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Chap. XVI. App. No. 2.
Account of the Secondary or less importantManufactures of Scotland .
By Mr James Boaz of Glasgow.
About forty years ago, the Silk manufacture was carried toconsiderable extent in Scotland . Between the years 1760 and1770, several London companies established themselves at Pais-ley, and, in conjunction with the Scottish manufacturers, em-ployed about 5000 looms, which annually produced about350,000/. worth of goods. The introduction of muslins, how.ever, ruined this branch ; and, with the exception of the looms,weaving imitation shawls and cloth for Bandana handkerchiefs,there are not now 20 silk looms at work in Scotland .
1. Tarn and Threads. —There are no silk throw-mills in Scot-land . The yarn, used for the silk trade is brought from England—also all the sewing silk. The refuse and chippings of the manufac-tories, after being carded, are spun on the common wheel, or handjeanie ; and the yarn being laid two or three ply, is slightly twist-ed. This is denominated Spun silk, and is used for coarse stock-ings, which are knitted in the usual manner. This manufactureis still carried on to a small extent in Aberdeen, &c.
2. Cloth. —The chief fabrics are imitation shawls. Of thesethere are four manufactories in Edinburgh , which make thesearticles from 2/. to 9/. each in price, of the most beautiful andfanciful patterns ; and the annual value of their goods will a-mount to from 25,000/. to 30,0p0l. sterling. The whole of theamount of the value of this branch of manufacture may be a-bout 50,000/. yearly. Dark-grounded ginghams, pullicates, withtartan and other gown-pieces, still continue to be made of silkmixed with cotton ; but the quantity of these articles is inconsi-derable, as the discovery of the method of fixing colours on cot-ton has now much superseded the use of silk. Ribbons are notmade in Scotland , but brought from England.
The $ilk manufacture is not at present of much importance toScotland ; and the attention of the people is more profitably di-rected to the woollen, linen, and cotton manufactures, the unit-ed value of which is pearly nine millions sterling per annum.
2. Calico-Printing, Dying, and Bleaching.
1. Calico-Printing.
1. Calico-Printing, extent of, in Scotland . —The art of calico-printing is carried to great extent in Scotland , particularly in