on the Progress of the Useful Arts. 169 



for arriving at a classification, is to analyze each art, to examine 

 minutely its various auxiliary processes, and to seek for some 

 appearance of distinction. Far, however, from simplifying, this 

 rnethod rather tends to complicate the subject: yet it opens 

 such a splendid view of the true nature of human society, and 

 awakens such a thrill of wide spreading philanthropy, that to 

 follow it out one would even dare the dangers of the Cretan 

 Labyrinth. 



A few years ago, the uneven thread now and then exposed, to 

 the admirino- student of nature's loveliest work, the flash of tran- 

 sitory discontent; and awakened in the peaceful and happy home 

 soft but frequent murmurs. A fehcitous idea transferred from our 

 floating ramparts to the needle of the sempstress the diminutive 

 cable, and the mile-end cotton has spread its soothing influence 

 over the united empire ; and, though as yet no pavilion has been 

 reared over its meritorious inventor, we shall delight to honour 

 him by installing the 300 yards warratited as the representation 

 of Ariadne's clue. 



Let us trace this beautiful fabric to its source ; not, however, 

 by a minute analysis of the machinery, but rather by a rapid 

 view of the principal steps which lead to its formation. 



The manufacture of the cable twist, like that of every other 

 commodity, must be studied under two heads ; the obtaining of 

 the raw material, and the conversion of it into the marketable 

 article. I am too little acquainted with the details of cotton 

 culture, to venture into a critical examination ; yet there are 

 features in it too striking to escape the notice of a very casual 

 observer. The raw material of the British manufacturer is in 

 truth a manufactured commodity, and no small degree of skill 

 is required to bring it to that state which fits it for the com- 

 mencement of his labours. 



Tracing it back from the British storehouse, we find that it 

 has been brought from the other shore of the Atlantic ; and the 

 process of transportation is thus that which demands our first 

 attention. This very first step in the analysis of the cotton 

 manufacture leads us to an eminence from which, though we can 

 descry only a portion of the surrounding country, we are yet 

 able to form some idea of the immense extent of the entire view. 

 To how many different processes docs the ship owe its existence ! 



