399 



Sect. hi. 



Of the Cotton ManufaSlure, 



Many of the general obfervations, which I have adduced, under the 

 head of the linen and woollen manufaftures, will apply to that of 

 cotton. I fhall, therefore, be the more concife on this topic. 



It is much to be wiflied, that fome ingenious perfons, capable of 

 combining the philofophic theory, with the praftical knowledge of dif- 

 ferent mechanical arts and trades, would publifli plain and familiar me- 

 moirs, on the fubjeft of manufaclures, for the ufe of the intelligent and 

 induftrious artificer. The defcription of arts, and mechanical operations, 

 made, with exaftnefs and a knowledge of the fubjeft, and ftript of all 

 ufelefs praftices, with which ignorance, ever myfterious, overwhelms and 

 embarraffes its proceedings, and reduced to the eternal principles of 

 found fcience, would be the mofl effeflual means of bringing all arts 

 to perfeftion ; and of availing ourfelves, to the utmoft extent, of thofe 

 goods, and advantages, which it is the will of the Supreme Being, that 

 man fliould derive from his induftry. — A detailed account of the various 

 operations of the cotton manufafture, with accurate defcriptions and 

 drawings of the different machines employed in it, with feftions of 

 them, and feparate delineations of their component parts ; would, I am 

 perfuaded, be highly ufeful, as a meafure preliminary, to the general 

 eftablifliment of this branch of induftry. 



As this country labours, at prefent, under a want of capital j and 

 as the machinery and buildings requifite for the cotton manufafture, 

 demand a very heavy preliminary expence ; this manufafture may beft 



be 



