dred and eighty, appears to be,) was a small manufacture, which was established under the care of Mr. Lawrence, for fine ratteens in the village of Carrick, upon the duke of Ormond's own eftate: these ratteens are made altogether of Spanish wool; they were always efteemed for their finenefs, and have been in requeft even for gala dreffes at the fêtes at the castle of Dublin. The introduction and culture of manufactures is laborious, often tedious and difficult; but when once they are rooted in the habits and industry of any people, fubfequent difcouragement will not always effect their annihilation; of which remark this manufacture, established in Carrick by the duke of Ormond, is a strong proof and a clear illuftration. This account of the proceedings of the council of trade is the more valuable, as perhaps Mr. Lawrence has preserved a record which is not now to be traced in any history or journal: this appears to have been an extract from the books of the privy council; but unfortunately all the records of that board, antecedent to the Hanover fucceffion, were deftroyed by a great fire, which burned the council office and other parts of the castle of Dublin at that period. A greater lofs to the archives of Ireland could have scarcely happened; the council being not only an efficient part of the executive power, but alfo a part of the legislature in former times, under Poynings' law. The intelligent reader will perceive that the enquiries and propofitions in the council of trade would apply with equal force to the improvement of Ireland, at the prefent period. THE progress of manufactures is tardy, and the establishment of any branch of trade in a country requires the period of a generation; because those who are employed must have been trained from their early years, and educated for that particular branch of trade from their infancy. The most effectual method of promoting trade and manufactures in Ireland would be by the erection of one or more houfes of industry in each county, whereby idlenefs might be punifhed, the real pauper relieved, children early trained to habits of induftry, and enabled to acquire, in their tender years, that knowledge which might qualify them to gain a livelihood in fome useful branch of trade, When I mentioned these establishments elfewhere*, that part of this work was printed, and I See above, p. 118. was was not then apprized that such a system had been in the contemplation of the Irish and of the English government foon after the Revolution. For this curious fact, I am indebted to the liberal communication of a very eminent political and commercial writer, through whose friendship I was favoured with an inspection of the records of the board of trade; in which I found, that on the 22d of April 1697, a proposal to this effect had been made by Mr. Collis and some others, to the lords juftices and council of Ireland, requefting a recommendation for a royal charter for this falutary purpose; a proposition which was accordingly recommended to the Englishprivy council, and referred by them to the confideration of the board of trade. 2 N° V. A STATE of the PARLIAMENT at WEST+ MINSTER, Anno 1654. [Referred to vol. i. p. 364. vol. ii. p. 89.] THIS parliament, confifting of the knights of the counties, citizens of the cities, and burgeffes of the boroughs and towns, and barons of the cinque ports of the commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, began at Westminster September 3, one thousand fix hundred and fifty-four, and held to January 22 following. Bedford. Bedford, BERKS. Abingdon, Reading, BUCKINGHAM. Sir Will. Boteler kt. John Harvey efq. Edm. Wingate efq. John Neal efq. Samuel Bedford efq. Bulftrode Whitlock, one of the lords commif, Geo. Purefoy efq. Edm. Dunch efq. fir Rob. Robert Hammond of Reading efq. Bulstrode Whitlock, one of the lords commif- Rich. Ingoldfby efq. Rich. Greenvill efq. Buckingham, Francis Ingoldsby efq. Aylesbury, Chipping Wycombe, CAMBRIDGE. Henry Phillips efq. Thomas Scot of Lambeth. John Defbrow efq. Francis Ruffel efq. Hen. Cambr. town, Rich. Timbs, alderman of Cambridge. DORSET. John Thurloe efq. fecretary of state. Geo. John Bradshaw, ferjeant at law, chief justice of Tho. Gewen of Bradridge efq. Anth. Nichol of Robert Bennet efq. Francis Rous efq, John Fox efq. Charles Howard efq. Will. Brifco efq. Nath. Burton efq. Tho. Sanders efq. Edw. Gill Gervafe Bennet efq. Rob. Roll efq. Arth. Upton efq. Tho. Reynell Tho. Bampfield efq. Tho. Gibbons efq. Tho. Boon of Tonstall efq. John Defbrowe efq. one of the generals at sea. Rob. Shapcot, major Johu Blackmore. Sir John Young kt. Will. Sydenham efq. John Bingham efq. fir Dorchester, John Whiteway efq. Weymo. |