On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures | Page 5

for copies of a
considerable collection of those reports.]
Preface to the Second Edition
In two months from the publication of the first edition of this volume,
three thousand copies were in the hands of the public. Very little was

spent in advertisements; the booksellers, instead of aiding, impeded its
sale; * it formed no part of any popular series and yet the public, in a
few weeks, purchased the whole edition. Some small part of this
success, perhaps, was due to the popular exposition of those curious
processes which are carried on in our workshops, and to the endeavour
to take a short view of the general principles which direct the
manufactories of the country. But the chief reason was the commanding
attraction of the subject, and the increasing desire to become acquainted
with the pursuits and interests of that portion of the people which has
recently acquired so large an accession of political influence.
[*Footnote: I had good evidence of this fact from various quarters; and
being desirous of verifying it, I myself applied for a copy at the shop of
a bookseller of respectability, who is probably not aware that he
refused to procure one even for its author.]
A greater degree of attention than I had expected has been excited by
what I have stated in the first edition, respecting the 'Book-trade'. Until
I had commenced the chapter, 'On the separate cost of each process of a
manufacture', I had no intention of alluding to that subject: but the
reader will perceive that I have throughout this volume, wherever I
could, employed as illustrations, objects of easy access to the reader;
and, in accordance with that principle, I selected the volume itself.
When I arrived at the chapter, 'On combinations of masters against the
public', I was induced, for the same reason, to expose a combination
connected with literature, which, in my opinion, is both morally and
politically wrong. I entered upon this enquiry without the slightest
feeling of hostility to that trade, nor have I any wish unfavourable to it;
but I think a complete reform in its system would add to its usefulness
and respectability. As the subject of that chapter has been much
discussed, I have thought it right to take a view of the various
arguments which have been advanced, and to offer my own opinion
respecting their validity--and there I should have left the subject,
content to allow my general character to plead for me against
insinuations respecting my motives--but as the remarks of some of my
critics affect the character of another person, I think it but just to state
circumstances which will clearly disprove them.
Mr Fellowes, of Ludgate Street, who had previously been the publisher
of some other volumes for me, had undertaken the publication of the

first edition of the present work. A short time previous to its
completion, I thought it right to call his attention to the chapter in
which the book-trade is discussed; with the view both of making him
acquainted with what I had stated, and also of availing myself of his
knowledge in correcting any accidental error as to the facts. Mr
Fellowes, 'differing from me entirely respecting the conclusions I had
arrived at', then declined the publication of the volume. If I had then
chosen to apply to some of those other booksellers, whose names
appear in the Committee of 'The Trade', it is probable that they also
would have declined the office of publishing for me; and, had my
object been to make a case against the trade, such a course would have
assisted me. But I had no such feeling; and having procured a complete
copy of the whole work, I called with it on Mr Knight, of Pall Mall
East, whom until that day I had never seen, and with whom I had never
previously had the slightest communication. I left the book in Mr
Knight's hands, with a request that, when he had read it, I might be
informed whether he would undertake the publication of it; and this he
consented to do. Mr Knight, therefore, is so far from being responsible
for a single opinion in the present volume, that he saw it only, for a
short time, a few days previous to its publication.
It has been objected to me, that I have exposed too freely the secrets of
trade. The only real secrets of trade are industry, integrity, and
knowledge: to the possessors of these no exposure can be injurious; and
they never fail to produce respect and wealth.
The alterations in the present edition are so frequent, that I found it
impossible to comprise them in a supplement. But the three new
chapters, 'On money as a medium of exchange'; 'On a new system of