· Notices of Dr. Efmond-Lord Mountjoy.

nature.

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How few can ascertain the precife point at which, in the process of the moft laudable principle towards its extreme, virtue begins to be a vice, and wisdom gives place to folly. His conduct at the place of execution, was that of a man neither infenfible to his fituation, nor finking under its horror; he was collected, but he appeared to feel the ferioufnefs of death. By his rejection of the comfort derived from clerical affiftance in the laft moments of life, he feemed to disbelieve the efficacy of the mechanical appendages of devotion.

mere writer; Mr. Giffard became a militia is the weakness, the misfortune of human officer, and Mr. R. fucceeded him as editor. The character of the print, now under his fole aufpices, befpoke ftill more strongly the character of Mr. R's mind. According to fome, it was conducted with zeal and intelligence; according to others, it was marked by the moft deteftable fcurrility, and irritating infolence. Little of importance occurred in his life from that period, until the embodying of the yeomanry, in which he obtained a command of fome men, in a remote part of the town, and until the commencement of the prefent troubles in Ireland, when his zeal became more than ever confpicuous. Of the circumftances of his arrefting Lord Edward Fitzgerald, from whom he met his death, and the melancholy confequences attending that tranfaction, the public are fully in poffeffion.

Killed, in an action with the infurgents, at Rofs, on the 5th of June, Luke, Baron Mountjoy, a nobleman whofe public conduct made no man his enemy, and whofe private life was embellished by every grace, which tafte, learning, and mild manners, could throw On the 14th of June, Dr. Efmond, a lieu- around it. His lordship was not illuftrious by tenant of the Kildare yeoman cavalry, was birth. His grandfather was, in the early part executed on Carlife-bridge, pursuant to the of his life, an hired domeftic; but the caprice fentence of a court-martial, by whom he of fortune left him at his death in poffeffion was found guilty of having affifted the people of a very confiderable fortune; which, by the in their attack on Profperous, a manufac- fuccessful exertions of his fon, the father of turing village, in the county of Kildare. his lordship, and an affiduous partizan of the Of the hiftory of this gentleman the public Irish court, was yet farther increased. His know little, nor is there much in it which lordship having fucceeded to the poffeffion of can intereft them. To him life was an un- property thus prepared for him by the good ruffled ftream, down whofe placid current he fortune and induftry of his two ancestors, and glided, tasting every fweet which improving having finished his collegiate ftudies at Camfortune, and increafing friends, fuccessful bridge, was elected a representative in parlia love, and domeftic happiness, could offer, ment for the county of Dublin, which he con until the political tempeft thickened round tinued to reprefent, until he was called to the him, and plunged him into ruin! He was House of Peers. In no part of his parliathe younger brother of Sir Thomas Efmond, mentary career, did he affect the character of the prefent head of a very old family in the a zealous patriot; and yet, in fome occafions, county of Wexford, but of which the patri- he exerted himself, on the popular fide, with mony had been confiderably diminished. Mr. zeal and ability. Of these intermittent efforts Efmond, however, though a younger brother, for the people, the moft fplendid was that was not at any time a diftreffed man. which his lordship made to obtain a system of early apprenticed to a furgeon of eminence, protecting duties for the manufactures of Irewith whom having completed his appren- land. Since the opening of Irish commerce, ticeship, he entered into bufinefs for himself, in the year 1779, this measure had become His family connexions, and an eafy elegance a great favourite of the public; it had been of manners, which added confiderably to the found, that the mere privilege of exporting recommendatory influence of a fine perfon, their manufactures could be of little real ufe, foon procured for him a degree of prac- while the fuperior fkill, induftry, and capital, tice in his profeillion which enabled him to of Great Britain, enabled her to underfel the live in a style of fomething more than com- Irish in their own market; it was therefore fort; but he was not long to depend on his defired that parliament fhould impofe fuch practice as a furgeon. A lady, poffeffed of a duties on the importation of British manuperfonal fortune of 12,000l. and a confider- factures, particularly woollens, as fhould coun able landed property, encouraged his ad- teract the fuperior advantages which the endreffes, and accepted his hand. With her he joyed over the Irish manufacturer. By thefe, had now, for a confidereble time, enjoyed it was faid, Ireland would be able to stand a every comfort, and every pleasure, which competition with the manufacturer of Great, fuch a connexion may be fuppofed to afford, Briain, and ultimately avail herself of her when the breaking out of the infurrection, many natural, advantages which, without and the attack on Profperous, near which he that protection, muft for ever remain useless. lived, called him to the commitlion of the Mr. Gardiner was of this opinion; and crime for which his life has been the forfeit. after the question had long been agitated, inIt is impoffible to conceive, but that Dr. Ef deed influenced the public mind, he proposed to mond's first motives to engage in what is the house of commons a motion declaratory called the popular caufe, must have Leen of the neceffity of fuch a fyftem of duties. honourable and patriotic,-but, in pejus ruere In the fpeech by which he prefaced his moMONTHLY MAG. No. XXXI. 32

