SIR, ST INCE I had the honour of writing to you upon the project of a partial land-tax in Ireland, an opinion generally prevailed, that the defign had been reconfidered here, and that it was probably laid afide. The accounts from Ireland had given room to imagine, that if the tax was propofed there, it would be rejected. Great numbers of the moft confiderable perfons for weight, confideration, and ability, had fhewn a determination to oppofe it. The city and county of Dublin, and other counties, had declared their diflike to a measure fo dangerous and unjust. In this fituation it feemed not neceffary to call a meeting, which might occafion trouble and inconvenience to many gentlemen; but fome circumflances have very lately occurred, which feem to indicate, that the measure is by no means laid aside. It appears by accounts from Ireland, that Mr. Blaquiere, Principal Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland, did, in the Houfe of Commons there, name the partial land-tax as one of the ways and means towards the fupply which fhould be afked. It is faid indeed that he did not abfolutely propofe the tax, but declared a predilection for it; and by the accounts received from Ireland in the courfe of this week, it is now faid, that government there have taken a ftrong part in favour of this measure. Though the immediate calling of a meeting may be poftponed un til the fate of the motion for this tax, which is expected to be made this week in Ireland, is known, it is thought to be highly incumbent on us to give this information to all those to whom we had the honour to communicate what had already paffed, that they may be fo far prepared, that if a meeting is called in the courfe of the next fortnight, they may be able, if they think it proper, to come to London with the lefs inconvenience. By the answers I received to the letters, I find almoft a general concurrence in difapprobation of the tax and its principles. The truft fo honourably conferred on us, makes a proper vigilance very much our duty. The giving unneceffary trouble will be avoided; but if the business proceeds, the more full the meeting the greater force and fanction will be given to any proceeding that may be deemed expedient in order to defeat this defign. "The Lords who are now in town, and in confequence of whofe defire I took the liberty of troubling you with the former letter, have empowered me now to fend you this information. I have the honour to be, day night, the 11th inftant, his Excellency Sir William Trelawney, Bart. our very worthy and much efteemed governor, departed this life, after a long and tedious illnefs, which he bore with fortitude and magnanimity, and died with that firm hope of a happy immortality, which a virtuous and admirable uniformity and confiftency of character, and the calm confcience of a life well fpent in the fervice of his country, at once infpired and juftified. During four years refidence in the adminiftration of this government, he fo wifely guided and steadily held the reins of power, and maintained fuch an inflexible integrity of conduct, altogether unbiaffed by private attachments or felfifh confiderations, that party herself forgot her refentments, and feemingly left no conteft, but who fhould mot promote the eafe and happiness of an administration, which gave eafe and happinefs to all. The great and unive: fal regret which the apprehenfion of this unhappy event has, for fome time paft, given to all ranks of people, is the fureft proof of his excellency's merit, as well as the ftrongeft teftimony, that a government conducted on the fame principles, cannot fail of meeting the nobleft reward, the general applaufe of a grateful and united people. The next day, being Saturday the 12th inftant, the Honourable the Houfe of Affembly came to the following resolution: • Refolved, In order to teftify the grateful respect which this houfe entertained of his late Excellency's merit, the fenfe they have of the great and univerfal fatisfaction which his mild and equita• ble administration gave to all ranks of people, and the great regret which they feel at his lofs, it be made the request of this House to Lady Trelawney, that her Ladyfhip confent that his Excellency's funeral be conducted at the public expence.' Accordingly on Sunday evening the 13th inftant, the body, inclofed in a coffin of lead, placed in an outward fhell, covered with crimson velvet, and richly furnished, lay in ftate in the council chamber, which was hung with black, and illuminated with large tapers of wax; and, to tir great honour, the members of the legitlature, the officers of the navy, army, and militia, the magiftrates, and all ranks of people, feemed to vie with each other in fhewing the moft grateful testimony of refpe& and regard to the governor's memory. About About eleven o'clock the fame evening, the proceffion began from the king's houfe in the following order, the artillery firing minute guns, viz. The following Address was prefented by the Council of Jamaica, to Lady Trelawney : "The council of Jamaica, being truly fenfible of the great lofs your ladyfhip has fuftained by the demife of our late worthy governor, beg leave to condole with you on that unhappy occafion. Spanish-Town regiment of foot militia. The 36th regiment of foot under the command of Col. Campbell, marching in form, with their arms reverfed, preceded by a band of mufic, collected from the "We have too great a fhare in different regiments and the batta- the lofs, not to participate with lion lately arrived, playing the your ladyship in the affliction. Yet dead march in Saul.-Eight mutes. we derive no fmall comfort from -The governor's fecretary and the confideration (and we earnestly household.-Public officers.-Pro-hope that your ladyfhip will join voft marshal general. Phyficians. -Clergy.-The BODY, fupported, by the hon. A. Sinclair, hon. W. Brown, hon. B. Edwards, hon. W. Harvie, hon. J. Scot, hon. T. Iredell, hon. J. Ellis, hon. T. Beach, and four aid de camps. Chief mourners: hon. Mr. Harrison, and hon. Mr. May. House of affembly as mourners.-Judges of the grand court and affize. Col. Provolt, and officers of the royal Americans. Captains of the men of war, and officers of the fleet. Barrifters at law. Mafters in chancery. Attendants. -Troops of horfe. in the reflection) that the departure of great and good men, though a lofs to us, is the confummation of perfect felicity to them. Your ladyship too, has the fatisfaction to reflect, that your worthy partner, even in this life, had the fingular happiness of receiving that reward, which virtue too frequently fails of attaining. He died with the applaufe of all good men, and in the roll of honour is his memory recorded. "We fincerely with your lady. fhip a fafe voyage to Great-Britain, and that your future days may be brightened by happiness. On all occafions, we beg leave to tender your ladyship our beft fervices." The The following State of the Export Linen and Linen Yarn Trade of Ireland, for the last 70 Years, fhews its vaft Improvement within that Period, and of what Singular Importance its Prefervation from the Ruin with which it is now threatened, is to the Mother Country. It appears by the export entries at the Cuftom-house at Dublin, whence this account was taken, that the linen trade alone has decreased 5,000,000 of yards, of the invoice value of 350,000l. in the year 1772; and by the best eftimate that could be formed of the exports from March 1772 to March 1773, they were fuppofed to have further decreased one third, which would bring them under 900,000l. fo that the exports of linen and yarn taken together, will fall fhort of 1,100,000; little more than one half of their amount in the year 1771. The The following is an Account of the Total Quantities of British and Irish Linens exported from England, from the Commencement of the Bounty to January 1772, diftinguishing the Quantities and Bounties paid each Year. 1758 1759 22,807 11 I I 1761 1762 1763 1766 1767 1,942,567 2,171,109 25,690 15 4 1768 1769 1770 1771 Extract from the Accounts of the Linens ftamped in the following Years in Scotland, as attefted at the Linen Hall established by the Board of Truftees at Edinburgh, inftituted in the Year 1727. |