A, D. 1785. 95 



France, about feventy 1 

 Spain, about forty > millions fterling. 



Holland, about ten j [Obfervations fur les prin- 



•Apes de la finance par Van der Hey, p. 103.] 



This year Mr. Cort of Gofport invented a method of converting 

 pig iron into bar iron, which was fuperior to the Swedifh bar iron ; 

 an improvement in that moft important branch of manufadure, 

 which, if it could be fufficiently extended, would render this country- 

 independent of Sweden for the fupply of an article fo indifpenfibly 

 neceflary, and of which about three fourths of the quantity ufed in the 

 iron manitfaftures of this country is imported. But, as a counterpoife 

 to the beneficial effects of this improvement, I am obliged to relate, 

 that, in confequence of the fcarcity and high price of fuel, and of the 

 high price of labour, fome Englifli proprietors of iron works about this 

 rime transferred their capitals from England to Ruffia, where they 

 erefted extenfive works for rolling and flitting iron, and for tinning 

 llieet iron. So true is ir, that heavy taxes, the principal caufe of the high 

 price of labour, will devour themfelves by diminilhing the number of 

 contributors to them. Nor is that the whole of the evil : foreigners 

 are thereby inflructed in the procefs of manufactures, the fuperiority of 

 which has made Great Britain thefirft commercial nation in the world. 



The art of dying the beautiful colour, called Turkey red, upon cotton 

 was introduced this year in Glafgow by Mr. Charles Mackintofh, by 

 means of an artifl: from Rouen in France. It was foon brought to fuch 

 perfedion, that cotton pulicate handkerchefs were dyed with colours 

 equal in beauty and faftnefs to thofe of India : and in five or fix years 

 thereafter 1,500 looms were employed in that one article. So import- 

 ant a matter is the excellence of colour in manufactures depending upon 

 fancy. Glafgow claims the honour of having, firfi; of any place in 

 Great Britain, acquired the art of dying Turkey red. But it is dif- 

 puted by Manchefter in favour of Meflienrs Borells, who got a premium 

 of ^^2,500 from parliament as the introducers of the art. It is certain, 

 that Mr. Wilfon, an eminent dyer of that town, alfo obtained from the 

 Greek dyers of Smyrna the fecret of this curious dye, which he applied' 

 chiefly upon velvets and velverets ; but I do not find in what year he 

 began to pradlife it. 



Europe feems to have been infpired at this time with a general fpirit 

 of improvement, which may perhaps in fome degree have been the 

 effed of the war, which brings people of different nations of thofe clafles, 

 who do not move from home in time of peace, to mix together, whereby 

 they have opportunities of remarking the improvements and advantages, . 

 unknown, but attainable, in their own countries. 



In the year 1784 a canal was begun in Spain, which was intended to 

 effed; a communication between the Bay of Bifcay and the Mediterranean . 



