313 



be thought a trifling objefl ; among the poor, it is abl'olutely neceffary 

 to health, and is commonly a pledge of induftry and frugality. Among 

 the children, thofe fhould be felefted, for encouragement, who have (hewn 

 a particular degree, of obedience and attention, to their parents, maf- 

 ters, and preceptors ; or diflinguifhed themfelves, by their induftry ; 

 thofe, above all, fliould be highly rewarded, who fliould be able, at 

 the earlieft age, to earn the largefl: daily or weekly fum, by their 

 own labour. — Let it not be thought, that I wander from my fubjeft, 

 in adverting to the mental qualities. — The moral difpofitions of the 

 labouring poor are intimately connefted, with the maintenance of in- 

 duftry and frugality ; and the confequent profperity of manufaiflures ; 

 much more fo, than carelefs pride, or unfeeling avarice could conceive, 

 or would be willing to allow. 



There fliould, likewife, be premiums, for improvements, in manu- 

 faflures, either to fliorten the procefs, or improve the fabric ; — for 

 the beft web of linen, woollen, or cotton ; the fineft yarn, or thread ; 

 the beft flax, or wool, produced in the diftrict — for the difcovery of 

 any new vegetable, mineral, or animal fubftance, ufeful for the pur- 

 pofes of manufadure ; or of new properties, and new applications, of 

 fubftances already known. 



The refult of the refearches of tliofe committees, fhould be regu- 

 larly entered, in books, to be kept by them refpedlively, for the pur« 

 pofe. Such regiflers, if faithfully made, and regularly kept, would 

 furnifh us, with authentic materials, for a work, which is, at prcfent, 

 a grand defidcratum ; and which would be of the utmoft utility, in 

 direfting the attention' and labours, both of the legiflator and phi- 

 lofopher, in the encouragement of the agriculture, and arts of this 

 country,^! mean, a ftatiftical account of Ireland. The great utility 

 of a work of this kind, would compenfate the expence of fuch an 

 inflitution, as I have mentioned ; were no other good confequence to 

 refult from it.* 



Vol. IX. ( R r ) I would 



* Since this Effay was written, feme progrefs has been made in a work of tliis nature. 



