22* STATISTICAL SURVEY 



the reign of William III. a Mr. Crommelin traverfed a 

 confiderable part of Ireland, to make his report con- 

 cerning the fitnefs of different parts of this kingdom for 

 carrying on this branch of bufinefs ; he imported a 

 thoufand looms from Holland, the improved fpinning- 

 vvheels, &c. Before his day no web finer than a four- 

 teen hundred was manufactured in Ireland; he fettled 

 at Lifburn, where he died, after feeing his exertions for 

 this trade crowned with fuccefs; and yet, ftrange to 

 fay, linen was not allowed to be exported, free of duty, 

 until the 4th of Queen Anne. From this time govern- 

 ment feems to have been fenfible of its importance, by 

 the many regulations brought forward in its fupport. 

 About this time the Lord Lieutenant was empowered 

 to appoint truftees for each province; and in the 8th of 

 George I. 1,5007. was granted the truftees to build a 

 linen-hall in Dublin, for the more regular fale of white 

 linen; and, in the loth of the fame reign, 2,ooo/. was 

 likewife granted to them, for the encouragement of the 

 growth of flax and hemp. Since that period the ma- 

 nufacture of linen has moft rapidly increafed, and is 

 now not only become the ftaple of all the counties in 

 Ulfter, but is rapidly fpreading itfelf to the weft; and 

 ]et the defign of England have been what it might in 

 foftering (for ftie did not introduce it), the event has 

 been fortunate for both countries. It would be foreign 

 to this Report to enter into a detail of every regulation 

 adopted by the Linen Board, and of every encourage- 

 ment 



