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really laid the foundation of England's maritime supremacy。 It was
round the woollen industry of England that all other branches of
manufacture grew up as round a common parent stem； and it thus
constitutes the foundation of England's greatness in industry；
commerce； and naval power。
At the same time the other branches of English manufacture were
in no way neglected。
Already under the reign of Elizabeth the importation of metal
and leather goods； and of a great many other manufactured articles；
had been prohibited； while the immigration of German miners and
metal workers was encouraged。 Formerly ships had been bought of the
Hansards or were ordered to be built in the baltic ports。 But she
contrived； by restrictions on the one hand and encouragements on
the other； to promote shipbuilding at home。
The timber required for the purpose was brought to England from
the baltic ports； whereby again a great impetus was given to the
British export trade to those regions。
The herring fishery had been learned from the Dutch； whale
fishing from the dwellers on the shores of the Bay of Biscay； and
both these fisheries were now stimulated by means of bounties。
James I more particularly took a lively interest in the
encouragement of shipbuilding and of fisheries。 Though we may smile
at his unceasing exhortations to his people to eat fish； yet we
must do him the justice to say that he very clearly perceived on
what the future greatness of England depended。 The immigration into
England； moreover； of the Protestant artificers who had been driven
from Belgium and France by Philip II and Louis XIV gave to England
an incalculable increase of industrial skill and manufacturing
capital。 To these men England owes her manufactures of fine woollen
cloth； her progress in the arts of making hats； linen； glass；
paper； silk； clocks and watches； as well as a part of her metal
manufacture； branches of industry which she knew how speedily to
increase by means of prohibition and high duties。
The island kingdom borrowed from every country of the Continent
its skill in special branches of industry； and planted them on
English soil； under the protection of her customs system。 Venice
had to yield （amongst other trades in articles of luxury） the art
of glass manufacture； while Persia had to give up the art of carpet
weaving and dyeing。
Once possessed of any one branch of industry； England bestowed
upon it sedulous care and attention； for centuries treating it as
a young tree which requires support and care。 Whoever is not yet
convinced that by means of diligence； skill； and economy； every
branch of industry must become profitable in time that in any
nation already advanced in agriculture and civilisation； by means
of moderate protection； its infant manufactures； however defective
and dear their productions at first may be； can by practice；
experience； and internal competition readily attain ability to
equal in every respect the older productions of their foreign
competitors； whoever is ignorant that the success of one particular
branch of industry depends on that of several other branches； or to
what a high degree a nation can develop its productive powers； if
she takes care that each successive generation shall continue the
work of industry where former generations have left it； let him
first study the history of English industry before he ventures to
frame theoretical systems； or to give counsel to practical
statesmen to whose hands is given the power of promoting the weal
or the woe of nations。
Under George I English statesmen had long ago clearly perceived
the grounds on which the greatness of the nation depends。 At the
opening of Parliament in 1721； the King is made to say by the
Ministry； that 'it is evident that nothing so much contributes to
promote the public well…being as the exportation of manufactured
goods and the importation of foreign raw material。（4*）
This for centuries had been the ruling maxim of English
commercial policy； as formerly it had been that of the commercial
policy of the Venetian Republic。 It is in force at this day （1841）
just as it was in the days of Elizabeth。 The fruits it has borne
lie revealed to the eyes of the whole world。 The theorists have
since contended that England has attained to wealth and power not
by means of； but in spite of； her commercial policy。 As well might
they argue that trees have grown to vigour and fruitfulness； not by
means of； but in spite of； the props and fences with which they had
been supported when they were first planted。
Nor does English history supply less conclusive evidence of the
intimate connection subsisting between a nation's general political
policy and political economy。 Clearly the rise and growth of
manufactures in England； with the increase of population resulting
from it； tended to create an active demand for salt fish and for
coals； which led to a great increase of the mercantile marine
devoted to fisheries and the coasting trade。 Both the fisheries and
the coasting trade were previously in the hands of the Dutch。
Stimulated by high customs duties and by bounties； the English now
directed their own energies to the fishery trade； and by the
Navigation Laws they secured chiefly to British sailors not only
the transport of sea…borne coal； but the whole of the carrying
trade by sea。 The consequent increase in England's mercantile
marine led to a proportionate augmentation of her naval power；
which enabled the English to bid defiance to the Dutch fleet。
Shortly after the passing of the Navigation Laws； a naval war broke
out between England and Holland； whereby the trade of the Dutch
with countries beyond the English Channel suffered almost total
suspension； while their shipping in the North Sea and the Baltic
was almost annihilated by English privateers。 Hume estimates the
number of Dutch vessels which thus fell into the hands of English
cruisers at 1；600； while Davenant； in his 'Report on the Public
Revenue；' assures us that in the course of the twenty…eight years
next following the passing of the English Navigation Laws； the
English shipping trade had increased to double its previous
extent。（5*）
Amongst the more important results of the Navigation Laws； the
following deserve special mention； viz。：
1。 The expansion of the English trade with all the northern
kingdoms； with Germany and Belgium （export of manufactures and
import of raw material）； from which； according to Anderson's
account； up to the year 1603 the English had been almost entirely
shut out by the Dutch。
2。 An immense extension of the contraband trade with Spain and
Portugal； and their West Indian colonies。
3。 A great increase of England's herring and whale fisheries；
which the Dutch had previously almost entirely monopolised。
4。 The conquest of the most important English colony in the
West Indies Jamaica in 1655； and with that； the command of
the West Indian sugar trade。
5。 The conclusion of the Methuen Treaty （1703） with Portugal；
of which we have fully treated in the chapters devoted to Spain and
Portugal in this work。 By the operation of this treaty the Dutch
and the Germans were entirely excluded from the important trade
with Portugal and her colonies： Portugal sank into complete
political dependence upon England； while England acquired the
means； through the gold and silver earned in her trade with
Portugal； of extending enormously her own commercial intercourse
with China and the East Indies； and thereby subsequently of laying
the foundation for her great Indian empire； and dispossessing the
Dutch from their most important trading stations。
The two results last enumerated stand in intimate connection
one with the other。 And the skill is especially noteworthy with
which England contrived to make these two countries Portugal and
India the instruments of her own future greatness。 Spain and
Portugal had in the main little to dispose of besides the precious
metals； while the requirements of the East； with the exception of
cloths； consisted chiefly of the precious metals。 So far everything
suited most admirably。 But the East had principally only cotton and
silk manufactures to offer in exchange； and that did not fit in
with the principle of the English Ministry before referred to；
namely； to export manufactured articles and import raw mater