The practice of the Birmingham manufacturer, for, perhaps, a hundred generations, was to keep within the warmth of his own forge.

The foreign customer, therefore, applied to him for the execution of orders, and regularly made his appearance twice a year; and though this mode of business is not totally extinguished, yet a very different one is adopted.

The merchant stands at the head of the manufacturer, purchases his produce, and travels the whole island to promote the sale:  A practice that would have astonished our fore fathers.  The commercial spirit of the age, hath also penetrated beyond the confines of Britain, and explored the whole continent of Europe; nor does it stop there, for the West-Indies, and the American world, are intimately acquainted with the Birmingham merchant; and nothing but the exclusive command of the East-India Company, over the Asiatic trade, prevents our riders from treading upon the heels of each other, in the streets of Calcutta.

To this modern conduct of Birmingham, in sending her sons to the foreign market, I ascribe the chief cause of her rapid increase.

By the poor’s books it appears, there are not three thousand houses in Birmingham, that pay the parochial rates; whilst there are more then five thousand that do not, chiefly through inability.  Hence we see what an amazing number of the laborious class of mankind is among us.  This valuable part of the creation, is the prop of the remainder.  They are the rise and support of our commerce.  From this fountain we draw our luxuries and our pleasures.  They spread our tables, and oil the wheels of our carriages.  They are also the riches and the defence of the country.

How necessary then, is it to direct with prudence, the rough passions of this important race, and make them subservient to the great end of civil society.  The deficiency of conduct in this useful part of our species ought to be supplied by the superior.

Let not the religious reader be surprised if I say, their follies, and even their vices, under certain restrictions, are beneficial.  Corruption in the community, as well as in the natural body, accelerates vital existence.

Let us survey one of the men, who begin life at the lowest ebb; without property, or any other advantage but that of his own prudence.

He comes, by length of time and very minute degrees, from being directed himself, to have the direction of others.  He quits the precincts of servitude, and enters the dominions of command:  He laboured for others, but now others labour for him.  Should the whole race, therefore, possess the same prudence, they would all become masters.  Where then could be found the servant?  Who is to perform the manual part?  Who to execute the orders of the merchant?  A world consisting only of masters, is like a monster consisting only of a head.  We know that the head is no more than the leading power, the members are equally necessary.  And, as one member is placed in a more elevated state than another, so are the ranks of men, that no void may be left.  The hands and the feet, were designed to execute the drudgery of life; the head for direction, and all are suitable in their sphere.