JVo. Of 6) 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FRAXKLIX INSTITUTE. 
 
 pR/iNKLiN Institute Librart 
 
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 Class aiiciii luciuue muse uooks inienaeti lor circuiauon among tiie meiiiuers. 
 
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 Institute any work belonging to the second class, subject to the following 
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 may be injured or lost by him. 
 
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 Section 3. A fine of ten cents per week shall be exacted for the detention 
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 leges of the Library or Reading Room. 
 
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 going rules, it shall be the duty of the Actuary to report him to the Commit- 
 tee on the Library. 
 
TREATISE 
 
 ON 
 
 SPINNING MACHINERY 
 
 ILLUSTRATED WITH 
 
 PLANS OF DIFFERENT MACHINES MADE USE 
 . ., OF IN THAT ART, 
 
 THE SPINDliE ^YlJ .) 'd15?TA::?F; iV'TIIK ANCIENTS TO THE 
 MACriTNES WHICH HAVE BE'E^IST JlS^\^£";?^TED OR 
 IMPROVED BY THE MODERNS. 
 
 WITH SOME PRELIMINARY OBSERTATIONS, TENDING TO SHEW THAT THE 
 ARTS OF SPINNING, WEAVING, AND SEWING, WERE INVENTED 
 BY THE INGENUITY OF FEMALES. 
 
 AND A 
 
 POSTSCRIPT, 
 
 INCLUDING AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE MODE 
 OF SPINNING YARN IN IRELAND, 
 
 By ANDREW GRAY, 
 
 AUTHOR OF THE PLOUGH WRIGHT's ASSISTANT, AND EXPERIENCED 
 3IILL-\VRIGIIT. 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 
 PRINTED FOR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND CO. EDINBURGH; 
 AND LONGMAN AND CO. LONDON. 
 
 1819. 
 
John Moir, Printer. 
 
TO 
 
 \ 
 
 THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 LADY DUFFERIN. 
 
 MadaMj 
 
 Ijsr the following hiimhle attempt to trace the 
 progress of the art of forming a thready from the 
 simple mode of the spindle and distaff of the an^ 
 cientSy to the more perfect machines which have 
 been invented by the moderns^ I have found that 
 the invention of spinnings and the elegant improve- 
 ment of forming the produce into various fabrics^ 
 Jor comfort and ornament^ to which the civilization 
 and improvement of mankind in all countries are 
 so greatly indehtedj — have been uniformly ascribed 
 to the ingenuity of the fair sejc. 
 
 In soliciting your hadyships patronage and 
 protection to this little Work, I am guided solely 
 by the benevolent and patriotic attention you have 
 condescended to bestow on the improvement of this 
 one of the earliest of the Arts, and whichy allow me 
 to say J places your Ladyship^ in modern times, in 
 
ii 
 
 the same exalted ranTc as those Ladies deservedly 
 distlngtiished by the ancients. 
 
 Permit 7ne only to add^ that your Ladyship will 
 Jind^ in the review of the modern machinery^ that 
 it is only applicable to the coarser fabrics in the 
 linen manufacture^ and not likely ever to supersede 
 the fine spinning by the hand oj females^ who^ in 
 Ireland, as in other parts of the British Empire, 
 have been always celebrated for their excellence and 
 industry in this truly domestic manufacture. 
 
 With the greatest respect, 
 I have the honour to be, 
 Mjdam, 
 Your Ladyship's 
 
 Devoted humble Servant, 
 ANDREW GRAY. 
 
 Edinburgh f January 1819. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The object of the following Treatise is to ex- 
 hibit the construction of several implements 
 which have been long employed by the people 
 of Great Britain, in preparing materials and 
 spinning them into yarn, — from the flat 
 stone and wooden mallet, the spindle and 
 the distaflf, which the ancients made use of 
 for these purposes, to various machines which 
 have either been improved or invented by the 
 moderns. 
 
 The art of spinning is, without dispute, of 
 very remote antiquity, though we can say 
 nothing certain with respect to its origin, by 
 whom this necessary art was invented, or in 
 what country it was first discovered. In- 
 
6 
 
 deed, there are several nations who claim the 
 merit of this valuable invention. The Egyp- 
 tians say it was Isis who invented^ and also 
 taught them the art of spinning.* The Chi- 
 nese give the honour of this discovery to the 
 consort of their emperor Yao. f It may, 
 however, be observed on this subject, that 
 the traditions of almost all nations ascribe 
 the honour of inventing the arts of spinning, 
 weaving, and sewing, to the ingenuity of the 
 fair sex. The Lydians ascribed this discove- 
 ry to Arachne, J the Greeks to Minerva, § 
 the Peruvians to Mamacella,^ wife to Man- 
 co-capac, their first sovereign. It was also 
 to ladies that the Greek and Roman wri- 
 ters attributed the invention of the needle, (| 
 and the art of spinning the silk of certain in- 
 sects, and weaving it into stuffs.** We can- 
 not, however, determine whether these tra- 
 
 * Martcapella, 1. 2. p. 32. t Martini Hist. De la Chine, 1. 1. p. 61. 
 
 i Ovid. Metam. 1. 6. imt. Plin. 1. 7. sect. 57- p. 414. 
 $ Sec Part 2. B 2. sect. 2, c. 2. ^ Hist. Desineas, t. 1. p. 22. and 5i. 
 I Higin. Fab. 274 
 
 Arist. Hist. Anim. 1. 5 19. p. 849. Pliu. L 11. sect. 26. p. 604. 
 
 Isidor. Ori^. 1. 14. c. 6. 
 
7 
 
 ditions be founded in fact, or have only 
 arisen from these particular arts having, in 
 all ages and countries, been allotted to the 
 fair sex. 
 
 Be this as it may, doubtless the art of 
 spinning was known, and also practised in 
 very early times. Whoever was the inven- 
 tor, without doubt it is a most valuable 
 discovery ; for by this simple art any fibrous 
 material, as flax, wool, cotton, silk, hemp, 
 &c. can easily be united into one continued 
 thread of any length, and at various degrees 
 of thickness. Hence, from the smallest thread 
 for sev/ing the finest apparel, to a cable or 
 anchor-rope which holds fast the largest ship 
 of war, spinning has been from time immemo* 
 rial applied with success. This truth is men- 
 tioned by several profane historians at a very 
 remote period ; but though it be evident that 
 the art of spinning was practised in very 
 early times, yet we can say nothing certain 
 concerning the manner in which mankind 
 first made use of yarn in fabricating stuffs for 
 raiment. It is mentioned by Homer^ that 
 
8 
 
 Penelope, in order to evade the decision of 
 her choice of a husband, told her suitors, that 
 she would make her choice as soon as she 
 had finished a web to wrap round the body 
 of Laertes, the father of Ulysses ; and, in or- 
 der to gain time, she always unravelled in 
 the night the part she had weaved through 
 the day. We should be inclined to imagine 
 this web was some kind of net-work, and that 
 perhaps weaving by warp and woof had not 
 then been invented. Probably, before man- 
 kind discovered this valuable art, they would 
 adopt various methods, make many essays, 
 and prepare a variety of fabrics,^ as tress- 
 es, net- work, &c. till by degrees they found 
 out the web by warp and woof, which ^ 
 unquestionably, is oiie of the most use- 
 ful inveiitions of which mankind are in 
 possession ; for it is by means of this art 
 that various sorts of yarn can be wrought 
 up into warm, commodious, and beautiful 
 garments. Indeed, there are few inventions 
 which have displayed so much ingenuity, or 
 
 * See Liicret.l.6.v.l54;9,&:c.; Braun; deVestitu Sacerdot. Hebr. n. 235. 
 p. 250, 6-:c. 
 
9 
 
 done more honour to human genius than that 
 of weaving yarn into such an amazing num- 
 ber of different kinds of stuffs, as are to be 
 found in all civilized nations. Perhaps civi* 
 lization could not well have proceeded with- 
 out spinning and weaving, at least we may 
 suppose that navigation and commerce could 
 not have gone forward without these arts. 
 For, besides clothing and ornamenting the 
 human body, — if we consider the com- 
 merce of Great Britain and all civilized na- 
 tions, what could have been substituted for 
 those immense canvas sails by which the lar- 
 gest ships are wafted over the seas to every 
 shore, however distant ? 
 
 A great many conjectures, however, might 
 be formed about the origin of weaving yarn 
 into cloth. ^ We might say with an ancient 
 author, that mankind probably owe the dis- 
 covery of this art to the spider.f They, per^ 
 haps, would take notice of the manner ia 
 which this insect warped its web ; they might 
 
 * By wearing, is meant all sorts of works that are made iu the JjOOBt,. 
 t Dcmocritus, »pud Plut t. 2. p. 974. 
 
10 
 
 observe how it conducted the threads by the 
 weight of its own body, and thus composed 
 the web of warp and woof. But, without 
 mentioning the various hypotheses which 
 might be formed on this subject, we inay 
 suppose that the idea of the web by warp 
 and woof first struck mankind from the in- 
 spection of the inner bark of certain trees. 
 Some of these, it is said, bear a very great 
 resemblance to a web ; the fibres, it appears, 
 are interwoven, and cross each other almost 
 at right angles. * The manner, therefore, in 
 which the filaments of these barks are dispo- 
 sed, might possibly give the first hint of the 
 web by warp and woof. 
 
 JBe this as it may, it is evident, that before 
 people could either spin the yarn or weave it 
 into cloth, they must first have mvented in- 
 struments for preparing the materials, and al- 
 so machines with which to spin these mate- 
 rials into threads of yarn. The spindle and 
 the distaff perhaps were the chief instruments 
 generally made use of by the ancients in spin- 
 
 * It is reported, that trees of this kind grow in the Indies. 
 
II 
 
 ning ; and these simple tools are made use of 
 by some people in North Britain at this day. 
 Howt:ver this may be with respect to spin- 
 nings we are still more ignorant as to the 
 form of the weaving instruments which the 
 ancients employed in fabricating stuffs for 
 raiments If we reflect on the vast num- 
 ber, and great variety of machines, which are 
 now made use of by the inhabitants of Bri- 
 tain in weaving their fine stuffs, we can scarce- 
 ly believe that the people in these first ages 
 could form any thing hke them. Yet it is easy 
 to imagine they might dispense with them, 
 if, instead of viewing our own complicated 
 machines, we observe the simple ones in seve- 
 ral remote nations. 
 
 It is reported, that the inhabitants of the 
 greater India^ Africa, and America, at pre- 
 sent weave stuffs with a few very siiDple 
 instruments. The people in these ancient 
 ages might probably do the saii^e. Though 
 the inhabitants of the above-mentioned coun- 
 tries are certainly strangers to many branches 
 of knowledge which the artizans in Great Bri- 
 
IS 
 
 tain and Ireland possess, yet the fineness and 
 beauty of their stuffs cannot be sufficiently 
 admired. We can say nothing certain with 
 respect to the construction of the instruments 
 or machines which the people in these coun- 
 tries employ in spinning their fine yarn, or if 
 tliey use any other than the simple spindle 
 and distaff. We are informed, however, that 
 in weaving they use no other instruments but 
 a shuttle and a few small pieces of wood. 
 
 In this age, however, and particularly in 
 Great Britain and Ireland, the arts in ge- 
 neral are brought to a considerable degree of 
 perfection, especially that of spinning fine 
 yarn, and weaving it into a variety of beauti- 
 ful stuffs for clothing, which contribute not 
 only to the convenience and comfort, but also 
 to tiie ornament of the human body. 
 
 Indeed the account we have of the manner 
 in which mankind were clothed before spin- 
 ning and weaving by warp and woof was in-? 
 vented, gives us some idea of that ignorance 
 which prevailed in those early times with re- 
 spect to clothing, and is also an indisput- 
 able proof Oi the great advantages which 
 
IS 
 
 the moderns enjoy in this respect above 
 the ancients. * Their garments discover- 
 ed neither art nor industry ; they used such 
 as nature presented, and needed the least 
 preparation. Some people covered themselves 
 with the bark of trees, others with leaves, 
 herbs, or bulrushes, rudely interwoven* f The 
 ignorance of some savage nations at this day 
 presents us with a model of these ancient cus- 
 toms. :|: The skins of animals, however, seem 
 to have been the niost generally made use of 
 for garments in these primitive ages. 
 
 Indeed, the skins of animals are not na* 
 turally adapted to form an exact and com- 
 modious covering for the human body; 
 mankind, therefore, would probably begin 
 very early to search for proper materials 
 of which to fabricate convenient and warm 
 x:lothing to cover their bodies, without re- 
 
 * Letter, Edif. t. 9. 420. Hist. Gen. des Voyag. 1. 5'. p. 184. Voyag. 
 ^ Damp. t. 4. p. 232. 255. Hist, des Incas, I. 2. p. 77. Voyag. des dc 
 Lerg. p. 275. Nouv. Relat. de la France Equinox, p. i25i 
 
 + Strabo. r. II. p. 781. Senec. c. SO p. 40. C. Hist, des Incas. t. t. 
 J.ettei i dif. t. 2. p. i8S. Ext. dt s Histor. CLinois p. 5. 
 j: Voyage de Hanipier, 1. p. 141. Voyage des Holland, t. 4. p. 506 and 
 231. 
 
straining the activity of their motions. The 
 wool and hair of some animals were perhaps 
 the first materials most generally used for 
 making garments. There are^ however, se- 
 veral plants, such as flax, hemp, cotton, &c. 
 which are very proper for this purpose. 
 Doubtless, mankind would soon begin to make 
 raiment of cotton, as it requires very little 
 preparation, and has a great resemblance to 
 fine wool. But it is evident that flax, hemp, 
 and other filamentous plants are not so easily 
 prepared as wool and cotton, because the fi-^ 
 brous parts of these plants must first be dis^ 
 engaged from the bark and all other refuse^ 
 before they can be spun into yarn, or wove in-^ 
 to cloth. In order to this, it is necessary to 
 water, break, switch, or scutch, and heckle 
 them. Yet it cannot be doubted that robes 
 made of linen were used in very remote times. 
 The working up of these materials, however, 
 has been the object of incessant study and re- 
 flection. To these earnest inquiries and suc- 
 cessive improvements we are indebted for 
 that prodigious number of various kinds of 
 
15 
 
 stuffs which are in use among all civilized na-^ 
 tions. Linen, in particular, has been used for 
 garments both in Britain and Ireland from 
 time immemorial, and is still made use of in. 
 these countries, not only for apparel, but also 
 for a great variety of other purposes. It is 
 obvious, however, that the materials whereof 
 linen is fabricated, must be properly prepared 
 before they can be spun into yarn. Perhaps, 
 therefore, it may be proper, before we begin to 
 describe spinning machines, first, to give some 
 account of several instruments that have been 
 long employed for that purpose, and also of 
 those superior machines which have been more 
 recently invented or improved^ 
 
EXPLANATION 
 
 OF 
 
 THE PLATES. 
 
