249 



Sect. 



Comparifott of the linen, woollen, and cotton Manufadure. 



Next to the profecution of agriculture, and as fubfidiary to its prof- 

 perity and encreafe, the three manufactures, which have been the fub- 

 jeft of the preceding fedions, ought to be the great objefts of in- 

 duftry in this country. They are are all, in fome degree, eftabliftied ; 

 the natives have already acquired greater or lefs Ikill, in all ; and in 

 the linen raanufafture, they have attained to unrivalled excellence. Thefe 

 manufaftures, in common, require a copious fupply of water, and are, 

 in that particular well adapted to this country. They have alfo a de- 

 gree of connexion or affinity with each other. 



There fliould be a kind of fyflem and method, in the encouragement 

 of induftry, in order to promote it, to the bed advantage. A new and 

 folitary manufafture not connedled with, or dependent on one already 

 known and eftabliflied, cannot fo foon take root, or fo fpeedily bear 

 fruit, in a country, as one that is in a different predicament. The know- 

 ledge of the art of weaving, which is every where diffufed, in a greater 

 or lefs degree, by the general prevalence of the linen manufafture, and 

 of the coarfer branches of the woollen, muft render the eftablifhment 

 and diffufion of the cotton manufafture lefs difficult, than that of many 

 other new arts and trades, wholly different from, and unconnefted with 

 the bufinefs of fpinning and weaving. So far, thefe manufadures har. 

 monioufly combine, and feem to draw together. — But, fuppofe, their in- 

 terefts fliould, on any occaiion, diverge, and a queftion of preference 

 arife refpecting them, — then, we muft; confider, both the intrinfic merits 

 of thefe manufadures — and their relative merits, which confift in an 



Vol. IX. ( I i ") aptitude 



