The CASE of the Inhabitants of the Town of Bradford.

We the Makers and others concerned in the Manufacture of Set-work (commonly called Turky work) Inhabitants of the Town of Bradford, and parts adjacent in the West-Riding of the County of York.

Do hereby Humbly Certifie.

I. THat when our said Trade flourished and was at the highest, there were Ten Thousand persons imployed in and about the said Trade.

II. That then there was Eight Hundred packs of Wooll consumed in the said Manufacture yearly.

III. That then there was yearly expended in Dying the Woollen Yarn for the said Set-work about Three Thousand pounds per Annum.

IV. That then there was yearly expended in making the said Set-work Three Hundred packs of Hemp Yarn of the value of Six pounds a pack. All which Ma­terials, Wages and Returns (as near as we can compute) amounted to Fifty Thousand pounds per Annum.

The Reasons Offered against this CASE,

Is by the Joyners, Turners, Sawyers, Carvers, and Caners in and about the City of London. To which is Answered:

To their First, The Upholsters of London Declare, They knew nothing of the Petition and Case from the Town of Bradford, nor solicited to the Town for it, as is falsly asserted. They further say they knew not of the contrivance of the summons to the Mermaid in Cornhil, nor did the Beadle of their Company, know of, or deliver any such summons, though his name is affixt to it.

To the Second, This Reason much proves the truth of the Reasons given for the encouragement of the Woollen Manufacture; because if Ten Thousand do­zen of Set-work, serge and Chamlet Chairs are now yearly made as they say, which Consumes at least Fifteen Hundred packs of Wooll yearly, then twice the quantity of Wool will be consumed, when double the number of Chairs are made of the Woollen Manufacture.

To the Third, It was once moved in Parliament 7 years since, That an En­acting Clause might be added to the Woollen Bill for the prohibiting Cane Chairs; upon the Question, the House divided, it was carried in the Negative; yet the Members did say if it were in a Bill by it self they were much for it, and no oppor­nity hath offered till this present Parliament. As to the Dutch Matted Chairs great quantities were brought to England by persons that sell Indian Goods; and many dozens are Vended yearly which is much prejudicial to the Consump­tion of Wool, and is provided against in the Bill now before this Honourable House.

To the Fourth, The Joyner, Turner, Sawyer, will be still fully imployed in making Frames for Chairs, the Carver also employed: the Caner is by Trade a Sive and Basket-Maker, and it is believed there is not above Ten Master Caners at most, who have gone about with a Petition to the Joyners, and to several have declared, if they would not subscribe it, and contribute toward their charge, they would Cane no more work for them.

If Ten Thousand people employed in this Woollen Manufacture at Bradford, and parts adjacent. What number may be accounted on, from Kidderminster, Norwich, Linn, Taunton, Exeter, Colchester, &c. Which Woollen Manufactures were formerly much used in Chairs: Besides the several other materials, which are made at Bermicham, Dorset-shire, Somerset-shire, &c. It is humbly conceived not less then Forty Thousand persons employed.

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