IRELAND, 
to export and import commodities to and from the Weft 
Indies and the Britifh fettlements on the coaft of Africa, 
f'ubjeCt to fuch refolutions and reftriCtions as fhould be 
impofed by the Irifh parliament. 
On thefe propofitions his 1 ordfhip made feveral remarks 
by way of explanation. One cbjeCi of them, he (aid, 
was to reftore to Ireland the wool export and woollen 
manufacture. In 1692, from jealoufy or fome other mo¬ 
tive, an addrefs had been prefented by the Englifh par¬ 
liament, recommending a kind of compaCt between the 
two kingdoms; the terms of which were, that England 
fhould enjoy the woollen manufacture, and Ireland the 
linen, exclulively. But, notwithftanding this agreement, 
it was certain, that England carried on the linen manu¬ 
facture to as great an extent as Ireland, while, at the fame 
time, the former retained the monopoly of woollens. 
The firft ftep taken in confequence of this agreement, was, 
to lay a heavy duty, equal to a prohibition, upon all 
wool and woollens exported ; and when this aCt, which 
was but a temporary one by way of experiment, expired, 
the Englifh parliament palled a fimilar one, and made it 
perpetual; by means of which, and fome others, a total 
end was put to the woollen trade of Ireland. 
With regard to the trade of Ireland, his lordfhip ob- 
ferved, that, upon an average of the fix years, from 1766 
to 1772, the export to Ireland was fome what more than 
two millions; and, in the fucceeding fix years, from 
1772 to 1778, about as much more, nearly one half being 
Britifh manufacture and produce, the other half certified 
articles, of which this country was the medium of con¬ 
veyance. The native produce, on an average, was fome- 
what more than 900.000I. but of this only 200,0001. were 
woollens. The woollen manufacture of Ireland therefore 
would long continue in a ftate of infancy ; and, though 
cloths had been manufactured fufficient for home-con- 
fumption, yet it could hardly be expedited that Ireland 
•would rival Great Britain at the foreign markets, when, 
after the expence of land-carriage, freight, infurance, and 
factorage, the latter was able to underfell Ireland in her 
own market on the very fpot, even though aided by the 
low wages and taxes paid in that country. 
With regard to the linen, his lordfhip obferved, that, 
however profperous it might appear, yet ftill it was ca¬ 
pable of great improvement. The idea of extending and 
improving the linen-manufaCture of Ireland originated 
from a pamphlet written by fir William Temple; and 
this gave rife to the compaCl which had been referred to. 
But, though this compaCl was now about to be diffolved, 
it was his opinion that the bounties on importing Irifh 
linens ought not to be difcontinued ; becaufe it appeared, 
that the Britifh bounties had operated as a great encou¬ 
ragement to the Irifh manufactures, at the fame time that 
the fum appropriated to thiapurpofe amounted to no more 
than 13,0001. 
With regard to the diflolution of the compaCl betwixt 
England and Ireland, he obferved, that, as a more liberal 
f'pirit had now appeared on both fides of the water, he 
hoped both kingdoms would be perfectly contented. 
Ireland would never be able to rival England in the fine 
woollen fabrics; but allowing the Irifh to manufacture 
their own wool, would put an end to the contraband trade 
with France : and it ought to be remembered, that, what¬ 
ever was an advantage to Ireland, mult, fooner or later, 
be of fmgular advantage to Great Britain ; and, by the 
ptopofed regulations in their commercial connections, the 
two kingdoms would be put more upon an equality. 
With regard to the glafs-manufaCture, his lordfhip 
likewife obferved, that Ireland had been very injurioufly 
treated. Before the aCt of 19 Geo. II. they had begun 
to make fome progrefs in the lower branches of the glafs- 
manufaCture; but by that aft they were not only pre¬ 
vented from importing any other glafs than what was of 
Britifh manufacture, but alfo from exporting their own 
glafs, or putting it on a horfe or carriage with a defign to 
be exported. 1 his aft had been complained of in Ireland 
Vql. XI. No. 757. 
