GOVERNMENT. i^t 



iron and gunpowder, as of fpices, and if they did not fupply 

 the enemy others would, for no army ever yet itaid at home 

 in the heart of commercial countries for want of powder aai 

 ball : nor will a French fleet ever be confined to Brcit tor 

 want of beef to feed the failors. Embargoes therefore cannot 

 be laid with any ferious views of that fort, but when contracts 

 are made, the contractors gaping for monopoly, raiie a cla- 

 mour, and pretend that no beef can be had if France is ferved, 

 directly or indirectly, and in order to make their bargains ib 

 much the more profitable, government gives them an embar- 

 go on the trade of a kingdom (like alottery ticket to a fund fub- 

 fcriber) by way of douceur. This conduct is equally injurious 

 to the true intereft of England, of Ireland and of govern- 

 ment. 



Before I conclude this fection, I mull obferve one circum- 

 ftance, which though not important enough to {top the pro- 

 grefs of commercial improvement in Ireland, yet mult very- 

 much retard it, and that is the contempt in which trade is 

 held by thofe who call themfelves gentlemen. I heard a lan- 

 guage common in Ireland which if it was to become univerial, 

 would effectually prevent her ever attaining greatnels. I 

 have remarked the houfes of country gentlemen being full of 

 brothers, coufms, &c. idlers whofe beft employment is to follow 

 a here or a fox ; why are they not brought up to trade or manu- 

 fafiure ? TRADE ! (the anfwer has been) THEY ARE GENTLE- 

 MEN ; to be poor till doomfday : a tradefman has not a right 

 to the point of honour you may refufe his challenge. Tri- 

 nity College at Dublin fwarms with lads who ought to be 

 educated to the loom and the counting houfe. Many ill 

 effects flow from thefe wretched prejudices ; one confequencc 

 manifeft over the whole kingdom, is commercial people quit- 

 ting trade or manufactures when they have made from five to 

 ten thoufand pounds to become gentlemen ; where trade is 

 diihonourable it will not flouriia, this is taking people from 

 induftry at the very moment they are the belt able to command 

 fuccefs. Many quakerswho are (take themfor all in all the mofl 

 fenfible clafs of people in that kingdom) are exceptions to this 

 folly : and mark the confequencc, they are the only wealthy 

 traders in the ifland. The Iriih arc ready enough to imitate 

 the vices and follies of England ; let them imitate her virtues ; 

 her refpect for commercial induftry which has carried her 

 fplendor and her power to the remotell corners of the earth. 



SECTION XXII. 



Government Vnicr;, 



THERE never was a jufter idea than that wh'^h I had 

 occafion in another fection to quote, that the revolution 

 did not exujtd to Jrelaad ; tie aie cf the hereditary revenue 



was 



