There were them in the like embarrassments. many minor evils arising out of, or co-existent with, this fundamental cause of all their miseries; such as a defective banking system, a spirit of speculation, and prohibitory laws. To these subordinate difficulties the Government confined its attention, and suitable remedies were proposed. But to hope to correct the disorders of society by such inefficient measures, were as futile as to attempt with a bulrush to stem an overwhelming torrent. But we are now arrived at the cotton-mill; and as our conversation has turned so much upon the Competitive plans, I must beg to direct your attention to a curious extract from an old newspaper hung up on the side of the entrance, and there placed as describing a remarkable contrast to our present arrangements in the manufacture of cotton. It is supposed to have been written about the year 1820." Saadi read aloud the following: "Progress of a Pound of Cotton. "The following account of one pound weight of manufactured cotton will show the importance of the trade to the country, in a very conspicuous manner. There was sent off for London lately, from Paisley, a small piece of muslin, about one pound weight, the history of which is as follows:-The wool came from the East Indies to London; from London it went into Lancashire, where it was manufactured into yarn; from Manchester it was sent to Paisley, where it was woven; it was sent to Ayrshire next, where it was tamboured; afterwards it was conveyed to Dumbarton, where it was hand-sewed, and again returned to Paisley, when it was sent to a distant part of the county of Renfrew to be bleached, and was returned to Paisley, whence it was sent to Glasgow, and was finished; and from Glasgow it was sent per coach to London. It is difficult precisely to ascertain the time taken to bring this article to market; but it may be pretty near the truth to reckon it three years from the time it was packed in India, till in cloth it arrived at the merchant's warehouse in London, whither it must have been conveyed five thousand miles by sea, and nine hundred and twenty by land, and contributed to reward no less than one hundred and fifty people, whose services were necessary in the carriage and manufacture of this small quantity of cotton, and by which the value has been advanced 2,000 pcr cent. What is said of this one piece is descriptive of no inconsiderable part of the trade." "This, indeed, is a singular instance of the waste of labour under the old system: the pound of cotton appears to have been valued, not according to its intrinsic worth, but from the expense of time and labour in its production,—as if it had not been desirable to perfect the piece of cotton with less sacrifice of both. The 2000 per cent. must have been so much positive loss to the country." Douglas." Instead of transporting the cotton from one place to another for the different processes in manufacture, we perform all the operations on the spot :-it is spun, woven, tamboured, handsewed, and bleached in contiguous buildings.* It is received in its raw state from America and Egypt, and the time consumed from the shipment to the completion of the article does not exceed three months; and the cost, so far from being augmented to 2000 per cent., scarcely reaches 200 per cent.; *To give an idea of the power which the first Co-operative Societies will possess before that system becomes general, of underselling, in the disposal of their surplus produce, whatever is brought to market from the establishments of private individuals, we submit the following estimate for the consideration of practical men. Two thousand individuals consisting of families of men, women, and children, occupy suitable buildings upon an estate of a thousand acres: five hundred of the community would be amply sufficient to cultivate the land, and to supply the whole with food and clothing; the labour of the remaining so that if it were our object to manufacture the article to a greater extent than is sufficient to obtain for us all the articles of foreign produce that we require, we could undersell all the manufacturers of those countries which still retain the principle of individual separate interests: but we are far more anxious to impart to them a knowledge of our principles, than to inflict any injury." After the various parts of the cotton manufactory had been visited, the party returned to the community. fifteen hundred would be entire profit, after deducting the interest of capital advanced, and the rent of land; thus, Labour of 1500 at 20s. per week, or 50l. per ann. £75,000 5,000 Profit £70,000 Perhaps it may be objected, that as many of the fifteen hundred would be women and children, 20s. per week is beyond the average value of their labour: but on the other hand, there are others whose labour would be worth two or even four and five pounds per week: and besides, this calculation is supposing that the articles sold yielded no more than the mere cost of raw materials and of labour; whereas if they were sold at an addition of 50 per cent., they would still be far below the same articles disposed of in ordinary society, and in that case would give the community a surplus income of more than 100,000l. This is without taking into account the saving of the various profits and expences of carriage in the different processes of manufactured goods, which would probably add another 100,000.. or even 200,000%. 129 CHAPTER VIII. "What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice, He who of these delights can judge, and spare To interpose them oft, is not unwise."-.Milton's Sonnets. As Saadi had not seen the room where the meals were prepared, Douglas proposed showing him that part of the establishment a short time previous to the hour of dining. The room was very spacious, about one hundred feet long, and sixty wide, and formed the ground floor of the large building situate in the centre of one of the sides of the square. Aided by machinery, and by means of aqueducts and other scientific arrangements, all disagreeable employments had been superseded. At each end of this room was a large sideboard, upon which the dishes were placed in the same order as they were to be disposed on the table: these sideboards when covered were raised by means of elevators through the ceiling into the first floor, which formed two dining-rooms, so that a sideboard came up at the upper end of each; when the dishes were placed on the table, the sideboards were let down for another set. The whole was conducted in the most orderly and quiet manner. The dining-rooms were just half the size of the lower room; in the centre of these, two long tables were placed here the company in general sat; but the sides of the rooms were fitted up with boxes, so that small parties or families who wished to dine by themselves could be accommodated; these boxes, however, in consequence of the social disposition of the inhabitants, were seldom resorted to. Individuals or families K could dine in their own apartments at any hour in the day, by giving notice at the public halls in the morning. The rooms were lofty, with circular ceilings, and in each were suspended two magnificent chandeliers of exquisitely cut glass, which in winter were lighted with gas, producing a splendid effect; the pannels of the rooms were fawn-colour with gold beading, and the curtains of a rich crimson, tastefully disposed in festoons with deep fringe. The roof was entirely of oak, and carved in imitation of the richest Gothic fret-work. The dinner, though only of one course, consisted of a variety of dishes that were most in season. The choicest fruits formed the dessert. There were wines and liquors of various kinds, contained in a large recess or cupboard with folding doors; they were, however, but seldom asked for. The glass in use was curiously cut; and the earthenware was brought to such great perfection as to be superior to that of the Chinese, particularly some large vases which decorated the sides of the room. Between the windows were slabs of the finest marble, supported by bronze figures upon these marbles were placed large vessels of gold,* filled with spring water; and at each corner of the room was a marble figure holding a *We often hear the phrase of "man in a state of nature" made use of, by which is meant, a state of ignorance and destitution, a condition very little above that "of the brutes that perish" but it is as natural for man in the more advanced periods of the world, to make use of those articles which experience has taught him are most convenient, and at the same time more pleasing to the sight, as it is natural for him in the ruder stages of society to drink water out of shells and wooden bowls. It is quite true that men rationally educated would prefer the most simple utensils, if others, more gratifying to their taste, could not be obtained without the sacrifice of valuable time. But after the means have been discovered for |