288 DICKSON ON 



Indeed, his friendly challenge " to a renewal of exertions by 

 which Leeds was distinguished in former years," reminds me 

 of one of the contracted views held by the late Daniel O'Con- 

 nell, when he wanted ' ' Ireland for the Irish." Why did he 

 not take a national view of his subject, and let the British 

 Association know the cause of the national loss, by the in- 

 creased imports of 20,680 tons of foreign Flax in 1856, over 

 the imports of 1855? Why did he not extend his subject to 

 Ireland, a country from which he derived the greatest portion 

 of his wealth ? Had he done so, he would have discovered 

 the national loss, and would have been able to explain it by 

 the increased imports of the raw material. Who, being pos- 

 sessed of friendly feeling towards those engaged in the spin- 

 ning of Flax in Great Britain and Ireland, could view the 

 enormous increase of imports of foreign Flax from 1820 to 

 1856, without experiencing deep regret at the falling off in 

 the production of Flax in Ireland, between the year 1851 and 

 1856. However, as the Leeds Flax-spinner has not told us 

 in his " friendly challenge" what he mea,ns by the statement 

 that the Leeds spinners would gain by a " renewal of exer- 

 tions," I will venture to place before ^them (the Leeds 

 spinners) facts, by figures, which will point out what should 

 incline them all to admit the necessity for promoting the cul- 

 tivation of Flax in England, and above all by the natives of 

 India, where labour is not more than 3d. per head, while 

 slave labour in growing cotton is 7d. per head. 



From a late number of the Belfast Mercantile Journal, I 

 copy the following observations, penned by my once most 

 particular and inspected friend, the late Mr. John Seed, who 

 was proprietor and editor of that journal, and who for several 

 years conducted it with great judgment and ability. His loss 

 to the mercantile interest in Belfast has been acknowledged 

 by the press of Ulster with feelings of sorrow, sympathy, and 

 goodwill which reflect credit on the proprietors, and must help 



