OF SCOTLAND.

293

these several branches of industry, will be found in the Ap-pendix *.

1. WOOLLEN.

This species of manufacture, the most ancient known inScotland , consists of four principal divisions: 1 . Spinning ,or the conversion of the raw material into yarn; 2. Weaving ,or the manufacture of yarn into cloth, blankets, carpets, &c.3. Knitting, or the manufacture of yarn into stockings,gloves, pantaloons, &c.; and 4. Felting, or the making ofWoollen hats.

1. Spinning —Some attempts were made, before the twocrowns were united, to establish the woollen manufacture inScotland on a regular footing; and experienced workmenwere accordingly brought for that purpose, from differentparts of Europe . But these attempts failed, and the tradegradually reverted to its former narrow limits, when thewoollen cloths made in. Scotland were chiefly manufacturedby the extra labour of those who were employed in husbandry.The females, especially in winter, were occupied in cardingand spinning the wool. The yarn thus produced, was eithergiven to a country weaver, to be woven into cloth for familyuse, or sold to such dealers as frequented fairs, where thesurplus of both cloth and yarn was exposed to sale. Thismode of manufacturing woollen yarn and cloth, is not yetentirely abandoned, although now principally confined to theHighlands and poorer districts of the country.

Before the introduction of machinery for spinning wool,the process was performed in two ways; 1. By the largewheel, of one spyndle, driven by the hand; and 2. Bvthe small wheel, of one or two spyndles, driven by the foot,after the wool had been prepared by the hand-card,or comb-ed. Wool-combing was once a considerable branch ofthis manufacture ; but it is now almost entirely supersededby carding machines.

See the Appendix , NO. II.