F R E E T R A D E. 185 



BE JOINED TO us, y^0/Y the trade on the other fide, andfo le loth 

 enriched*?'" Here is the intereft of England, relative to that 

 country, explained upon the mod enlarged and moll liberal 

 principles of freedom and of commerce. This penetrating 

 genius, who law deeper into the true Englifh interefts than 

 half our modern politicians, wasfenfibleof nomifchiefs from 

 a free Irifli woollen trade : the prevalence of commercial jea* 

 loufy had not then arifcn to the heights we have fmce leen 

 it. Without any hefitation, Ireland ought to have an abfo- 

 lutely free trade of export and import to all cur American co- 

 lonies, and African fettlements ; alib a very confiderable free- 

 dom in her exports to Europe : but when this fubjeft was in 

 converfation in the houfe of commons, 1 heard the minifter 

 mention one circumftance, which feemcd to (land in the way 

 of doing juftice to Ireland, that is to ourfelves : taxes there 

 being io much lower that their manufactures not being equal- 

 ly under the burthen of excifes, would have an unfair dart of 

 ours \. With great fubmiflion, I think this will not be found 

 found doctrine either in fact or reafon. I might here go into 

 the quellion of a poor and cheap country robbing a rich one of 

 her manufactures, for the aflertion comes directly to this ; but 

 Dr. Tucker has treated it in fo mafterly a manner, and has fo 

 clearly proved the abfurdity of the idea, that what he has faid 

 ought to be confidered as conclusive. But why give in linen 

 what you deny in other fabrics ? Irifh linen has all the advan- 

 tages of a freedom from a great variety of excifes, which the 

 manufacturers of Englifli linen labour under, and yet we not 

 only fupport the competition but thrive under it, from there 

 being a difference in the fabrics, and as great a difference 

 would be in all other fabrics. Their broad cloth, alfo, is 

 made under the fame advantages, and compare it in both, 

 price and quality with that of England ; I bought it at ic- 

 venteen (hillings and fixpcnce a yard at the Dublin fociety's 

 warehoufe, without the mailer manufacturer's profit and ex- 

 pences, and I will venture to allert, from wearing both, 

 twenty-three {Killings for Englilh cloth to be cheaper. The 

 fame fact runs through a variety of their fabrics. The fixed 

 trade, capital and (kill of England will for ever bid defiance 

 to the no excifes of Ireland. But fomething was forced to be 

 given had woollens been put down and Jinens not permitted, 

 the oppreffed and ruined people would have fought redrefs 

 with arms in their hands. The monopolizing fpirit of com- 

 mercial jeaioufy gave as little as poflible, and would not have 

 given that little could fhe have helped it. But the argument 

 lays, that Ireland having few exciies will get much trade and 

 wealth : and is it not your defign that ihe fliould ? Ought 

 pot this, in common fenfe, to be your wiih and aim? For 



whom 



ColleSion of Hujbandry and Trade, W. 4. /. 48, 

 f Written in June 1779. 



