every measure that would tend to assist the manufactures of the country. Frequently arguments were written and published to add additional strength to the popular opinions. An article stated that jeans could be made so as to undersell those imported from England; and that the thread, cotton, and worsted hosiery manufactured in Germantown, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, which were sold at a dollar a pair, were of the same fineness as the imported stockings, which sold at 88. 4d. and 8s. 6d. per pair. There were two hundred and fifty stocking-looms in the State, producing, on an average, one pair and a half of stockings per day, worth per annum £44,015 12s. 6d.

The manufacturing operations were under charge of the manufacturing committee. The address of Tench Coxe, before the society, on Aug. 9, 1789, in the University of Pennsylvania, furnishes somewhat in detail both the objects and the operations of the society. They seem to have been charitable as well as useful, and to design relief to the industrious poor as well as the employment of machinery. The interests of agriculture were not outside its care, and the encouragement of the cultivation of cotton came within its scope. Since 1762 great progress had been made in the manufactures of Philadelphia, which, Mr. Coxe's address shows, included hosiery, hats, gloves, wearing apparel, coarse linens and woolens, cotton goods, wool-cotton cards, and many other articles. The board of managers offered, in 1787, a gold medal of $20 value for the most useful machine or engine to be moved by water, fire, or otherwise, by which the ordinary labor of hands in manufacturing cotton, wool, flax, or hemp, should be better saved than by any machine then in use in the State; also for raising and cleaning the greatest quantity of hemp, flax, or cotton for the best specimens or patterns of printed linens or cotton goods stained within the State; for letter-press, in bound volumes, from Pennsylvania types and paper; for earthenware, flint-glass and bottles; for the greatest quantity of wool, and for bleached wax for candles. Premiums of $30 were offered for the greatest quantity of hemp or swingled flax, and the greatest number of smiths' anvils; and premiums of $50 for the greatest quantity of potash and pearlashes, and for the greatest quantity and variety of painters' colors made from the fossils and earths of the United States.

Gen. Washington was accustomed to point with pride to the domestic fabrics upon the person of Mrs. Washington from the establishment of Hewson.' The report of Samuel Wetherill, Jr., chairman of the manufacturing committee, made in 1788, shows the progress of the society in its first year. The contributions received in cash amounted to £1327 108. 6d. ; the expenditures for machinery, etc., to £453 10s. 2d., leaving a circulating" capital of £874. Between 200 and 300 poor women had found employment and competent wages; a carding-machine and four jennies of 40, 44, 60, and 80 spindles had been set up. There had been manufactured 2959 yards of jeans, 197 yards of corduroys; 67 of federal rib, 57 of beaver fustian, 1567) of plain cottons, 925 of linen, 1337) of tow linen; total, 7111 yards. The net profit of their business was about thirty per cent. This exhibit of the operations for the first year was considered highly satisfactory by the Board of Managers, and being impressed with the importance of the cotton branch, they "beg leave to recommend in the strongest terms the prosecution of the manufacture by fresh subscriptions until a knowledge and due sense of its value shall induce some proper persons, either citizens or foreigners, to undertake the business.

This society succeeded the United Company of 1775, and occupied its building at the southwest corner of Market and Ninth Streets, which was rented from William Bingham at $40 per annum. The building was burned by an incendiary on the night of March 24, 1790. The Supreme Executive Council offered a reward of $300 for the apprehension of the author of an anonymous letter threatening to burn the manufactory, or for the incendiary. The perpetrator was never discovered. It was supposed that the place was burned by some enemy of American manufactures.

The influence of both of these companies upon the rising manufacturers of Philadelphia is traceable for several years through many of the branches of manufacture. Their influence extended even into political circles, and, together with that of Mr. Coxe, was exerted into so shaping the Federal Constitution that it would remedy many of the evils existing under the Articles of Confederation. Its success in manufacturing cotton caused many of the Southern delegates to the Federal convention earnestly to urge upon the people of their States an increased cultivation of cotton. Tench Coxe, the ardent and able promoter of do

mestic manufactures, deserves the gratitude of every American for the ability with which he encouraged their growth and his persistency in advocating their protection and advancement.