333 
as a great piece of injuftice, and it was the intention of 
his proportion to remove that grievance. 
With regard to the third propofition, his lordfhip oh- 
ferved, that allowing Ireland a free trade to the colonies 
mufi be confidered as a favour to that kingdom. Con- 
fidering her even as an independent ftate, fhe could fet 
up no claim to an intercourfe with the Britifh colonies. 
By every principle of juftice, and of the laws of nations, 
and by the cultora of the other European powers who 
had fettlements and diftant dependencies, the mother- 
country had an exciufive right to trade with, and to for¬ 
bid all others from having any intercourfe with, them. 
Were not this the cafe, what nation under the fun would 
fpend its blood and treafure in eftablifhing a colony, and 
protecting and defending it in its infant ftate, if other 
nations were afterwards to reap the advantages derived 
from fuch labour, hazard, and expence. But, though 
Great Britain had a right to reftrain Ireland from trading 
with her colonies, his lordfhip declared himfelf of opinion 
that it would be proper to allow her to participate in the 
trade. This would be the only prudent means of afford¬ 
ing her relief: it would be an unequivocal proof of the 
candour and fincerity of Great Britain ; and he had not 
the lead doubt but it would be received as fuch in Ire¬ 
land. Britain, however, ought not to be a fufferer by 
her bounty to Ireland ; but this would be the cafe, fhould 
the trade with the colonies be thrown open to the lat¬ 
ter, unaccompanied by reftriCtions fimilar to thole which 
were laid upon the Britifh trade with them. An equal 
■trade mult include an equal fhare of duties and taxes; 
and this was the only proper ground on which the bene 
fits expeCted by the Irifh nation could be either granted 
or defired. 
Having made fome other obfervations on the propriety 
of thefe meafures, they were regularly formed into mo¬ 
tions, and paffed unanimoufly. In Ireland they were re¬ 
ceived with the utmoft joy and gratitude by both houfes 
of parliament. On the 20th of December the following 
refolutions were paffed: “That the exportation of wool¬ 
len and other manufactures from Ireland to all foreign 
places, will materially tend to relieve its diftreffes, in- 
creafe its wealth, promote its profperity, and thereby ad¬ 
vance the welfare of Britain, and the common ftrength, 
wealth, and commerce, of the Britifh empire. That a li¬ 
berty to trade with the Britifh colonies in America and 
the Welt Indies, and the fettlements on the coaft of 
Africa, will be productive of very great commercial be¬ 
nefits ; will be a molt affectionate mark of the regard and 
attention of Great Britain to the diftreffes of the king¬ 
dom ; and will give new vigour to the zeal of his ma¬ 
jefty’s brave and loyal people of Ireland to Hand forth in 
fupport of his majefty’s perfon and government, and the 
intereft, the honour, and dignity, of the Britifh empire.” 
The fame refolutions were, next day, paffed in the houfe 
of peers. To the foregoing propofitions lord North ad¬ 
ded three others. 1. For repealing the prohibition of 
exporting gold coin from Great Britain to Ireland. 2. 
For removing the prohibition to import foreign hops into 
Ireland, and the drawback on the exportation of foreign 
hops. 3. For enabling his majefty’s Irifh fubjeCls to be¬ 
come members of the Turkey Company, and to export 
woollens in Britifh or Irifh bottoms to the Levant. In. 
fupport of this laft refolution his lordfhip urged, that it 
was neceffary, becaufe, the exportation of woollens having 
been granted to Ireland, the Irifh would naturally expeCt 
a fhare in the Turkey trade, which, as matters flood, was 
not poflible, it having hitherto been a received opinion, 
that no Irifhman could be eleCted a member of the Turkey 
Company. 
Notwithftanding, however, the great latisfaCtion with 
which the news of thefe bills was received in Ireland, 
it was not long before thoughts of a different kind be¬ 
gan to take place. It was fuggefted, that a free trade 
could be but of little ufe, if held by a precarious tenure. 
The repeal of the obnoxious laws was reprefented as aii 
