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Methuen Treaty as respects England； this much at least appears to
be made out； that； in respect to Portugal； they have in no way been
such as to tempt other nations to deliver over their home markets
for manufactured goods to English competition； for the sake of
facilitating the exportation of agricultural produce。 Agriculture
and trade； commerce and navigation； instead of improving from the
intercourse with England； went on sinking lower and lower in
Portugal。 In vain did Pombal strive to raise them； English
competition frustrated all his efforts。 At the same time it must
not be forgotten that in a country like Portugal； where the whole
social conditions are opposed to progress in agriculture； industry；
and commerce； commercial policy can effect but very little。
Nevertheless； the little which Pombal did effect proves how much
can be done for the benefit of industry by a government which is
anxious to promote its interests； if only the internal hindrances
which the social condition of a country presents can first be
removed。
The same experience was made in Spain in the reigns of Philip
V and his two immediate successors。 Inadequate as was the
protection extended to home industries under the Bourbons； and
great as was the lack of energy in fully enforcing the customs
laws； yet the remarkable animation which pervaded every branch of
industry and every district of the country as the result of
transplanting the commercial policy of Colbert from France to Spain
was unmistakable。（12*） The statements of Ustaritz and Ulloa（13*） in
regard to these results under the then prevailing circumstances are
astonishing。 For at that time were found everywhere only the most
wretched mule…tracks； nowhere any well…kept inns； nowhere any
bridges； canals； or river navigation； every province was closed
against the rest of Spain by an internal customs cordon； at every
city gate a royal toll was demanded； highway robbery and mendicancy
were pursued as regular professions； the contraband trade was in
the most flourishing condition； and the most grinding system of
taxation existed； these and such as these the above named writers
adduce as the causes of the decay of industry and agriculture。 The
causes of these evils fanaticism； the greed and the vices of the
clergy； the privileges of the nobles； the despotism of the
Government； the want of enlightenment and freedom amongst the
people Ustaritz and Ulloa dare not denounce。
A worthy counterpart to the Methuen Treaty with Portugal is the
Assiento Treaty of 1713 with Spain； under which power was granted
to the English to introduce each year a certain number of African
negroes into Spanish America； and to visit the harbour of
Portobello with one ship once a year； whereby an opportunity was
afforded them of smuggling immense quantities of goods into these
countries。
We thus find that in all treaties of commerce concluded by the
English； there is a tendency to extend the sale of their
manufactures throughout all the countries with whom they negotiate；
by offering them apparent advantages in respect of agricultural
produce and raw materials。 Everywhere their efforts are directed to
ruining the native manufacturing power of those countries by means
of cheaper goods and long credits。 If they cannot obtain low
tariffs； then they devote their exertions to defrauding the
custom…houses； and to organising a wholesale system of contraband
trade。 The former device； as we have seen； succeeded in Portugal；
the latter in Spain。 The collection of import dues upon the ad
valorem principle has stood them in good stead in this matter； for
which reason of late they have taken so much pains to represent the
principle of paying duty by weight as introduced by Prussia
as being injudicious。
NOTES：
1。 Anderson； vol。 i。 p。 127； vol。 ii。 p。 350。
2。 M。 G。 Simon； Recueil d'Observations sur l'Angleterre。 M閙oires
et Consid閞ations sur le Commerce et les Finances d'Espagne。
Ustaritz； Th閛rie et Pratique du Commerce。
3。 Chaptal； De l'Industrie Fran鏰ise； vol。 ii。 p。 245。
4。 The chief export trade of the Portuguese from Central and
Southern America consisted of the precious metals。 From 1748 to
1753； the exports amounted to 18 millions of piastres。 See
Humboldt's Essai Politique sur le Royaume de la Nouvelle Espagne；
vol。 ii。 p。 652。 The goods trade with those regions； as well as
with the West Indies； first assumed important proportions； by the
introduction of the sugar； coffee； and cotton planting。
5。 British Merchant； vol。 iii。 p。 69。
6。 Ibid。 p。 71。
7。 Ibid。 p。 76。
8。 Anderson； vol。 iii。 p。 67。
9。 British Merchant； vol。 iii。 p。 267。
10。 Ibid。 vol。 iii。 pp。 15； 20； 33； 38； 110； 253； 254。
11。 Anderson for the year 1703。
12。 Macpherson； Annals of Commerce for the years 1771 and 1774。 The
obstacles thrown in the way of the importation of foreign goods
greatly promoted the development of Spanish manufactures。 Before
that time Spain had been obtaining nineteen…twentieths of her
supplies of manufactured goods from England。 Brougham； Inquiry
into the Colonial Policy of the European Powers； Part I。 p。 421。
13。 Ustaritz； Th閛rie du Commerce。 Ulloa； R閠ablissement des
Manufactures d'Espagne。
Chapter 6
The French
France； too； inherited many a remnant of Roman Civilisation。 On
the irruption of the German Franks； who loved nothing but the
chase； and changed many districts again into forests and waste
which had been long under cultivation； almost everything was lost
again。 To the monasteries； however； which subsequently became such
a great hindrance to civilisation； France； like all other European
countries； is indebted for most of her progress in agriculture
during the Middle Ages。 The inmates of religious houses kept up no
feuds like the nobles； nor harassed their vassals with calls to
military service； while their lands and cattle were less exposed to
rapine and extermination。 The clergy loved good living； were averse
to quarrels； and sought to gain reputation and respect by
supporting the necessitous。 Hence the old adage 'It is good to
dwell under the crosier。' The Crusades； the institution of civic
communities and of guilds by Louis IX （Saint Louis）； and the
proximity of Italy and Flanders； had considerable effect at an
early period in developing industry in France。 Already in the
fourteenth century； Normandy and Brittany supplied woollen and
linen cloths for home consumption and for export to England。 At
this period also the export trade in wines and salt； chiefly
through the agency of Hanseatic middlemen； had become important。
By the influence of Francis I the silk manufacture was
introduced into the South of France。 Henry IV favoured this
industry； as well as the manufacture of glass； linen； and woollens；
Richelieu and Mazarin favoured the silk manufactories； the velvet
and woollen manufactures of Rouen and Sedan； as well as the
fisheries and navigation。
On no country did the discovery of America produce more
favourable effects than upon France。 From Western France quantities
of corn were sent to Spain。 Many peasants migrated every year from
the Pyrenean districts to the north…east of Spain in search of
work。 Great quantities of wine and salt were exported to the
Spanish Netherlands； while the silks； the velvets； as also
especially the articles of luxury of French manufacture； were sold
in considerable quantities in the Netherlands； England； Spain； and
Portugal。 Owing to this cause a great deal of Spanish gold and
silver got into circulation in France at an early period。
But the palmy days of French industry first commenced with
Colbert。
At the time of Mazarin's death； neither manufacturing industry；
commerce； navigation； nor the fisheries had attained to importance；
while the financial condition of the country was at its worst。
Colbert had the courage to grapple single…handed with an
undertaking which England could only br ing to a successful issue
by the persevering efforts of three centuries； and at the cost of
two revolutions。 From all countries he obtained the most skilful
workmen； bought up trade secrets； and procured better machinery and
tools。 By a general and efficient tariff he secured the home
markets for n