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^its oil. But in this refpeft Ireland is particularly favoured by nature. 

 Scarce a farm, fcarce a field is deftitute of water. The number of 

 ftreams, and the command of water are favourable alfo to the efta- 

 blifhment of bleach greens, and the ereftion of mills and machinery, 

 for the purpofe of finifliing the linen fabricks. , 



I have already remarked, that the atmofphere of Ireland is con- 

 fiderably moifter than that of Britain, and of molt other countries ; 

 and that more rain falls in this ifland, than in mod other places. 

 Thefe circumllances may render the climate of this country lefs plea- 

 furable, — perhaps, lefs apt, for the perfeftion of certain manufaftures j 

 but they are certainly favourable to the linen manufacture. The moif- 

 ture of the air, in general ; the heavy dews, and frequent fliowers 

 muft very confiderably facilitate the procefs of bleaching. Linen is fo 

 neceffary an article of wearing apparel ; its lightnefs, its foft, and 

 fmooth texture, its durability, its property of bearing to be waflied 

 inceflantly, while it lafts, without undergoing any very perceptible 

 change in its dimenfions, or other properties.— All thefe qualities ren- 

 der it peculiarly fit for under garments. 



That linen has been an article, not only of luxury, but of comfort, from 

 the oldefl time appears from the Hiflory of Commerce. We know in what 

 efteem the fine linens of Egypt were held. At the revival of commerce the 

 linens of Holland and Flanders, were in equal repute ; and the fine linens of 

 Ireland, at prefent, are not inferior in repute or demand. The linen manu- 

 facture, therefore, is one which can never decline, or be fubjeft to the 

 caprice and viciffitudes of fafhion. The demand, it is true, may vary* in 

 fome degree, from the influence of war, and other caufes. For iur 

 fiance, a rupture with Spain, which now takes a large quantity of 

 our linens, both for home confumption, and for the ufe of her co- 

 lonies, would occafion a confiderable decreafe in the export of out 

 linens. Yet the home confumption, the Englijh market, the extenfive 

 continent of North America, which now affords a large and regular 

 demand for our linens ; the direft exportation from this country to the 

 Britijh colonies in the Weji Indies ; all thefe united mud produce fuch 



* At prefent it is to be lamented that the linen manufafture feems rather to ."jave declined. 



