SCOTLAND. 



Sutiicic*. 



C49 



Foreign 

 trade. 



is given by beetling, which was formerly performed 

 by muscular power. The process, however, is now 

 much better accomplished by a machine, which con- 

 sists of a horizontal cylinder, and twelve or more 

 beetles. 



Presses with an iron screw wrought by levers are 

 generally used. Several of Brahani's hydraulic presses 

 were lately introduced for this purpose, and have given 

 much satisfaction ; but the number in Scotland does 

 not exceed twenty, 



With machinery so highly improved, the cotton ma- 

 nufacture has been carried to the highest pitch of im- 

 provement, and every variety of goods is made in 

 Scotland, from the coarsest to the finest fabrics ; and 

 while the annual value of the cotton manufacture ex- 

 ceeds six millions sterling, it gives employment to 

 150,000 men, women, and children. 



The value of the woollen, linen, (hemp included,) 

 and cotton trades above explained, may be estimated 

 at upwards of eight millions sterling per annum. The 

 hat and paper manufactures, together with that of iron 

 and the other metals, may amount to two millions. 

 Ship-building, and those branches in which timber is 

 chiefly employed, exclusive of the fitting up of houses, 

 is not less than one million. The leather, brewery, 

 distillery, glass, pottery, soap, salt, and tobacco trade, 

 may amount to two millions and a half; and, includ- 

 ing the minor branches, it is highly probable that the 

 whole manufactures in Scotland will annually exceed 

 in value fourteen millions sterling, including the price 

 of the raw materials. See our articles COTTON, COT- 

 TON SPINNING, GLASGOW, and LANARKSHIRE. 



Commerce. 



Commercial industry is divided into three branches : 

 1. The internal or home trade ; 2. The foreign trade ; 

 and, 3. The carrying trade. 



1. The Home Trade. Besides an extensive inland 

 trade, the coasting trade of Scotland is also an import- 

 ant branch of industry, facilitating the conveyance of 

 commodities, and employing a number of ships and 

 mariners. The average number of vessels entered in- 

 wards during ten years is about 13,000 annually ; and 

 supposing one entry to have taken place every six 

 weeks, or eight entries in the year, the number of ves- 

 sels employed in the coasting trade of Scotland will 

 be about 1635, carrying upwards of 81,000 tons, and 

 navigated by nearly 6'000 men. In the year ending 

 5th Jan. 1823, the number of vessels was 1823, carry- 

 ing 92, 1 56 tons, and navigated by 6403 seamen. If 2000 

 men be engaged in the different canals, ferries, and 

 rivers, the whole number of men employed in this 

 particular branch of maritime occupation will be about 

 8500. 



The account of the trade of Scotland is now given 

 in the following form. 



2. Foreign trade. Scotland formerly enjoyed but a 

 small share of foreign trade. The exports were chiefly 

 wool, skins, hides, and other raw materials, which 

 were exchanged for corn, wine, and spiceries. Both 

 the extent of exports and imports must have been 

 very limited in those times, at least in Scotch vessels ; 

 for the whole shipping, in the thirteenth century, did 



VOL. XVII. PART II. 



not exceed twenty Ioop, exclusive of the galley* ami Sotitdo. 

 bnrkt belonging to the Hebrides In the time of Crom- 

 well, the shipping of Scotland comirted of only 08 ft* 

 vesseli, carrying 724 ton*, and 18 barks. Soon af- J 

 ter, however, her foreign trade with the northern and 

 eastern state* of Europe began to increase, and the 

 Dutch cultivated a friendly connexion with the Scotch, 

 chiefly for the conveniency of prosecuting the her* 

 ring fishery on the coast of Scotland, in which they 

 were deeply and profitably engaged. 



About the middle of the last century, an extensive 

 commercial intercourse was carried on from the ports 

 on the eastern coast of Scotland to Holland, Norway. 

 Sweden, and the different states on the hore of the 

 Baltic. This trade has greatly increased of late years. 

 The imports consist of flax, hemp, yarn, linen, iron, 

 corn, wood, tallow, and other commodities produced 

 in these countries; and in return, colonial produce, 

 cotton goods, end other manufactured articles are ex- 

 ported. The trade between Scotland and ituuia, in- 

 cluding that of Archangel, forms the moat considerable 

 branch of the commerce of the eastern coast ; and the 

 chief shipping ports are Leith, Dundee, Arbroalh, 

 Montrose, Aberdeen, Peterhead, Banff, and Inverness. 

 The trade with Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterra- 

 nean, as well as that of the West Indies, is confined 

 principally to Leith ; and the connexion with Canada 

 extends to all the most considerable towns on the east 

 coast of Scotland. 



The commerce of the west coast centres almost en- 

 tirely in the Clyde, which is the grand emporium of 

 the American and West Indian trade. From the mid- 

 dle of the last century, to the year 1772, the merchants 

 of Glasgow imported immense quantities of tobacco 

 from Virginia and the contiguous provinces, which 

 was afterwards exported, both in its natural and in its 

 manufactured state, to every part of Europe, particu- 

 larly to Holland, where it was carried to the inland 

 markets of the continent. The Americans, in return, 

 were furnished with all those useful and substantial 

 articles which suit an infant state. Since the com- 

 mencement of the cotton manufacture, the commerce 

 of the Clyde has rapidly increased ; and a correct idea 

 of its extent may be formed, when it is slated, that in 

 the year 1810, there arrived at Greenock, Port-Glas- 

 gow, and the city of Glasgow, 3308 vessels, carrying 

 226,837 tons, of which 871 vessels, 107,845 tons were 

 from 1 reland and foreign ports. 



The following Table shows the state of the foreign 

 trade of Scotland. 



3. Carrying Tradt.The Scotch ship-owners enjoy 

 a share of the carrying trade, but it is inconsiderable, u*da> 

 and their ships are more frequently employed by Eng- 

 lish merchants in carrying cargoes to and from A me- 

 rica, the West Indies, the Mediterranean, and other 

 parts. Many vessels are also hired by Government as 

 transports ; and in both cases make repeated voyage* 

 without returning to Scotland. This business is con- 

 ducted on the capital of the ship-owners, who in ge- 

 neral receive ample returns ; but it would be difficult 

 to ascertain either the amount of the capital invested, 

 or the extent of shipping employed in this lucrative 

 trade. 



* 



