227 



farmers would apply themfelvcs to raife flax for the feed) and feme of the 

 articles neceffary for bleaching, for which, alfo, equivalents might be 

 found in the country ;* all the money advanced from the capital of the fo- 

 ciety, to fet in motion the linen manufacture, circulates within the fociety 

 itfelf. From the very moment of the feed being firft put into the ground, 

 to the very time of its being exhibited in the market, (after its pafling 

 through innumerable hands, and undergoing various operations, and mul- 

 tiplied changes,) in the form of a piece of white linen, every thing is the 

 native growth of the foil, every thing the produftive labour of the inhabit- 

 ants of the country. 



The linen manufafture poffeffes another excellence ; it carries the pro- 

 duftive labour of the workman to the higheft pitch of value. The ac- 

 quired, or artificial, value, which the Ikill and exertion of the manufac- 

 turer beftow, in the progrefs of the manufafture, is greater, in proportion 

 to the intrinfic value of the raw materials in the linen manufafture, than in 

 moft others. The fame parcel of flax may be made into a piece of com- 

 mon linen, worth two fliillings the yard, or into a piece of cambric of 

 twelve times the value ; merely, by diiferent exertions of the fpinners and 

 the weavers. Where a manufafture, being capable of fuch progreflivc 

 excellence, offers fuperior advantages to fuperior induflry and flcill ; good 

 policy points it out, as an objcft deferving peculiar encouragement. 



It is to be confidcred, that, the fountain head of power, and the feat 

 of imperial government are fixed in Britain. Superior wealth, more for- 

 ward civilization, more advanced knowledge ; all thefe concur to give the 

 neighbour country fuch decided advantages, as leave to Ireland fmall hopes 

 of fuccefs, in a ftruggle for a fliare of thofe manufaftures, which England, 

 may wifti to referve to herfelf. Fortunately, by the compact which 

 took place, when the woollen manufacture was profcribed in this 

 country, the linen manufafture was not only fuffered, but encou- 

 raged to grow and encreafe ; and now, it has taken fuch deep root, 



( F f ) and 



* By a due attention to modern improvements in chemiftry, it is probable we miglit fup- 

 ply ourfelves with bleaching materials. 



