The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-11-03
ENGLAND.
WOOL.

and soon after they had dined. they assembled
IN the principal room. Lord SuEFrIELD, who
always prssides. then rose and said =
have collected from a very extensive cor
fespondence, statement respecting the manu-.
facture and prices of wool. which conceive it
may be proper to communicate to the Meeting.
1t 10 well known that since had the pleasure Of
meeting you last year, there has been great vari-
alton in the price of wool Previously to that
meeting, in consequence ofthe aistrust which a
rose IN respect to the American States, and the
aisordered state of the Continent, our manufac-
lures suffered a depression, more considerable
than at any former period Of the war and as
sisted by much misrepresentation, the price Of
wool was kept down, but, towards winter, the
price rose rapidly, and afterwards to extent
never experienced before. Istated at our wool
fair, & in confident terms, that that would be the
case, and It was not difficult to foresee it, and I
particularly represented that there was no found.
alton for the superstition that the manufactures of
the finest woods (now principally, under our con.
sideration) were essentially prejudiced by the
war; a. the sale depends almost entirely on the
home market, and comparatively very little on
she export to the Continent of Europe and
wish to bring to your recollection. that the home
demand 10 the great support of all our manufac-
lures. Little argument can be deduced from
the extrayagant prices of wool, during the great
er part OF last winter aRd spring. 1t was evident
fy occasioned by wool dealers specializing on the
Gle being in few hands however, there can be
no doubt that the value of wool is much higher
Shan It has been OF late years. In respect to our
wooilen trade in general, it is certain that it will
be very considerably better than it last year.
Ihe American Non-Importation Act is at an
end, several channels are found for our man,itac
1ures, and whatever was deficient in the demand
Tor them in preceding years, will be amply COM
pensated by the future demand for they must
be had some where, and the manufactures of the
Continent are certainly greatly reduced and pre-
JUDGED by revolution and war-The principal
apprehension rs, whether our manufactures W IL
De enabled to procure an adequate supply of the
raw mat rial Whatever check decline takes
place IN the excellent manufactures of fine wool
N the West England, 10 not arise entirely from
abe scarcity and high price of Spanish WOOL but
partly frsT the high wages which are likely TO
transfer the manufacture to the less luxuri-
Gus manufactures OF Yorkshire II HIS been
gently supposed. that the manufactures
OF wooilen in the West Riding have been great.
~ nurt by he war, and especially last year, by
HE irapolitic measures of the American States,
which. were Infinitely more injurious to them
selves than they could possibly be to us. but it
appears that the manufactures OF broad and mar
row cloths (the only branch of the trade of which
precise knowledge can be attained, j last year
amounted to $500 .007 yards of narrow, and
S,OOO,97o ofbroad, very little less than the ave-
rage OF the preceding ten years, which include
several OF the years of greatest export and it
should be observed, that, notwithstanding all the
defamation we have heard on the ruin of our
srade the decline in the export Of woolens of all
sorts IN the last year, compared with the preced-
fng year is only 5l9 1921 official value. Last
year the importation of wool from Spain was only
a,sol ,75olbs. The preceding year there was an
extraordinary import of Spanish wool every
bale was dispatched from that country, in conse
9uence otthe impending ruin apprehended from
IN INVASION OF Bo NAPARTE.; and the aggregate
import into Great Britain amounted to I1,76O,-
OOOibs. much more than am average importation.
But the average Of the great and small importa.
Cons IN 1907 and 1908 is nearly equal to the ave-
rag OF the seven years preceding 1907, viz
7,oiS 547lbs.-f therefore the importation of
Sh's year should not exceed the import of last
year, Inc deficiency 5,330,682lbs. must be made
up OF the fine English wool. And, considering
rhe state of Spain, Portugal, Saxony, and ali
countries from which we receive wool, the i'm
portation this year will surely be less than last
veal Very much less than usual, AS appears
from the Custom House entries, has been yet re.
Ceived tins year The supply must be very scan-
~, as the Provinces from whence comes the
great mass IF the Spanish export of wool, and
the principal ports, (Bilboa, sc.) from whence
,. was exported, are now in the hands of the
French and even ifthey were not, all that part
o. Spain, especially, is in such ruinous state.
that the quantity of wool clipped there must be
extremely diminished and to the supply from
Saxony, none can be expected. The incre ased
demand, therefore, for our manufactures, added
to the very. scanty supply of Spanish wool, must
very considerably raise the intrinsic value of our
nhe Nools, which, it is well kno WI, are very great.
~ improved within a few years and the Goa,
winch now wear shows, that South Down Wool
may Be used IS very coed substitute for Span
ISL ITS appearance is equally good. have cor
responded with every part of England, where
there are considerable fairs for Wool At Here.
ford fair, 1st July, Ryeisnd Wool sold at So AID.
and was supposed to be undersoId, nv CORES
pondent observing that his wool lad been valued
1t s. Cd. by mso in the trade but it shouId he
remarked that the Herefordshire woods are
trInded and cieansed from some Of their impuri-
ties.
1t is added that the sellers pleased with nrcss
hIgner than usual, had sold under the real value
Mr.. George Wilbraham has this year sold his
Deiamare Forest wool for IS. I'D some has
been sold rs high as IS. there are parts in
the Delsmcre Forest heeces, finer than the South
Do"n but the latter are more even, so that little
difference as made in the price. Mr.. Cone. of
Norfoik, who IS well known to you all, as the
distinguished friend of the Agriculture & Trade
OF the Country, IN lis account of Thetford Fair.
18th OF July, says, that there was great Attend
ance ofgrowers, but little or no bushes. Jone
Is S1d was generally offered for the J1ov,n
breed, that soac was sold at Is 10 ia and
that there was no doubt that So. will be general
Iy given for the best Ihave since learned tba,
considerable quantity of South Down was AZ.
forwards sold at that price.
Letters from Suffolk mention that less ,bon
sos. per ton Of 28bs. which ~ about %. JOld ner
pound tor South Down wool has been refused