VI OF THE SMALL LANDOWNER 111 



and as cheaply as possible, so as to occupy these markets, 

 became intensified, and England responded to the call. 



The cotton industry, which hitherto had depended on 

 the East for its raw material, of which it only sent us 

 its superfluity, now received additional supplies from the 

 West Indies. The English temperature was admirably 

 suited for spinning and weaving, and cotton for a time 

 played the part which wool had in the earlier ages. c There 

 was at first great opposition to cotton goods. In 1719 the 

 London woollen weavers tore the new " calico", or f 'calicut " 

 gowns off the ladies' backs. Acts were passed against 

 wearing cottons. Not till 1774 were pure cotton goods a 

 lawful import/ l But these prejudices, based largely on 

 the self-interest of the wool makers, passed away, and by 

 1815 our export of cotton goods was seventeen million 

 pounds sterling, as against seven millions woollen. 



It was just at this moment that the great age of inven- 

 tions opened. Kay's fly shuttle (1730), the weaving machine 

 of Wyatt and Lewis Paul (1738), the spinning-jenny of 

 Hargreaves (1765), the water frame and spinning roller of 

 Arkwright(1767),Crompton's mule (1777), andCartwright's 

 weaving machine (1785), followed in rapid succession, and 

 aided the development of all textile industries. At the 

 same time the discovery of the* blast furnace enabled iron 

 to be smelted with coal, and solved the difficulty which had 

 arisen from the dearth of charcoal as fuel. 2 Finally, the 

 use of steam as a new motive power to drive these machines 

 was discovered by James Watt, 1769-82. 3 



If, however, England was to profit from these new 



1 Fletcher, History of England. 



Mantoux, La "Revolution industrielle, p. 189 ff., and authorities 

 ated there. 

 3 Mantoux, p. 316 ff., and authorities quoted. 



