235 



were accumulated, particularly in the weaern parts of Ireland, by that 

 illicit commerce. 



In addition to thefe advantages of foil and climate, every part of 

 this ifland abounds in rivers and ftreams. Thefe not only facilitate the 

 operations, of wafliing the flieep, and cleanfmg their fleeces ; but alfo 

 the ereftion of fulling-mills, and other machinery, worked by water, 

 ncceffary in the bufinefs of a clothier. Not to mention that there are 

 other procefles, in the courfe of the manufaaure, which require a com- 

 mand of water, Ireland would, with proper cultivation, produce thofe 

 vegetable fubftances — woad and madder, which are chiefly ufed in dy- 

 ing woollens, particularly the cheaper febrics ; and the number of cattle 

 flaughtered in this country, is fo great, that the wool-comber is con- 

 flantly fupplied with abundance of animal oil, fo necefl^ary to his part 

 as the manufafture. We are alfo aflured by naturalills, who have ex- 

 plored the mineral produftions of Ireland, that it produces fuller's earth, 

 and pipe-clay, were the induftry of the inhabitants properly exerted, 

 to obtain thofe ufeful fubfl:ances. 



The woollen manufafture is one fif we except the fineft kinds of 

 cloth, manufaflured either wholly, or for the moft part of Spanifh 

 wool,) in which the primum, at leaft in the numerous branches, which 

 do not require dye-ftufFs, is entirely of domeflic growth; and, on this 

 account, it is entitled to a preference over others, that import their 

 prima; particularly in a poor country, like Ireland. 



Another advantage of the woollen manufacture is, that it admits a 

 divifion of labour almoft infinite. It is alfo applicable to an endlefs 

 variety of purpofes ; it afllimes a boundlefs variety of forms, and branches 

 out into a boundlefs diverfity of trades, employing multitudes of people, 

 and among thefe a great proportion of women and children. 



Another advantage of the woollen manufafture is, that it gives great 

 fcope to the induftry and flcill of the workman, and is capable of great 

 progreflive excellence ; fo that the value of the finiflied fabric, in pro- 

 portion to the firft cofl; of the raw materials, may be rendered greater, 



( G g 2 ) in 



