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the men now living in the kingdom could make another。〃 Gee
accordingly recommended that three or four more should be erected
at the public expense； 〃according to the model of that at
Derby。〃＇5＇
The patent expired in 1732。 The year before； Sir Thomas Lombe；
who had been by this time knighted； applied to Parliament for a
prolongation of the patent。 The reasons for his appeal were
principally these： that before he could provide for the full
supply of other silk proper for his purpose （the Italians having
prohibited the exportation of raw silk）； and before he could
alter his engine； train up a sufficient number of workpeople； and
bring the manufacture to perfection； almost all the fourteen
years of his patent right would have expired。 〃Therefore；〃 the
petition to Parliament concluded； 〃as he has not hitherto
received the intended benefit of the aforesaid patent； and in
consideration of the extraordinary nature of this undertaking；
the very great expense； hazard； and difficulty he has undergone；
as well as the advantage he has thereby procured to the nation at
his own expense； the said Sir Thomas Lombe humbly hopes that
Parliament will grant him a further term for the sole making and
using his engines； or such other recompense as in their wisdom
shall seem meet。〃＇6＇
The petition was referred to a Committee。 After consideration；
they recommended the House of Commons to grant a further term of
years to Sir Thomas Lombe。 The advisers of the King； however；
thought it better that the patent should not be renewed； but that
the trade in silk should be thrown free to all。 Accordingly the
Chancellor of the Exchequer acquainted the House （14th March；
1731） that 〃His Majesty having been informed of the case of Sir
Thomas Lombe； with respect to his engine for making organzine
silk； had commanded him to acquaint this House； that His Majesty
recommended to their consideration the making such provision for
a recompense to Sir Thomas Lombe as they shall think proper。〃
The result was； that the sum of 14；000L。 was voted and paid to
Sir Thomas Lombe as 〃a reward for his eminent services done to
the nation； in discovering with the greatest hazard and
difficulty the capital Italian engines； and introducing and
bringing the same to full perfection in this kingdom； at his own
great expense。〃＇7＇ The trade was accordingly thrown open。 Silk
mills were erected at Stockport and elsewhere； Hutton says that
divers additional mills were erected in Derby； and a large and
thriving trade was established。 In 1850； the number employed in
the silk manufacture exceeded a million persons。 The old mill
has recently become disused。 Although supported by strong wooden
supports； it showed signs of falling； and it was replaced by a
larger mill； more suitable to modern requirements。
Footnotes for Chapter IV。
＇1＇ 〃This was equally the case with two other trades； those of
glass…maker and druggist； which brought no contamination upon
nobility in Venice。 In a country where wealth was concentrated
in the hands of the powerful； it was no doubt highly judicious
thus to encourage its employment for objects of public advantage。
A feeling； more or less powerful； has always existed in the minds
of the high…born； against the employment of their time and wealth
to purposes of commerce or manufactures。 All trades； save only
that of war； seem to have been held by them as in some sort
degrading； and but little comporting with the dignity of
aristocratic blood。〃 Cabinet CyclopediaSilk Manufacture； p。 20。
＇2＇ A Brief State of the Inland or Home Trade。 （Pamphlet。） 1730。
＇3＇ A Brief State of the Case relating to the Machine erected at
Derby for making Italian Organzine Silk； which was discovered and
brought into England with the utmost difficulty and hazard； and
at the Sole Expense of Sir Thomas Lombe。 House of Commons Paper；
28th January； 1731。
＇4＇ Self…Help； p。 205。
＇5＇ The Trade and Navigation of Great Britain considered； p。 94。
＇6＇ The petition sets forth the merits of the machine at Derby
for making Italian organzine silk〃a manufacture made out of
fine raw silk； by reducing it to a hard twisted fine and even
thread。 This silk makes the warp； and is absolutely necessary to
mix with and cover the Turkey and other coarser silks thrown
here； which are used for Shute；so that； without a constant
supply of this fine Italian organzine silk； very little of the
said Turkey or other silks could be used； nor could the silk
weaving trade be carried on in England。 This Italian organzine
（or thrown） silk has in all times past been bought with our
money； ready made （or worked） in Italy； for want of the art of
making it here。 Whereas now； by making it ourselves out of fine
Italian raw silk； the nation saves near one…third part； and by
what we make out of fine China raw silk； above one…half of the
price we pay for it ready worked in Italy。 The machine at Derby
contains 97；746 wheels； movements； and individual parts （which
work day and night）； all which receive their motion from one
large water…wheel； are governed by one regulator； and it employs
about 300 persons to attend and supply it with work。〃 In Bees
Cyclopaedia （art。 'Silk Manufacture'） there is a full description
of the Piedmont throwing machine introduced to England by John
Lombe； with a good plate of it。
＇7＇ Sir Thomas Lombe died in 1738。 He had two daughters。 The
first； Hannah； was married to Sir Robert Clifton； of Clifton； co。
Notts； the second； Mary Turner； was married to James； 7th Earl of
Lauderdale。 In his will； he 〃recommends his wife； at the
conclusion of the Darby concern；〃 to distribute among his
〃principal servants or managers five or six hundred pounds。〃
CHAPTER V。
WILLIAM MURDOCK： HIS LIFE AND INVENTIONS。
〃Justice exacts； that those by whom we are most benefited
Should be most admired。〃Dr。 Johnson。
〃The beginning of civilization is the discovery of some useful
arts； by which men acquire property； comforts； or luxuries。 The
necessity or desire of preserving them leads to laws and social
institutions。。。 In reality； the origin as well as the progress
and improvement of civil society is founded on mechanical and
chemical inventions。〃Sir Humphry Davy。
At the middle of last century； Scotland was a very poor country。
It consisted mostly of mountain and moorland； and the little
arable land it contained was badly cultivated。 Agriculture was
almost a lost art。 〃Except in a few instances；〃 says a writer in
the 'Farmers' Magazine' of 1803； 〃Scotland was little better than
a barren waste。〃 Cattle could with difficulty be kept alive； and
the people in some parts of the country were often on the brink
of starvation。 The people were hopeless； miserable； and without
spirit； like the Irish in their very worst times。 After the
wreck of the Darien expedition； there seemed to be neither skill；
enterprise； nor mon