It may be readily perceived, that a great part of the trade which is here described, can add little to the national riches; and yet mankind in general seem much disposed to attach importance to the gain of individuals, as increasing the national stock; but they forget, that where there are buyers there are also sellers, and that what one man acquires, another loses.+ Internal commerce is a proof of the circulation of the productions of a country, and so far as it administers to the wants or comforts of the inhabitants, it is highly valuable and important; but it is foreign commerce which increases national wealth, and forms the most productive source of revenue. The more foreign articles are enhanced in price, the greater is the desire to possess them, and the demand is thereby increased. Dublin, being a populous city, enjoys a considerable share of the commerce of the kingdom; it possesses, in particular, the principal part of the colonial trade; but the colonial trade, collectively, is inferior to that of Glasgow. In continental commerce, there is not a single firm that corresponds immediately with Germany. In times of peace there are houses connected with Spain and Portugal, in consequence of the wine trade, which is carried on to a considerable extent between these countries and Dublin, and particularly with the latter. The chartered monopoly of the East India Company excludes Ireland from direct intercourse with any of our Asiatic settlements; but I hope the period is not far distant, when the India trade will be freed from its present restrictions, and laid open to the fair competition of enterprise and industry. The Irish members, and other friends of Ireland, have a fair opportunity of exerting themselves in favour of a claim which can be supported by every argument of justice and necessity; for I agree not in opinion with those who consider the Irish merchant to * This circumstance has been treated in an elaborate manner by Dr. Gray, in his Essential Wealth of Nations. Lond. 1767, p. 112. + Malthus says, in his quarto edit. 1803, p. 437, "no error is more frequent, than that of mistaking effects for causes. We are so blinded by the showiness of commerce and manufactures, as to believe, that they are almost the sole cause of the wealth, power, and prosperity of England. But, perhaps, they may be more justly considered as the consequences, than the cause of this wealth. According to the definition of the economists, which considers only the produce of land, England is the richest country in Europe in proportion to her size. Her system of agriculture is beyond comparison better, and, consequently, her surplus produce is more considerable. France is very greatly superior to England in extent of territory and population; but when the surplus produce, or disposable revenue of the two nations are compared, the superiority of France almost vanishes. And it is this great surplus produce in England, arising from her agriculture, which enables her to support such a vast body of manufacturers, such formidable fleets and armies, such a crowd of persons engaged in the liberal professions, and a proportion of the society living on the money rents, very far beyond what has ever been known in any other country of the world." I request the reader to compare this passage with the reference which I have made to Mr. Young's French tour, in the general observations on the Chapter of Rural Economy, and it will be found that the passage of this celebrated philosopher corroborates those which I have given. You must not think, therefore, that the raising their price will lessen the vend of fashionable foreign commodities among us, but rather increase it. Lock's Considerations on Trade, p. 93 and 116. De Witt. Ratisbon edit. p. 77. Gee's Trade Considered, p. 114. be on equal footing with the English, because he is permitted to purchase without restraint in the India funds. Irish subjects are allowed, indeed, by an express act of parliament,* to export to India, masts, copper, and other articles, military stores excepted, for which a particular license is necessary; but her exports are confined to 800 tons of shipping provided by the East India Company; the goods are carried from Cork, and the returns are received through Britain. If this quantity of tonnage be greater or less than what is requisite for the destined exports, the business must be adjusted by commissioners of the company, and a clause is inserted in the act, that one of the company's ships shall touch at Cork every year for the goods, between the months of October and February, which are not to be unshipped till the arrival of the vessel in India. It is likewise enacted, that notice of the tonnage wanted must be sent to the company by the first of August, with many other regulations which it is not necesary to particularize. I am ignorant whether Ireland ever availed itself of this act; but it is evident that trade, to such a limited extent, is of, no importance in a national point of view. However, some