COTTON. 49 



Besides -which there was exported the following 

 quantity of cotton twist, or spun yarn : 



Ibs. weight, Value. 

 4 >549,219 390,344 

 To the East-India islands, Sumatra, &c. 37,836 2,790 



To all which must be added an exportation of 

 hosiery and small wares, making in value ,44,482. 



It forms no part of our present object to describe 

 the processes used for spinning and weaving. We 

 cannot, however, refrain from giving the following 

 fact to exemplify the celerity with which manufac- 

 turing operations are now conducted in this country. 

 The proprietor of a cotton factory in Manchester, 

 having recently obtained an order for the shipment 

 of some goods of a particular description, purchased 

 ten bales of cotton of suitable quality in Liverpool. 

 On their arrival in Manchester, they were received 

 into the highest floor of his works, and thence pro- 

 ceeding regularly downwards, underwent all the 

 intermediate processes of carding, spinning, and 

 weaving until, in ten days from their reception, the 

 finished goods into which they were converted were 

 packed in bales and proceeding again to Liverpool 

 for shipment. 



When, in 1787, spinning machinery was first 

 erected, one pound of Demerara cotton could be spun 

 into yarn one hundred and sixty miles in length* ; 

 since that period great improvements have been made 

 in this machinery, and yarn is now spun having a still 

 greater degree of fineness. 



* Macpherson, 