He was

motion,

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Monthly Report of the State of Commerce.

tion, he difplayed a deep and thorough acquaintance with the principles of commerce, and a great deal of that learning which the mind of a man of bufinefs would only feek for in the hiftory of manufactures. The motion, after a very long debate, was loft, nor has it fince been revived, unless the cele. brated commercial propofitions of Mr. Ord, in the year 1785, may be confidered as including it. Previous to this time, Mr. Gardiner had married the eldeft of the three celebrated Miss Montgomeries, daughters of Sir Wm. Montgomery, of Macbie Hill. By this marriage, if he did not greatly enlarge his fortune, he fecured a very wide and ufeful extent of family connection, the other two fifters of his wife being shortly married, the one to the Right Hon. Mr. Beresford, first commiftioner of the Irish revenue, a man of well known and powerful intereft; the other to the prefent Marquis of Townsend. This lady, whose personal and mental accomplishments were of the most extraordinary and captivating kind, Mr. Gardiner iodlized. By

her he had four children. Charles, born in 1782, who fucceeds his Lordship, and three daughters, the eldest of whom was recently married to the Rev. Mr. Fowler, fon of the Archbishop of Dublin. It was by his connexion with this lady, that Mr. G. was enabled to establish a claim to the Mountjoy estate. This led the way to his fubfequent application for the title, which had long lain dormant. The application was favourably received, and in 1789 he was created Baron Mountjoy. But connubial happiness is not immortal; this beloved wife his Lordfhip was doomed to lofe. He bore the lofs like a lover, but alio like a man. The wound was deep which this calamity inflicted, but not incurabie, for in the year 1795, his Lordship, after a long period of wooing, efpoused a Mifs Wallace, who had been bred to the occupation of a miliner.

[The public are in poffeffion of the train of public events which brought on the catastrophe of bis death, at the bead of the Dublin militia, of which he was colonel.]

Report of the prefent State of Commerce, Manufactures, Sc.
(To be continued monthly.)

IT being intended to give, in the fucceeding numbers, a monthly report of the ftate of the commerce and manufactures of the country, it may not be improper to introduce it by a general view of the extent and nature of our foreign trade.

The commerce of Great Britain, and its colonies, at prefent employs about 16,000 veffels, the navigation of which requires near 120,000 feamen; of this number of vessels, about 10,000 annually arrive in, and as many clear out from, the different ports of England and Scotland. Some idea may be formed of the immenfe value of our commerce from the custom-house accounts of the exports and imports, by which the total of the exports of Great-Britain for one year, ending 5th January 1796, amount to 27,270,000 1. and of the imports to 21,360,000l.: it is well known that thefe accounts are formed according to rates eftablished a century ago, and which must, therefore, in many instances, give the value of the articles at a very different rate from their prefent price, and in general much below it, confequently the extent of our foreign trade would appear much greater, if a real valuation of the different articles could be obtained.

The great increase which has appeared in our exports and imports fince the commencement of the war, obviously arifes, principally, from the fituation of other powers; the colonial trade in particular, of France and Holland, was very great, a confiderable part of which must at prefent be in the hands of the English merchants; although, whenever a peace is concluded, it may possibly, in a great measure, revert to its former channels. The increased expenditure of government alfo contributes, in many inftances, to cause the appearance of an increase of trade, as estimated from the custom-house accounts; and if the late increase has not, in fome degree, arifen from this caufe, it is a very fingular circumftance that it should not have produced a greater increafe in the revenue of the customs.

The value of goods imported by the EAST INDIA COMPANY, amounts to about onefourth of the total of our imports; their exports confift chiefly of woollen-cloths, metals, and naval and military ftores; on the fale of the woollens they generally experience a lofs, notwithstanding which, the export is continued regularly, as without this article they would be obliged to carry out a greater quantity of bullion, or to fubftitute fome other mafacture, which certainly could not be done with equal advantage to this country. The capital employed in the WEST INDIA TRADE is estimated at 76,000,000l.; the value of goods exported from Great Britain and her dependencies, including the profit of freight on the feveral branches of fupply, infurance, &c. 3,800,000l.; the imports from thence into great Britain and Ireland, and other ports, the profits of which center in Great Eritain, 7,200,000l.; the duties paid to government 1,800,000l.; the shipping employed direct 150,000 tons.

The MEDITERRANEAN TRADE, in time of peace, is very valuable; but of late many of the principal articles come by way of Hamburgh.

The BALTIC TRADE, confifting of more bulky articles, employs a much greater number of shipping; and the value of the imports from thence, which are chiefly articles of the greatest importance to our manufactories, and for the fupport of the navy, is estimated at upwards of 3,000,000!.

