The Economic History of Ireland in the Eighteenth Century. By
George O'Brien. (Dublin : Maunsel. 10s. 6d. net.)—This book contains a great deal of interesting and curious information about Irish agriculture and industry before the Union. We cannot but regret that so industrious an author should have let himself stray into the political controversy which has been the curse of what passes for Irish history. He develops in detail a contrast between Ireland under her controlled Parliament and Ireland under Grattan'a Parliament, to show that before 1782 Ireland was in a bad way and that after 1782 she prospered. But he does not make sufficient allowance for the effect of great events, such as the Seven Years' War, the American War, the Revolutionary War, and the English Industrial Revolution, which affected Ireland indirectly by causing a greater demand for her foodstuffs. His closing remark that "there is some connection between the legislative independence and economic prosperity of Ireland" is utterly at variance with the facts, for Ireland was never before so rich and prosperous as she has been during these last ten years. Apart from its unscientific bias, Mr. O'Brien's book is worth reading. Incidentally he points out that the Dublin workmen about 1800 killed the nascent manu- facturing industries by their impossible demands. The author suggests that the British Parliament discouraged Irish industry in the early eighteenth century because an increase ef Irish trade would augment the King's hereditary Irish revenue, and thus make him less dependent on the Commons. It is an ingenious but wholly untenable argument, for the Whigs from 1714 to 1700 controlled both the Crown and Parliament.
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