Page:English Historical Review Volume 37.djvu/393

1922 led to an immense expansion of weaving in the Stockport district. Our new records, whilst confirming this statement in the main, enable us to trace the beginnings of the new development.

As Arkwright's patent for roller-spinning might claim to cover the similar element in the mule it is probable that the latter was not freely used till the final rejection of Arkwright's claims in the summer of 1785. In April 1786 Salte writes to Oldknow, 'We hear Arkwright has lowered his twist', and again on 10 May, 'Arkwright must lower his twist and he must spin finer. Tell him the reputation of our country against Scotland is at stake. … Great Revolutions we think will happen in Lancashire amongst the Manufacturers of Cotton Yarn.' The clue to the significance of these hints is given in another of our records. The ledger containing the accounts of the small spinners covers the period between the middle of 1786 and the middle of 1788. In 1786 the prices show that nothing is being produced but weft. At the end of February 1787 some of the yarn is distinguished as 'hard' or 'twist', and for this higher prices are paid. The counts of twist thus supplied are mainly those between no. 40 and no. 60, which were amongst the highest hitherto produced by the water-frame. It is clear that the reduction actually recorded in Arkwright's prices in June 1786 was due to the competition of the mules in the hands of small spinners, and that the changes whose fuller operation is ascribed by Radcliffe to the year 1788 had their beginnings in the summer of 1786. At that time the negotiations for the commercial treaty with France were in progress, and textiles occupied the centre of the discussion, the French being as anxious to find a better market for their cambrics and silks as the English manufacturers were to export more woollen and cotton goods to France. Oldknow's energetic and exuberant London agent did not fail to seize the opportunity. 'S. Salte', he writes on 15 March 1786,

"has had a long interview with the Lords of Trade. They hardly knew of a Manufacture of British Muslins—I took with me various Samples. I need not tell you the Complts that were paid. I was under Examination upon this Subject full two hours. … Mr. Eden was present the whole of the time. I have copied for your perusal … a sort of memorial I presented."

The memorial states that the new inventions which had at first made possible the production of calicoes were now enabling the British manufacturers to rival the fabrics of Bengal. This had been thought a wild and chimerical scheme, but it had not turned out so. The 'Scotch' had begun first, but had not been as successful as the Lancashire manufacturer. One obvious inference might strike their lordships—