COTTON DATA.

B. C. 450.-Cotton cloths known to have been woven in parts of Asia and in Egypt. (Consult Ctesias, Strabo, Pliny, and others, especially Plinius, lib. xix., c. 1.)

B. C. 430. (About.)-Herodotus also speaks of the cotton tree (pia ra ànožinov.) It has been contended, however, that both these authors referred to the down of the bombax ceiba, or monkey's bread, (Adansonia digitala,) found in Senegal.*

B. C. 350.-Theophrastus, a native of Erosos, in Lesbos, gives us some account of cotton in his Περὶ φυτῶν ἱστορίας, (οι History of Plants.) He speaks of it as ra devdpa ɛpiogopa, (or "the wool-bearing plant.") The region referred to is India.

A. D. 1.—Arrian mentions (Periplus) that, at the opening of the Christian era, "there were thousands of men, women, and children employed at Baroche, in Guzerat, and the adjacent villages, in the manufacture of cotton, from the coarsest sailcloth to the finest muslins."

1100.-Cotton manufacture introduced into Spain; flourished to a culminating point in 1500.

"The

1641.-Cotton manufacture introduced into England. town of Manchester buys the linen yarn of the Irish in great quantity; and, weaving it, return the same again to Ireland to sell. Neither doth her industry rest here; for they buy cotton wool in London that comes first from Cyprus and Smyrna, and

The reader may judge for himself: here is the passage from Theophrastus. The trees, from which the Indians make cloths, have a leaf like that of the black mulberry; but the whole plant resembles the dog-rose. They set them in the plains arranged in rows, so as to look like vines at a distance," [Hist. Pl., c. 4.] And of the plants on the isle of Tylos, he says, "The wool-bearing trees, (dɛvdpa ɛpropopa,) which grew abundantly in this island, had a leaf like that of the vine, but smaller. They bore no fruit; but the capsule containing the wool was, when closed, about the size of the quince; when ripe, it expanded, so as to emit the wool, which was woven into cloths, either cheap, or of great value." This is evidently an attempt to describe the true cotton plant, the Gossypium Herbaceum. Later authorities, as Strabo and others, make mention of the true cotton in plainer terms.

work the same into fustians, vermillions, dimities, and other such stuffs, which they return to London, where they are sold, and thence not seldom are sent into foreign ports." [Lewis Roberts' Treatise on Traffic.

1690.-Art of calico printing introduced into England from France.

1693.-"Lord of the manor duty of two-pence per pack on all goods sold within the manor," defeated.

1695.-Apprentice fees required, for seven years' instruction and service, 60 pounds.

1701.-Liverpool becomes the cotton port of Manchester. 1730. Mr. Wyatt first spins cotton yarn in England by machinery.

1733. The trustees for the settlement of Georgia, were presented a paper of cotton seed, which reached Georgia in 1734, and was planted there the same year.

1735.-The first cotton exported to Holland, was by the Dutch colony at Surinam, in South America.

1738.-The mode of spinning by rollers farther improved by John Wyatt, and a patent taken out by Lewis Paul, his partner.

1740.-About this time, Manchester merchants began to give out warps and raw cotton to the weavers, receiving them back in cloth, and paying for the carding, roving, spinning, and weaving. Guest says, "The weaving of a piece, containing twelve pounds of eighteen-penny weft, occupied a weaver about fourteen days, and he received for the weaving 18s.; spinning the weft at ninepence per lb., 9s.; picking, carding, and roving, 8s."

1742.-First mill for spinning cotton erected at Birmingham, moved by mules or horses, but not successful in its operations.

1749. The fly shuttle in general use.

1756.-Cotton velvets and quiltings made in England for the first time.

1761.-Arkwright obtained the first patent for the spinning frame, (Knighted.)

1764.-Cotton markets first opened abroad. At this time the trade of Manchester was greatly pushed by the practice of sending out riders for orders all over the kingdom, carrying with them patterns in bags.

1767.-The spinning jenny was invented by James Hargrave, which spun eight threads instead of one.

1768.-The stocking frame applied by Hammond to making

lace.

1770.-Mr. Meadowcroft applies inventions in the manufac ture of ginghams.