 PLATE I. 
 
 Fig. 1. represents a large stone, with a smooth 
 upper surface ; a small parcel of the rough plants 
 is laid upon the surface of this stone, and beat 
 till the hard parts are broken and the fibrous 
 parts softened. 
 
 Fig. 2. CD, represents a wooden mallet, in which 
 is fixed the handle EF. With this mallet a person 
 beats the fibrous plants, and breaks the hard re- 
 fuse ; the plants, thus softened by repeated strokes 
 of the mallet, are then divided into small parts, 
 and switched, or scutched, with a thin broad 
 piece of wood, called a swingle-wand. 
 
 Fig, 3. No. 1. G HI, is a profile of the swingle-' 
 wand, and No. 2. is an edge view of the same in- 
 strument. 
 
 A 
 
18 
 
 Fig. 4u No. I. ML, is a cross section of a board 
 termed the swingle-stocky the lower end of which 
 is fixed into the block of wood KL. The man- 
 ner of working with this instrument is by a per- 
 son seated upon a stool, or chair, with one foot 
 placed upon the block at K, to hold the instru- 
 ment firm ; then taking a parcel of the broken 
 or beat plants into one hand, holds it over the 
 top of the swingle-stock at M (see M, Fig. 2.) then 
 grasping in the other hand the swingle-wand GI, 
 at H, Fig% 3. No. 1. and ^. This instrument is 
 thick on one edge, thin on the other, and a little 
 rounded, to prevent it from cutting the materials, 
 and with it the parcel placed over the swingle- 
 stock is struck, till the loose rough refuse is de- 
 tached from the small fibrous, tough, or soft parts. 
 Thus, by these different operations, the fibrous 
 plants are prepared for the heckle, by which they 
 are made ready to be spun into yarn. — The next 
 machine used in Britain for breaking rough flax, 
 or any other fibrous plants, seems to be what was 
 termed a brake. This, no doubt, was superior to 
 the stone and mallet, because by it the plants 
 are broken with more expedition, and also more 
 perfectly. 
 
 Fig. 5. Profile of a machine for breaking flax, 
 or any fibrous plants. 
 
 ABUE, represents a strong wooden frame, into 
 which are fixed four longitudinal spars, as IG, of 
 
19 
 
 hard wood, made thin to their upper edge, and a 
 little rounded, to prevent them from cutting the 
 plants. 
 
 HI is a moveable frame, containing three spars, 
 (see AB, Fig. 8.) This upper frame has liber- 
 ty to turn upon two pivots, (see CD, Fig. 8 ) in 
 the frame at G ; and when using, the three upper 
 spars fall into the openings between the lower 
 ones, (see 2, 3, 4, Fig. 7.) 
 
 ML is a rod of wood, fixed into the blocks H 
 and I, by which a person moves the frame H up- 
 wards and downwards with one hand, at the same 
 time holding a parcel of the rough plants across F 
 G, the lower spars ; so that by the repeated strokes 
 of the upper frame, HI, the rough plants are bro- 
 ken and prepared to be scutched, or the loose re- 
 fuse detached from the small fibrous parts, by 
 means of the swingle-stock and swingle- wand. 
 
 Fig. 6. is a cross section of the same machine. 
 
 A BCD represent the frame, wherein are fixed 
 the spars 4, 5, 6, 7. 
 
 FG is the upper frame, containing the spars 
 1,2, 3, fixed in the block HI, in which are two pi- 
 vots having liberty to turn in the frame at K and 
 L. There is a wooden rod fixed in the blocks E 
 and G, by which a person moves the upper frame 
 FG upwards and downwards, when breaKmg tne 
 hard parts of any fibrous plants. 
 
20 
 
 Fig. 7. Plan, or bird's-eye view, of the same 
 machine. 
 
 ABCD represent the lower frame, in which are 
 fixed the longitudinal spars 1, 2, S, 4* 
 
 EF are two uprights, fixed in the lower frame at 
 B and D, into which the pivots of the upper frame 
 turn when this machine is employed. (See G, Fig. 
 5. and CD, Fig. 8.) 
 
 Fjg. 8. Plan of the moveable, or upper part of 
 the brake. 
 
 AB represent two blocks of wood, into which 
 the longitudinal spars 1,2, 8, are fixed. CD are 
 the two pivots upon which the upper frame turns, 
 when its fore-end B is moved upward or down- 
 ward. (See H. Fig. 5.) The hard part of the flax 
 is thus sufficiently broken and softened by repeated 
 strokes of the upper frame, which is more expedi- 
 tious than the stone and the mallet ; the work is al- 
 so performed in a more perfect degree. Still, how- 
 ever, the loose refuse must be switched off, either 
 -with the stock and swingle-wand, or by some other 
 instrument, in order to prepare the broken mate- 
 rials for the heckle, which is the last operation in 
 preparing flax, hemp, &:c. to be spun into yarn. 
 As the before-mentioned instruments for breaking 
 and scutching flax, hemp, or any other fibrous 
 plants, are wrought by the hand, of course it is 
 very laborious and also tedious work j but perhaps 
 
21 
 
 there were no better machines for that purpose in 
 those early days. Indeed^ the time is not very remote 
 since there was not any proper machines in Scot- 
 land for breaking and switching flax, hemp, &c. 
 
 Fig. 9* A section of the ancient heckle, where- 
 in AB and CD represent a table upon which the 
 heckle was fastened. EF is the heckle as plac- 
 ed upon its table. 
 
 Fig. 10. Plan, or bird's-eye view of the table, 
 with the heckle EF fixed upon it. This heckle was 
 a round block of wood, into which were fixed small 
 iron spikes, which were placed in different circles, 
 at a small distance from each other. The heckle 
 is the last machine employed for removing all re- 
 fuse from flax, hemp, and other fibrous plants ; 
 and this operation of heckling, till of late years, 
 was generally performed by females. GHIK are 
 the feet whereon this table stands when using. 
 
 Thus have we given figures, with a short de- 
 scription of different instruments which were long 
 employed in preparing fibrous plants to be 
 spun into yarn, and shall next proceed to give 
 some account of that valuable machine, the flax 
 or lint-mill, driven either by water, wind, cattle, 
 or steam. 
 
22 
 
 PLATE IL 
 
 The next machine invented for breaking and 
 scutching flax, hemp, or other fibrous plants, 
 seems to be what is termed the lint or flax-milL 
 This, doubtless, is a very complete machine for 
 that purpose, because the operation is performed 
 in a superior manner, with ease and expedition. 
 Therefore we have given a plan, elevation, and 
 profile of this very useful machine, Avhich may 
 possibly be acceptable to some readers, as it is 
 without dispute the most complete machine for 
 breaking the hard parts, and separating the rough 
 refuse from flax, hemp, &c. which has hitherto 
 been introduced into North Britain, or perhaps 
 into any other country. It is therefore somewhat 
 surprising that a machine for these important 
 purposes, turned by water, was not introduced 
 into North Britain at a more remote period ; for 
 it is doubtful if there was such a machine in that 
 country a century ago, and probably there were 
 very few before the year 1730, about which pe- 
 riod two flax or lint-mills driven by water were 
 erected in the county of Perth ; one of them at 
 Rail, in the parish of Kilspindie, and the other 
 
23 
 
 at Killamacker, in the parish of Comrie. These 
 machines, however, were found so very use- 
 ful in breaking the hard parts, and scutching 
 orsv/itching off the loose refuse from flax, hemp, 
 or other fibrous plants intended to be manu- 
 factured into yarn, that in the year 1802 there 
 were upwards of 120 in the county of Perth, and 
 more than 400 in North Britain ; so rapidly the 
 number of these machines was increased between 
 the above periods. 
 
 Fig. 1. Plan, or bird's-eye view of a machine 
 for breaking and scutching flax, hemp, &c. 
 
 A A represent the axle, or shaft, upon which 
 is fixed the great wheel BB, termed the water- 
 wheel, having placed on its circumference float- 
 boards, or buckets, to receive the water which 
 turns it round to drive the breaking rollers and 
 scutching machine. CC is a wheel fixed upon 
 the axle AA, containing 102 teeth, which turns 
 the pinion D, having 25 teeth, which is fastened 
 upon one end of the middle breaking-roller. E 
 represents a pinion containing 10 teeth, which is 
 also turned by the wheel CC, and is placed upon 
 the lower end of an upright shaft. (See E, in Fig. 
 2.) FF, the frame in which the pivot S of the 
 axle A ttu^ns when in motion. GG, the frame in 
 which the breaking-rollers revolve when employ- 
 ed in crushing any hard fibrous plants. 
 
 UN is a lever, having liberty to turn upon an 
 
24 
 
 iron bolt at G; its shorter arm N is attached to a 
 frame, in which the pivots of the upper roller 
 turn; so that by pushing down the longer arm H 
 this roller is raised clear of the middle one at any 
 time when necessary. The circle CD and CF 
 is that part of the loft where the box, or frame in 
 which the scutchers revolve, is placed. KK and 
 KK are the walls of a house to contain the break- 
 ing rollers and scutching machine. 
 
 PP is the joists, or frame of the loft upon which 
 the scutching-box is placed. II, the stair leading 
 up to the loft. LL are doors in the side-walls. 
 (See O, Fig. 2.) MMM, windows to light the 
 house and machinery. 
 
 Fig. 2. Elevation of the house and machi- 
 nery. 
 
 AA, represent the axle or shaft, and RS the 
 pivots upon which it turns ; BB, the great 
 wheel fixed upon this axle, on the rim of 
 which is placed float-boards to receive the water 
 by which it is turned round. Upon the axle 
 AA is also fastened the wheel CC, containing 
 102 teeth, or cogs to turn the pinion E, having 
 10 teeth, which is fixed upon the lower end of 
 the axle FE. There are also two arms that pass 
 through mortises in this axle, at right angles to 
 each other, and upon these arms are fastened, 
 with screwed iron bolts, the scutchers GG, of 
 which there are four, to clear the rough refuse 
 
25 
 
 off the broken flax or fibrous plants, which are 
 opposed to them as they revolve. EI is a strong 
 wooden frame, in which the pivot S of the axle 
 A, and also the pivot in the lower end of the axle 
 EE, turn when in motion. H is a weight sus- 
 pended by a rope, the other end of which is at- 
 tached to a cross-bearer below the sliders, in 
 which the pivots of the lower roller turn, so that 
 by these weights this roller is kept close up to 
 the middle one. (See NOUX, Fig. 3,) KK and 
 KK are the walls of the mill-house ; MM is the 
 loft or second floor ; MN a stair leading up to 
 the loft ; KKL the couples, or framing of the 
 roof; O the door ; (See LL, Fig. 1.) PPP are 
 windows in the walls to light the house and ma- 
 chinery. 
 
 Fig. 3. Profile of the same Machine, 
 AA represents the great wheel fixed upon the 
 shaft or axle E, and upon the circumference of 
 this wheel are fixed buckets, or float-boards, to 
 receive the water by which it is driven round. 
 CC is a wheel fastened upon the same axle A, 
 containing 102 teeth, or cogs, to turn the small 
 wheel D, in which are 25 teeth, which is fixed 
 upon one end of the middle breaking roller. 
 No. 2. This roller is fluted, or has longitudinal 
 teeth all round its circumference, These teeth 
 are of an angular form, being broad at their 
 base, and sloped equally on both sides towards 
 
26 
 
 their points, which are a little rounded ; by this 
 means they are prevented from cutting the rough 
 flax, or other fibrous plants, in passing through 
 between the rollers. The other two rollers, 
 Nos. 1. and 3. are also fluted or have longi- 
 tudinal teeth of the same form and size with 
 those in No, 2. or the middle roller ; and by its 
 teeth taking into the flutes of the rollers No. 1. 
 and 3^. they are both driven round when the 
 great wheel A A is in motion. The rough 
 plants being made up into sjnall parcels, are 
 introduced by the hand betv/ixt the rollers 
 No. 1. and !2. and are drawn round the middle 
 roller, the back part of which is inclosed by a 
 curved board, that turns the rough plants out 
 through between the middle and under roller j 
 they are then put in again betwixt the rollers No. 
 1. and ^2. going round the same course until their 
 hard parts be sufficiently broken or softened, 
 and thus prepared for the scutching machine, by 
 which the loose refuse is cleared oft* from the use- 
 ful part of the plant. The pivot of the roller 
 No, 2. turns in a bearer fixed in the frame ; 
 and the pivots of Nos. 1. and 3. turn in brass 
 bushes fixed in wooden sliders, which have li- 
 berty to move up and down into grooves in the 
 frame NO and UX. The under roller. No. 3. 
 is kept close up to the middle one, by the weights 
 NO, suspended on two ropes going over sheeves 
 or whorls in the roller fran>e NOUX, their 
 
27 
 
 other ends being fastened to a cross bearer below 
 the sliders in which the pivots of No. 3. turn. 
 The weights NO must be considerably heavier 
 than the roller No, 3. with its sliders, in order 
 to press its teeth in between the flutes of No. 2. 
 by which it is turned round, to break the rough 
 plants, as they pass through between these 
 rollers. The whole ^weight of the upper rol- 
 ler, or No. 1. presses upon the rough plants, as 
 they pass through betwixt it and ISTo. « or the 
 middle roller ; but if more weight is required 
 than the roller with its sliders, there is a box 
 made of boards placed upon the sliders in which 
 the pivots of No. 1. turn, aqd into this box a par- 
 cel of stones, or any heavy metal, may be put, 
 and by this means more or less weight can be 
 added to the upper roller w^hen found necessary. 
 FG the perpendicular axle or shaft, upon the 
 lower end of which is fixed the pinion F, having 
 10 teeth, which is turned by the \vheel CC. In the 
 axle G are also fixed two arms which cross each 
 other at right angles, and upon these arms the 
 scutchers are fastened with screwed iron bolts. 
 (See GG, Fig. 2.) The axle G, with the scutch- 
 ers, revolves wdthin the frame H, or what is 
 termed the scutch-bo^* YZ represent two of the 
 openings, of which there are six, and often eight, 
 in the circumference of this box ; at these open- 
 ings the broken materials are introduced by the 
 hand, and struck by the scutchers as they re- 
 
28 
 
 volve, and thus the rough loose refuse is cleared 
 off from the broken flax or fibrous plants ; TM 
 the course, or fall of water, which drives the 
 great wheel A, the wheel CC being fixed upon 
 the same axle to turn the breaking rollers and 
 scutching machine. PRST are the side walls of 
 the mill house ; PRV the couples or framing of 
 its roof. 
 
