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There are two acts of Parliament which prescribe the materials of which sail cloth may shall be made
1st Jas ist Chap 24 directs, that no stuff but good hemp shall be put into Sail Cloth
9th Geo 2nd Chap 27 ordains, that Sail Cloth shall be made of Long Flat Italian hemp or Braack hemp
This seems to prove that the experiment of Hempen Canvas has been tried & has failed
in the North of this Island Sail Cloth is said to be now made wholly of Hemp in the west it is made wholly of Flax but it is well known that those officers of the Royal Navy who by fitting out at Plymouth have become aquaintd with the West Country Flax Canvas give it a decided preference for their Stern Sails, on account of its Superior Strength.
These facts their Lordships may enquire into if it is though necessary, but it is to be presumed that until Mr Therme can shew by actual experiment, that his Canvas is stronger & more Durable than that now in use, also that it is not liable in Practice to any unexpected inconvenience * their Lordships will not recommend to the Lords of the Treasury to engage in a proposal of so great a magnitude as 10,000 Bolts of Canvas is more than the annual Peace Consumption of the Royal Navy, nor even advise them in case of his perfect success, to depend upon one man for the whole supply of the Royal Navy
* & until their Lordships are satisfied that the manufacture will Employ many new hands which if machinery is usd will not be the case & will be fixd in a County from which Emigration is actualy taking Place