OF SCOTLAND, 99 



another century, to equal, if not eclipfe, the moil 

 celebrated empires of the world. 



The progrefs of the Britifh American colonies, 

 under the direction of their refpective affemblies, 

 afiifted liberally by the mother country, had no pa- 

 rallel in the annah of antient or modern nations. 



The prefent ftate of Ireland, a country nearly fimi- 

 lar to Scotland in dimenfions, local fituation, cli- 

 mate, and natural produce, requires on that account 

 a more circumftantial detail. That kingdom had 

 been an expenfive burden to England, from the time 

 when it became fubject to the latter nation, in the 

 reign of Henry II. to that of Queen Elizabeth, in- 

 cluding a period of 385 years. 



C In 1573, the money which the queen had fen c 

 to Ireland, fmce her accefiion tothe t throne, anno 1558, 

 being computed, came to 490,779!. whereas the 

 whole produce of the revenue of Ireland, during all 

 that time, amounted but to 120,000!." being SoooL 

 per annum. 



cc In 1641, part of the walls of Dublin fell down, 

 which lay unrepaired for want of money, until the 

 lords juftices fent the citizens 40!. to advance that 

 fervice. In 1644, the citizens of Dublin were num- 

 bered, and found to be 5551 proteftants, and 1608 

 papifts, in all 8159." Corke, Waterford, Belfaft, 

 and Limerick, were ftill lefs confiderable ; and it is 

 beyond a doubt that the ports of Leith, St. Andrews, 

 or Dundee in Scotland, then carried on, and had for 

 many ages, more foreign commerce than the whole 

 kingdom of Ireland ; as appears by an authentic lift 

 of the number of feamen, fifhermen, and boatmen, 

 in the latter kingdom, anno 1695, amounting to 

 4,424 only. 



Towards the commencement of the prefent cen- 

 tury, the parliament of Ireland began to direct its at- 

 tention to national improvements, and with fuch per- 

 feverance and fuccefs, that the public revenue, 

 which in queen Elizabeth's reign produced only 

 Soool. annually, amounted at Chriftmas, 1784, to 

 G 1 .I,QOO>OOO 



