350 Manufactories destructive of rural Felicity. 



hesitate, after what I have seen, in pronouncing 

 for an extension of manufactories in Ireland ; 

 because I am most sincerely desirous that its 

 numerous peasantry should continue to retain 

 the full possession of their present moral feel- 

 ings, which I am fearful the change might 

 destroy. And yet, I would fain hope, a supply 

 of constant employment, and a consequent 

 elevation from their present ignoble state, when 

 regarded as human beings like ourselves., might 

 not on making the experiment be found in- 

 compatible. If we reason like patriots, we 

 must decide politically ; if as moralists, we 

 must not be surprised should the doctrines be 

 found at variance with each other. 



I could not help being amused on being told 

 by one, who asserted it to be true, that the 

 letting out silk stockings for Sundays, and sup- 

 plying paint to disfigure the female face, were 

 two lucrative employments at Glasgow and 

 Paisley ; that rouge was sold under the name 

 of "the thing;" for though the women did not 

 blush in wearing it, they felt ashamed in asking 

 for it by its proper na^ne. 



As an argument against the rents in Ireland 

 being too high, it is contended that there are 

 numerous competitors for every farm which 



