The Parliament Develops Irish Industries

Above : William Pitt, Prime Minister At That Time

Although no further efforts were made to remove the commercial restraints imposed by England, the Irish Parliament exerted itself with considerable success to develop the internal resources of the country. It expended the by no means large sums at its disposal in the methods of encouragement which the policy of the age approved, although many, if not most of them, have been discredited by modern economists. Grants were made to the Dublin Society, to enable it to bestow prizes and other rewards on high-class agricultural and industrial products. A system of bounties was employed with regard to the fisheries, which, whether in consequence of this or owing to other causes, certainly attained to a very high degree or prosperity. Irish herrings were sent as far as the West Indies. Irish fishermen plied their trade on the Newfoundland banks, and went to Scotland to initiate the people of the maritime villages into their methods. The West Indian Fleet provided itself at Cork with barrels of Irish fish. Other industries, too, flourished. Boots and shoes, blankets, soap and candles were produced in large quantities.