,4 farmers' and mechanics' journal. 



There is a philosophy in mechanic arts. The mechanic who 

 brings to his occupation an inventive, enhghtened and inquiring 

 mind, who is master of his craft in theory as well as practice, has 

 more of real philosophy in him than twenty of those " minute 

 philosophers," who spend their lives in puzzling the world with 

 empty metaphysical speculations, and of whom Cicero speaks with 

 so much deserved contempt. The man, who, like Franklin or 

 Fulton, or Count Rumford, employs his inventive and studious 

 mind to ameliorate the condition of his species, whatever his rank 

 in life may be, is indeed the genuine philosopher. But how much 

 of real practical philosophy may be found among the mechanics of 

 this new world, to say nothing of the Watts, and Arkwrights, and 

 Brindleys of the old ! — " By their fruits shall ye know them." 



Perkins, who crossed the ocean to secure the Bank of England 

 against counterfeits, by his engraved plates, and who has since 

 astonished the world by his discoveries and experiments, is a New- 

 Englander and a mechanic. But visit the Patent Office at Wash- 

 ington, and examine the thousands of models, which have origin- 

 ated from the inventive minds of our native Americans, whose pro- 

 ductions have been so often contemned by the writings of the 

 " minute philosophers" across the Atlantic — the Volneys of the 

 old world. Visit our manufacturing establishments, and witness 

 the operation of our labor-saving machines, in a variety of the em- 

 ployments of life, and see the efTect of inventive genius and prac- 

 tical philosophy in the mechanic arts. 



But it is not expected, nor indeed is it desirable, that every me- 

 chanic should add his name to the list of inventors, for which our 

 country, and especially New-England, is distinguished. Without 

 this he may become useful, respectable, and even distinguished in 

 his trade. But in order to attain this reputation, the attention of 

 the head is requisite to understand, as well as the hand to labor. 



To become an ingenious and enlightened mechanic, it is neces- 

 sary that the youth who is destined for a trade, should bring to his 

 employment a mind inquisitive, studious, busy, and inclined to me- 

 chanic pursuits. Such a mind, with ordinary attention to its culti- 

 vation, can scarcely fail of becoming, in a very considerable de- 

 gree, enlightened. But to the common sources of information, a 

 good many mechanics add a very laudable attention to books, to 

 the periodical publications of the day, and to associations for mu- 

 tual improvement. Mechanics' and Apprentices' Libraries are 

 established in many of our large towns, and Mechanics' Societies 

 are formed, which by inducing studious habits, interchange of ideas, 

 and collision of sentiments, must tend to improve tlie minds of the 

 members in a high degree. There is in fact, at the present time, 

 a very large share of information, and solid practical science, 

 among the mechanics of this country. 



The life of the mechanic, it is true, is a life of labor, and while 

 he wipes the sweat from his brow, he may perhaps murmur at his 

 fate, and envy what he considers the easy lot of other professions. 

 But where is the business which exempts a man from a life of la- 

 bor ? The life of merchants, of physicians, of judges, of the first 