 Fig. 4. DE represent a frame upon which 
 the heckles AB and C are fixed ; the teeth of 
 these heckles are placed in straight lines, which 
 seems to be an improvement on the old practice 
 of placing the heckle teeth in circles. 
 
 Fig. 5. ABC represent the same heckles fixed 
 upon the board or table DE. (See ABC, 
 Fig. 4.) By these instruments flax or other fi- 
 brous plants are cleared of refuse, and thus com- 
 pletely prepared to be spun into yarn. 
 
29 
 
 PLATE III. 
 
 Plan^ Elevation^ and Sections of several Instru^ 
 menls and Machines which the Ancients employ- 
 ed i?i Spinning fhrous materials into Yarn. 
 
 Fig. 1 . ABC represent the clistafF, or a rod of 
 wood upon which the materials to be spun are 
 placed; these materials are rolled round upon that 
 part of the distaff from A lo B, and kept fast by a 
 ribband or garter tied round it. The lower part, 
 BC, is kept fast with a girdle or belt tied round 
 the body of the spinner ; by this means the dis- 
 taff is kept steady whilst the person is employed 
 in spinning. 
 
 Fig. 2. Is the spindle, which being turned 
 quickly round by the spinner's right hand, twines 
 or twists the thread drawn from the materials on 
 the distaff by the spinner's left hand. The 
 thread thus twined, or twisted, is rolled upon 
 the spindle between D and E. A little below E 
 is placed upon this spindle a small wheel called 
 a whorl^ generally made of stone, which, acting 
 as a fly, makes the spindle revolve uniformly, as 
 
so 
 
 it turns on its lower point F, upon the floor or 
 pavement. By this means flax, or any fibrous 
 materials, are regularly drawn out into a thread 
 of yarn. 
 
 These seem to be the most simple instruments 
 that have been employed in spinning, and perhaps 
 they are also the most ancient ; and there are 
 some persons in North Britain who make use of 
 these simple instruments in spinning at this day^ 
 1817- 
 
 Fig. 3. Profile of an instrument termed a hand- 
 reel. 
 
 G represents a wooden rod, upon each end of 
 which is fixed a small piece of wood, placed 
 upon the rod at right angles to each other ; G is 
 an end view of one cross, and HI the length of 
 the other. A person holding this rod in one hand, 
 as at P, with the other hand conveys the thread 
 of yarn from G over thf* cross piece at H, and 
 again from H over the cross piece at G, then 
 from G over the cross piece at I, from I to G, 
 and so on, 120 times, which number makes one 
 €uty and is tied up by itself. Twelve of these 
 cuts make a hank or hesp, and four of these 
 hanks make what is called a spindle. 
 
 Fig. 4. Section of the same machine, with the 
 yarn placed upon it. 
 
 KLMN represent the pieces of wood fixed at 
 
31 
 
 right angles across each other. The thread 
 when reeling passes from the arm L, over above 
 the arm K, and from that below the arm M, from 
 which it goes over above the arm N, passing 
 again below the arm L, and so on, until the 
 twelve cuts, or one hank of yarn, is completed. 
 
 Fig. 5. Plan or birds-eye view of a machine 
 upon which the hank of yarn is placed, and from 
 which the threads are rolled upon a pirn or bob- 
 bin, (See H, Fig. 9.) 
 
 O represents a round piece of wood, in the 
 middle of which is a small hole to take in an iron 
 spike, fixed in the upper end of a wooden pillar, 
 (See AB, Fig. 6.) upon which this machine re- 
 volves when put in motion. Into this round 
 block of wood is fixed one end of the arms, 
 Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 ; near the extremity of 
 these arms are several holes to receive small pins 
 of wood, (See 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Fig. 6.) ; round 
 the outer side of these pins is placed the hank of 
 yarn, and from thence rolled upon the bobins, 
 (See H, Fig. 70 The wooden pins may be 
 placed into the holes of these arms, either nearer 
 to the centre or farther trom it, according to the 
 length of the hank of yarn. lUV is the yarn 
 placed upon the arms. PRS are the feet which 
 support this machine. (See CPUS, Fig. 6.) 
 
32 
 
 Fig. 6. Elevation of the same Machine. 
 
 AB represent the pillar of wood, into which 
 is fastened a small iron spike, and upon it the 
 block O revolves with its arms UWXY ; into these 
 arms are placed the wooden pins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6. 
 
 DOE, the hank of yarn placed upon the out- 
 side of the pins ; by this means the hank is ex- 
 tended, and in a great measure prevented from 
 raveling, when the arms, UWXY, upon which 
 it is placed, revolve round their centre at O, 
 whilst the threads of yarn are rolling upon the 
 pirn. (See H, Fig. 90 CPRS are feet fixed into 
 the pillar AB, upon which the machine stands 
 when employed. 
 
 Fig. 7- Profile of a machine termed the pirn- 
 wheel, by means of which the yarn is rolled upon 
 the pirn or bobbin. 
 
 AB represent a plank of wood, and FG a wood- 
 en pillar fixed into the plank at T; in this pillar, 
 at C, is fastened a round piece of iron or wood up- 
 on which the wheel DES revolves. (See F, Fig. 8. 
 and D, Fig. 9 ) CO is a round piece of wood, 
 and in its middle is a hole that takes in the axle 
 O, upon which this wheel revolves when in mo- 
 tion. Into the block C are fixed eight spokes, 
 or arms, and on the extremity of these arms is 
 fastened a thin broad piece of wood that forms 
 the wheel DEST; upon this wheel is placed the 
 band or belt KL, which passes round the whorl 
 
33 
 
 H, fixed on the spindle of the pu'n. By (See 
 KC, Fig. 8.) this means, when the wheel DE is 
 driven round, the whorle H and its spindle, with 
 the pirn, is also turned round ; and of course the 
 yarn is rolled upon the pirn, 
 
 HI is a wooden frame, fixed at I into the plank 
 AB ; and in this frame the spindle, with its whorle 
 and pirn revolve, (See OKC, Fig. 8.) 
 
 MN are two of the feet whereon the machine 
 stands when worked. 
 
 Fig. 8. Plan, or bird's-eye view, of the same 
 machine. 
 
 ABCD, represent the wooden plank into which 
 is fixed the piece of wood E, and into it is fasten- 
 ed the axle F, upon which axle the wheel HI 
 revolves. The band or belt IH, pass from this 
 wheel round the whorle K, placed upon the spin- 
 dle OC ; on this spindle is also placed the pirn at 
 C, and upon it the yarn is rolled, when the ma* 
 chine is in motion. 
 
 Fig. 9. Cross section of the same machine. 
 
 AB, represent a plank of wood, and into it is 
 fixed AC, and into AC is placed the axle D, 
 upon which the wheel FG revolves; HI, an iron 
 spindle turned by a band from the wheel FG, and 
 upon this spindle is placed the pirn H. 
 
 BK, The frame in which the iron spindle with its 
 pirn revolves, when the wheel FG is turned round. 
 LM are two of the feet that support this machine. 
 
 c 
 
S4 
 
 PLATE IV. 
 
 Fian^ Profile^ and Section of the Common Spin* 
 fling' WJieeL 
 
 The spindle and the distaff, no doubt, had been 
 made use of in spinning long before the spinning- 
 wheel was invented. However, as we can say no- 
 thing respecting the origin of the spindle and 
 distaff, neither can we say any thing certain in 
 regard to the origin of the spinning-wheel, by 
 whom it was invented, or into what country 
 this useful machine was first introduced. Pro- 
 bably it has undergone several alterations since 
 first invented, and is now brought to a consider- 
 able degree of perfection ; nevertheless it may 
 possibly still admit of some small improvement. 
 
 Fig. 1. Profile of the common One-handed 
 Spinning-wheel. 
 
 AB represent what is termed the v^heeX- stocky 
 to which ail its other parts are attached; C and 
 D are two of the feet or pillars which support 
 this machine; EF is the wheel or rim round which 
 goes the band or belt GH, and passing from this 
 wheel over the whorle or sheave at IE, by this 
 
35 
 
 means the turn- spindle, with its heck, or 
 and pirn on which the yarn rolls, is turned round. 
 
 PL are bearers in which the pivots of the 
 wheel EF revolve when in motion ; DR is a small 
 wooden rod, by which motion is conveyed from 
 the frame VCD ; and upon this frame, at V, 
 the spinner's foot is placed to turn the wheel, 
 EF, by means of a bend or crank in its axle, 
 and upon this crank is placed the end, R, of th^ 
 rod RD (see M, Fig. 3.) Thus motion is con- 
 veyed to the wheel EF, by a person's foot mov- 
 ing the rod DR, upwards and downwards when 
 spinning. 
 
 S is a wooden screw, that, when turned over 
 to the left-hand above the band GH, is slacken- 
 ed, to cause the fly and pirn move slower ; and 
 if turned over above to the ri^ht hand the band is 
 tightened, to make the fly and pirn IE revolve 
 quick, by which means the motion of the spindle, 
 with its heck, or fly and pirn, may be regulated 
 at pleasure. ST represent what is termed the 
 standard y TU is a pillar placed into a hole in 
 the standard at T ; and upon this pillar the mate- 
 rials to be spun are placed. 
 
 IM is a frame in which tlie spindle turns, with 
 its fly, or heck and pirn. (See HI, Fig. 8.) 
 
 Fig. 2. Plan, or bird- eye view, of the same ma- 
 chine. 
 
 ABCD represent the stocky GH are two pillars 
 
S6 
 
 fixed into it at EF, and in these pillars at GH 
 the axle of the wheel IK turns. LM is a frame 
 into which the iron spindle revolves with the fly, 
 or heck and pirn, TN. (See HIT, Fig. 3.) I, is 
 the band or belt which pass round on the wheel 
 IK, and over a whorle at M, fixed upon the spin- 
 dle of the fly and pirn ; by this means, when the 
 wheel IK is turned round, the spindle, with its 
 fly and pirn on which the thread of yarn rolls, is 
 also turned round. 
 
 S is a wooden screw, by turning of which a 
 little round, the band, I, can be straitened or 
 slackened when found necessary. U is the rock 
 or pillar on w^hich the materials to be spun are 
 placed. (See U. Fig. 1.) PR are two of the feet 
 which support this machine when employed. 
 
 Fig. 3. Elevation of the same machine. 
 
 ABCD represent the wheeL^s/oc/i-, HP the bear- 
 ers into which the axle of the wheel KL revolves. 
 (See PL, Fig. 1.) EFVN, is a frame termed the 
 foot-board, and upon it the spinner places one foot 
 at V, the moving of which conveys motion to the 
 wheel KL, by one end of the rod MN being at- 
 tached to the foot'board at N, and its other end 
 placed upon the bend or crank M, on the axle of 
 the wheel KL. So that when the frame EFVN 
 is moved by the spinner's foot, then the wheel 
 KL is turned round, and of course the iron spin- 
 dle, with its fly and pirn, is also turned by a 
 
37 
 
 band or belt from the wheel KL. (See GH, 
 Kg. 1-) 
 
 IP is a frame in which the iron spindle, with 
 its fly and pirn IHT, revolve, PR, the standard 
 placed into the stock at B; and in the cross-piece 
 RS is placed the rock, or pillar U, upon which the 
 materials to be spun are rolled, and from it the 
 thread of yarn is conveyed by the spinner's fin- 
 gers to I, the iron spindie, with the fly and pirn 
 HT, on which the thread of varn rolls y;hen the 
 machine is in motion. EFG are the feet that 
 support this machine. 
 
 Fig. 4. Profile of Mr Spence's improved Spin- 
 ning- v*heeL 
 
 AB represent a piece of wood termed the 
 \^\\Qehstock, into which the uprights, CD, are fix- 
 ed, and in these pillars the axle or spindle of the 
 wheel EF revolve- (See PV. Fig. 5.) GH is the 
 band or belt which passes over this wheel, and from 
 it over a "whorle^ or pulley, placed upon the iron 
 spindle of the fly and pirns DT ; by this means, 
 when the wheel EF is moved round, the iron 
 spindle, with its fly and pirn, is also turned round 
 by the band GH. (See GPHK, Fig. 5,) L is a 
 small rod, one end of which is attached to the 
 foot-board P, and its other end upon a crank or 
 bend in the axle of the wheel EF. (See S, Fig. 
 5.) AMT is a rod of iron which has liberty to 
 move on a pin at K, and its other end T moves 
 
38 
 
 the heck forwards and backwards upon the iron 
 spindle, whilst the thread is rolling upon the pirn. 
 P is the foot-board, which has liberty to move on 
 pivots in the feet at N and O ; so that w^hen this 
 board is moved by the spinner's foot, the rod L 
 is moved up and down, by which motion is con- 
 veyed to the wheel EF. 
 
 luG. 5. Elevation of the same machine. 
 
 A B represent a piece of plank, to w^hich all 
 the other parts of this machine are attached.— 
 C D E F is a frame, the lower end of which is fix- 
 ed into the plank AB, and into this frame the pi- 
 vots of the great wheel GH revolve. LM is a 
 wheel fixed upon an iron axle, and in the circum- 
 ference of this wheel are small teeth, which take 
 in the spirals of an endless screwy fixed at L, upon 
 the axle of the wheel GH ; of course every revo- 
 lution of the screw at L moves the wheel M 
 one teeth forwards, and upon the axle of this 
 wheel is fixed a hart, or eccentrical wheel ; so 
 that Vi'hen the wheel M is turned round by the 
 screw at L, then the eccentrical wheel moves the 
 rod OK, which, having liberty to turn upon an 
 iron bolt at O, the end K carries the fly or heck 
 IK from K to N, with the thread of yarn in its 
 point at I, and when the heck IK arrives at N it 
 returns again tov/ards K, placing the thread uni- 
 formly upon the pirn, from one end to the other. 
 This prevents w hat happens very often, and is so 
 
39 
 
 hurtful on the common wheel — all chance of the 
 yarn ravelling when it comes to be reeled ; be- 
 sides this advantage, the spinner never needs 
 to stop for shifting the thread from one tooth 
 in the heck or fly to another, which saves much 
 time and trouble to the spinner. 
 
