406 O F QJJ ADRUPEDS. 



The jlice fixed upon for a cloath-manufadure was Langitedoc, 

 where it was carried on with vigour, by a royal fund eftabliflied 

 for that purpofe, after the example of our great King Ed-ward 

 III. Cloath, in Lewis's time, was made from about g s. to ios. a 

 French ell. It has fmce that period been made at that and other 

 places in France of a greater finenefs, from IQJ. to 14 s. an ell, 

 and upwards ; much like our Cloitceftetfaire-cloaths, 7 quarters 

 wide. 



Various trials and experiments have been made both in France 

 and Flanders to have wool as fine and as good as our's, for the fa- 

 ;bric of their cloaths and fturlV.. All their efforts have proved in- 

 effectual, owing, as is thought, to the herbage, and the night-air 

 in winter. The wool of Engli/Jj fheep carried over, and fed upon 

 their beft herbage, has been, better the firft year, but afterwards 

 grew worfe and worfe, like their own. This was tried on the 

 beft ground between Dunkirk, and Graveling, in France, and by a 

 nobleman * at Belifle, in Flanders, twenty miles from Mentz. The 

 only way in Flanders of keeping the wool of their own fheep 

 from degenerating, is by houfing them in the night, in winter. 

 The fhepherd has a moveable houfe, drawn at pleafure on two 

 wheels after the Iheep, being their companion, with his little 

 clog, night and day. 



Thofe people then, and other foreigners, having no fine comb- 

 ing-wool of their own, how come they by it for their numerous 

 manufactures, which cannot be carried on without it ? This 

 .queftion is fitteft to be refolved by thofe, in whofe power alone 

 it is to provide a remedy, and to fecure to Britain this its indige- 

 nous treafure, preferable to all the mines of India, which, if 



* Prince De/oign. 



enjoyed 



