THE 



NEW"EI^GLAND 

 FAR:^IEPS' AND MECHANICS' JOURNAL. 



Vol. I. GARDINER, DECSMBER, 1828. N... 12. 



IKCECHAITICS. 



The following is taken from Hale's Carpentry, a work which 

 ought to be in the hands of every "brother chip" in the nation. It 

 is compiled from the best of (he English and other authors, and pre- 

 sents, in a condensed form, the essence of those works which are 

 rare, and too expensive to be purchased by our carpenters in gene- 

 ral, and yet it is not read so much as it should be. Why are our 

 mechanics, in general, so afraid of a book ? Why is it that those, 

 who can scarcely make a movement in their respective arts, but 

 they put in practice some of the fundamental principles of me- 

 chanical philosophy, should be so stubborn in keeping themselves 

 ignorant of those principles ; and not only themselves, but others ? 

 Why should not a Carpenter be a philosopher, and a learned man? 

 Is there any inconsistency in the thing ? Would it injure him in 

 the least, if he should become an adept in any of the natural sci- 

 ences ? Would it render him the less skilful in shingling a hovel, 

 or planning a church ? 



The principal objection that has been urged against giving me- 

 chanics, &:c., an insight into the sciences, and one that has been 

 brought forward even in the rouncils of the State, is, " that it will 

 make gentlemen of them.'''' Now there is no term in the Eri'^lish 

 language more abused, or more vaguely used than this same word 

 gentleman. If by it is meant that nondescript biped, which we 

 sometimes see on the end of a cigar, wagging his tea-colored bea- 

 ver, cracking his whip, and abusing the waait-a-r of a country 

 tavern. Heaven forbid all learning. But if by Gentleman is meant, 

 that man of a wel'-informed and noble mind, who understands his 

 business and minds it — who knows his phrc in society and keeps 

 it, — who is aware that he has a country, and honc"s it — who pays 

 34 Vol. 1. 