 Fig. 6. Plan, or bird's view, of the same ma- 
 chine. 
 
 ABC represent the wheel-stock ; DE, an edge 
 view of the great wheel. (See EF, Fig* 4.) GH 
 is a frame, in which the axle of the wheel DE, 
 the spindle PR, with the fly HI, and its pirn, re- 
 volve ; and upon the part P of the spindle the 
 heck has liberty to move forwards and backwards 
 the whole length of the pirn, in order to place 
 the thread equally and regularly from one end 
 of the pirn to the other. LM NO are feet fixed 
 into the stock ABC, and upon these feet the ma- 
 chine stands when employed in spinning. As 
 every alteration in a machine cannot be termed 
 an improvement, therefore this alteration on the 
 spinning-wheel being of a very recent date, we 
 cannot determine whether it is an improvement 
 or not until its m.erits be fully proved by expe- 
 rience. 
 
40 
 
 PLATE V. 
 
 Fig. 1. is a cross section of a Two-handed Spin- 
 ning-wheel. 
 
 AB represent a plank of wood termed the 
 wheel-stock ; CD is a frame, the lower end of 
 which is fixed into the stock, and in its upper 
 end the iron axle, with the wheel EL, revolve. 
 (See BC and NG, Fig. 2.) CF is the fly 
 or heck, with the pirn upon which the threads 
 of yarn are rolled. H IK is a frame termed the 
 foot-board, the pivots of which turn in the two 
 feet H and I ; so that if the foot-board be mov- 
 ed by the spinner's foot, of course motion is con- 
 veyed to the wheel EL by the rod B, one end of 
 which is attached to the foot-board at K, and its 
 other end placed upon the bend or crank D of 
 the axle which carries the wheel EL. Thus, when 
 the foot-board is moved, then the rod B is push- 
 ed upwards and downwards, by means of which 
 the wheel EL is turned round, and conveys mo- 
 tion to the iron spindle N with its heck and pirn 
 FC, on which the thread of yarn rolls as it comes 
 from the fingers of the spinner. NO is the frame 
 in whicli the iron spindle with the heck and pirn 
 
41 
 
 CF revolve. M, the standard ; EG a cross piece 
 of wood fixed into it ; and in this cross, at G, is 
 placed the rode or pillar, GU, upon which the 
 materials to be spun are placed. HIK are the feet 
 on which this machine stands. 
 
 Fig. 2. Profile of the same Two-handed Spin- 
 ning-wheel. 
 
 AB represent the stock; BC the pillars in which 
 the axle of the wheel FG turn when in motion. 
 CE is a wooden rod fastened at E to the foot- 
 board DEP, and its other end placed upon a 
 crank or bend in the axle of the wheel FG. 
 (See D, Fig. 1.) ; by this means, when the foot- 
 bc-ard is moved, the wheel FG is put in motion. 
 RN are two bands, or belts, which go over the 
 wheel FG ; the band N, passing from the wheel 
 G, drives the fly and pirn F, and the band R 
 turns the fly and pirn H, when the wheel FG is 
 put in motion. A is a wooden screw, by turn- 
 ing of which the bands R and N may be made 
 strait or slack at pleasure. IS is the standard, 
 with the rocTi or pillar K, whereon the materials 
 to be spun are rolled. TM are two of the feet 
 that support the machine when employed. 
 
 . Fig. 3. Plan or bird's eye-view of the same 
 Two-handed Spinning-wheel. 
 
 ABCD represent the stock; DF is the two flys 
 and pirns placed upon an iron spindle which re- 
 
 D 
 
4€ 
 
 volves in the frame GH, when turned by a band 
 from the wheel S, the axle of which turns in the 
 bearers PR. {See BC, Fig. 2.) UV are two of 
 the feet that support the wheel when used in 
 spinning. At what period the Spinning-wheel w^as 
 introduced into Britain perhaps is not certainly 
 known ; but it is recorded that a wheel or ma- 
 chine for spinning yarn was used in London so 
 far back as the year 1681 ; about which time it 
 appears Thomas Firman, Esq. erected a school 
 for the benevolent purpose of teaching poor chil- 
 dren to spin, and it seems the two-handed spin- 
 ning-wheel was then in use* 
 
 Fig. 4. Elevation of the common Reel, by which 
 the number and length of the threads of yarn in 
 each cut are ascertained. 
 
 AB represents a piece of wood, into which the 
 upright frame CD is fixed ; E is a round v>^ooden 
 block, and into it are fastened one end of the 
 arms or spokes I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ; and upon the 
 extremity of each arm is fixed a small piece of 
 wood, (see 1, 2, 3, 4, Fig. 5.) and over the out- 
 most side of these cross heads the threads of 
 yarn are rolled. GHI are three feet, fixed in the 
 block AB, and upon these feet the machine 
 stands. 
 
 Fig. 5. Profile of the same machine. 
 
 AB is a piece of wood, into which the upright 
 
43 
 
 frame CD is fixed ; and in this frame the axle 
 EF, with the arms IK, revolves, with the cross 
 pieces of wood, 1, 2, S, 4, which represent four 
 of the six arms in the reel, (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 
 Fig. 4.) round the uttermost parts of which the 
 threads of yarn are rolled when the machine is 
 in motion. In this axle, at E, is fixed four round 
 spikes of iron, which take into the teeth of the 
 wheel G, containing 24 teeth ; and upon its 
 axle is fixed, at Z, an endless screw, the threads 
 of which take into the teeth of the wheel O, hav- 
 ing 20 teeth ; so that for every six revolutions 
 of the axle EF, with its arms IK, the wheel G, 
 with the endless screw Z, is turned once round, 
 and of course the wheel O is moved one teeth 
 forwards. In one side of this wheel is fixed an 
 iron spike, by which the spring DO is raised a 
 little up at O ; and when the axle EF, with the 
 arms IK, has made 120 revolutions, then the 
 wheel G has made 20 revolutions, at the same 
 time the wheel O has made only one, and imme- 
 diately the spring at O falls off from the iron 
 spike in that wheel, which makes one cut. Thus 
 120 turns of the arms IK make 120 threads, each 
 thread measuring 90 inches, or seven feet six 
 inches in length ; so that as 120 threads make 
 one cut, so twelve of these cuts make what is 
 termed one hank or hesp, and four of these 
 hesps make one spindle, or 576O threads round 
 the extremity of the reel, measuring 14,400 Eng- 
 
44 
 
 lish yards, or 43,200 feet. LM are two of the 
 feet or pillars that support this machine when 
 employed. 
 
 Fig. 6. Plan or bird's-eye view of the Common 
 Reel. 
 
 AB represents a square piece of wood, into 
 which is fixed the frame CT ; and in this frame 
 the axle E revolves, and upon it is fixed the cen- 
 tre block ET, into which is fastened the arms 
 EG. 1, 2, 3, 4, represent four of the cross heads 
 fixed upon the extremity of the arms EG, and 
 round on the extremity of these cross heads the 
 yarn is rolled in reeling. DHI are the feet upon 
 w^hich this machine stands. 
 
 Fjg. 7. Profile of a machine termed the Swifts. 
 
 AT is a square piece of wood, into which is 
 fixed the upright BC, and into it is fastened at 
 L the frame EL, and in this frame the lower reel 
 D revolves. E is a wooden handle, screwed into 
 the upright B C; in the inner end of this handle 
 one pivot of the reel D turns, and its other pivot 
 turns at E in the frame LE. The uppermost reel 
 S revolves in the frame K H G ; this frame has 
 liberty to move up or down into a long mortice 
 in the upright B C (see D, Eig. 8.), so that the 
 reel S may be easily shifted up or down, and 
 placed at a greater or Icwsser distance from the 
 reel D, according to the length of the skeen or 
 
45 
 
 Lank of yarn, which goes over both these reels, 
 and from them the thread of yarn is rolled upon 
 a pirn or bobbin. I is a handle of wood, screw- 
 ed into the moveable frame at K, so that by turn- 
 ing this handle a little round, the frame K H G 
 can be easily shifted up or down, and secured 
 upon the upright B C at any place that may be 
 found necessary. M N are two of the feet that 
 support this machine. 
 
 Fig. 8. Section of the same Swifts. 
 
 B G represent a frame of wood fixed at A 
 into a square piece of plank. E is the lower 
 frame, in which the reel F G revolves. C is the 
 uppermost reel, and D the frame in which its 
 pivots turn when in motion, the fr^vne T> having 
 liberty to move up or down in its mortice, ac- 
 cording to the distance required between these 
 two reels. H I are two of the feet on which this 
 machine stands when at w^ork. 
 
 Fig. 9. Profile of a machine termed a Pirn- 
 Wheel, by which the threads of yarn are rolled 
 either upon a pirn or bobbin. 
 
 A B is a strong plank of wood, into which is 
 fixed the upright C D ; and into this upright is 
 fastened the axle upon which the centre block 
 E, with its wheel FG, revolves. (SeeC, Fig. 10.) 
 H 1 is the band or belt that goes upon this wheel, 
 and from it over the whorl K, which is fixed up- 
 
46 
 
 on an iron spindle whereon the pun or bobbin 
 is placed. (See G and H, Fig, 10.) L M is the 
 frame in which the iron spindle with its pirn re- 
 volves, (See C K and H L, Fig. 11.) N and O 
 are two of the feet that support this machine. 
 
 Fig. 10. Cross section of the Pirn-Wheel ; 
 
 In which A P represent a wooden plank ; AB 
 a piece of wood fixed upright into this plank at 
 A, and into the upright, AB, is fastened the axle 
 C, upon which the wheel E F revolves when in 
 motion. G is an iron spindle, whereon the pirn 
 H is placed, and upon this pirn the yarn is roll- 
 ed. I K are two of the feet upon which this ma- 
 chine stands when using. 
 
 Fig. 11. Plan of the same Pirn-Wheel. 
 
 A B represent a plank of wood, into which 
 is fixed the frame C D ; and in this frame the 
 iron spindle K revolves, having the whorl H 
 fixed upon it, and over this whorl goes a band 
 or belt that passes from the wheel D E j by this 
 means the iron spindle K is turned round with 
 its pirn L, and upon this pirn the yarn is rolled 
 when the wheel D E is driven round. F G is 
 the axle upon which the wheel D E revolves 
 when in motion. 
 
 Thus we have given a few Plans, with a short 
 description of several instruments and machines 
 
47 
 
 that have been long employed in spinning yarn 
 by the hand ; and shall proceed to give drawings 
 of some spinning-machines which have been re- 
 cently invented, and may be driven either by the 
 hand, by water, by wind, by cattle, or by the 
 power of steam, as may be found most conve- 
 nient, according to the number of pirns, or the 
 power required to drive the machine. 
 
 PLATE VL 
 
 Fig. !• Profile of a Machine for Spinning Flax, 
 &c. into yarn. 
 
 ABCD represent a frame of cast metal, in 
 which the preparing machine is placed. EF are 
 two of the frames in which the cylinders GH 
 with their wheels revolve. IK are two spouts, 
 and along each of these spouts is laid a small par- 
 eel of the materials to be spun, and introduced 
 in between the rollers LL, by which it is drawn 
 forward, and formed into a narrow flat thread, 
 without any twine or twist. No. 1. is a wheel 
 fixed upon an iron axle R, upon the lower part 
 of which is fixed a drum- wheel to receive a lea- 
 ther-belt coming from a drum- wheel of any en- 
 gine in motion to drive this machine. No. 2. is a 
 wheel fixed upon an iron spindle, and is driven 
 round by the wheel No. 1. Upon the spindle of 
 No. 2. is also fixed the conical wheel No. 3 to 
 turn the wheel No. 4. upon the axle of which 
 is placed the two conical wheels Nos. 5, and 6. to 
 turn two pinions that are fixed on the lower parts 
 
48 
 
 of two iron spindles, as No. 7. which is turned by 
 No. 6 ; and upon the iron spindle of the wheel 
 No. 7* is fastened the pinion No. 8. to turn the 
 conical wheel No. 9* upon the axle of which is 
 fixed the wheel No. 10. to turn the wheel No. 11. 
 and convey motion to the cylinders GHLL when 
 the machine is in motion. O and P are two le- 
 vers, by which the cylinders are stopt at plea- 
 sure. MN are two white-iron tubs, into which 
 the materials are dropt from the cylinders. 
 
 Fig. 2. Cross section of the same machine* 
 ABCD represent the frame in which the 
 wheels and cylinders revolve. EF is a wheel 
 fixed upon an iron axle (see R, No. 1. 2. Fig. 1.) 
 G is a cross, fixed upon an iron spindle, having 
 two branches which drop into holes in the wheel 
 below it; by this means the spindle is turned 
 when the wheel EF is in motion, and can be 
 stopped at any time by raising the lever G, which 
 turns upon an iron bolt fixed in the frame at N. 
 Upon this spindle, at H, is a perpetual or endless 
 screw, that takes into the teeth of the wheel I 
 to turn it round ; and upon the axle of the wheel 
 I is fastened a hart that moves the frame with the 
 pirns upwards and downwards ; by which means 
 the threads of yarn are regularly rolled upon 
 the pirns from the one end to the other when 
 the machine is in motion. LM are wheels that 
 turn the cylinders which draw the materials for- 
 
49 
 
 ward to the machine when working, ST is a long 
 wooden spout, into which the matemls are laid 
 longways, and one end of it introduced at T, be- 
 twixt the cylinders U, and is conveyed over the 
 upper part of the wheel K by small cylinders that 
 direct it down between the two rollers M, which 
 convey it into the tubs PR, in the form of a flat 
 narrow string, without any twine or twist. 
 
 Fig. 3. Elevation of a Machine by which the 
 prepared materials are drawn into a thread, and at 
 same time gives it a loose or slack twine. 
 
 ABCD represent the frame in which the wheels 
 and cylinders revolve. E is a wheel fixed upon 
 the axle G, to drive the wheel F, which is placed 
 upon the perpendicular iron spindle AF. Below 
 the wheel F, upon the same iron spindle, is fas- 
 tened a conical wheel that turns a wheel which is 
 fixed upon the horizontal iron spindle RS j on 
 this spindle is also fixed two conical wheels, which 
 convey motion to the spindles, pirns, and cylin- 
 ders. HI is the great cylinder, upon the upper 
 part of which the small cylinders turn ; KL is the 
 frame that contains the cylinders. MNOP are 
 the hecks or flyers, which convey the threads 
 of yarn to the pirns. No, 1, 2, 3, 4, are small 
 drum-wheels that conduct the threads to the 
 hecks ; and Nos. 5, 6, 7? ^9 are the pirns upon 
 which the threads of yarn are rolled by the flyers. 
 
