274 THE BEJJ, OR Feb. 16, 



the contrary, the demand for them has been rather on the 

 increafe. It is probable, however, that it would have been 

 greater, had there been no import. 



" Beiides the cattle imported here, there are alfo confider- 

 able numbers i'ent from Belfaft, Bangor, Newry, &c. direct- 

 ly to England. The Englilh coal veffels always take back 

 cattle from Ireland, when they have it in their power : but 

 it is believed that the largeft import is at Portpatrick. The 

 great extent of fea by any other paffage, efpecially in the 

 winter feafon, is much againfl: the fale and iuccefsful tranf- 

 portation of a cargo, fo perilhable in itfelf, and liable to fo 

 many accidents. 



" This trade depends fo much upon the quantity of grafs, 

 of hay, and of turnips in England, and fometimes' even up- 

 on the profpeft of large crops of thefe articles, that there is 

 much Ipeculation in it. Great gains and great lofl'es are 

 therefore fudden and frequent. Hence the import is une- 

 qual. Some people fuppofe that the trade is favourable to 

 fmuggling, and hoftile to the revenue. Others objctl to it, 

 as in a peculiar manner detrimental to thofe diftrifts in Scot- 

 land where black cattle are bred ; and there feems to be ra- 

 ther a hardlhip in permitting fuch numbers of cattle to be 

 imported into North Britain, or even carried through it, in 

 order to rival the produdtions of that very country, in the 

 only market to which it has accefs. Without entering, 

 however, into thefe fpeculations, it may be fufficient at pre- 

 fent to remark, that the import will probably diminifh of it- 

 felf, in confequence of the rapid progrcfs which Ireland is 

 now making. The time is fail; approaching, when that 

 kingdom will be in the fame Hate in which England is at 

 prefent, having a market within itfelf futhcient for the con- 

 fumption of its own proiiuclions. Perhaps that may foon be 

 the cafe in regard to other commodities, beiides cattle. The 

 Irifh are rapidly improving in our manufadlurcs, and we in 

 theirs ; at leaft the cottons of Mancheicer and Glafgow are 

 likely ibon to fupply the place of the linens of Ireland •, io 

 that in time there will remain few articles to barter between 

 the two kingdoms. 



" PopuLttioK. — The return to the inquiries made by Dr. 

 Webiler, regarding the population of the parifh of Portpa- 

 trick, about forty years ago, was 551 fouls. It has iinc. 



