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PROSPECTS OF INDUSTRY 

 HAND-LOOM WEAVERS FACTORY SYSTEM. 



IN our last Number we made some observations for the purpose of 

 showing the influence of Machinery upon the production of wrought 

 commodities, and also upon the prospect of the hands engaged in 

 Manufactures and Agriculture. In pursuing the subject, we shall 

 begin by calling attention to the industrial prospects of an immense 

 body of operatives, classed under the denomination of Hand-Loom 

 Weavers, and then give a brief exposition of the Factory System a 

 subject but little understood ; the best proof of which is, the mass of 

 absurdity which has been laid before the House of Commons at 

 different times, in the shape of evidence and inquiries. 



It is rather remarkable that the Cotton Manufacture should have 

 received so little legislative attention, considering its immense mag- 

 nitude, 'and the revolution it has operated in the labour market. 

 The annual produce of this Manufacture cannot be much short of 

 40,000,000, and it probably supports not less than 2,000,000 of 

 people. 



It was a fine saying of somebody's in reference to the admiration felt 

 by many persons during the progress of the French Revolution, " that 

 they forgot the agonies of the dying bird in the beauty of its plumage." 

 This remark applies to the raechanico-political economists of the 

 day. These men, viewing the mighty progress of mechanical agency, 

 with its influence upon production and upon national wealth, forget 

 the sufferings over which it tramples. " Yet," says Mr. Baines, 

 "so profoundly ignorant, or so blindly prejudiced, are some men, 

 even authors and members of parliament, that they still publish 

 solemn lamentations over the growth of Machinery. It might have 

 been supposed that the history of the Cotton Manufacture would 

 M.M. No. 5. 3 M 



