按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
employment。 But that part of it which was fixed in workhouses；
and in the instruments of trade； could scarce be disposed of
without considerable loss。 The equitable regard； therefore； to
his interest requires that changes of this kind should never be
introduced suddenly； but slowly； gradually； and after a very long
warning。 The legislature； were it possible that its deliberations
could be always directed； not by the clamorous importunity of
partial interests； but by an extensive view of the general good；
ought upon this very account； perhaps； to be particularly careful
neither to establish any new monopolies of this kind； nor to
extend further those which are already established。 Every such
regulation introduces some degree of real disorder into the
constitution of the state； which it will be difficult afterwards
to cure without occasioning another disorder。
How far it may be proper to impose taxes upon the
importation of foreign goods； in order not to prevent their
importation but to raise a revenue for government； I shall
consider hereafter when I come to treat of taxes。 Taxes imposed
with a view to prevent； or even to diminish importation； are
evidently as destructive of the revenue of the customs as of the
freedom of trade。
CHAPTER III
Of the extraordinary Restraints upon the Importation of Goods of
almost all kinds from those Countries with which the Balance is
supposed to be disadvantageous
PART I
Of the Unreasonableness of those Restraints even upon the
Principles of the Commercial System
TO lay extraordinary restraints upon the those particular
countries with which the importation of goods of almost all kinds
from balance of trade is supposed to be disadvantageous； is the
second expedient by which the commercial system proposes to
increase the quantity of gold and silver。 Thus in Great Britain；
Silesia lawns may be imported for home consumption upon paying
certain duties。 But French cambrics and lawns are prohibited to
be imported； except into the port of London； there to be
warehoused for exportation。 Higher duties are imposed upon the
wines of France than upon those of Portugal； or indeed of any
other country。 By what is called the impost 1692； a duty of
five…and…twenty per cent of the rate or value was laid upon all
French goods； while the goods of other nations were； the greater
part of them； subjected to much lighter duties； seldom exceeding
five per cent。 The wine； brandy； salt and vinegar of France were
indeed excepted； these commodities being subjected to other heavy
duties； either by other laws； or by particular clauses of the
same law。 In 1696； a second duty of twenty…five per cent； the
first not having been thought a sufficient discouragement； was
imposed upon all French goods； except brandy； together with a new
duty of five…and…twenty pounds upon the ton of French wine； and
another of fifteen pounds upon the ton of French vinegar。 French
goods have never been omitted in any of those general subsidies；
or duties of five per cent； which have been imposed upon all； or
the greater part of the goods enumerated in the book of rates。 If
we count the one…third and two…third subsidies as making a
complete subsidy between them； there have been five of these
general subsidies； so that before the commencement of the present
war seventy…five per cent may be considered as the lowest duty to
which the greater part of the goods of the growth； produce； or
manufacture of France were liable。 But upon the greater part of
goods； those duties are equivalent to a prohibition。 The French
in their turn have； I believe； treated our goods and manufactures
just as hardly； though I am not so well acquainted with the
particular hardships which they have imposed upon them。 Those
mutual restraints have put an end to almost all fair commerce
between the two nations； and smugglers are now the principal
importers； either of British goods into France； or of French
goods into Great Britain。 The principles which I have been
examining in the foregoing chapter took their origin from private
interest and the spirit of monopoly； those which I am going to
examine in this； from national prejudice and animosity。 They are；
accordingly； as might well be expected； still more unreasonable。
They are so； even upon the principles of the commercial system。
First； though it were certain that in the case of a free
trade between France and England； for example； the balance would
be in favour of France； it would by no means follow that such a
trade would be disadvantageous to England； or that the general
balance of its whole trade would thereby be turned more against
it。 If the wines of France are better and cheaper than those of
Portugal； or its linens than those of Germany； it would be more
advantageous for Great Britain to purchase both the wine and the
foreign linen which it had occasion for of France than of
Portugal and Germany。 Though the value of the annual importations
from France would thereby be greatly augmented； the value of the
whole annual importations would be diminished； in proportion as
the French goods of the same quality were cheaper than those of
the other two countries。 This would be the case； even upon the
supposition that the whole French goods imported were to be
consumed in Great Britain。
But； secondly； a great part of them might be re…exported to
other countries； where； being sold with profit； they might bring
back a return equal in value； perhaps； to the prime cost of the
whole French goods imported。 What has frequently been said of the
East India trade might possibly be true of the French； that
though the greater part of East India goods were bought with gold
and silver； the re…exportation of a part of them to other
countries brought back more gold and silver to that which carried
on the trade than the prime cost of the whole amounted to。 One of
the most important branches of the Dutch trade； at present；
consists in the carriage of French goods to other European
countries。 Some part even of the French wine drank in Great
Britain is clandestinely imported from Holland and Zeeland。 If
there was either a free trade between France and England； or if
French goods could be imported upon paying only the same duties
as those of other European nations； to be drawn back upon
exportation； England might have some share of a trade which is
found so advantageous to Holland。
Thirdly； and lastly； there is no certain criterion by which
we can determine on which side what is called the balance between
any two countries lies； or which of them exports to the greatest
value。 National prejudice and animosity； prompted always by the
private interest of particular traders； are the principles which
generally direct our judgment upon all questions concerning it。
There are two criterions； however； which have frequently been
appealed to upon such occasions； the customhouse books and the
course of exchange。 The custom…house books； I think； it is now