3^4 



of Ireland lofe their price, when the demand for them is flack, and 

 the linen market appears to be glutted ; then, indeed, it will be time, 

 to think of reftraining the extenfion, of the linen manufafture. With 

 refpeft to the fouth of Ireland, fuch is the utility and profitable na- 

 ture of the linen manufafture, and fuch the aptitudes of the foil of 

 Ireland, particularly, in the more fertile counties, for producing flax ; 

 that the linen manufafture, without care or encouragement, has fpread, 

 with a filent, unobi'erved progrefs, through the whole province, is be- 

 come an object of great importance, and is profecuted, (though with- 

 out connexion or fyftem, or the employment of large individual capi- 

 tal) to a vafl extent, by the induflrious poor. Infomuch, that there is 

 not a town in Munjler, where confiderable quantities of coarfe, un- 

 bleached* linen, the manufa(Sure, of the vicinity, are not expofed for fale, 

 on a market day. So that the queftion is not, whether, we fliall ex- 

 tend the linen manufacture ; for it is extended already, over alt parts 

 of this kingdom ; but, whether we fliall methodize and regulate 

 the profecution of it ; — whether we ftiall prune and bind up the luxuriant 

 flioots ; and give form and order, to what now runs wild. — As no he- 

 fitation can remain ; the utility of eftablifliing a linen-hall, in every 

 county-town in Irelar.d, mufl; be acknowledged. The obvious utility of 

 promoting the eftablifliment of bleach-greens, in Munjler and Connaught, 

 is equally apparent. 



It mufl be further obferved, that, although the linen manufafture is 

 the great ftaple of the country, and in fuch a flouriftiing (late ; there 

 are fome of its branches, minor branches, it is true, yet fl;ill objefls of 

 conftant demand, which are either wholly neglefted, or imperfeftly purfued, 

 in Ireland. Such is the manufafture of fewing threads — of the finer 

 kinds of tapes, and other fabrics of that kind ; for which, we are chiefly 

 dependent, at prefent, on Holland and Flanders. Such the manufadlures 

 of thread lace, and edgings, and of fine cambrick. An attempt was 

 -formerly made, to eftablilh the manufafture of this lafl: fabric, at Dun- 



dalk; 



* Particularly a narrow kind, called by the country people, bandle-cloth, from the 

 seasure employed by them. 



