iSoo. to Sir John Sinclair^ Bart. 259^ 



good efFe(9:s which my management had in that tune produced, 

 were fufficient to gain any imitators in the neighbourhood. 



As I managed the dreiting of the flax and fpinning of the 

 yarn for the manufactory in which I was concerned among 

 them, I took every occafion to converfe with, and fliow the 

 fpinners the difference betwixt the foreign flax we ufed, and 

 what I grew, in refpefl of ftrength and other advantages, 

 with refpeiSl: to the durability of cloth made from my pro- 

 duction, and that made from foreign flax ; and they were, 

 from their own experience, convinced of the fuperiority of 

 the foreign flax to what they produced on their own land ; 

 and every farmer, as well as cottager, cultivated more or lefs 

 every year. 



They had hitherto been under the neceflity of purchafing 

 fome foreign flax, in addition to what was produced fronx 

 their own growth j and at length they were fo well convinced 

 of the fuperior properties of mine, that they would purchafe 

 no other when I had any to fell. I had at lafl the fame fuc- 

 cefs with the fale of my feed, although, at firfl, fo far were 

 they from purchafing it, that they would not even accept the 

 gift of it ; only thofe who could not aflbrd to pay from 3d. 

 to 4d. a pound for foreign feed, on them I prevailed to ac- 

 cept of fome ; and, by inflruCfcing them how to ufe it, I at 

 laft fucceeded fo far, that no other feed could be fold at mar- 

 ket while I had any to difpofe of. My procefs then began to 

 gain ground alfo among thofe who could aflbrd to make the 

 experiment. 



Yet it is with me a matter of doubt, if there remains in 

 that part of the county any vefl:ige of it. Although I had 

 annually as much feed as was neceflary for next year's fow- 

 irig, and fold as much, after the quality was perfedlly under- 

 ftood, as paid land rent, and every expence till the flax was 

 put in the water ; yet, owing to the want of experience in 

 thofe I was obliged to employ in the fubfequent fleps, and 

 their intraClabiiity, my flax came to the heckle as dear as the 

 foreign flax did. My only advantages were in the fuperior 

 quality both of flax and feed, and having experimental proof, 

 that, under proper cultivation, we might in a few years pro- 

 duce flax nearly fufficient for the fupply of our linen manu- 

 factures, and feed for fowing, for oil, and great quantities 

 for exportation, and both of a much fuperior quality to what 

 we ufually import, efpecially the feed. 



Upon perufal of this, fliould It appear to merit your no« 

 tict-j and vou condefcend to (ignify a wifli for a more detail- 



B b 2 ■ ed 



