296 



Sect. 4. 

 SubjeSl of the Prodigality of Ireland continued. 



All Ireland is, in fome degree, in the fituation of a great capital, 

 praftifing a luxury beyond its means, and exhibiting the varieties of 

 unproduftive labour. Its principal trade is the importation of foreign 

 luxuries, and the drain, which this difadvantageous traffic, and a nu- 

 merous band of abfentees occafion is only fupported, by the exube- 

 rant produftions, of a mofl: fertile foil, and the folitary aid of the li- 

 nen manufafture. There are few countries, of the fame fize and popu- 

 lation, where fo many idlers are fed, with the bread of the induf- 

 rious. 



Smith has remarked, that none of the parliament towns, of France, 

 Rouen, and Bourdeaux excepted, carried on any trade or manufafture. 

 The fame, with a few exceptions, may be faid, of our county-towns ; 

 and, where thefe exceptions prevail, they may be accounted for, as in 

 the cafe of Rouen and Bourdeaux, from local circumftances. Smith ex- 

 plains the phenomenon, on the principle, that the proportion between 

 capital, and revenue, every where feems to regulate the proportion be- 

 tween induftry and idlenefs ; wherever capital predominates, induftry 

 prevails ; wherever revenue has the fuperiority, the confequence is idle- 

 nefs. Every increafe or diminution of capital naturally tends, to in- 

 creafe or diminifh the real quantity of induftry, the number of pro- 

 duftive hands — the exchangeable value of the annual produce of the 

 country. The riches, and as far as power depends on riches, the 

 power of every country rauft be, in proportion, to the value of its 



annual 



