INTEREST OF BRITAIN. 215 



If an Englifh manufacturer could not attempt an Irifh fa- 

 bric for cheapnefs of labour, what other motive could influ- 

 ence him ? Not the price of the raw material, for wool is 

 on an average forty-feven per cent, dearer than in England, 

 which alone is a moft heavy burthen. Other reafons, were 

 the above not fufficient, would induce me to believe on the 

 one hand, that the Irifh will not immediately reap any be- 

 nefit from Englifh capitals employed in their woollen fabrics ; 

 .and on the other, that if it was to happen, England would 

 fuftain no lofs. What time may effect is another queftion ; 

 Ireland has been fo faft increafmg in profperity, that (he will 

 gradually form a capital of her own for new trades, and I 

 doubt not will flourifli in them without the leaft prejudice to 

 Britain. Thofe who are apt to think the contrary, cannot 

 ccnfidcr with too much attention that cafe in point : North- . 

 Britain, which by means of cheap labour and provifions, has 

 not been able to rival, with any dangerous fuccefs, one (ingle 

 Engliih fabric, yet has fhe raifed many to a great degree of 

 profperity ; but fhe has flourifhed in them without injury to 

 us ; and her greateft manufactures, fuch as (lockings, linen, 

 &c. &c. have grown with the unrivalled profperity of fimilar 

 fabrics in England ; if Englifh capitals have been affiftant, 

 have we upon review a fingle reafon to regret it ? The plenty 

 of coals in Scotland is an advantage that Ireland does not 

 enjoy, where fuel is dearer than in England. 



But let me fuppofe for a moment, that the contrary of all 

 this was faft, that Englifh capitals would go, that Ireland 

 would gain, and that England -would lofe. Is it imagined 

 that the account would flop there ? By no means. Why- 

 would Englifh capitals go ? Becaufe they could be employed 

 to more advantage ; and will any one convince us, that it is 

 not for the general benefit of the empire, that capitals fhould 

 be employed where they will be moft produftive? Is it even 

 for the advantage of England, that a thoufand pounds fhould 

 here be employed in a fabric at twelve per cent- profit, if the 

 lame could make twenty in Ireland ? This is not at all clear ; 

 but no pofition is plainer than another, becaufe it is founded 

 on uniform facts, that the wealth of Ireland is the wealth of 

 England, and that the confumption in Ireland of Englifh ma- 

 nuiactures thrives exactly in proportion to that wealth. While 

 the great profit of the linen manufacture centers at laft in 

 England, and while Englifh capitals, and Englifh factors, and 

 partners, have gone to the North of Ireland to advance that 

 fabric, fo much to the benefit of England, what fhadow of 

 an appreheniion can arife, that other branches of Irifh 

 profperity may arife by the fame means, and with the fame 

 effect ? Take into one general idea the confumption of Britifh 

 goods in that kingdom ; the intereft they pay us for money ; 

 and the remittances from abfentee eftates ; and then let any 

 one judge, if they can poflibly increafe in wealth without 

 * vaft proportion of every flailing of that wealth at laft cen- 

 tering 



