each place, be duly confidered. These are proofs which bring home conviction upon facts, and difplay through the incontrovertible evidence of figures, what have been the refults of Union to Scotland. Since, therefore, fuch are the confequences to a country, without thofe natural capabilities from local advantages, or from animal, mineral, and vegetable refources; what has not Ireland folid reafon to expect, being fo eminently distinguished with fuch extraordinary fuperiorities, if once enjoying an equality of civil and political capacities? Madness, indeed, and not fimple prejudice must rule the hour-did not fome mental contagion prevail, of which the great philofopher Bacon speaks, men could not pause a moment upon the measure of an Union. In our conscience, we think that those who oppofe it, are downright enemies to Ireland; they are enemies to its fuffering cottagers, its starving poor, its miserable manufacturers: they are enemies to the Jandholders and the merchant: they are enemies to their torn and bleeding country, and to themselves,-though not intentionally to any of thefe. But we do believe them to be eventually, and radically, overthrowing the throne and the altars of their country.

9

Comparative View of Scotland before and fince the Union, on Shipping, Trade, Revenues, and Populations.

(Taken from Mr. Dundas's Speech, page 20.)

In Glasgow, from the years, 1701 to 1710 14,790

In 1798 77,042

Progreffion

TABLE D.

Progreffion of the Commerce of Ireland with Great Britain,

during a Century.

The trade of Ireland has increased, in one century, about fif teen fold. From 1777, which was two years before the date of Irish Independence, to 1784, being a term of feven years, and which comes down lower than the date of her independence and Free-Trade, her commerce did not increase. But, its rapid augmentation fince 1784 has arifen from another caufe, totally diftinct from her Independence or Free Trade, and which the latter would have never procured, more than the former. That caufe was the wonderful growing commerce of Britain, fince 1784, which we fhall fhew hereafter. Ireland has profpered with the profperity of Great Britain, and appears bright by a reflected light-but which fo dazzles the weak-fighted, that they mistake its original and true fource. It is not Irish Independence, however it is not her Free Trade-make her as free as she came out of chaos, cut asunder every filament of connexionWhere will then be her millions of Trade? What will fhe then

find in her theoretic independence or practical freedom? Short fighted, indeed, are thofe men, who do not diftinguish the true fource of Ireland's aggrandifement-It is British connexion-it is British profperity, under whose beams Ireland has thriven. We may view further proofs of her profperity under a connexion, which no other nation on the Globe could afford her, by the progreffive increase of her Shipping, during the last century.

Thus we fee that the increase in the first half is about fixty thousand tons; whereas, in the last half, it is near 500,000 tons. And here we should obferve alfo, that this extraordinary increase dates itself from the increase of British Trade fince 1784. It appears above, that the tonnage was

Confequently the increase fince 1783, approaches nearly, during the laft ten years, to the increase, during the whole preceding period of the century. And that this did by no means whatever arife from Independenee, or the Free Trade of Ireland, we have incontrovertibly fhewn before, by proofs drawn from the Linen trade of Great Britain with Ireland and other countries, and to which we refer.

It appears alfo, from the univerfal trade of Britain, that Ireland has, fince her Free Trade, kept but a general pace of increase with other countries, and therefore, that she has no particular cause in herself for that increase; but that it exifts folely and altogether, in the unparalleled augmentation of British commerce fince that period. We fhall refer, for further proof, to the fcale of British commerce, whereby Ireland will perceive, that the barometer of Irish prosperity is British profperity.

TABLE

Thus it appears, that the increase of Commerce, from before the close of the last century, to the year of the commencement of the prefent administration, amounted to about, we may fay, twenty millions and an half. merce at this day.

Now let us fee, what is the Com

Hence, therefore, it is manifeft, beyond the poffibility of doubt or contradiction, that the Commerce of Great Britain has increased, fince the year 1783, to the amount of above twentyone millions and an half: that is, fince the commencement of the present adminiftration, English commerce has INCREASED a million more than in the whole preceding period of the century.

The