I therefore humbly hope that this work will prove a valuable contribution to the literature of science, serving--
_In the first place_, to instruct the Manufacturer, Metallurgist, and Tradesman, in the principles of their respective processes, so as to render them in reality the masters of their business, and to emancipate them from a state of bondage to operatives, too commonly the slaves of blind prejudice and vicious routine.
_Secondly_, to afford to Merchants, Brokers, Drysalters, Druggists, and Officers of the Revenue, characteristic descriptions of the commodities which pass through their hands.
_Thirdly_, by exhibiting some of the finest developments of chemistry and physics, to lay open an excellent practical school to students of these kindred sciences.
_Fourthly_, to teach Capitalists, who may be desirous of placing their funds in some productive bank of industry, to select judiciously among plausible claimants.
_Fifthly_, to enable Gentlemen of the Law to become well acquainted with the nature of those patent schemes which are so apt to give rise to litigation.
_Sixthly_, to present to our Legislators such a clear exposition of our staple manufactures, as may dissuade them from enacting laws which obstruct industry, or cherish one branch of it to the injury of many others: and,
_Lastly_, to give the General Reader, intent chiefly on intellectual cultivation, a view of many of the noblest achievements of science, in effecting those grand transformations of matter to which Great Britain owes her paramount wealth, rank, and power among the kingdoms.
The latest statistics of every important object of manufacture is given, from the best, and, usually, from official authority, at the end of each article.[2]
[2] The statistics of agriculture, trade, and manufactures is ably and fully discussed in Mr. M'Culloch's _Dictionary_ already referred to.
The following summary of our manufactures is extracted from Mr. Macqueen's _General Statistics of the British Empire_, published in 1836. It shows the amount of capital embarked in the various departments of manufacturing industry, and of the returns of that capital:--
+----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | | Capital. | Produce. | | +-----------+-----------+ | | _£_ | _£_ | |Cotton manufactures | 40,973,872| 52,513,586| |Woollen ditto | 36,000,000| 44,250,000| |Silk ditto | 8,000,000| 10,000,000| |Linen ditto | 12,000,000| 15,421,186| |Leather ditto | 13,000,000| 16,000,000| |Iron ditto, to making pig iron| 10,000,000| 7,098,000| |Ditto, hardware, cutlery, &c. | 25,000,000| 31,072,600| |Copper and brass ditto | 3,600,000| 4,673,186| |China, glass, &c. | 8,600,000| 10,892,794| |Paper, furniture, books, &c. | 10,000,000| 14,000,000| |Spirits (British), ales, soap, &c.| 37,600,000| 47,163,847| |Sundries additional | | 9,000,000| | +-----------+-----------+ | Totals |204,773,872|262,085,199| +----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+