Average price of seed. 293 from a supposition that it produces larger and longer stalks, and a greater quantity of flax. "The annual importation of flax-seed from each country into the ports of this kingdom is published in the yearly transactions of the linen board. "The annual average sale of flax-seed in Belfast, 5000 hogsheads-in Newry, 9000,-in Londonderry, 11,000-amounting to 25,000 hogsheads. The importations annually exceed the sales by several thousand hogsheads. Riga and Dutch seeds are sold at the same rate by the wholesale merchants; New-York, Philadelphia and Boston, at the same rate; NewYork and Boston are prefered by farmers to Philadelphia. "No new Dutch seed at market this season; a supposed scarcity, and a demand from forestallers occasioned the American seed to be sold in March, 1808, at 111. 7s. 6d. some at 141. 5s. 9d; in May the same year, it was sold at 71. 7s. 10d. great demands, the high prices, the danger and disappointments, induced the trustees to encourage the farmers of this country to save and sow their own seed. The greatest quantities were raised 294 Legislative acts of King William. when premiums were distributed by the acre, and itinerant men sent to inspect the crops. The following, is an abstract of the legislative proceedings, which, were adopted in the reign of King William, with a view to destroy the woollen manufacture of Ireland of whose rivalry, England had become jealous: and to encourage the linen manufacture of whose superiority England afterwards became equally jealous, departing from her pledge with an insincerity that cannot be too severely stigmatized. "On the ninth and tenth of June, 1698, petitions from the houses of lords and commons, of England, were presented to King William, against the woollen, and in favour of the linen manufacture in Ireland. The address of the lords contains the following words: "We do most humbly beseech your most sacred majesty, that your majesty would be pleased in the most public and effectual way that may be, to declare to all your subjects of Ireland, that the growth and encrease of the woollen manufacture there hath long been, and will ever be looked upon with great jealousy, by all your subjects of this kingdom: and if not timely remedied, may oc casion very strict laws totally to prohibit and suppress the same, and on the other hand, if they turn their industry and skill to settling and improving the linen manufacture, for which generally the lands of that kingdom are very proper, they shall receive all countenance, favour, and Proceedings of the English house of commons. 295 protection, from your royal influence, for the encouraging and promoting the said linen manufacture to all the advantage and profit that kingdom can be capable of." To which the house agreed. "It is ordered by the lords spiritual and temporal in parliament assembled. That the lords with white staves do humbly attend his majesty with the address of this house, concerning the woollen manufacture in Ireland." Die Veneris, 10° Junii 1698°. "The Lord Steward reported his majesty's answer to the address, to this effect, viz. That his majesty will take care to do what their lordships have desired. Ashley Cowper, Cler Parliamentor."" "The address of the commons contains the following words: "And we do most humbly implore your majesty's protection and favour in this matter; and that you will make it your royal care, and enjoin all those you employ in Ireland to make it their care, and use their utmost diligence, to hinder the exportation of wool from Ireland, except to be imported hither, and for discouraging the woollen manufactures, and encouraging the linen manufactures in Ireland, to which we shall always be ready to give our utmost assistance. Resolved, 296 Proceedings of the Irish house of commons. That the said address be presented to his majesty by the whole house," " Sabbati, 2 die Julii, "His majesty's answer. "Gentlemen, I shall do all that in me lies to discourage the woollen manufacture in Ireland, and to encourage the linen manufacture there; and to promote the trade of England."" Thursday, 27th September, 1698, "Part of the lord justices speech, "Amongst these bills there is one for the encouragement of the linen and hempen manufactures; at our first meeting we recommended to you that matter, and we have now endeavoured to render that bill practicable and useful for that effect, and as such we now recommend it to you, The settlement of this manufacture will contribute much to people the country, and will be found much more advantageous to this kingdom, than the woollen manufacture, which being the settled staple trade of England, from whence all foreign markets are supplied, can never be encouraged here for that purpose; whereas, the linen and hempen manufactures will not only be encouraged as consistent with the trade of England, but will render the trade of this kingdom both use, ful and necessary to England,' Duties imposed upon woollen exportation. 297 "The commons of Ireland returned the following answer to the speech from the throne: "We pray leave to assure your excellencies that we shall heartily endeavour to establish a linen and hempen manufacture here, and to render the same useful to England, as well as advantageous to this kingdom; and that we hope to find such a temperament and respect to the woollen trade here, that the same may not be injurious to England.' "And they passed a law that session commencing the 25th of March, 1699, laying 4s. additional duty on every 20s. value of broad cloth exported out of Ireland, and 2s. on every 20s. value of serges, baize, kerseys, stuffs, or any other sort of new, drapery made of wool or mixed with wool, (frizes only excepted) which was in effect a prohibition. And in the same session a law was passed in England, restraining Ireland from exporting those woollen manufactures, including frize, to any other parts except England and Wales. "Common sense, tells us, they did this under a perfect conviction, that they should receive ample encouragement from England in their linen trade: but what moon-shine would such encouragement prove, if England, departing from the letter and spirit of that compact, had encouraged her own linen manufacture to rival the Irish, after |