368 Common Sheep* 



clothing are as essential to the demands, support, and comfort, of 

 man, as varieties and plenty of food. Fine wool is only suitable 

 for certain fabrics, which are within the pecuniary ability of the 

 less portion of the community. Yet fine v/ool should be an object 

 of great consideration ; and every encouragement should be given 

 to breeds producing it. But ali classes of our people, whether 

 rich or poor, require, in whole or in part, the fabrics which 

 fine wool will not make. Even the Merino^ when mixed with 

 the better kinds of common wool, works more advantageously ; 

 both for the manufacturer and the fabric. 



Let any one inquire of those who have had, and of those who 

 now have, the providing of supplies of clothing, blankets, S^c. for 

 our troops, (if he be not satisfied with his own experience,) relative 

 to the fact of scarcity of coarse wool, and the fabrics composed of 

 it. He will find, that those articles are difficult to be obtained ; 

 beyond all comparison with those made from fine wool. A large 

 contract for coarse woollens, for the army, was offered to the pro- 

 prietor of an extensive manufacturing establishment. It was refu- 

 sed ; not only on account of the greater profit on fine cloths ; but 

 because the raw material for the coarse goods, could not be profit- 

 ably or easily obtained. The scarcity of animal wool, has forced 

 the incompetent substitute of cotton ; wheresoever it can, in any 

 tolerable degree, answer the purposes required. 



I am aware that no inconsiderable portion of wool is withheld, 

 from the market, by household manufactures ; — a most com- 

 mendable mode of employing it. But it does not follow, that all 

 this is coarse wool. On the contrary, we know, that country peo- 

 ple have a laudable pride in devoting their finest and best fleeces to 

 their own use. Household manufactures may have increased, 

 (owing to the present state of things,) beyond their usual standard. 

 If so, it is a most desirable and fortunate event. Such manufac- 

 tures deduct no labour from agriculture ; nor are they subject to 

 the objections, vicissitudes, and expense, attendant on large manu- 

 facturing establishments. Nevertheless it must be apparent, that 

 articles requiring the coarser wools, either for household or other 

 manufiictures, will continue to be more and more scarce, in p. j- 



