8o A. D. 1785. 



and that his name ought to be tranfmitted to future aj^es along with 

 thofe of the moll diftinguiflied real benefadors of mankind. 



The manufacture of calicoes, which was begun in Lancafliire in the 

 year 1772, was now pretty generally eftablifhed in feyeral parts of Eng- 

 land and Scotland. The manufadure of muflins in England was begun 

 in the year 1781, and was rapidly increafing. In the year 1783 there 

 were above a thoufand looms fet up in Glafgow for that mod beneficial 

 article, in which the {kill and labour of the mechanic raife the raw ma- 

 terial to twenty times the value it was of, when imported*. Bengal, 

 which for fome thoufands of years flood unequaled in the fabric of 

 muflins, figured calicoes, and other fine cotton goods, is rivaled in feve- 

 ral parts of Great Britain : and now thofe articles, which ufed to drain 

 vaft fums of money out of this country, help to fwell the profitable ba- 

 lance of the Britifh commerce. 



The progrefs of the Irilh in the fame line of induflry muft not be over- 

 looked ; and the laudable and ipirited exertions of Captain Robert Brooke 

 deferve to be more particularly noticed. In the year 1 780 that gentleman 

 eflabliflied a cotton manufafture on his lands fituated on the great canal 

 about eighteen miles wefl from Dublin. In 1782 the government of 

 Ireland, underftanding, that fome of the manutadlurers of Manchefler 

 intended to remove to America and carry their machinery with them, 

 found means to perfuade them to go to Ireland, and gave Captain 

 Brooke about ;^3,ooo for fettling them in houfes on his lands : and 

 thev afterwards advanced him ^32,000 upon interefl and iecurity, that 

 he might give employment to a great number of weavers, vrho were 

 then flarving and riotous for want of employment in Dublin f , at his 

 fettlement, where, it was hoped, they would behave induflrioufly and 

 quietly, being at a diflance from the contagion of the metropolis. By 

 means of thefe, and other, acquifitions of inhabitants, the raanufaclur- 

 ing village, which was called by the aufpicious name of Profperous, 

 confifted now of feveral hundred houfes, ereded on a fpot, where in the 

 year 1780 there flood one fingle hut; and the manufadure gave em- 

 ployment to about three thoufand people, men, women, and children. 



Befides Captain Brooke's, which was the principal one, there were 

 at this time feveral other manufadures of cotton ellablifhed in various 



* I know lliat flax msde into very fine lace time reduced to a raofl deplorable condition. Mr. 

 multiplies the value much more : but it docs not Warren, the fhirref and member for that city, de- 

 pay the women employed in making it fo well for clared in parliament, that he had feen fometimes 

 the tirr.e fpent upon it ; and, what is worfe, it de- nine or ten naked pcrfons huddled together in 

 ftroys their eye-fight. I was told by a gentleman rooflefs out-houfes and damp cellars in the mod 

 well acquainted widi Flanders, that they are gen- ligorous feafon of the year. It is no wonder it 

 cially alnioll blind, before they are thirty years people in fuch extremity of difirefs, and moreover 

 of age. Is fuch a frivolous manufaflure, is even a imprefied, as they were, with the idea that the !e- 

 valuable manufadure, worthy of being purchafed gillature had detei mined to do nothing to alleviate 

 ht fuch a piicc ? their calamities, Ihould commit fume enoru-iues. 



f The labouring poor of Dubb'ii were at that 