Both the United Company of Philadelphia for Promoting American Manufactures, in 1775, and the Pennsylvania Society for the Encouragement of Arts and Domestic Manufactures, in 1787, were aided and advanced by Mr. Coxe. Indeed, his whole life was devoted to encouraging and developing American manufactures. He early became an authority upon the subject, and his writings served both to encourage and develop the infant industries of this country. The cultivation as well as the manufacture of cotton received impetus from the life and labors of this leader in American industry, to whom Mr. Madison, in 1809, wrote, "Though tardy, I am not the less sincere in the acknowledgments of your two favors,-the one inclosing your printed remarks on the subject of cotton and wool. Your very early and continued attention to this important interest is entitled to the thankfulness of your countrymen."

The premium for calico and linen printing offered by the Pennsylvania Society for the Encouragement of Manufactures and Useful Arts, in 1775, probably led John Hewson, a Revolutionary soldier, to establish his calico-printing works about the year 1788-89. In the latter year he received a loan of £200 from the State of Pennsylvania "to enlarge and carry on the business of calico printing and bleaching in this State." He is said to have been an Englishman invited to America by Benjamin Franklin. He espoused the Revolution, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Monmouth by the British. Having made his escape, fifty guineas were offered for his recovery, dead or alive. His print-works were near Richmond, where Dyottville now is, and were continued by his son, of the same name, who inherited his father's probity and benevolence, and died at the advanced age of ninety-three. John Hewson, Jr., in 1808 manufactured calicoes, shawls, pocket-handkerchiefs, and bedspreads. His name appears in the Directory for 1817 as a calico-printer in Hall [ Beach] Street near Warren, which was a short distance above Maiden [Laurel] Street. John Hewson, Sr., had retired at this time, and lived on Queen Street, near the Point bridge.

The calico-printing factory of Stewart at Germantown, and that of Thorburne, at Darby, date from 1803, in which year machinery for cotton-mills was made in Philadelphia by Eltonhead, which included carding-engines, drawing- and roving-frames, iron rollers, mules, and spindles. Seth Craige set up at the Globe Mills, about 1805, the first cotton-mill for the weaving of girth webbing. His business at the time was that of a saddler, and his shop was at No. 110 High Street. The webbing-mill was afterward developed into a cotton-mill of the most extensive character. About 1816 the establishment was en

larged, and was considered the most extensive cottonmill in the Union. Mr. Craige and John Houston conducted it. The sons of Mr. Craige,-Seth, Jr., and John Craige, were afterward admitted to the firm, together with John Holmes, and the firm became Craige, Holmes & Co.

Among the earliest manufacturers of cotton and wool were the occupants of the Philadelphia Almshouse. In September, 1806, the managers of that institution gave notice that they would receive wool and cotton to be carded by machinery for hatters and spinners at a moderate price. In subsequent years the managers of the almshouse received premiums for specimens in the manufacture of shirtings. At that institution, in 1808, Nicholas Mayer, formerly of the Northern Liberties, weaver and blue dyer, was superintendent of the manufactory. From the almshouse looms at that time were turned out flax and cotton sheetings, linseys, stripes, diapers, tickings, cotton and wool blankets, counterpanes, threads, etc. John Hill, whose office was at No. 247 South Second Street, in the new market, wove in 1808 on his own looms, and had for sale, satinets, muslinets, cotton stripes, shirtings, bed-tickings, and other cotton goods; and he said,―

ness.

"Of foreign gewgaws let's be free, And wear the webs of liberty."

John Thorburne & Son were in business in 1808, printing calico on North Third Street. They subsequently removed to the west side of the Schuylkill, near the Falls, where they carried on the same busiTheir mill was at the mouth of Mill Creek, above the place where Flat Rock dam was afterward built. The construction of the dam by the Schuylkill Navigation Company backed the water around about Mr. Thorburne's mill and broke up his business. Their lines of manufacture in 1808 were printed calicoes, shawls, bedspreads, coatings, dressed cloths, tickings, dimity, shirtings, and sheetings of cotton.

Capt. John Towers, as early as 1808, wove and made seine twine, cotton bagging, and thread. William Wood established the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods in 1838, and in 1860 occupied the Mount Vernon Mills, at Twenty-fourth and Hamilton Streets. The increase of the business in 1861 demanded larger quarters, and, by associating with himself John McGill, the house of William Wood & Co. was established. In 1867 additional premises were secured, embracing the area of ground from Twentyfirst and Hamilton Streets to Twenty-second Street, and thence to Spring Garden Street. These mills are now the largest of their class in the city, employing 1000 people.

The firm of Thorp, Siddall & Co. established bleachand print-works about six miles from the city, between Germantown and Branchtown, in 1809, upon a new method of printing. Previous to this time blocks were used for the printing of cottons, a tedious process, and not entirely satisfactory, even with the