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1038 THE LEADER. [No. 494. Sept. 10, 1 8...
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THE LIFE AXI) TIMES OF SAMUEL, OKOMPTON,...
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* This watch Is prosorvod na u precious ...
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* From tho rooollootlon of her oldest eo...
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* Extract from ft lottor wrlfcifii by Sh...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
For Unobserved Escape To Some Still More...
—if happily the . generosity x > f the canaille will be so long-suffering with them as to permit it , —one thing only , — speedy vanishing '! disappearance behind the sunny Tuscan horizon hills , into that black Austrian north from which they came ^ disappearance , so that their place shall know them no more , and a rapidly rising growth of civilisation and progress may shortly obliterate all trace of them , even as kindly nature ' s green mantle of herbage springs quickly to hide the scars with which man ' s violences mark the earth ! "
Our readers have now a sufficient notion of the book before us ; what lit means ; in what interest it is written ; and what ojbjects it is likely to assist . It may be taken itself as an earnest of the liberation of the Italian Peninsula . " Europe will never attempt to re-impose the late Austrian dynasty by force on Tuscany . " Such is the author ' s concluding thought ; that thought events are swiftly converting into a certain fact . A little while , and Italy is free . .
1038 The Leader. [No. 494. Sept. 10, 1 8...
1038 THE LEADER . [ No . 494 . Sept . 10 , 1 8 gg _
The Life Axi) Times Of Samuel, Okompton,...
THE LIFE AXI ) TIMES OF SAMUEL , OKOMPTON , inventor of the Spinning Machine called the Mule . By Gilbert J . French . — Simpkin , Marshall , and Co . Thesk memoirs formed the substance of two papers read to the members of the Bolton Mechanics' Institution , of which Mr . French is the President . lie seems to have chosen this theme because of its practical lesson . It presented a subject of serious reflection to working meii : — " Holding up much for their encouragement , there is also in it much of warning , as it demonstrates that natural ability of the highest order , even when
supported by education , industry , sobriety , and frugality , does not exonerate any man from the . duty of acquiring a knowledge of his fellow-men , and of learning how to deal with them in the business of life . His practical disregard of this knowledge was the stumbling-block that impeded every action of Samuel Crompton ' s life . Had he studied human nature with one tithe of the persevering skill and energy with which he devoted , himself to his mechanical' pursuits , his name would have ranked now among the highest in the nation" , and his posterity among the wealthiest of its commercial aristocracy , " - r' .
It was in 1774 that Crompton commenced the experiments which " eventuated" in the invention of the " Mule . " He constructed the machine of wood , with the aid of a / scanty supply of tools . But he was known to frequent a small wayside smithy , and was there " used to file his bits of things . " Riots against machinery occurred about this time , both before and after . The approaching changes in trade and manufacture alarmed the middle and even upper classes as well as the lower . Crompton took his yet unacknowledged machine to pieces , and concealed the various parts in a garret ; and after a few weeks put theih together again . " But in the course of the same year the Hall-i ' - th ' -Wood wheel was completed , and the yarn spun upon it used for the manufacture of muslins of an extremely fine and delicate texture .
" It must have been about this time that Samuel became possessed of that object of honourable ambition to all young working men , a silver watch , the fruit of his own labour . It is said that the earliest earnings obtained from the new wheel were devoted to this purpose . " The watch was made expressly for him by George Hodson of Bolton at an expense of flvo guineas . Crompton paid many visits to the maker ' s shop while it was in progress , and watched the work with great interest and some inipatiehce 3 it was his constant companion during the fifty years of his after lifo . " Though ho encountered and overcome many
serious difficulties during tho fivC % eventful yoars wo have spoken of , yot in tho lattor half of them ho enjoyed a full measure of human happiness , for during that poriod ho met with , courted , and married his amiable and excellent wife Mary Pimlott . Sho was the daughtor of a Mr . Pimlott who resided at Now Hoys JUall , t near Warrington . This gentleman had boon a West India morchant in partnership with his cousin , ono of tho MaUioi * s of . llatcliff Bridge , They possessed two ships , in which Mr . Pimlott oxported oatmeal , sending it to his partner who rosldod abroad . Of tho nature of tho returns ho received , nothing is known except ono itom only ( and that probably an unprofitable ono ) , a monkey , which was
long retained and became a favourite in the family . During the time that Mr . Pimlojtt rented New ileys Hall that property was litigated , and , unfortunately for him , he supported the unsuccessful claimant by advancing money and pledging his credit to assist him in the lawsuit . Asa natural consequence of tliis imprudence Mr . Pimlott was ruined and died broken-hearted . This probably caused his daughter to reside with friends at Turton , where ample and profitable employment could be obtained by spinning on Hargreaves'jenny . In this art she was particu--larly expert—a circumstance which is said to have first attracted young Crompton ' s attention towards her * She was a very handsome dark-haired woman , of middle size and erect carriage , though of somewhat delicate constitution , and was possessed of
great power in the perception of individual character—so much so indeed as to be almost gifted with an additional sense , " something like Scotch second sight , by which she could tell a rogue in au instant , and warn her family -to have nothing to do with him . " * They were married at the parish church of Bolton oil the 16 th of February , 1780 , by the Kev . James Folds , the ' witnesses being John Orrell , a name still common in the neighbourhood , and James Livsey . f The officiating clergyman , best known as Parson Folds , was a popular and somewhat eccentric character in Bolton during a great part of Mr . Crompton ' s career ; and their families became ultimately connected by the marriage of Mr . Crompton ' s son James to . a relative of Mr . Folds .
