On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures

In two months from the publication of the first edition of this volume, three thousand copies were in the hands of the public.  Very little was spent in advertisements; the booksellers, instead of aiding, impeded its sale; * it formed no part of any popular series and yet the public, in a few weeks, purchased the whole edition.  Some small part of this success, perhaps, was due to the popular exposition of those curious processes which are carried on in our workshops, and to the endeavour to take a short view of the general principles which direct the manufactories of the country.  But the chief reason was the commanding attraction of the subject, and the increasing desire to become acquainted with the pursuits and interests of that portion of the people which has recently acquired so large an accession of political influence.

[Footnote:  I had good evidence of this fact from various quarters; and being desirous of verifying it, I myself applied for a copy at the shop of a bookseller of respectability, who is probably not aware that he refused to procure one even for its author.]

A greater degree of attention than I had expected has been excited by what I have stated in the first edition, respecting the ‘Book-trade’.  Until I had commenced the chapter, ’On the separate cost of each process of a manufacture’, I had no intention of alluding to that subject:  but the reader will perceive that I have throughout this volume, wherever I could, employed as illustrations, objects of easy access to the reader; and, in accordance with that principle, I selected the volume itself.  When I arrived at the chapter, ’On combinations of masters against the public’, I was induced, for the same reason, to expose a combination connected with literature, which, in my opinion, is both morally and politically wrong.  I entered upon this enquiry without the slightest feeling of hostility to that trade, nor have I any wish unfavourable to it; but I think a complete reform in its system would add to its usefulness and respectability.  As the subject of that chapter has been much discussed, I have thought it right to take a view of the various arguments which have been advanced, and to offer my own opinion respecting their validity—­and there I should have left the subject, content to allow my general character to plead for me against insinuations respecting my motives—­but as the remarks of some of my critics affect the character of another person, I think it but just to state circumstances which will clearly disprove them.

Mr Fellowes, of Ludgate Street, who had previously been the publisher of some other volumes for me, had undertaken the publication of the first edition of the present work.  A short time previous to its completion, I thought it right to call his attention to the chapter in which the book-trade is discussed; with the view both of making him acquainted with what I had stated, and also of availing myself of his knowledge in correcting any accidental error as to the facts.  Mr Fellowes, ’differing from me entirely respecting the conclusions I had arrived at’, then declined the publication of the volume.  If I had then chosen to apply to some of those other booksellers, whose names appear in the Committee of ‘The Trade’, it is probable that they also would have declined the office of publishing for me; and, had my object been to make a case against the trade, such a course would have assisted me.  But I had no such feeling; and having procured a complete copy of the whole work, I called with it on Mr Knight, of Pall Mall East, whom until that day I had never seen, and with whom I had never previously had the slightest communication.  I left the book in Mr Knight’s hands, with a request that, when he had read it, I might be informed whether he would undertake the publication of it; and this he consented to do.  Mr Knight, therefore, is so far from being responsible for a single opinion in the present volume, that he saw it only, for a short time, a few days previous to its publication.

It has been objected to me, that I have exposed too freely the secrets of trade.  The only real secrets of trade are industry, integrity, and knowledge:  to the possessors of these no exposure can be injurious; and they never fail to produce respect and wealth.

The alterations in the present edition are so frequent, that I found it impossible to comprise them in a supplement.  But the three new chapters, ‘On money as a medium of exchange’; ’On a new system of manufacturing’; and ’On the effect of machinery in reducing the demand for labour’; will shortly be printed separately, for the use of the purchasers of the first edition.

I am inclined to attach some importance to the new system of manufacturing; and venture to throw it out with the hope of its receiving a full discussion among those who are most interested in the subject.  I believe that some such system of conducting manufactories would greatly increase the productive powers of any country adopting it; and that our own possesses much greater facilities for its application than other countries, in the greater intelligence and superior education of the working classes.  The system would naturally commence in some large town, by the union of some of the most prudent and active workmen; and their example, if successful, would be followed by others.  The small capitalist would next join them, and such factories would go on increasing until competition compelled the large capitalist to adopt the same system; and, ultimately, the whole faculties of every man engaged in manufacture would be concentrated upon one object—­the art of producing a good article at the lowest possible cost—­whilst the moral effect on that class of the population would be useful in the highest degree, since it would render character of far greater value to the workman than it is at present.

To one criticism which has been made, this volume is perfectly open.  I have dismissed the important subject of the patent-laws in a few lines.  The subject presents, in my opinion, great difficulties, and I have been unwilling to write upon it, because I do not see my way.  I will only here advert to one difficulty.  What constitutes an invention?  Few simple mechanical contrivances are new; and most combinations may be viewed as species, and classed under genera of more or less generality; and may, in consequence, be pronounced old or new, according to the mechanical knowledge of the person who gives his opinion.

Some of my critics have amused their readers with the wildness of the schemes I have occasionally thrown out; and I myself have sometimes smiled along with them.  Perhaps it were wiser for present reputation to offer nothing but profoundly meditated plans, but I do not think knowledge will be most advanced by that course; such sparks may kindle the energies of other minds more favourably circumstanced for pursuing the enquiries.  Thus I have now ventured to give some speculations on the mode of blowing furnaces for smelting iron; and even supposing them to be visionary, it is of some importance thus to call the attention of a large population, engaged in one of our most extensive manufactures, to the singular fact, that four-fifths of the steam power used to blow their furnaces actually cools them.

I have collected, with some pains, the criticisms* on the first edition of this work, and have availed myself of much information which has been communicated to me by my friends, for the improvement of the present volume.  If I have succeeded in expressing that I had to explain with perspicuity, I am aware that much of this clearness is due to my friend, Dr Fitton, to whom both the present and the former edition are indebted for such an examination and correction, as an author himself has very rarely the power to bestow.

[Footnote:  Several of these have probably escaped me, and I shall feel indebted to any one who will inform my publisher of any future remarks.]

22 November, 1832.