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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
purpose¡¡of¡¡regulating¡¡the¡¡intensity¡¡of¡¡fire¡¡under¡¡it£»¡¡and
consequently¡¡the¡¡production¡¡of¡¡steam£»¡¡is¡¡still¡¡in¡¡general¡¡use¡£¡¡¡¡This
was¡¡invented¡¡by¡¡him¡¡as¡¡early¡¡as¡¡1799¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡also¡¡subsequently¡¡invented
the¡¡D¡¡slide¡¡valve£»¡¡or¡¡at¡¡least¡¡greatly¡¡improved¡¡it£»¡¡while¡¡he¡¡added¡¡to
the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡air¡pump£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡new¡¡arrangement¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other
parts£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡view¡¡to¡¡the¡¡simplification¡¡of¡¡the¡¡powers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡engine¡£
To¡¡make¡¡the¡¡D¡¡valve¡¡work¡¡efficiently£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡found¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡form
two¡¡perfectly¡¡plane¡¡surfaces£»¡¡to¡¡produce¡¡which¡¡he¡¡invented¡¡his
planing¡¡machine¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡also¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡adopt¡¡the¡¡practice¡¡of
placing¡¡the¡¡piston¡¡in¡¡a¡¡horizontal¡¡position¡¡in¡¡the¡¡common¡¡condensing
engine¡£¡¡¡¡Among¡¡his¡¡other¡¡modifications¡¡in¡¡the¡¡steam¡engine£»¡¡was¡¡his
improvement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡locomotive¡¡as¡¡invented¡¡by¡¡Trevithick£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡ought
to¡¡be¡¡remembered¡¡to¡¡his¡¡honour¡¡that¡¡he¡¡made¡¡the¡¡first¡¡locomotive¡¡that
regularly¡¡worked¡¡upon¡¡any¡¡railway¡£
This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡engine¡¡erected¡¡by¡¡him¡¡for¡¡Blenkinsop£»¡¡to¡¡work¡¡the
Middleton¡¡colliery¡¡railway¡¡near¡¡Leeds£»¡¡on¡¡which¡¡it¡¡began¡¡to¡¡run¡¡in
1812£»¡¡and¡¡continued¡¡in¡¡regular¡¡use¡¡for¡¡many¡¡years¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡this¡¡engine¡¡he
introduced¡¡the¡¡double¡¡cylinderTrevithick's¡¡engine¡¡being¡¡provided
with¡¡only¡¡one¡¡cylinder£»¡¡the¡¡defects¡¡of¡¡which¡¡were¡¡supplemented¡¡by¡¡the
addition¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fly¡wheel¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡the¡¡crank¡¡over¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡points¡£
But¡¡Matthew¡¡Murray's¡¡most¡¡important¡¡inventions£»¡¡considered¡¡in¡¡their
effects¡¡on¡¡manufacturing¡¡industry£»¡¡were¡¡those¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡the
machinery¡¡for¡¡heckling¡¡and¡¡spinning¡¡flax£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡very¡¡greatly
improved¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡heckling¡¡machine¡¡obtained¡¡for¡¡him¡¡the¡¡prize¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gold
medal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Society¡¡of¡¡Arts£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡his¡¡machine¡¡for¡¡wet
flax¡spinning¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡sponge¡¡weights¡¡proved¡¡of¡¡the¡¡greatest
practical¡¡value¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡these¡¡inventions¡¡were¡¡made¡¡the¡¡flax
trade¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡point¡¡of¡¡expiring£»¡¡the¡¡spinners¡¡being¡¡unable¡¡to
produce¡¡yarn¡¡to¡¡a¡¡profit£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡almost¡¡immediate¡¡effect¡¡was¡¡to
reduce¡¡the¡¡cost¡¡of¡¡production£»¡¡to¡¡improve¡¡immensely¡¡the¡¡quality¡¡of
the¡¡manufacture£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡establish¡¡the¡¡British¡¡linen¡¡trade¡¡on¡¡a¡¡solid
