X7« •« the cotton manufactures. Aug. 8. 



curious speculation to consider whether the cottoa 

 or linen manufacture merits best to be encotiraged. 

 To consider the subject in a public and national view, 

 would lead to very extensive discufsions, and some- 

 what foreign to the present subject, which proceeds 

 on a supposition that, whether the cotton manufac- 

 ture be most eligible for our country or iK)t, it will 

 infallibly establish itself. Suffice it to say, our West 

 Jndia islands will be greatly benefitted by it ; our 

 Clipping and navigation to the West Indies must in- 

 crease by the transportation of so bulky a commodi- 

 ty, and the proportionable exports to the West In- 

 dies i the heavy balance against us with the Baltic 

 for flax will be lefsened ; and, fliould the growth of 

 flax at home be thereby discouraged, it is a matter 

 of some doubt if ilax be a production altogether con- 

 genial to our soil and climate ; and also whether the 

 land of Scotland can be better employed than in bear- 

 ing food for its people. The high price of meal for 

 many years gives room to believe it would not. The 

 law of the present sefsion, lowering the duties on 

 our home distillery, to an alarming degree, promises 

 to be favourable to the farmer at least, if not to the 

 health, and morals, and industry of the people at large, 



G. D. 



N. B. Some of the spinning mills are worked bj 

 water, raised by means of a fire engine. There is 

 one at Manchester, the fire engine of which costs up- 

 wards of L. 1200 a year, and raises about 9000 gal- 

 lons of water in a minute,— about ai6,ooo hogfhcads, 

 or 79,000 tons per day. 



