A. D. 1785. 81 



parts of Ireland in the lad three or four years by the fpirited exertions 

 of individuals, and the Ubcral encouragement of the parliament *. 



The rapid increafe in the number of fpinning engines, which took 

 place in confequence of the expiration of Arkwright's patent, forms a 

 new cera, not only in manufadiures and commerce, but alfo in the drefs 

 of both fexes. The common ufe of lilk, if it were only to be worn, 

 while it retains its luftre, is proper only for ladies of ample fortune. 

 And yet women of almo ft all ranks affe(5ted to wear it : and many in 

 the lower clafles of the middle ranks of fociety diftrelTed their huf- 

 bands, parents, and brothers, to procure that expenfive finery. Neither 

 was a handfome cotton gown attainable by women in humble circum- 

 ftances ; and thence the cottons were mixed with linen yarn to reduce 

 their price. But now cotton yarn is cheaper than linen yarn ; and cot- 

 ton goods are very much ufed in place of cambrics, lawns, and other 

 expenfive fabrics of flax ; and they have almoft totally fuperfeded the 

 filks. Women of all ranks, from the higheft to the loweft, are clothed 

 in Britifh manufadures of cotton, from the muflin cap on the crown of 

 the head to the cotton ftocking under the fole of the foot. The in- 

 genuity of the calico-printers has kept pace with the ingenuity of the 

 weavers and others concerned in the preceding ftages of the manufac- 

 ture, and produced patterns of printed goods, which for elegance of 

 drawing exceed every thing that ever was imported, and for durability 

 of colour generally fland the wafhing fo well, as to appear frefh and 

 new every time they are wafhed, and give an air of neatnefs and clean- 

 linefs to the wearer beyond the elegance of lilk in the firft frefhnefs of 

 its tranfitory luftre. But even the moft elegant prints are excelled by 

 the fuperior beauty and virgin purity of the muflins, the growth and 

 the manufacture of the Britifli dominions. 



With the gentlemen cotton ftufFs for waiftcoats have almoft fuperfed- 

 ed woollen cloths, and filk ftufFs, I believe entirely : and they have the 

 advantage, like the ladies' gowns, of having a new and frefh appearance 

 every time they are wafhed. Cotton ftockings have alio become very 

 general for fummer wear, and have gained ground very much upon filk 

 ftockings, which are too thin for our climate, and too expenfive for 

 common wear for people of middling circumftances. 



April 14"' — We have feen the Eaft-Lidia trade of France laid open 

 in Auguft 1769, and the company reduced in January 1770 to a fet of 

 mere holders of government funds. A new company was again eftab- 

 lifhed, and vefted with the privilege of an exclufive trade to all countries 

 beyond the Cape of Good Hope, except the Ifle of France and its de- 

 pendencies, for feven years, in which term years of war were not to be 



* ' One perfon in Dublin within three years ' ahove 50 fpinning jinnies for woo!.' \_Lord 

 ' [preceding 1784] made 95 carding machines, SheffiiU on the maniifaiiurcs of I'-chtnd, p. 197, third 

 ' 394 fpinning jennies for 70 threads each, and ' ed.l • 



Vol. IV. L 



