300 



warehoufes, eternally opening, and (hutting, In our Greets, like gaudy 

 flowers. 



It may be faid, that luxury, in houfes, drefs, and furniture, encou- 

 rages manufaftures, and circulates money. Quite the reverfe ; many 

 of the articles of luxury are imported ; and from thofe, which arc 

 the produce of the country, fmall benefit is derived, to the induftri- 

 ous manufafturer. Indeed, more frequently, diftrefs and ruin are the 

 refult to him ; as many of the articles of luxury, which are confumed 

 by the prodigal, under a fpccious outfide of opulence and credit, commonly 

 remain unpaid for, to the total deftrucf^ion of the induftrious poor, 

 that .furnilli them. On the bankruptcy, of a vain, luxurious merchant 

 or tradefman, the ftroke of calamity is communicated, by a fatal chain 

 of magnetifm, through a long gradation of traders and mechanics. 



Prodigality not only prevails in Ireland, but it is a prodigality the 

 meaneft, in its purfuits, the mofl pernicious in its influence. " The 

 " revenue of the individual," fays Smith, " may be fpent in things, 

 " which are confumed immediately, in which, one day's expence can 

 *' not alleviate that of another; or in things which are durable, and 

 *' may be accumulated. — Thus, a man of fortune may fpend his in- 

 " come, on a fumptuous table, a number of menials, a multitude of 

 " dogs and horfes ; — or, contenting himfelf with a frugal table, and 

 " few attendants, may lay out the greatefl part, in buildings, furni- 

 " ture, books, piftures, ftatues, trinkets, clothes. The magnificence of 

 •' him, whofe expence is in durable commodities, daily encreafes ; 

 " that of the other, is no greater at the end, than the beginning. 

 " The former, too, is the richer man at the end ; he has a ftoclv of 

 " goods, of fome kind or other ; there is no trace remaining, of the 

 " expence of the latter; and as the mode of expence, which accu- 

 - *' mulates or is laid out, in durable things, is more favourable, to 

 " the opulence of the individual, than that which dillipates, fo, is it, 

 " likewife, to that of the nation. The houfes, the furniture, the 

 " clothes of the rich become ufeful, to the inferior and middle ranks, 



'•The 



