lower the umbrella, and be fix'd either by a spring or screw. They
are fix'd in the head of the saddle and cover'd by a top, without
making the saddle appear in the least different to what they are now
made."

The next is of the date of 1786, and was taken out by John Beale for
"An umbrella with joints, flat springs, and stops, worm springs and
bolts, slip bolts, screws, slip rivet, and cross stop and square
slips, and the manner in which the same are performed is particularly
described in the several plans, figures, or drawings annexed." The
drawings referred to are not easily intelligible, from the briefness
of the explanation attached, but show an Umbrella with a jointed
handle, opening by a spring.

In the next year (1787) we find an advertisement put out by Thomas
Folgham, of Cheapside, stating that he has "a great assortment of his
much-approved pocket and portable umbrellas, which for lightness,
elegance, and strength, far exceed anything of the kind ever imported
or manufactured in this kingdom. All kinds of common umbrellas
prepared in a particular way, that will never stick together."

A description of the Umbrellas which, in all probability, Mr. Thomas
Folgham made, we extract from the source mentioned above.

"The early Umbrellas were made of oiled silk, or glazed cotton
cloth, and were very cumbrous and inconvenient. To judge from a
picture of Hanway, and from the other old pictures mentioned above,
they were small, with a very long handle. They were not used for
walking, and consequently instead of the ferrule had a ring at the
top, by which they were hung up. The stretchers were of cane, and the