diminishing, and the people would begin to leave the fouth, and go into the north for employment, where the demand would be conftantly increafing; and inftead of icoo, they would have employment for 1500 people, while the other manufactory could scarcely employ 5co. The cheapnefs of the goods made in the north would in time draw all the demand thither, as well as the work-people; and if no measures were taken to prevent it, the fouthern manufactory would go to ruin, and the other would, on the contrary, increase and be established. All this might be effected, and would certainly be effected by an advantage in the price of labour, if no steps were taken to counteract that effect; but we will fuppofe when the fouthern manufactory was confiderably diminished, an intelligent manufacturer, who had both invention and tafte, contrived a huttle, by means of which one man could do the work of two, in the coarse goods, and that he likewife made feveral improvements in the colours and patterns of the finer goods; and that the people, instead of abufing him and breaking his thuttles, fpeedily adopted them, and imitated him in his other improvements; in this cafe, as the coarse goods could be made much cheaper, though each feparate weaver was paid more for his perfonal labour, and the fine goods were much more accept. able by being more beautiful, the demand for both would foon retura to the fouth, that for the coarfe cheap goods would confider ably ably increase; the double quantity of work performed on the coarfe articles would all be fold, as the goods would be much cheaper than those that were made at the other manufactory of the fame kinds ; and double the number of looms being now fet up, they would not only employ all the weavers that half the number employed before, bat twice the number of work-people, depending upon the quantity of yarn worked up. Twice the quantity of wool would be wanted; twice the quantity of carding; twice the quantity of fpinning, &c. fo that the number of people employed by this fingle invention would be exceedingly increased, and this manufactory would more than counterbalance the low price of labour in the north; fo far even as to draw back the people that had gone thither from the other, and in return endanger the ruin of the northern manufactory; where every thing and perfon depending upon the manufactory would languish, and the country be greatly diftreffed. If, upon an attempt to introduce the fhuttles into the northern manufactory; upon a decline of trade, the mistaken people, instead of receiving them with joy, fhould rife in mobs, and break them to pieces, the total deftruction of their manufactory would probably be the confequence, while that in the fouth would rival them at their own doors, and get all their work-people and their customers. By this prudent conduct the fouthern manufactory would become famous: but should the northern manufactory overcome their prejudices before the people were entirely difperfed, their business might revive; they would have fome advantage in the lower price of la bour; they would probably fucceed well in the low-priced goods; while thofe in the fouth would be most famous for the fine; and in this ftate the country would become famous, and an extenfive foreign commerce might be established and fupported to the benefit of the nation for many years. It would however be limited and counteracted by foreign rivals, fometimes lofing and fometimes gaining ground, as the varying price of labour and exertions of ingenuity Thould reciprocally take place; and if the price of labour fhould gradually rife in this country more than in the neighbouring nations, many articles might be loft; we might be beaten out of fome diftant markets, and the manufactory might gradually decline from this circumftance of the price of labour only. Fourthly. But fuppofing the goods to be well and skilfully manufactured, and a very extenfive commerce eftablished; fuppofing likewife the advancing price of labour was in fome measure counterbalanced by the aid of machines, and peculiar care and skill in finishing the goods, yet it is poffible that by a very general and unsuccessful var, by the advanced prices of freight, infurance, &c. our manufactories might experience unufual difficulties, and be in great danger of rain for want of foreign markets to which our manufacturers could have access. In fuch a state of things, which I am forry to obferve is nearly our prefent condition, what is to be done? Are we to fit tamely down, and view with idle and ineffectual lamentations our ap proaching diftreffes? Or muft we exert ourselves like men, and refolve by the most rational means to avoid them? It will answer no Q2 good good end to deny the truth, and ridiculously to boast of our health when every fymptom of a fatal difeafe is manifeft. Some of our markets are loft; others are rendered difficult of accefs; the home confumption is greatly diminished; Ireland, without a proportionate load of debt, will meet our manufacturers of wool at home and at foreign MARKETS; and every one who is accuftomed to commercial and political queftions knows that one third at least of the value of every piece of goods finished in this nation arifes from taxes; perhaps confiderably more. This is the weight that our manufactures of all kinds have long exifted under. It operates as fo much duty upon the exportation of them. To the abovementioned circumftances we mult now add the extraordinary advance of infurance, freight, &c. brought on by the war; and then no man can wonder that their wool lies upon the farmers hands; that rents are not paid; and that all the landed property in the kingdom has funk one third in value. That is, in a few years we have completely undone the bufinefs of a century; money being advanced, and lands lowered to. the prices they were at about one hundred years ago! It must be evident to any person who calmly confiders the prefent ftate of things in this country, that our manufactures and all our property must fill fuffer more, unless some speedy and powerful remedies be applied. The grand object must be, to remove, as far as is practicable, all the obstructions between us and our old markets; and as Ireland is to share with us in a free trade, if poffible to find new markets, that there may be room enough for us all. 6 • But we can neither fupply old markets nor new ones, if our heavy taxes, and confequently the price of labour, already much too high, fhould daily advance. There are several ways of