must command the world itself. To an Union of this nature then Ireland is called. That or Separation is before her. If Holland vanquished Nature, though the four elements all combined warred against her, and rofe by commerce to opulence and power, what then may Ireland expect into whofe lap Nature has poured a profufion of her blessings? Give her but ftability * and reppfe, under an Incorporative Union, and the dreams of avarice will not outstrip her profperity. What has the poor and barren Scotland done under the aufpices of an Union; and what fhall not Ireland do, teeming with all the treasures of the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms with fuch ports, climates, foil, rivers, harbours, and position upon the globe: with an active, ftrong, and robust race of men, quick in their perceptions and folid in their combinations? Conftituted as Europe now is, power is manifeftly in proportion to wealth, and wealth must ever be in proportion to commerce. Ireland therefore poffeffes the means of power to a degree that all the advantages of Nature can bestow, or art may procure, if she has fecurity and peace. When these are established by Incorporation with Britain, all the feas of the universe will be enriched by the burdens of her commerce, and her bofom be for ever closed against indigent idlenefs, indigent venality, *The opulence of England will then promote the commerce and agriculture of Ireland. † It is ftated on the first authority that the mineral treasures of Ireland are equal, if not beyond, thofe of any other country in Europe. If fecurity then be once established, what may not the wealth of English companies dig out of these mines? Were it not wife in the Univerfity of Dublin, to make mineralogy a part of their fyftem of Education; that gentlemen might know the value of their property, or profeffional men be brought up to nquire into it? venality, indigent avarice and ambition, against indigence and rebellion. Should it however be urged, that the value of property in and about Dublin must be diminished by the decrease of population, or change of trade to other ports; first, we deny the pofition, as unfounded: and next, if the ground of the pofition were true, fo much the better. But it is false on the clear views of trade which have been given before. It is falfe, because the numbers which will be fummoned* to attend the British Parliament will be comparatively inconfiderable to those which will not be fummoned. And it is falfe, because, increased Commerce must give increased wealth and population, and confequently increase the value of land and houses about Dublin. But, fuppofe that all this were not true, (and it were a fuppofition in the very teeth of truth, but suppose, that part of the Commerce were to pass to Galway, Cork, Derry, or Belfast. So much the better! Becaufe manufactures could be rendered more cheap, where there is lefs luxury and lefs population. This is the grand fecret for fuccefs, in commercial emulation: all the results of skill and capital are to produce cheapnefs, and enable the manufacturer to underfell others, in foreign markets. Again, it is fo much the better, The number of Peers may be perhaps about 32. There are at prefent 41 Irish Nobles, who are Peers in Britain: and there are about 81 Irish Peers, refidents in Britain-confequently as out of thefe, feveral, if not most perhaps of the 32 Peers may be chofen, where will be the great diminution of resident Peers in Ireland ?→→ As to the Commons, the number may be about 100: Now it is a well-known fact, that the leading Commoners of Ireland spend a certain portion of each year in England, and more than may be neceffary for the attendance on Parliament. It will therefore be in reality but a change of feafon as to the time of abfence, as it is "prefumed that they will, like all other country Gentlemen, be glad to get their releafe and betake themselves to their demefaes, domeftic fcenes, and rural amusements. better, from the convenience for external commerce. But on the contrary, fuppofe that there were not any of these advantages of cheapness and convenience to extend the scale of commerce and fuppofe further, that the trade thus transferred would not increase, (which is impoffible, still after all these fuppofitions against reafon and against experience, we say that it matters not to the Nation at large, whether it receives its treafures with the right or left hand. Or rather indeed it is a matter of much importance, that it fhould accumulate opulence with two hands, rather than with one, and have the other withered. Dublin should rejoice, if Ireland were to become a Briareus of Commerce. Diffufive happiness, arifing from general induftry and wealth, is the greatest blessing of a state. Let not Dublin then realize the fable of the war of the members. An over grown head is the emblem of disease, and ufually forebodes death. The skilful architect proportions his base to his capital. And no Statuary would weakly hope to fupport the head of a Coloffus upon the trunk of a Pigmy. The views of found policy and true patriotifm embrace the interest of an entire people, or a whole empire; and reject falfe calculations of individual or local advantage. But fuppofe that this maxim, which is an eternal truth, were false; and that the inhabitants of the capital were to be guided folely by self-interest: Still in their purfuit of riches, it is not amidst the diffipations of the Great, nor amidst the idlenefs and corruption of their trains during Parliament, that they will find them. It is amidst flax and wool and workshops. To increase the riches of a kingdom," faid the celebrated Colbert, on a confultation relative to commerce, "we must find out manufactures to give employ"ment to the poor, and work to the idle. Flax, filk, and "wool are our objects." Through the medium of fuch wealth, A wealth, luxury will not breathe its corrupt influence on the capital inftead of riot there will be decency, order, and opulence; instead of fhops there will be ware-houses. Diffi pation and immoral extravagance may, like whirlwinds, rifle one place to raise up heaps in another: but riches thus rapidly collected, are as rapidly diffipated. Riches are in truth, a moral poison; yet like natural poisons, which after paffing through certain o become not only medicine but wholesome food, fo do they become the fupport of society.— And befide, if from gold, luxurious vices originate; from poverty, crimes are produced. But the specific against both is honest industry. To this test let all the oppofition of the capital be brought, and the inhabitants will foon perceive, that if their Parliament House could be converted into the feat of a New Manufacture, or should it be transformed into a Woollen-hall like that of Leeds, the change would be advantageous and beneficial both to themselves, and the nation at large. It is commerce that has freed Kings from flavery and people from oppreffion. If therefore the grounds of complaint, fo ftrongly urged by the association of united Irishmen, have, (which we do not admit) real existence, commerce is an infallible remedy. And if they have not existence, commerce is the fource of glory, fplendor, opulence, and happiness.For the acquifition of all which, Incorporation is the Char ter. But will any of those advantages be enjoyed without Incorporation? Separation follows, according to the authority of Dean Tucker; and according to arguments and confiderations which will appear in their proper place. Since then one of those two events must result, we shall lay before men po uncertain Data in the Documents of Commerce, where by by they may calculate what they have to hope from British connexion and incorporation, and what they are to fear in its lofs. IRISH COMMERCE DURING THE LAST CENTURY, FROM 1698 TO 1798.. In 1698 her balance of Commerce amount- In 1703, unable to fupport her Civil Efta- In 1785 Exports to Britain 2,500,000, Balance ones. E s. d. 400,220 O 600,000 0.0 1,500,000 0 0 trade |