OE JUTE AND RHEEA SPINNING. 



295 



The falling off in the imports of Flax, and the great 

 increase of jute into the trade of Dundee, for mixing and 

 spinning with Flax, caused me to urge the fact on the notice 

 and consideration of the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; when 



I wrote him (Mr. W. E. Gladstone) 0*11 the 14th of December, 

 1863, pointing out the advantage of having the Rheea fibre 

 introduced into the industry of Lancashire in place of 

 cotton — as it, like the jute in Dundee, would soon take a 

 leading position in that district — and I gave him additional 

 evidence, by quoting the words spoken to me by the late Sir 

 W. Brown, Bart., of Liverpool, " That such new fibres along 

 with Flax and hemp would tend, if introduced, to the revolu- 

 tionising the trade of Liverpool by my cottonizing process." 

 But although Mr. Gladstone was an early disciple or convert 

 to the . teaching of the late Sir R. Peel, whose policy was 



I I buy in the cheapest, and sell in the dearest markets," the 

 cheap Rheea fibre at 6d. to 8d. per pound, in place of cotton 

 at 2s. per pound, to make clothing for the British army in 

 India, and also the Indian army, was not thought worthy of 

 the notice of the finance minister. See his answer : — - 



"11, Downing Street, Whitehall. 

 "December, 18th, 1863. 

 " Sir— I am desired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer 

 to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, and 

 I am to say that the subject to which it refers is a matter not 

 within his province. 



' ' I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 

 (Signed) "CHARLES L. RYAN. 



"Mr. J. H. Dickson," 



I sent with the letter of the 13th the yarns and twilled 

 cloth spun and woven on cotton machinery ; an article superior 

 in strength and appearance to any cotton cloth ever made for 

 trowser stuff for the army in a hot climate, and the parcel 

 was returned to me unopened, although I took care to say in 