lowering the price of labour in a country. The first, most falutary, and moft confiftent with true policy, is lowering the expences of government. The fecond, which would also be very judicious, and make our connexions with the East Indies fomewhat lefs alarming, as well as our property more real, to take as much fictitious money out of circulation as poffible immediately, and gradually to diminish it. The contrary policy is one principal caufe of the prefent deplorable condition of this country. This principle will explain to the intelligent reader why Europe, fo long as its prefent policy exifts, can never fafely have a free trade with the East Indies, into which the riches of Europe have been flowing for ages, without confiderably advancing the nominal prices of labour. Much more might be faid upon this very curious and interesting subject: but I must leave it to public confideration, and proceed to the third method of reducing the price of labour, which high taxes and expenfive habits of life force. manufacturing countries to adopt; and that is the ufe and conftant improvement of machines, to counterbalance taxes, and shorten labour. • If all these measures were adopted; if the taxes were reduced; if confiderable quantities of paper money were taken out of circulation; and if our manufacturers of wool, in particular, were to adopt with vigour the use of Spinning machines, which I would earnestly recommend to them; nay, if the laft measure only was purfued, their manufactures would be made much cheaper and better, and they would have fome chance of forcing their way to foreign markets, of recovering those that have been loft, and of producing demands from new ones: but in our present involved and intricate fituation, I apprehend the only effe dual remedy for the alarming decline of our manufactories and commerce, and all our other calamities, will be for us, like men who have recovered their fenfes from a ftrange infatuation, who have opened their eyes upon the brink of a precipice, to tread back our deluded steps with anxious fpeed; and to finish a tragedy of errors, with the happiest catastrophe in our power.' Few of our Readers, we believe, will be difpleafed with the length of this quotation, which gives a melancholy indeed, but nevertheless a faithful defcription of the prefent fituation and circumftances of Great Britain. The means of retrieving our affairs, as far, perhaps, as human fagacity can difcover them, the Author points out with that clearnefs and fimplicity which is well adapted to the practical nature of this short but comprehenfive performance. When we meet with a work enriched with fuch fubitantial advice, and deduced from those general principles of which the truth is equally fupported by reafon and experience, our admiration is naturally increased for thofe authors who first adopted, iliuftrated, and confirmed the just theory of national œconomy. The doctrines which they have discovered and explained, lie ready, as in a magazine of arms, to be employed against every affault of popular frenzy, or of political delufion. The line of conduct which they fuggeft and advise, is fo congenial to the feelings of men, as well as fo obvious to the unperverted dictates of natural reafon, that it is frequently pursued by the people before the principles upon which it is built be fufficiently, or even in any tolerable degree, understood by government. But unlefs thefe principles are unfolded, afcertained, and proved, there is no fecurity that the conduct to which they direct will long be obferved. Falfe refinements may be introduced; paffion and prejudice may interfere; and thus the general intereft of the community may be, and often has been, facrificed to the low concerns of a few of its moft worthless members, ART. VIII. A Solemn Appeal to the Public, from an injured Officer, Captain Baillie, late Lieutenant Governor of the Royal Hofpital for Seamen at Greenwich; arifing out of a Series of authentic Proceedings in the Court of King's Bench, on Six Profecutions against him, for publishing certain Libels (as it was alleged) in a printed Book, intitled, the Cafe and Memorial of Greenwich Hospital, addreffed to the General Governors, in Behalf of disabled Seamen, Widows, and Children;" and the Evidence given on the fabfequent Enquiry, at the Bar of the House of Lords, in confequence of the feveral Profecutions being difcharged with Cofts, Folio. Price 21. 2s. fewed. With a fine Engraving of Capt. Baillie, by Watson, from a Painting by Hone: or feparately, 11. 1 s. for the Book, or the Print. Almon, 1779. APTAIN Baillie affigns the following reafons for publifhing this Appeal, in his dedication of it to the Duke of Richmond, and other noble perfons: Where,' fays he, can a perfecuted and ruined feaman fly for refuge, with fo much propriety, as to thofe illuftrious perfonages who, during the late tedious and intricate enquiry into the management of Greenwich Hofpital, ftood forth the feamen's protectors, and with fuch zeal and abilities pleaded, though in vain, the cause of the aged and oppressed? 6 Many reafons tempt me to publish the proceedings at large. in the court of King's-Bench, and at the bar of the House of Lords. First, Because my enemies have induftriously circulated, that there did not appear the leaft proof of any abuse in the management of the Hofpital, in either of thofe great inquefts of the nation, and quote the report of the Select Committee of Directors, and fuch other flimfey documents, to authenticate their falfehoods. After the various and unparalleled perfecutions I have suffered, it would be giving too great a triumph to my enemies, to let fuch extraordinary tranfactions die away in oblivion, without tranfmitting to pofterity one trace of the oppreffions I have endured, and the caufe for which I have fuffered. This is a fecond motive far my leaving an indelible monument of the cruelty of my oppreffors; and though it will exhibit, to future ages, portraits of the moft fhocking deformity, yet it will be fone confolation, that the difabled and aged feamen have not been entirely friendlefs; and though the fupport their cause met with from your Lordships, has been at prefent ineffectual, yet it may give hopes to the defponding feamen, that on fome future day they will be reftored to their rights, and their charter preferved inviolate. To attain this great end, was the favourite object of my life; and if I perfevered in the purfuit with the fpirit of a reformer, and the zeal of an enthufiaft, I am not 3 |