264 



From the foregoing obfervations it will appeal-, how improvidently 

 we afted, with refpeft to the intended fettlement of Genevefe emigrants, 

 in this country. We incurred heavy expence, in preparing a town, for 

 the reception of perfons, who were to have been employed in the ma- 

 nufaftures of hardware ; without previoufly confidering, whether the na- 

 tural and acquired advantages of this country, were v;ell adapted to 

 the profecution of thofe manufaftures ; or enquiring, whether the con- 

 trafted ftate of metallic fabricks, in this country, was owing to the pau- 

 city of workmen, or to the want of other requifites. 



Whatever hopes might have been entertained, at one time, from the 

 fettlement of the Genevefe in this country ; we may calculate, with more 

 certainty, on the progrefs of the arigna works in iron ; and predict more 

 great and certain advantages to Ireland, from their profperity and exten- 

 sion. There, an abundant fupply of coal is united with a rich vein of 

 ore ; and, in procefs of time, we may expedl to find the whole confump- 

 ■tion of the kingdom fupplied, from thence, with the coarfer fpecies of 

 iron fabrics; as the irons neceffary for buildings, machines, and carriages; 

 the various utenfils of domeftic economy ; the inftruments of hufbandry. 

 There, alfo, with proper national encouragement, founderies for cannon, 

 and manufaftories of fmall arms, might be eftabliflied. We might alfo 

 engraft on thefe more grofs and gigantic fabrics, the manufaftures of cut- 

 lery, and the cheaper and more ufeful kinds of hardware. But I doubt 

 much, whether Ireland will, by any exertions, be brought to rival Britain, 

 in the finer works of poliflied fteel. Has not Nature herfelf impofed in- 

 fuperable obftacles to her progrefs, in this department, by the extraor- 

 dinary humidity of the climate ; which mufl inceffantly counteraft the la- 

 bour of the artifl ; and take oflT much of the brilliancy of their finifliing, 

 from works of poliftxed fteel ? Be that as it may, it is time to haften to 

 other manufaftures. 



The tranCtion from the metallic manufactures is eafy, to other fabrics, 

 in the formation of which, fire is the principal agent ; fuch, in the firll 

 place, are potteries, and the glafs manufacture, Thefe are a great fource 



of 