foundation¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡production¡¡of¡¡flax¡machinery¡¡became¡¡an¡¡important
branch¡¡of¡¡manufacture¡¡at¡¡Leeds£»¡¡large¡¡quantities¡¡being¡¡made¡¡for¡¡use
at¡¡home¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡for¡¡exportation£»¡¡giving¡¡employment¡¡to¡¡an
increasing¡¡number¡¡of¡¡highly¡¡skilled¡¡mechanics¡£*
¡¡£§footnote¡£¡£¡£
Among¡¡more¡¡recent¡¡improvers¡¡of¡¡flax¡machinery£»¡¡the¡¡late¡¡Sir¡¡Peter
Fairbairn¡¡is¡¡entitled¡¡to¡¡high¡¡merit£º¡¡¡¡the¡¡work¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡by¡¡him¡¡being
of¡¡first¡rate¡¡excellence£»¡¡embodying¡¡numerous¡¡inventions¡¡and
improvements¡¡of¡¡great¡¡value¡¡and¡¡importance¡£
¡¡¡£¡£¡££§
Mr¡£¡¡Murray's¡¡faculty¡¡for¡¡organising¡¡work£»¡¡perfected¡¡by¡¡experience£»
enabled¡¡him¡¡also¡¡to¡¡introduce¡¡many¡¡valuable¡¡improvements¡¡in¡¡the
mechanics¡¡of¡¡manufacturing¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡pre¡eminent¡¡skill¡¡in¡¡mill¡gearing
became¡¡generally¡¡acknowledged£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡effects¡¡of¡¡his¡¡labours¡¡are
felt¡¡to¡¡this¡¡day¡¡in¡¡the¡¡extensive¡¡and¡¡still¡¡thriving¡¡branches¡¡of
industry¡¡which¡¡his¡¡ingenuity¡¡and¡¡ability¡¡mainly¡¡contributed¡¡to
establish¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡tools¡¡used¡¡in¡¡his¡¡establishment¡¡were
designed¡¡by¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡most¡¡careful¡¡in¡¡the¡¡personal
superintendence¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡details¡¡of¡¡their¡¡construction¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Murray
died¡¡at¡¡Leeds¡¡in¡¡1826£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡sixty¡third¡¡year¡£
We¡¡have¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡exhausted¡¡the¡¡list¡¡of¡¡claimants¡¡to¡¡the¡¡invention¡¡of
the¡¡Planing¡¡Machine£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡find¡¡still¡¡another¡¡in¡¡the¡¡person¡¡of
Richard¡¡Roberts¡¡of¡¡Manchester£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡prolific¡¡of¡¡modem
inventors¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Roberts¡¡has¡¡indeed¡¡achieved¡¡so¡¡many¡¡undisputed
inventions£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡can¡¡readily¡¡afford¡¡to¡¡divide¡¡the¡¡honour¡¡in¡¡this
case¡¡with¡¡others¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡has¡¡contrived¡¡things¡¡so¡¡various¡¡as¡¡the
self¡acting¡¡mule¡¡and¡¡the¡¡best¡¡electro¡magnet£»¡¡wet¡¡gas¡meters¡¡and¡¡dry
planing¡¡machines£»¡¡iron¡¡billard¡tables¡¡and¡¡turret¡clocks£»¡¡the
centrifugal¡¡railway¡¡and¡¡the¡¡drill¡¡slotting¡machine£»¡¡an¡¡apparatus¡¡for
making¡¡cigars¡¡and¡¡machinery¡¡for¡¡the¡¡propulsion¡¡and¡¡equipment¡¡of
steamships£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡he¡¡may¡¡almost¡¡be¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Admirable
Crichton¡¡of¡¡modem¡¡mechanics¡£
Richard¡¡Roberts¡¡was¡¡born¡¡in¡¡1789£»¡¡at¡¡Carreghova¡¡in¡¡the¡¡parish¡¡of
Llanymynech¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡father¡¡was¡¡by¡¡trade¡¡a¡¡shoemaker£»¡¡to¡¡which¡¡he
occasionally¡¡added¡¡the¡¡occupation¡¡of¡¡toll¡keeper¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡house¡¡in¡¡which
Richard¡¡was¡¡born¡¡stood¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡border¡¡line¡¡which¡¡then¡¡divided¡¡the
counties¡¡of¡¡Salop¡¡and¡¡Montgomery£»¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡¡opening¡¡in¡¡the¡¡one
county£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡back¡¡door¡¡in¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡Richard£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡boy£»¡¡received
next¡¡to¡¡no¡¡education£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡of¡¡fitting¡¡age¡¡was¡¡put¡¡to
