26o Extract of a Letter from a Linen ManifaBurer, July 



ed account of my method, I will think myfelf honoured by 

 your commands, and will, by letters or perfonal attendance, 

 at your option, explain, in the minuted manner, to the bed 

 of my flender abilities, the whole procefs, from the feed to 

 the loom. 



I conclude, as I began, without any apology, and with fub- 

 fcribing myfelf. Sir, Your obedient humble Servant. 



P. S. — I was in my youth bred to the linen manufa£lure, 

 and, in maturer years, carried on the manufadlure of dif- 

 ferent articles in that branch on my own account. — To 

 make the raifing of flax an univerfal or national purfuit, it 

 will be neceffary to give pecuniary encouragements ; not in 

 fuch manner as has been done, for the largeft quantity raifed 

 by one perfon in one year : this is an oftenfible, but not a 

 real or well applied encouragement ; nor will it ever promote 

 any real national advantage. Seme perfons of fortune may, 

 for applaufe, fow a quantity, for the purpofe of gaining the 

 premium for that year only, as the premium is given on the 

 quantity grown, but not for preparing it for ufe •, while, per- 

 haps, neither feed nor real flax is produced by the attempt. 

 The premium, therefore, fliould only be given for flax and 

 feed fit for the manufaclurer, and proportioned to the quan- 

 tity and quality fo produced j to be continued annually for a 

 certain number of years ; or (fliould the e^ipence not be deem- 

 ed too great) till the practice become general. Let the boun- 

 ty on linen cloth be withdrawn, and applied to this more ne- 

 ceflTary and beneficial purfuit ; as fuch bounties never are of 

 any ufe to our manufacturers, but are a confiderable expencc 

 to the public. 



None but the countries who at prefent fupply us with 

 hemp' and flax, are in the leaft benefited by this well meant, 

 but ill judged bounty -, for, fo long as they know we muft 

 apply to them for thefe materials, they will add to the price 

 of the articles as much every year, as will more than coun- 

 terbalance the end, for which fuch bounties are given ; and, 

 by the advance on the price to our manufa£lurers, they will 

 ftill be capable to undeifell us, both in foreign markets and 

 our own, in the fame manner as if thefe bounties had never 

 been given. But, the inft;ant they find we give premiums 

 for the home produftion of thefe materials, they will lower 

 the price and duties paid upon them, in order to prevent a 

 rivalfliip which would materially injure them, and benefit 

 ourfelves. 



AN 



