ENGLAND. 



751 



Statistic* to the manufacturer, and the goods are brought directly 

 ''^"Y"*' to him, without being exhibited in the hall. The goods 

 are bought in the halls in their undressed state, and 

 undergo in the working room, or shop of the merchant 

 who purchases them, various processes, till, being com- 

 plete, they are sent either to the home or foreign mar- 

 ket. Sometimes, however, goods are dressed at a sta- 

 ted rate by dressers, who take them in for that pur- 

 pose. 



Progress of Although it is totally foreign to the object of this 

 machinery, article to touch upon the nature of the processes 

 through which this or any other manufacture goes, yet 

 we may be allowed to state generally, that almost all 

 the machinery now used in the woollen manufacture 

 was borrowed from the cotton manufacture. The spin- 

 ning jennies were first introduced ; next, the slubbing- 

 mill ; and thirdly, the carding machine. The spring 

 shuttle was first used in Yorkshire, and afterwards in- 



troduced thence into the west of England. On the ^Statiatics.^ 

 other hand, the gig-mill, which is employed for rai- "* """Y""""' 

 sing the nap after fulling, was long in use in Glou- 

 cestershire, before it was employed in Yorkshire, or 

 even in Somersetshire, or Wiltshire. t ;" 



By the stamping acts, 2d Geo. II. and 5th and 6th p ntefract 

 Geo. III. returns are ordered to be made every Easter returns. 

 to the justices at Pontefract Sessions, of the quantity of 

 cloth made in the preceding year in the West Riding, 

 accounts being kept at the fulling-mills by officers for 

 that purpose. This law, however, does not extend to 

 kerseymeres, and several other kinds of cloth. 



In the following Table is given the returns from the 

 Pontefract Quarter Sessions, down to, the present year, 

 from which not only the great increase in the quanti- 

 ty of goods, which come under the act, may be noti- 

 ced, but also the greater proportional increase in the 

 quantity of broad cloths. 



TABLE IV. An Account of the number nf Broad Cloths Mille*! at the several Fulling Mills !n the West Riding of 

 the County of York, from the 24/A June 17-5, (the commencement of I fie act,) to the 12th March 1726, and 

 thence annually, distinniuhiiig each year } and of tiie Naintv Cloths, Jrom the 1st of August 1737 (the com~ 

 mencement 'ftht act,) to theWI/i Januaty 17 $8, and thence annually, distinguishing each year ; likewise l/ic mem- 

 ber of Yards made each year, frnm Easter Sessions 1768. 



