RI1EEA, FLAX, AND HEMP, IN PLACE OF COTT ON. 173 



certainty of a supply in Europe and our colonies, inde- 

 pendent of America, as with our supply of cotton from 

 India, Egypt, &c., <c., we could keep our spindles and 

 looms at work, by the introduction of my prepared fibres 

 into sheeting, shirtings, &c,, if we never imported a bale of 

 American cotton; and as thousands of tons of the material 

 can be had in from one to three months to give employment 

 to the praiseworthy but distressed operatives, who no doubt 

 would sooner work for half the former wages, at this moment, 

 than become degraded by having their names enrolled on the 

 lists of mendicants, the question is, is not this the time to 

 try and revolutionize the manufactures of Lancashire, and 

 by such additional material crush the supremacy of cotton as an 

 only article to depend on. I have the opinion of one of the 

 most extensive merchants in Liverpool, Mr. W. Brown (after 

 seeing my specimens), in favour of such views, and liberty 

 to refer to that eminent gentleman on my calling and 

 explaining my mission to Liverpool. 



The late Sir William Brown's note of invitation to call 

 on him was before I had my material spun on cotton 

 machinery, and he told me he had just heard, that cotton 

 spinners in the United States of America had been trying 

 with success to spin the wild Flax of the prairies on their 

 cotton machinery, and added, if I succeeded in having my 

 prepared Rheea, Flax, and Hemp, and such fibres as I 

 showed him spun on cotton machinery, I should lay a founda- 

 tion by the introduction of such material which must revolu- 

 tionize the trade of Lancashire, and as such were his views, 

 I might make use of his name and expressed opinion on 

 the subject, if it would be of any service in the object 

 I had in view of forming a company, as owing to his advanced 

 age and being retired from business, he could not do more 

 than answer letters, which he would be happy to do in my 

 favour, and on parting wished me success, On my return 



