SPECIMENS OE HONITON LACE.

teach twenty-four boys to read, &c., and twenty-four girls to knit, spin, and make bone- lace.” There existsample evidence, not only that the home trade had grown into a flourishing condition by the end of the seven-teenth century, but that it had even become extended into an export one.

With regard to that particular variety of lace of which the objects engraved presented so admirable aspecimen, w r e are happy to have it in our power to give some interesting information upon the subject, derivedfrom the lady whose exertions have done so much to elevate the character of Devonshire work. In hervaluable communication Mrs. Treadwin informs us, that “The lace-trade has been carried on in Devonshire for more than two hundred years, for there is in the churchyard of Honiton. a stone in memory of JamesRidge, bone-lace dealer, who died in 1617, and left a sum of money for the benefit of the poor of Honiton;and in a book mentioning two great fires which occurred in 1756 and 1767 in Honiton, the suffering of themany employed in lace-making are spoken of. Although the lace-trade at that time was extensive, itmust then and for a long time after have principally consisted in producing the nett or Honiton ground (anett much like the present machine nett), in which the sprigs first separately made were worked in on thepillow. This kind of nett was very expensive, and one of the old people formerly in the trade showed mea*piece about eighteen inches square, which she had had made just previous to the machine netts coming into use,and which then cost her in making fifteen pounds, although it was plain nett only. From the great differenceof price, as the same size piece of lace at the very commencement of its manufacture by machinery was soldfor about as many shillings, and now for fewer pence, the trade of hand-made nett was completely destroyed,and I know of but two now alive in Devonshire who can make it. The sprigs and edges still continued tobe used, being sewn on the machine nett; but little, however, was done in this way, and the great changewas the occasion of much suffering throughout the country, as in the endeavour to compete with machinerythe prices were brought so low that a pittance sufficient to sustain life could not be obtained by it. In thisdepressed condition it remained for about twenty years, until Queen Adelaide w T as pleased to order a Honitonlace dress, made of Honiton sprigs sewn on machine nett. This revived the trade but little, since few followedher example. It still got on slowly, rather improving, but employing comparatively few persons, until ourpresent Most Gracious Majesty ordered her bridal dress to be made of Honiton lace. This dress was made ofHoniton sprigs, connected together by a variety of open works, &c., and all worked on the pillow by hand;it was made at Beer, a small village near Seaton, on the coast of Devon . From the date of that order themanufacture revived, until from employing only a scattered few it affords a good livelihood to the majority ofthe female labouring population in that part of Devon which may be enclosed by a line from Seaton toExmouth, up the river Exe to Exeter, back the London road to Honiton, thence to Seaton, including manythousand hands. Within the last four years the demand has been enormous, and at one time so far exceededthe supply that the quality of the work for the time materially suffered. So careless and indifferent are thegreat majority of ‘hands’ as to the beauty of their work, that I am invariably obliged to have any piece ofwork that I cannot give out a fac-simile to copy from, made in my own house, where I can hourly superintendthe manner in which it is worked; in fact, during the time I was employed about the flounce engraved Idid not leave my work-room at all during working hours. As to the character of the lace-workers, as abody they dislike regular work. I do not mean to say they are not industrious, but they have a great disliketo working anywhere where regular attendance at certain hours is required, preferring to work at home bythe piece, so that they can begin or leave work as they please; and they are generally fond of dress, andcareless of the future. For the last four years at least the earnings of an average lace-maker who worked afair ten hours per day are above the wages of a farm-labourer, 7s .; really good hands get much more. Asto their education, they can generally read and write; but, unfortunately, even in those villages which may be,considered dependent on the lace-trade, no attempt is made to educate, or in any way promote, any tasteuseful in the manufacture. To avoid some of the evils, and implant a better taste among my own hands, Iformed a school; but having completely failed in inducing the grown-up work people to improve, I was obligedto commence again about two years since with children from about twelve to fourteen years of age. Of courseit will yet take some time to develope itself fully; but the progress they have made satisfies me that a littleknowledge of drawing, and more regular habits of work being drilled into the workers, will very materiallyimprove the kind of work they produce. There is not a professed lace-designer in Devonshire ; my own Ihave procured until this last year from Paris, since then from Somerset House and Nottingham.”