590 Mechanic Arts. 



chapter which relates to them. That they have 

 contributed, and will probably yet contribute, in 

 a considerable degree, to the abridgement of la- 

 bour, to the convenience and profit of artists, and 

 to the excellence and beauty of manufactures, is 

 too obvious to require particular explanation. 



The great discoveries which the philosophers 

 of the last century made in Chemistry^ may also 

 be considered as rendering very distinguished ser- 

 vice to the mechanic arts. On the manufacture 

 of all metallic and earthen wares, the improve- 

 ments in chemistry have shed important light; and 

 indeed to all the arts in the different processes of 

 which heat, solution, composition, distillation, fer- 

 mentation, and precipitation are necessary, che- 

 mical philosophy has furnished valuable aid. 



Never were manufactures carried on upon so 

 large a scale as during the eighteenth century, es- 

 pecially toward the close of it. The number of 

 hands, and the amount of capitals employed in 

 various branches of manufacture in Europe, may 

 be pronounced, without hesitation, greatly to ex- 

 ceed the largest estabhshm.ents of any former 

 times. 



It may also be asserted, that manufactures in 

 general were never carried on with so much expe- 

 dition and cheapness, or with so much elegance of 

 workmanship, as at the close of the period under 

 review. It is true, these circumstances have led 

 to an increased slighfiiess, and the want of durahi- 

 Uty, particularly in some articles of modern manu- 

 facture; but in many more cases, a great improve- 

 ment in qualify, as well as in elegance, has taken 

 place. 



The division and abridgeinent of labour were 

 carried to a greater length in the course of the last 

 age than in any preceding period. The intiuencc 

 of both these circumstances in promoting the me- 



