4IO 



large, may hope to produce confiderable effeft from their exertions, where 

 induftry and fkill have a large fliare, and the price of labour bears an high 

 proportion to the prime cod of the materials ; and, where a confiderable di- 

 vifion, and fubdivifion of talks, obtains among the workmen. I would ap- 

 ply the terra manufaaure, when the objed of induftry is much changed, 

 from its natural ftate, and firft appearance, and derives its ufe and deflina- 

 tions, from the hand of the artift. Certainly, the popular, and common 

 confent, feems to limit the meaning of the word, to this more confined ac- 

 ceptation ; and, in this more narrowed, and vulgar fenfe, I chufe to employ 

 it, rather, than in the wide, and technical extenfion to every department 

 of manual induftry, changing a commodity, however fiightly. 



It may well be queftioned, whether it is not an abufe of terms, to apply 

 the word, manufaElure — fynonimous to, made by ihe hand of man, to every 

 object, on which human induftry, is employed, in auy degree, however 

 rude, and inartificial. Where the thing appears, in almofl the fame original 

 form, and is not deflefted, by the hand of man, from its prime deftination, 

 but is only fitted to be ufed, or fpent more commodioufly, or tranfported 

 with more eafe, or retained for ufe a longer time. If thefe are to be called 

 manufafturcs, fuch manufaftures may be exercifed, among people, very 

 little removed from the favage (late ; very little advanced, indeed, in arts, 

 and induftry. Such are, the converfion of grain into flour, and meal — the 

 preparation of fait and dried fifli, of faked and dried flefli, of butter, and 

 tallow. — Would it not be more accurate, to call the manual operation, 

 which neither changes the form, nor deftination of fubjeft preparation, ra- 

 ther than manufaSlure ? — It is an art, of a mixt nature, and appertains to 

 hulbandry full as much as to manufafture. 



When the preparation of provifions is carried on extenfively, as an objeft 

 of commerce, and a fource of national opulence, the exertions of induftry 

 are lefs employed in the aflual preparation of ihe thing itfeif, than in the 

 aft of providing machines, apparatus, edifices, materials neceflary for the 

 commencement of the operation. In the preparation of bread corn, for 

 the ufe of man ;— the mechanift, the millwright, the builder of fteam-en- 



gines, 



