Sheep's-
Wool.

been proper; and those to fuit the Neceffities and Fancies, both of our own, and also of foreign Countries to which we export them; where they yield a Price, not only according to the true value of the Materials and Labour, but an Overplus according to the Neceffity and Humour of the Buyers: And this adds to the Profit, and encreases the Wealth of the Kingdom.

THESE Manufactures, as they employ Multitudes of our People in their Making, fo alfo in Exporting them, and importing foreign Materials to be used with our own, fuch as Oyl, Dye-ftuff, Silk, Wooll, Cotton, Barillia and many others, which are either manufactured here by themselves, or workt up with our own Product.

AND firft to begin with Sheep's-Wooll, whereof either by it felf, or mixt with Silk or Linnen, we make Variety of pretty Things, fit for all Climates, and proper for the Wearing of both Sexes; wherein the Invention and Imitation of our Workmen have been fo great, that they have out-done all that went before them. From a ftrong Cloth, fit to keep out Cold in Winter, they have turn'd their hands to a fine thin fort, which will scarce keep warm in Summer; from hence they fell on

Perpets

Perpets, Serges, Crapes, Stuffs, Sayes, Ratoons, Antherines, and many other Things, fit both for outward Garments, and inward Linings; of various Colours, Stripes, and Flowers, fome of them fo fine and pleasant, as fcarce to be known from Silk: Befides thofe Multitudes of coarfer Cloth for the Poor; alfo Rugs, Blankets, and all forts of Furniture for Houses. And fuch a Progrefs have they made in these Manufactures, that a Man may have his Picture wrought at the Loom, with the fame Exactnefs as if drawn with a Pencil; one Work-man vying to excell another, they make Things to anfwer all Occafions. And as for Arras and Tapestry, I believe it will be allowed, that they do not fall fhort of those from whom they first had the Art: Add to thefe, Hats, Stockings, and many other things, which are both worn at home, and exported abroad.

THE next material for the Manufactures Cottonis Cotton Wool, which is now become a great Wool. Imployment for the poor, and fo adds to the Wealth of the Kingdom; This being curiously pickt and spun, makes Dimities, Tapes, Stockings, Gloves, befides feveral things Wove fit for ufe, as Waftcoats, Pettycoats, and Drawers, of different Stripes and Fine

nefs;

Hemp and
Flax.

nefs; and I doubt not the Workmen would equal the East Indies for Callicoes, had they Encouragement; with all which we fupply our Plantations and other foreign Markets, befides what ferves for our Confumption at Home.

HEMP and Flax are the Grounds for another Manufacture; for tho' Weaving of Linnen is not fo much ufed in South Britain, as of Woollen, yet in North Britain it is, and may be farther improved, not fo much by Laws to direct the Workmen in their making it, as by apt Methods to encourage them; and even in South Britain feveral Counties are imployed thereon, who not only supply themselves, but furnish those bordering on them, with fuch Cloth as answers the ends of French Linnens: Befides which great Quantities of Ticking, of all Fineffes, Incle, Tapes, Sacking, Girtwhip, and many other Things are made thereof; alfo Cordage, Twine, Netts, with Multitudes of other Manufactures, which imploy the Poor, and bring by their Exports Profit to the Nation; and I can not here omit Sail-cloth, wherein we have made a wonderful Progress in a little time, at the Charge and Expence of private Stocks, who deferve to be encouraged.

GLASS

GLASS is a Manufacture brought to fo Glass. great a Perfection, that it keeps many of our People at Work; and the Materials whereof it is made being generally our own, and in themselves of fmall Value, cofts the Nation little, in comparison of what it formerly did, when we fetch'd it from Venice; the Noble Plate Glaffes which we now make of all forts, both for Houses and Coaches, do greatly fet forth the Genius of our Workmen; befides the various Sorts of Utenfils made for common ufe, fit for all the Occafions of a Family, which look almost as well as Silver, and it would be better for the Nation that they were more used in its ftead; alfo the Glass for Windows, of different Beauties; and Glass Bottles; all which find a greater Vent both at Home and Abroad by their Cheapness,

AND as for earthen Ware, the Progrefs Earthenwe have made therein is fuch, as may give Ware, us Hopes, that Time will bring it to fuch a Perfection, as to equal if not exceed the Dutch.

SILK is another Material for a great Manufacture; which being brought from abroad Raw, we here Twift, Dye, and Weave into different Goodneffes, both Plain, Striped, and Flowered,

Silk.

Diftilling.

Flowered, either by itself, or mixt with Gold and Silver; fo Richly Brocaded, that we exceed those from whom we firft had the Art; befides great Quantities of Ribbons, Silk Stockings, and other Things, not only to ferve ourselves, but also to Export.

DISTILLING is an Art fo exceedingly improved, that had it not met with discouraging Laws, 'twould by this Time have attained to a very great Heigth, and brings great Profit to the Nation; for next to making fomething out of nothing, is the making fomething that is Valuable out of what would otherwise be worth nothing; therefore this Art ought to have been handled charily, to have been trained up with a great deal of Gentleness, and not loaded with Taxes in its Infancy, by which Means we were like to difcourage it in the beginning; however it hath still bore up under all the Weight laid upon it; 'twas a great mistake to appoint Measures by Act of Parliament to the Distillers in their Workings; Mens Knowledge encreases by Obfervation, and this is the Reason why one Age exceeds another in any Sort of Miftery, because they improve the Notions of thofe who went before them; Therefore confining the Distillers to Corn

only,