Over and above all this, the Irish may mean to demand the freedom of importing their own produce and manufactures into Great Britain, subject to no other duties than such as are equivalent to the duties imposed upon the like goods of British produce or manufacture.  Tho’ even this demand, the most unreasonable of all, should be granted, I cannot believe that the interest of Britain would be hurt by it.  On the contrary, the competition of Irish goods in the British market might contribute to break down in part that monopoly which we have most absurdly granted to the greater part of our own workmen against ourselves.  It would, however, be a long time before this competition could be very considerable.  In the present state of Ireland centuries must pass away before the greater part of its manufactures could vie with those of England.  Ireland has little coal, the coallieries about Lough Neagh being of little consequence to the greater part of the country; it is ill provided with wood:  two articles essentially necessary to the progress of great manufactures.  It wants order, police, and a regular administration of justice, both to protect and to restrain the inferior ranks of people:  articles more essential to the progress of industry than both coal and wood put together, and which Ireland must continue to want as long as it continues to be divided between two hostile nations, the oppressors and the oppressed, the Protestants and the Papists.  Should the industry of Ireland, in consequence of freedom and good government, ever equal that of England, so much the better would it be not only for the whole British Empire, but for the particular province of England.  As the wealth and industry of Lancashire does not obstruct but promote that of Yorkshire, so the wealth and industry of Ireland would not obstruct but promote that of England.

It makes me very happy to find that in the midst of the public misfortunes a person of your Lordship’s rank and elevation of mind doth not despair of the commonwealth, but is willing to accept of an active share in administration.  That your Lordship may be the happy means of restoring vigour and decision to our counsels, and in consequence of them, success to our arms, is the sincere wish of, my Lord, your Lordship’s most obliged and most obedient servant,

     ADAM SMITH.[304]

     EDINBURGH, 8th November 1779.

The letter to Dundas was published in the English Historical Review for April 1886 (p. 308), by Mr. Oscar Browning, from a copy in the Auckland papers then in his possession.  Mr. Browning gives at the same time the previous letters of Dundas to Eden and Smith respectively.  To Eden he writes:—­

     MELVILLE, 30th October 1779.

MY DEAR SIR—­I received yours last night and have sent it this morning to Smith.  When I see or hear from him you shall hear again from me upon the different parts of your letter.  The enclosed is a copy of my letter to Smith, which will show you what are my present crude ideas upon the subject of Ireland.—­Yours faithfully,

     HENRY DUNDAS.