Mr Grierson on Competitions among Tradesmen. 105 



higher temperature; consequently, the superior atmosphere must 

 then be heavier, the sum of both being considered a constant 

 quantity in summer and winter. — Manchester Memoirs, vol. v. 

 p. 233. •! 



OBSERVATIONS ON COMPETITIONS AMONG WORKING TRADES- 

 MEN. By William Griebson, Esq. of Garrock, W. S. 

 Member of the Society of Arts, Abridged from a Paper 

 read before the Society lOth April 1833, and by their Com^ 

 mittee recommended to be printed. 



All of the useful arts admit of two distinct kinds of im- 

 provement. The one is by new inventions, the other by ren- 

 dering workmen more expert. 



The encouragement of invention has long been a favourite 

 object with the public, and every one is also sensible of the im- 

 portance of having operative tradesmen properly instructed ; 

 yet hardly any thing has ever been done towards attaining this 

 last end, however desirable. Indeed, if we except the case of 

 ploughmen, scarcely one class of the members who are employed 

 in providing us with the necessaries of life, have ever had the 

 stimulus of a prize for superior excellence held out to them, 

 though there is not one among them to whom it might not be 

 applied with perfect ease, and with incalculable effect. 



However varied and complicated a man's employment may 

 be, a very few simple operations will suffice to shew his merits. 

 Thus from the formation of a mortice and tenon, from the con- 

 struction of a pannelled door, from the fitting of a drawer, the 

 jointing of the leaf of a table, and one or two other such works, 

 a perfect idea may be formed of the qualifications of all the va- 

 rious denominations of square-men, in every stage of their pro- 

 gress. Each of these works might accordingly be assigned to a 

 separate class of competitors, as the test of their advancement ; 

 and in every other trade a similar selection might be made, 

 adapted to the various degrees of |)roficiency of its members. 

 By these means some object of ambition might be placed within 

 the reach of the youngest apprentice, while the most expert 

 workman would not find himself without rivals ; and to pre- 



