The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-07-22


in its descent from the canal to the river
Such is now the situation of tho public Ar
moury. They would possess too, the bene-
hts OF navigation stretching upwards Of
200 miles above the works, and to the ocean
below; by which means they would cheap
iy and easily receive most of their raw ma
trials, and circulate TO a considerable dis
lance their manufactured productions
WILLIAM H. CABELL,
WILLIAM Writ, Com
WILLIAM FoUsKEE, Senr. mit-
rnrTos = R . and tee
ADDRESSED TO Gentleman Of the City Of
Richmond
PRorTDENcE, or. July 6, 1903.
My Friend,
A desire to make myself &C
quanted with the great and useful art of
spinning cotton, has been the cause of my
travelling to this place. ] left my place of
abode In the county of Louisa, state cf Viz
ginia, on the LIST day of May last, with full
determination to pursue my journey to this
place and view all the cotton manufactures
ON the continent or get the necessary know
ledge to build machinery for the purpose
Having been for several years impressed
with an idea of the vast. utility of this great
invention, which is now much desired in eve
ry part OF our country, & which will strength
en- q make it rich, if attended to have ira
yelled over all the states to the south or west of
this, where l could hear of machinery,
and part of Massachusetts, and have not, un-
til got to this state, seen the perfection of
TINS art In Virginia, an idea is entertained
that in Philadelphia, all the materials and
machinery can be had of the best Quality
this Is entirely mistaken opinion. am con-
hdent that If the people of this place had any
part or the whole of the machinery in Mary
land, Pennsylvania, New-Jersey and New
York AT this place, they would burn it rather
than put it into the manufactures at this
place.
lhave with deliberation and caution en-
deavoured to make myself not only acquain-
ted with the art of Building the machinery
q spinning, but have tryed to find out the per-
sons who would be willing to 20 to the South
ward OF this on the business, both for spin
ming and weaving-I have seen many Young
men who are skiliful, who would go on to
Virginia to attend a manufactured have
got III this place in situation, where have
obtained ample Information, to be able to do
any thing in this way which should be cal
led on to do-and have had an advantage
Gus proposal to So to distant part of the u
mon To erect large manufacture. have
as yet avoided giving positive answer on
that subject, bnt shall be obliged soon to de-
termine on it. The last papers that came out
at this place had an extract from the Peters
burg REPUBLICAN Of an arrane ement which
had take nplace at that place. nd Richmond,
to erect cotton and other manufactures and
this strengthened by letter which have
just read from gentleman in Virginia, has
induced me to write to you upon the subject,
begging that you will try to get a job for me
in Richmond, if YOU can, or if not there. in
petersburg, as wish to reside in my native
land-and in my present situation of infor-
nation, should be of use to the hnbHc
! 1t is not all easy task TO go through what i
have, since left my native land-when /
reached this place made my business known
to gentleman who had several partners
wished to get into work in his Factory, as I
was without money--He observed, that they
wished to keep the matter of Spinning cot
ton, &c. concealed as long as they could, at
least, for two or three years longer, bv which
time they would make as much money as
would answer them. IF / was to say, what
1t rs said, persons at this place had made
within the compass of four or five years, il
would, perhaps, not be credited.
/ have inclosed to you, some of the sDeci-
mems OF the manufactures, with a bill Of the
prices they sell the cotton yarn at-Also, a
piece which appeared in the papers by way
OF caution to the owners of factories, mot to
'eNt'"'N me ONl lillS HAS HOt prevented me
from getting the information. must beg
that You will write to me at this place with
out delay. Please lay this before the com
pany, and write to those in Petersburg OH the
subject.
! The making the machinery is almost al
together done by the operation of water
Several engines are necessary i'll the process
! OF this work, which could make at this
place upon better terms than they could he
had at any other place on the continent, and
where should be instructed by one Of the
most skilful men on the ointment II the
company in Richmond should want any thing
ot tiiis kind done, viii do il for them, il
you will write to me and appoint an agent
III this place, who will make the necessary
advances as the work proceeds. / could
shape those engines in 80 days after GETTING
the orders, provided do not undertake &c
80 to the other place before get information
from you.
Your Friend, q, .
RICHARD HARRIS.
/ " The various specimens mentioned in
the preceding letter, are left at this Office
for insl ection.
The fourth Of July was celebrated at Nottowa,