OF SAMUEL CROMPTON. 33^ 



been constructed by successive artizans. About 

 1 790, the muslin trade received a great stimulus 

 at Stockport, from the efforts of the late Samuel 

 Oldknow, whose spirit of enterprise extended 

 this branch of our manufacture. He took new 

 ground by copying some of the fabrics imported 

 from India, which at that time supplied this 

 kingdom with all the finer fabrics, and which 

 the mule spun yarn alone could imitate. He 

 was very successful in carrying on the ingenious 

 processes which he had devised ; but the French 

 revolution creating a panic and general stagnation 

 for a time, he abandoned this branch of the 

 trade, and betook himself to his large water-mill 

 at Mellor, which was built in the year 1 790. On 

 his retiring from the manufacturing of fine 

 muslin, Messrs. Horrocks who had just esta- 

 blished themselves at Preston as mule-spinners, 

 took up what he had laid down. They became 

 extensive manufacturers of cloth, similar to that 

 made by Oldknow, and supplied the same 

 market, London. This gave a new stimulus 

 in that district, and immediately upon the sub- 

 siding of the panic caused by the French revolu- 

 tion, a market sprung up on the Continent for 

 yams of all kinds, but principally for muslin 

 yarns, up to the highest numbers that could be 

 produced. This gave a general stimulus all 

 through the kingdom, and Watt's and Sxaa^Ue^vs 

 2 u2 



