138 MR. J. C. DYER ON THE ORIGIN OF 



hand-working. This original process being realized in 

 lace-making, opened a new vista to other inventors, afford- 

 ing them both instruction and incitement in their mecha- 

 nical labours, and must have led to the application of the 

 same principle — that of passing threads back and forth 

 through warps, on which the beautiful embroidering ma- 

 chines are constructed. 



The acquired knowledge of each generation is the fountain 

 from whence new lights flow to their successors ; so it is 

 no derogation from the merits of those who contribute to 

 the general stock by extending the limits of " useful know- 

 ledge,^^ although the germs of such extensions may be 

 found in former practice, for it is wisely said, " there is 

 nothing new under the sun '" yet in the usual sense I con- 

 sider the invention of the embroidering machine, as now in 

 operation at Messrs. Houldsworth, to embrace so many 

 original and beautiful movements, as to entitle the authors 

 of them to rank among the most talented mechanicians of 

 our time. Again, I consider another most valuable and 

 ingenious invention, also of foreign origin*, to be based 

 upon the same idea — that of passing from one to another 

 set of holders and conductors the cotton in the combing 

 machines now so extensively employed in separating the 

 short and coarse from the long staple in carding fine 

 cotton. 



2. On Wire-card making by Machinery, 



In the North American Colonies and States the manu- 

 facture of woollen and cotton fabrics for domestic use, 

 especially of the coarser sorts, had become a regular branch 

 of industry in the winter months, when out-of-doors labour 



* The embroidering and the combing machines were first patented in 

 France, and were each in a very imperfect state when brought to this country. 

 They were taken up by Mr. Henry Houldsworth, by whose eminent talents 

 and ingenuity they have been successively simplified and rendered practically 

 valuable machines. 



