t '54 ] 



9S entirely to ruin our once flourifhing traffick in 

 fine cloths to the Levant; and bids fair for rivalling 

 xjs in that article in other markets. But not con- 

 tented with that fingle advantage, that politick na- 

 tion, by having turned their attention for many 

 years paft towards the improving the quality of the 

 wool of their own native produce, have at laft, as 

 appears by the authority referred to in the motto to 

 thi3 paper, under the aufpices of the indefatigable 

 Mr. D*Aubenton, been able to make fuperfine cloth 

 entirely of their own wool, which was equal in 

 beauty to that made of the bed Spanifh wool, and 

 >vhich, upon trial, was found to be fuperior to it ii^ 

 ihe wear.* Thefe are fads which cannot be con- 

 troverted, and they clearly prove, that if our fuper- 

 gne cloths are at prefent better than thofe of France, 

 this fuperiority cannot be afcribed to the greater 

 finenefs of our own wool: they likewife fliew, that 

 if, in confequence of the abfurd prepofleflion we 

 have fo long entertained concerning the magical 

 qualities of Britifh wool, we fhall continue to neg- 

 lefl to attend to its improvement, while the French 

 exert themfelves in improving theirs; the time may 

 at length arrive, when, in confequence of the gra- 

 dual improvement in the quality of French wools, 

 and the imperceptible decline of ours, the wool of 



• Sec Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences, ami. 1784 & 1785, 



France 



