State of' the Useful Arts. 267 



by their exertions at the lathe ; and, as the payment was gene- 

 rally per piece, the most industrious, those most likely in other 

 circumstances to rise in life, were the most jaded ; the least able, 

 perhaps the least disposed, to any further exertion. For the 

 mass of them the charm of stimulating drinks was thus great, 

 and those men who, from their position, ought to have set the 

 best example to the other classes set perhaps the worst. But 

 now the men leave their work tired perhaps, but not worn out ; 

 they are alple to apply themselves to their rational recreation and 

 improvement. The stimulus of intoxication is no longer neces- 

 sary for keeping them awake ; and is, accordingly, falling into 

 disuse among them. 



The situation of the master of a work is confessedly more fa- 

 vourable to intellectual improvement than that of his workman. 

 Now, the use of steam-impelled tools places the men in a position 

 analogous to that of the owner, it makes them directors of power 

 rather than exerters of it ; and thus, on every hand, we are led 

 to the conclusion that such tools tend directly to the improve- 

 ment of society. 



In large factories where many copies of the same thing are 

 made, or where the nature of the work allows a fair estimate, the 

 men are paid by the quantity of work ; a deduction being made 

 as the rent of the tool. In this way the workman becomes, to a 

 certain extent, a capitalist. He embarks, as it were, in a mer- 

 cantile speculation, with this in his favour, — that he has no risk, 

 and that industry and skill is sure to be rewarded. The machine 

 which he rents can at the utmost move over a certain distance ; 

 the planing engine proceeds at a certain rate, and so does the 

 driver of the side-lathe. It would seem, then, that no opportu- 

 nity is left for the exercise of skill ; that do what the workman 

 will, a fixed amount of work will be turned out. This, however, 

 is by no means the case, for considerable time may be saved by 

 a dexterous shifting of the tools or of the work, and, what is 

 still more important, by the proper shaping and keeping of the 

 tools much deeper cuts may be made. In fact, the difference 

 of skill may enable one workman to produce from 50 to 100 

 per cent, more work than another could turn out with the same 

 instrument. The skilful artist is thus encouraged to proceed 

 by the conviction that while his employer reaps the advantage 



