Increased Importation of Coals since \ 7 72. 109 



reasonable ground to hope for its complete suc- 

 cess, which, when accomplished, a canal may 

 not unlikely be projected to communicate from 

 Howth to Dublin. 



The custom-house, which is on the north side 

 of the river, is a prodigious pile of building, suf- 

 ficiently capacious to transact the business of all 

 Ireland. An increase, both in luxury and po- 

 pulation, may be inferred from the augmented 

 importation of coals during the last forty years. 

 In the year 1772, the coals imported amounted 

 to two hundred and eleven thousand four hun- 

 dred and thirty-three tons, at a supposed cost of 

 forty-eight thousand pounds; in the year 1812, 

 there were imported five hundred and fifty thou- 

 sand one hundred and sixty-three tons, costing 

 above four hundred and twenty thousand pounds; 

 still this is not one half the quantity received 

 into the port of London. Ten years of peace 

 would probably double the consumption of coal. 

 A few years ago, there was scarcely a steam- 

 engine in Ireland ; recently a manufactory for 

 their construction has been established in 

 Dublin ; the extension of trade, after a time, 

 when once the civilized world shall be blessed 

 with peace, must produce surprising effects in 

 a country, so calculated as this is, for all com- 

 mercial enterprises j the extent and convenience 



