232 



markets, for the fale of them. Ireland being mod aufpicioudy clrcun-. 

 ftanced in thefe refpefts ; it fliould be her (ludy, to maintain herfelf ia 

 fuch golden advantages, by uniform exertions of induftry and care. She 

 fhould beware of deferting or even cramping a manufafture fo firmly 

 eftabliflied, and endowed with fuch capabilities ; for airy and prob- 

 lematical fpeculations. 



I fliall conclude this fe£lion, with a quotation, from Sir William Temple.* 

 " The foil produces flax, kindly and well ; and fine too, anfwerable to 

 " the care ufed in the choice of feed, and exercife of hulbandry, and 

 *' much land is fit for it here, which is not fo for corn. The manu- 

 " fafture of it, in gathering and beating, is of little toil and applica- 

 " tion ; and fo the ^tter for the natives of the country. Befidcs, no 

 " women are apter to fpin it well, than the Jrifo, who, labouring little, 

 " in any kind, with their hands, have their fingers more fupple and 

 " foft, than other wortien of the poorer condition among us. And this 

 " may certainly be advanced, into a great manufafture of linen, fo as 

 ♦' to beat down the trade of both France and Holland, and draw much 

 " of the money, which goes from England to thofe parts, on this oc- 

 " cafion, into the hands of his majefly's fubjefts of Ireland^ without 

 " croffing any intereft of England; for, befides what has been faid of 

 •* flax and fpinning, the foil and climate are proper for whitening, 

 " both, by the frequency of brooks, and alfo of winds in this country." 



Notwithftanding the great degree of importance which is juftly af- 

 cribed to the linen manufacture, its univerfality and value are not, even 

 now, appreciated as highly, as they deferve. I have heard it afferted, 

 — I have feen the afl!ertion in print, that the linen manufafture is con- 

 fined to one province — Uljier^ — or, at leaft, is cultivated to a very trif- 

 ling degree, in other parts of the kingdom. This is a very grofs mif- 

 take — for inflance, the linen manufacture is greatly extended, and flou- 

 rilhes in a very high degree, in the province of Connaug/ji, where it 



may 



* See the sflavo edition of his works, toI. 3, page 14. 



