Commutation of Tithes very desirable. 385 



of making protestants of the people, in his 

 diocese, " I will do all I can," said he, " to 

 make them good catholics." 



The composition generally paid for tithes in 

 Ireland is considerably higher than in England. 

 Nothing, it is generally allowed, would be more 

 desirable to the clergy of both countries, or 

 more advantageous to their spiritual and 

 temporal interests, than a general commutation 

 of tithes. The want of this most salutary 

 measure falls particularly hard on the small 

 farmer ; it has occasioned many of the unfortu- 

 nate commotions in this country, and will con- 

 tinue to agitate the public mind until a remedy 

 for the evil be applied. 



The cultivation of flax is extending towards 

 the south of Ireland. A great quantity of 

 linen is now manufactured in Kerry. The 

 commencement of this valuable trade in Ireland 

 may be referred to the seventh and eighth of 

 William the Third, when all productions of 

 hemp and flax were allowed to be exported to 

 England and the British plantations free of duty. 

 " Mr. Dobbs, an able and impartial inquirer, 

 computed that in less than forty years the 

 home consumption and export of linen 

 amounted to a million sterling, and this from 



VOL. i. 52 c 



