GRAND CANAL. 95 



of capital in Ireland was fuch that me could never rival the 

 manufactures of Great Britain : it was replied, that Englifli 

 capitals would go over to do it for them ; but what I have 

 juft recited, proves that this remark is perfectly unfounded. 

 If capitals were fo readily moved from one country to another, 

 the Drumglafs collieries would have attracted them, efpecialljr 

 as an intereft for ever is to be p"urchafed in them ; but the 

 fact is, that removeable capitals are in the hands of men who 

 have been educated, and perhaps have made them locally in 

 fome trade or undertaking which they will not venture to re-t 

 move. Prejudice and habit govern mankind as much even as 

 their intereft, fo that no apprehenfion can be fo little founded 

 as that of a country lofing ihe capital ihe has made, by cranf- 

 ferring it into another for greater feeming advantages in trade. 

 But this point 1 (hall have occafion hereafter to dwell more 

 particularly on. 



The grand canal, as it has been ridiculoufly termed, was 

 another inland navigation which has coft the public ftill greater 

 fums. The defign, as the maps of Ireland mew, was to form 

 a communication by water between Dublin and the Shannon 

 by this cut, moft of the way through the immenfe bog of Al- 

 len. The former plan of bringing coals to Dublin was a very 

 wife one, but this of the grand canal had fcarcely any object 

 that feemed to call for fuch an exertion. If the country is ex- 

 amined, through which the intended canal was to pafs, and 

 alfo that through which the Shannon runs, it will be found, 

 confidering its extent, to be the leaft productive for the Dublin 

 market, perhaps of the v/hole kingdom. Examine Leitrim, 

 Rofcommon, Longford, Galway, Clare, Limerick, and thofe 

 parts of Weft Meach and Kings, which the line of the canal 

 and Shannon lead through, there are fcarcely any commodities 

 in them for Dublin. Nay, the prefent bounty on the inland 

 carriage of corn to Dublin, proves to a demonftration, that the 

 quantity of corn raifed in all thefe counties for that market is 

 contemptible : What other products are there ? Raw wool 

 takes another direction, it goes at prefent from Rofcommon to 

 Corke. Manufactures in that line are very infignificant - f 

 there are fome in Galway, but the ports of Limerick and Gal- 

 way are perfectly fuilicient for the fmall exportation of them. 

 There remains nothing. but turf; and who at Dublin would 

 burn that while Whitehaven coals are at the prefent price ? 



Moft of the inland navigations in England have been exe- 

 cuted with private funds ; the intereft paid by the tolls one 

 ftrong reafon for this mode, is the prevention of unueceffary 

 and idle fchemes ; the manufactures mutt be wrought, or the 

 products railed, and feel the clog of an expenfive carriage be- 

 fore private perfons will fubfcribe their money towards a 

 cheaper conveyance ; in which cafe, the very application to 

 parliament is generally proof fuflicient that a canal ought to be 

 cut. Having fomething to carfy before you, feek the means of 

 carriage, 1 will venture to fay, that if the grand canal was 



entirel/ 



