METALS. LINEN CLOTH. PAPER. PARCHMENT. 723 



The last two kinds are, I conceive, entirely of English origin ; 

 the others are largely imported from France and the Low 

 Countries, and the proportion accords with that which has been 

 several times illustrated. 



The three qualities of cloth supply the following: 



s. d. s. d. 



Pannus of 24 yds., 1st quality 55 8| .... ..... 152 10 ......... 2-45 



Do. do. 2nd do. 48 o ......... 80 6| ......... 1-68 



Do. do. 3rd do. 34 I ......... 76 o ......... 2-24 



Information as to the third quality is, as my reader will find on 

 turning to p. 589, scanty, and the figures are not to be entirely 

 depended on. But the comparison between the first and 

 second quality is again suggestive. The first is frequently of 

 foreign origin, the second regularly English. 



Paper is said to have been, though the assertion is of 

 suspicious accuracy, entirely of foreign origin at this time. 

 Parchment, on the other hand, is probably entirely of English 

 manufacture. It will be observed that the rise by the ream is 

 greater than that by the dozen quires, while that of parchment 

 is less by the roll than by the dozen. This seems to imply that 

 paper being more frequently used than in the early period, 

 breaking bulk was not met by so high an extra charge as 

 formerly, while the contrary is the case with parchment, the 

 use of which was becoming scantier. 



s. d: s. d. 



Paper, ream ......... 3 5^ ......... 5 if ......... 1-50 



Do. doz. quires ... 3 o ......... 3 10 ......... I'2O 



Parchment, doz ....... 2 3 ......... 4 2 ......... 1-81 



Do. roll ...... II o ......... 16 8 .... ..... 1.51 



The low rate of increase in the price of these articles is to be 



