“In short, all those who can work yet are supported in idleness by any mistaken charity, or are subsisted by their parishes, which are at this time, through all England overburdened by indolent and lazy poor, who claim and are designed only for impotent poor;—­all those who add nothing by their labor to the welfare of the state, are useless, burdensome, or dangerous to it.  What is to be done with these necessitous?  Nobody, I suppose, thinks that they should continue useless.  It will be then an act of charity to these, and of merit to the public, for any one to propose, forward, and perfect a better expedient for making them useful.  If he cannot, it is surely just to acquiesce, till a better be found, in the present design of settling them in Georgia.” p. 16-21.

VII.

SIR THOMAS LOMBE’S MILL FOR WINDING SILK

“In 1719, a silk-throwing mill was erected at Derby, and from that time to the beginning of the present century, various improvements were introduced.

“The following account of the first silk mill erected in England will be interesting.  At the commencement of the last century, a person of the name of Crochet erected a small mill near the present works, with the intention of introducing the Italian method of spinning into this country.  About 1715, a similar plan was in the contemplation of a mechanic and draughtsman named John Lombe, who travelled into Italy to procure drawings and models of the machines necessary for the undertaking.  After remaining some time in that country, and gaining as much information as the jealousy and precautions of the merchants of Italy would allow, he returned with two natives, accustomed to the manufacture, into this country, and fixed upon Derby as a proper place to establish his works.  He agreed with the corporation for an island, or rather swamp, in the river, 500 feet long and 52 feet wide, at the rent of about L8 yearly.  Here he established his silk mills, and in 1718 procured a patent to enable him to secure the profits for fourteen years.  But Lombe did not live much longer; for the Italians, exasperated at the injury done to their trade by its introduction into England, sent an artful woman over, who associated with the parties in the character of a friend, and, having gained over one of the natives who had originally accompanied Mr. Lombe, administered a poison to him, of which, it is said, he ultimately died.  His death, however, did not prove fatal to his scheme; for his brother, and afterwards his cousin, carried on the business with energy, and employed more than three hundred persons.  A little before the expiration of the Patent, Sir Thomas Lombe petitioned for a renewal of it; but this was refused, and instead of it, L14,000 was granted him, on condition that he should allow a complete model of the works to be taken; this was accordingly done, and afterwards deposited in the town for public inspection.