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and attained to fuch vigour, that it is not in the power of England, were 

 it in her will, to fliake its ftability. As to the linen manufaftures of England, 

 or Scotland, they do not feem to be fuch favourite objefts of induflrious 

 exertion as fome others ; and were they to become fuch, we have aheady 

 fo far outflript the neighbour countries, in this walk, that it will be im- 

 poffiblc for them to overtake us. The linen manufafture, therefore, 

 is the only one, in which we fland wholly clear of the rivalfliip of Bri- 

 tain. 



As to the rivalfhip of the Dutch, the Flemings, and French, they may 

 furpafs us in the more elaborate, or coftly linen fabricks ; damaik table 

 4inen, lawns, and cambrics ; to which we may add, fine thread laces, the 

 manufadurc of which they poffefs almoft; exclufively. They cannot come 

 into competition with us, as to that kind of fine white linen, which is 

 adapted to common ufe, as a part of wearing apparel, and is, indeed, an 

 abfolute neceflary of life, to all people in the fuperior, and even in the 

 middle ranks of life, in moft parts of the world. As to delicacy of 

 texture, and .dazzling whitenefs of hue, the fine linens of Ireland {land 

 unrivalled. The people of France, and of the Netherlands, manufacture 

 linens firm and durable, but they fall fliort of the Irijh linens, as I have 

 faid, in beauty. The northern parts of Germany may perhaps excel, in 

 the manufaiflure of fail cloth, and of other coarfe linens, that may be equal 

 if not preferable to thofe of Ireland for particular purpofes. — The fheet- 

 ing of foldiers and failors, the trovi'fers of the latter, tents, the fhirts and 

 jackets of negro flaves ; — but thefe linens are of too coarfe and harfli a tex- 

 ture, to enter into competition with thofe of Ireland^ as to the purpofe of 

 their being worn about the perfons of the delicate, and opulent. The 

 •namber of ftreams and rivers in Ireland are peculiarly favourable to the 

 linen manufafture, in many refpefts. In the firlt place, all flax abounds 

 in a certain oil, which, if it were fuffered to remain in it, would always 

 render the thread of a dark dulky hue, and make it impoffible to bleach 

 it. And this oil abounds mod in fiax of the beft quality : an accefs to 

 water, therefore, is neceflary to prepare flax, before it can be manufac- 

 tforcd; fot it is only by maceration in water that it can be feparated from 



its 



