397 



tentively purfued, by the illuftrious Ximenes, when he became prime 

 minifber. 



With refpeft to the public encouragement, which may be given to 

 the different branches of the woollen manufafture; I would recom- 

 mend, that, in the prefent (late of the country, and under the fub- 

 fifting deficiency of capital, a preference fliould be given, to the cheaper 

 and coarfer fabrics. They require lefs /kill, lefs elaborate machinery, 

 for preparing them ; the buyers of fuch fabrics are lefs faflidious, 

 lefs fubjeft to the caprice of fafliion ; the fabrics arc, moft of them, 

 articles of prime utility ; of courfe, there is little or no rifque to the 

 manufafturer, who fpeculates in them ; add to this, that the raw ma- 

 terials are wholly the produce of the country ; and that great part 

 of the manufa^ure of thefe fabrics may be performed, by the wives 

 and children of the farmers and peafants. 



Among the manufaftures, which, at prefent, are little cultivated, in 

 this country, is that of carpets ; which feems to be particularly enti- 

 tled to encouragement, from the legiflature of the country j as it may 

 be compofed entirely of native wool, and turns to a profitable account 

 the very coarfeft part of the fleece, and the coarfeft kind of wool. But, 

 as this manufafture requires looms of a complicated and expenfive na- 

 ture, for the more perfect fpecies of it ; and owes much of its ex- 

 cellence, to perfeAion, in the art of dying ; the want of capital, and 

 want of skill have hitherto impeded the advancement of this important 

 branch of induftry ; it requires, particularly, public aid, to affift the ma- 

 nufafturer in erefting looms, for the produftion of carpets, like thofe 

 of Wilton and Ax?ninjier ; and to carry the principles of chemiftry in- 

 to the procefs of dying, by proper encouragements to men of fcience. 

 To induce Ikilful workmen, from other countries, to fettle and refide 

 in Ireland^ who might inftruft the natives of the country, in this, and 

 many other important manufaftures ; they fliould be favoured, with 

 fomc particular immunities. It might be wife, to fufpend, in their fa- 

 vour, the exclufive privileges and regulations of corporations and guilds ; 



on 



