College of 1 783. 167 



* Let us now apply these observations. 1 I have ventured 

 to chalk out the outlines of a plan, the sole object and 

 principle of which is, the improvement of our manufactures, 

 by the improvement of these arts on which they depend. 

 Those arts are Chemistry and Mechanism. In an ex- 

 cellent paper, read to this Society some time ago, it was 

 lamented, " that so few of our dyers are chemists, and of 

 our chemists dyers." We may add, how few of our 

 mechanics understand the principles of their own arts, and 

 the discoveries made in other collateral and kindred manu- 

 factures ? At this day, I am informed, not a single weaver 

 in the Norwich trade understands the use of a fly-shuttle. 



* But to proceed to our plan. 



1 The first object of this scheme is, to provide a public 

 repository among- us for chemical and mechanic know- 

 ledge. 



' In order to this, I could wish models to be procured of 

 all such machines, in the various arts, as seem to bear the 

 most distant relation to our own manufactures. All the 

 processes in those of silk, of woollen, of linen, and of cotton 

 should be here delineated. These would make the most 

 necessary and important parts of this collection. But to 

 these might, with great advantage, be added, the astonish- 

 ing effects of mechanic genius in other branches, which 

 have not so apparent an affinity with our own. 



' In this repository let there be likewise provided an 

 assortment of the several ingredients used in dyeing, print- 

 ing, etc., for the purpose of experiments. 



'A superintendent will be necessary, to arrange, and 

 to apply this collection to its proper use. He should be a 

 man well versed in chemical and mechanic knowledge. 



1 See vol. i. p. 84, Dr. Barnes. 



