# The Cafe,

Of the POOR Straw-Hat-Makers, in the Counties of Hartford, Bedford, Buckingham, &c.

THE Making of Straw Hats, Bonnets, Baskets, and divers other things out of Wheat-Straw, hath been an Employment time out of mind, for the poor People both Men, Women and Children, from Four, to Fourcore Years of Age in the aforefaid Counties and other Places, by which many thousands have gained a Comfortable Subsistence and kept themselves and their Families from being Chargable to the Parishes,

The Farmers Wives, Children and Servants, do at their spare Hours Earn, some 10, some 20, and some 30l. per. Annum. By Manufacturing, there own Straw, which is a good Article towards paying their Rent.

That by Six Penny-worth of Straw, bought of the Farmers, the Poor People can make by their Industry and work, Eight, Nine, and oftentimes Ten Shillings.

That when so wrought up and Manufactured, they carry every Week to Market, for which they have ready Money, without any Deduction, Stoppage, or Obligation to take part in Goods, or even so much as to Deal with those that Buy their Hatts &c.

But it hath so fallen out of late Years, that by the Importation of great Quantities of a sort of Chip, or Shaving from Holland, which is Platted, and a sort of Platt and Hats from Legborn, and other Places (the Duties of which amounts to but an Inconsiderable Sum) yet it hath proved almost and will prove if permitted to be Imported, the Total Destruction of the said Manufacture, which hath been so extensively Beneficial to the Poor, of the said Counties.

Therefore, It is humbly requested, that the Honourable House of Commons taking this our Poor distress'd Cafe into their Consideration, will by such ways as the Honourable House, (ball seem meet, put a stop to the growing Inconveniences that will prove the Total Destruction of so useful and beneficial a Manufacture, as the Straw-Ware of our own growth and produce is, and prevent the said Counties from becoming chargeable to the Parishes, having no other way to Subsift, &c.