178 



DICKSON ON THE 



being retted, but in his wisdom he doubts the practicability 

 of making any further advance, and concludes by remarking 

 that, 'for fine linen or cambric purposes, we must still 

 adhere to the old method of decomposition by steeping, or 

 as it is termed, retting,' and adds that, c I may be like 

 other inventors, too sanguine in my ability to perform what 

 I propose.'* I now confidently hope that such views, so 

 freely expressed, but in entire ignorance of my system, 

 will not prevent the leading journals of Great Britain and 

 Ireland from ascertaining and reporting on the absolute 

 facts ; for, as it is now well known that we are at a loss 

 for paper material, and a reference to the Leeds Mercury 

 and the Times of the 21st instant will convince even the 

 most sceptical of our want of fibres for spinning purposes, 

 I confidently anticipate that the powerful assistance of the 

 press will not be solicited in vain, when it is known we 

 can produce in Great Britain and Ireland, and import 

 from our Indian possessions an abundance of fibre^ superior 

 in strength and fineness to Russian Flax or hemp, and 

 consequently adapted for all kinds of spinning purposes, 

 thus leaving Russia to find another market for her hemp 

 and Flax than England. 



u In the first place, I must respectfully inform the editor 

 of the Mark Lane Express that the Flax subject, whether 

 it be on its cultivation, selection, spinning or weaving, I am, 

 after twenty- five years' practical knowledge, tolerably well 

 acquainted with, and having reduced my theory to practice, 

 I am able to supersede the difficulty, the besetting sin of all 

 inventors, which he thinks applicable to my patent as well 

 as to others, and in oider that he, conjointly with others 

 of your readers, may know the cause of my success, I 



* The editors of the Morning Herald and BelVs Messenger can inform the 

 Mark Lane Express editor as to my ability to perform what I propose, as both 

 gentlemen saw my several machines at work. 