State of Commerce, Manufactures, &c.

481

Of the AMERICAN TRADE, which formerly was wholly engroffed by this country, and which, fince that period, has been rapidly increafing, we still retain about one half; and fhould the difpute with France continue, it will probably throw a greater proportion into our hands, if a more favourable state of trade in America should render it advifeable for our merchants to extend their engagements with a people who pay little or no regard to punctuality of remittances.

The prefent state of our TRADE WITH PORTUGAL, upon the whole, may be confidered as flourishing; the increafing commercial confequence of Brazil, annually demands larger fupplies of woollens and other articles of British manufacture-a confiderable intercourfe with Spain, is now carried on through the medium of Portugal.-Yet it must be acknowledged, that within these two last years, the importation of wine from Portugal and Lifbon, has decreased, owing to the impolitic and exorbitant duties recently laid on that article by the British minifter. Great Britain exports to Portugal and her colonies, to a large amount in woollens, hofiery, hardware, coals, iron, tin, &c. Ireland fupplies her with vast quantities of provifions and butter, and linen. From our colony of Newfoundland is exported to Portugal, a large fupply of bacalas, or falted cod-fifh. That kingdom makes large returns to Great Britain and Ireland, in wines; fruit, dry and moift; olive oil, falt, &c.-with fugar, hides, drugs, gold, and other productions of her rich and extensive colony of Brazil.

THE TRADE OF IRELAND, till within the last twenty years, was fhackled with the most unjust restrictions, for the purpose of favouring the commerce of this country. Prior to the year 1779, linen was almost the only manufacture exported in any confiderable quantity from that country; the others were either in a low ftate from the general poverty of the country, or the exportation of the article was prohibited by law. The removal of the impolitic restraints, under which the commerce of Ireland laboured, called forth the exertions of the manufacturer and merchant, and the event has fufficiently fhewn, that though freedom of commerce cannot create capital and industry, it materially tends to promote both. The linen manufacture has made a gradual progrefs in proportion to the growing wealth and population of the country; the check and fail-cloth branches have, however, greatly decayed fince the increase of the manufacture of these articles in Great Britain. New drapery, compared with its ftate previous to the war, is declining; in 1792, near 400,000 yards were exported; in the last year, not more than 100,000. Of old-drapery, the quantity made within the last year has equalled that produced in any year fince the export trade was permitted. The manufactures of filk, cotton, and hofiery, have become of little import ance. Tanning, in confequence of the duties impofed, and the high price of bark, has been almost annihilated, and a great number of the tan-yards are broken up. The glafs manufacture, both of bottle and the white kind, continues to flourish, particularly the crown glass branch; it is feared, however, that the recent glafs duty will tend to embarrafs and difcourage the trade. Paper-making is much decayed. The prefent ftate of Ireland, which must have much interrupted the manufactures in many districts, has had little effect upon their export trade; the arrivals from thence at London, Liverpool, and other parts, in the courfe of the prefent month, have been numerous; the cargoes chiefly linen cloth, falted provifions, and grain.

One of the principal commercial occurrences of the month, has been the unfuccessful termination of the attempt of the thip-owners, to remove the great refponfibility they at prefent lie under: the bill, after paffing the commons, was loft in the houfe of lords.

From the account of the late tea fale, at the India house, low greens appear to have fallen about 6d. per lb. the prices of the other teas, notwithstanding the new duty of fivé per cent. took place at this fale, have not advanced, and a fail may be expected in the September fale, from the quantity now in the market.

Sugars are at a higher price than for feveral years paft. Raw fugars fell from 84s. to 1128. Brown lumps, from 1158. to 118s. Middle ditto, 119s. to 122s. Fine ditto, 124s, to 1288. Single loaves. 128s. to 1345. Ground fugars are from 86s. to 1125. A fall of raw fugars may be looked for, from the expected arrivals. The average price, on the 20th of June, was 72s. 6d. exclufive of duty.

Coffee continues high, middling, from 71. 55. to 71. 98. fine, from 71. 158. to 71. 175. Of Manchester goods, the quantity manufactured of late, has been fmaller than ufuat; the demand for the foreign trade has confiderably diminished, on account of the ftock of thofe goods on hand at Hamburgh, and the curtailed orders for the fairs at Frankfort and Leiptic: the home trade, however, has been tolerably brifk. The market is at prefent overstocked with muflins of the Manchester fabric; but the manufacture of those of Glasgow and Paiflcy has been better accommodated to the confumption.

Irifh linens are becoming exceedingly fcarce, in confequence of the ftagnation of the manufactures in that country; Ruflias are alto very scarce at prefent.

