The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-05-20
CHE enquirer.
RICHMOND, eotb MAJ.
EUROPEAN SKETCHES
No. III.
STATE OF ENGLAND.

| Commercial one. The latter was the carrier
| OF the CIVILIZED world the other is now its ma
nutacturer The one exchanged for different
countries the produce of their reflective IA
oour: the other fupplies every country with
| the produce of its own. The nteref and the
policy of England are therefore palpable to the
rnoft iha'low-minded politician.
! Coming her within her own illand block up
the ports OF agricultural nations againt her, and
the ionrces OF her PROPERTY are completely ex-
| hauited. Her various and c0itly manufactures
wonld iuit be as ufelefs to her. as the gold of
Robinfon Crufoe in his folitary iland. Her ar
Tits would be driven from their looms to the
plough. The inhabitants ofthe towns would Gy
70 the country for employment and bread. The
| toll OF q. Is. can however fupport no greater po-
pu'ation than the fame quantity of land in anyo-
Their part of the world under the fame degree of
cultivation. But who does not fee that the extent
| OF her land is in much efs proportion to the
! number Other people, than it is in moh other
Partsof Europe, or in the u. s. The cxtinguilh-
rncnt of her manufactures would confcouently
produce the exile of her population. The in
habitants would feek fome more f,youred
cline, where they could ply their habitual CAL
+ ngs with greater freedom, or acquire land
on 7ore favourable terms. From ten and
half millions of fouls the population of England
would perhaps dwindle down to five or fix mil
lions.
Such effects would arife from the total extin-
guilhment OF her commerce but fmaller
degree of the fame caufe would have its cor
Respondent efe6t in fmalIcr degree. Shut ND
ilngle market in Europe aganft all her ma
nutactures or thut up every. market againft
Jingle branch of her manufactures, & YOU touch
the iources of her wealth and population. 1t
is fact that a few years fince the mere fall,-
ionabie exchange of buckles for fhoe-frings,
reduced hundreds of her manufacturers to mac
tivity and beggary.
The fame reduction of her rcfources, threatens
her from another quarter. Defroy her ma
nutatturing monopoly; e(tablilh rival workfhops
IN France or in America let her be underfold
IN the very markets which will remain open to
her produce and the tide of Eneli!h profne-
rity goes backward. Holland was once the
weaithef fate in Europe and why. becaure
Holland was the principal carrying nation of
Europe. England, however, attacked her by
navigationact encouraged the multiple alton of
ihIps and ieamen Infatuated her commerce in
TO every port; drove the Dutch from their ia
vourite puriuit of the carrying trade and from
that moment the PROPERTY of Holland began to
ebb. Can England expect to elude the fame
brow, by which ihe has thus alm@it wthered the
genius of Holland Let only powerful rivals in
the manufacturing intereft arifc, and fhe imme
al W.
er. Even at this time there wants nothing to
ruin Great Britain but the eftablifllment of ma
nufattures, or rather the exitteuce of 4 capital,
in the United States.
But it is not the wealth of her people alone
nay it is the very eXiftence of her prefent 60
verDment; that depends upon the profperity
of her manufactures. What is it that paws the
so millions of the intereft of her public debt
that equps her immenfe fleets and armies
that upholds the tottering greatness and the
corrupting patronage of the crown? The an
nua produce of her land, may contribute its
quota, but it is the produce of her manufac
turerS that furniihes the greatelt proportion.
1t her artilts were cut off from employment
if her velfels were lhut up in her docks the
holders of her public flock might go and whic-
tie for their income. But from that moment,
when the government is no longer able to diff
charge the interelt of its debt, it may bid adieu
to its credit; and TO its neceiIary refourceS!
War may attack her in the very vitals but
where would be her credit Where would be
her loans What would become of the convent
ent, huckfering Jews of the government the
complainant fir Franis Baringfs who are now
bidding againt each other for the new loan of
90 millions ferIing They would all difap-
pear with the principal fountains of her
wealth; and the prefent contribution would
fall a victim to the violence of domeitic
conyuhons, or the triumphant power of fome
foreign invader.--One courfe of policy only
could preferve it from ruin. England mutt
quietly defend to the rank of fecond-rate
power in Europe. She mutt, like Denmark,
ieek an ignomnous fafety in forbearing
to NEEDLE with the affairs of the continent
Such are the caufes which may check the
riches of the people and overthrow the prefent
government of England. 1t is only to reverfe
thefe caufes, and the principal fprings of their
PROPERTY are at once laid open. The inte-
ret Of Great Britain requires that fhc fhould
have acceis to all the ports of the CIVILIZED world.
Her interea demands the mot unbounded
freedom of commerce. Her interef requires
that no rival manufactures fhould fourth in
Europe or the United States. Whatever diC-
terminates agriculture over the furface of the
earth, is more Especially conducive to her well
fare. TbeProjperity Of her manufacturer is in
The |ame proportion qVifb the nunber anu rich.
HeJJ ot'fbe agricultural RafeJ tint are e1abIiHed.
Under this aipett, we may call the the United
States the gold mines of Great Britain. E.
very tree that is felled, and every foot of
ground that is brought into cultivation in
our weitern territories, is 70 much wealth
and 70 much fecurity added to- her empire.
Under this point Of view the acquiftion of
Louiiana deicrves to be regarded as fcarcely
more profitable TO ourleves than TO them
becdufe u will not only furnfh new confumers
of Britiib manufacturers, but prevent the imme-
date eitabliihmeDt Of our own in the RaRern