PRESENT DISTRESSES. 209 



fented, at the fame time that they (hew it is in many articles 

 wearing out even while the complaints are loudeft. 



Admitting fome diilrefs, and conne<5ling it with the general 

 ftate of the kingdom rather than peculiarly to the prefent mo- 

 ment, I may be afked to what is it owing ? The preceding 

 fcdtions have been an anfwer to that queiiion, but to bring their 

 refult into a very (hort compafs I ihould here observe, that 

 the caufes which have impeded the progrefs of Iriih prof- 

 perity are, 



I. The oppreffion of the catholics, which by loading the in- 

 duftry of two millions of fubjefts have done more to retard 

 the progrefs of the kingdom than all other caufes put toge- 

 ther. 



II. The bounty on the inland carriage of corn to Dublin, 

 which by changing a beneficial pafturage to an execrable 

 tillage at a heavy expence to the public, has done much 

 miichief to the kingdom, befides involving it in debt. 



III. The perpetual interference of parliament in every branch 

 of domeftic induftry, either for laying reftridions or giving 

 bounties, but always doing mifchief. 



IV. The mode of conducting the linen manufacture, which 

 by fpreading over all the north has annihilated agriculture 

 throughout a fourth part of the kingdom, and taken from 

 a great and flourilhing manufacture the ufual efFed of being 

 an encouragement to every branch of hufbandry. 



V. The ftoppage of emigrations for five years which has ac- 

 cumulated a furplus of population, and thereby diilrefled 

 thofe who are rivalled by their flaying at home . 



VI. The ill judged reftri&ions laid by Great Britain on the 

 commerce ot Ireland which have prevented the general 

 induttry of the country from being animated proportionably 

 with that of others, 



VOL. II, O VII. The 



$ This Jtfgft circumflance is fujficient to account far en) 

 diftrefs that may be found in the north. Men ivho emigrate are 

 from the nature of the c rcumflance the mojladive, hardy, daring, 

 bold, and refolute fpiriis, and probably the mo/} mifchievous a/Jo. 

 The intelligence in the minutes > fpeaks that language; it ivas e- 

 uery year the loofe, dif orderly, tvor t hlefs fellows that emigrated j 

 vpcn an average of tiventy years the number ivas four or fi>e 

 thoufand; but from the great increafing population of the country, 

 the number in the four or five years lajl pafi, lioulj have been 

 greater. At any rate here muji If from tvjenty-f.ve to forty thou~ 

 fand of the moft diforderly <wo> thltfs fpirits accumulated, much 

 again ft their wills, a f home, and are fully fuffic ient to acctunt 

 for violence and riots, much more for clamour and complaint. 



