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depends upon the breed； upon the pasture； and upon the management
and cleanliness of the sheep； during the whole progress of the
growth of the fleece； the attention to these circumstances； it
may naturally enough be imagined； can never be greater than in
proportion to the recompense which the price of the fleece is
likely to make for the labour and expense which that attention
requires。 It happens； however； that the goodness of the fleece
depends； in a great measure； upon the health； growth； and bulk of
the animal； the same attention which is necessary for the
improvement of the carcase is； in some respects； sufficient for
that of the fleece。 Notwithstanding the degradation of price；
English wool is said to have been improved considerably during
the course even of the present century。 The improvement might
perhaps have been greater if the price had been better； but the
lowness of price； though it may have obstructed； yet certainly it
has not altogether prevented that improvement。
The violence of these regulations； therefore； seems to have
affected neither the quantity nor the quality of the annual
produce of wool so much as it might have been expected to do
（though I think it probable that it may have affected the latter
a good deal more than the former）； and the interest of the
growers of wool； though it must have been hurt in some degree；
seems； upon the whole； to have been much less hurt than could
well have been imagined。
These considerations； however； will not justify the absolute
prohibition of the exportation of wool。 But they will fully
justify the imposition of a considerable tax upon that
exportation。
To hurt in any degree the interest of any one order of
citizens； for no other purpose but to promote that of some other；
is evidently contrary to that justice and equality of treatment
which the sovereign owes to all the different orders of his
subjects。 But the prohibition certainly hurts； in some degree；
the interest of the growers of wool； for no other purpose but to
promote that of the manufacturers。
Every different order of citizens is bound to contribute to
the support of the sovereign or commonwealth。 A tax of five； or
even of ten shillings upon the exportation of every ton of wool
would produce a very considerable revenue to the sovereign。 It
would hurt the interest of the growers somewhat less than the
prohibition； because it would not probably lower the price of
wool quite so much。 It would afford a sufficient advantage to the
manufacturer； because； though he might not buy his wool
altogether so cheap as under the prohibition； he would still buy
it； at least； five or ten shillings cheaper than any foreign
manufacturer could buy it； besides saving the freight and
insurance； which the other would be obliged to pay。 It is scarce
possible to devise a tax which could produce any considerable
revenue to the sovereign； and at the same time occasion so little
inconveniency to anybody。
The prohibition； notwithstanding all the penalties which
guard it； does not prevent the exportation of wool。 It is
exported； it is well known； in great quantities。 The great
difference between the price in the home and that in the foreign
market presents such a temptation to smuggling that all the
rigour of the law cannot prevent it。 This illegal exportation is
advantageous to nobody but the smuggler。 A legal exportation
subject to a tax； by affording a revenue to the sovereign； and
thereby saving the imposition of some other； perhaps； more
burdensome and inconvenient taxes might prove advantageous to all
the different subjects of the state。
The exportation of fuller's earth or fuller's clay； supposed
to be necessary for preparing and cleansing the woolen
manufactures； has been subjected to nearly the same penalties as
the exportation of wool。 Even tobacco…pipe clay； though
acknowledged to be different from fuller's clay； yet； on account
of their resemblance； and because fuller's clay might sometimes
be exported as tobacco…pipe clay； has been laid under the same
prohibitions and penalties。
By the 13th and 14th of Charles II； c。 7； the exportation；
not only of raw hides； but of tanned leather； except in the shape
of boots； shoes； or slippers； was prohibited； and the law gave a
monopoly to our bootmakers and shoemakers； not only against our
graziers； but against our tanners。 By subsequent statutes our
tanners have got themselves exempted from this monopoly upon
paying a small tax of only one shilling on the hundred…weight of
tanned leather； weighing one hundred and twelve pounds。 They have
obtained likewise the drawback of two…thirds of the excise duties
imposed upon their commodity even when exported without further
manufacture。 All manufactures of leather may be exported duty
free； and the exporter is besides entitled to the drawback of the
whole duties of excise。 Our graziers still continue subject to
the old monopoly。 Graziers separated from one another； and
dispersed through all the different corners of the country；
cannot； without great difficulty； combine together for the
purpose either of imposing monopolies upon their fellow citizens；
or of exempting themselves from such as may have been imposed
upon them by other people。 Manufacturers of all kinds； collected
together in numerous bodies in all great cities； easily can。 Even
the horns of cattle are prohibited to be exported； and the two
insignificant trades of the horner and combmaker enjoy； in this
respect； a monopoly against the graziers。
Restraints； either by prohibitions or by taxes； upon the
exportation of goods which are partially； but not completely
manufactured； are not peculiar to the manufacture of leather。 As
long as anything remains to be done； in order to fit any
commodity for immediate use and consumption； our manufacturers
think that they themselves ought to have the doing of it。 Woolen
yarn and worsted are prohibited to be exported under the same
penalties as wool。 Even white cloths are subject to a duty upon
exportation； and our dyers have so far obtained a monopoly
against our clothiers。 Our clothiers would probably have been
able to defend themselves against it； but it happens that the
greater part of our principal clothiers are themselves likewise
dyers。 Watch…cases； clockcases； and dial…plates for clocks and
watches have been prohibited to be exported。 Our clock…makers and
watch…makers are； it seems； unwilling that the price of this sort
of workmanship should be raised upon them by the competition of
foreigners。
By some old statutes of Edward M； Henry VIII； and Edward VI；
the exportation of all metals was prohibited。 Lead and tin were
alone excepted probably on account of the great abundance of
those metals； in the exportation of which a considerable part of
the trade of the kingdom in those days consisted。 For the
encouragement of the mining trade； the 5th of William and Mary；
c。 17； exempted from the prohibition iron； copper； and mundic
metal made from British ore。 The exportation of all sor