78 A. D. 1785. 



atiim in mechanics and manufafture was attempted by three different: 

 pcrfons. The firfl, I believe, was Mr. Hargrave of Blackwell in Lanca- 

 fhire, who conflruded an engine capable of fpinning 20 or 30 threads of 

 cotton yarn fit for fultiaris: but his machinery being deftroyed by pop- 

 ular tumults, he removed to Nottingham, where his patent right was 

 overthrown by an affociation formed againfl: him ; and he died in want. 

 Mr. Hayes invented a fpinning engine and cylindrical carding engines, 

 but never brought them to perfection. Mr. Arkwright, for whom the 

 accomplilhment of this great object was referved, after many experi- 

 ments finifhed his firfl engine in the year 1768 ; and in the following 

 year he took out a patent. He ftill, however, continued to ftudy new 

 improvements upon his invention ; and in the year 1775, having brought 

 his original machinery to a greater degree of perfeftion, and having alfo 

 invented machines for preparing the cotton for fpinning, he obtained a 

 frefh patent for his new invention. Hitherto he and his partners had 

 reaped no profits from the undertaking : but now, proper buildings be- 

 ing erefted at the expence of ^^30,000, and the machinery being made 

 capable to be put in motion by the ftrength of cattle, water, fteam, or 

 any other regular moving power, it began, notwithftanding fome lofiTes 

 from riots excited by envy or ignorant apprehenfion, to be productive 

 to the proprietors, and an objedl of great importance to the whole na- 

 :':ion. 



Manufadturers and other men of property now wifhed to participate 

 'the benefit of Arkwright's invention ; and feveral fpinning mills were 

 foon erected in various parts of the country, the proprietors of which 

 contraded to pay him a certain annual rent for every fpindle contained 

 in their machinery. Several fpinning mills, eftablifhed in Lancafhire, 

 the weft part of Scotland, and elfewhere, together with the general ufe 

 of the jennies (engines for fpinning the woof or weft), produced fuch an 

 abridgement of labour and improvement in the fabric, the yarn being 

 fpun upon truer principles than if done by the hand, that the prices of 

 the goods were much reduced, and confequently the Britilh manufac- 

 tures of cotton goods of all kinds were greatly extended ; and many 

 thoufands of people, including women and children of both fexes, were 

 now inftrudted in the various operations of the bufinefs. 



In the years 1782 and 1783 Mr. Arkwright petitioned the houfe of 

 commons, in confideration of the great loffes and expenfes incurred be- 

 fore his invention had begun to bring him any emolument, during 

 which time the term of his patent was running out, to extend the dura- 

 tion of his exclufive privilege for the original machinery, fo as it might 

 expire along with the term granted by his fecond patent. But tlie objed 

 , being now of fuch magnitude and eRablifhed importance, counter-peti- 

 tions came in fi-oin all quarters ; and he was moreover attacked upon 

 pqints of law, his antagonifts alleging, that he was not the inventor of 



