i88 



A Ibmewhat fimilar ftatement may be made, with refpeft to the ex- 

 tenfive fhores, and numerous population of the Jmerican republic. On 

 that vaft continent, manufactures are yet in their infancy, and likely to 

 continue in that (tate, a long time ; partly, on account of the enor- 

 mous high price of labour, particularly that of artifans ; partly, becaufe 

 agriculture, at prefent, holds out the moft certain rewards to induflry, 

 and the Americans find it moll profitable to employ their whole capi- 

 tal, in clearing the lands, in cultivating the earth, and in exporting 

 the produce ; inftead of turning any part afide, to fpeculate in manu- 

 faftures. Satisfied with the employment of capital, in that mode, which 

 they conceive, and wifely conceive, to be the mofl advantageous ; they 

 are content, to depend for a time, and that time will mofl probably 

 prove a very long one, for their fupply of manufaftures, on foreign 

 countries. 



With refpeft to the old world, the fituation of Ireland is equally 

 favourable to an intercourfe with the northern and the fouthern parts 

 of Europe ; from the former flie draws timber, iron, naval (lores, fome 

 part of the prima of the flaxen and hempen manufaftures, or the means 

 of bringing them to greater perfeftion, fuch, for inftauce, are barrilla, 

 filk, cotton, and Spanifh wool ; and flie maintains a confiderabie com- 

 mercial intercourfe of export with thofe countries, particularly in pro- 

 vifions, and her linen fabricks. 



The commercial profperity of Ireland, and extenfion of her manu- 

 faftures are particularly favoured by the vicinity of Spain, and the fa- 

 cility of intercourfe with that country — a country languifhing in indo- 

 lence, where the fpirit of commercial enterprize has been extinguifli- 

 ed by the paralytic flate of the government ; where manufaftures, arts, 

 and induftry of every kind have been fuffered to decay, and are, with 

 few exceptions, annihilated, notwithftanding fome feeble and ill-direfted 

 efforts to revive them. Spain, thus deftitute of manufaftures in her- 

 felf, has vaft empires annexed to her, under the denomination of colo- 

 nies, all accefs to which flie guards, with the moft jealous care, while 



the 



