The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-17 00:00:00

shawls, made from Cashmere wool, bringing the manu-
facture to the highest point it had ever attained in this
country. The gorgeous patterns of Paisley have since
put out the Edinburgh shawls, which the national taste
seems at the time of their introduction to have been
inadequate to appreciate, since it was in France that the
great demand existed for them .for several years, and
indeed there is still a limited call from thence for these
shawls. The inefficient construction of the weaving-
loom in use amongst the operatives of Edinburgh, and
their unwillingness to improve it, is one strong reason
why the attempts made in the city to establish the
manufacture of rich shawls failed.

In 1824-25, the Messrs. Millar, of Paisley, attempted
the production of shawls more closely resembling the
Cashmere than anything as yet produced in the place.
Phey procured Cashmere of native growth, together
.vith English materials nearly similar, employed a
Frenchman to superintend their work, and built a fac-
tory where they could carry it on in secrecy. The ope-
rations of this respectable 'firm were closed in conse-
quence of the commercial panic of 1826-27 ; but to their
superintendent belongs the credit of introducing the
.louble ground, or two backs, as it is called, which, while
it adds beauty to the fabric, enables more colouring to
be thrown into the pattern, as well as a saving in the
cost of the production recommending it to the general
practice of our manufacturers. The double back oply
improved the ground, but the tweeling of the spotting
or colours which form the pattern—a still more impor-
tant improvement afterwards introduced by the Messrs.
Walker, was a positive advance in design. A protracted
demand for bordered goods ensued in consequence of the
increased beauty of the patterns produced by this im-
provement of the Messrs. Walker.
On the revival of business, in 1828, several houses
commenced the making of wool shawls, and amongst
the rest Mr. Robert Kerr, after repeated failures, suc-
ceeded ; and for two or three years Thibet shawls
became the staple article of the trade. These shawls
were of plain grounds, with figured borders, woven
separately and sewed on. For the last ten or twelve
years there have been greater diversities of style in the
goods produced, accompanied by the introduction of
improved facilities fcr their manufacture. Our manu-
facturers and pattern-drawers have seen the necessity of
paying more attention to the varied styles of India and
'of France. From these sources enriching their ideas
and invigorating their fancy, they have been led to adopt
better methods of colouring and contrast. Our patterns
in consequence, possess a degree of taste which does
them infinite credit. The Messrs. Roxburgh, in parti-
cular, infused a spirit of emulation into many of our
drawers, by showing year after year the spirited effects
capable of being produced by a series of styles of pat-
terns of increased dimensions. The Messrs. Roxburgh
have thus eminently contributed to raise the state of de-
sign to its present condition amongst us.
The necessity for establishing the School of Design in
Paisley, for which a spirited subscription is now in pro-
gress, will be more than manifest from this outline of
the difficulties through which our shawl trade has strug-
gled, and in spite of which it has so far triumphed. Let
our youths possess the proper means of instruction, and
receive sufficient encouragement to prosecute their '
studies in the art of design in connexion with manufac-
tures, and we may safely. answer for our shawl trade
soon evincing that it contains not only the elements of
its own improvement and extension, but embodies the
means of improving the condition of our whole,com-
munity. One difficulty which our trade has overcome
is that of the introduction of the jacquard loom, not-
withstanding its cost, as well as the expense of setting
up the pattern to be worked by it, the card-paper for
which costs alone seldom less than 601. for a single
pattern, and often 1001.—Government deriving a duty
thtreon of 20 per cent. At present there are
consequently several houses making square and
long shawls in Paisley, which resemble more
closely the Indian fabric than any ever before
manufactured here. The shawls now manufactured are
indeed to the most superficial observer, an astonishing
contrast in their superiority of design and beauty of
execution to those made ten years ago. The lady of a
distinguished M. P. returning from the Continent lately
with two of these shawls, a long and a square, both of
Paisley manufacture, in her possession, had them seized
for French at the Custom-house. It was in vain that
their Paisley origin was insisted upon. The officers
would not, and could not, believe it, until Mr. Kerr's
agent went down to them, and exhibiting the pattern,
relieved the property of the honourable member's lady
from the consequences of this somewhat earnest tribute
to our manufacturing success. A harness finished shawl,
two parts white, was shown us, which, when in London,
Mr. Kerr's superintendent found the French themselves
had copied. Entering a shawl emporium, he chanced
to make some recognition of the pattern; but learned to
his astonishment that the shawl in question was French.
It was afterwards ascertained that the French had
strictly copied this production, Mr. Kerr's number for it
being 28, the French 113.

