( " ) 



and Ireland, but by far the greater proportion is 

 ufed in Britain. 



The woollen manufadlory is principally confined 

 to Kettering, and its neighbourhood. This ma- 

 nufadure was in the higheft perfedion it has ever 

 attained at the beginning of the prefent war. A 

 very confiderable nuitiber of perfons were employ- 

 ed, in the diiferent branches of it, at that time. It 

 is difficult to form any probable guefs at the num- 

 ber ; but perhaps from 5000 to 6000 would not be 

 an extravagant calculation. At prefent, not more 

 than one half of the number of perfons are em- 

 ployed in it. . The wool, in the firft inftance, is 

 bought by the manufacturers of the growers, or far- 

 mers in the neighbourhood. It then undergoes a 

 very minute aflbrtment ; and the different kinds of 

 wool, which are found in every fleece, are appro- 

 priated to fupply the proper markets, in the differ- 

 ent parts of the kingdom where they are refpedive- 

 ly manufadured. Thus, for inflance, the coarfelt,. 

 or long-ftapled wool, is fent into Yorkfliire, where it 

 is made into broad cloths and flannels ; the finelf , 

 or fliort-ftapled, is referved for the home manufaftory, 

 for the purpofe of being made into tammys ; and 

 fome of the moll inferior of the laft defcribed wool, 

 is likewifc confumed here in making calamancoes, 

 and everlaftings. After the wool is ibrted, and the 

 different kinds are affigned, to the refpedlive pur- 

 pofes for which they are befl adapted; that which 

 is intended to be manufactured at home, is combed, 

 and then delivered out, in fmall quantities, to the 

 lower clafs of people in the neighbourhood, to be 

 fpun and reeled, for which they are paid fo much 

 per pound, according to the finenefs of the thread 

 into which it is converted ; it is then returned 

 home to the manufacturer, who has it wove into 

 fuch kind of fluft' as the quality of the thread will 

 belt anfwer. As foon as the goods are completed, they. 



are 



