Series 5 > British Linen Company, 1745-1775

CRISIS AND RECOVERY, 1753-1763
89
We see you have been advised lately of the cost of manfacturing the Silesias
or Garlix at Coupaf which is no more than 1V4 and 1 V^d all charges included
above the cost of yam for winding, weaving, factor’s profit etc. The informa¬
tion given is not very exact or business like but Mr Young is not really a
manufacturer tho’ a good enough judge oflinens when made; it is as satisfactory
as could have been expected but we still think (after knowing your full
sentiments on the alterations necessary in that branch of the manufacture from
what you have already seen of this year’s make) it will be very proper to send
one of our best Cambric weavers there, who we hope might be paid for by
the Public and might have 6 or 12 looms employed in that branch with yams
from Mr Young.
To George Young, Coupar Angus
21 October 1757
We have just now been pemsing our letter to you of the 8th January last,
directing such and such sorts of linen to be made and that most of the linens
then and since ordered, have been delivered in from the bleach. We find that
many of them are very good for the money, but in general when compared
with the foreign they are far short in sorting of yam and neatness of weaving
and exactness ofbreadths. This we apprehend by some little pains and expence,
which we think ought and hope, may be defrayed by the public. For example
we would have you set up 10 or 12 looms in a good house and well appointed
with good utensils for weaving, get a proper master or foreman who has been
bred in the french way of sorting yams for Lawns & Cambrics and whose exact
and neat way of weaving is far superior to those in any other branch of the
manufacture and which in our opinion would be very well adapted to your
fabric oflinens, which are like coarse Cambrics. In this house we would have
you take as many journeymen as would fill it, and when they are completely
taught and practiced in the habit of neat weaving, boiling and sorting of yams,
let these men be dismissed and another set be taken in and so on for some years
until the country is generally instructed. If you shall approve of this proposi¬
tion, we would have you to make out a plan for that purpose, setting forth the
extraordinary expences you would be at, the benefit that would accrue
therefrom and thereto subjoined a petition to the Board of Trustees desiring
that the same might be defrayed by the public. We apprehend a foreman such
D