Retrospect of Domestic Literature—Polities, Kc, 
profit in the former, than in the latter; and 
consequently with greater effect. in. augment- 
ing the general wealth of the empire. 
there is another consideration, and one of a very 
momentous nature, namely, the tranquillity 
of Ireland, which seems peculiarly calculated. 
to perpetuate an unremitting anxiety, In be- 
half of its” prosperity, among the efficient 
statesmen of the empire, and which, it is 
hoped, will no longer prove abortive. The 
strength, indeed, in times like the present, 
the very stasility of the British empire in- 
controvertibly requires the permanence of 
tranquillity in Ireland. If the spirit of in- 
dustry be assiduously cherished, and liberally 
succoured therein 3 and if the Jrish people be 
invariably governed in prudent conformity 
with the principles of the British constitution, 
disaffection can never be dangerously preva- 
lent among them. For what can Irishmen 
desire beyond a full participation of the pros- 
perity of Great Britain; a full participation 
of the political benefits which Britens enjoy ; 
a participation of the splendour, renown, and 
incolumity of the British empire? Ambi- 
tious and turbulent men may have other aims : 
but the good sense of an overwhelming majo- 
rity of the Irish people will assuredly teach 
them to appreciate these enjoyments justly, 
and thus effectually frustrate the endeavours - 
of those who would alienate them from Great 
Britain. Onthe contrary, if the prosperity 
of Ireland be inconsiderately disregarded; if 
the projects of designing men be thus incau- 
tiously facilitated, the least evil that can hap- 
pen, is that which has already been experi- 
enced, the appropriation of a vast military 
“force to the preservation of Ireland, which, 
under more prudent management, under the 
impulse of more becoming principles, might 
elsewhere be employed with, perhaps, incal- 
culable effects ; and which, in the year 1799, 
equalled the whole effective and disposable 
native military force of Great Britain, during 
the height of the last American war. What- 
ever may have been the secondary or adven- 
titious objects of those who projected the in- 
corporation of the British and [rish legisla- 
tures, it must in candour be presumed, that 
the principal and ultimate scope of their en- 
deavours toaccomplish this arduous and hazard- 
ous undertaking, was that prodigious invigo- 
ration of the British empire, which was likely 
to ensue from disclosing and rendering ade- 
quately productive its various sources of 
wealth and strength, and from a complete re- 
moval of the ground of that jealousy, which 
had long impeded, and still, threatened to 
impede, the growth of Irish prosperity; but 
-which desired invigoration could not, in the 
opinions of many, be thus effected, so long 
as the legislatures of the sister-kingdoms re- 
mained distinct, without endangering the per- 
manence of that connection between them, 
whereof the preservation may be considered as 
the highest duty ofa Britishstatesman, And 
certainly, if this reputed ybject be not thus 
But. 
66% 
obtainelt, Britons will have‘verg little redsbn 
to admire .the union, asa specimen of con» 
summate political sagacity ; and Irishmen will 
have ample ground for dissatisfaction. 
British empire by. a perfect consolidation of 
Its constituent parts ; if its resources be not 
explored and improved ; if the vast natural 
advantages of Ireland be not mote productively 
employed in the augmentation of nationa¥ 
wealth than heretofore ; if the grievances and 
exigencies of the Itish people be slighted and 
neglected, while the petitions of turbulent, 
ne : 5a Tf ad- 
tional vigour be not diffused through the - 
- 
ignorant, and, probably, instigated operative. . 
manufacturers are deemed “worthy of the con- 
Ea is i ; 5 
sideration of the legislature; if the interest. 
of the Irish nation be, in a signal manner 
precipitate y, and without due examination * 
sacriticed to that or West-India planters, oe 
chants, and mortgagees, whose accidental 
distresses the legislature ought, no doubt, to 
relieve, both promptly and effectually ; but,” 
surely, not at the sale expense ofa country; 
to which the fostering aid of government has ( 
not been habitually extended, and which has, 
uaquestionably, a singularly well-founded 
claim thereon; if the conduct of successive 
administrations towards Ireland continue to _ 
exiibit a tissue of neglect, partiality, andere. 
ror, the union will surely be regarded, by all 
reflecting and unbiassed men, as a vain, il~ 
lusive, nagatory, and even mischievous meas 
Sure 3 nay, itis not unlikely that a disposie 
tion to manifest their dissatisfaction, durin. 
some future interval of perplexity, remisse 
ness, or debility, on the part of government 
may at length become general among the 
people of Irelands But neglect of Ireland, — 
partiality to Great Britain, or her dependene 
cies, anda series of errors, some, perhaps, of 
a fatal nature, must constantly be appre- 
hended, so long as an imperfect knowledge of 
the circumstances of the formet, or an indige 
tinct perception of its real value, shall pree 
vail among these who conduct the afairs of * 
the empire, or those of whom its legislature 
1s com)posed.”” 
Mr. Newennam divides his work into 
four parts, which are again subdivided 
into sections. The first of these parts 
treats ‘¢ Of the natural advantages which 
qualify Ireland for the acquisition of coma 
mercial wealth :” the second, “ Of the 
causes which frustrated the natural ad= 
vantages of Ireland ;” the third, “ Of the 
remote cause which eventually operated 
in frustrating the natural advantages of 
dreland;” the fourth, Of the circumstances 
which have tended to prevent a complete 
Jruition of the natural advantages of Tree 
land, since the removal of the principal 
causes, which operated in rendering them 
* See Reports of the Committee on the 
distillation from molasses. * aoe 
comparatively 
