40'2 Mechanic Arts, 



Chronometers have been carried;' the invention of 

 new vegetable materials for the formation oi Paper, 

 more plentiful, and easy of access than those of 

 which alone it had been before made ;" the method 

 of Innovating old paper, by a chemical process, 

 cleansing it from all foreign matter, discharging the 

 ink, and rendering it again fit to receive nev^ im- 

 pressions; the methods which have been devised 

 for imdtiplying copies of prints and manuscripts, 

 with ease, expedition, and cheapness; the various 

 plans for cutting Nails, instead of the old and te- 

 dious method of forming them on the anvil, besides 

 a multitude of others, scarcely, if at all less im- 

 portant, which time would fail to enumerate. 



Finally, the effects of the various improvements 

 which have been introduced into every department 

 of the mechanic arts, during the last age, in pro- 

 moting the conveniency, cheapness, and elegance 

 of living, will readily occur to the most careless 

 observer. No one will say that it indicates undue 

 partiality to our own times to assert, that at no 

 period of the world was the art of living, especi- 

 ally the comforts and conveniences of domestic 

 life, ever on so advantageous a footing as at present. 

 Ancient writers, indeed, have given highly co- 



t Among the several impro'^ers of Time-lcepers^ during the last age^ 

 Harrison, Arnold, and Kendall were before mentioned as deserving 

 particular praise. The first named was bred a carpenter, and began 

 by making wooden clocks. It is unnecessary to add, that, by the force of 

 his genius he rose to the highest eminence as an artist. 



v There is a particular reference here to the discovery of the Rev. Mr. 

 Senger, of Germany, that ii certain aquatic plant, called by Linn^us 

 Conferva Rivularis^ is capable of being manufactured into paper, of as ex- 

 cellent a quality as that made of rags, and at less expense. The same disco- 

 very was made a short time afterwards by Robert R. Livingston, Esq. 

 late chancellor of the State of New- York, and now Minister Plenipotentia ry 

 to the French Republic, without any knowledge of what Mr. Senger had 

 done ; and indeed some time before the German discovery had been com- 

 municated to the public. It has been also ascertained that paper of an 

 excellent quality may be made of common Siraiv, and that, in a state of 

 mixture with other materials, even Saxv-dust is useful in fabricating the 

 same substan«e, 



