years, from 45,836 to 65,395 horse power, or 42£ per cent. While the number of hands employed in those factories had only increased in the same period, from 242,099 to 292,179; that is, only 20½ per cent."
The following table will show the increase of trade, and the decrease of wages.
| Lbs. of cotton consumed. | Hand-weaver's wages. | |
| 1797, | 23,000,000, | 26s. 8d a week. |
| 1804, | 61,364,158, | 20s. 0d " |
| 1811, | 90,309,668, | 14s. 7d " |
| 1818, | 162,122,705, | 8s. 9d " |
| 1825, | 202,546,869, | 6s. 4d " |
| 1835, | 333,043,464, | 5s. 6d " |
| 1840, | 460,000,000, | 5s. 6d " |
The above is taken from McCulloch, Porter, and Fielden.
In the year 1839, there were employed in the factories of England, 419,590 persons of all ages and both sexes. Of these, 242,296 were females, and 177,294 males. Of this number, 112,119 females, and 80,768 males, were under 18 years of age.
According to the demonstrations of one of the ablest mathematicians in Europe, who was engaged to go down to the factory districts for the purpose of making calculations on the spot, a great proportion of these people walk, in attending the machinery, from 20 to 30 miles per day, in addition to their various other duties.
A very large proportion of these people die early in life; but should they live to 40, they are rendered incapable of doing their duty in the mills.
In 1832, in Lanark, of 1600 persons employed in the mills, only 10 were above 45 years of age.
In 1839, in 42 mills in Stockport and Manchester, in
