395 



plies the power of the human hand, and enables one perfon, to pro- 

 duce more finiflied manufadlures than another. 



It might be wife, to eftablifli woollen halls, under the diredion of 

 proper infpeftors, regulated and appointed by the legiflature, at leaft, 

 in thofe diftrifts, that abound in (heep-walks. Such is nearly the whole 

 of the province of Connaught, fuch the county of Kerry, and a con- 

 fiderable part of the county of Tippcrary, in Munjler ; and fuch is 

 the county of Wicklo-w. In the laft mentioned county, a woollen-hall 

 has been ellabliflied, without reforting to parliament for aid, and pro- 

 ved, within the (hort period, which has intervened, fmce its ereftion, 

 of the moft important utility to the county. By eftabhflimcnts of this 

 kind, for the faie of wool, and woollen fabrics, the work of infpection 

 and regulation, would be facilitated, frauds and abnfes would be pre- 

 vented, or detefted, the buyer and the feller would be infpired, with 

 a mutual confidence, and the manufafture would attain to a degree of 

 credit and celebrity, hitherto unknown, in this country. In addition 

 to the eredlion of woollen-halls, it were, perhaps, to be wiflied, that 

 the legiflature, with the affiftarce of a committee of perfons, well Ikil- 

 led in the woollen manufafture, would frame a table of regulations, 

 in a manner fomewhat analogous, to thofe they have already adopted, 

 with refpeft to the linen manufacture, which fliould point out, and pro- 

 hibit the frauds, and errors, that occur in the different ftages and 

 proceffes of the woollen manufacture; fliould prevent damaged and 

 unfound wool from being expofed to fale, or employed in manufacture ; 

 fliould impofe penalties on thofe, who might bring damaged wool, or 

 unfaleable pieces of manufactured goods to market ; ftiould deteft and 

 punilh frauds in the admeafurement of woollen fabrics ; perhaps feal 

 or ftamp the feveral pieces, in teftimony of their having undergone 

 a fcru'iny, and been found frge from defeft, with regard to quality 

 and quantity. To do all this, without entrenching on that freedom 

 which is the animating foul of induftrious exertion in commerce, would 

 be, I own, a taflc of fome delicacy and difEculty ; but what has been 



( 3 D 2 ) done, 



