Yet notwithstanding this increase in the linen manu facture of England, the importation of linen from Ire land continued to increase ; and it is worthy of remark, that at this period, from a comparison of the English imports and exports of Irish linen, it appears that four fifths, or perhaps seven-eighths of the whole, were con sumed by the people of England, and those mostly of the finest quality. The Lords of Trade, in investigating this subject, reckoned the home consumption as at least four fifths ; but while the importation from Ireland increased, that from foreign countries diminished, as will appear from the following statement : This manufacture, as well as that of silk, suffered from the rivalship of the cotton manufacture about the year 1790, but not nearly to so great a degree. There are very few data respecting this manufacture about this period. It appears, however, that the quantity of linens printed in England and Wales in the year 1796, was considerably less than the quantity printed in 1800, though the exact difference cannot be stated, as the returns laid before parliament did not distinguish be tween printed linens and stuffs. Besides the substitu tion of printed cottons for printed linens in dress, the latter trade must have suffered by the very general adoption of cotton stockings instead of thread ones, while the great increaseip the importation of Irish linens must have discourageariother branch of the trade.
That the principal branch of the linen manufacture must at this time be at a low ebb in England, will ap pear from the following facts, ascertained from official documents: On an average, from the union with Ire land to the 5th of January 1813, there have been an nually retained, for home consumption in this country, 32,758,958 yards of Irish linen. The annual average quantity of plain linen imported from Germany, and re tained for home consumption, between 1801 and 1812, was upwards of two million yards ; from Russia nearly the same quantity ; from Holland and France very tri fling. Although not immediately connected with this part of the linen trade, we may add from the same do cuments, that, from 1801 to 1813, the annual average quantity of Hessen's canvass retained for home con sumption, was upwards of 700,000 yards ; of packing upwards of 300,000 yards; of damask and diaper of Silesia, between 60,000 and 70,000 yards ; of cambric and French lawns upwards of 17,000 whole pieces. All the Silesia lawns were exported again. Of sail cloth, upwards of 47,000 ells were retained for home consump tion; and of chequered and striped linen upwards of 12,000 ells. The average total of all sorts retained for home consumption during this period, was 14,559 pieces, 5,836,621 ells, and 64,706 yards. Although this state ment includes Scotland, yet as little foreign linen (except Irish) is used there, it may be taken as a sufficiently accurate statement of the consumption of foreign arti cles made of flax and hemp in England ; and in con junction with the statement of the average quantity of Irish linen retained, it at least serves to prove, that the linen manufacture in England cannot be of much impor tance or value. it may, however, be proper to point out
the principal places in this country, where articles are manufactured from flax or hemp.
Canvass for sailcloth is manufactured at Warrington, though not nearly to so great an extent as formerly, as at one time it was calculated that half of the heavy sail cloth used in the navy was manufactured here ; at Kirk ham, in the Filde district of Lancashire, where a large quantity is made for the navy, 6000 bolts of canvass having been supplied by two houses in the space of six months ; at Lancaster, Whitehaven, Workington, Stock ton, Whitby, Hull, Retford in Nottinghamshire, Read ing, Oxford, Bridport, and all the district between that and Beaminster in Dorsetshire, as well as in the adjoin ing part of Somersetshire. At Bridport, there is also an extensive manufacture of nets of all sorts, lines, and small cordage. At one period during the late war, the number of contractors for sailcloth for the navy were in England 23, each having 20 looms, and each loom producing two pieces of canvass in the week ; but Eng land was so little able to supply the demand, that by far the largest proportion was obtained from Scotland, where the sailcloth manufactures were increasing, while those in England were diminishing.
In Suffolk, a considerable quantity of hemp is grown, which is manufactured into strong and coarse linen, and also into sacking and cordage. The latter are made chiefly in the vicinity of Stowmarket. Linen for sheet ing is made at Bromsgrove in Worcestershire ; and sacking for hops, &c. is manufactured in Berkshire, where 4000 people are employed, principally at Abing don, and in most of the hop counties. These, with some other linen manufactures in different parts of Westmore land, Laucashim, Dorsetshire, Durham, &c. of very in considerable e,tent or importance, may be considered as the principal in England. Linen thread is made in considerable quantity, by the poor people in cottages, in the neighbourhood of Workington, and exchanged Stith trades people for goods. Mills for spinning- flax first invented at Darlington, where tney are still used. At this place, there is also a manufacture of Iruckahacks. diapers, and sheeting. It will be evident from this account of them, that, with the exception of the sailcloth manufacture, the value of the goods made, and consequently the value of the raw material, and the amount of the manufacturer's profit, and the workmen's w ages, must be very trifling ; and as in time of peace this principal branch must necessarily fall off very much, there seems no necessity, even if there were data, to endeavour to ascertain these particulars. It may, ) °wryer, just be mentioned, that, in the opinion of Grellier. the linen trade of England amounts to about one million annually.