RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE HOSIERY MANUFACTURE. 89 



have been very largely increased by the greater number and speed of 

 the power machinery employed. The entire returns of the trade of this 

 country in hosiery, which in the reports of the Exhibition of 1851 

 were stated to be 3,600,000/., amounted in the last average year 1860 to 

 6,480,000/., consisting of materials, 2,630,000/., and wages, finishing 

 expenses, and profits, 3,850,000/. This great increase has been in 

 the lower and medium classes of goods. The trade in shirts and 

 drawers has progressed with surprising rapidity. In many of these 

 things the materials constitute from five-eighths to three-fourths of the 

 entire cost. 



How much of this return is consumed at hom e, and what may have 

 been our exports, it is hard to say. The Custom-house returns of 

 exports, whether of hosiery or lace, are so much below the mark as to 

 be useless. The export of hosiery from this country has certainly 

 increased considerably to most parts of the world since 1851. The 

 most steadily enlarging markets have been our colonies of India, Aus- 

 tralia, Canada, and the Cape of Good Hope. The demand for our 

 hosiery under the French treaty has fallen far short of general expecta- 

 tion. The duties and expenses are too heavy to admit of competition 

 in France, with French manufacturers. 



Were the whole of our actual production consumed at home, it 

 would only be 4s. a year for each individual of the population. If 

 cotton and animal wool be regularly obtained, in sufficient quantities 

 and at moderate prices, this entire trade may double itself in the next 

 ten years, as it has done in the last. 



It is gratifying to observe the advance made in the physical condi- 

 tion of the work-people in this trade. The worn and anxious counte- 

 nances by which these men were during the first half of this century 

 easily distinguishable, are only seen among the relics of the past gene- 

 ration of stocking-makers. They now know their rights ; but, contrary 

 to the practice of former evil times, employ only peaceful means to 

 obtain them. Of late, disputes have not often occurred, and have been 

 in most cases settled by joint arbitration of the masters and the men. 

 During the commercial crisis through which this business has been 

 passing in the last year, (1862), tranquility and good feeling have pre- 

 vailed, though the privations have in many cases been severe. These 

 are hopeful signs of future profit and satisfaction both to employers 

 and employed, as well as to the communities dependent on their opera- 

 tions. With our brother manufacturers abroad we trust our rivalry 

 will a] ways be amicable, and even mutually advantageous, increasing 

 the usefulness and excellence of the articles produced by each, and 

 issuing in enlarged demand from us all for labour, and securing fair 

 profits from its employment. 



Gloves. — The manufacture of gloves is principally carried on in the 

 towns of Worcester, London, Yeovil, and Milborne Port. In Wood- 

 stock and Witney the gloves made are what are known as beaver — viz., of 

 buck and doe leather for military and hunting purposes. In Hexham 



