IN ADVOCACY OF THE FLAX CAUSE. 



47 



exquisite ingenuity, shall, be employed in manufacturing the 

 finer articles, and become as unrivalled in the splendour of 

 their damask linen, as they now are in the elegance of their 

 shawls. Then may we expect happier times for Norwich ; and 

 shortly have to congratulate the city on the impetus given to 

 her damask trade by large orders from Windsor Castle. That 

 this will be the case I have not the slightest doubt. For as the 

 county of Norfolk intends to grow flax, the city of Norwich 

 ought to manufacture flax ; as Norfolk has formed a society to 

 promote the growth of flax, Norwich ought also to form a 

 society to promote the manufacture of flax. Gentlemen of the 

 city, your forefathers, whose pictures so thickly adorn these 

 walls^ laid the foundation of many a noble structure that tended 

 to advance the glory and interest of your ancient town. Let 

 it be your endeavour to imitate their example ; and though a 

 failure attended the recent attempt to perform a good work 

 in the erection of a yarn manufactory, you must not consider 

 that attempt as altogether frustrated, so long as the building 

 remains to be appropriated to the manufacture of flax. Gentle- 

 men of the county, the cultivation of flax will, undoubtedly, 

 occasion a partial revolution in our present system of farming; 

 but this ought rather to be a cause of congratulation than of 

 alarm ; for the ship in which we have sailed so long is about 

 to founder ; let us, therefore, l^il the present opportunity 

 of embarking in a new one. To carry out the designs of the 

 Flax Society properly and efficaciously, considerable funds 

 will be required. I think that it will take at least four 

 years before the country can be so firmly established as to do 

 without the assistance of a society. The Irish Flax Society is 

 not likely to close its labours in much less time ; and, there- 

 fore, I do not see how we, who have every thing to learn^ can 

 conclude our operations in a shorter period. But amongst 

 the numerous societies established in England, where is there 

 one that offers the prospect of concluding its labours in four 

 years ? Considering the paramount importance of our society, 

 none can be compared to it more than the shadow can be 

 compared to the substance. Ours is the machine whose main- 

 spring is labour, which sets all our institutions and societies in 

 motion. Give but work to the poor, and from their earnings 



