SECT. XV.] RESULTS OF THE INQUIRY. 



273 



REMARKS. 



The English have an undeniable claim to a full 

 measure of native genius and originality, but they 

 are not remarkable for their power of analysing, 

 In the instance before us, these Commissioners 

 have spent eighteen months in investigating the 

 state of agriculture in Ireland ; their Reports re- 

 present that country as being in the most hopeless 

 condition ; and in the conclusion of these same Re- 

 ports they attribute the backward and deplorable 

 state of manufactures and commerce to want of 

 order, tranquillity, and obedience to the laws. It 

 appears to us, however, that there is still some- 

 thing more wanting ; on one side, the raw mate- 

 rials for manufactures ; and on the other, the 

 means of subsistence for the workmen. 



The first materials for manufactures can only 

 be derived from the vegetable, animal, and mineral 

 kingdoms : to agriculture alone must we look for 

 the two former. 



The vegetable kingdom is composed of fruits (of 

 which the grape, the most abundant of all, yields 

 wine), of vegetables, roots and corn. The fruits and 

 vegetables, or roots, such as the potato, the chief 

 product of Ireland, do not admit of any hand- 

 labour or manufacture. 



