358 Mistatement relative to Ireland Inland Navigation. [Nov. 1, ~ 
from the small allowance from the parish, 
she would otherwise be deprived. 
_ Copthall-court, M. W. 
September 20, 1809, 
—_— ee 
To the Editor of the. Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, : 
y T often occurs, that statements which 
A have no foundation in fact, yet, hav- 
ing obtained publicity, and remaining 
uncontradicted, are assumed to be truths. 
To adduce proofs of this, can scarcely be 
necessary, the experience of every indi- 
vidual will furnish instances in support 
of the assertion. The observation is at 
present called forth by the perusal of a 
paragraph in the last Number of the 
Edinbargh Review, the whole of which. 
paragraph I shall take leave to transcribe, 
lest a more brief statement should be 
considered as an extract, intentionally 
garbled for an especial purpose. 
Tn reviewing Mr..Newenham’s work, 
on the State of Ireland, upon that part 
which relates to her Inland Navigations, 
the Iteviewers remark as follows :— 
** The very great advantages for commer- 
cial interceuse, particularly with the western 
world, which Ireland possesses, from her geo- 
graphical position, are evident, from the in- 
‘spection of the map; and her numerous and 
«ommodious harbours, which are represented 
by Mr. Newenham, and we believe justly, 
as-much superior to those of England, would 
enable her, under favorable auspices, to reap 
ahe full benefit of her fortunate situation. 
Her deeply indented coast, her extensive 
lakes, and the number, size, and direction of 
her rivers, will inevitably secure to her a 
most excellent system of inland navigation ; 
as soon as the ¢apitals of individuals are suf- 
ficiently large, the profits of employing them 
in other ways sufficiently reduced, and, 
above all, the quantity of goods to be carried 
sufficiently considerable, to encourage private 
subscriptions and secure their effective appli- 
eation. But that this great object cannot be 
~eompleted, until this period arrives, is nearly . 
eertain; and how far, under all the circum- 
stances of the case, a very beneficial stimulus 
can be given toit by the government advances 
recommended by Mr. Newenham, may rea- 
sonably be questioned ; when we hear so much 
of the inveterate propensity to jobbing, which 
_ prevails in Ireland, in the expenditure of the 
_ public money. 
It was no longer agothan the 
end of last Match, that Sir John Newport 
stated in Parliament, that of the 500,0001. 
granted at the Union for the Inland navigati- 
on of Ireland, only about 27,0001. had been 
drawn: for, in the course of the eight years 
~ that had sinee elapsed; of which 6,0001. had- 
© gone in salaries; so that the superintendance 
of the expenditure of 21,000 for public pur- 
peses, had already cost 6,000.” 
4 
- 
Of the incorrect manner in which the 
proceedings of Parliament, so far as they 
relate to that part of the united kingdom 
called Ireland, are reported in the public 
prints of London, I have. repeatedly 
heard complaints made ; by an incorrect-. 
ness. of this kind I must presume the 
Edinburgh Reviewers have been misled ; 
for, itcan hardly be supposed, that a 
man with such means of information in 
his power, as the Right Honourable Ba- 
ronet possessed, to whom the above 
statement is ascribed, (and who has al- 
_ ways, shown himself a zealous promoter 
of, and well informed in, the measures 
which are best calculated for the welfare 
of Ireland,) would have made a state- 
ment, in which he could not be borne ous 
by facts; still less can I imagine, that 
many gentlemen, with the same means - 
of information before them, would have 
heard such a statement made without no-- 
ticing its erroneousness. 
Having some property connected with 
one of the principal lines of navigation 
in this country, I have turned my 
thoughts with considerable attention to 
the. subject of the inland navigation 
thereof, and more. particularly since the 
period at which the Irish parliament . 
granted. half a million towards the pro- 
motion of that branch of national im- 
provement. I have obtained copies of 
the papers upon this subject, which have 
from time to time been printed by order 
-of the House of Commons, which papers 
now lie before me; these are the sources 
of information to which I above allude, 
as possessed by the members of the 
House of Commens generally, (and while 
the Right Honourable Baronet was in 
office, it may be presumed, he acquired 
more particular knowledge); andI beg to 
offer the following brief observation, in 
/ 
answer to the Edinburgh Review, founds ~ 
ed thereupon. ' 
: Inthe month of June, 1808, (about 
nine months, before the time at which 
the Itight Honourable Baronet is repree 
sented to have made his statement) “an. 
account” was laid before the House of 
Commons, “ of the manner in which the 
sum of 500,000I. granted in the last ses- 
sion of the Irish parliament, to the di- 
rectors of inland navigation, has been dis- 
posed of ;” by which it appeared, that at. 
that date, there had been actually 
‘drawn out of the treasury the sum of 
290,965. 14s. 2d. and that of the residue 
of the grant, the sum of 74,270/. 10s. 
‘Sid. was appropriated: of the nature of 
this appropriation, the house were in full 
possession; for I now hold in my hand, 
printed 
