least a million to twelve hundred thousand pounds' value a year
in wrought silks from France; now we import so little as is not worth
naming; and yet it is allowed that we do not wear less silk, or silks of a
meaner value, than we usually did before, so that all the difference is
clear gain on the English side in the balance of trade.

The contemplation of this very article furnishes a most eminent
encouragement to our people, to increase and improve their trade; and
especially to gain upon the rest of Europe, in making all the most useful
manufactures of other nations their own.

Nor would this increase of our trade be a small article in the balance of
business, when we come to calculate the improvement we have made in that
particular article, by encroaching upon our neighbours, more than they
have been able to make upon us; and this also you will find laid down at
large in the account of the improvement of our manufactures in general,
calculated in the piece above mentioned, chap. v. p. 164.

If then the encroachments of France upon our woollen manufactures are so
small, as very little to influence our trade, or lessen the quantity made
here, and would be less if due care was taken to keep our wool out of
their hands; and that at the same time we have encroached upon their trade
in the silk manufactures only, besides others, such as paper, glass,
linen, hats, &c., to the value of twelve hundred thousand pounds a year,
then France has got little by prohibiting the English manufactures, and
perhaps had much better have let it alone.

However, I must not omit here what is so natural a consequence from these
premises, viz., that here lies the first branch of our Humble Proposal to
the People of England for Increase of their Commerce, and Improvement of
their Manufactures; namely, that they would keep their wool at home.

I know it will be asked immediately how shall it be done? and the answer
indeed requires more time and room to debate it, than can be allowed me
here. But the general answer must be given; certainly it is practicable to
be done, and I am sure it is absolutely necessary. I shall say more to it
presently.

But I go on with the discourse of the woollen manufactures in general;
nothing is more certain, than that it is the greatest and most extensive
branch of our whole trade, and, as the piece above mentioned says
positively, is really the greatest manufacture in the world. Vide Plan,
chap. v. p. 172. 1