MANUFACTURE OF COTTON. 



building, which run the whole length of 

 the story ; these give motion again to 

 small vertical shafts, which sustain the 

 large drums that set the spinning frames 

 in motion. The horizontal shafts have 

 also drums on them, from whence bands 

 proceed, by which the carding engines and 

 slabbing machines are turned. What is 

 said of the general arrangement of the 

 mill work can only be understood in a 

 general sense, for the number and posi- 

 tion of the horizontal shafts, set in motion 

 by the vertical shaft, must vary according 

 to the nature of the buildings, and the 

 disposition of the frames in each floor of 

 them. Where it can be done, it is best 

 to have the vertical shaft placed in the 

 middle of the building, with the horizon- 

 tal shafts proceeding from both sides of 

 it at every floor, for thus the horizontal 

 shafts sustain less of that twisting motion, 

 which is very injurious to them, and to 

 which they would be more liable, if of the 

 whole length of the building. 



The spinning frames are attended by 

 children, to piece the threads when they 

 break, and the whole attendance of the 

 various engines is for the most part per- 

 formed by children also. The numbers 

 employed of persons of this tender age 

 in some large mills amount to some hun- 

 dreds. 



Some of the great cotton mills were 

 worked incessantly night and day, and 

 different sets of children relieved each 

 other ; in succession in attending them. 

 This system was found to be very inju- 

 rious to the children. An act of parlia- 

 ment was passed enforcing salutary regu- 

 lations on these points, which has been 

 warmly seconded by the humane proprie- 

 tors of some of the most eminent mills ; 

 who have their buildings now well venti- 

 lated and warmed, (by means contrived 

 by gentlemen best skilled in such matters) 

 have them kept constantly clean and 

 sweet by obvious methods, and have not 

 only the health of the children further 

 preserved by proper attention to their 

 food, clothing, and personal cleanliness ; 

 but also have them taught to read and 

 write, and take care that they receive in- 

 structions as to their morals and religion, 

 both of which were shamefully neglected 

 in former times. All that remains to be 

 wished now on this head is, that in those 

 situations, where avaricious masters wish 

 to evade the act, or do not choose to pay 

 proper attention to the children in other 

 respects, that humane people may be 

 found, who will interpose, and compel 

 them to do their duty, and either by Sun- 

 day schools, or other proper means, ef- 



fect that the children may receive those 

 instructions, without which they can 

 never be worthy members of society. 



After the cotton is spun, it is usually 

 made up into warps fit for the weavers 

 before it leaves the mills ; this operation 

 is performed on the following engine : 



The Warping Mill. The warping mill 

 consists of a light frame- work, which forms 

 the outline of an octagonal prism, or one 

 of more numerous sides, about six feet 

 diameter, and seven feet high, that is 

 turned round on a vertical axis by a band, 

 that passes from a grooved wheel on the 

 axis to another grooved wheel that is 

 turned by a winch, and is placed under 

 the seat on which the warper sits ; the 

 bobbins which sustain the twist are placed 

 on a vertical rack suspended from the 

 ceiling, and the threads from them pass 

 between two small upright rollers, on a 

 piece of wood which slides perpendicu- 

 larly along an upright bar, fixed at one 

 side of the revolving frame ; a small cord 

 passes, from a part of the axis that rises 

 above the frame, over a pulley at the top 

 of the fixed bar, down to the sliding 

 guide, which it slowly draws up, by coil- 

 ing round the axis as the frame turns 

 round; by which means the yarn is wound 

 spirally about the frame, to the length 

 which the warp is required ; to which ex- 

 tent, when the yarn arrives, it is crossed 

 on pins projecting from the frame, and 

 the mill is turned the reverse way ; by 

 which the slide descends, and the yarn is 

 laid along the same spiral downwards, 

 along which it before ascended. 



When the warp is completed to the 

 number of threads required for the web 

 for which it is intended, it is taken off the 

 mills, and wound up into a ball, the cros- 

 sings being first properly secured for the 

 use of the weaver : and in this state it is 

 sold to the weaving manufacturer, when 

 the mill owner is not concerned in this 

 branch of business himself. 



Of Weaving. A vast variety of fabrics 

 are formed of cotton ; every species made 

 of linen or silk has been successfully imi- 

 tated with it ; and the velverets and thick 

 cords made of it, have been found to 

 answer for many purposes in place of 

 woollen cloth. The finest muslins of In- 

 dia do not exceed those which are made 

 in this country; and the richness of colour, 

 and variety of figure, of the chintzes of 

 the East, are now surpassed by those of 

 0111 printed cottons : from the excellence 

 of these goods, and the low prices at 

 which the extensive use of machinery al- 

 lows them to be sold, the exportation has 

 become prodigious ; and the comforts of 



