A. D. 1769. 489 



A conflderable quantity of coarfe linen made for private ufe from 

 flax raifed in the country. 



Some worded ilockings knit by the women, and fonie hnfy-woolfy 

 fluffs. 



A coarfe kind of earthen ware for milk pans, &c. 



Some leather, very indifferently tanned witli hcmlock-fprucc, for 

 making mocaffms (a kind of fhocs), for which purpofe large quantities 

 of American tanned leather are imported from the other colonies, the 

 Britifli leather being too ftrong, and too dear. 



About 400,000 pounds of bar iron, made at the forges of St. Mau- 

 rice. 



Iron ware for the mod common ufes, and alfo edge tools, axes, and 

 hatchers, for the confumption of the country, and for the Indians. 



Pearl-afh and pot-afli were made for about two years preceding this 

 tirne, but hitherto with little fuccefs. With proper enco iragement 

 they might become important articles of commerce, as might alfo hemp 

 and flax. 



A diflillery of rum from melaffes, newiy edabliflied at Qixebec, was 

 expected to lave confiderable fums, hitherto fent to New-England and 

 New-York, and alfo to introduce a direct trade with the Weft-Indies. 



Such were the manufadlures of this province ; far beneath the jea- 

 loufy of Britifh manufadurers. But in the difcontented provinces they 

 were much more confiderable *. 



Augufl 17''' — The fl(Hirifhing ifland of Antigua was greatly diftreffed 

 by a fire, which almoft reduced to aflics the town of St. John's, the 

 capital. The damage was eftinrated at ^400,000. 



The Eaft-India company had now been for fome time engaged in a 

 harallin^ and expenfive war with Hyder Aly, a foldier of fortune, who 

 by fuperior talents, and the affiftance of European officers in difciplin- 

 ing his armies, had raifed himfelf from a low ftation to be the Sove- 

 reign of a great and rich territory in the fouth part of India. The 

 company's fervants in India were chai'ged with having wantonly rufhed 

 into this war to ferve their own private ends, to the dilgrace of the Brit- 

 ifli name, and the ruin of the intereft of their employers committed 

 to their charge ; and they were moreover faid to have conducted it 

 more like a lucrative job than a regular fj-ftem of warfare. General 

 Smith's hands being tied up by this plan of mifcondud, Hyder, by a 

 * judicious and rapid movement, entered the territories of the nabob of 

 Arcot, the faithful ally of the company ; and, after pouring out his venge- 

 ance againft him, he prefcntcd himfelf in great force within feven 

 miles of Madras, whereby he was enabled to dictate the terms of a peace 

 CO the government of that prefidency, and to compell them to lay theii* 



• A more general aci;a«nt nl American nunufjclurct will be given under the yf«r i»7{. 



Vol. III. i Q^ 



