BOBBIN-NET AND MACHINE-MADE LACE.

399

FRANCE.

“ To tlio grout trading nation, to the groat manufacturing nntion, no progresswhich any portion of the human race can make in knowledge, in taste for the con-veniences of life, or in the wealth by which these conveniences are produced, canbe matter of indifference.”— Macaulay.

Since the failure 14 of Lee, in 1610, to introduce the stocking-frame into France, that country remained ignorant of a manu-facture which was daily progressing in England, on whom shewas dependant for stockings and for net.

In 1778, Caillen attempted a kind of net, “ tricot dentelle,”for which he obtained a gratuity from the Academy of 40Z., buthis method did not succeed; it was, like the first efforts of ourcountryman, only knitting.

In 1784, Louis XV1. sent the Duke de Liancourt to Englandto study the improvements in the stocking and net machinery,and to bring back a frame, lie was accompanied by Hhumbolt,who worked in a manufactory at Nottingham, and having ac-quired the art, returned to France. Monarchy had fallen, but theFrench Republic, 1793-4, granted Rhumbolttlie sum of 110,000francs (4400?.). The machine he brought with him was the pointnet. 15

The cessation of all commercial intercourse prevented Francefrom keeping pace with the improvements making in England ;yet, singular enough, at the beginning of the present century,more net was manufactured in France than in England. At thetime of the Peace of Amiens, 1802, there were 2000 frames inLyons and Nimes, while there were scarcely 1200 in England;but the superiority of the English net was incontestable; so,to protect the national manufactures, Napoleon prohibited theimportation. This of course increased its demand; the net washi recpiest in proportion as it was prohibited. The best martfor Nottingham was the French market, so the Nottingham nettrade took every means to pass their produce into France.

Hayne, one of the proprietors of the “ barley-corn ” net, hadgone to Paris to make arragements for smuggling it over, when

H See p. 390, note *. John Hindrea, simple et double de Lyon et de Vienne.”in 1656. first established a stoelting-frame The net was single loops, hence thein France. name 0 f *« single press,” given to these

The net produced was cnlled “ tnllo primitive frames.