263 • 



partial and disjointed profits, however large, in proportion to the (hare 

 of his capital, which they arife, making in the aggregate, but a flow 

 and fcattered return of the whole. 



But it is not, merely, from fuperiority of ikill and great flrength of 

 capital, that Britain derives her fuperiority, in the manufaftures of 

 hardware. In my mind, the abundance and cheapnefs of fuel is the 

 greateft caufe of the cheapnefs of her fabricks, in this branch of in- 

 duftry. In the divifion of labour, in the conftruftion of mills and ma- 

 chinery, to facilitate or improve the operations of thofe, who work in 

 metals, or to encreafe and multiply the powers of the human hand, 

 we might eafily emulate the Britijh artilt, or even fuftain a competi- 

 tion, with him. The fcarcity and high price of fuel, which, at pre- 

 fent, embarrafs induftry in moft parts of this kingdom, are what mod 

 powerfully difcourage the judicious adventurer; and muft render it 

 doubtful, whether Ireland can, by any exertions of her own induftry, 

 or the moft flattering encouragement of the legiflature, be brought to 

 rival Britain, in any of the metallic fabricks ; until this grand defide- 

 ratum fliall have been fupplied. 



Firing — which term comprehends not only coals, timber, and peat, 

 but alfo coak and charcoal, is fo neceflary to be provided, in large 

 quantities, for the preliminary operations of fmelting and aflaying ; as 

 well as for the ufe of founderies in brafs and iron ; of fmiths, cutlers, 

 gilders, enamellers, filver-fmiths ; and a multitude of other artifls conneft- 

 ed with thefe, that we muft confider fuel, as in fome degree, a pri- 

 mum neceflary to thofe manufaftures ; and this being fuppofed, Ireland 

 with refpea to all the produftions of fuch manufaftures, muft be con- 

 fidered as a country, which brings her primum from afiir ; and, in faft, 

 fhe muft add the freight, duty, carriage, and faftorage, of the coals 

 flie confumes, in the fabricks in queftion, to the firft coft of this im- 

 portant article. While this is the cafe, with what profpeft of fuccefs, 

 can (he contend with a country, that finds this primum or eflfential re- 

 quifite at home ? 



From 



