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trial he shall pay treble costs； besides all other penalties。
When such restrictions are imposed upon the inland trade；
the coasting trade； we may believe； cannot be left very free。
Every owner of wool who carries or causes to be carried any wool
to any port or place on the seacoast； in order to be from thence
transported by sea to any other place or port on the coast； must
first cause an entry thereof to be made at the port from whence
it is intended to be conveyed； containing the weight； marks； and
number of the packages； before he brings the same within five
miles of that port； on pain of forfeiting the same； and also the
horses； carts； and other carriages； and also of suffering and
forfeiting as by the other laws in force against the exportation
of wool。 This law； however （1st William III； c。 32）； is so very
indulgent as to declare that； 〃This shall not hinder any person
from carrying his wool home from the place of shearing； though it
be within five miles of the sea； provided that in ten days after
shearing； and before he remove the wool； he do under his hand
certify to the next officer of the customs； the true number of
fleeces； and where it is housed； and do not remove the same；
without certifying to such officer； under his hand； his intention
so to do； three days before。〃 Bond must be given that the wool to
be carried coastways is to be landed at the particular port for
which it is entered outwards； and if any part of it is landed
without the presence of an officer； not only the forfeiture of
the wool is incurred as in other goods； but the usual additional
penalty of three shillings for every pound weight is likewise
incurred。
Our woollen manufactures； in order to justify their demand
of such extraordinary restrictions and regulations； confidently
asserted that English wool was of a peculiar quality； superior to
that of any other country； that the wool of other countries could
not； without some mixture of it； be wrought up into any tolerable
manufacture； that fine cloth could not be made without it； that
England； therefore； if the exportation of it could be totally
prevented； could monopolize to herself almost the whole woollen
trade of the world； and thus； having no rivals； could sell at
what price she pleased； and in a short time acquire the most
incredible degree of wealth by the most advantageous balance of
trade。 This doctrine； like most other doctrines which are
confidently asserted by any considerable number of people； was；
and still continues to be； most implicitly believed by a much
greater number… by almost all those who are either unacquainted
with the woollen trade； or who have not made particular
inquiries。 It is； however； so perfectly false that English wool
is in any respect necessary for the making of fine cloth that it
is altogether unfit for it。 Fine cloth is made altogether of
Spanish wool。 English wool cannot be even so mixed with Spanish
wool as to enter into the composition without spoiling and
degrading； in some degree； the fabric of the cloth。
It has been shown in the foregoing part of this work that
the effect of these regulations has been to depress the price of
English wool； not only below what it naturally would be in the
present times； but very much below what it actually was in the
time of Edward III。 The price of Scots wool； when in consequence
of the union it became subject to the same regulations； is said
to have fallen about one half。 It is observed by the very
accurate and intelligent author of the Memoirs of Wool； the
Reverend Mr。 John Smith； that the price of the best English wool
in England is generally below what wool of a very inferior
quality commonly sells for in the market of Amsterdam。 To depress
the price of this commodity below what may be called its natural
and proper price was the avowed purpose of those regulations； and
there seems to be no doubt of their having produced the effect
that was expected from them。
This reduction of price； it may perhaps be thought； by
discouraging the growing of wool； must have reduced very much the
annual produce of that commodity； though not below what it
formerly was； yet below what； in the present state of things； it
probably would have been； had it； in consequence of an open and
free market； been allowed to rise to the natural and proper
price。 I am； however； disposed to believe that the quantity of
the annual produce cannot have been much； though it may perhaps
have been a little； affected by these regulations。 The growing of
wool is not the chief purpose for which the sheep farmer employs
his industry and stock。 He expects his profit not so much from
the price of the fleece as from that of the carcass； and the
average or ordinary price of the latter must even； in many cases；
make up to him whatever deficiency there may be in the average or
ordinary price of the former。 It has been observed in the
foregoing part of this work that； 〃Whatever regulations tend to
sink the price； either of wool or of raw hides； below what it
naturally would be； must； in an improved and cultivated country；
have some tendency to raise the price of butcher's meat。 The
price both of the great and small cattle which are fed on
improved and cultivated land must be sufficient to pay the rent
which the landlord； and the profit which the farmer has reason to
expect from improved and cultivated land。 If it is not； they will
soon cease to feed them。 Whatever part of this price； therefore；
is not paid by the wool and the hide must be paid by the carcass。
The less there is paid for the one； the more must be paid for the
other。 In what manner this price is to be divided upon the
different parts of the beast is indifferent to the landlords and
farmers； provided it is all paid to them。 In an improved and
cultivated country； therefore； their interest as landlords and
farmers cannot be much affected by such regulations； though their
interest as consumers may by the rise in the price of
provisions。〃 According to this reasoning； therefore； this
degradation in the price of wool is not likely； in an improved
and cultivated country； to occasion any diminution in the annual
produce of that commodity； except so far as； by raising the price
of mutton； it may somewhat diminish the demand for； and
consequently the production of； that particular species of
butcher's meat。 Its effect； however； even in this way； it is
probable； is not very considerable。
But though its effect upon the quantity of the annual
produce may not have been very considerable； its effect upon the
quality； it may perhaps be thought； must necessarily have been
very great。 The degradation in the quality of English wool； if
not below what it was in former times； yet below what it
naturally would have been in the present state of improvement and
cultivation； must have been； it may perhaps be supposed； very
nearly in proportion to the degradation of price。 As the quality
depends upon the breed； upon the pasture； and upon the management
and cleanliness of the sheep； during the