4^6 



furnlflied much excellent inftrucflion, of this kind ; judicious extracls 

 from the labours of their writers might be made, and tranllated, 

 with good effeft, for the ufe of our manufactures. 



Philofophy and fcience, will contribute to the encreafc and im- 

 provement of manufactures — by difcovering and pointing out for ufe, 

 new fubftances or fuch as were not known or fuppofed to be the 

 produce of the country, — by indicating new, and more profitable ap- 

 plications of fubftances already known, — by fuggefting profitable ufes 

 for fubftances now known, but neglected and unemployed. 



Philofophy and fcience, will alfo contribute to improve the qua- 

 lity, the ftrength, the finenefs, the beauty of fabricks, to abridge 

 the labour of the manufadurer, in producing them, by various im- 

 provements in the conftrudion and adaption of machinery, by call- 

 ing into aft, the different mechanic powers, as auxiliaries to mere 

 human fkill, induftry, and manual ftrength. 



In the produdion of new fubftances, agriculture, mineralogy, and 

 chemistry, may combine their forces. — Agriculture will naturalize 

 and raife ufeful plants, which may furnifti new materials for new 

 manufaftures, or the preparation of which may, in itfelf, be a manu- 

 fafture. I can glance only at thefe things, with the imperfeft know- 

 ledge of agriculture which I poffefs. It is fuppofed, that among 

 other valuable plants, which might be cultivated advantageoufly in 

 this country, madder, liquorice, fafFron, hops, hemp, and tobacco, 

 offer a faint profpeft of fuccefs. The want of capital, the oppresive 

 and difcouraging influence of tithes, and the apathy and indolence, 

 too generally prevalent in Ireland, have hitherto proved bars to expe- 

 riments of this kind. There are many known and common vege- 

 table fubftances, which are now neglected, but might be applied to 

 ufeful purpofes — thus, as I have obferved, a coarfe texture, fit for 

 making facks, waggoners frocks, and other articles of that kind, may 

 be manufactured from the fibres of nettles. There are many common 

 vegetables, which are known to contain the aftringent tanning prin. 



ciple, 



