368 



DICKSON ON 



spinning-wheel " clothed our people for centuries, before the 

 self-acting mules were thought of in Manchester, and the 

 mule-like obstinate temper and practice of cotton spinners 

 in drawing their greatest supply from one* country and over- 

 looking our Indian empire and colonies, has caused an 

 unexpected and ''a heavy blow and great discouragement " 

 to the trade of Lancashire, where the peaceable and 

 praiseworthy operatives, are still suffering in thousands. 

 However, as their brethren in the spinning trade of Flax 

 in Ulster have wisely kept in view the teachings of 1 ' Swift," 

 and pulled in harmony with the landowners and farmers in 

 that happy and prosperous province, the trade of which, as 

 reported at . the close of the year, has never been so flourish- 

 ing, let us more seriously consider from such facts, and the 

 wisdom of Swift, so thoroughly proved, whether we should not 

 at once commence the work of producing from our own soil 

 at home, as much as is in our own power, of Flax, as in my 

 humble opinion, it is contributing to the misery of the 

 operatives of Lancashire to continue importing cotton at such 

 outrageously high prices, from a country whose ports are shut 

 agaiust us, to the ruin of factory owners as well as their 

 working people ; for as I am prepared to show, the owners 

 of the twenty-two cotton mills that are closed in Preston, — 

 which deprives 10,800 operatives from work, that Flax can be 

 had in thousands of tons and prepared sufficiently soft and 

 fine, and made the proper length for the existing cotton- 

 spinning machinery, without alterations, but that of a trifling 

 nature as to expense ; the fault will be their own if material 

 from 6d. to 9d. per lb. will not stir them up to more patriotic 

 feeling. 



" As there has always been a prejudice against the intro- 

 duction of new material, lest alterations in machinery may be 

 required ; and alpaca, which is now a great trade, shared the 

 prejudice until the fortunate Mr. Salt worked it successfully, 



