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exported to other European countries without a bounty； could be
very little affected by the freest importation of foreign goods。
Such manufactures must be sold as cheap abroad as any other
foreign goods of the same quality and kind； and consequently must
be sold cheaper at home。 They would still； therefore； keep
possession of the home market； and though a capricious man of
fashion might sometimes prefer foreign wares； merely because they
were foreign； to cheaper and better goods of the same kind that
were made at home； this folly could； from the nature of things；
extend to so few that it could make no sensible impression upon
the general employment of the people。 But a great part of all the
different branches of our woollen manufacture； of our tanned
leather； and of our hardware； are annually exported to other
European countries without any bounty； and these are the
manufactures which employ the greatest number of hands。 The silk；
perhaps； is the manufacture which would suffer the most by this
freedom of trade； and after it the linen； though the latter much
less than the former。
Secondly； though a great number of people should； by thus
restoring the freedom of trade； be thrown all at once out of
their ordinary employment and common method of subsistence； it
would by no means follow that they would thereby be deprived
either of employment or subsistence。 By the reduction of the army
and navy at the end of the late war； more than a hundred thousand
soldiers and seamen； a number equal to what is employed in the
greatest manufactures； were all at once thrown out of their
ordinary employment； but； though they no doubt suffered some
inconveniency； they were not thereby deprived of all employment
and subsistence。 The greater part of the seamen； it is probable；
gradually betook themselves to the merchant…service as they could
find occasion； and in the meantime both they and the soldiers
were absorbed in the great mass of the people； and employed in a
great variety of occupations。 Not only no great convulsion； but
no sensible disorder arose from so great a change in the
situation of more than a hundred thousand men； all accustomed to
the use of arms； and many of them to rapine and plunder。 The
number of vagrants was scarce anywhere sensibly increased by it；
even the wages of labour were not reduced by it in any
occupation； so far as I have been able to learn； except in that
of seamen in the merchant service。 But if we compare together the
habits of a soldier and of any sort of manufacturer； we shall
find that those of the latter do not tend so much to disqualify
him from being employed in a new trade； as those of the former
from being employed in any。 The manufacturer has always been
accustomed to look for his subsistence from his labour only： the
soldier to expect it from his pay。 Application and industry have
been familiar to the one； idleness and dissipation to the other。
But it is surely much easier to change the direction of industry
from one sort of labour to another than to turn idleness and
dissipation to any。 To the greater part of manufactures besides；
it has already been observed； there are other collateral
manufactures of so similar a nature that a workman can easily
transfer his industry from one of them to another。 The greater
part of such workmen too are occasionally employed in country
labour。 The stock which employed them in a particular manufacture
before will still remain in the country to employ an equal number
of people in some other way。 The capital of the country remaining
the same； the demand for labour will likewise be the same； or
very nearly the same； though it may be exerted in different
places and for different occupations。 Soldiers and seamen；
indeed； when discharged from the king's service； are at liberty
to exercise any trade； within any town or place of Great Britain
or Ireland。 Let the same natural liberty of exercising what
species of industry they please； be restored to all his Majesty's
subjects； in the same manner as to soldiers and seamen； that is；
break down the exclusive privileges of corporations； and repeal
the Statute of Apprenticeship； both which are real encroachments
upon natural liberty； and add to these the repeal of the Law of
Settlements； so that a poor workman； when thrown out of
employment either in one trade or in one place； may seek for it
in another trade or in another place without the fear either of a
prosecution or of a removal； and neither the public nor the
individuals will suffer much more from the occasional disbanding
some particular classes of manufacturers than from that of
soldiers。 Our manufacturers have no doubt great merit with their
country； but they cannot have more than those who defend it with
their blood； nor deserve to be treated with more delicacy。
To expect； indeed； that the freedom of trade should ever be
entirely restored in Great Britain is as absurd as to expect that
an Oceana or Utopia should ever be established in it。 Not only
the prejudices of the public； but what is much more
unconquerable； the private interests of many individuals；
irresistibly oppose it。 Were the officers of the army to oppose
with the same zeal and unanimity any reduction in the numbers of
forces with which master manufacturers set themselves against
every law that is likely to increase the number of their rivals
in the home market； were the former to animate their soldiers in
the same manner as the latter enflame their workmen to attack
with violence and outrage the proposers of any such regulation；
to attempt to reduce the army would be as dangerous as it has now
become to attempt to diminish in any respect the monopoly which
our manufacturers have obtained against us。 This monopoly has so
much increased the number of some particular tribes of them that；
like an overgrown standing army； they have become formidable to
the government； and upon many occasions intimidate the
legislature。 The Member of Parliament who supports every proposal
for strengthening this monopoly is sure to acquire not only the
reputation of understanding trade； but great popularity and
influence with an order of men whose numbers and wealth render
them of great importance。 If he opposes them； on the contrary；
and still more if he has authority enough to be able to thwart
them； neither the most acknowledged probity； nor the highest
rank； nor the greatest public services can protect him from the
most infamous abuse and detraction； from personal insults； nor
sometimes from real danger； arising from the insolent outrage of
furious and disappointed monopolists。
The undertaker of a great manufacture； who； by the home
markets being suddenly laid open to the competition of
foreigners； should be obliged to abandon his trade； would no
doubt suffer very considerably。 That part of his capital which
had usually been employed in purchasing materials and in paying
his workmen might； without much difficulty； perhaps； find another
employment。 But that part of it which was fixed in workhouses；