common¡¡labouring¡¡work¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡some¡¡time¡¡he¡¡worked¡¡in¡¡a¡¡quarry¡¡near¡¡his
father's¡¡dwelling£»¡¡but¡¡being¡¡of¡¡an¡¡ingenious¡¡turn£»¡¡he¡¡occupied¡¡his
leisure¡¡in¡¡making¡¡various¡¡articles¡¡of¡¡mechanism£»¡¡partly¡¡for¡¡amusement
and¡¡partly¡¡for¡¡profit¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡his¡¡first¡¡achievements£»¡¡while¡¡working
as¡¡a¡¡quarryman£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡spinning¡wheel£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡he¡¡was¡¡very¡¡proud£»¡¡for
it¡¡was¡¡considered¡¡¡¨a¡¡good¡¡job¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡he¡¡gradually¡¡acquired¡¡dexterity
in¡¡handling¡¡tools£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡shortly¡¡came¡¡to¡¡entertain¡¡the¡¡ambition¡¡of
becoming¡¡a¡¡mechanic¡£
There¡¡were¡¡several¡¡ironworks¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighbour¡¡hood£»¡¡and¡¡thither¡¡he
went¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡employment¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡finding¡¡work¡¡as¡¡a
pattern¡maker¡¡at¡¡Bradley£»¡¡near¡¡Bilston£»¡¡under¡¡John¡¡Wilkinson£»¡¡the
famous¡¡ironmastera¡¡man¡¡of¡¡great¡¡enterprise¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡mechanical
skill£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡man£»¡¡as¡¡already¡¡stated£»¡¡that¡¡Watt¡¡could
find¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡boring¡¡a¡¡cylinder¡¡with¡¡any¡¡approach¡¡to¡¡truth£»¡¡for¡¡the
purposes¡¡of¡¡his¡¡steam¡engines¡£¡¡¡¡After¡¡acquiring¡¡some¡¡practical
knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡art¡¡of¡¡working¡¡in¡¡wood¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡iron£»¡¡Roberts
proceeded¡¡to¡¡Birmingham£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡different¡¡shops£»
gaining¡¡further¡¡experience¡¡in¡¡mechanical¡¡practice¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡tried¡¡his¡¡hand
at¡¡many¡¡kinds¡¡of¡¡work£»¡¡and¡¡acquired¡¡considerable¡¡dexterity¡¡in¡¡each¡£
He¡¡was¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡jack¡of¡all¡trades£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good
turner£»¡¡a¡¡tolerable¡¡wheel¡wright£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡repair¡¡mill¡work¡¡at¡¡a
pinch¡£
He¡¡next¡¡moved¡¡northward¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Horsley¡¡ironworks£»¡¡Tipton£»¡¡where¡¡he
was¡¡working¡¡as¡¡a¡¡pattern¡maker¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡the¡¡misfortune¡¡to¡¡be¡¡drawn
in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡county¡¡for¡¡the¡¡militia¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡immediately¡¡left¡¡his¡¡work¡¡and
made¡¡his¡¡way¡¡homeward¡¡to¡¡Llanymynech£»¡¡determined¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡soldier
or¡¡even¡¡a¡¡militiaman¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡home¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡place¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡rest¡¡in£»
and¡¡after¡¡bidding¡¡a¡¡hasty¡¡adieu¡¡to¡¡his¡¡father£»¡¡he¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡country
northward¡¡on¡¡foot¡¡and¡¡reached¡¡Liverpool£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡finding¡¡work
there¡£¡¡¡¡Failing¡¡in¡¡that£»¡¡he¡¡set¡¡out¡¡for¡¡Manchester¡¡and¡¡reached¡¡it¡¡at
dusk£»¡¡very¡¡weary¡¡and¡¡very¡¡miry¡¡in¡¡consequence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡road¡¡being¡¡in
such¡¡a¡¡wretched¡¡state¡¡of¡¡mud¡¡and¡¡ruts¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡relates¡¡that£»¡¡not¡¡knowing¡¡a
