Thomas Henry. 117 



France, Spain, and Holland. Contrary to every reason- 

 able expectation, the manufactures of Manchester were not 

 affected by the war to any great and alarming degree, and 

 they still found their way by various channels to almost 

 every market where they had been usually sold. By 

 casting our eyes on the bills of mortality for those years, 

 we find the population of the towns greatly advancing, 

 and, what is a pleasing circumstance, especially consider- 

 ing the number of men of which they were drained for the 

 supply of his Majesty's fleets and armies, we see a striking 

 superiority of the births over the burials. 



' On the happy event of the restoration of peace, the 

 influx of inhabitants was surprisingly greater. Multitudes 

 of men who had served abroad or in our provincial regi- 

 ments at home, now returned into the country, and the 

 success of the opposition which was made to the monopoly 

 of the cotton machines, drew from various quarters large 

 recruits of people. During the last three years the number 

 of our christenings has been much augmented, but though 

 they still maintain a majority, yet I am sorry to observe 

 that the list of burials, when compared with those of the 

 three preceding years, is more than proportionably en- 

 larged. A contagious fever has proved very destructive, 

 and its virulence has been probably increased by the 

 crowded and uncleanly manner in which the poorer people 

 have been lodged, owing to the want of houses to accommo- 

 date them ; for though many have been erected, yet 

 several causes have contributed to restrain the spirit of 

 building. During the war, the high price of timber was a 

 considerable obstacle, and since the peace, the frosts, which 

 were for two years together very intense, and continued till 

 the spring was far advanced, have prevented the making 



