1804:] Coaleulations on Spanish and English 1Vool. 87

where fine wool is employed. If this be the tact, it may afford the pleasing expectation, that we may wholly dispense with the employment of this Wool, if the influence of the French Government Should occasion the probibition of the export tothese islands. Ou this Subject, Lcannot avoid taking notice of an iutimation of Sir John Sinclair, on the policy of imposing a Small duty on foreign wool. I think myself, con- Sidering the influence to which 1 have alluded at the Spanish Court, vothing could be more unseasonable ihan Such a duty, because it would facilitate the designs of the French, to ob- tain the monopoly of Spanish Wool; and then we Should Suffer two inconveniences, the one in depriving ourselves of its use, the other in promoting the consumption of. it in the State which has long been a rival market for fine cloths. This objection had not acquired the Same weight, when Sir John Sinclair made the Suggestion, which the war, and all the ma- lice of hostility has Since given it.

Takivg the importation of the last ten years in the above account, it is, on an.average, for each year, 2,377,144, which, I think, at the pr25ent prices, may be fairly estimated at 45. perlb. which will make the total value, 475,4281. 168. When we consider the prodigious extent of the commerce of this country, when, amidst the difficulties of war, our exports have.exceeded fifty millions Sterling, it will not be imagined a matter of very Serious importance, Should we be deprived of the raw article of Wool to this extent, which, I believe, is Stated higher in my estimate, than in any previous account.

While we are advertiag to the Subject ot the entire loss of Spanish Wool, it deserves to be particularly e9usidered, how that loss Should be Supplied, without involving the ruin of our manufactories employed on this article. 1 tbink your friend, Chorögraphus, will grant to me, that Great Britain will be found to contain about 73,000 square miles, or 46,720,000 acres. Reckoning. only 31bs. to each fleece, and 3 Sheep to each acre, less than 250,000 acres, or a track of territory of about the extent of Norfolk and Suffolk, will be gufficient to feed the quantity of fine woolled Sheep wbich the deficit of Spanish Wool would require. When we consider, that of the 46,720,000 acres, which in this grass caleulation we sup- podse Britain te be composed, upwards ot eleven millions of acres are in a State of wast2; when we further advert to the applicability of the greater part of this waste to the maintain- ance of Sheep, we Shall see, that, in point of quantity, the 1oss ot Spaniseh Wool may be made of no consequence to our manutactures.

To this position, I think all your readers will accede, but there may be tlose who are extremely doubtful of the possibility