 E 
 
do 
 
 XY is a board that moves the pirns upwards and 
 downwards*upon the iron spindles, by means of 
 which the threads are regularly rolled upon the 
 pirns; the flyers that direct the threads to the pirns 
 are fixed upon the upper part of the iron spindles 
 on which the pirns revolve. No. 9, 10, H, 12, 
 are small weights suspended by straps of leather, 
 which pass over the lower part of the pirns, and 
 regulate their motion, so as to accord with the 
 motion of the flyers. 
 
 Fig. 4. Plan, or Bird's-eye View of Fig. L 
 ABCD represents the cast-iron frame ; GH 
 are the great cylinders, on the upper part of which 
 the small ones revolve, (see K, Fig. IK is the 
 spout into which the materials to be spun are laid 
 longways, and one end introduced in betwixt the 
 cjlinders (see TU, Fig 2,) No i. is a wheel the 
 teeth of which act upon the teeth in the wheel 
 No 2. to turn it round, and No. 2. drives the small 
 wheel No 6. which is fixed upon the iron spindle 
 EF ; by this means motion is conveyed to all the 
 wheels and cvlinders. UV is a frame, in which 
 the axle of the wheel No. 1. turns when the ma- 
 chine is in mo'ic n. LM are two white-iron 
 tubs that receive the materials from the cvlin- 
 ders. NO, PR, and ST, are all tubs made of white- 
 iron for containing the materials both before and 
 after they have past through betwixt the cylin- 
 ders. 
 
Fig. 5. Plan or Bird's-eye View of Fig. 8. 
 
 A BCD represent the cast-iron frame. E is 
 a wheel that drives the wheel F, and a wheel 
 on the same axle with F turns the wheel M, 
 (see 3 and 4, Fig. I.) which is fixed upon the 
 iron spindle I, and on this spindle is placed wheels 
 that convey motion to all the other vv^heels, pi- 
 nions, cylinders, pirns, and flyers, when the ma- 
 chine is in motion (see RS, Fig. S.) KL are tubs 
 madeof white-iron, and from these tubs the drawn- 
 out materials are introduced to the cylinders GH, 
 in order to be drawn out smaller and receive 
 more twine or twist. 
 
52 
 
 PLATE VIL 
 
 FiG» 1. Section of a Machine for Spinning 
 Flax, Heniip, &c, or any fibrous material into 
 Yarn, and may be driven either by water, wind, 
 cattle, or by the power of steam, according as it 
 may be found most convenient. 
 
 ABCD represent a frame of cast-metal, in 
 which the spinning parts of this machine revolve, 
 cc are the bobbins or pirns upon which the mate- 
 rials to be spun are rolled. EE are iron rollers by 
 which the roved threads are drawn off these bob- 
 bins, passing over the cylinder F and the small rol- 
 lers GG to the wheels WW, which convey these 
 threads to the pirns HH. By this operation the 
 threads are drawn smaller, and also receive more 
 twine, and are rolled upon the pirns. 1 1 are small 
 w^eights, suspended by straps of leather, which pass 
 over the lower part of the pirns and regulate their 
 motion ; the other ends of these straps are fasten- 
 ed to the board in which the spindles of the pirn$ 
 HH turn. KK are small rollers fixed upon the 
 iron spindles I, on which the^|Tkidles, hecks, and 
 pirns HH is also placed. Z represents a leather 
 belt, coming from a drum-wheel of any moving 
 
53 
 
 macliine, and passing over the drum a, which is 
 lixed upon the axle or shaft X ; and upon this 
 axle is also fixed the wheel R, that drives the 
 wheel S, which is fastened upon the iron axle Y; 
 and on this axle is also fixed the drum-wheel O, 
 and over this drum goes the leather belt MN, 
 and turns the rollers KK, with the iron spindles 
 and their pirns HH, upon which the threads of 
 yarn are rolled in the spinning. KP are rollers 
 that revolve upon axles of iron, and these rollers 
 are placed so as to keep the belt MN close upon 
 the rollers KK, to turn them round, with their 
 spindles, hecks, or flyers and pirns* No. 1. is a 
 small pinion fixed upon the axle Y, to turn the 
 wheel No. 2. on the axle of which is fastened No. 
 S. that drives the wheel T, having fixed upon its 
 axle the pinion U j by this means motion is con- 
 veyed from the drum-wheel, a, to the wheels of the 
 cylinders EFG W, and thus they are driven round 
 to convey the materials from the bobbins or pirns 
 at cc down to the pirns HH, upon which the 
 threads of yarn roll in spinning, b is a cod of brass 
 upon which the pivot of the shaft turns when this 
 machine is in motion. 
 
 Fig. 2. Plan, or Bird's-eye View of the same 
 machine. 
 
 ABCD, represent a frame of cast-metal. EE, 
 is a wheel the teeth of which take upon the teeth 
 of the two wheels FF, to turn them round, 
 and convey motion to the different parts of the 
 
54 
 
 machine (see RS, Fig. 1.) G and G, a:re two 
 drum-wheels fixed upon the axles of the wheels 
 FF; upon one of these drum wheels goes the 
 belt, GHN, to drive the rollers, LL, which are 
 placed upon the iron spindles with the hecks and 
 pirns, (see HH, Fig. 5 ) The belt GOI passing 
 from the other drum, F, turns the rollers KK v. itli 
 their hecks and pirns, on which the threads of 
 yarn are rolled. SS are rollers that revolve upon 
 iron axles, and are placed in the frame so as to 
 hold the belts GHS and GIS close upon the rol- 
 lers KK and LL. By this means the rollers, 
 with the spindles, hecks, and pirns, are driven 
 round, (see KK, I I, and HH, Fig. 5.) P and R 
 are two rollers which revolve upon axles of iron, 
 placed into longitiidinal mortises in the bearer Z ; 
 These axles, having liberty to shift in their morti- 
 ses, can be placed either to tighten or slacken the 
 belts GHN and GOI, according as the pirns 
 require to be driven quick or slow, TT is a drum- 
 ivheel, fixed upon the axle of the wheel E£, to 
 receive a belt from a drum-wheel of any machine 
 having power to give it motion. (See Z, Fig. 1. 
 S. and 5.) 
 
 Fjg. 3. Cross section of the same machine. 
 
 ABC DE represents a frame of cast metal, a 
 is a drum- wheel fixed upon the axle F, and up- 
 on tills drum is placed the belt Z, that comes 
 from a drum-wlieel of any machine in motion. 
 Upon the axle F is also fixed the wh^el GG, 
 
55 
 
 which drives these two wheels H and I ; the two 
 wheels are fixed upon iron spindles, on the upper 
 part of which is placed small pinions to turn the 
 wheels M and O, and thus motion is conveyed to 
 the wheels MTN, and PO l\ by which the cylin- 
 ders are turned round when the machine is spin- 
 ning. RS represent the bobbins upon which the 
 coarse yarn had been previously rolled, and from 
 these bobbins the coarse threads are conveyed by 
 the cylinders down to the pirns WW, to be drawn 
 smaller, and also receive more twine or twist in 
 spinning. UU are two drum-wheels, the one fix- 
 ed upon the iron spindle of the wheel H, and the 
 other on the spindle of the wheel I; upon these 
 drums are placed the belts which turn the iron 
 spindles with their rollers and pirns, whereon the 
 yarn is rolled in the spinning, (see OMN, and 
 NOM, Figs. 1. and 5.) V and V are the rollers, 
 the axles of which are easily shifted to any side, 
 either to tighten or slacken the leather belts, and 
 cause the iron spindles, with the pirns WW, turn 
 quick or slow as may be found necessary, (see 
 PR, Figs. 4. and 6.) b is a bush, or cod of 
 brass, in w^hich the pivot of the axle F turns when 
 the machine is in motion. 
 
 Fro. 4. Plan of the above in Profile, in which 
 ABCD represents the cast-metal frame. EE is 
 a wheel the teeth of which act upon the teeth 
 f)f the wheels FF to drive them round. GG 
 
56 
 
 are two drum-wheels fixed upon the same axles 
 with the wheels FF, (see HU, and Ul, Fig. 3.) 
 From one of the wheels, G, the belts HKN pass, 
 to turn the rollers, spindles, and pirns KK ; at 
 same time the belt ILO, from the other we - 
 turns the rollers, spindles, and pirns LL, (see 
 MNO, and HH, KK, LL, Fig 6.) H is a roller 
 that conducts the belt NH to the small rollers 
 KK, which are fixed upon the iron spindles, and 
 on these spindles is also placed the pirns to re- 
 ceive the yarn when spinning, (see HH, Fig. 6.) 
 I is a roller that conveys the belt 01 to the small 
 rollers LL, that are fixed upon the same spindles 
 with the pirns on which the threads of yarn are 
 rolled by the machine in the spinning. TT is a 
 drum* wheel fixed upon the axle of the wheel EE, 
 and over this drum passes a leather belt from a 
 drum of any machine having power and motion 
 to drive this machine. 
 
 Fig. 5. Elevation of the same machine. ABCD 
 represent the frame of cast metal EE are iron 
 rollers which draw the roved materials from 
 off the bobbins or pirns UV, upon which it has 
 been previously rolled, and from these rollers 
 the threads pass over the roller F, the small rol- 
 lers GG, and through betwixt the wheels WW, 
 down to the hecks and pirns HH, by which the 
 threads receive more twine or twist lYare weights 
 suspendedby leather straps or thongs that pass over 
 
53r 
 
 the lower part of the pirns HH, and regulate their 
 motion. KK is small roundles fixed upon the iron 
 spindles LL,and on these spindles thehecksor fly- 
 ers that direct the threads of yarn to the pirns HH 
 are also placed. MN is a leather-belt which passes 
 from the drum-wheel NO over the small roundles 
 KK; by this means the spineiles LL, with the hecks 
 and pirns, are turned round. PM is the rollers 
 which direct the belt to the roundles KK. (See 
 IHER, Figs. 2. 4, and 6.) — a, is a drum- wheel fix- 
 ed upon the axle X ; and over this drum-wheel pas- 
 ses the belt Z, which conveys motion to it from a 
 drum-wheel of any moving machine having power 
 to turn it. R is a wheel fixed upon the shaft X, to 
 turn the wheel S, which is fastened upon an iron 
 spindle, and on the upper part of this spindle h 
 also fixed a small pinion that turns the wheel T ; 
 thus motion is conveyed to all the other wheels 
 from the drum-wheel, a, to the wheel V ; by this 
 means the rollers, EFGW, are turned to convey 
 the threads off from the bobbins VV, down to the 
 pirns HH, — by which operations these threads 
 are drawn smaller, and also receive the twine or 
 twist that may be found necessary. 
 
 Fig. 6. Plan, or Bird's-eye View of tht; same 
 Machine. 
 
 ABCD represents the frame that supports the 
 machinery. EE is a wheel which acts upon the 
 two wheels FF, to turn them round, with the 
 
 w 
 
58 
 
 drum-wheels GG, which are fixed upon the same 
 axles with the wheels FF ; and upon these drum- 
 wheels goes the belts that turn the iron spindles 
 with the flyers, or hecks and pirns. GIO is the 
 belt which turn the spindles with the hecks and 
 pirns KK ; and GNH is the belt that turns the 
 spindles with the hecks and pirns LL, (^See MN 
 and IH, Fig. 5.) PR are rollers, the axles of 
 which have liberty to shift in long mortises; and by 
 this means the belts can be either tightened or 
 slackened at pleasure, in order to regulate the 
 motion of the spindles. (See PM, Fig. 5.) SS are 
 rollers that hold the belts close upon the roundles 
 of the spindles, to turn them round when the ma- 
 chine is spinning. TT is a drum-wheel fixed u- 
 pon the axle of the wheel EE, and upon this drum 
 goes a leather belt, passing from the drum wheel 
 of any machine in motion, — so that this machine 
 can be turned from any engine which is driven 
 either by water, wind, cattle, or steam, according 
 as it may be thought most advantageous. 
 
59 
 
 PLATE VIII. 
 
 Fig. 1 . Elevation of a Machine for Preparing 
 the Refuse of Flax, Hemp, &c* to be spun into 
 coarse Yarn. 
 
 ABCD represent a frame of cast-metal, in 
 which the wheels and cylinders revolve. EF is 
 the great cylinder, the circumference of which 
 is covered with leather, and in this leather are 
 fixed bent teeth of small iron-wire, placed near 
 to each other. GHI are lesser cylinders, placed 
 round on the upper part of the great one ; the 
 circumference of these cylinders is also co- 
 vered with leather, in which are likewise fixed 
 teeth of iron- wire ; and when the great cylinder 
 is turned round, then the lesser ones are also 
 turned, and by this means the wire-teeth tease 
 or comb the rough materials in passing through 
 betwixt the greater and lesser cylinders. EFand 
 GHI are the lesser cylinders. NKL are wheels 
 by which motion is conveyed from the great cylin- 
 der to the lesser ones. (See LM and NO, Fig. 2.) 
 M is one of the tubs made of white-iron, and is 
 
60 
 
 placed so as to receive the materials N, which are 
 dropt down at A from the cylinders. 
 
 Fig. 2. Plan or Bird's-eye View of the Lesser 
 Cylinders. 
 
 ABCD represent the cast-metal frame in which 
 these cylinders revolve. FGRS are parts of the 
 cylinders covered with leather, in which are fix- 
 ed bent teeth of small iron- wire ; and RSHI 
 are those parts without any cover. KL are two 
 small drum-wheels placed upon the axle of the 
 great cylinder; the drum, L, being fixed on 
 this axle, over it goes a leather-belt which turns 
 the drum and the great cylinder round, and of 
 course all the other cylinders are put in motion. 
 But, in order that this machine may be easily 
 stopt, the drum-wheel, K, has liberty to revolve 
 upon the axle of the great cylinder, so that when 
 the machine is to be stopt the belt must be shift- 
 ed off from the drum wheel L, and placed upon 
 the drum-wheel K, which revolves upon its axle 
 and turns with the belt ; by this means the 
 drum-wheel L, and, of course, the cylinders, 
 are all stopped. MPNO are small wheels which 
 turn the lesser cylinders. T are iron cylinders 
 that draw the combed or carded materials for- 
 w^ards from the cylinders FR. Nos. 1. % S. are 
 triangles made of white- iron, having on two sides 
 a moulding or ledge, which bring these fibrous 
 materials into a narrow space, and introduce 
 
61 
 
 them in betwixt the iron cylinders T, by which if 
 is drawn forward and dropt into the tubs below, 
 (See AM, Fig. 1) RS are rollers that conduct 
 the leather-belt to the drum-wheels by which the 
 cylinders are driven. (See UV, Fig. 5.) 
 
