or Essays : 
know that in 1752 ten thousand hogsheads of flax- 
seed, each containing seven bushels, were exported 
from Philadelphia to Ireland. I suppose the quantity 
is greatly increased since that time, and it is under- 
stood that the exportation from New York is equal 
to that from Philadelphia. 
Q. What becomes of the flax that grows with that 
flax-seed ? 
A. They manufacture some into coarse, and some 
into middling kind of linen. 
Q. Are there any slitting-mills in America? 
A. I think there are three; but I believe only one 
at present employed. I suppose they will all be set 
to work if the interruption of the trade continues. 
Q. Are there any fulling-mills there? 
A. A great many. 
Q. Did you ever hear that a great quantity of 
stockings were contracted for, for the army, during 
the war, and manufactured in Philadelphia? 
A. I have heard so. 
Q. If the Stamp Act should be repealed, would not 
the Americans think they could oblige the Parlia- 
ment to repeal every external tax law now in force? 
A. It is hard to answer questions of what people 
at such a distance will think. 
Q. But what do you imagine they will think were 
the motives of repealing the act? 
A. I suppose they will think that it was repealed 
from a conviction of its inexpediency; and they will 
rely upon it, that, while the same inexpediency sub- 
sists, you will never attempt to make such another. 
Q. What do you mean by its inexpediency? 
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