402 Mr. Luckcock on the Consumption of Pit-Coal. [June T, 



passing into other hands, is not lost tions are productive of inconvenience, 



to the community, — 



But our pit-coal, onr country's strength 



and pride, 

 When once consum'd, can ne'er be re- 



supphed. 

 Adniittinp:, however, that those rc- 



alarm, and occasional distress. While 

 demand exceeds supply, it cannot l>e 

 called in question, that the use of ma- 

 chinery will be a public benefit ; but, 

 the moment the scale is turned, the 

 consequences must be changed in the 



presentations are too abstracted and same proportion. The difliculty lies 

 refined 1o have any influence on pub- i» circumstances not admittinf;; any 



lie opinion and individual practice, 

 there is one consideration which is not 

 liable to the same objection ; and that 

 is, the saving which may be made in 

 our present domestic arrangements. 

 By the estimate it appears, that 

 16,000,000 of tons arc consumed prin 



wholesome rcgulaliors. The inven- 

 tions once brought into action, the 

 machinery constructed, the capital ex- 

 pended, the store-rooms filled, and the 

 prices reduced ; and then no glut of 

 the markets, no dearth of employment, 

 no accumulation of distress, can arrest 



cinallv' in household economy, com- the course of the evil: but the starviu 



prising about two-thirds of the total 

 consumption ; and if, by any caution or 

 ingenuity, one-half of tiiis expense and 

 supply could be avoided, and at the 

 same time our comforts be consider- 



mechanic must fold his arms in hope- 

 less misery, while his natural employ- 

 ment is monopolised by these artificial 

 and delusive contrivances. 



Time has been when our poets, our 



ably increased, why should customs moralists, our patriots, and our states- 

 and prejudice be suffered to prevent men, could exultingly expatiate oo the 

 it' Our common practice in the use mutual dependence subsisting between 

 of coals both for our kitchens and the different ranks in society, each 

 parlours,' has admitted no general and contributing its appropriate share to 

 effective improvement since they were the common stock of the general hap- 

 first introduced; and surely a more piness: and the picture was cheering 

 wasteful consumption for so little ad- to humanity. Look now to the Hamp. 

 vanta"-e could scarcely be devised, shire magistrates, deciding thnt a la- 

 Perhaps it would not be too much to bourer is deserving ot pumslimcnt who 

 assert that three-fourths of the heat is shall refuse to toil a whole week for 

 •ibsolutely lost. The improvements 3*. Qd. Look at this, ye monopolists, 

 that have been partially adopted in the and no longer deny that this enviable 

 steam-apparatuses of our kitchens, are state has ceased to exist. If our pea- 

 abuntlaiit proofs of the affirmation ; santry cannot work without food or 

 and by means of steam-pipes, at little wages, our machines can ; and, to curb 

 ori"-inal expense, every room in our the independence ot the one, we must 



avail ourselves of the use of the other. 

 This is the language of fact, if not ab- 

 solutely of the lips. 



It is in vain to argue in favour of the 

 use of machinery, from the advantages 



dwellings may be supplied with salu- 

 brious and comfortable warmth, infi- 

 nitely superior to the present mode, 

 and certainly beyond all comparison 

 as to the pecuniary saving. .,,,.. r * 



I revere the "-enius and memory of which might be derived from it, were 



the iustlv-celebrated Watt : such encr- domestic and foreign commerce left to 



o-Pti'c minds seem to hold tliC destinies their own resources and operations, 



of mankind within their grasp. So We know by fatal experience that this 



lona: as his stupendous improvements is not the case ; and we have too 



n the application of steam are confined much reason to fear that it never will 



to the oi^antic efforts displayed in our be: so that, while duties, embargoes, 



eoUieries"^ and in our extraordinary restrictions,jealousies,wars, and every 



and novel maritime exhibitions, there species of obstruction, are in perpetual 



can be but one opinion as to their na- occurrence, supply must inevitably 



tioiial importance and utility ; but exceed demand. Such is the difler- 



when these discoveries are suffered to ence between theory and experience 



encroach on our liandicraft labours, while our little short-sighted individual 



their advantages in the aggregate be- policy remains willingly hoodwinked 



rome at least problematical, and inca- as to the consequences. 

 ^^■^\v\e of proof. The nice adjustment The genius, enterprise, and patient 



of labour and supply has always been labour, of our countrymen, combined 



■ imitted to be the true standard of with our inestimable and matchless 



pub ic happiness ; and that all fluctua- advantages of elin.ate, furl, &c. would 



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