Chap. ^tVI. Appendix , No. 4. 321

Well as horizontally, backward and forward, for the perforationof the cloth at every stitch. The power required to work thesixteen frames, is considerably less than that of two horses.

The nature of the muslin trade of Scotland , was, for manyyears, peculiarly unfavourable to the prosecution of every spe-cies of thick goods. The extensive external demand, and highprices obtained for every kind of light, fanciful articles, affordedgreat scope to inventive genius, and diverted the whole attentionof both master and Operative Weavers, from almost every sub-stantial fabric, excepting the finer sorts of cambrics, shirtings,and pullicates. Hence, it became, at one period, a matter bor-dering on impossibility', to procure bands for any of the mostcammon, although infinitely most useful kinds of cOtton cloth.Besides, the rise Upon provisions, and every other necessary oflife, occasioned by the increase of public burdens, had renderedthe highest prices that could be given for weaving coarse cot-tons, to stand competition with India goods, quite inadequate fobthe support of the weaver and his family ; and consequently, hewould not work at them, so long as he could get finer, for whichhe was better paid.

The calico-printers, in particular, foUnd it impracticable toprocure the low-priced articles, which form by far the greatestbranch of their trade, either in sufficient abundance, or at rea-sonable rates. Necessity therefore prompted, as a remedy forscarcity of hands, the substitution of machinery for manubl la-hour.

The operations required in a loOm for weaving plain cloth;are. very far from being either complicated or difficult. Hencethe wonder seems to be, not that power or automatic looms were*but that they were not sooner erected, and much more rapidlymatured than the best of them are, even at this moment. Thabrst attempts in Scotland , Were made at Milntown printfield, inDumbartonshire, at least it was there where they first assumed•be appearance of regular and extensive business :—nearly about•he same time, they were introduced at Stockport in England.

It is foreign from the present design to investigate mechanically•be difference of the power looms adopted there and here :—eachthem possesses merits exclusively their own, and both seemstl B susceptible of improvements. Defective, however, as themechanical part still unquestionably is, the chemical part is in»finitely more so. Many modes of dressing the w r arps have been•ped, but without very flattering success ; nor will this be reme-died, until Chemistry comes to aid her sister science. It is in.•be composition of the dressing mucilage, not in its mechanicalapplication to the yarn, that the deficiency still exists. Therea third species of Power loom, which was constructed by an" n glishman, and brought into use in Glasgow , under a patent.

•a the other looms, the cloth is stretched horizontally ; in this it

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