The Industrial Revolution

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1027928145

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-159926

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Cunningham, William http://d-nb.info/gnd/128907487

Title:: The Industrial Revolution

Place of publication:: Cambridge

Publisher:: The University Press

Year of publication:: 1922

Scope:: xxii S., S. 404-886

Digitisation:: 2021

Collection:: Economics Books

Usage license:: Get license information via the feedback formular.

162 PARLIAMENTARY COLBERTISM drafted! to give effect to this agreement and make the necessary alterations in the tariffs, which then imposed more than fifty per cent. on French imports® above what which was taken on the goods of other countries. There was a would have allowed the general dread that the proposed arrangement would not gout) of only open the home market to the competition of French bisittey manufactures, but would indirectly lead to a rupture with Portugal, and the closing of the profitable market for English goods which had been secured in 1703. - The proposal roused a storm of indignation; the Government endeavoured to be loyal to their agreement, and tried to secure the suspension of the duties on French wines for two months, in the hope that there would be difficulty in re- imposing them; but though they commanded a majority in the House of Commons, the motion was rejected. A very interesting struggle followed, as both the Government and their opponents endeavoured to win the day by con- vincing public opinion. Daniel Defoe* was employed to carry on the Mercator, which was published thrice a week, and was devoted to demonstrating the beneficial character of the French trade. “As he had,” to quote his | This and other documents are printed at length in the British Merchant. rol. 1. 130. 2 Adam Smith summarises the matter thus in the third edition, 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, sither by other laws or by particular clauses of the same law. In 1696, a second uty of twenty-five per cent., the first not having been thought a sufficient dis- souragement, 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 seen 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 ocfore the commencement of the present (1783) 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 was liable. But upon the greater part of z00ds, these duties are equivalent to & prohibition. The French in their turn, have, I believe, treated our goods and manufactures just as hardly.” Wealth of Nations, 1v. 8, Pt. 1, p. 192. 3 Qmith’s Chronicon. iI. 105.

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: The Industrial Revolution

Monograph

Table of contents

Download

Monograph

This page

Image fragment

Citation links

Citation recommendation