Page:On the economy of machinery and manufactures - Babbage - 1846.djvu/16



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.

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 inquiry without the slightest feeling of hostility to that trade, nor have I any wish unfavourable to