few individuals may profit by it. Dublin has its full share of the American trade, which is divided between that city, Belfast, and Derry. Victualling Office, 13th June, 1811. AN ACCOUNT of the Quantities of Irish Beef, Pork, and Butter, contracted and paid for by this Department in the several years undermentioned, with the average price thereof, distinguishing each year; furnished by the Rt. Hon. William Wellesley Pole. The following Table will exhibit the extent of the corn trade of Dublin. By the 33d. G. III. chap. 31. Belfast is forming a West India connexion, and there is every reason to believe that this will increase, as the cotton manufacture and the consumption of sugar are extending. Derry is particularly connected by commercial relations with America, and Newry possesses a considerable export trade of linens, butter, and some provisions. WEXFORD. To the south of Dublin, Wexford presents itself as a place well calculated by its situation for purposes of commerce. All the corn is exported, (for which coal is returned) to Liverpool; there is also a considerable trade in provisions, which are conveyed down the Slaney from Enniscorthy. Live cattle is also exported; but there are no partnership-houses, nor any merchants possessed of great wealth, £5,000. or £6,000. being the extent of any individual capital. It is fortunate for Ireland, that some of the most populous districts of England lie opposite to her coasts. The Irish, by the shortness of the distance, are enabled to send thither an expeditious supply of various articles of provision, which, by means of canals, are transmitted in various directions to the manufacturing towns in the interior of Britain. The benefits arising from this reciprocal trade, will account in some measure for the existence of so many great commercial towns on the eastern coast of the country; Waterford, Ross, and Clonmell all participate in the advantage of this connexion. But Ross, in particular, appears to be a spot well adapted for becoming a place of great commercial importance. It is situated at a considerable distance from the coast, on the river Barrow, which has a sufficient depth of water to allow vessels of large size to unload at the quay. Not far remote is the junction of this river with the Nore, the latter of which conveys merchandise to Thomastown, within a few miles of Kilkenny, while the former affords a communication by canal to Dublin and to Limerick. The Barrow is also united to the Suir, which is navigable to Clonmell. Notwithstanding these means of external and internal intercourse, the merchants who attempted establishments there have all failed, and the town at present is in a state of inactivity, without trade or capital. This want of success is said to have arisen from its being the property of an individual, who has the power of electing the corporation, which secures to him great parliamentary interest. Hence private exertions are cramped and counteracted by an influence hostile to every thing not favourable to itself. There may be some truth in this assertion, but it is extraordinary that another Ross is not erected on the banks of the same river, out of the reach of private rights, which are so prejudicial to public spirit: this would leave the present town to bear the overwhelming weight of its corporate privileges and regulations, without commercial help. KILKENNY, having no immediate water communication, possesses very little trade, and it might be difficult to account for so large a town being erected in so unfavour able a situation. It is, however, tolerably populous, and according to Mr. Tighe, contains nearly 15,000 inhabitants.*. WATERFORD is a place of great trade, particularly in the exportation of provisions; it is the residence also of many opulent merchants, who carry on commercial transactions to a considerable extent. The greater part of the goods imported here are only unloaded on the quays and sent forward to Clonmell,+ which has more internal commerce than any town in Ireland. The latter has increased in the same ratio as Carrick has decayed, and were the Suir navigable fourteen miles farther inland to another town, it would, I have no doubt, draw the trade entirely from Clonmell. YOUGHAL, situated on the Blackwater, had formerly a greater trade than it enjoys at present, but it still imports some corn and provisions, the country between the Blackwater and the Lee being exceedingly productive, and furnishing abundance of pork and grain. The following is the Quantity of Provisions exported from Waterford in the years 1809, 1810, and 1811, furnished by Mr. Penrose Nevins. + Dac. 6th, 1808. CLONMELL.- Here is a very considerable import trade for the supply of the interior parts of the country. It exports corn and pork. One merchant has on hand sugar to the amount of £10,000. The motive which has induced the insertion of the following remarks, will, I flatter myself, plead for their length, and for the situation in which they are placed. Lord Somerville, I am sure, from the |