 Fig. 8. Plan of the Great Cylinder, with four 
 of the lesser ones which revolve in the same hori- 
 zontal fraviie. 
 
 ABCD represents the cast-metal frame in which 
 the wheels and cylinders turn. EFGH is the 
 great cylinder covered with leather, in which are 
 fixed bent teeth of small iron wire. EFIK is a 
 lesser cyhnder, covered with leather, having teeth 
 of wire that convey the materials from the great 
 cylinder at EF to the lesser cylinder L, by which 
 it is laid upon the triangles 1. 2. S. and from 
 them these materials are introduced betwixt the 
 iron cylinders M, by which they are drawn forwards 
 and dropt into the tubs L !2. 3. below. (See NA, 
 Fig. 1.) VW represents the iron axle on which 
 the great cylinder is fixed 3 and on this axle is 
 also fastened the drum-wheel U, over which 
 goes the leather- belt which drives this cylinder. 
 (See L V, Fig. 6.) K is another drum-wheel 
 placed upon the axle VW, having liberty to re- 
 volve on its axle when turned by the belt KT, 
 whilst the drum-wheel U, and of course the great^ 
 cylinder, is stopt at any time when found neces« 
 
62 
 
 sary. NO are two small cylinders, in the circum. 
 ference of which are fixed iron-spikes, placed at 
 a small distance from each other, in order to draw 
 the rough materials forward to the cylinders as 
 they revolve, P is a board placed in the iron 
 frame ; and over this board the rough materials 
 pass to the small cylinders NO, by which they 
 are introduced to the great cylinder, (See MN, 
 Fig. 6.) 
 
 Fig. 4. Profile of the same Machine. 
 
 ABCD represents a cast-metal frame, in which 
 the wheels and cylinders are placed. EGOP and 
 PL are wheels fixed upon the axles of the lesser 
 cylinders by which they are driven round when 
 working. LM is a flat board, upon which the 
 rough refuse is spread, and introduced betwixt 
 the small cylinders NN, by which it is con- 
 veyed forward to the cylinders to be combed 
 or carded, and thus prepared to be spun in- 
 to coarse yarn. (See MN, Fig. 6.) IK is a co- 
 ver of boards which incloses the cylinders. (See 
 RSTO, Fig. 5.) H is one of the rollers that di- 
 rects the belt to the drum-wheels w^iich turn 
 the cylinders. 
 
 Pig. 5. Cross Section of the same Carding Ma^ 
 chine, 
 
 ABCD represents the frame which carries the 
 wheels and cylinders. E is a drum-wheel fixed 
 
63 
 
 upon the axle of the great cylinder, and over it 
 goes a leather-belt which drives this machine. 
 (See L V, Fig. 6.) F is a driim-wheel, which is 
 also fixed upon the axle of the great cylinder ; 
 and upon this drum goes the belt IKL, which 
 turns the drum-wheels GH when the drum- 
 wheel F is in motion. X is one of the white- 
 iron tubs into which the rough materials or refuse 
 is placed, and conveyed from this tub over the 
 board M, in between the small cylinders N ; by 
 this means the materials are conducted forward to 
 the carding-cylinders ; and, after going through 
 betwixt these cylinders, are delivered out again 
 at O, over the cylinders OP, into the tub Y, in 
 the form of a narrow ribbon or garter, without 
 any twine or twist, and are then carried to the 
 spinning-machine, by which this flat thread is 
 drawn smaller, and also receives a slack twine, 
 forming it into a round thread, which is drawn 
 smaller, and like\yise receives more twine, from a 
 second machine. RS and TO, is a cover of thin 
 boards, which inclose the carding or combing-cy- 
 linders. UV are two drum-wheels that revolve 
 upon axles of iron, placed into long mortises, in 
 which those axles have liberty to shift ; and by 
 this means the wheels UV can be placed at a 
 greater or less distance from each other ; and thus 
 the leather-belt, IKL, may be either tightened or 
 slackened, according as the lesser cylinders re- 
 quire to be turned quick or slow. 
 
t^iG. 6. Plan, or Bird's-eye View of the same 
 Machine. 
 
 ABCD represents the frame in which the wheelr 
 and cylinders revolve. EF and GH are the 
 wheels and drums which drive the cyh'nders. 
 No- 7* is a conical or bevel wheel, fixed upon the 
 axle of the great cylinder, having teeth to turn 
 the wheel No. 8. which is fastened upon an 
 iron axle; and upon this axle is also fastened the 
 pinion, No. 9. and upon this axle is likewise fix- 
 ed the pinion No. 10. that drives the wheel No.ll, 
 which is placed upon an axle in one of the lesser cy- 
 linders. WX represents white-iron tubs into which 
 the rough materials are placed, and from these 
 tubs are conveyed over the board RYS, in between 
 the cylinders, and placed upon the triangles Nos. 
 1, 2, 3. ; these triangles are made of white iron, 
 having a ledge fixed on two sides, which contract 
 the fibrous materials into a narrow space, before 
 they reach the iron cylinders BD, which draw 
 them from the cylinders, and conduct them down 
 into the tubs 4, 5, 6, in the form of a narrow flat 
 thread, without any twine or twist. L is a drum- 
 wheel fixed upon the axle of the great cylinders, 
 and upon this drum goes the belt LV, coming 
 from a drum-wheel of any machine having 
 power and motion sufficient to turn the cylin- 
 ders. But when the cylinders are to be stopped, 
 then the belt LV, must be shifted off' from the 
 drum L, and placed upon the drum K, (See KT, 
 
65 
 
 fig. 3.) which, having freedom to revolve upon 
 the axle of the great cyhnder, is turned round 
 by the belt, whilst the cylinder is stopt from its 
 motion or remains at rest. If the cylinders are 
 to be set a-going, then the leather- belt must be 
 placed upon the drum-wheel L, which is fixed 
 upon the axle of the great cylinder ; by this 
 means the lesser cylinders are also driven round. 
 
 G 
 
66 
 
 PLATE IX. 
 
 Fig. 1. Plan of a Machine for Spinning the 
 refuse of Flax, &c. into coarse Yarn. 
 
 A BCD represent a frame of cast-metal, in 
 which the wheels, flyers, and pirns revolve. E is 
 a wheel fixed upon an iron-^axle, ( see EP. Fig. 2.) 
 and on the circumference of the wheel, E, are 
 teeth which take upon the teeth of the small 
 wheel F, to drive it round. This wheel is fas- 
 tened upon an iron spindle, on which is also fix- 
 ed a pinion to turn a wheel that is placed upon 
 the axle G, by which motion is conveyed to the 
 other wheels. (See No. 1. Fig. 2.) No. 1. 2. 3. 
 are wheels fixed upon the axle G, having teeth 
 to turn the wheels which are placed upon the 
 axle of the drum-wheels, No. 4. 5. 6. HI are the 
 flyers, or hecks, with the pirns upon which the 
 threads of yarn are rolled by the machine when 
 In motion. No 7. and 8 are a wheel and end- 
 less screw, by which motion is conveyed to 
 the frame that moves the pirns up and down, 
 to cause the threads of yarn roll regularly upon 
 them. KL and MN are tubs made of white- 
 iron, into which is placed the materials that are 
 to be spun into yarn. 
 
67 
 
 Fig. 2. Profile of the same Machine^ 
 ABCD is the cast-metal frame that carries the 
 wheels, flyers, and pirns. E is a wheel fixed up- 
 on the iron-axle P, and on this axle is also fas- 
 tened the drum- wheel S, upon which is placed 
 the leather-belt T, to turn this wheel, by the belt 
 extending from a drum-wheel of any machine in 
 motion which is driven by water, by wind, cattle, 
 or steam. Upon the circumference of the wheel 
 E are teeth that act upon the teeth of the wheel 
 F to drive it round. This wheel is fixed upon 
 the perpendicular iron spindle BF ; and upou 
 this spindle is also fastened the wheel No. 1. that 
 turns the wheel No 2. which is fixed upon the 
 horizontal iron axle G ; and on this axle is like- 
 wise fastened the wheels No. 3. 5. 7 to drive the 
 wheels No, 4. 6. 8. which are fixed upon the per- 
 pendicular iron»spindles HHH; and on the up* 
 per part of each spindle is placed a small pinion 
 having teeth to turn the wheels No* 15. 16. 17- 
 and convey motion to the cylinders LM, by which 
 the threads of yarn are drawn smaller, and direct- 
 ed to the flyers, or hecks, to receive more twine, 
 or twist, and also rolled upon the pirns, i I I are 
 levers, each of which turns upon an iron bolt plac- 
 ed in the frames ; to the shorter arm of each lever 
 is attached an iron rod, as IK, IK> IK, so that by- 
 pushing down the longer arm of these levers the 
 cranks, K, K, K,is raised clear of the drum-wheels 
 4. 6o 8, 5 by this means any two of the flyers wii 
 
68 
 
 the pirns can be stopt at pleasure. No. 9» is an 
 endless screw fixed upon the horizontal iron axle 
 G, to turn the wheel No. 10. which is fastened 
 upon the lower end of an iron spindle ; and upon 
 its upper part is fixed the pinion No. 11. to turn 
 the wheel No. 12. which is fixed upon one end of 
 a horizontal iron axle, and on this axle is also 
 fastened two eccentrical wheels, or hearts, one at 
 No. 13. and another at 14. (see Fig. 7 ) and when 
 the iron axle with these wheels are turned round, 
 then the wheels move the upper ends of two per- 
 pendicular iron rods forward and backward, their 
 lower ends having liberty to turn on iron bolts 
 in the frame, (see I LH, Fig. 5.) By this means 
 the board, upon which the lower end of the pirns 
 turn, is raised up and down at every revolution of 
 these eccentrical wheels ; thus the threads of yarn 
 are rolled regularly upon the pirns, from one end 
 to the other, when the machine is in motion. R 
 is a coupling brass placed upon the top of an iron 
 frame, and in this brass the upper journal of 
 the axle P revolves, whilst the pivot in the lower 
 end turns in a cod of brass. UV represent the 
 tubs of white-iron into which the materials to 
 be spun are placed. 
 
 Fig. 3. Cross section of the same machine. 
 
 ABCD represents the frame in which the 
 wheels, flyers, and pirns revolve. E is a wheel 
 fixed upon the iron axle F, and upon this axle is 
 
69 
 
 also fastened the drum-wheel N, over which goes 
 the leather belt NO, that turns this wheel round* 
 C is one of the white-iron tubs into which the 
 materials to be spun are placed, and from this tub it 
 goes over a roller at A, to the cylinders KLM, by 
 which the threads are conveyed to the flyers and 
 pirns at B, to receive more twine or twist, and rol- 
 led upon the pirns. HI are wheels which turn 
 the cylinders. P is a conical wheel, fixed upon 
 an iron axle, to turn the wheel R. (See Nos, 1. 
 and 2. Fig. 2.) D is a white-iron tub into which 
 the pirns are put when full of yarn, and in which 
 tub it is conveyed to the reeling machine. 
 
 Fig. 4. Elevation of the same machine. 
 
 ABCD represent the cast-metal frame in which 
 the wheels, cylinders, flyers, or hecks and pirns, 
 revolve. EF are the wheels by which motion is 
 carried to the other wheels. (See F and No 1. 
 Fig. 2.) Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, are round sheaves 
 fixed upon the perpendicular iron spindles 7? 8, 
 9, 10, 11, and 12. Upon the top of these spin- 
 dles are fastened the flyers or hecks, GHIKLM, 
 which direct the threads of yarn upon the pirns, 
 and on these spindles the pirns revolve, whilst the 
 spindles are turned round by a leather belt from the 
 drum-wdieels Nos. 2, 4, 6. (See HI, and 4, 5, 6. 
 Fig. L) NOPR represents thewheels that turn the 
 cylinders IS, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, which con- 
 vey the threads down to the flyers. UV is m 
 
70 
 
 iron axle, and upon it is fixed two eccentrical 
 wheels, the one at U and the other at V, so that 
 when this axle is turned round, these wheels 
 move the board up and down upon which the 
 lower end of the pirns turn ; by this means the 
 threads of yarn roll regularly upon the pirns, from 
 the one end to the other. The balls Nos. 7, 8, 
 9, 10, 11, and 12. represent small weights sus- 
 pended by leather straps, the other end of which 
 are fastened to the board whereon the pirns turn. 
 These leather straps go over the lower round 
 of the pirns, and regulate their motion, according 
 as the weights are hung at a greater or less 
 distance from the centre of the pirns. WX 
 is the tubs into which the materials are placed, 
 and conveyed by the cylinders to the flyers, which 
 direct it to the pirns, whereon it is rolled when 
 \he machine is in motion. 
 
 Fig. 5. Cross section of the same machine. 
 
 ABCD represents the cast-metal frame that 
 carry the wheels and cylinders, with the flyers 
 and pirns. EFG are wheels that turn the cylin- 
 ders which draw the materials forward to be spun. 
 (See KLMB, Fig. 3.) Ill is a perpendicular 
 rod of iron, the lower part of which turns on an 
 iron bolt at H, and its upper end, I, is moved 
 forward by the eccentrical wheel, or heart L, and 
 backward by a weight suspended at a cord, the 
 other end of which is fixed to the iron rod at I, 
 
7J 
 
 Thus the board on which the pirns turn is mov- 
 ed up and down to cause the threads of yarn roll 
 regularly upon the pirns. HK is the wheel that 
 conveys motion to the wheels, cylinders, flyers, 
 and pirns. (See 1. 2. 3. Figs, 1. and 2.) 
 
 Fig. 0. Plan or Bird's-eye View of the same 
 Machine. 
 
 ABCD is the cast- metal frame ; F the wheels 
 that convey motion to the cylinders, flyers, and 
 pirns. LMPR are tubs made of white-iron ; in 
 these tubs the materials are placed, and from them 
 introduced to the cylinders GHUV that draw the 
 coarse threads forward to the cylinder IK, which 
 conducts them to the flyers and pirns whereon 
 they are rolled by the machine, (See GHIKLM, 
 Fig 4.) NOST are the tubs which receive the 
 pirns when full of yarn, and in these tubs they 
 are carried to the reeling-machine. 
 
72 
 
 PLATE X. 
 