EXTENSIVE FORGERY OF BANK
OF ENGLAND NOTES.
On Saturday last a female of respectable appearance
and connexions was examined:before the Norwich magis-
trates on a charge of forging a considerable number of
Bank of England 51. notes. The name of the prisoner
is Sarah Hannah Barker ; she had been remanded from
the previous Wednesday, The following account will
be found to contain the substance of the long examina-
tions :
About a year since the prisoner's grandfather died,
and left her a legacy of one hundred and twenty
pounds ; this sum she placed - partly in the East
of England and pattly in the Savings' Bank, and having
no other resources, owing to circumstances which
will appear in the course of this narrative, had
been hying on it ever since. About half this sum
had been thus expended. On Wednesday last she went
to the East of England Bank, and laid down upon the
counter her deposit receipt book, and 501. in alleged
Bank of England notes, which she requested might be
placed to her credit. At the first glance the clerk saw
that they had not the usual signature ; this induced a
more minute inspection, when he discovered that the
numbers of all were exactly alike. In all other respects
the imitation was perfect, and might easily have de-
ceived a less experienced eye. Knowing rrom these cir-
cumstances that they must be forgeries, the prisoner was
police proceeded to search
in Cross-lane, St. George's
giventhe
Colegate. In her house was found a bundle of notes
h intouse ocfu custody, d y ,
prisoner, and
lying under the table--about 30 in number—in course
of manufacture—some Just begun—some spoiled, and
others nearly completed. A good Bank of England
note was also found, and the thirty, as well as the ten
presented at the bank, were all excellent imitations of
this good note. One forged note—and only one—was
found with a signature attached. The copies were done
in pen and ink, and had been traced up at a chamber
window ; she had frequently been observed by the
neighbours tracing at her window, but they con-
sidered it was to obtain patterns of fancy needle-
work. This quite accorded with the habits of the
prisoner, who lived very secluded, and when she ap-
peared abroad had a very lady-like bearing. The ap-
pearance of the forged paper was very close indeed
to the original ; it bad, of course, no water-mark. The
East of England Bank had made a communication of the
circumstance to the Governor of the 13ank of England,
awl he had requested one to be sent to him for inspec-
tion. Mr. Staff, the town clerk, also stated that Mr.
Freshfield had sent to him for a copy. In order to
know what steps the Bank of England would take,
the case was further remanded. Several of the ma-
gistrates believed that the prisoner was insane
this belief was induced by two circumstances. It
seems that she had recently a warrant issued against
her for non-payment of poor rates, and when
the officer called to levy a warrant which had been
issued against her, she attempted to stab him. At that
time the feeling of the Bench was in favour of her in-
sanity—so much so that one of the magistrates (Mr. 11.
Bainbrolte) paid the demand for her. And, further,
the very act of offering at the Bank what she knew to be
forged notes, without even a signature, was evidence of
either very great commercial ignorance, or of insanity.
Mr. Gould and Mr. N. Palmer thought no insane person
would execute notes so correctly, and apply for payment
with her deposit-book without intending to pass them ;
she might, indeed, be IgnOrant of the necessity for dif-
ferent numbers, and a signature for the validity of a
note ; but this was not insanity. There is little doubt
but that the prisoner will be fully committed for trial for
the above offence after her final examination. She is
known to no one in Norwich except Mr. Havers, of St.
Paul's, whose mother her father married. She was born
in Norwich, and afterwards went to live with an uncle in
London ; here she fell in love with a clergyman, and
offered to go off with him, if he would marry her. The
amour reached the ears of her uncle, who sent her away
to Norwich, where she has resided and lived on the
legacy above-mentioned. Mrs. Havers says she still
believe her grandfather is not dead; he only sleeps, she
contends, and she wishes to have him taken up, that he
may live with her. No evideaee can be ascertained of
her offering any notes to other individuals.—Bury
Herald.

Daniel Forrester, the Mansion-house officer, was, a
short time ago, employed to trace out and apprehend
William Thomas Power, who stands charged with
having, with others, defrauded the Clonmell National
Bank, of which he was an accountant, of money to the
amount of upwards of 13,0001. The vigilant London
officer, accompanied by Patrick Enright, a Clonmell
constable, who knew the person of Power, proceeded
with the warrant, backed by the Lord Mayor of London,
to the Continent, and acting with his accustomed saga-
city found that the object of his pursuit was at Munich,
to which place he went as rapidly as possible. Power
had assumed the name of Thomas Poisk, and was sud-
denly captured by Forrester, who will bring him to this
country, and from hence convey him to Ireland. The
prisoner had absconded f.tom the bank in December, and
the warrant and other documents necessary to legalise
his apprehension was signed on the 15th of August.

MALES AND FEMALES BATHING AT NEWPORT
UNITED STATES.-_A correspondent of the 13eston
Transcript writes thus from Newport on the subject of
bathing :—" I had my prejudices against the custom of
both sexes bathing together, but on seeing the fun at
Newport, my antipathy
against the fashion was much
removed. The sight is picturesque, certainly.
Fancy an encampment of Indians, or rather Gip-
seys, divested of the boiling pot, and you have the
scene previous to immersion. You cannot tell
the gentlemen from the ladies ; and, in fact, it
is difficult to distinguish the members of your own
family. The gents wear red flannel tunics, duck pants,
and straw hats; the ladies tunics and pantalettes of the
same colour, with white collars and wristbands, and
straw hats also. There are as many as 150 bathing
houses. You enter on one side, and go on to the beach
from the other, all equipped to act the part of sea
nymphs, or aught else that might seem an appropriate
character. It is really very exciting to behold the fun."