MACHINERY. 31 



to be, a moral agent. While the operative classes 

 of the community are benefited by circumstances, 

 which open to them continually new markets for 

 their labour, and a higher rate of remuneration 

 for it, the great mass of mankind also experience 

 from the same cause important advantages. 



The products of manufacturing industry are 

 obtained at a lower price, and of superior qua- 

 lity ; and those articles, which were once regarded 

 as the peculiar accommodations of the higher 

 classes of society, are now placed within the 

 reach of all. There is not, perhaps, a more 

 striking feature in the recent improvements that 

 have taken place in this country, than the in- 

 creased comforts enjoyed by the working classes, 

 particularly as these are intimated by their better 

 food and clothing, and the more convenient fur- 

 niture of their humble dwellings. And these are 

 so necessarily connected with an improved con- 

 dition of health, that they may serve to account 

 in a great degree for that lengthening of human 

 life, which has been recently reported to us by 

 the statist and political economist. 



Among other advantages resulting to the 

 labouring classes from the division of labour and 

 the custom of piece-work, there is one which 

 ought not to be overlooked, though it is, perhaps, 



