1798. ] 
dered much cheaper than formerly. Ex- 
cluded in a large degree from a fhare in 
the trade of this kingdom, our merchant- 
manufacturers did not fit down fupinely, 
without making an effort for compenfat- 
ing in fome other way the lofs which they 
had fuftained. The correfpondence which 
they had begun on the continent, they 
now extended to every point of tae com- 
pafs : by fending their fons to be educated 
in Germany, Spain, and Italy, they quali- 
fied* them for the execution of their plans, 
and at the fame time cultivated a more fa- 
miliar connection with thofe countries. 
Their travellers penetrated through Eu- 
rope, and their pattern-cards were exhi- 
bited in every principal town, from the 
frozen plains of Mofcow, to the milder 
climes of Lifbon, Seville, and Naples. 
The Rufs peafant decorated himlelf with 
his fafh of gaudy Callimanco ; and the 
Spanifh Hidalgo was fheltered under his 
light cloak of Norwich Camblett. The 
introduétion of their articles into Spain, 
Italy, Poland, and Ruffia, foon made 
the manufacturers ample amends for the 
capricioufnels of fafhion in their own 
country. The tafte of foreign nations 
was now confulted ; the gravity of the 
Spaniard was fuited in his plain, but fine- 
textured camblett, the loom was taught 
to imitate the handy-works of Flora, and 
the moft garifh affemblage of colours of 
every dye, fatisfied the vanity of the Sua- 
bian and Bohemian female. ‘The great 
fairs of Frankfort, Leipfic, and of Sa- 
Jerno, were thronged with purchafers of 
thefe commodities, which were unfuccefs- 
fully imitated by the manufacturers of 
Saxony. Norwich was now crouded 
- with its looms; every winter’s evening 
exhibited to the traveller entering its 
walls, the appearance of a general illu- 
‘Mination: from twenty miles around, the 
village weavers reforted to it with the 
produce of their looms; and though the 
diftaff and the fpinning-wheel, throughout 
Norfolk and Suffolk, were inceflantly 
plied, yet the produce was inadequate to 
the demand. It became neceflary to in- 
creafe the importation of bay yarn from 
Ireland, of which tnore was annually 
confumed here, than, but a few years be- 
fore, was imported into all England. 
From + cridian of its profperity, this 
manufactory began to fhew fymptons of 
declenfion before we entered upon this 

* A qualific:tion for the compting-hou‘e, 
is not ali that has. been derived from this 
education: we a:e indebted to it, for fome 
of our moft elegant and faithful tranflacions 
from the Gernian. 
Hiftory of Norwich Manufactures. 
415 
war, which has fo effeétually ruined it ; 
yet, ina tolerable trade, it was eftimated, 
that about fifty thoufand tods of wool, 
chiefly of the growth of Lincolnfhire, 
were combed and {pun in the county of 
Norfolk, which employed about ive hun- 
dred combers, and furnifhed f{pinning- 
work for moft of the poor women and 
children in the county. Befides this, 
great quantities of yarn were brought 
from all the neighbouring counties, and 
at that time, even from Scctland, 
Some years ago, the returns of the ma- 
nufactory were eftimated to be about 
1,200,000l, per annum ; at prefent, when 
the merchant is fhut out from moft of his 
foreign markets by war, and from his 
own by fafhion, they muft fall very much 
below this eftimate: but, fuppofing them 
to be only 800,000], the price of labour 
beftowed or them will be 685,o0o00l. 
whilft the value of the raw mate- 
rial, cying ftuff, oil, foap, and coals, 
will be only 115,000. This manufa¢ture 
furnifhes about fifty diftinét occupations, 
reckoning from the fheep-fhearer to the 
mariner, who takes charge of the bales ; 
and, ina full trade, not fewer thana hun- | 
dred thoufand hands are employed in its 
different branches. Its importance will 
be fufficiently apparent, when we reflect 
how much the value of the raw material 
is increafed by labour, and that this price 
is drawn from foreigners, fer the main- 
tenance of our poor. Compared with 
this, what are the national advantages of 
the fale of 800,0001. worth of coffee or 
fugar, in Hambro’ or Lubeck? The fta- 
ple articles of Norwich may be faid to 
be its fine camblettst, and its worfted 
damafks, and flowered fatins, though the 
latter, by the introduétion of much zxfe- 
rior bed-furniture, are falling into difufe. 
The Eaft India company give annually 
their orders for a confiderable quantity of 
our fine cambletts ; and during the torpor 
of the Spanifh and Italian trades, this 
circumftance has greatly alleviated the 
diftrefles of the poor. 
Norwich, Nov. 8, 1798. ee 
egy 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
PICTURE OF VERSAILLES SINCE THE 
REVOLUTION. 
By DocToR MEYER. 
Y O where does the viciflitude of hu- 
N man affairs, and the inanity of 
iublunary greatnels, appear in a more 

ft The laft edition of Guthrie fticks to 
the moft ancient reports, and makes Norwich 
to manufacture ftockings and Dornecks. 
ftriking 
