■ 385 



dalk ; but, from fome error in tjie plan, (chiefly, as I believe, from its 

 proceeding on the erroneous idea of being ap ublic manufaclure) it pro- 

 ved abortive. Some of thofe negleftcd branches of this raanufadure par- 

 ticularly deferve the attention, and encouragement of the public, becaufe 

 they are particularly calculated, to furniflu employment, for women and 

 children; and might be advantageoufly carried on, in orphan-houfes, and 

 other public feminaries of induftry. 



Yet, though I profefs myfelf an cnthufiaft, in favour of the linen 

 manufaclure ; and fo fanguine in ray expe£lations from it, that my ima- 

 gination cannot fet bounds to the extenfion, of ,which it feems to be ca- 

 pable; or to the wealth and profperity of which it may be produdtive 

 to the community ; I mud fay, that, in the prefent Hate of advanced ma- 

 turity, to which the linen manufafture has arrived, in Ireland, I cannot 

 fee the neceffity, for continuing to fupport it, with bounties and pre- 

 miums. The utmofl, that could be expeSed from the legiflature, 

 would be to admit, free of expence, the frimum of the raanufa£lure, 

 the feed, from which it is raifed, and the materials of bleaching. 



The linen manufaflure having continued to flourifli, for a century, 

 and advanced to perfeftion and vigour, is,- as 1 have obferved, in a 

 former part of this effay, fuperior to all danger from rivalfliip. Some 

 attempts in this branch, have been made in Scotland, but they are not 

 conCderable enough, to excite alarm. The encouragement given by 

 the Britijh government contrafts, to the coarfer flaxen and hempen fa- 

 brics, of Silefta and Rujfia, perhaps, in departure from the original 

 compafl, which fecured to our linens the poflTeflion of the Englifi mar- 

 ket, is infuiEcient to make any impreflion, on the profperity of this 

 great manufafture. The fine linens of France and Holland, though 

 perhaps, not equal to thofe of Ireland, will find their way into the 

 neighbouring countries, and fupply a confiderable part of the demand 

 of the European market. Still, our linen fabrics, particularly the finer 

 kinds, will poflefs the home market ; they will pofllefs alfo the Britijh 

 market, for the demand of thefe markets cannot be. fupplied, from any 

 Vol. IX. ( 3 C ) other 



