Preference given to German Linens. 151 



vacancies which casualty may occasion in the 

 ranks of our armies, is, according to my feelings, 

 revolting to every sense of humanity. 



The exportation of linen has been estimated 

 at the value of three millions sterling per annum ; 

 but it has decreased of late years ; and the gene- 

 ral opinion is, that the trade has been greatly 

 injured by the encouragement given to German 

 cloths. The use of the oxymuriatic acid in 

 bleaching has certainly brought the Irish linen 

 into great disrepute. Whether the practice is 

 discontinued, or that the manufacturers are be- 

 come more skilful in the application of it, I can- 

 not decide ; yet a more summary mode of treat- 

 ing flax, from the field to the loom, in which the 

 chemical and unchemical processes it now un- 

 dergoes might be dispensed with, is become a 

 great desideratum to Ireland. Foreign flax-seed 

 was supposed to be indispensably requisite in the 

 cultivation of the crops ; but lately, a great pro- 

 portion of that sown in Ireland has been ob- 

 tained from Yorkshire. 



On our arrival at Balla Mona, we found the 

 town in a great ferment, in consequence of one 

 magistrate having granted permission for feats 

 in horsemanship, the usual prelude to gambling ; 

 while, in his absence, a brother justice had issued 



