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mentable fituation of Spain and Portugal ; countries in poffeffion of the pre- 

 cious metals, in abundance, and of all the means of carrying on manufadures 

 to advantage. On the contrary, we fee a proof of the advantages of a 

 fyftem of bounties, and protecting duties, in the prefent flourifliing (late of 

 the linen manufafture in Ireland No man will pretend to fay, it would 

 have attained to the ftate of perfeftion, which it now boafts, without the 

 aid and proteftion of the legiflature. The improvements, alfo, which the 

 agriculture of Ireland has experienced, during fome years part, furnifh fur- 

 ther arguments in favour of the fyftem of bounties. 



It does not follow, that the whole enhancement of price, or expence, to 

 the confumer of any article of manufafture, by his being i-ellrifted to the pur- 

 chafe of a home fabric, though, perhaps, dearer in price, and lefs excellent 

 in quality, is fo'much aftually loft to him. He may pay dearer, it is true, 

 for a yard of cloth, a hat, or a pair of ftockings ; becaufe he is obliged to 

 confine hnnfelf to the produce of his own country ; and his coat, his hat, or 

 his ftockings may be lefs durable, than fimilar articles, with which he might 

 befupplied by importation ; yet if, by confining his expences within his own 

 country, he contributes to encreafe the quantity of money circulating in it, 

 he will contribute, in proportion, to raife the rents of land, the price of 

 provifions, and all other produce of land, the price of other manufaftures, 

 the price of labour, the price of all exertions, and produftions of fldll and 

 genius, the reader will eafily fee, that it is mofl probable, nay, almofl; certain, 

 that the individuals in queftion, mufl be concerned, in fome one or other 

 of thefe branches, and will derive more benefit, from thence, than he can 

 pofilbly injury, judging from the enhanced price, or bad quality of the 

 home manufafture, to which he is confined. 



There is one other confideration, which is of high importance, and which 

 may reconcile an enlightened legiflator, to the fyftem of bounties, and pro- 

 tefting duties ; I mean, its efiefts, in a moral point of view ; as being the 

 means of furnifliing employment, for the poor ; and diifufing among them 

 a fpirit of induftry, and habits of exertion. It is a trite maxim, but not 

 the lefs true, on that account, that idlenefs is the nurfe of vice, and the 



root 



