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forced forward. The cutting edge of the plane was formed 
by the sharp angle of the upper and under surfaces, which 
severed the rough surface of the wood by its oblique 
motion. 
It is obvious that the ancient Britons could not get over 
the obstruction of constant fracture in a straight thin flint 
edge if forced forward over a rough surface ; and, therefore, 
they adopted the angular oblique edge, which overcame the 
difficulty. I do not imagine that this implement could have 
been so efficient as the modern application of the square 
scraper; but it is evident that we are indebted entirely to 
the power of resistance of steel for the efficient work 
performed by the modern plane, and in point of scientific 
arrangement the oblique angular edge was not less ingenious 
than the subsequent application of the scraper, and the 
principle involved is the same in both implements. 
CLOTHING. 
It has been ascertained that a coarse texture of flaxen 
cloth had been fabricated at a very early period, and before 
the sheep had been imported into Britain ; but the skin of 
the wolf was still worn by the people, with its warm fur 
next to their skin, to shield them from the inclement climate ; 
and if skin clothing was commonly worn, it would be 
surprising if we could only find the implements with which 
the raw skin of the wild animals were prepared for use. I 
have found amongst the flint relics at Bridlington two sets of 
implements, that appear to me to have been employed in the 
manufacture of skin clothing. One of these is a variety of 
sharp-pointed flints, which I consider were used for making 
small holes in the skins, to pass a thread of some kind 
through, to fasten the skins and difierent parts of the 
garments together. The other implements were apparently 
formed to press the seams after they were sewn, and I have 
