420 



Next in importance to food for the profperity of the manufac- 

 turer, is an abundant fupply of fuel. No doubt can remain, that 

 vaft quantities of coal, of an excellent quality, may be found in 

 various parts of Ireland ; it only wants the concurrence of the mi- 

 neralogift and engineer, with the fupport and encouragement of 

 government, to develope thefe hidden ftores, and pour them forth 

 for the benefit of the country. If an accurate mineralogical furvey 

 of the whole kingdom, were executed, and the advice of Ikilful 

 engineers were obtained ; mines of various ufeful fubftances might 

 be difcovered, levels might be taken, and eftimates made of the 

 practicability, and probable expence, of working thefe mines. I do 

 not apprehend, that it can be fuppofed, that any partial confidera- 

 tions could weigh with government, in oppofiition to an ameliora- 

 tion of the ftate of Ireland, by a circumftance fo important as the 

 working of its native collieries. It is not to be fuppofed, that the 

 parental care of government, would be more particularly extended 

 to one part of this great empire, than to another. It muft be a 

 firange policy, indeed, which fhould think it advifeable to difcourage 

 the people of Ireland, from fupplying themfelves v.'ith fuel, the pro- 

 duce of their own foil, in order to give an undue preference to 

 the Englijh collieries ; or to encourage the navigation of a few 

 Englijh towns, at the expence of the trade and manufactures of this 

 whole kingdom. I am perfuaded, that fuch fuggeftions are merely 

 the reveries of gloomy and difcontented people.* Certain it is, 

 however, that the fcarcity of fuel, in many parts of the kingdom, 

 reduces the poor to a mod deplorable ftate of diftrefs and mifery. 



To meet the evil arifmg from the fcarcky of fuel, in many parts 

 of the country, a mining company fhould be formed, to explore, 

 with care, the fubterraneous wealth of the country ; and, in parti- 

 cular, to indicate where coals abound. The operations of fcience, 

 under the directions of men of practical ikill, fliould be feconded, 



by 



• If any such narrow-minded prejudices ever cxifted, it is to be hoped, that all ground 

 and pretext for them is done away, by the measure of a Legislative Union. 



