233 



may now be confidered as compleatly eflabliflied, fince in that proviiKc 

 there are now three great regular markets for unbleached linens, and 

 many confidcrable bleach-greens. In Munjier, too, the linen manufac- 

 ture is very generally profecuted, and great quantities of flax are raifed. 



Almoll every farmer manufaftnres linen, for his own confumption, and 



large quantities of coarfe linen are conftantly to be feen for fale in every 

 market-town. In the county of Kerry, in particular, there is a great 

 and general manufafture of that fpecies of coarfe linen, called dowlafs, 

 and large quantities are exported thence to Lijbon, from the port of 

 Dingle. — The linen of this defcription made in Munjier, is vaftly fu- 

 perior in quality, to that which is produced in the North of Ireland, 

 becaufe as it is faid, in the latter province they employ only the re- 

 fufe of their flax, in the coarfer fabrics ; whereas the contrary is the 

 practice in Munjier. 



Sect. 2. 



Of the woollen vmnufaElurc. 



It has been proved in an interefting eflay, by the excellent Pre- 

 fident of this academy,* that Ireland was poflefled of an extenfive 

 trade, and had arrived at great excellence, in vi^oollen fabricks, at a 

 very early period ; and long before' this manufaaure became an ar- 

 ticle of export, from England. Indeed, the nature of the foil and the 

 climate of Ireland, are peculiarly adapted, to the woollen manufafture. 

 The fine herbage of her flieep-walks, her mild winters, and moderate 

 fummers, tempered by breezes, from the fea, are calculated to produce 

 wool of the very beft quality, and formerly Ireland produced great 

 quantities of excellent wool, though the quantity of Iriflr wool is now 

 fmall, and the quality deteriorated. 



The maintenance of flieep has one advantage, over mofl: other fpecies 

 of farming, that, while the wool, and flefli of this ufefiil animal afFord 



Vol. IX. ( G g ) an 



» This Effay was written, while the late lamented Earl of Charlmont was livirg, 

 andPrefident of the Roy^ Irifh Academy. 



