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made by the English； and their lack of foresight as to the
necessary consequences？
Be that as it may； this much is clearly demonstrated； that it
was necessary for France to protect herself still more； under
penalty of losing the greater part of her linen manufacturing for
the benefit of England； and that the first and most recent
experiment of the increase of freedom of trade between England and
France remains as an indelible memorial of English craft and of
French inexperience； as a new Methuen Treaty； as a second Eden
Treaty。 But what did Mr Poulett Thompson do when he perceived the
complaints of the French linen manufacturers and the inclination of
the French Government to repair the mistake which had been made？ He
did what Mr Huskisson had done before him； he indulged in threats；
he threatened to exclude French wines and silk fabrics。 This is
English cosmopolitanism。 France must give up a manufacturing
industry of a thousand years' standing； bound up in the closest
manner with the entire economy of her lower classes and especially
with her agriculture； the products of which must be reckoned as
chief necessaries of life for all classes； and of the entire amount
of between three and four hundred millions； in order thereby to
purchase the privilege of exporting to England some few millions
more in value of wines and silk manufactures。 Quite apart from this
disproportion in value； it must be considered in what a position
France would be placed if the commercial relations between both
nations became interrupted in consequence of a war； in case viz。
that France could no more export to England her surplus products of
silk manufactures and wines； but at the same time suffered from the
want of such an important necessary of life as linen。
If anyone reflects on this he will see that the linen question
is not simply a question of economical well…being； but； as
everything is which concerns the national manufacturing power； is
still more a question of the independence and power of the nation。
It seems indeed as if the spirit of invention had set itself
the task； in this perfecting of the linen manufacture； to make the
nations comprehend the nature of the manufacturing interest； its
relations with agriculture； and its influence on the independence
and power of the State； and to expose the erroneous arguments of
the popular theory。 The school maintains； as is well known； that
every nation possesses special advantages in various branches of
production； which she has either derived from nature； or which she
has partly acquired in the course of her career； and which under
free trade compensate one another。 We have in a previous chapter
adduced proof that this argument is only true in reference to
agriculture； in which production depends for the most part on
climate and on the fertility of the soil； but that it is not true
in respect to manufacturing industry； for which all nations
inhabiting temperate climates have equal capability provided that
they possess the necessary material； mental； social； and political
qualifications。 England at the present day offers the most striking
proof of this。 If any nations whatever are specially adapted by
their past experience and exertions； and through their natural
qualifications； for the manufacture of linen； those are the
Germans； the belgians； the Dutch； and the inhabitants of the North
of France for a thousand years past。 The English； on the other
hand； up to the middle of the last century； had notoriously made
such small progress in that industry； that they imported a great
proportion of the linen which they required； from abroad。 It would
never have been possible for them； without the duties by which they
continuously protected this manufacturing industry； even to supply
their own markets and colonies with linen of their own manufacture。
And it is well known how Lords Castlereagh and Liverpool adduced
proof in Parliament； that without protection it was impossible for
the Irish linen manufactures to sustain competition with those of
Germany。 At present； however； we see how the English threaten to
monopolise the linen manufacture of the whole of Europe； in
consequence of their inventions； notwithstanding that they were for
a hundred years the worst manufacturers of linen in all Europe；
just as they have monopolised for the last fifty years the cotton
markets of the East Indies； notwithstanding that one hundred years
previously they could not even compete in their own market with the
Indian cotton manufacturers。 At this moment it is a matter of
dispute in France how it happens that England has lately made such
immense progress in the manufacture of linen； although Napoleon was
the first who offered such a great reward for the invention of a
machine for spinning cotton； and that the French machinists and
manufacturers had been engaged in this trade before the English。
The inquiry is made whether the English or the French possessed
more mechanical talent。 All kinds of explanations are offered
except the true and the natural one。 It is absurd to attribute
specially to the English greater mechanical talent； or greater
skill and perseverance in industry； than to the Germans or to the
French。 Before the time of Edward III the English were the greatest
bullies and good…for…nothing characters in Europe； certainly it
never occurred to them to compare themselves with the Italians and
Belgians or with the Germans in respect to mechanical talent or
industrial skill； but since then their Government has taken their
education in hand； and thus they have by degrees made such progress
that they can dispute the palm of industrial skill with their
instructors。 If the English in the last twenty years have made more
rapid progress in machinery for linen manufacture than other
nations； and especially the French； have done； this has only
occurred because； firstly； they had attained greater eminence in
mechanical skill； secondly； that they were further advanced in
machinery for spinning and weaving cotton； which is so similar to
that for spinning and weaving linen； thirdly； that in consequence
of their previous commercial policy； they had become possessed of
more capital than the French； fourthly； that in consequence of that
commercial policy their home market for linen goods was far more
extensive than that of the French； and lastly that their protective
duties； combined with the circumstances above named； afforded to
the mechanical talent of the nation greater stimulus and more means
to devote itself to perfecting