I'i^2. observations on the salt laws, 19^ 



In my near neighbourhood are several persons, at this mo- 

 nient, nearly reduced to beggary, by being subjected to 

 perp tual harafsments under the pretext of salt laws, though, 

 they do not employ an ounc? of salt in. their manufac- 

 tures 



While I thus only state facts, that cannot be contro- 

 verted when narrowly examined, yet some of these facts 

 are so incompatible with the dictates of common sense, that 

 they will scarcely be believed by any person who has 

 not reflected on subjects of this sort. Such is that I am 

 now about to mention. One would think it could not be 

 for the interest of any nation to discourage their own 

 agriculture and manufactures, for the sake of encouraging 

 those of another country, especially where that kind of 

 partiality diminilhed the revenue of the country conside- 

 rably 3 yet so it is with regard to the curing of beef and 

 poik for sea stores in Britain at present. By the laws, as 

 they now stand, supposing frefh beef or pork were to be 

 sold at the same price in England and in Ireland, yet, 

 pnerely by the operations of the salt laws, an Irifh bar- 

 rel of beef or pork, could be sold cheaper in England* 

 than an Englilh barrel of the same beef and pork, by not 

 lefs a sum than seventeen fliillings *. The consequence is, 

 jhat there can be no competition between them. Of course 

 xnost of our salted meat for sea stores is brought from Ire- 

 land, from which branch of trade our revenue derives no 

 emolument, but the reverse. We likewise furniih them rock 



* This is taking into the account the difference in the size of the barrels. 

 If the £ ': alone be ng'ided;the diftertn^e of price vrould be ten (hillings. 

 We thu» gram to Irelsi.d an indirectbounty on betf and pork, consumed in 

 Britain and Britilh Vflsels, to the amount of aboutL. ico-^oco per oKnum. 

 Coiild it be believed pofsible that a people whii lay claim to common sense 

 ihould pay so much toHiscnurjge theirown agricultiin- !!! Yet so it is. The 

 jwjni of room only prevents me from giving the items of this singular ac 



