336 A BRIEF MEMOIR 



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dient suggested by his former trade; the smith 

 suggested a piece of iron, the shoe maker a welt 

 of leather, &c. all which had a good effect in 

 improving the machine. Each put what he 

 thought best to the experiment, and that which 

 was good was retained. But with all these ex- 

 ertions, there was still very much to learn, for 

 the principle on which the rovings were prepared, 

 had little chance of being known, being confined 

 to the principal mill-owners of Mr. Arkwrighfs 

 patent process of spinning, &c. But the demand 

 for these machines after the decision of the Court 

 of King's Bench, in 1783, (which I consider 

 very questionable) soon found makers, and the 

 perseverance of the mule spinner soon acquired 

 the art * 



It would be vain to enumerate all the little 

 additions to Crompton's original machine; also, 

 as they arose so much out of one another, it is 

 impossible to give to every claimant, what is 

 exactly his due for improvements. It is therefore 

 only necessary to mention those who have well 

 authenticated claims to the addition of parts of 



* The roving-making then became a distinct business, and 

 in this state the cotton was sold to the little spinners. Thia 

 was common till power was applied to the turning of the mule. 

 Mills were then built of a suitable width, and in the course of 

 a few years the hand-mule was entirely superseded. 



