UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF THE BRITISH SOCIETY FOR THE DIFFUSION OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE. THE WORKING-MAN'S COMPANION. THE RESULTS OF MACHINERY; NAMELY, CHEAP PRODUCTION AND INCREASED EMPLOYMENT, EXHIBITED; BEING AN ADDRESS TO THE WORKING-MEN OF FROM THE LONDON EDITION. [Kright, Charles] BOSTON, STIMPSON & CLAPP-WASHINGTON STREET. Hale's Steam Press.... Lewis's Print. 1831. PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. N The immediate object of this publication was to show the beneficial effects of machinery in aid of the manufacturing arts on the condition of society, and of the working-men themselves. In accomplishing this object, it describes the improvements which have been made, in many of the important branches of manufacture, by means of ingenious invenNtions for performing the different processes, in a manner more satisfactory and interesting, than will probably be found in any other publication. It thus embodies a large amount of curious information, and by exhibiting the effects of the improvements in the mechanic and other arts, it shows, in a most striking manner, how much the condition of society has been improved by the ingenious application of the principles of science to the perfection of those arts. It shows how much more effective human labor has become in promoting human happiness, in consequence of the introduction of mechanical inventions into almost every branch of industry. |