" Samuel Crompton took his wife home to the Hall-i ' -th' -Wood , but not to reside with his mother . The young couple set up their humble establishment in a cottage attached to the old Hall , though he continued to occupy one or more of the large ropms in the mansion ; and in one of these he now operated upon the mule with the utmost secrecy , and with a success which startled the manufacturing world by the production of yarn which ^ ¦ . .. both in fineness and firmness , had hitherto been unattainable by any means or at any price . The new wheels were thus triumphantly successful , and -promised their inventor an ample fortune . Possessed of them and their secret ; blessed with a wife whom he ardently loved ; with youth , health , and a spirit full of high and well-based hope ; his prospects in life were at this time singularly brilliant and promising . " He spun his yarn for some time in secret , and got fabulous prices per pound for it , and lived daily expecting a fortune : —
"It may well be supposed that about this time , when every person who possessed a nmlo worked upon it most profitably , that Crompton its inventor the oldest and most experienced spinner upon the machine , would have succeeded at least as well if not much better than any of his neiyhbours . But once again Ms celebrity thwarted his reasonable hopes . He spun indeed the best and finest yarn in the market , and continued to obtain the highest price for it , but his production was restricted to the work of his own unassisted hands ( an increasing family having deprived him of the slid of his wife ) ; for , whenever he commenced to teach any new'hands ' to assist him in his work , no matter how strictly they were bound to serve him by honour , by gratitude ,
or by law , so soon as they acqiuml a little knowledge and experience under his tuition , they were invariably seduced from his service by his wealthy competitors , —the very same men , in many instances , who had previously so . unfairly possessed themselves of the secret of his invention , lie has thus recorded the facts of this additional injustice : "I pushed on , intending to have a good share in the spinning , line , yet I found there was an evil which 1 had net foreseen , and of much greater magnitude than giving up the machine—viz ., that I must always be teaching green hands , employ hone , or quit the country ; it being believed that if I taugh t them they knew their business well . So that for years i hatl no choice left but to give up spinning , or quit my native land . /
ceived as much by way of subscription as built him a new machine with only four spindles more than he had given up—the old ono . having fortyeight , the new one fifty-two spindles . " . Many of the subscribers refused to pay-their guinea . They treated him shamefully . Such treatment operated ill on his personal character , and produced in him distrust of' even his best friends . For some time however , notwithstanding the competition he had now to encounter , his yarn continued to command high prices , and was or greater excellence than his neighbours ' . The first Sir Robert Peel came to inspect his process , and there is reason to believe would have proposed a partnership , but for Crompton ' s indomitable spirit of independence ' . The following is painful : —
cut up my spinning machines for other purposes . " * On one occasion when much incensed by a repetition of this injustice , he seized his axe and broke his carding machine in pieces , remarking " They shall not have this too . "f ' ' This treatment he felt as a cruel aggravation of previous ill-usage , and it tended to increase the feeling of misanthropy which was already rankling in his mind . It thus appears that this meritorious buti unfortunate man—in utter dqspair of advancing bis own position in life by the aid of his transcendent invention , which while bringing fortunes to hundreds , bread to thousands , and increased left him and
"To a man of his industrious habits , with a modest and retiring disposition , quite unaccustomed to any expensive enjoyments , and having no higher ambition than to spin the very best yarn in the trade through a quiet life of comfort and content , there appeared at first sight no possible cause to prevent the full realisation of his moderate wishes ; but , paradoxical as it may appear , it is simply the truth that the wonderful perfection of his principle oj spinning was mainly instrumental in depriving him of that harvest which he had so laborioxisly tilled and sown and watered . The demand for the new yarn was so extensive and so urgent that the supply from the Hall-i' -th ' -Wood could not satisfy one hundreth part of it , and daily and hourly that demand increased . The consequence was that the old Hall was besieged by manufacturers and others
