The next material for the Manufactures is Cotton Wooll, which is now become a great Imployment for the Poor, and so adds to the Wealth of the Kingdom; This being curiously pickt and spun, makes Dimities, Tapes, Stockings, Gloves, besides several things Wove fit for use, as Wastcoats, Pettycoats, and Drawers, of different Stripes and Finesses; and I doubt not the Workmen would equal the _East Indies_ for Callicoes, had they Encouragement; with all which we supply our Plantations and other Foreign Markets, besides what serves for our Consumption at Home.
Hemp and Flax are the Grounds for another Manufacture; for tho’ Weaving of Linnen is not so much used in _South Britain_, as of Woollen, yet in _North Britain_ it is, and may be farther improved, not so much by Laws to direct the Workmen in their making it, as by apt Methods to Encourage them; and even in _South Britain_ several Counties are imployed thereon, who not only supply themselves, but furnish those bordering on them, with such Cloth as answers the ends of French Linnens: Besides which, great Quantities of Ticking, of all Finesses, Incle, Tapes, Sacking, Girtwhip, and many other things are made thereof; also Cordage, Twine, Netts, with Multitudes of other Manufactures, which Imploy the Poor, and bring by their Exports Profit to the Nation; and I can not here omit Sail-cloth, wherein we have made a wonderful Progress in a little time, at the Charge and Expence of private Stocks, who deserve to be Encouraged.
Glass is a Manufacture brought to so great a Perfection, that it keeps many of our People at Work; and the Materials whereof it is made being generally our own, and in themselves of small Value, costs the Nation little, in comparison of what it formerly did, when we fetcht it from _Venice_; the Noble Plate Glasses which we now make of all sorts, both for Houses and Coaches, do greatly set forth the Genius of our Workmen; besides the various sorts of Utensils made for common use, fit for all the Occasions of a Family, which look almost as well as Silver, and it would be better for the Nation that they were more used in its stead; also the Glass for Windows, of different Beauties; and Glass Bottles; all which find a greater Vent both at Home and Abroad by their Cheapness.