268 



mate Ikill in their art; infomuch, that fome ingenious perfons of an 

 experimental turn, who are engaged in this bufinefs, are able to pro- 

 duce a fpirit from grain not to be diftinguiflied from brandy, by the 

 befl: judges ; and that conCderable quantities of this fpirit have been 

 fold as brandy, fmce the intercourfe with France has been interrupted. 

 It is alfo obfervable, that the malt fpirits of this country begin to be 

 an article of export. Be that as it may, it is time to difmifs the 

 prefent clafs of manufafturcs, and haftcn, onward, in my propofed 

 talk. 



Sect. 7. 

 Mifcellaneotis Obfervat'wns on other Manufa&ura. 



The manufafture of hats, of the coarfer kinds, deferves to be a fa- 

 vourite of the legiflature, both, as producing an article of the firft 

 ncceffity, a moft ufeful and convenient part of apparel, for the lower 

 fort of people ; and employing doraeilic raw materials ; the wool of 

 lambs chiefly in felts, and the fur of rabbits, or both materials com- 

 bined, iu hats of a fuperior kind. In thefe branches we are tolera- 

 bly fuccefsful ; the manufafture of coarfe hats is univerfally diffufed, 

 and the confumption of the lower claffes in Ireland, is almofl; entirely 

 fupplied by the induftry of their countrymen. 1 need not dwell on 

 thefe branches, they are, in fome degree, to be confidered as apper- 

 taining to the woollen manufafture. As to the finer kinds of hats. 

 We are vaftly inferior to the Englifi. They are both able to pro- 

 duce hats fuperior in quality, to any manufaftured in Ireland ; and they 

 are alfo able to underfell us, by a very great proportion, in our own 

 market. This fuperiority is to attributed, no doubt, in fome degree, 



to 



