igi 



The want of oak woods in Ireland not only operates to the pre- 

 judice of land and naval architefture, but, the confequent fcarcity and 

 dearnefs of oak bark, (for a fupply of which we chiefly depend on 

 foreign countries) are very ruinous to the various manufactures of 

 leather in this country, and too generally lay the people under a ne- 

 ceflity, of exporting the hides of their cattle raw, and importing tanned 

 leather. 



I may reckon among the difadvantages under which Ireland, at pre- 

 fent, labours. The fpirit of infubordination, the temper of agitation and 

 ferment, the working leaven of revolution, difpofmg men to wifli and 

 look for change and innovation ; and, to vifionary expeftations of fudden 

 oppulence, without previous labour, which are highly injurious to the 

 fpirit of patient and honed induftry. Hence have arifeh thofe outra- 

 geous and illegal combinations to enhance the prices of labour, which 

 are a reproach to a country, and mull prove the bane of commerce 

 and manufafture. No fooner does an encreafed demand arife for any 

 branch of manufaflure, or any particular kind of commodity, which 

 requires labour in the preparation, but, inftantly, the workmen con- 

 cerned in it combine to extort higher wages. This difpofition is 

 moft fatal, to the interefts of the country at large, and even to the 

 peculiar interefts of the wretched men, who blindly facrifice permanent 

 profpefts, and a fenfe of duty and deference to the laws, to a brief 

 prefent gain, and indulgence in ficence and intemperance. The con- 

 fequences are, that the country will thus be thrown out of the pof- 

 feflion of foreign markets, which are only to be fecured, by the cheap- 

 nefs and goodnefs of manufaftures. They difcourage mailer manu- 

 fafturers from commencing new works, or extending thofe already ef- 

 tablifhed : and, it mud be remembered, that the exorbitant price of 

 labour fails with a fevere re-a£tion on thofe who enhance it, and makes 

 them pay dearer, in proportion to their own extortion, for every ne- 

 celTary of life. If the Mafon, the Slator, the Carpenter, combine to 

 exa£l enormous wages from their employers ; the Taylor, the Shoe- 

 maker, the Hatter, the Weaver, the rudic Labourer will do the fame ; 

 and thus thefe foolifli and wicked men make their crime its own pu- 



niihraent 



