ABSTRACT
The existence of British legislation against the emigration of skilled workers and the export of machinery are perhaps still most remembered for the debate at the time of abolition, and the apparently incontrovertible arguments of the free-traders who successfully campaigned for its ending. The concern about the French theft of British technology by suborning skilled workers was briefly associated with fears about the possible transfer abroad of British skills by our allowing foreigners to be placed as apprentices, the main interest being in Russian apprentices. The French with their more developed industrial sector and better educated workforce presented a greater challenge than the Russians. William Blakey was to come over to England to explain the plan and the extent of Law's industrial operation which had cost the French 'a good many millions of Livres'. Some of the industrial sites were on a private estate recently purchased by John Law.
