Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-02-08


ton manufactures of this country ar
brought to the highest. perfection--lt
some months past tie manufacturer
have not been able to supply the denlant'
though it is. calculated {and by report.
of the import, it is nearly ascertainedi ]
that eight thousand bags Of the raw MA
terial are manufactured weekly. For
.merly it was stated. that France and O.
Ither nations of the continent, would RI
val US in cotton goods. on account Of
the cheapness Of labor, &c. We al
ways questioned it, and the fabrics that
were brought in an Indirect manner du-
ring the continental system, we're very
inferior and much higher in price-lat-
terly, during TIE late peace, at the fairs
,of Germany, Leipsic, &c. considerable
parcels of coarse goods brought forward.
|ceNff@ly improved in texture, but stlli
- Inferior to british in the bette,
Non and fine we are entirely
Wft,RVH rivalship. America, during the
late war, was stated to have generally
improved in cotton goods they are still!
inferior; we import the raw material
from the United States, manufacture
iand sell the fabric cheaper in their OWL
country than the American manuiactu-
rcr car afford to do, notwithstanding all
the great expences attending the trans
port. SC. the conclusion is very clear.
We believe our unrivalled machinery is
generally admitted to be the cause OF the
great superiority; aud America, though
an improving and enterprising nation.
vet it is new country. and its policy
rather TO cultivate the soil, and extcn
her population, the cultivators of cot
ton, tobacco. &c. getting immediate and
quick return. Manufactu es belong to
an Old and rich country. requiring very
extended capitals, and many years must
'elapse before it can be brought to ans
perfection. In consequence, it has beer
found that the emigrants from Manches-
Ger, &c. some time ago, in place of pay
ing attention to manufacture. very short
Iy after their arrival in the United States
turned their attention to other employ
ments.
The Birmingham and Sheffield wares
are without competition-there is 10 II
valship in any foreign country, The
manufactures of WOODEN are greatly ex-
tended, and are now valuable export.
particularly to America. The potteries
in Stafiordshirc are without 4 precedent
in extent. 1t is true, the coiors OF the
China ware, and so.ne manufactures IN
Germany, still excel the Stafordshire !:
vet the imitation is so admirably cxecut-
ed, that few would know the difference
betvixt the China AID the most proved
of tile potteries of England; presents Of
the latter have lately been transmitted
to China, 70 doubt the most beautiful
specimen Of our manufacture, and tol
the purpose that the Chinese, who are
admirable at imitation, may Introduce
the landscane into their finer ware.
W hat ne have mentioned OF the fiou-
rishing situation of cur manufactures.
must be guarded. with tie consideration
that the chief demand is for expectation
the home consumption, which is always
the best and most beneficial, has been
considerably affected by the present dis
treS8ed situation Of The agricultuIalist.
10 the extended manufactures of the
country, We are likely to add one of the
greatest importance, and If it succeeds
of which at present, the best informed
In the country are very sanguine, 1t Wilt
outstIip the staple manufacture in France
to which country it has always been SUP
posed exciusively to belong. The manu-
|lacture we al!ude to, is that fer which
parliament passed an act to excuse a
Mr.. Lee from giving into the patented
lice. a Specification Of his invention fer
the preparation fhemp and fax, with,
out sleeping, which not only rots the
aw material, but wastes it and destroys
the finer parts most fit for the purposes
If manufacture. The exemption from
the standing law in favor of mir. Lee,
aas done in order to prevent foreign ma
tons from availing themselves OF this In
yention, which they would have seized
upon the moment his specification had
been made public. The measure was a
wise one--and every friend to his coun-
try will applaud it, especially when it is
considered that the machinery which su-
percedes the sleeping of the hemp and
FAX, is OF so simple nature. that We
ry few pounds viii furnish it-and the,
article produced from the fax beautiful
beyond description Several OF the most