APPENDIX. XXI 



COPY OF LETTERS FROM TWO OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE 

 SPINNING AND MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN YORKSHIRE, 

 WHO HAVE SPUN INDIAN RHEEA FIBRE, PREPARED BY 

 J. HILL DICKSON'S PATENT, ON COTTON MACHINERY. 



Dean Clough Mills, Halifax, 



Mr. J. Hill Dickson, May 31st, 1862. 



SIR, We have tried the bag of rheea fibre, and find we could use it in large 

 quantities, if it could be had at a suitable price. 



We are, Sir, yours respectfully, 

 (Signed) JOHN CROSSLEY & SONS. 



[It cost the patentee 6d. per Ib. when made suitable for being spun on cotton 

 machinery.] 



Flush Mills, Heckmondwicke, 



Mr. Riches. July 29th, 1862. 



DEAR SIR, The writer only returned home to-day, after several days* 

 absence, in the meantime yours of the 22nd and 26th are to hand. 



The results of our experiments satisfied us as to the rheea being useable into 

 low blankets, and we send you one per rail. It is made from one-quarter rheea, 

 but the blanket finishes coarser than wool only it makes it coarser in 

 appearance, whilst cotton makes it finer. It is so tough also, that in raising 

 the nap it has driven somewhat, as you will see by looking through. If it 

 could be split up finer, it would allow of its being used with finer wool, and 

 the fault in running we could get over by a different plan of treating it, we 

 believe. 



The writer had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Dickson in Liverpool last week, 

 and expected to have heard from him when he came forward into Yorkshire, 

 which he was purposing doing. 



When you are in a position to offer anything, we should be glad to hear 

 from you. 



We are, Dear Sir, yours truly, 

 (Signed) EDWIN FIRTH & SONS. 



The rheea supplied to Messrs. Firth and Sons was only half prepared; had it 

 been combed, it would have been three times as fine, therefore there is no diffi- 

 culty to be got over. It was prepared for worsted spinners, and not prepared 

 by the cottonizing liquid, by which it is made as soft as cotton. 



Mr. Bazley, M.P. for Manchester, the most active spinner 



of cotton in that city, in favour of having a supply of cotton 



independant of America, thought it impossible that I could have 



my rheea or such fibre spun on cotton machinery, and wrote me 



2 c 