 Fig. 1. Profile of the Reeling Machine. 
 
 ABC represent a frame of cast-metaL D is a 
 round wooden axle, into which is fixed the spokes 
 or arms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ; and upon the extremity 
 of these arms are fastened longitudinal spars of 
 wood. (See IKLM, Fig. 2,) E is the pirn 
 placed upon an iron spindle fixed in the frame 
 upon which the pirns revolve, whilst the thread, I, 
 is rolling round on the extremity of the reel. 
 
 Fig. 2. ABCD represents a cast-metal frame 
 in which the reel revolves. EF is an axle of 
 wood, wherein is fixed the arms or spokes, up- 
 on the extremity of which are fixed the Ion- 
 gitudinal spars IKLM; and upon the outer side 
 of these spars the threads of yarn are rolled. 
 NOP represent three of the arms, having liberty 
 to shift inwards or outwards in their mortises ; so 
 that when the hanks of yarn are completed, then 
 the arms, NOP, are shifted inwards, by w^hich 
 means the hanks of yarn are slackened, and of 
 course easily taken off the reel. But when the 
 
73 
 
 reeling is to begin, these arms must be shifted 
 outwards again, so that the spar which is fixed on 
 the outer ends may be at the same distance from 
 the centre of the axle, EF, as that of the other 
 five spars of the reel. In each of tliese shifting 
 arms is a mortise to receive a small wedge that 
 rests on the outside of the axle, and prevents 
 them from slipping inward in the time of reeling ; 
 but when the hanks of yarn are to be taken off, 
 these wedges must be taken out. KS is a wooden 
 rail, and in it is fixed round iron spikes, upon 
 which the pirns YZ revolve when the reeling is 
 going on. U is an endless screw upon the pivot 
 of the axle F. This screw takes into the teeth 
 of the wheel T to turn it round; and in this 
 wheel are one hundred and twenty teeth, so that 
 every revolution of the reel moves the wheel 
 T one teeth forward, and one turn of this wheel 
 makes one hundred and twenty threads round 
 the reel ; at this instant the bell V being raised a 
 little by the wheel, T, gives a tinkle of alarm, to 
 shew that the reel has performed a hundred and 
 twenty revolutions, and that the cut is complete. 
 This number of threads makes one cut j and 
 twelve of these cuts make what is termed a hank 
 or hesp ; and four of these hanks make a spindle. 
 Thus, one hundred and twenty threads round the 
 reel makes one cut, each thread measuring seven 
 feet six inches, or two and a half English yards ; 
 so that one cut of yarn measures 900 feet in 
 
 H 
 
74 
 
 length ; one hesp or hank 10,800 feet ; and one 
 spindle, or four hanks, measures 43,200 English 
 feet, or 14,400 yards in length. WX is a spar of 
 wood, in which is fixed, opposite to each pirn, a 
 small iron bolt, having a hole in its upper part ; 
 through these holes the threads pass from the 
 pirns, and by this means are directed to the reek 
 When one cut is complete, it is tied with a thread, 
 and the spar, WX, is shifted a little on end, to 
 prevent the threads from rolling on above the 
 other cut ; thus the spar WX must be shifted 
 a little on end when each cut is reeled, till the 
 twelve cuts are complete, and then the hank is 
 taken off* the reek 
 
 Fig. 3. Plan, or Bird's-eye View of the same 
 Machine. 
 
 ABCD is the frame in which the reel revolves. 
 EF is the axle into which the spokes or arms of 
 the reel are fixed. GH are the arms of the reel, 
 and IKLM the spars fixed upon the extremity 
 of these arms. NOP is the shifting arms, which 
 have liberty to slide inward in their mortises, 
 to slacken the hank of yarn, so that it may be 
 easily taken off the reel. KS is a wooden rail, 
 and into it is fixed round iron spikes, upon 
 which the pirns YZ revolve, when the machine is 
 in motion. WX is a rail, in which are fixed small 
 iron bolts ; and in the top of these bolts is an 
 opening through which the threads of yarn pass 
 
75 
 
 to the reel. T is an endless screw on the pivot 
 of the axle F. This screw turns the small wheel 
 which counts or numbers the threads of yarn in 
 each cut when reeling. The rail WX has li- 
 berty to shift fi^om V towards U ; and must be 
 shifted a little when each cut is reeled, in order 
 to prevent the threads from rolling above the one 
 which was reeled before, — so that the cuts may 
 be separate from one another upon the reel, and 
 also a little distance between the hanks when 
 complete, in order that they may be readily 
 taken off the reel. 
 
 Fig. 4, Cross Section of the same Machine. 
 
 ABC represents a cast-metal frame upon which 
 the pivot, G, of the reel turns. (See FU, Fig. 2,) 
 D is an axle, into which is fixed the arms or 
 spokes, 1, 2, S, 4, 5, 6 ; and upon the ex- 
 tremity of these arms are fastened longitudinal 
 spars of wood, upon the outside of which the 
 thread, I, of the yarn is rolled, as it comes off 
 the pirn, E, (See WL, Fig, 2.) In the frame at 
 A, is fixed round iron spikes upon which the 
 pirns revolve, (See YZ, Fig. 2.) F represents the 
 yarn roiled round the circumference of the reel. 
 G is an endless screw, upon the pivot of the 
 axle D of the reel, the spirals of which take in 
 between the teeth of the wheel H, to turn it 
 round, and number the threads of yarn in each 
 cut when reeling;. 
 
76 
 
 Figs. 5. and 6. are baskets made of willow, or 
 small twigs, in which the pirns, when full of yarn, 
 are carried from the spinning m.achine to the 
 reel ; and in these baskets the empty pirns are 
 conveyed from the reel to the spinning machine, 
 alternately, whilst the spinning and i]eeiing ma- 
 chines are employed. 
 
77 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 LINEN MANUFACTURE OF IRELAND.* 
 
 The foundation of the linen manufacture in 
 Ireland was laid by the unfortunate Earl of 
 Strafford, during the time he resided in that 
 country as chief governor.! Having observed 
 
 * See Wakefield's Account of Ireland, Vol. I. p. 680. 
 
 f The following is an extract from his Lordship's letter on 
 this subject, giving an account of the report he had made to 
 the king and council. The letter is dated July 25, 1636. 
 
 That there was little or no manufactures among them, but 
 some small beginnings towards a clothing trade, Vvhich I had, 
 and so should still, discourage all I could, unless otherwise di- 
 rected by his Majesty and their lordships ; in regard it would 
 trench not only on the clothings of England, being our staple 
 commodity, so as if they should manufacture their own wool, 
 which grew to very great quantities, we should not only lose 
 the profit we made now by in-dressing their wools, but bis Ma- 
 jesty lose extremely by his customs, and, in conclusion, it 
 might be feared they might beat us out of the trade itself, by 
 underselling, in which they were able to do. Yet I have en- 
 deavoured another way to set them on work, and that is, by 
 bringing in the making of linen cloth ; the rather in regard to 
 the women, who are naturally bred to spinning ; that the Ir- 
 
78 
 
 that the soil, in many parts, was suited to the 
 production of flax, that the women were chiefly 
 bred to spinning, and that the price of labour 
 was cheap, he conceived that linen might be made 
 there at such an expense as would enable the ma- 
 nufacturers to undersell, twenty per cent at least, 
 those of Holland and France. Impressed with 
 this idea, he sent to Holland for flax-seed, and to 
 the Netherlands and France for competent work- 
 men. The flax was sown, and succeeded accord- 
 ing to expectation ; spinners and looms were set 
 to work ; and his lordship, to animate others, em- 
 barked himself in the business, and expended in 
 promoting it, L.SO,000 of his private fortune 
 
 By the troubles, however, which soon after 
 broke out, an entire stop was put to this useful 
 enterprise, until it was again revived by the Duke 
 of Ormonde, who procured several acts of par- 
 ish earth is apt to the bearing of flax, and that this manufac- 
 ture would be, in conclusion, rather a benefit than other to 
 this kingdom. I have, therefore, sent for the flax-seed into 
 Holland, being of a better sort than we have, and have sown 
 this year a thousand pounds of it, (finding, by some I sowed 
 the last year, that it takes very well here^) I have sent for 
 workmen out of the Low Countries, and south of France, and 
 set up already six or seven looms, which, if it pleases God so 
 to bless us this year, I trust so to invite them to follow it, 
 when they see the great profit arising thereby, as that they 
 shall generally take and employ themselves that way, which, 
 if they do, I am confident it will prove a mighty business/' 
 
 * Carte's Life of the Duke of Ormonde, vol. ii. p. 85* 
 
79 
 
 liamentto encourage it, and also for inviting pro- 
 testant strangers to settle in the kingdom. He 
 dispatched skilful persons to the Netherlands, to 
 make themselves acquainted with the method of 
 cultivating flax in that country ; the manner of 
 preparing and weaving it, as well as the process 
 employed in bleaching the cloth, and likewise to 
 engage workmen experienced in the different bran- 
 ches of the art to settle in Ireland. At the same 
 time he wrote to Sir William Temple, whom he 
 had recommended to the king, as a man fit for 
 the purpose, and who was then ambassador at 
 Brussels, to send him over from Brabant 5O0 fa- 
 milies, who had been employed in this manufac- 
 ture : he procured others from Rochelle, and the 
 Isle of llhe ; and Sir George Carteret supplied him 
 with a considerable number from Jersey, and the 
 adjacent parts of France. He built tenements 
 for some of these people at Chapel Izod, near 
 Dublin, where, in a little time, 30O hands were at 
 work, under the direction of Colonel Lawrence. 
 Cordage, sail-cloth, ticking, and linen, made of 
 Irish yarn, equal in quality to any in Europe, 
 and which could be sold at a less price than that 
 of any other country. 
 
 His Grace erected another manufactory at his 
 own town of Carrick, assigning to the workmen 
 one half of the houses in the place, with 500 
 acres of land contiguous to the walls, for three 
 lives, or thirty-one years, at a pepper-corn for the 
 
^0 
 
 first, and afterwards at two-thirds of the old rent. 
 All plans of improvement among a people just 
 beginning to emerge from barbarity, meet with 
 formidable enemies from prejudice and inve- 
 terate habits. It was not therefore to be ex- 
 pected, that this new branch of industry could be 
 introduced among the Irish without considerable 
 labour and exertion. The indolence of the in- 
 habitants, and their ignorance of the art, were 
 the greatest obstacles to the progress of the infant 
 manufacture ; but the Duke's perseverance sur- 
 mounted every difficulty ; by his example and en- 
 couragement, a spirit of enterprise, to w hich the 
 country had before been a stranger, was at length 
 excited, and he had the satisfaction, before he 
 quitted the government in the year 1669, of see- 
 ing the linen business fully established, and in a 
 promising condition** 
 
 The importance of this branch of industry, 
 soon attracted the attention of parliament, and 
 considerable sums of money were from time 
 to time voted for its support. That the busi- 
 ness might be better superintended, a board of 
 trustees, who first met in 171 1> was established t, 
 and in order that no encouragement might be 
 wanting, bounties on the exportation of Irish 
 
 ♦ Cartels Life of the Duke of Ormonde, vol. ii. p. 34^2. 
 f Crump's Essay on the best Means of providing Employ- 
 ment for the Poor, p. 75. 
 
81 
 
 linen were offered, and in 1743 they were distri- 
 buted. * 
 
 Under the direction of the above-mentioned 
 board, the cambric manufactory was also intro- 
 duced in 1737, by a Mr De Joncourt, who brought 
 over workmen for that purpose from France. It 
 was first estabUshed at Dundalk, on the estate of 
 Lord Viscount Limerick, afterwards Earl of Clan- 
 brassil, and being supported by a voluntary con- 
 tribution of L.:iO,000, was, in the year 1770, in a 
 very thriving condition, t The author of a pam- 
 phlet on the Absentees of Ireland, published at 
 Dublin in 1 767, says, that at that period, there- 
 were upwards of one thousand fiv e hundred looms 
 employed in weaving cambric in the northern 
 part of the country. J 
 
 The preparation of the flax plant, and the vari- 
 ous operations it undergoes before it is made into 
 cloth, gives employment to so many people in 
 Ireland, and brnigs into the national coffers so 
 large an annual income, that the linen which is 
 formed from it has, with great propriety, been 
 called the staple manufacture of the country. To 
 give the reader a clearer idea of its extent and 
 importance, I shall subjoin the following table, 
 
 * Lord Sheffield's Observations on the Manufactures of 
 Ireland, p. 75. 
 
 t Boulter's Letters, Vol. II. p. 166. 
 
 X List of the Absentees in Ireland, with Observations on 
 the Trade, Manufactures, &c. p. 67. 
 
 I 
 
82 
 
 which shews the number of acres sown with flax 
 in the year 181(X It is copied from a return 
 made to the trustees of the linen board; but it 
 appears, by a note of the secretary, that it includes 
 pieces of land less than an acre, and as the quan- 
 tity of small patches employed in raising flax in 
 Ireland must be immense, I am of opinion, that 
 they may be fairly estimated at least at (20,000 
 acres. If this number be added to the result 
 given by the table, the sum total will amount to 
 about IOO5OOO acres, which allowing the average 
 produce to be SO stone per acre, at 10s. 6d. per 
 stone, the average price in the last seven years 
 will give an annual produce of the raw material 
 worth L. 1,500,000. 
 
83 
 
 
 
 
 T'ntnl ^iiinbp 
 
 XLi o Ll 111 A LVLL 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 of Bushels 0 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Number 
 
 blax Seed sup- 
 
 the Total 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 of Acres 
 
 posed to have 
 
 Number of 
 
 -t-> 
 
 
 
 
 
 supposed 
 
 been saved out 
 
 Bushels 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 to be 
 
 of the Crops, 
 
 contained in 
 
 o ^ 
 
 'A - 
 
 
 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 sown 
 
 without dis- 
 
 tlie preced- 
 
 •-sea 
 
 Amount . 
 
 
 
 witJi 
 
 tinction whe- 
 
 ing (Johmm 
 
 ^ 'Z 
 
 
 
 
 
 Flax in 
 
 ther the whole 
 
 on which 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 [lie leai 
 
 0 1 t li e U oun t v 
 
 Bounty is 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i8oa 
 
 will be claimed 
 thereon or not. 
 
 likely to be 
 claimed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Acres, 
 
 Bushels. 
 
 Bushels. 
 
 
 
 s. a. 
 
 
 "Antrim .... 
 
 11,100 
 
 3,100 
 
 2.900 
 
 5s. 
 
 725 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Armagh . . . 
 
