Record 42090 from 1796

This record provides information on the number of looms and weavers' apprehension regarding production.

"Although we have received a loan register by which we learn that out of 2,862 looms in the district 1256 are employed on your account, yet from an omission in that account which should have given on average of the annual produce of each loom we are still at a loss to judge with precision the quantity of clothes we may consider the country capable of producing. The resident has it is true in a letter dated the 9th of March 1795 stated the present agreeable produce at about 1900 bales of which from 800 two 1000 are already on your account but admits to stayed the quantities of each sort as however he regards it's probable that if the weavers are relieved both those numerous apprehensions under which they labour, the manufactory will flourish to such greater extent than at present we have in the hopes that though your means our wishes for the relief of the weavers will be accomplished, calculate our present order at about 1500 bales. We observe our resident experienced a much interruption from the interference of the Nabob manager. The measures you have taken for removing that inconvenience meet our entire approbation and we trust the orders you have obtained from the Nabob under date 23rd of March 1796 will be the means of preserving repetition of similar complaints [….] We the remark complaints have been made that the servants under the several southern factories has in making their advances to the weavers frequently interfered with each other; on fees head we recall your attention to our full man directions. That the limits in which such advances shall be made by each respective resident be clearly defined."

Source: BL, IOR/E/4/882, ff.516-518.