For quefs-country woollens there is little demand, except for blues, fearlets, and other mi litary colours: the market has been, fo overstocked with kerfeymeres, that they are fold conderably below the manufactured cost.

322

The

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Commercial and Agricultural Report.

The Coventry, or ribbon-trade, has been reduced to a state of much lefs importence than & few years fince, from the two principal markets of France and Holland being fhut, and the American trade being in a state of much infecurity; the prevailing fashions at home have alfo, in a great measure, excluded ribbons as an article of female decoration.

The price of thrown filk is at prefent declining, and probably will continue fo, from the exportation to Ireland and America being at prefent fufpended. Raw filk continues much the fame in price as for fome time paft; Italian raw, from 335. to 34s Foffombron, about 395. China, from 24s. 6d. to 25s.

The price of STOCKS has, during the month, continued nearly ftationary; and very little business has lately been transacted. As the bank have agreed to make the payments due upon the loan, fmall quantities of stock are brought to market. Bank frock, on the 25th last month, was at 118; and was on the 26th June at 118. 5 per Cent Annuities shut for the dividend on the 6th June, at 76. 4 per cent confols. were, on the 27th last month at 6c, and have fince rifen to 614, at which price they continue. 3 per cent confols. fhut for the dividend on 25th May, at 48, and will not open till the roth Auguft, on account of going into new ledgers.

N. B. In the profecution of this plan, we shall be happy to avail our felves of respectable commu nications on the fubject, especially when confined to falts indicative of the real flate of any branch of trade, its extent, value, advance, or decline. This firft paper is rather general and introductory, than a correct specimen of the useful practical mode in which the article may in future be conducted.

MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

IN the fouthern diftricts of the kingdom the weather has ftill continued favourable to the process of vegetation, and for the various purposes of practical husbandry; but our accounts from the northern parts of England are not, by any means, so flattering. In many places the feafon has been fo droughty as to render the hay-crops flight; and the corn-crops have not altogether paffed without injury. Our correfpondent, alfo obferves, that, in Wales, peas, oats, and barley are almost burnt up with the long continuance of dry weather; and I have, fays he, feen fome pieces of wheat which, in addition to the shortness of the ftraw, are almoft as feer at the roots as old ftubble after the harvest. The rain which has been flying about these three or four days, in fome degree revives our hopes; but much injury is already done. In the districts of Scotland, particularly the southern, it does not feem to have operated in an equally unfavourable manner: our reporter fpeaks of crops being extremely forward. On his own farm he mentions having feventy English acres of wheat now in the ear; and that winter-fown wheats are in general fhot out. The harvest promifes to be general in thofe parts at an early period, perhaps fo foon as the first or second week in Auguft. Crops have, indeed, here fuffered little, except on poor thin clay, or gravelly foils. The crops of clover and rye-grafs in these parts are tolerably good, though by no means heavy.

For the preparation of turnip-grounds the feafon has every where been uncommonly fine; and the showers that have lately fallen in many districts, have been very fuitable for the fowing and sprouting of the feed, a large portion of which would otherwife have been loft. Our communications refpecting fruit from fome counties are flattering; but, in Wales and the neighbouring diftricts, we are informed that there is a general difappointment. "Peas, indeed," lays the reporter, "will be plentiful in this part; but the apples, no withstanding the long continuance of favourable appearances, almost entirely fail. We have been vifited by a great blight, even after the time when every thing is generally deemed fecure. In this part of the country, indeed, there hardly ever fails to be fomething of a crop; but in Herefordshire there are none. This circumftance has produced a great rife in the price of cyder. Good family cyder fells, at Hereford, as high as 8 guineas, and the beft at 10 or 12 guineas per hogfhead of 110 gallons."

The blight of fruit, we are inclined to believe, has been pretty general throughout the kingdom.

The prices of grain have not varied very much fince our last.

The average price of WHEAT, throughout England and Wales, is 50s. 9d.—OF BARLEY, 29s. 3d.-Of OATS, 21S. Iod.

In fome parts the price of cattle has lowered, in confequence of the drynefs of the season. -BEEF, averaged in Smithfield on the 25th, from 3s. 4d. to 4s. the stone of 8lb.MUTTON, from 3s. to 3s. 6d.-VEAL, from 4s. to 55. 2d.-PORK, from 25. 4d. to 35. And LAMB, from 3s. 6d. to 4s. 8d. The number of BEASTS in the market were 1800of SHEEP 12000 and LAMBS 2000.

Hops. Although the profpect of the growing crop of hops is lefs favourable than a week ago, the duty being now laid at 60 inftead of 65,ocol. the market is dull, and prices lower, probably, from their being previously pushed up too high, or the quantity on hand being confiderably greater than at any former period at this feafon of the year.Pockets 51. to 81. to 81. S.-Bags 61. 68, to 71. 128.

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SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER

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MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

JULY 15, 1798.