402 



colours, and colorant fubftances, is peculiarly requifite in this manu. 

 fafture ; fmce much of the beauty and price of thefe fabricks confifts 

 iii the elegance of patterns, and brilliancy of colours ; and any error, 

 in the quantity or quality of the dying or ttaining materials employed, 

 may deftroy the brightnefs or permanency of the colours ; or, what 

 is yet worfe, impair and damage the texture of the fabrick itfelf. 



Sect. iv. 



Encouragement of the Paper Manufaaurc. 



The manufafture of paper, at prefent, fills infinitely fhort, of fup- 

 plying our own confumption. While the fabricks produced in the 

 country, arc infufficient for the fupply of the home demand, I mud 

 certainly queftion the wifdom of impofing any tax, on the importation 

 of this ncceffary article, however fpecious the pretext may be, of en- 

 couraging a domeftic manufafture. Such an impofl was, in faft, a tax 

 on the literature of the country, and tended to enhance the price of 

 all books ; and only produced combinations among the workmen, em- 

 ployed in this branch of manufaaure, to obtain a rife in their wages. 



It muft be confeft, that paper is one of thofe fabricks, which Ire- 

 land might expeA to manufaaure to the very beft advantage. I have 

 already ftated what advantages, fhe poffeffes, both, with refpeft to the 

 primum or fubftrate of the manufafture, and to the command of water, 

 in addition to this, the home confumption of the kingdom would 

 in itfelf, be fufficient, to give employment, to a very great capital, 

 and a large number of people; and the manufafture is now well 

 uuderftood araongft us; nor does there fcem to be any want of fpint 



in 



