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ON THE POLITICAL ECONOMY

SECT. I.

MANUFACTURES.

This important branch of the present inquiry, will em-brace the fabrication of a great variety of articles; and willdisplay, in a striking point of view, the great extent and va-lue, which the manufacturing industry of the people in Scot-land , has attained. Until a late period, manufactures were,comparatively speaking, but little known in that country;but since the Union between the two kingdoms, severalbranches have been brought to a high degree of improve-ment; and extensive markets have been opened, both athome and abroad, to the spirit and enterprise of the Scotchmanufacturers.

The manufactures carried on in Scotland , may be classedunder two distinct heads :

1. The Primary or most important, which require muchmachinery, and employ great numbers of people; and, 2.The Secondary, which in both these respects are inferior.

The first head comprehends, 1. The woollen; 2. Thelinen; and, 3. The cotton.

The second, (including some of the chief branches of themechanic arts), contains a variety of articles ; as, 1. Silk; 2.Calico-printing, &c.; 3. Hats; 4. Paper; 5. Iron; 6. Copper,lead, and tin; 7. Wood; 8. Tanning; 9. Breweries and distil-leries; 10. Sugar refining; 11. Pottery; 12. Glass; 13. Soap,candles and starch ; 14. Culinary salt; 15. Tobacco andsnuff; 16. Combs and spoons; 17, Coal , lime, and marble,as connected with manufactures; and, 18. A number of mis-cellaneous particulars.

An account of the origin, progress, and present state of