XVlll APPENDIX. 



EXHIBITION OF LOCAL INDUSTBY, LEEDS. 



SEPTEMBER, 1858. 



As I was the first to cause bales of Indian rheea and other 

 fibres, prepared by my patented inventions, to be exhibited in 

 Yorkshire, I felt annoyed by the conduct of the editor of the 

 " Leeds M ercury," by a very ' partial report that appeared in 

 that journal, all in favour of one firm, as exhibitors, just as if 

 no other of the numerous exhibitors had anything worthy of the 

 notice of the much lamented Prince Consort, who countenanced 

 by his visit the undertaking, and I published through other 

 journals the following letter and the reply. 



5, Bishopgate Street, Leeds, 9th September, 1858. 



SIR, As I am an exhibitor in the department over which you preside in the 

 " Exhibition of Local Industry," I beg leave to draw your attention to a report 

 in this day's " Mercury " of the Prince Consort's visit, which report, in my 

 humble opinion, is partial and very unfair, not only as regards myself, but also 

 as regai'ds Messrs. Tatham, Titley, and "Walker ; Messrs. Holdsworth and Co. ; 

 Messrs. Hives and Atkinson, whose yarns are on Mr. Pegler's stall ; Messrs. 

 Booth and Co., whose linens are also on the same stall, and Mr. Boyle, who has 

 superior and much finer cloth than Messrs. Marshall and Co., can produce. I 

 am inclined to think that the above-named firms will not submit to the 

 " Mercury " selecting Messrs. Marshall and Co. as the only exhibitors of linens 

 and yarns ; and I shall feel obliged if you will be so kind as to inform me 

 whether the Prince Consort's attention had been directed to my case of Indian 

 fibres, and the yarns and cloth made from them, all of which I had reason to 

 hope would have been placed before the Prince Consort, because of their being 

 the only specimens from our Indian empire in the exhibition, and may be had 

 one-third cheaper than Flax. Your answer will oblige, 



Your obedient servant, 

 J. HILL DICKSON. 



J. C. Knight, Esq., 39, Briggate, Leeds. 



P.S. The card enclosed describes what I have in the exhibition, and the 

 index shows that I have the honour of the Prince Consort's patronage, and 

 also the East India Company's, towards promoting my object of free cir- 

 culation in India, of instructions on the preparation of Indian fibres. J.H.D. 



'. 39-, Briggate, Leeds, 9th September, 1858. 

 SIR, I am in receipt of your favour of this day, and having communicated 



