2i 4 INTEREST OF BRITAIN. 



("peculations change the current of old capitals, the advan- 

 tage may be very problematical ; if this is not done new trades 

 will demand new capitals, and I believe it will be difficult to 

 point out three men in the kingdom with an unemployed 

 wealth applicable to new undertakings. 



But it is faid that Englilh capitals will be employed ; an 

 argument equally ufed to prove the gain of Ireland and the 

 lofs of England ; but in fact proving neither one nor the other. 

 If the wealth of England is employed there, it will be for the 

 benefit of England. Before the prefent troubles three fourths 

 of the trade, induftry, and even agriculture of North-Ame- 

 rica were put in motion by Englifh capitals, but affuredly for 

 our own benefit ; the profit was remitted to England, and 

 whenever the fund itfelf was withdrawn, it was to the fame 

 country. Is it for the benefit of Portugal that Englifti factors 

 refide at Oporto? Suppofing the fact fhould happen, that 

 Englifh manufacturers or merchants fliould eftablifh factors 

 or partners at Corke or Waterford, to carry on woollen fa- 

 brics, I fee not a fhadow of objection ; the profit of thofe un- 

 dertakings would center mod affuredly in England ; and if 

 in doing it the Irifh were benefited alfo, who can repine ? 

 Were not the Americans benefited in the fame manner ? That 

 England would fuffer no lofs if this was to happen is to me 

 clear ; but I believe Ireland has very little reafon to expect it 

 for many years. I have fhewn already that fuch a plan 

 could never be thought of for fuch fabrics as are in Ireland 

 rivalled by Englifh goods of the fame fort ; if it was to hap- 

 pen it mud be in new fabrics : but let me afk a fenfible manu- 

 facturer, whether it would not be eafier for him to eftablifti 

 fuch amidft the long eftablifted {kill and ingenuity of England, 

 rather than go into a country where the whole muft be a cre- 

 ation ; where cheapnefs of provifions, and the habit of fub- 

 fifting on potatoes, at fo fmall an expence, would baffle his 

 endeavours for half an age, to make the people induftrious, 

 and where, under that difadvantage, the price of his labour 

 would be as high as in England . ? I have a right to conclude 

 this, feeing the fact in the linen manufacture, throughout the 

 North of Ireland, where the weavers earn on average is. jd. 

 a day, and where alib the cheapnefs of provifions proves very 

 often detrimental to the fabrrc. 



As a general queftion, there is nothing more miftaken than 

 dearnefs and cheapnefs of labour. Artizans and manufactu- 

 rers of all forts are as well paid by the day *s in England, but 

 the quantity of work they give for it, and in many cafes the 

 quality differ exceedingly. Hufbandry labour is very low pric- 

 ed, but by no means cheap ; I have in a preceding fection {hewn 

 this, and aflerted on experience that two {hillings a day in 

 Suffolk is cheaper than fixpence in Corke. If a Huron would 

 dig for twopence, I have little doubt but it might be dearer 

 than the irishman's fixpence. 



If 



