Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-02-15

proved in Gotten goods, they are stlil me
rior ; we import the raw material from
the United States manufacture, ard sell
the fabyiok cheaper in Il cir own country
than the American manufacturer eau at
ford to do, not understanding all the great
expenses attending the transport, &c the
conclusion is very clear. We believe our
unrivalled machinery is generally admitted
to be the cause of the great superiority !;
and America, though an improving and en-
terprising nati'n yet 1t is new country,
and its policy rather to cultivate the soil,
and extend her population, the culuvators
OF cotton, tobacco, &c. getting Immediate
and quick returns. Manufactures belong to
an old and rich country, requiring very
extended capitals, and may years must
elapse before it can be brought TO any per-
lection. In consequence, 1t has been found
that the emigrants from Manchester Exc.
some time ago, in place OF paying attention
to manufacture, very shortly after Il cir
arrival in the u. s. turned their attention
to other enployments.
The Birmingham and Sheffield wares
are without competition there IS no rival
ship in any foreign country. The manufac-
lures of woollcn are greatly extended, and
are now a valuable export, particularly to
America. The potteries OF StaHordshire
are without precedent in extent it is
true, the colours of the China ware, and
some of the manufactures in Germany,
still excel the Statford shire, yet the imlta-
ton is so admirably executed, that few
would know the difference betwixt the
China and the mcst improved of the potte-
ries of England presents Of the latter
have lately been transmitted 20 GINA, no
doubt the most beautiful spe' linen of our
manufacture. and for the purpose that the
Chinese who are admirable at imitation,
may introduce the iands-ap into their finer
ware.
What we have mentioned ofthe flourish
ing situation of our manufactures, must be
guarded with the consideration that the
chief demand is for expectation the home
consumption, which is always the best and
most beneficial, has been considerably af-
fected by the present distressed situation
OF the agricnlturist.
To the extended manufactures of the
country, we are likely TO add one of the
greatest Importance, and if it succeeds, CT
which at present the best informed IN the
Country are very sangu ne, it will outstrp
the staple manufacture of France, to which
country it has always been supposed ex-
Clusively to belong. The manufacture we
1iiuQS ~, 10 llldI dTltdIueUL
passed an Act to excuse Mr.. Lee from
giving into the Patent-office a specification
of his invention for the prcpar ton of hemp
and tiaX without sleeping, which not only
rots the raw material, but wastes it, and
destroys the finer parts not fit for the
purposes of manufacture. The exemption
from the standing law in favor of Mr.. Lee,
was done in order to prevent foreign ma
tons from availIng themselves of this IN
vention, which they would have seized up
on the moment his specification had been
made public. The measure was a wise
one; and every friend to his Country will
applaud it, especially when it is considered
til at the machinery which supercedes the
sleeping of the hemp and FAX, is of so
simple nature, that few pounds will
furnish 1t, and the article produced from
the fax beautiful beyond description. Sc
veral If the most intelligent OF our manu-
tacturtrs at Manchester, have inspected
the raw material when made ready for
spinning by the new process, both in its ma
tive colour, and wheR simply washed in
soap and water. b. the usual method of
preparation, by half-rot'ipg the vegetable
in water, the dark colour is fixed so firmly,
that only violent chemical process, and
the appl cation of acid and corrosive pre-
parations, can dslodge it but the simple
application of soap AID water TO flax pre-
pared in the new method, will not only dis
charge the colour, but leave the staple so
beautiful, so slver-l Ike VIII te, that moth
ing but the finest bleached silk can any
way rival it. With such an article for in
gcnuty to eXer Use Itself on, most impor-
tant results may be anticipated.
A full and fair examination of the mer-
its of the invent on took place in January
last, before the trustees of the linen and
hempen manufactures of ireland, when it
appeared to that board, that it was most
important f; that, besides furnishing a
more beautiful material, it was infinitely
stronger, as we'll as very much more in
quantity, than when prepared bs the com
mon method and that the seed which is
totally destroyed by sleeping, is preserved
by the Invention to tie cuitivatOr. The
board voted premiums to Mr.. Lee, Of two
pounds for every breaking or cleansing
machine, and fifty shn,ings for every REIN
ing machine, which may be made ready
for work in Ireland.
The new machine invented, will spin
the flax much finer than it is possible TO
SPIN cotton, and It will not be matter of
surprize, IT another species IT piece goods
should not only be manufactured, bat owing
70 the number Of mechanics ready trained
TO knc work # linens, such a. viii even
surpsss the cambrics Of Fraacs, should
they very sow become a leading article in
the trade OF the country.
CuAvfrc~ru Tabr-or,,c