person¡¡in¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡he¡¡went¡¡up¡¡to¡¡an¡¡apple¡stall¡¡ostensibly¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡a
pennyworth¡¡of¡¡apples£»¡¡but¡¡really¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡the¡¡stall¡keeper¡¡if¡¡he¡¡knew
of¡¡any¡¡person¡¡in¡¡want¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¡Was¡¡there¡¡any¡¡turner¡¡in¡¡the
neighbourhood£¿¡¡Yes£»¡¡round¡¡the¡¡corner¡£¡¡¡¡Thither¡¡he¡¡went¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡found
the¡¡wood¡turner¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡promised¡¡a¡¡job¡¡on¡¡the¡¡following¡¡morning¡£
He¡¡remained¡¡with¡¡the¡¡turner¡¡for¡¡only¡¡a¡¡short¡¡time£»¡¡after¡¡which¡¡he
found¡¡a¡¡job¡¡in¡¡Salford¡¡at¡¡lathe¡¡and¡¡tool¡making¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡hearing¡¡that¡¡the
militia¡¡warrant¡officers¡¡were¡¡still¡¡searching¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡became
uneasy¡¡and¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡take¡¡refuge¡¡in¡¡London¡£
He¡¡trudged¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡on¡¡foot¡¡to¡¡that¡¡great¡¡hiding¡place£»¡¡and¡¡first
tried¡¡Holtzapffel's£»¡¡the¡¡famous¡¡tool¡maker's£»¡¡but¡¡failing¡¡in¡¡his
application¡¡he¡¡next¡¡went¡¡to¡¡Maudslay's¡¡and¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡getting
employment¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡worked¡¡there¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time£»¡¡acquiring¡¡much¡¡valuable
practical¡¡knowledge¡¡in¡¡the¡¡use¡¡of¡¡tools£»¡¡cultivating¡¡his¡¡skill¡¡by
contact¡¡with¡¡first¡class¡¡workmen£»¡¡and¡¡benefiting¡¡by¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡of
active¡¡contrivance¡¡which¡¡pervaded¡¡the¡¡Maudslay¡¡shops¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡manual
dexterity¡¡greatly¡¡increased£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡inventive¡¡ingenuity¡¡fully
stimulated£»¡¡he¡¡determined¡¡on¡¡making¡¡his¡¡way¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Manchester£»
which£»¡¡even¡¡more¡¡than¡¡London¡¡itself£»¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡presented¡¡abundant
openings¡¡for¡¡men¡¡of¡¡mechanical¡¡skill¡£¡¡¡¡Hence¡¡we¡¡find¡¡so¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the
best¡¡mechanics¡¡trained¡¡at¡¡Maudslay's¡¡and¡¡Clement'sNasmyth£»¡¡Lewis£»
Muir£»¡¡Roberts£»¡¡Whitworth£»¡¡and¡¡othersshortly¡¡rising¡¡into¡¡distinction
there¡¡as¡¡leading¡¡mechanicians¡¡and¡¡tool¡makers¡£
The¡¡mere¡¡enumeration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡various¡¡results¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Roberts's
inventive¡¡skill¡¡during¡¡the¡¡period¡¡of¡¡his¡¡settlement¡¡at¡¡Manchester¡¡as
a¡¡mechanical¡¡engineer£»¡¡would¡¡occupy¡¡more¡¡space¡¡than¡¡we¡¡can¡¡well
spare¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡we¡¡may¡¡briefly¡¡mention¡¡a¡¡few¡¡of¡¡the¡¡more¡¡important¡£¡¡¡¡In
1816£»¡¡while¡¡carrying¡¡on¡¡business¡¡on¡¡his¡¡own¡¡account¡¡in¡¡Deansgate£»¡¡he
invented¡¡his¡¡improved¡¡sector¡¡for¡¡correctly¡¡sizing¡¡wheels¡¡in¡¡blank
previously¡¡to¡¡their¡¡being¡¡cut£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡still¡¡extensively¡¡used¡£¡¡¡¡In
the¡¡same¡¡year¡¡he¡¡invented¡¡his¡¡improved¡¡screw¡lathe£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the
following¡¡year£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡request¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boroughreeve¡¡and¡¡constables¡¡of
Manchester£»¡¡he¡¡contrived¡¡an¡¡oscillating¡¡and¡¡rotating¡¡wet¡¡gas¡¡meter¡¡of
a¡¡new¡¡kind£»¡¡which¡¡enabled¡¡them¡¡to¡¡sell¡¡gas¡¡by¡¡measure¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡the
