to the Prosperity of the Working Classes. 301 



touch a tender point; and therefore I turn to other consi- 

 derations, which, however, lead to the same conclusion. A 

 single copper-mine in Cornwall, one of those known as the 

 Consolidated mines, requires a steam-engine of the power of 

 more than three hundred horses constantly at work, and thus 

 every twenty-four hours realizes the labour of one thousand 

 horses. Concerning this, the assertion cannot be doubted, that 

 no means could possibly be found beneficially and simultane- 

 ously to apply the strength of more than three hundred horses, 

 or two or three thousand men, around the mouth of the shaft 

 of the mine. To proscribe, therefore, the action of the steam- 

 engine of the Consolidated mines, would be to reduce to a state 

 of inactivity a great number of workmen whose labours are 

 now rendered available ; it would be to declare that the cop- 

 per and tin mines of Cornwall must for ever remain buried 

 under a mass of soil, rock, and liquid, many hundi-ed yards deep. 

 The proposition, brought to this form, could certainly have few 

 defenders ; but the form is nothing, whilst the substance re- 

 mains the same. 



If, from operations which require the greatest development of 

 power, we turn to the examination of different products of m- 

 dustry whose delicacy of parts and regularity' of form have 

 ranked them among the wonders of art, the insufficiency, and 

 even the inferiority of our organs, compared with the ingenious 

 combinations of machinery, are equally striking to all. Where, 

 for example, is the skilful spinner who, from a single pound of 

 raw cotton, could produce a thread one hundred and fifty miles 

 long, as can the mule-jenny \ 



I am not ignorant of what certain moralists have said about 

 the uselessness of muslins, laces, and tulles, which these slen- 

 der threads are employed to manufacture ; but I need only 

 remark, that the most perfect mule-jennies require the con- 

 tinued superintendence of a great number of workmen ; that 

 the only object with them, is to manufacture productions which 

 will sell ; and that, finally, if luxury be an evil, a vice, or even 

 a crime, it should be ascribed to the buyers, and not to the 

 poor workers, whose means of existence, I believe, would be 

 hazarded, if they employed their strength in making for the 

 ladies, coarse stuffs, instead of fashionable tulles. 



VOL. XJtVH, NO. LIV.— -OCXOBER 1839, X 



