Importance of Ireland to Great Britain. 349 



tions : the extent and opulence of the sea-ports 

 and some of the other towns, with the resources 

 and facilities for agriculture and commerce, 

 greatly surpassed any previous estimate that 

 had occurred to my mind. The picturesque 

 beauty which may be said to pervade the coun- 

 try is every where grand often sublime 

 always imposing : the unceasing variety of sur- 

 face is peculiarly attractive of attention ; and 

 while the verdure is delightful to the eye, the 

 luxuriance of vegetation supplies, and in some 

 degree compensates, for the deficiency of culture. 



The importance of Ireland to Great Britain 

 far exceeds the value of which I had entertained 

 any conception. Eight million pounds sterling 

 of agricultural produce is at present exported, 

 and six millions of people subsisted ! The ex- 

 change with England is, for the first time, now 

 favorable to Ireland an incontestable proof of 

 her prosperity, though it may be hazarding too 

 much to pronounce it as the exclusive conse- 

 quence of the Union. 



The hospitality, urbanity, and frankness we 

 uniformly received from the higher ranks, en- 

 titled them to our warmest thanks at the mo- 

 ment, and will ever be acknowledged by a 

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