1798.] Prefent State of Commerce, Manufaétures, &3c. 49% 
: MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT. 
FARLY in the month, the Merchants, who have for feveral years paft had in contempla- 
tion a plan for removing the prefent inconveniencies of the Port of London, by the tor~ 
mation of Wet Docks at Wapping, petitioned parliament for leave to bring in bill for this 
purpofe; and a few days after, a petition was prefented by the corporation, with a view to 
the fame object, by making a navigable canal or paflage acrofs the Tle of Dogs, trom Black- 
wall to Limehoufe, purchafing the mooring-chains in the river, which are moftly private 
property, and appointing harbour-matters to regulate the navigating and mooring of veflcls 
in the port; they alfo propofe to make Wet Docks in fome part of the Ifle of Dogs, for the 
reception and difcharge of the Weft India fhipping. The latter part of the plan has, how- 
ever, been taken up by a number of Weft India merchants and planters, diftin& from thofe 
firft mentioned, and they propofe carrying it into execution, either alone, or in conjunétion 
with the other improvements projeéted by the corporation, cenceiving that no {pot fo eligible 
as the Ifle of Dogs can be found within the fame diftance from the Cuftom-houfe, and where 
the whole of the Weft India trade can, at a moderate expence, be fo completely concentered, 
and fo fecurely accommodated. As it is poffible that a union of interefts may lead to the 
adoption of this plan, to which many may accede, not fo much from a conviction that 1C 
is free from objections, as from the increafing neceflity of relief of fome kind being at- 
tempted, we fhall ftate the mode in which it is propofed to be carried into execution.—The 
plan comprifes two docks: the large dock, with the quays, wharfs, and warehoufes attached 
thereto, to be furrounded and effe€tually enclofed with a high wall; this is intended for the 
reception of loaded thips in the Weft India trade, and as a depot for Weit-India produce ; and 
afmaller dock, to receive all the light fhips in that trade. The clofe dock to be capable of 
containing near 200 loaded fhips, and to admit 46 of the largeft of thofe fhips to diicharge 
their cargoes upon the quays or wharfs at one time. The warehoufes to be fufficiently ex- 
tenfive to hold 46,000 hhds. of fugar, 16,000 puncheons of rum, 35,000 hhds. of Coffees 
and all other Weft India produce ufually put into warehoufes. For defraying the expences 
of the undertaking, a fubfcription has been opened for 500,000l. of which 50,0001. is re- 
ferved, with a view that the corporation may fubfcribe tothat amount, and 200,000]. for the 
accommodation of the fubfcribers to the plan for forming Wet Docks at Wapping. It mutt, 
however, be obferved, that the propofers of the docks in the Ifle of Dogs, apprehend that 
the numerous advantages which they have in view by the removal of the Weft India trade 
from the river, which it now fo much encumbers, may be all defeated, unlefs the legifla- 
ture fhall render it obligatory, on the fhips trading to or from the Weft Indies, to confine 
themfelves to the ufe of the docks and warehoufes {et apart for their reception, and calcu- 
lited for their accommodation ; at the fame time they declare their refclution to oppofe any 
tonnage rate, or other tax which may affect the Weft India trade, under any other plan for 
improving the port, conceiving that under no plan but their own this branch of trade will 
reccive an adequate benefit. 
A petition has alfo been prefented to parliament from the town of Liverpool, for the pur- 
pofe of accommodating the increafing trade of that port with two additional Wet Docks. 
Raw Sugars, upon the difcontinuance of the Drawback, fell very confiderably ; they have 
-however fince got up again, the average price for the week, ending the 1gth, was 68s. 6rd. 
exclufive of duty. 
The Nostingham, or Stocking manufactory, whieh alfo embraces Leicefterfhire and Der- 
bythire, has rifen of late to confiderable importance, in comparifon with its {tate 30 years, 
back, which may be attributed chiefly to Sir Richard Arkwright’s improvements in the 
{pinning of cotton-wool, co-operating with the {pur which ingenuity feels when unfhackled 
with duties and left to its free exertion. It js thought a moderate fuopofition, that at the 
prefent time its tncreafe has not been lefs than ten times what it was at the period juft men- 
tioned. On the breaking out of the American war it declined very much, but revived at 
the general treaty of peace, and has fince continued with increafing vigor. The prefent 
war entails hardfhips on the manufacturers, by totally {topping remittances frora Spain and 
Italy, and likewife partially from the Americans, who are too juftly accufed of want of 
faith and punctuality in their commercial engagements ; but the effect of thefe impediments 
is in fome meafure compenfated, by the Eait India trade requiring a greater fupply of filk, 
and fine cotton and thread goods; likewife by the increafe of the Portugal trade, anda fu'- 
ther demand for Ruffia for courfe goods; to which may be added the eftablifiment of the 
Patent Lace trade, an article which was introduce] at Nottingham only a few years fincey 
but is now in confiderable demand, and claims the attention of mott of the manufacturers, 
the public encouraging it much in wide and narrow laces, in cloaks, and in vails; the firt 
and the laft of thefe articles are beginning to be worn abroad, which gives a fair pro'peet of 
an increafing demand.. There is fuppofed to be at prefent about 16,000 ftocking and lace 
frames in Nottingham and the fhire, 12,000 ftecking-frames in Hinckley, Leisefter, and 
fhire, 

