SOMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH FRANCE AND PORTUGAL 459 
of smuggling which was developed under this system of AD, 10s) 
prohibition, the measure was generally regarded as suc- ’ 
cessful in its object of securing the home market to British Pepi 
manufacturers of textile goods. The Act of 1678 was spoken Fro 
. . . . rade. 
of as marking an era in the history of English commerce?; ' 
and it undoubtedly denotes the time when the English com- 
mercial system began to be consciously shaped in the form 
in which it was successfully attacked by Adam Smith. From 
the Revolution till the revolt of the colonies, the regulation 
of commerce was considered, not so much with reference to 
other elements of national power, or even in its bearing 
on revenue, but chiefly with a view to the promotion of 
industry. 
This is illustrated very clearly in the attitude which was and the 
-_ ee u securing 
taken by the British public in regard to two of the com- of the 
. . . 5 
mercial treaties of the time. There had been days when re 
wool, or undressed cloth, had been the chief commodities of cloth 
English export, but eighteenth century statesmen were more 
roncerned in trying to secure a better market for finished 
cloth. This was the aim of Mr Methuen, in carrying through 
the much vaunted treaty with Portugal, which was concluded 
in 1703. All those who were interested in the widely diffused 
manufacture of English cloth, regarded the negotiations as 
most successful, since they served to reopen a market which 
had been partially closed. During the preceding twenty 
years, the Portuguese, in the hope of fostering a native 
manufacture, had prohibited all importation of English 
cloth2. Mr Methuen was sent as a special ambassador to 
Portugal and intimated that it would be very acceptable to 
France. “Forasmuch as your Majestyes upon just and honourable grounds have 
beene pleased to declare actuall Warr with France and to enter into Severall 
Confederacies for carrying on the same and that it hath beene found by long 
sxperience that the Importing of French Wines, Vinegar, Brandy, Linnen, Silks, 
Salt, Paper and other the Commodities of the Growth, Product or Manufacture of 
Frapce or of the Territories or Dominions of the French King hath much 
sxhausted the Treasure of this Nation lessened the Value of the native Com- 
wodities and Manufactures thereof and greatly impoverished the English Artificers 
and Handycrafts and caused great detriment to this Kingdome in generall Bee it 
herefore enacted” ete. 
t Smith, Memoirs of Wool, 1. 325. 
2 British Merchant, mt. 82. This Portuguese manufacture appears to have 
peen due to the energy of an Irishman in 1680 who took a band of artisans over 
ith him and established the trade.