]06 DISCLOSUEt Oh MANUFACTURING PROCESSES. 



confirmed by ex- The fecond is the very confiderable improvements that have 



periencc. taken place in thofe few manufa(51ories which have yd been 



under the influence of chemical enquiry; thus reahzing, but 



on a veryextenfive fcale, the fuggeftions of Mr. Boyle: fo far 



therefore as we ar0 to be guided on the one hand by experience, 



pnd on the other by the influence of Tcientific enquiry on 



liberal difplay, will the argument be in our favour. 



Accidental difco- . In the third place I would obferve, that as many very va- 



vencs improved Juable difcovcrics are owing to accident, thofe with whom they 



by difdofurc. ., , . ,, f • • ,1 



happen are trequently perhaps incapable or improvmg them 



to the extent they would admit «of in the hands of men of 

 fcience, and thus^ by a fpirit of monopoly, preclude evca 

 themfelves from the advantageous cultivation of fuch difco- 

 veriei!, merely left others might enjoy it alfo. If, again, we 

 confider the rapid progrefs that has been made of late years 

 in every department of ufeful and pradical knowledge, we 

 rnufi attribute it entirely to thofe liberal communications that 

 have been made by men whofe attention has been immediately 

 directed to the promotion and improvement of every thing 

 Science Nvould valuable to the public, y^gain, the proiits of every bu fine f"s 

 be thus intro- depend on the regularity and knowledge with which it is 

 fhops, &c. 'conduced; but how is the laft to be enjoyed without re- 

 fources to apply to, and how much more eafily would it be 

 obtained if fcience could regulate and fimplify the combina- 

 tions of the manufa£lurer ? If to accomplith by every thing 

 employed (and even in many cafes the refufe) in each procefs 

 its utmoft pofljble ufe, is a favourite principle with manufac- 

 turers ; to take the moft accurate and bed adapted means to 

 effefl it, ought certainly to be as powerful with them. Is it 

 not alfo obvious, that, to difcard all rayftery and quackery, 

 and fairly to difclofe each procefs, is to invite the attention 

 of men of fcience and refearch to extend any advantages 

 gained by chance or olherwife, and to difcover greater utility 

 in the various fubftances employed. The origin, progref:., 

 prefent flate, and hints for the improvement of the ** arts of 

 life,'' would certainly be worthy the contemplation of our iirft 

 chemifts, and are fubje€ls that have appeared of fuch impor- 

 tance to a neighbouring nation, that many of their nioft emi- 

 nent men have bceji employed in them ; and fome volumes 

 rof the Encj/clnpcdie Mtthodique are dedicated to fuch informa- 

 tion, with plates too, in feveral inftances difplaying even the 

 moft minute work-tools employed in each. 



The 



