RELIGION. 53 



Let it in general be remembered, that no country in the 

 world has felt any inconveniences from the moft liberal fpirit of 

 toleration : that on the contrary, thofe are univerfally acknow- 

 ledged to be the moft profperous, and the moft flourifhing, 

 which have governed their fubje&s on the moft tolerating prin- 

 ciples. That other countries, which have been aftuated by 

 the fpirit -of bigotry, have continued poor, weak, and help- 

 lefs ; thefe are circumftances which bear fo immediately upon 

 the queftion, that we may determine, without any hazard of 

 extravagance, that Ireland will never profper to any great de- 

 gree until fhe profits by the example of her neighbours. 

 Let her difmifs her illiberal fears and apprehenfions ; let her 

 keep pace with the improvement of the age, and with the 

 mild fpirit of European manners, let her transfer her anxiety 

 from the faith to the induftry of her fubjecls ; let her embrace, 

 cherifh, and protecl the catholics as good Cubjefts, and they 

 will become fuch ; let her, defpifing and detefting every fpe- 

 cies of religious perfecution, confider all religions as brethren, 

 employed in one great aim, the wealth, power, and happinefs 

 of the general community ; let thefe be the maxims of her po- 

 licy, and fhe will no longer complain of poverty and debility, 

 ihe will be at home piofperous, and abroad formidable. 



SECTION VIII. 



Price of Proviftons. 



IN the fpeculations of modern politicians, fo many conclu- 

 fions have been drawn from the prices of provifions in diffe- 

 rent countries, and fome of them with fo much reafon, that 

 every one muft readily admit a confiderable degree of import- 

 ance to be annexed to fuch information : with this view, I was 

 as particular in thefe enquiries as I had been before in my Eng- 

 Jifli journies. The following table fhews the refult. 



Pt'aces. 



