Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-06-07
FRENCH MANUFACTURERS.

We have collected the following particu-
lars in regard to the cotton manufactures of
France from the last number of the London
Quarterly Review.
Cotton.-Forty years ago spinning
machinery was almost unknown in
France, and what cotton was spun was
spun by hand but the greater part i'm
ported from England. Since that time,
English machinery has been partially
introduced into France, and during the
reign Of Bonaparte, new activity was
given to manufactures. The most ex-
renSive manufacturers are at St. QUEEN
tin and Lisle. At neither of these
places is much Of the cotton yarn WOW
en- into goods, but it is sent to the
ueighbouring peasantry, almost all OF
whom have looms in their cottages.
Coarse stuffs are manufactured at
Rouen, printed goods near Paris, and
fine muslins are woven near Lyons. AT
Nismes and Montpelier, protestant
cities in the South Of France,) great
quantities ofhosiery are made, but the
most prosperous cotton manufacturers
of France are the Protestant inhabi-
tants of Alsace, who surpass the Eng
lish in the brilliancy and stability OF
their colors. There are in France
from 80 to 100 considerable spinning
mills, from 80 TO 10000 looms, besides
from 10 to $4,000 looms for hosiery.
The cotton machinery in France is
very imperfect, and much inferior to
that used in England, and the manu-
facturers are negligent in keeping it In
repair.-Steam is but little used; wa
terwheels are established where cur
rent can be obtained; and in level dis
tricts horses are constantly employed
Near Lisle windmills are used in va
rious manufactures; on leaving the
city by one gate, so windmills may be
seen. The unwillingness to employ
steam is attributed partly to the high
price of machines, and partly to the
badness Of the iron and workmanship,
whence accidents repeatedly occur.
The French manufactures are protec-
ted by the total prohibition Of all cot
ton goods, except 'nankeens, but not
withstanding the vigilance of the Gus
tom-house officers, large quantities OF
English yarn and cotton goods have al
ways been illegally imported into
France.
A great revolution of opinion has
taten nlace in Great Britain, on the
subject of the Quarantine Laws =; and a
Bill is before Parliament for their re-
peal. This measure is founded OH the
generally received opinions that yellow
fever is not contagious, and that the
secret of prevention lies in cleanliness.
DIR. M'Lean, an eminent physician,
whose studies and personal inquiries
have been almost entirely directed to
the subject Of contagion, has lately
delivered lecture at Liverpool on con-
tagion and the Quarantine Laws. This
lecture has been published, and its rea-
soning, combined with nearly the una
nimous opinion of the European and A
merican faculty, has produced the new
measures which are in contemplation.
The Boston Medical Intelligencer has
the following remarks on DR.. M'Lean's
lecture: Nat. Journal.
"Every thing that we have heard,
more and more satisfies us that he is
right in his opinion that the received
doctrine respecting contagion is alto
gether erroneous; and that the entire
system of quarantine, with its enor-
nous cost and highly injurious conse-
ouences to trade, ought to be wholly a
bandoned. Sooner or later the whole
system will fall before DR.. M'Lean's
well-directed battery"