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The Virginia Gazette
Williamsburg, Virginia
What is this article about?
A letter from Dublin dated August 16 describes Ireland's economic woes, including an empty treasury, starving poor, declining linen industry, widespread emigration of artisans to plantations, and uncultivated lands, echoing Dean Swift's predictions.
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"All the evils which Dean Swift predicted now appear to have befallen this unhappy country. An empty treasury, a famished poor, and the staple manufactures of the kingdom declining apace. The spirit of emigration hath seized our people, and the several counties hitherto famous for the residence of the linen manufacturers, are now almost dwindled into dreary wastes. The land lies uncultivated; and notwithstanding the landholders have, by lowering the rents, tried to pacify the minds of the people, and induce them to continue at home, yet scarcely a vessel sails from Ireland, bound to any of the plantations, but what is filled with multitudes of useful artisans, their wives and children. It is to be hoped that some method may be taken to put a stop to so alarming an evil: for if the numbers of inhabitants constitute the riches of a state, Heaven knows, Ireland will soon be the poorest country under the canopy of Heaven."
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Ireland
Event Date
August 16
Key Persons
Outcome
declining population due to emigration; potential to become the poorest country
Event Details
Ireland faces empty treasury, famished poor, declining staple manufactures especially linen, spirit of emigration leading to depopulated counties and uncultivated lands; landholders lower rents to retain people but vessels to plantations carry multitudes of artisans and families; hopes for measures to stop this evil as population constitutes state riches.