PREFACE. xxi 



their fubje&s, and ftagnate every branch 

 of domeftic induftry, for diftant, ideal, 

 and precarious commercial advantages. 



But to return — The manufactures, 

 commerce, and fifheries of Ireland, are 

 objects of much importance to Great 

 Britain, and as the information 1 pro- 

 cured concerning them, was chiefly gain- 

 ed on the fpot, and given me without 

 thofe intentions of deceiving, which are 

 too common, when fuch particulars are 

 introduced politically to the world, I 

 believe the reader will not be forry at 

 my having given them a place. 



The general view of the kingdom I 

 have given from the whole of the m- 

 telligence, will I flatter myfelf, throw 

 Ireland into that juft light, in which 

 fhe has not hitheito appeared. The 

 many erroneous ideas concerning the 

 rental, wealth, and confequence of that 

 ifland, with which every book is filled 

 that treats of it, will be here explained. 

 The reader will find the progrds of na- 

 tional profperity, its prefent ilate, and 



the 



