per

and the maker's name. Lord Dundonald requests that his mission to take samples may extend to the hammock stuff, which is at present in every respect deficient and inferior to the hammock stuff when Lord D. was in the navy. In his present and former exertions to improve the manufacture of sail-cloth, he has not, nor has he ever had, the most distant idea of emolument to himself; he loves his country, and is, from many considerations, strongly interested in the success and welfare of a profession to which he once had the honour to belong; having in the year' 1770, been Admiral (then Captain) Paisley's lieutenant in the Weazle sloop of war, on the coast of Guinea station.

The present situation of Britain, as respects the countries from whence she was formerly supplied with naval stores, particularly hemp and flax, requires that those articles should be husbanded with the greatest prudence and economy; and should be made in a sound state, to last as long as possible. Lord Dundonald is informed, that the navy has, at present, three years stock of those articles in store. If even but one year can be added to the last of those articles, it is a great object, and will give full time for bringing forward the necessary supplies from Canada, the East Indies, &c. or for the cultivation of hemp and flax in the fens, and reclaimed bogs of Great-Britain and Ireland, for which they are well adapted. This will not take any part of the land from tillage or pasture: a bounty should be given on the sound and dressed hemp thus raised; likewise a premium for saving the seed of hemp which had been sown for the express purpose, but no premium on the hemp itself, as, from the ripening of the seed, it is of an inferior quality, and only fit for coarser purposes. Britain will likewise suffer as to the supply of iron she formerly got from Russia and Sweden; but that will be but for a time: the manufacture of coak-made iron is rapidly advancing in Britain, and should be encouraged by the legislature instead of being saddled with a duty, as was proposed to be done by the two late Chancellors of the Exchequer.

The war with Russia will promote in Britain the manufacture of the coarser fabrics of linen and hempen cloth, formerly had from Russia and Silesia. The cotton manufacture may, for a

time, decline, but the linen manufacture will proportionably advance. Without British capital, Russia may shut up shop. Her hemp, flax, iron, tallow, pot and pearl ashes, and linens, will remain on hand; manufactures and trade will be at a complete stand; and Alexander may, ere long, meet with the fate of his father and grandfather.

Methods of Manufacturing Dutch and British Navy Canvas.

DUTCH CANVAS.

Chain or Warp, single, of Italian hemp.
Shoot or Wooft, of the tow of ditto, ditto.
The yarn-cleansed to a loss of 20 per cent.
Little or no dressing employed.

Chain contains at least three-score more yarns than British navy

canvas.

The shoot well driven up; canvas close, and, as it were felted. Stands its shape, number, and weight to the last, when made into a sail.

Does not mildew.

BRITISH NAVY CANVAS.

Chain or Warp, double, of flax.

Shoot or Wooft, of the longs of hemp.

Yarn cleansed to a loss of from 3 to 7 per cent.

A very great proportion of wheaten Hour dressing employed, to glue or stick together the double threads.

Chain not near so close and strong as Dutch canvas.

The shoot being of the longs cannot be driven so close up. Does not stand its shape, number, and weight; when made into a sail, loses from a fifth to a sixth of its weight.

Is liable to mildew.

Report on Dutch, Danish, and Bridport Sail-Cloth.

HOLLAND DUCK, OR DUTCH CANVAS.

Breadth, 30 inches.

Chain single, of Italian hemp.

Thirty single threads in the inch of chain.
The shoots, of the shorts, or tow of ditto.
The shoot well driven up, and canvas close.
Wove with little or no dressing.

Cleansed in the yarn, to a loss of 20 per

Will not mildew.

cent.

DANISH CANVAS, HEAVY NUMBER.

Breadth, 31 inches.

Chain double, of hemp.

Eighteen double threads in the inch of chain.

The shoot, of the longs of flax.

Canvas well manufactured.

Wove with less dressing than the British navy canvas.

The canvas apparently callendered.

Cleansed to a loss of 17 per cent.

Will not mildew.

Is in every respect preferable to British navy canvas.

LIGHT NUMBERS OF DANISH CANVAS.

Breadth, 29 inches.

The one apparently a No. 4 or 5, the other a No. 8.
Both chain and shoot of flax.

The yarn well spun, and canvas well wove,

The yarn not cleansed at all.

Loss on boiling No. 5 with alkaline salts, 20 per cent.

Ditto ditto No. 8

Liable to mildew.

Samples of Canvas of the Manufacture of Bridport, made by
Messrs. FowLER & SON, viz. Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Breadth, 24 inches, corresponding to the width of navy canvas.

The chain single, of the longs of flax.

The shoot, of the tow of flax.

Well wove, and close driven up.

Thoroughly boiled and bleached, to a loss of 25 per cent.
Will not mildew.

Is used by all the revenue cruisers, packet boats, and smacks of Great-Britain.

One suit of Bridport sails will outlast two suits of British navy canvas, as at present manufactured.

The Bridport canvas may be further improved, by putting more yarn in the chain, like Dutch canvas, in which case the manufacturer should be allowed 14d. more per yard.

that two suits Bridport canvas did no more than out

last three suits of

navy canvass. The expense will be as follow:

But say even that three suits of Caker did no more than out

Besides the many advantages already stated in this paper, in consequence of the navy's being supplied with the best possible.

canvas.

Lastly, Lord Dundonald most earnestly recommends this paper to the perusal and consideration of the Lords of the Admiralty. The manufacturers of Bridport and Crewkerne are fully

able to supply the navy with canvas, if a proper price is allowed them for it. But they should have notice given them in time, that they may prepare the yarn early in the spring, and which should be of hemp and not of flax, at least the chain should be of hemp: the shoot may be of flax tow, as it is softer and drives up better than hemp tow, that is, unless great pains are taken to soften it by beating.

HISTORICAL Sketch of the Origin, Progress, and present State of Trade and Commerce in general, with the Produce and Manufacture of each Country in the four Quarters of the Globe.

COMMERCE may be defined to be the exchange of the natural or artificial productions of a country for those of another, either by barter, or by representative signs of thei" value; and as coin or bullion is the most general representative of the value of other commodities, the profits of commerce are hence frequently, but erroneously, estimated by the quantity of money it brings into a country. But a very beneficial trade may be carried on without any balance being payable in money: or that balance may (as is the case with Britain) be absorbed by payments on other accounts: for notwithstanding our commerce has long been in a very flourishing state, and has been extended to a degree unparalleled in history, yet the quantity of specie and of bullion in the country has not been materially augmented.

The most early mode of carrying on trade was obviously by barter: for it must strike every reflecting individual; that commerce is nearly co-eval with the creation; and a very small increase of mankind was sufficient to prove its utility, and to dẹmonstrate the natural dependance our species had upon one another. By the wise dispensation of Providence, their simple occupations were suited to their wants; and the diligent discharge of the one rendered sufficient to supply the moderate demands of the other; and though agriculture, or the feeding of