planted in groves, except very rarely, and where there is much land-fhelter. I have not, indeed, read all the acts; but, from enquiry, I cannot learn that the planting in groves is enjoined. And, as to the effects of these laws, I have not seen the least, in many hundred miles riding, except about a very few gentlemen's houfes, and even those with very little skill or fuccefs. In all the reft, the hedges generally miscarry, as well as the larger flender twigs, planted upon the tops of ditches, merely for want of common fkill and care.

I do not believe that a greater and quicker profit could be made, than by planting large groves of afh, within a few feet asunder, which in feven years would make the best kind of hoppoles, and grow in the fame, or lefs-times to a fecond crop from their roots.

f

It would likewife be of great ufe and beauty in our defart fcenes, to oblige all tenants and cottagers to plant afh or elm before their cabbins, and round their potatoe-gardens, where cattle either do not, or ought not to come to deftroy them.

The common objections against all this, drawn from the laziness, the perverfenefs, or thievish difpofition of the poor native Irish, might be eafily anfwered, by fhewing the true reafons for fuch accufations, and how easily thofe people be brought to a lefs favage manner of life: But my printers have already fuffered too much

may

for my fpeculations.

However, fuppofing the

fize of a native's understanding just equal to that of a dog or horfe, I have often feen those two animals to be civilized by rewards, at least as much as by punishments.

It would be a noble atchievement to abolish the Irish language in this kingdom, fo far at leaft as to oblige all the natives to fpeak only English on every occafion of business, in shops, markets, fairs, and other places of dealing: Yet I am wholly deceived, if this might not be effectually done in less than half an age, and at a ry trifling expence; for fuch I look upon a tax to be, of only fix thousand pounds a-year, to accomplish fo great a work. This would, in a great measure, civilize the most barbarous among them, reconcile them to our customs and manner of living, and reduce great numbers to the national religion, whatever kind, may then happen to be established. The method is plain and fimple; and although I am too defponding to produce it, yet I could heartily with fome public thoughts were employed to reduce this uncultivated people, from that idle, favage, beaftly, thievish manner of life, in which they continue funk to a degree, that it is almoft impoffible for a country gentleman to find a fervant of human capacity, or the least tincture of natural honesty; or who does not live among his own tenants, in continual fear of having his plantation deftroyed, his cattle ftolen, and his goods pilfered. Y

VOL. XI.

The

The love, affection, or vanity of living in England, continuing to carry thither so many wealthy families; the confequences thereof, together with the utter lofs of all trade, except what is detrimental, which hath forced fuch great numbers of weavers and others to feek their bread in foreign countries; the unhappy practice of ftocking fuch vast quantities of land with theep and other cattle, which reduceth twenty families to one: Thefe events, I fay, have exceedingly depopulated this kingdom for feveral years paft. I fhould heartily with, therefore, under this miferable dearth of money, that thofe who are moft concerned would think it advifeable to fave a hundred thoufand pounds a-year, which is now fent out of this kingdom to feed us with corn. There is not an older or more uncontroverted maxim in politics of all wife nations, than that of encouraging agriculture. And, therefore, to what kind of wisdom a practice fo directly contrary among us may be reduced, I am by no means a judge. If labour and people make the true riches of a nation, what muft be the iffue where one part of the people are forced away, and the other part have nothing to do?

If it fhould be thought proper by wifer heads, that his Majefty might be applied to in a national way, for giving the kingdom leave to coin halfpence for its own ufe; I believe no good subject will be under the least apprehenfion, that such a

request

request could meet with refufal, or the leaft delay. Perhaps we are the only kingdom, upon earth, or that ever was or will be upon earth, which did not enjoy that common right of civil fociety, under the proper inspection of its prince, or legiflature, to coin money of all ufual metals for its own occafions. Every petty prince in Germany, vaffal to the Emperor, enjoys this privilege. And I have seen in this kingdom, feveral filver pieces, with the inscription of Civitas Waterford, Droghedagh, and other towns.

SUBSTANCE of what was faid by the DEAN of St PATRICK'S, to the LORD MAYOR, and fome of the ALDERMEN, when his Lordfhip came to present the faid DEAN with his Freedom in a gold box.

WH

HEN his Lordship had faid a few words, and presented the inftrument, the Dean gently put it back, and defired firft to be heard. He faid, He was much obliged to his Lordship and the city for the honour they were going to do him, and which, as he was informed, they had long intended him: That it was true this honour was mingled with a little mortification, by the delay which attended it; but which, however, he did not impute to his Lordship, or the city : And that the mortification was the lefs, because he would willingly hope the delay was founded on a mistake; for which opinion he would tell his reafon. He faid it was well known, that, fome time ago, a person with a title was pleased, in two great affemblies, to rattle bitterly fome body without a name, under the injurious appellations of a Tory, a Jacobite, an enemy to King George, and a libeller of the government; which character, the Dean faid that many people thought, was applied to him: But he was un

willing