At an early period, no doubt, the British wool had attracted the peculiar attention of economists and statesmen, as of paramount value ; and the pro hibition of its exportation became an object of legis lative enactment. That manufacture, therefore, has long been the staple of England, as the linen trade, at a later period, has become that of Ireland.
The attempts to introduce both of these branches of industry into Scotland, although, during the latter .part of the last century, they engrossed much of the attention, both of public bodies and of patriotic in dividuals, cannot be regarded as having proved emi nently successful ; and the progress actually made, has been almost entirely superseded and extinguish ed, by the more recent introduction of the cotton manufacture. ' The latter branch of industry, since the splendid invention of spinning by the aid of machinery, has, indeed, made most rapid advances in every part of the United Kingdom ; and has attained to a height, which has, perhaps, absorbed a greater portion of national industry, than consumers can easily be found to employ. The extension of external coin Inerce has constantly supplied the raw material at easy,.and, generally, moderate rates ; and even the India Company have long ceased to oppose to it any very formidable competition in the market.
The silk manufactures of Britain have never been carried to a very great extent; and whatever may i have, directly or indirectly, tended to regulate the finishing, folding, and preparing of British goods for the various markets of consumption, will chiefly re fer to the three former branches of manufacture.
Extensively as the woollen trade is carried on, it is, in a great measure, absorbed either by internal colonial consumption, and does not, therefore; enter so generally into actual competition with the cloths of other nations, as to render it either peculiarly de sirable that its marketable aspect should be either servilely copied from Oche of other countries, or very peculiarly distinguished from them. The chief object appears to have generally been, to prevent the intrusion of foreign cloths and stuffs into our own markets ; and hence adopting their usual folds into such rolls, as most effectually preserve the dressed surface from acute creases, is found to be most expedient and convenient, the goods being distinguished by letters denoting them to be " Bri tish manufacture," on the ends of the pieces.
In the Irish manufactures of cambrics and linens, the case is almost entirely reversed. From the su periority of climate, the French flax is admitted to be of finer appearance ; and although the importa tion of manufactured cambrics be strictly prohibited, the restraint, during periods of peace, has always been considerably evaded, in consequence of the de mand experienced, and the reputation in which they are held. Indeed, it was found generally most ex pedient, by many retailers, to sell Irish cambrics un der the title of French, and hence the fold was cor rectly imitated. The pieces, after being folded into lengths of about 12 inches, and twice laterally doubled, until the whole breadth of 34 inches was reduced to about 8i inches, were subjected to a powerful compression in the press until fully flatten -ed. They were then packed in purple coloured wrappers or papers, 'and a small engraved card or ticket was attached to each piece, specifying the length, generally about 8 or 811 yards. The cards were attached by a silken string, so as to be easily cut away with a penknife or pair of scissors, in order to avoid seizure; and French or Irish goods were sold indiscriminately as " foreign cambrics." Cus tom has even carried this practice farther ; and cot ton cambrics, which are avowedly British nussityrac• tem and subjected to no risk whatever, because easily distinguishable from any cambric manufactur ed from' flax, are put up into the same folds, ed, and ticketed, in exactly the same manner.
In hollands, and sheetings, whether of fo reign or Irish manufacture, the same fold also employed; and in cotton shirtings and. sheetings, is closely imitated. The form is that of a cylindric roll, somewhat flattened by subsequent compression; and, in general, all dense fabrics, whether of linen of cotton, are rolled up and compressed in a si milar manner ; the object of which is, evidently, safety, and diminution of space, in land carriage or exportation.