de, now so pre-eminent over all the world, but for the
heavy import duties with which the iron of Swedish, Russian, or other
foreign origin was loaded? And so also, may it be asked, in respect to
almost all industry and production. If, as contended, the woollen,
cotton, and iron industries would not only have been created, but much
more largely have flourished, without the aids and appliances of
friendly tariffs, the one-sided free traders are, at least, bound to
something more potential than mere assertion and idle declamation in
support of the vague allegation. They have the evidence of facts patent
and abundant to confront and gainsay them; they shall have more; but is
there to be no reciprocation of facts counter? Is the evidence and the
argument to remain all on one side, and on the other nothing but wordy
nothingness--

"Dat inania verba,
Dat sine mente sonum."

Where are the unknown lands of factories and furnaces, of puddling and
power looms, of steam-engines and blowing machines, all self-created and
"self-supporting," scorning the crutches of patronage, and high-mounted
on the stilts of free, or one-sided free trade? Either they exist in the
shape of matter tangible and substantial; or they exist not except as
_chateaux en Espagne_ are dreamt of, or as bubbles blown and chased by
idle urchins--modern philosophers in petticoats. This bubble-blowing has
been, indeed, converted into something of a mine of industry of late
years, most successfully _exploite_ by all the _chevaliers d'industrie_
of the race of _farceurs_ before referred to. Let us not forget,
however, that one of the most indefatigable of the class, after various
and many voyages by sea, and travels by land, in quest of the
picturesque in political economy, did, indeed--or says so, and has
compiled a book to prove it--light on this long-sought, never-before
discovered land, in whose Arcadian bowers sits enthroned the very genius
of trade, free and unfettered as the eagle in his eyry on the crowning
crest of St Gotthard. Would you know this thrice-blest region--"Go climb
the Alps," as the Roman satirist bids--it is Switzerland snugly
ensconced in their bosom.

Nevertheless, before the title of Switzerland Felix be fully conceded,
the legitimacy of its derivation remains to be investigated. The
concession can only be registered upon three conditions fulfilled. It
must be shown, _firstly_, that manufacturing industry was not fostered