391 



It is a manufaflure, capable of turning to the befl account, that portion 

 of the foil of the country, which is leaft fit for tillage, and the fuftenance 

 of black cattle. It is a manufafture to which the opulence and great- 

 nefs of England is chiefly to be afcribcd;* and it is a manufafture, 

 which formerly flouriflaed, to an aftonifhing pitch of perfeftion, in this 

 country. Even, at prefent, though by no means in the profperous 

 ftate, which a friend of this country might wifli ; it is in a fufficient 

 degree of convalefcence, to fliow, not only the poffibility, but the pro- 

 bability of its regaining priftine vigour ; and to convince us, that the 

 care and attention, beftowed by the legiflature, and the public, on this 

 important objeft, will not be thrown away ; fhould it become yet more 

 an objeft of attention, than it is at prefent. 



There are reafons, which do not apply to other manufaftures, and 

 which favour the adoption of bounties, with refpeft to that of woollen 

 fabrics— the deliberate and continually operating injury of an hundred 

 years duration cannot be repaired, in a fliort time, without extraordi- 

 nary means and exertions. As trade, in this inftance, was violently 

 turned, out of one particular channel ; it may be right, not to leave 

 trade, as, in common cafes, it ought to be left, to find its own level. 

 Some extraordinary meafures may be wifdy purfued, to countcraft the 

 operation and efFeft of unnatural force j to free the channel, and to 

 turn back the (tream of induflry. 



We 



* It appears, from fundry conGderations. laid before parliament in the year T739, 

 that 1,500,000 people were employed, at that time, in the Briti/!, woollen manufaaure ; 

 and, if thefe earn but fixpence per day, each for 313 working days in the year, it amounts 

 '° il,737.50'^- which /hews the great importance of the manufailure. 



A pack of 2+0 weight of fhort wool, made into cloth, employs 63 jjerfons to manufaaure 

 It ;— 3 men to fort, dry, mix, and make it ready, for tlie fcribler, or ftock-carder ; five to 

 ftock card it ; 35 women and girls to fpin it ; and men to weave it ; 4 men and boys, to 

 fpoole it, and read quills ; 8 men and boys, to fcour, burl, mill or full it ; row, fpear, and 

 prefs it ; without including the operations of the dyer. 



It IS calculated, that the importation of old and new drapery, annually drains Ireland of 

 500,000/. and upwards. 



