HARLEM. 97

manufactories of various kinds. The water was considered, before the improvement in bleaching by gas was introduced, to possess some peculiar properties for whitening linen. The fine linens of Silesia used to be sent, as they came from the loom, to this place for bleaching, and those of Friezeland were often pre- pared in the same manner; so that through Europe, both were more generally denominated Holland, than called by the name of the country in which the most material opera- tions were executed. Many minuter articles which at first view appear inconsiderable, but when all furnished from one spot are of vast importance to it, were the productions of Harlem; such as tapes, bobbins, common thread lace, lace making threads, and various others, which have been either supplanted by the manufacturers of Manchester or other parts of England, or have fallen into disuse from a change of fashions. It is, however, to the ingenuity of the natives of Harlem, that the publie of Europe are indebted for the invention of many of those more minute articles which contribute to the com- fort of society. During the time of its manufacturing pros- perity, this place contained a population of 40,000 inhabi- tants, who, by regular and gradual decay, have declined to the present number. There are still some bleacheries, though not so considerable as formerly, and the most important manufac- tory is that of printed calicoes. These are well executed, equalling any work produced in Lancashire or Scotland, and not very much inferior to most of what is executed in the vicinity of London or in Switzerland. Besides this, there are many looms employed in weaving stuffs of silk and cotton, of silk and linen, and silk and wool, and several of silk alone; there are also manufactories of ribands and fine thread, and