LOWELL MANUFACTORIES. 45 



1830, the population was 6477, whereof 4085 were females. 

 The following is the census on 1st June, 1832 



White Males. 



10 (under) - 703 



10 to 20 - 563 



20 to 30 - 1,996 



30 to 40 720 



40 to 50 - 208 



50 to 60 - 62 



Above 60 l - 27 



WJtite Females. 



10 (under) - 771 



10 to 20 - 1,465 



20 to 30 - 2,735 



30 to 40 - 638 



40 to 50 - 233 



50 to 60 83 



Above 60 - 52 



Grand Total, 10,254. 



The females engaged in manufacturing amount to nearly 

 5000, and as we arrived at Lowell on the afternoon of Saturday, 

 we had an opportunity of seeing those connected with some 

 of the largest cotton factories retiring from labour. All were 

 clean, neat, and fashionably attired, with reticules hanging on 

 their arms, and calashes on their heads. They commonly 

 walked arm in arm without displaying levity. Their general 

 appearance and deportment was such that few British gentle 

 men, in the middle ranks of life, need have been ashamed of 

 leading any one of them to a tea-party. Next day, being Sun 

 day, we saw the young females belonging to the factories go 

 ing to church in their best attire, when the favourable im 

 pressions of the preceding evening were not effaced. They 

 lodge, generally, in boarding-houses, and earn about 8s. 6d. 

 sterling per week, independent of board ; serving girls earn 

 about 4s. 3d. 



The recent introduction of large manufacturing establish 

 ments, thin population, and ample reward of labour, account 

 for the apparent comfort and propriety of the Lowell young 

 women. The situation of the manufacturing class in Britain 

 is very different : nurtured amidst poverty and vice, they toil 

 in crowded and unwholsome factories from infancy, often dis 

 regarded by parents and employers, ajid attaining maturity 

 ruined in constitution and in morals, with few of the sympa 

 thies of humanity. 



The factories and dwelling-houses at Lowell are mostly 

 composed of brick, although good building stone is to be had 



