38 P U B L I C W O R K S. 



number was computed by Sir W. Petty, in the year 1657 to 

 850,000 ; in 1688 at 1,200,000 ; and in 1767 the houfes taxed 

 were 424,046. If the number of houfes in a kingdom were 

 known, we fhould be very far from knowing that of the peo- 

 ple, for the computation of four or five per houfe, drawn from 

 only a thousandth part of the total, and perhaps deduced from 

 that of a family rather than a houfe, can never fpeak the real 

 faft. I cannot conclude this fubjeft without earneftly recom- 

 mending to the legiflature of Ireland, to order an actual enu- 

 meration of the whole people, for which purpofe I ftiould ap- 

 prehend a vote of the houfe of commons would be lufficient. 

 Such a meafure would be attended with a variety of beneficial 

 effecls, would prevent the rife of thofe errors which have been 

 mifchievous in England, and would place the great importance 

 of Ireland to theBritifh empire, in that truly conipicuous light 

 in which it ought ever to be viewed, and in which it could not 

 fail to be confidered, while we have theorifts, who infift that 

 the people of England do not amount to five millions. 



The common idea is, that there are fomething under three 

 millions in Ireland. 



SECTION XVI. 

 Public Works Dublin Society. 



ABOUT twenty years ago Ireland inftead of being bur- 

 thened with a national debt, had at the end of every fef- 

 fions of parliament from fifty to fixty thoufand pounds, furplus 

 revenue in the Exchequer, at the dilpofition of parliament : 

 this money was voted for public works. The members of the 

 the houfe of commons, at the conclulion of the felfions, met for 

 the purpofe of voting the ufes to which this money fhould be 

 applied ; the greater part of it was among themfelves, their 

 friends, or dependants ; and though fome work, of apparent 

 ufe to the public at large, was always the plea, yet under that 

 fanclion, there were a great number of very fcandalous private 

 jobs,which by degrees brought fuch a difcredit on this mode of 

 applying public money, that the conclufion of it, from the increafc 

 of the real expences of the public, was not much regretted. It 

 muft, however, be acknowledged, that during this period, there 

 were fome excellent works ot acknowledged utility executed, 

 iuch as harbours, piers, churches, fchools, bridges, &c. built 

 and executed by fome gentlemen, if not with ceconomy, at iea'l 

 without any difhonourable mifapplication ; and as the whole 

 was fpent within the kingdom, it ctrtainly was far from being 

 any great national evil. 



But of all public works, none have been fo much favoured as 

 inland navigations ; a navigation board was eftablifhed many 

 years ago for directing the expenditure of the fums, granted 

 by parliament for thole purpoies, and even regular funds fixed 



fpr 