comfort to millions round aboiit him , his family neverthelesss in comparative povertywas compelled to renounce the use of his mules . and to b , etake himself to his original occupation . of weaving , ' or at least to spin only such yarn as he could employ in his own looms as a small manufacturer . This bitter necessity must have been doubly painful to him , as ib occurred about the same time that David Dale of Lanark first employed water power to turn the mule frames , thus greatly increasing their importance and value ; and also by the nice that Sir llichard Arkw * ight , who died soon alter , left enormous wealth in land , money , nulls , ana
from the surrounding districts—many of whom came to purchase yarn , but many more prepared to penetrate the mystery of tho wonderful new wheel and to discover the x > rinciplp of its operations by any moans in their ppwer . AU kinds of stratagems were practised to obtain admission to the house ; and when this was denied many climbed up to the windows outside by tho aid of harrows and ladders to look in at tho machine . Crompton erected a screen tq protect himself from this kind of observation , but oven that did pot at all times servo tho intended purpose . Ono inquisitive advonturor is said to havo ensconced himself for some days in tho cockloft , whore ho watched Samuel at work through a gimlet hole pierced through the coiling . Ho was in this way subjected tp all kinds of impertinent intrusion and annoyance , so that ho was unablo to proscouto his labour with comfort and advantage . "
machinery to his two children . ' % Mr . French thus contrasts the characters of Crompton and Arkwright : — " Crompton ' s start in life was nindo from a much more favourable position than Arkwrighfs . A . carefully-nurtured only son , his earJy education was excellent , and during his long 111 b lie J ^ * ™ , ' acquiring knowledge . By continued solf-eihication , based upon his excellent school tuition under mylow , he had made himself oonvoraunt with a gown and trigonometry . Ho was a good nuitliemnticinn , and so export in arithmetical calculations na w bo frequently consulted in disputes on such jnfttt < " r Ho was an accomplished musician , i < n < l « ' "'» niuui knowledge of tho scienco and groat practical sum 1 playing on various instruments . Humlol and coroui wore his favourite composers j and his " »» " »" friends so well know his power as a timist Unit t wy choso him loader of their concerts ami
practice-Arkwi'ight oontnvod to pay a surreptitious visit to Crompton's place , and got sight of tho machine , Tho latter soon saw the impossibility of retaining his secret . Ho had no patent , nor tho moans of one . Ho therefore gave it to the public ; but not unconditionally . His agreement with tho contractors , however , wos solooso that ho only gained fifty pounds by it . In his own words , ho " re-
* This Watch Is Prosorvod Na U Precious ...
* This watch Is prosorvod na u precious rolio o < uin anooutor by Snmuof Crompton , . Jflqq ., of Cnvondinh-plnco , Mnnchcater , mrundson " »> 4 nnmvaon of thq inventor of tho Mulo . Mr . C vompton kindly permitted it to bo exhibited to tho audionco on tho occasion oftuo first portion of this ^ 'SKHWhy bolng rend to tliu mc-chimics ot Uolton . T Now Hoya Hull is situated about midway botwoon Nowton-lo-WinowBand tho villnffo of Winwiok . TTho unruo of rtolott ia HtM to bo mot wUUln that loojility .
* From Tho Rooollootlon Of Her Oldest Eo...
* From tho rooollootlon of her oldest eon , tho Into Sir . Ctcoimi C ' rompton . t At'tho progont time tho moot opulent iu » d Influential inhabitants of'Uolton tiro aj > lnnera i but when Crompton was mnrrlur ] , weaving vvn » considered nn occupation of high or Hoolnl position j consequently , though the now whool was thou oompjutori . he signed his uumo iu thu ouurou books aa ( t " weaver . '''
* Extract From Ft Lottor Wrlfcifii By Sh...
* Extract from ft lottor wrlfcifii by Shmtn > l C romi ° "; 0 t Mr . Crompton ' s Bon . Jiunun wus prone nl " , '' 10 | » and has frequently mentioned this ciremiislii ice t on _ widow , and to hie son , by whom tho hiionni 1 >» 'Mfi ,, munleatod . Crompton had a favourito umiill «* % ; : , fto ho used in conatruotincr tho Jlrnt miilo . and i » o 0 « i » > ' . for tho destruction of tfio second . Thf « " " ,, ' fiv hi tl > ° served , nnd Iroas ^ od us u rolJo hy « 'j 1 " ! 1 ' {> was nolghbourhood , who know and osteonied " "' | ftI 1 ol ' tlw oxfflbitod tp tho meohnnios of Uolton on fV , V , ° ^ S of flnniwl author's eooond lcoturo on tho -JLito and TIuwh oi ft ""* "'' Crompton , " , , nr Aniru & t , 1 fcSlr Kiohard ArkwrlffUt died on the urd oi aubu l ? W , In his ooth year .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 10, 1859, page 18, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_10091859/page/18/
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