which I was directed to prepare and transmit as soon as possible an account of the Several Manufacr tures Set up and carried on within this Colony since the year 173-1, 1 took the liberty of giving to your Introduction Lordships as he was then ready Letter of to sail for a Hasenclaver Peter England, imagining that from his Character and Knowledge of the Country a more perfect Account might be obtained from him of what was required in the beforementioned Letter, than I could possi-

bly give by that opportunity.

I have

since

made all the

Inquiries I could, and the whole of the

Information given to me may be reduced to the following Heads. There is a Small Manufactory of Linen in this City under the Conduct of one Wells, and supported chiefly by the Subscriptions of a set of men who call themselves the Society of Arts and Agriculture.

No more than fourteen Looms are employed in it, and it was established in order to give Bread to several poor families which were a considerable charge to the city and are now comfortably supported

by their own daily Labour in Spinning of Flax. It does not appear that there is any established Fabric of Broad Cloth here; and some poor Weavers from Yorkshire, who came over lately in expectation of being engaged to make Broad Cloths could find no Employment. But there is a general Manufactory of Woolen carried on here and consists of two sorts, the first a coarse cloth entirely woolen f of