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36 . A. D. 1760. 



of exactly the fame dimenfions, lying in the mill-pond above, thus by a 

 fucceflion of boats avoiding the neceflity of locks. This fcheme was, 

 however, difapproved of by the advocates for the navigation by locks; 

 and it totally failed afterwards, and almoft ruined thofc concerned in it. 



The improvement and embellilhment of the principal feats of com- 

 nierce furnilh llrong proofs of advancing national profpcrity. There- 

 for the capital improvements of London, and of the other great trad- 

 ing towns in the Britifli dominions, will be briefly noticed in this 

 work * : and among thefc the new bridge over the Thames at Black- 

 friars may claim a pre-eminence in point of accommodation and orna- 

 ment. The foundation ftone of this elegant ftru<5lure was laid by Sir 

 Thomas Chitty, lord mayor of London (Odober 31^.); and under it 

 were placed feveral gold, filver, and copper, coins of the late king (in 

 whofe reign it was planned) and a filver medal, which the architedl, 

 Mr. Robert Mylne, had obtained in the year 1758, as a prize due to 

 his archite<ft:ural abilities, in Rome. As a teflimony of their refped for 

 the great merit of" the prime minifler, the citizens gave it the name 

 of Pitt's bridge : but that name has never come into general ufe, and it 

 is univerfally known by the name oi Blackfriar's bridge. 



At the fame time a very great number of flreets in almofl every part 

 of the city were widened, by the total removal of fonie houfes, and re- 

 building others. 



The progrefs of the linen manufadure in Scotland may be judged of 

 from the following Ilatement of the number of yards and value of the 

 linen ftamped for fale in the following years. 



in V 



alue. 



A very large quantity of linen of the finer qualities, which is made 

 in mofi; families for private ufe, is not ftamped. hi ieveral fhires the 

 quantity of it is probably not lefs than equal to the half of what is made 

 for fale, and ftamped. 



But all this linen, made in the whole kingdom of Scotland, is confi- 

 <IerablY inferior in value to the ivoollen cloth manufadured in the weft 

 riding of York-fliire only. 



Some manufadures of a more advantageous nature were now begin- 

 ning to arife in Scotland, efpecially in the towns and villages within the 

 influence of the fpiritcd and commercial city of Glafgow, among which 

 Paifley was the fooneft diftinguiftied for the induftry and ingenuity of its 

 jnanufadurers. Bengals (imitations of ftriped muflins) handkerchefs, 



• As only capital or cfTcntidl improvements will be noticed, the reader will not be troubled with the 

 petty detail of ever)- ?.&. for paving or lighting a ftreet, removing an olTcnfive houfc, or the like. 



