Proposals For Building, In Every County, A Working-Alms-House or Hospital | Page 8

Flax, in its nature, is better for
making of Fine Cloth, than ours generally is: But even this is denied by
persons of great Judgement and Experience, who affirm, that much
Land in England may produce as kind Flax, to the full: Besides, the
Dutch Flax Imported, is but little, and comparatively Inconsiderable; as
is indeed the Use and Consumtion of very Fine Cloth, in respect of the
vast quantities of Course and Ordinary Cloth; so that, if the Trade be
Encouraged, we need not fear, but we may find ground enough in
England, fit to produce as excellent Flax as any now brought from
Holland, I mean, so much as we have occasion for; And consequently,
may make as good Linnen; _If we do not spoil it in working_: Which is
the second Charge of the Objection.
To which I Answer, That I have credibly been inform'd by some
persons, that they have, and can now already make as good Cloth here,
as that which we commonly Buy for 5, 6, 7, or 8 s. per Ell: And why
should not our people, when they find the Manufactory Incouraged, and
especially by the Emulation and desires to out-vie each other in good
Work-manship in these publick Working Alms-Houses; Why, I say,
May we not arrive at as great Perfection in the Mystery as any people
in the World? The English once had the Reputation of the only
excellent Artificers for Wollen Cloth; other Nations knew nothing, or
very little of it; yet now we find, by unhappy experience, they equal, if
not exceed us therein: Why may we not retaliate, and out-strip them in
another Mystery? Or, Why should we more scandal our selves with
suggestions of Dullness and Indocility, than our Neighbours.
But to give more full satisfaction, That this Manufactory, especially
that part which is most advantagious to the Nation, as being most
Consumptive of our Hemp and Flax, and most promoting Trade and

Imployment for the Poor; which indeed is common and ordinary Cloth,
of which there is a Thousand Ells to one Transported into all His
Majesties Plantations.
That this I say is suddainly to be perfected, I cannot but give a signal
Instance, from the laudable practice and experience of that worthy
Gentleman, Mr. _Tho. Firmin_, Citizen of London, who at this time
Imploys in his House (built for that purpose) several Flax-men,
Weavers, _&c._ And also above 600 Spinners abroad. This Judicious
person shew'd me more than 500 l. worth of very good substantial
Cloth, of his own working. And in truth, I have convers'd with many;
but never found any man so able and free to resolve all doubts in this
case; who told me for a Truth, that a Child of 5 or 6 years old, that had
its Health, and a moderate Apprehension, might be taught in 6 Weeks
to earn its living in Spinning; Which, if so, as from the Veracity and
Experience of the Relator, I have no reason to doubt. It is most plain,
that the most profitable part of this Manufactory may be both easily and
speedily accomplish'd, and perfected, to the happy Reformation of
many Thousands, who now live by Begging, _&c._ giving scarce any
thing for whatever they Eat, Drink, or Wear.
Besides, let it be considered, How greatly this Manufactory will
quicken and revive our decayed Markets and dying Trade, especially,
that of Husbandry; which may easily be domonstrated, thus;
As the Case now stands, every Family in the Nation either directly or
indirectly, send their Money every year to the Drapers for Linnen, the
Drapers they pay it to the Merchants, and away it goes every year
beyond Sea, and never returns; whereby our Wealth is made a Prey to
other Nations, whose Poor are imploy'd and maintain'd thereby, whilst
in the mean time our Nation is in a Consumption, our Poor live by
Begging, Poverty increases, and our Lands lye unimproved, for want of
this Manufactory.
But now under this Reformation, every Family that sends their Money
to the Drapers, the Draper sends it to the Masters of these Hospitals,
and they scatter it amongst all the Trades in the Nation; especially to
the Farmers, and Tillers of Land, ready Money for Hemp and Flax;

ready Money for Corn and Fat Cattle of all sorts; and the like for Butter
and Cheese, or any thing they have to spare: And all this, or the greatest
part, from those who before lay a Begging at their Doors, or were
maintained by Contribution; and now, the more people Increase, the
better it will be for the whole Nation: And doubtless, if an Imposition
sufficient were laid on Foreign Linnen, Hemp and Flax, and
Incouragement due to ingenious and industrious people given, (as in
this Case,