button to main menu  Gents Mag 1839 part 1 p.518
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Gentleman's Magazine 1839 part 1 p.518
houses were paved in the same manner; the consequence of which was that the kennels or gutters were deep trenches, and stone bridges were placed in many different parts, for the convenience of passing from one side of the street to the other. These gutters were the reservoirs of all kinds of filth, which, when a sudden heavy rain happened, by stopping the conduit of the bridges, inundated the streets so as to render them impassible (sic) on foot. Manure was of such little value, that the corporation gave a man 40s. per annum, and a new cart occasionally, to remove it every week. Goods were brought into the city on pack-horses, as the roads were so bad as to be almost impassable for other conveyances. The staple trade was in whips and fish-hooks, but there was also a small linen manufactory. As there were no public breweries, the publicans brewed their own ale, and many of them made their own malt. * * *
"About the year 1747, a company of Hamburgh merchants selected Carlisle as a suitable place in which to carry on an extensive woollen manfactory, although at such a distance from those parts of the kingdom where this branch of business had generally been cultivated. This manufactory was of great consequence to Carlisle and its neighbourhood, but in a few years declined, and the company became insolvent. About the year 1750 Aldermen Richard and William Hodgson established a manufactory of coarse linen cloths, called Osnaburghs, and also a woollen manufactory, which, however, was of short duration.
"At this period the military road from Carlisle to Newcastle was commenced, chiefly on the line which was formerly the Roman road. When this was completed, carts and waggons were more frequently used. Soon after, manufactories of linen and cotton began rapidly to increase, and improvements in the city continually took place. Houses were built in a greatly improved manner, and every year an additional number, which gradually replaced those on the old construction. In 1756 a public brewery was established near the Irish Gate. * * The balls and assemblies were held in a large room in the castle, which occupied the site of the new magazine. At this time there were four private carriages kept in the city, - a coach and four belonging to Dr. Waugh, Dean of Worsester (sic); another coach and four, the property of General Stanwix; and two single horse chaises belonging to Major Farrer and Mr. Dobinson. About this period post chaises were first kept at the Inns. * * *
"In 1761 a company from Newcastle commenced the calico-printing in this city, under the firm of Scott, Lamb, and Co., and an extensive manufactory was established soon after. In consequence, land increased in value, rents were heightened in proportion, and prices in general rose considerably. Familes who before had been unable to earn more than eight shillings weekly, were now receiving from twenty to thirty shillings. This increase of business brought numbers of Scotch and Irish in search of employment. * * In 1794 there were four print-fields, which employed about one thousand persons. * * There were also two hundred persons employed in spinning cotton. * * Three breweries, at this time, paid upwards of 6000l. annually in duty, and a soap manufactory paid 1500l. * *
"After the introduction of manufacturing into Carlisle, the population of this city was considerably increased. In 1763 the inhabitants were numbered, on a suggestion of Bishop Lyttelton, and found to be 4158. In 1780 they were again enumerated under the inspection of Dr. Heysham, when they were found to have increased to 6299, and the number of houses was 891. In 1801 the inhabitants were found to be 10,221; in 1811, 12,531; in 1821, 14,....; in 1831, 19,069."
Such is a sample of the curious particulars and valuable statistical remarks for which we are indebted to the observations of Mr. Hutchinson; and of his correspondent Mr. R. Longrigg, a resident in the city. A few lines, from a subsequent part of the present volume, in which the commercial history of the place is more fully detailed, will complete the picture in its main features:
"From the introduction of the cotton manufactory, Carlisle commenced a steady course of posperity; since 1761 it has three times doubled its inhabitants, and besides the employment given to the native population, it sends forth work to the inhabitants of the towns and villages at a distance of twenty, thirty, and even forty miles around. The principal fabrics are ginghams and checks (for the West Indian market), calicoes, carpets, table-cloths, &c. There are eleven or twelve cotton-mills in the town and immediate vicinity; three print-fields, several dye-houses, bleacheries, hat-manufactories, three iron-foundries, and four public breweries.
"The Ship Canal, extending from Carlisle to the Solway Frith near Bowness, was commenced in 1819, and completed in 1823, at the cost of about
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