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the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and to the numerous refugees
who by that insane measure were driven to emigrate to almost every
part of Germany； and established everywhere manufactures of wool；
silk； jewellery； hats； glass； china； gloves； and industries of
every kind。
The first Government measures for the promotion of manufactures
in Germany were introduced by Austria and Prussia； in Austria under
Charles VI and Maria Theresa； but even more under Joseph II。
Austria had formerly suffered enormously from the banishment of the
Protestants； her most industrious citizens； nor can it be exactly
affirmed that she distinguished herself in the immediate sequel by
promoting enlightenment and mental culture。 Afterwards； in
consequence of a protective tariff； improved sheep farming； better
roads； and other encouragements； industry made considerable strides
even under Maria Theresa。
More energetically still was this work pushed forward under
Joseph II and with immensely greater success。 At first； indeed； the
results could not be called important； because the Emperor；
according to his wont； was too precipitate in these as in all his
other schemes of reform； and Austria； in relation to other states；
still occupied too backward a position。 Here as elsewhere it became
evident that one might get 'too much of a good thing' at once； and
that protective duties； in order to work beneficially and not as a
disturbing element upon an existing state of things； must not be
made too high at the commencement。 But the longer that system
continued； the more clearly was its wisdom demonstrated。 To that
tariff Austria is indebted for her present prosperous industries
and the flourishing condition of her agriculture。
The industry of Prussia had suffered more than that of any
other country from the devastations of the Thirty Years' War。 Her
most important industry； the manufacture of cloth in the Margravate
of Brandenburg； was almost entirely annihilated。 The majority of
cloth workers had migrated to Saxony； while English imports at the
time held every competition in check。 To the advantage of Prussia
now came the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and the persecution
of the Protestants in the Palatinate and in Salzburg。 The great
Elector saw at a glance what Elizabeth before him had so clearly
understood。 In consequence of the measures devised by him a great
number of the fugitives directed their steps to Prussia； fertilised
the agricultural industry of the land； established a large number
of manufactures； and cultivated science and art。 All his successors
followed in his footsteps； none with more zeal than the great King
greater by his policy in times of peace than by his successes in
war。 Space is wanting to treat at length of the countless measures
whereby Frederick II attracted to his dominions large numbers of
foreign agriculturists； brought tracts of waste land into
cultivation； and established the cultivation of meadows； of cattle
fodder； vegetables； potatoes； and tobacco； improved sheep farming；
cattle breeding； horse breeding； the use of mineral manures； &c。；
by which means he created capital and credit for the benefit of the
agricultural classes。 Still more than by these direct measures he
promoted indirectly the interests of agriculture by means of those
branches of manufacture which； in consequence of the customs tariff
and the improved means of transport which he established； as well
as the establishment of a bank； made greater advances in Prussia
than in any other German state； notwithstanding that that country's
geographical position； and its division into several provinces
separated from one another； were much less favourable for the
success of such measures； and that the disadvantages of a customs
cordon； namely； the damaging effects of a contraband trade； must be
felt more acutely there than in great states whose territories are
compact and well protected by boundaries of seas； rivers； and
chains of mountains。
At the same time we are nowise anxious； under cover of this
eulogy； to defend the faults of the system； such as； for example；
the restrictions laid upon the exportation of raw material。 Still；
that in despite of these faults the national industry was
considerably advanced by it； no enlightened and impartial historian
would venture to dispute。
To every unprejudiced mind； unclouded by false theories； it
must be clear that Prussia gained her title to rank amongst the
European powers not so much by her conquests as by her wise policy
in promoting the interests of agriculture； industry； and trade； and
by her progress in literature and science； and all this was the
work of one great genius alone。
And yet the Crown was not yet supported by the energy of free
institutions； but simply by an administrative system； well ordered
and conscientious； but unquestionably trammelled by the dead
mechanical routine of a hierarchical bureaucracy。
Meanwhile all the rest of Germany had for centuries been under
the influence of free trade that is to say； the whole world was
free to export manufactured products into Germany； while no one
consented to admit German manufactured goods into other countries。
This rule had its exceptions； but only a few。 It cannot； however；
be asserted that the predictions and the promises of the school
about the great benefits of free trade have been verified by the
experience of this country； for everywhere the movement was rather
retrograde than progressive。 Cities like Augsburg； N黵nberg；
Mayence； Cologne； &c。； numbered no more than a third or a fourth
part of their former population； and wars were often wished for
merely for the sake of getting rid of a valueless surplus of
produce。
The wars came in the train of the French Revolution； and with
them English subsidies together with increased English competition。
Hence a new downward tendency in manufactures coupled with an
increase in agricultural prosperity； which； however； was only
apparent and transitory。
Next followed Napoleon's Continental Blockade； an event which
marked an era in the history of both German and French industry；
notwithstanding that Mons。 J。 B。 Say； Adam Smith's most famous
pupil； denounced it as a calamity。 Whatever theorists； and notably
the English； may urge against it； this much is clearly made out
and all who are conversant with German industry must attest it； for
there is abundant evidence of the fact in all statistical writings
of that day that； as a result of this blockade； German
manu