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trade began to flourish amongst the Scotch in the North of Ireland, 
where it still flourishes as the great staple trade of the country. 
In the reign of Charles II., the woollen manufacture had 
made great progress in Ireland, especially in the south and west. 
This roused the jealousy of the English manufacturers, and they 
got an Act passed in the British Parliament prohibiting any export 
of wool from Ireland, excepting to England and Wales. Not 
content with this, in 1698 both houses of Parliament addressed 
King William III., representing, ‘that in consequence of labour 
being cheaper in Ireland than in England, the progress of the 
woollen manufacture in the former was such as to prejudice that 
of the latter country, and that it would be for the public advantage 
were the woollen trade discouraged and the linen manufacture 
established in its stead.” His Majesty replied: “I shall do all 
that in me lies to discourage the woollen manufacture in Ireland, 
and to encourage the linen manufacture, and to promote the trade 
of England.” 
The Parliament of 1698 recommended to the King a kind of 
compromise with Ireland, whereby England should exclusively 
enjoy the woollen and Ireland the linen manufacture. Ireland 
accepted the terms, abandoned the woollen manufacture, and even 
imposed heavy duties on the exportation of woollen cloth. The 
effect of this was ruinous to the woollen trade. Several thousand 
manufacturers left the kingdom. Some of the southern and 
western districts were almost depopulated, and the whole kingdom 
reduced to the utmost poverty and distress. It is to be feared 
religious bigots and intolerance had much to do with the suppres- 
sion of the woollen manufacture, and establishing that of linen in 
its stead. The woollen trade had been carried on in a great 
measure in the south and west of Ireland, while the chief seat of 
the linen manufacture was in the north. I fear this will bear no 
other construction but that Protestant linens were encouraged, 
whereas Popish woollens were suppressed. 
In an Act of the British Parliament in the year 1704, the 
preamble commences thus: “ Forasmuch as the Protestant interest 
in Ireland ought to be supported by giving the utmost encourage- 
