229 

 PRACTICABILITY OF IMPROVING IRELAND, AND 



CHEAT ENCOURAGEMENT FOR JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES. 



Concluded from page 196. 



Ireland is said to contain more natural harbours, for ships of the 

 largest size, than the remainder of Europe. And even in the present 

 imperfect state of the surveys of the Irish coasts, we can reckon 

 upon no less than 141 bays, harbours, and roadsteads; besides in- 

 numerable creeks, fit to afford shelter for fishing vessels, if some 

 attention were paid. Hydrographers agree that the western coast 

 contains a succession of the most magnificent ports, and these ports 

 are the nearest ports to the western commerce. The course is direct 

 thence to Portugal, Spain, to the Mediterranean, to the immense 

 regions south of the Straits of Gibraltar. It has been ascertained 

 that a vessel from any of the western ports, may reach North America 

 before one from the port of London, starting at the same time, could 

 get out of soundings. And that a steam vessel, from this western 

 coast, might be sure of making America in ten days, on an average. 



Nature seems to have destined Ireland by its position by this 

 superiority of its harbours and by the facility of communication, 

 over every part of its internal surface, to be the great entrepot for the 

 commerce between the old and new worlds. 



We may appreciate the immense resources of this commercial ad- 

 vantage, when we consider that, in Ireland, throughout its entire ex- 

 tent, the indentings by its harbours, by arms of the sea, and rivers' 

 mouths, there is not an acre above Jifty wiles from the sea ; and that, 

 at least two thirds of the surface might be brought within Jive miles 

 of sea, river, or canal navigation. 



And, as if to point out the way, and the obligation of effecting an 

 immediate intercourse between Europe and the Western World, 

 Ireland presents a natural path, the shortest between her eastern and 

 western coasts, from the Channel to the Atlantic Ocean, of only one 

 hundred miles in length tracing the line from Dublin to Galway. 

 But Ireland cannotavail herself of these natural advantages ; she wants 

 capital employment encouragement. Whenever these propitious 

 harbingers shall visit the shores of Ireland, she must become a coun- 

 try of trade and commerce, and perhaps, of unexampled wealth and 

 industry. Without pretending to second sight or inspiration we may 

 reasonably predict, that, as soon as her great capacities come to be 

 known, and to be worked, Ireland will be the rival of the commercial 

 world ; and as flourishing as ancient Tyre or lordly Venice. Upon 

 the southern coast, from the Tusker Rock to Cape Clear, there are 22 

 VOL. in. 1834. HH 



