1807.] 
an indulgent parent, who perifhed in 
the mercilels wavé:—while I retain the 
faculty of memory, the fad nnpretiion 
will never be erafed; and at this moment 
it is dificult to reftrain my emotions: 
but the confideration that my humble 
exertions have been inftrumental m pro- 
moting a defign to prevent thofe cala- 
ities in future, will be a fource of fa- 
tisfaction to me to the remotett period of 
life. his detcription of an undertaking 
fo conducive to the fecurity of nav igation, 
will not, I truit, be deemed too highly 
coloured—the facts are incontrovertible, 
the utility is indifputable. So long as 
this noble edifice fhall ttand unfhaken on 
its fm foundation, and lift its alpiring 
fummit to the yiew, of the admiring {pec- 
tator, it. will remam a con{picuous mo- 
nument of the aueieaads and muniticence 
of the Britith nation, unparelleled by 
any other of the maritime ftates on the 
face of the globe. 
May the kind Providence of Almighty 
God tavour this and every other effort of 
national utility with fuccefs, and crown 
with glory the ardent courage and deter- 
mined refolution of our matchlefs fea- 
men, in the defence of their native 
land. While afflicted Europe mourns 
her defolated provinces and fubjugated 
fiate, may this ‘United oadum) firm in 
loyalty, in patriotifin, and every exalted 
virtue, oppofe an infurmountable barrier 
to the i impetuous torrent which threatens 
to overwhelm the earth. May Britain 
ever continue in the envied poffeflion of 
the empire of the main; and, hfting ber 
unclouded head with ditinguihed luftre 
amid the gloom which, at this awful 
erilis, overthadows the world, exhibit to 
deiponding nations a bright example of 
glory—invincible on every hottile thock, 
unfhaken as the rocks which guard her 
fea-girt thore. 
chalet 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
ABSTRACT Of EVIDENCE given before a 
COMMITTEE Of the HOUSE of COMMONS, 
relative fo the USE of MACHINERY, 
the EXCLUSION of PERSONS not having 
Jerved APPRENTICESHIPS, the ASSEM- 
BLAGE of Che WEAVERS Uv large MANU- 
FACTORIES, and the MAINTENANCE of 
_ the OLD Laws of REGULATION in the 
WOOLLEN MANUFACTURES in the 
COUNTIES Of SOMERSET, WILTS, and 
GLOUCESTER. 
NHIS evidenee was received in the 
‘I year 1808. 
‘Lhe aa See es were, Ed- 
yard Sheppard, « Cley in Gloucefier 
_learned within syslog months. 
Faets relative to the Woollen Manufactures. 138 
fhire; William Sheppard, of Frome in 
Somerfetthire ; Daniel Lloyd, of Uley 
in Gloucelterthive ; John Jones, of Brad- 
ford in Wiltfhire; Abraham Lioyd Ed- 
ridge, of ‘Chippenham in Wilthhire; 
Sohn’ Wanfey, of London; Henry Dyer, 
of Wotton upon Edge in Gloucefter- 
fhire ; George Wanfey, of Warmintter 
in Wiltihire ; Richard Bowlh er, of Bath; 
Thomas Joyce, of Fre afliford in een 
fetthire; John Wallington, of Stinch- 
combe in Gloucetterthive ; John Vizard, 
of Durfley m Glouc celterthire : ; John 
King, of Frefhford in Somerfetfhire s 
John Maitland, Efq. of Bafinghall- fireets 
and Charles Broo! ke, Bia, M.P. alfo ef 
Bafinghall-ftreet, London. 
The following were the principal facts 
afcertained by the teltiimony of thefe wit- 
neffes, 
I. Apprentices—By the ancient law, 
(a fyftem gradually formed between the 
reigns of Edward TL. and George If.) 
no perfon ought to be employed in the 
woollen manutacture, without having 
ferved an apprenticethip of feven years : 
but this law has gone into difufe, by the 
changes and improvements in the manu- 
facture. The majority of the weavers 
now employed in Gloucelterfhire, Wilt- 
fhire, and Somerfetfhire, have become 
fuch without having been apprentices, 
The art of weaving may be competently 
it isnow 
practifed by women, as well as by men; 
and children begin to learn it from the 
age of five or hx years. The {pring 
looms, whieh, with great advantage to 
the manufacture, have become general, 
would be rendered at once ufelefs, if the 
old law of apprenticefhip thould be now 
enforced. he whole manufaéiure and 
trade would be brought to a itop. It 
would be *impotlible to aniwer, on the 
fudden, any extraordinary dined: nor 
could the man ufacture be extended into 
villages, for the convenience of falls of 
water to work the mills, as it has latel 
been. Of the cloéh-workers, full tewer 
than of the weavers have ferved appren- 
ticelhips. ‘The ule of the fpring-thuttle 
has proved of advantage chiefly to the 
working weaver. In confequence of its 
being adopted, one weaver executes 
what was before the work of two, and 
receives the wages of two. None of the 
weavers or cloth-workers that ferved re- 
gular apprenticefhips of feven years, 
have been lett without employment in 
coniequence, of perfons being employed 
who lave not ferved apprenticelhips. 
Yes combinations of the weavers and 
Ghuih- 
