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vious connexion between the manufaftures of" linen and paper, in an- 

 tient Egypt; the raw material was not the fame in both. With ref- 

 peft to linen, and paper as now manufaftured, from rags and flireds 

 of linen, there is a clofe and neceffary connexion, and alliance between 

 them. Where an abundance of linen is made, and confumed, and 

 fine linen is in general ufe, the flireds and fragments, that remain 

 from the fempftrefs and the milliner, and the quantity of decayed li- 

 nen, inapplicable to any other ufe but that of making paper, will con- 

 flantly fupply the manufadurer, with this primum of the bed quality, 

 and on the cheapefi: terms ; for the fupply of linen rags in a country 

 where linen abounds, will coft the manufafturer little more than the 

 expence of collecting them. 



The manufafture of paper has many advantages. It fupplies an 

 article of the firft neceffity. To it we are indebted, not only, for 

 the difFufion of fcience, and the improvement of religion and morals, 

 by the multiplication of writings and books. — The intercourfe of focial 

 life is hourly indebted to it ; it is become neceffary to the fccurity 

 and transfer of property ; to the operations of finance, of mercantile 

 dealing, and exchange, the arts of printing, of mufick, and engraving, 

 depend upon it ; and' the arts of drawing and painting derive much 

 fervice from it. Add to this a variety of elegant and ufefal inven- 

 tions, for the decorations and furniture of our habitations ; as paper- 

 hangings, fcreens, and other contrivances, of the fame kind. Next 

 to linen and woollen cloths, there is perhaps, no manufafture, ia 

 fuch general demand, and of fuch extenfive utility ; and this is a 

 demand, which, inftead of flu£tuating with the caprice of fafliion, 

 will endure to the end of time ; and confbintly cncreafe, with 

 the encreafe of population, and progrefs of refinement and know- 

 ledge. It employs a multitude of hands, and gives bread to the 

 aged, the infirm, and the infant, in its various departments. The pa- 

 per manufafture employs both domeflic prhnum, and turns to a pro- 

 fitable purpofe materials, which would otherwife be wholly ufelefs, and 



unproductive. 



