230 • Invent loft tf the Stockiiig-hcm. 



receive it with gratification on the mere inducement of curiofity. The pamphlet before me 

 contains alfo notices of inventions of fome curiofity and apparent value, though related almoft 

 as concifely as the century of inventions of the Marquis of Worcefter: upon the whole, they 

 (hew that wiien a man of ability leaves the beaten path of the current affliirs of life, to purfue 

 the remote analogies of improvement, new refults fpring up around him; to the practical 

 accomplifliment of which the life of man is totally inadequate, and in the purfuit of only a 

 few of which, the utmoft endeavours of an unfortunate individual may be exerted without 

 effeft, until at length he finks under the extent and variety of his plans and occupations. 



To your difcrction, fir, I fubmit an abridged account of this pamphlet. If from the 

 promife of utility it fliould appear fit for the public eye, I (hall receive pleafure from your de- 

 cifion ; if the contrary, I fhall feel no pain from the free operation of a power which I think 

 you worthy to exercife. 



The treatife confifts of a general introduction on the nature and advantages of new in- 

 ventions, and the prejudices they have to contend with: with an account of the particular in- 

 vention which forms the chief fubjedl of the addrefs. The author complains of his fufFerings 

 from the mifreprefentations of ignorance and malice, and after relating the ancient flory of 

 Thales, the Milefian, who enriched himfelf by buying up oil previous to a fcarce year of olives, 

 which he forefaw, he gives an account of the difcovery of the flocking engine, as follows : 



" It is not out of fome mens' remembrance, that a young gentleman of no fortune, a 

 ftudent in Oxford, fell in love with an innkeeper's daughter of that town, whole circum- 

 ftances were very narrow. He had philofophy enough to defpife fuperfluous wealth, and 

 judgment to forefee the neceffity of a competence, but love was headftrong, and too hard for 

 reafon , fo that after a year or two's ineffeftual delay, they bid defiance to their ftars, and had 

 courage enough to marry. The fcholar gained a wife, and loft a fellowfliip : the only fmall 

 fubfiftance he before depended on." 



The narrative proceeds to acquaint us, that the father-in-law, who during his life-time 

 defpifed the unproductive acquifitions of his daughter's hufband, died miferably poor, and left 

 this couple in a ftate of extreme indigence ; their whole fupport being derived from the Ln- 

 duftry of the wife in knitting ftockings. 



In this fituation, rendered more anxious by the certainty of an event which promifed to in- 

 creafe th.eir family, and to fufpend that labour which afforded their fubfiftence, the hufband could 

 only wafte his hours between his books and his fighs, with ineffeiflual meditations on fchemes 

 for relief. In thefe reflections, his eyes were often involuntarily fixed on the motion of his 

 wife's fingers at her work. This attention was at laft more fteadily direCted, and his imagi- 

 nation fet to work on the enquiry, whether the fame operation could not be performed by ma- 

 chinery. Both parties directed their ingenuity to this refearch, and at length fucceeded in 

 making a flocking loom, to their own great relief and comfort, and lafting benefit 

 to the public. — ^. Who were the parties here fpoken or ? — The author then mentions 

 other fpcculations, and the numerous inventions which diftinguifli cultivated nations; 

 from whence he deduces the evident confequence, that improvements ought to be en- 

 couraged. 



