i8i 



ESSAY on the natural Advantages of IRELAND, the MANUFAC- 

 TURES to which they are adapted, and the beji mans of improving 

 thofe MANUFACTURES. 



■<-««l> »>— ' 



BOOK I. 



CHAP. I. Seaion i. 



The natural advantages of every country may be confidered,— with 

 refpeft to the internal comfort, eafy fubfiflence, and opulence, the health 

 and longevity of the inhabitants, and the confequent encreafe of popu- 

 lation; — or with regard to foreign relations, to the extenfion of trade 

 and commerce, and enjoyment of peace and fecurity. 



Under the firft head are comprehended a mild and falubrious cli- 

 mate, a fertile foil, capable of nourifhing, in abundance, all the ufeful 

 domeftic animals, and produftive of all the articles of the firft neceflity, 

 — a copious fupply of valuable minerals, or of thofe natural produc- 

 tions, which either in a crude ftate, or with more or lefs prepara- 

 tion, are ufeful, in home confumption, furnilh a profitable export, or 

 become the prima of manufaftures. — An extent of coaft, and feas well 

 fupplied with fifh, are a fource of plenty and opulence to a country, 

 by feeding the inhabitants, and furnifliing them, in the furplus, over 

 what they can confurae, with a valuable objeft of export, unfailing and 

 independent of caprice and fafliion. Add to thefe a number of ftreams 

 and rivers, interfefting and watering the face of the country ; — thefe 



irrigate 