first¡¡meter¡¡in¡¡which¡¡a¡¡water¡¡lute¡¡was¡¡applied¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡escape
of¡¡gas¡¡by¡¡the¡¡index¡¡shaft£»¡¡the¡¡want¡¡of¡¡which£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡its¡¡great
complexity£»¡¡had¡¡prevented¡¡the¡¡only¡¡other¡¡gas¡¡meter¡¡then¡¡in¡¡existence
from¡¡working¡¡satisfactorily¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡water¡¡lute¡¡was¡¡immediately¡¡adopted
by¡¡the¡¡patentee¡¡of¡¡that¡¡meter¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡planing¡¡machine£»¡¡though¡¡claimed£»
as¡¡we¡¡have¡¡seen£»¡¡by¡¡many¡¡inventors£»¡¡was¡¡constructed¡¡by¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Roberts
after¡¡an¡¡original¡¡plan¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡in¡¡1817£»¡¡and¡¡became¡¡the¡¡tool¡¡most
generally¡¡employed¡¡in¡¡mechanical¡¡workshopsacting¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡a
chain¡¡and¡¡rackthough¡¡it¡¡has¡¡since¡¡been¡¡superseded¡¡to¡¡some¡¡extent¡¡by
the¡¡planing¡¡machine¡¡of¡¡Whitworth£»¡¡which¡¡works¡¡both¡¡ways¡¡upon¡¡an
endless¡¡screw¡£¡¡¡¡Improvements¡¡followed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡slide¡lathe¡¡£¨giving¡¡a
large¡¡range¡¡of¡¡speed¡¡with¡¡increased¡¡diameters¡¡for¡¡the¡¡same¡¡size¡¡of
headstocks£»¡¡&c¡££©£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wheel¡cutting¡¡engine£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡scale¡beam¡¡£¨by
which£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡load¡¡of¡¡2¡¡oz¡£¡¡¡¡on¡¡each¡¡end£»¡¡the¡¡fifteen¡hundredth¡¡part
of¡¡a¡¡grain¡¡could¡¡be¡¡indicated£©£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡broaching¡machine£»¡¡the
slotting¡machine£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡engines¡£
But¡¡the¡¡inventions¡¡by¡¡which¡¡his¡¡fame¡¡became¡¡most¡¡extensively¡¡known
arose¡¡out¡¡of¡¡circumstances¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡the¡¡cotton¡¡manufactures¡¡of
Manchester¡¡and¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡great¡¡improvements¡¡which¡¡he
introduced¡¡in¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡for¡¡making¡¡weavers'¡¡reeds£»¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the
formation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡firm¡¡of¡¡Sharp£»¡¡Roberts£»¡¡and¡¡Co¡££»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡Mr¡£
Roberts¡¡was¡¡the¡¡acting¡¡mechanical¡¡partner¡¡for¡¡many¡¡years¡£¡¡¡¡Not¡¡less
important¡¡were¡¡his¡¡improvements¡¡in¡¡power¡looms¡¡for¡¡weaving¡¡fustians£»
which¡¡were¡¡extensively¡¡adopted¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡by¡¡far¡¡the¡¡most¡¡famous¡¡of¡¡his
inventions¡¡was¡¡unquestionably¡¡his¡¡Self¡acting¡¡Mule£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most
elaborate¡¡and¡¡beautiful¡¡pieces¡¡of¡¡machinery¡¡ever¡¡contrived¡£¡¡¡¡Before
its¡¡invention£»¡¡the¡¡working¡¡of¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡machinery¡¡of¡¡the
cotton¡mill£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡the¡¡employment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡piecers£»¡¡cleaners£»¡¡and
other¡¡classes¡¡of¡¡operatives£»¡¡depended¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡spinners£»¡¡who£»¡¡though
receiving¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡rates¡¡of¡¡pay£»¡¡were¡¡by¡¡much¡¡the¡¡most¡¡given¡¡to
strikes£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡frequently¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡out¡¡in¡¡times
when¡¡trade¡¡was¡¡brisk£»¡¡thereby¡¡bringing¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡operations¡¡of¡¡the
ma