247 



and fklll; and uncommon flrength, of capital, and pecuniary expence.— It 

 appears, from a review of the ftate of the cotton manufadure, in the year 

 1787; that nearly two thirds of the then exifting cotton mills and machines, 

 had been eredled, within the lafl feven years ; and that above a million of 

 money had been expended, within that period, on the eredion of mills, 

 hand-engines, and other machinery, including the purchafe of ground, 

 and conftrudion of houfes, and other neceffary buildings for the cotton 

 works. 



Such is the fuperiority of Britain. It is obfervable that her fu- 

 periority is chiefly palpable and ftriking, in thofe operations on the 

 raw material, which precede its coming into the hands of the weaver ; 

 that is to fay, ia the operations, which require great capital, and are 

 performed by extenfive and coflly machinery. It will do infinite ho- 

 nour to the perfeverance and induftry of our manufaclurers, if, un- 

 difmayed by the formidable rivalfliip of Britain, and her prefent fupe- 

 riority, they proceed to combat the many difadvantages under which 

 they at prefent labour, and fucceed in eftablilhing the cotton manufac- 

 tures of this country, on a footing of equality with thofe of Britain. 

 At prefent, the faft is, that vaft quantities, of cotton warp, and weft 

 muft, of neceflity, be imported into this country, to anfwer the demand 

 of the looms that are employed, in all the various kinds of cotton fa- 

 bricks, from muflins and callicoes, down to thickfets. For, the water- 

 machines, and mules, and jennies as yet erefted in this country, with 

 their, beft exertions, are able to fupply but a fmall proportion of the 

 current confumption of fpun cotton, for different purpofes of manufac- 

 ture.* 



Notwithftanding the unfavourable circumflances, I have ftated, the in- 

 duftry of Ireland is not wholly left without motives of incitement. — In 



the 



* See the journals of the houfe of commons, for a petition from the weavers of cotton 

 fabricks, and others of oppofition to the petition, from the proprietors of machinery, and 

 fpinners of cotton, which called for an additional duty- on fpun cotton, imported. 