 15,000 
 
 6,000 
 
 6,000 
 
 5s. 
 
 1,500 
 
 0 u 
 
 
 Londonderry r , 
 
 5,000 
 
 3,200 
 
 3,000 
 
 5s. 
 
 750 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Tyrone .... 
 
 10,241 
 
 8,460 
 
 7,000 
 
 5s. 
 
 1,750 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Donegal . . . 
 
 6,000 
 
 7,200 
 
 5,600 
 
 5s. 
 
 1,400 
 
 0 0 
 
 O 
 
 Fermanagh . . 
 
 5,000 
 
 5,000 
 
 4,400 
 
 5s. 
 
 1,100 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Monaghan . . . 
 
 3,200 
 
 4,000 
 
 3,600 
 
 5s. 
 
 900 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Cavan .... 
 
 4,300 
 
 6,500 
 
 700 
 
 5s, 
 
 175 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Down .... 
 
 2,700 
 
 3,200 
 
 3,000 
 
 5s. 
 
 750 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 ^Meath .... 
 
 112 
 
 842 
 
 840 
 
 5s. 
 
 210 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Louth .... 
 
 1,253 
 
 11,590 
 
 10,431 
 
 5s, 
 
 z,d07 
 
 u u 
 
 
 King's County 
 
 252 
 
 2,000 
 
 1,000 
 
 5s. 
 
 250 
 
 0 0 
 
 c 
 
 Longford . . . 
 
 1,325 
 
 250 
 
 240 
 
 5s, 
 
 60 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 KildareandWicklow 
 
 36 
 
 100 
 
 80 
 
 5s. 
 
 20 
 
 0 0 
 
 'S 
 
 Queen's County . 
 
 18 
 
 114 
 
 48 
 
 5s. 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 Kilkenny . . . 
 
 50 
 
 350 
 
 50 
 
 5s. 
 
 12 
 
 10 0 
 
 
 Westmeath . . 
 
 950 
 
 3,000 
 
 800 
 
 5s, 
 
 200 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Carlow and Wexford 
 
 111 
 
 500 
 
 280 
 
 5s. 
 
 70 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 ^DubUn .... 
 
 - - 
 
 - - 
 
 - - 
 
 - - 
 
 
 
 
 "Cork 
 
 1,46^/ 
 
 4,481 
 
 1,794 
 
 5s. 
 
 448 
 
 10 0 
 
 
 Clare .... 
 
 58 
 
 340 
 
 340 
 
 5s. 
 
 85 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Limerick , , . 
 
 1,500 
 
 1,100 
 
 400 
 
 5s. 
 
 100 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Kerry .... 
 
 554 
 
 1,572 
 
 1,572 
 
 5s. 
 
 393 
 
 0 0 
 
 % 
 
 Tipperary . . . 
 
 117 
 
 1,600 
 
 822 
 
 5s, 
 
 205 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Waterford . . . 
 
 25 
 
 63 
 
 19 
 
 5s. 
 
 4 
 
 15 0 
 
 
 " Sligo 
 
 683 
 
 1,800 
 
 600 
 
 5s. 
 
 150 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Mayo , . . . 
 
 1 ,333 
 
 5,308 
 
 4,800 
 
 5s. 
 
 1,202 
 
 0 0 
 
 
 Gal way .... 
 
 1,196 
 
 9,568 
 
 8,372 
 
 5s. 
 
 2,093 
 
 0 0 
 
 1 1 
 
 Leitrim .... 
 
 1,565 
 
 1,300 
 
 1,000 
 
 5s. 
 
 250 
 
 0 0 
 
 [ Roscommon . . 
 
 1,707 
 
 1,707 
 
 1,707 
 
 5s. 
 
 426 
 
 15 0 
 
 
 Total . . 
 
 76,749 
 
 94,145 
 
 71,405 
 
 
 17,851 
 
 5 0 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
84 
 
 A very intelligent manufacturer,* who was ap- 
 pliid to for information on this subject, in a me- 
 morandum transmitted to one of my friends, 
 says, The spinning of Hnen yarn by machinery 
 w^as not practised in Ireland till within these few 
 years ; this improvement was introduced into the 
 county of Down, by Mr Cruikshank, who first 
 made the experiment on a very contracted scale. 
 He afterwards tried it at Cork, and at present, 
 (May, 181 1,) there are several manufactories on 
 this principle in the northern part of the country, 
 though not so many as might have been expected. 
 
 " The leading cause against the extension of 
 machinery, is the low price of labour ; yarn spun 
 by women is sold here much cheaper than the 
 same article manufactured by machinery in Eng- 
 land. In the latter country, the labouring clas- 
 ses have a choice of employments, in consequence 
 of the variety of its manufactures. If one fail 
 them, they can apply to another ; with us the 
 case is different ; when trade is bad, its worst 
 effects are felt by the poor women, who must sell 
 at the prices of the day, or remain unemployed ; 
 and it frequently happens, that they dispose of 
 the worked article for less than the raw^ materials 
 cost them. 
 
 * Mr Joseph Nicholson, of the county of Armagh. 
 
85 
 
 To one unacquainted with Ireland, the small 
 earnings of the poorer females, frequently not 
 more than two-pence per day, working diHgently 
 from morning till night, for months together, 
 must appear very extraordinary, and under such 
 circumstances, it is unlikely that this trade should 
 increase so much as it might, though spurred on 
 in the beginning by offers of large premiums from 
 the linen board. 
 
 " With the aid of machinery, one person is 
 fully equal to do the work of ten, and in this the 
 advantage in its favour appears to be great ; yet 
 when it is considered that women are fully com- 
 petent to bring any description of yarn which we 
 spin, to double the fineness that machinery can, 
 this advantage is much lessened. 
 
 " Another thing against us is, that we cannot 
 with any material, let its quantity be what it may, 
 exceed the fineness of three hanks, or thirty-six 
 leas in the pound ; whereas women, when the 
 flax is good, can run it from twelve to twenty 
 hanks, or from 144 to 240 leas in the pound. 
 
 " Our yarn, from the better quality of the raw 
 material is superior ; it sells, therefore, consider- 
 ably higher, and is commonly used as warp for 
 yarn spun by the hand. 
 
86 
 
 On balancing the account, we believe the 
 advantages are in favour of mill-spinning ; and 
 we are of opinion, that this improvement will one 
 time or other become a source of prosperity to 
 the country. 
 
 The wages in the factories may on an average 
 be eight-pence per day, and spinners could not 
 be procured for much less ; in their own houses 
 they are satisfied with four pence or five-pence. 
 
 *^ To sum up the whole, the quantity of yarn 
 spun by machinery, the greater price given for 
 it, and the better means of obtaining a market, 
 are in favour of that mode with respect to coarse 
 yarn. On the other hand, the low price of la- 
 bour, the superior fineness of the wrought mate- 
 rial, and the expence of machinery, with its 
 wear and tear^ are very great drawbacks ; yet it 
 may be estimated, that the balance is in favour 
 of the former, to the amount, it is supposed, of 
 one halfpenny per hank, or twelve leas. 
 
 The usual earning of weavers in this country 
 is from six shillings to eight shillings per week.'* 
 
 Spinning by the hand, in a country like Ire- 
 land, where the sedentary occupations of the fe- 
 male must be so often interrupted, not only by 
 domestic, but agricultural labours, is attended 
 
87 
 
 with one very striking advantage, namely, that 
 it can be suspended and resumed without any in* 
 convenience, and thus small intervals of time are 
 filled up that would otherwise be lost. A very 
 sagacious writer, says, * There can be no doubt, 
 but all kinds of employment that can be follow- 
 ed without prejudice from interruption ; work 
 that can be taken up and laid down often in a 
 day without damage, such as spinning, knitting, 
 w^eaving, &c. are highly advantageous to a com- 
 munity, because in them ,may be collected all 
 the produce of those fragments of time that oc- 
 cur in family business, between the constant and 
 necessary parts of it that usually occupy females ; 
 as the time betw^een rising and preparing for 
 breakfast, between breakfast and preparing for 
 dinner, S^c. The amount of all these fragments 
 is, in the course of a year, very considerable to a 
 single family ; to a state proportionably highly 
 profitable ; therefore it is, in this case, also to fol- 
 low that divine direction, ^^?//^r up the fragments 
 that nothing may he lost. Lost time is lost sub- 
 sistence ; it is therefore lost treasure. 
 
 Hereby, in several families many yards of 
 linen have been produced from the employment 
 of those fragments only, in one year, though such 
 famihes were just the same in number as when 
 so employed/' * 
 
 * Franklin s Polit. Fragments in his Works, 
 
88 
 
 To this it may be added, that the women in 
 Ireland seem to have a pecuhar talent for this 
 kind of work. At least, such is the opinion of a 
 very celebrated writer, who observes, that of 
 all women the Irish are the aptest, and best cal- 
 culated to spin linen thread well, who labouring 
 little in any kind with their hands, have their 
 fingers more supple and soft than others of as 
 poor condition amongst us.'' * 
 
 Yarn spun by the hand is carried to different 
 degrees of fineness, in diflerent parts of the 
 country, according to the nature of the manu- 
 factories which have been estabhshed there, and 
 the quality of the flax which they produce; but 
 in this respect, female labour has certainly the 
 advantage over machinery, as the yarn produced > 
 by the former may attain to a degree of fineness 
 which cannot be given to it by the latter. Some 
 instances of the ingenuity of the Irish women in 
 spinning are extraordinary ; and the following 
 account, extracted from the Belfast magazine, of 
 the performances of Anne M^Quilhn, of Comber, 
 in the barony of Castlereagh, county of Down, 
 which seems, in some measure, to confirm the 
 idea of Sir William, deserves to be recorded t. 
 
 Perhaps it may not be amiss to mention, that 
 
 * Temple's Miscellanies, edit. 1681. p. 13. 
 t For March 1809. 
 
89 
 
 Anne cannot spin her superfine yarn except in 
 mild weather. Frost, high winds, and excessive 
 drought, are equally unfavourable ; she then spins 
 what she calls coarse yarn, that is from €4 to 30 
 or 36 hanks in the pound. A few years ago, she 
 could spill a hank of 64 in the pound in four 
 days. Of the flrier^ staple she can now spin a 
 hank in the week when the we'^.ther is f^^voijtiSi- 
 ble ; but the t^i perfine, ' that is, about 100 hanks 
 in the pound, req'mres nedvlf twV(;e' tbt time. As 
 what 1 have written may reach the eyS of some 
 incapable of estimating the fineness of Anne's 
 yarn, from their ignorance of its count and mea- 
 sure, I shall add, that each cut contains 1*20 
 threads, and each thread measures yards. 
 Hence it is evident, that the thread of her yarn, 
 of different hanks from the pound of flax, is in 
 length, 
 
 105 ditto per lb. > l68 . 6 . 0.0 Irish. 
 
 04 hanks. 
 
 85 hanks. 
 
 and 
 
 no less than 
 
 7 . 0 English K 
 
 * Let the reader compare this with the following account 
 of German spinning : The peasants iu the neighbourhood of 
 
 K 
 
90 
 
 " To the female nobility and gentry of Ireland, 
 Lady Dufferin has set a noble and praiseworthy 
 example ; she has repeatedly purchased yarn, had 
 it manufactured into thread by Anne M*Quillin 
 herself, and wrought into lace in the neighbour- 
 hood of London. I have in my possession, at this 
 moment, a spe^cit^ep af th4 thread, -man uflictured 
 from' y wti,l of ah36ut 70*hariks in the pound ; and 
 lace work from her Isdyship.frojiiit, is far supe- 
 rior to any;thifig'(tf ti\e:kiM^^^^ seen 
 in this coulitry. Would the other ladies of the 
 
 Bielfield, Gutterslohe, and Rittberg, in Westphalia, who wear 
 wooden shoes, spin, with their clumsy fingers which hold the 
 plough, yarn of such a fineness, that a pound of flax produces 
 a thread twenty- three miles in length, each mile of 20,000 feet, 
 (about 88 English miles,) and that sixteen cuts of yarn, or 
 19,200 threads, each six feet in length, can, when pressed to- 
 gether, be drawn through a common finger-ring." Archiv for 
 Statistilc Politik og Huusholdnings Videnskaber, 4 hefte, p. 333. 
 
 However strange it may appear to a man of the lower class 
 in Ireland, it is a well-known fact, that the male part of the 
 peasantry, in some districts of Germany, employ their leisure 
 time in spinning. Sussmilch says : " I always reflect with 
 pleasure on the laborious Silesians, and the inhabitants of the 
 neighbouring provinces. These people are temperate in their 
 living, and industrious ; in winter they do not sleep away neir 
 time, but all spin, men as well as women, without any distinc- 
 tion of sex ; none of them are ashamed of this occupation. 
 The peasants in the Mark are of a different way of thinking, 
 and much less industrious ; the men would consider spinning 
 as a disgrace, and spend the dark evening and morning hours 
 either in bed or hanging over a warm stove." Die Gottliche 
 Ordnung in den Veranderungen des Mensclichen Geselechts, 
 Berlin, 1775, vol, ii. p. 37. 
 
91 
 
 land follow her steps in the management of our 
 Irish spinstresses, they would call forth Irish in- 
 genuity, render Irish industry active and com- 
 fortable, and, by the splendour of their virtues, 
 add real dignity to their titles. Nobilitas sola est 
 atque mica Virtus. W. Steele Dickson.^' 
 
 There are many parts of Ireland where the 
 manufacture extends no farther than to spinning, 
 markets being held in these places for yarn only* 
 The quality of the Hnen depends upon the fine- 
 ness of the yarn, and on that account the finest 
 is manufactured in those parts where the finest 
 yarn is spun. In many instances, the flax is rais- 
 ed, spun into yarn, and woven into cloth by the 
 same person and his family. Taking Ireland, 
 however, in general, the cultivators of flax are 
 much more numerous than the spinners, as is 
 shewn by the exportation of unspun flax ; and 
 the spinners out-number the weavers, as ap- 
 pears by the same list, in the exportation of linen 
 yarn. Linen is woven of different widths, from 
 ten-inch handle linen made in Kerry to 5-4 sheet- 
 ings manufactured in the neighbourhood of 
 Coote-hiil, and of different qualities, from coarse 
 thin 3-4 wides in Antrim, which sell at sixpence 
 per yard, to cambrics w^orth one guinea. 
 
 THE END. 
 
Pi^iTK zr. 
 
P/../7f: IT. 
 
'Ik 
 
THE GETTY CENTER 
 UBRARY