382 



might be employed, in a more compendious mode of making li- 

 nen yarn ? Might not the rollers of Arkivright's water machine be 

 employed, with good efFeft, in making the warps of fine cam- 

 bricks ? Might not the patterns of diapers be much improved, by fome 

 attention to the art of drawing and defigning ? Might not the arts of dying, 

 flamping, and colouring linens and cambricks, in various ways, be much im- 

 proved, by an attention to the nature and combinations of colouring fub- 

 ftances ? — May not the art of bleaching be carried to a much greater degree 

 of perfeftion, than it has yet attained ? — Thefe, and various other intereft- 

 ing enquiries, which might be fuggefted, ought to engage the care of the 

 fcientific head, and experimental hand. We fliould not fuppofe, from the 

 prefent profperity of the linen manufafture, that we have reached the ut- 

 mofl: bounds of perfeftion. 



The nest meafure in order, for the extenfion of the manufadure, is to 

 find markets, for the finifhed fabric ; and to bring them home, as near as 

 polllble, to the door of the manufaflurer. I know not any means fo effec- 

 tual, for the attainment of this end, as the vigorous execution of the plan, 

 which occurred to the legiflature of this country, many years ago, but has 

 not been properly followed up, in praftice ; I mean the eftablifliment of a 

 Lhien Hall, or public ware-houfe, for the wholefale market of linens, 

 in each county town, in this kingdom. The idea was well conceived ; 

 but, as I have already obferved, the fum which the grand jury was 

 authorifed to prefent, was wholly infuiBcient for the purpofe. The de- 

 ficiency, however, might be fupplicd, and probably, with more profit 

 to the manufafture, from the funds ; which are now expended in boun. 

 ties,, on the exportation of linens. 



The eftablifliment of linen halls, is a meafure, which has been attend- 

 ed with the mofl beneficial confequences, wherever it has been adopt- 

 ed. By means of thefe cllablifhments, the market is not only brought 

 home to the door of the manufafturer, whereby he is faved a confi- 

 derable expence, in the bringing his produftions to a mart, and ena- 

 bled to fell them proportionably cheaper ; but is rendered more ad- 

 vantageous to him, in the points of circulation of commodities, of num. 



ber 



