to that of 1774, it was equally fuperior to that of 1769, as that of 1785 was to that of 1774: That the coaft trade was much greater, in 1785, than ever it had been in any prior year: And, that the fishing bufinefs of 1785 was more extenfive than it had been in 1769, but much more confined than in 1774, if we may implicitly credit the custom-house books. However the foreign trade of Scotland may have been depreffed by the colony-war, there is reafon to believe, that he has thereby added to her domeftic manufactures. The commercial capitals, which could no longer be employed abroad, were at length more ufefully laid out at home. Inftead of promoting the labour of other countries, these capitals furnished employment to many hands, within the kingdom. And, Scotland has, by thefe means, extended her valuable manufacture of gauzes; fhe has augmented the number of her print-fields; fhe has acquired every branch of the cotton business; and the has greatly increased her linens*. Thus it is, that an active people may * Of Linens there were made for fale; in 1772 13,089,006 yards. 1773-10,748,110 be in 1782 15,348,744 yards, · The greater number of fhipping, which are at present employed, than before the war, in the coaft-trade of Scotland, feems also to evince an augmentation of domestic commerce. This comfortable truth is also proved by the increase of the - be even enriched, by throwing obftructions in the way of their foreign commerce. And, if productive labour conftitute genuine wealth, the Scots may be regarded, at prefent, as a nation more induftrious, opulent, and populous, than they were before the colony-war began, and much more than at the epoch of the Union. Thefe obfervations apply equally to England. Every occurrence, which at any time turned additional capitals into domeftic employments, neceffarily contributed to improve the agriculture, to augment the manufactures, to increase the wealth, and to add to the population of the country, by yielding a greater quantity of productive labour. Ireland, we have clearly feen, add millions to her numbers, in the short period of little more than a century, amidst civil war, and frequent emigrations. Scotland, we have also beheld, add greatly to her effective population, in the effluxion of forty years. And, England, like every other civilized country, muft, of confequence, have made many additions to her populoufnefs, during the bufy courfe of the laft hundred years. An argument was brought forward, with the parade of confidence, to prove a contrary pofition. But, after a fair examination, this argument, if it merit that dignified name, has export by fea of Scotch manufactures; of which there were thus exported, according to a three years average, ending with 1774, the value of Ditto, with 1792 £.478,347 888,425 been been found to have at least the pertinacity of factiousness, if it have not the frivoloufnefs of folly. Let all, then, who, like true philofophers, reafon from facts, and deduce from experience, "Leave fuch to trifle with more grace and ease, CHAP. CHAP. XII. A Review of the foregoing Documents proposed.-A Supplemental Proof from a Chronological Table of Commerce.-A Commentary thereon.-The fucceffive Epochs from 1660 to 1793.—The Tonnage of Shipping.-The Value of exported Cargoes.-The Balance of Trade. The nett Customs. The Amount of the Coinage in that long Period.-The Conclufion of this Review, which reflects a flattering Profpect of our future Profperity. A - REVIEW of the feveral documents, which are contained in the foregoing Estimate, would greatly illuftrate the interesting subject of the profperity, and populoufnefs, of Great Britain. As a fupplemental proof, I have annexed a chronological account of commerce, in this ifland, from the Restoration to the year 1793, with design to exhibit a more connected view of the weaknefs of its commencement, the ftruggles of its progreffion, and the greatnefs of its maturity, than has yet been done. This chronological Table will speak to the eye, while it convinces the understanding, and comforts the heart, And, the commentary on the various heads of this Table will furnifh opportunities, which did occur before, of treating of many topics that, as they confirm the doubtful, and illuftrate the dark, will throw a very pleasant light on our future profperity, by taking a short retrofpect of the past, A CHRO |