MATERIALS. LINEN. 



791 



affected. One of these articles, the last, was produced every- 

 where, for the raw material was always near. 



In these articles the rise is 1-5463 for the first sixty years, 

 on the average of the first forty-two, and from unity to 1-2784 

 in the next sixty. But the rise in laths is the most significant. 

 It is from unity to 1*2888 in the first sixty, and from the same 

 ratio to 1-1558 in the second. In this series one article, lime by 

 the quarter, actually falls in the second period from unity to -96. 



I will now take another series, that of linen fabrics, of which 

 I have been able to frame numerous averages. 



Table-linen, doz. yds. 

 Na pk in s ,com m on ,doz . 

 Napkins, superior, doz. 

 Shirting, doz. yds. ... 



In drawing these averages, I have united the evidence on 

 better and ordinary table-linen in the period before me, 

 because they were not distinguished in the tables of the fourth 

 volume. In the whole range of articles which have hitherto 

 been compared, none shows at either period so little rise, for 

 taking them together, the average rise in linen fabrics between 

 1541-82 and 1583-1642 is from unity to 1-3136, and in the 

 latter from unity to 1-0881. The cause of this I think is to 

 be found in the general diffusion of this industry and to the 

 immigration of the Flemings and French, and thereupon a 

 cheapening of the process, which countervailed the generally 

 upward tendency of all prices. 



The rise in the price of woollen cloth is not more marked, 