1772. James Hargrave (or Hargreaves) applies the contrivance of a crank and comb to take wool off the cards in a continuous fleece.

1773.-Calico manufacture undertaken in England.

1774.-A bill passed Paliament to prevent the exportation of machinery used in cotton factories.

1779.-Mule jenny invented by Hargrave; mule spinning by Crompton.

1780.-The manufacture of muslins introduced in England. 1781.--Ireland first exported cotton goods to England.

1782.-England imports her first cotton from Brazil; Watts takes out a patent for his steam-engine; panic in Manchester, owing to the importation in four months of 7,012 bags of cotton! Samuel Wetherill first manufactures jeans, fustians, &c., in America.

1783.-Power-looms invented by Dr. Cartwright, (Query, 1785?); steam-engines used in cotton factories; a bounty granted in England on the export of certain cotton goods.

1784.-The "Fustian Tax” imposed.

1785.-The "Fustian Tax" repealed; spinning jenny given to the public; cotton imported into England from the United States.

1786.-Chroline first used in cotton factories for bleaching. 1787.-First machinery to spin cotton put in operation in

France.

1788.-East India cotton first imported into England;

drawback on the exports of English products asked, as an encouragement to cotton manufactures.

1789.--Sea-island cotton planted in America; short staple cotton cultivated in the South pretty extensively; first steamengine for spinning erected in Manchester.

1790.-Cotton spinners of England asked to be incorporated as the "Company of Traders ;" Slater erects a cotton mill at Pawtucket, in the United States; the attempt to introduce power looms into Manchester, failed.

1792.—Eli Whitney, an American, invents the cotton gin. 1794.-Sewing cotton made by Mr. Slater at Pawtucket,

R. I.

1798.-First cotton mill erected in Switzerland.

1799. Spinning by machinery introduced into Saxony. 1803.-First cotton factory built in New Hampshire. 1805.-Power loom widely introduced in England.

1811.-Machinery invented and patented to make bobbin lace, by John Burn.

1814.-Power loom introduced into Whettham, (or Waltham,) Massachusetts; previously attempted to be introduced into Rhode Island, by Gilmore.

1818. Mr. Holt invents a new method of preparing sewing cotton.

1820.-Steam power first applied with success extensively to lace manufactures.

1822. First cotton factory erected in Lowell.

1823.--First imports of cotton from Egypt into England. 1826.-Roberts patents the self-acting mule spinner. 1827.-First American exports of cotton goods in quantity. 1830.-Mr. Dyer introduces a machine into England for making cards.

1832. A new throstle frame invented by Robert Montgomery, of Scotland.

1834.-Jackson patents his improved spindle.

1835.-Samuel Slater dies in Massachusetts.

1852.-Stephen R. Parkhurst invents a new cotton gin.

MISCELLANEOUS.

B. C. 600.-Maps, globes, and dials were first invented by Anaximander.

562.-Tragedy and comedy first exhibited in Athens

516.-First public library founded at Athens.

239.-Plays first acted at Rome.

170.-Paper invented in China.

167.-First public library established at Rome.

45.-Julius Cæsar reforms the Calendar.

A. D. 43.-Insurance first ventured on ships and merchandize.

284.-First public library founded at Alexandria.

400.-Riding saddles invented.

481.-Horse shoes first made of iron.

500.-Stirrups invented.

651.-Manufacture of silk introduced into Europe

635.-Pens first made of quills.

674.--Stone buildings and glass introduced into England. 788.-Pleadings in courts of judicature introduced.

991. The figures of arithmetic brought into Europe by the Saracens.

1100.-Paper of cotton rags invented.

1157.-First regular bank established at Venice.

1220.-Astronomy and geometry brought into England.

1253.-Linen first made in England.

1280.-Spectacles invented.

1300.-Paper made of linen.

1330.—The art of weaving introduced into England.

1331.-Gunpowder invented by Schwartz.

1341.-Cannon first used at the battle of Algeziras.

1370.-Muskets used.

1380.-Musical notes, as now used, invented.

1407.-Bank of Genoa established.

1440.-Printing by Guttenberg at Mentz.

1464.-Post-office established in France.

1471.-Printing introduced into England.