344 Review of Allen's Mechanics. 



the holes about thirty times faster than water, under the same press- 

 ure." As this evil, from suction of water by the ascending buckets, 

 is also mentioned by Mr. Allen, without the suggestion of any rem- 

 edy, perhaps the one proposed by Dr. Bigelow, may be deemed 

 worthy of notice in a future edition. The process of bleaching cot- 

 ton fabrics, which follows so closely upon the weaving of them, and 

 is performed in immediate connexion with some manufactories, may 

 perhaps be thought worthy of a place in a work like this. The pro- 

 cess for making starch, so much used in sizing cottons, might be ad- 

 vantageously introduced. 



We have one fault to find, and that is, with the appearance of tlie 

 book. The author has shown a better knowledge of the subjects 

 treated, than of the art of book making. The work wears a dress infe- 

 rior to its merits ; the paper is of an inferior quality ; the pages are more 

 crowded than is pleasing to the eye of most readers ; and the nume- 

 rous cuts distributed throughout the work, although accurately drawn, 

 and answering the purpose intended, are executed in a clumsy style. 

 All this, however, is in some measure compensated for, in the re- 

 duction of the price of the book, which is much lower, considering 

 the value of the materials, and the amount of labor bestowed in pre- 

 paring them, than that of almost any other book we have seen. 



In conclusion, we may observe, that every one must be struck widi 

 astonishment, when he reflects, that the mechanical powers, amounting 

 to only six, should be susceptible of applications, so numerous and va- 

 ried, as that all mechanical effects, however intricate, should originate 

 from, and be reducible to, one or more of these powers. The ex- 

 tent and variety of application of these powers, are beautifully dis- 

 played and illustrated, in the interior of a cotton manufactory, where 

 innumerable instruments and operative parts are to be seen, moving 

 in concert in every direction, with every degree of velocity ; and re- 

 ciprocating with each other, in such perfect harmony, that complex 

 operations are performed by them with the greatest precision, and 

 with apparently as much self-directed skill, as is exhibited in the 

 manual labor of intelligent beings. 



