From this comparifon we find, that the rapid increafe of 

 our exports to Ireland is in late years, the Itronger reafon 

 therefore to expect, that whatever increafe of wealth fhe ex- 

 periences, it will be England that will receive the full tribute 

 of jt. By means of the profperity of Ireland the trade *,ve 

 carry on with that kingdom is grown to be one of the rnoft 

 important which \ve pofTefs ; and in the laft year of this table, 

 nearly equalled the export to the whole continent of North 

 America. 



1. 

 Exports from England to the continent of North ? x Q g 



America, from Chriftmas, 1772,10 1773, - 3 ' 

 Ditto to Ireland, ' 1,918,802 



Freight, infurance and profit on both twelve per cent. 

 Hence therefore this nation haS no demand of policy fo ftrong 

 on her at prefent, as to encourage Ireland to the utmoft of her 

 power, in order to increafe her own trade to that ifland,' that 

 American lofTes may be the lefs fenfibly felt ; but this can only 

 be done by embracing a fyftem totally it new. And here it is a 

 tribute fairly due to genius long fince departed, to obferve, 

 that the relative interefts of England and Ireland were better 

 underiiood by Mr. Houghton in 1682, than by any later wri- 

 ter, whofe productions have come to my knowledge ; and as 

 1 have mentioned him on this occafion, I muft remark, that 

 lie feems to me to have had jufter ideas of trade, manufactures, 

 prices of provifions, enclofures, &c. than nine tenths of the 

 authors who have treated of thofe lubjects : " The richer Ire- 

 land grows the more wealth will the landlords have, and the 

 more, will they that live here fpeud. I am told by an inquifitive 

 and underftanding knight, that hath a great eftate there, and 

 very well underftands the Irifh affairs, that what their gentry 

 fpend here, with the penfioris and the rent that are paid 

 from thence to the city of London, amounts to about three 

 hundred thoufand pounds per ' annum, and I fee no rea- 

 ibn why this cxpence 'fhould not increafe according to 



their thriving."- " Even in the woollen manufacture I 



queftion whether they could in cloth do more than the 

 Dutch ; and for othe'r manufactures, why might it not 

 put both nations at jlrlfc to find >>:it JcmH nciu ' confumptions, and 

 fo increafe t't-e trades of both ? If there muft be but a fet 

 quantity confirmed, feeing England bears up againft, and in 

 outdoth Terra Firnra, ihy may we not, IF IRELAND 



PI 



