Observations on the effect of the manufacturing system : with hints for the improvement of those parts of it which are most injurious to health and morals : dedicated most respectfully to the British legislature / by Robert Owen.

  • Owen, Robert, 1771-1858.
Date:
1815
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the effect of the manufacturing system : with hints for the improvement of those parts of it which are most injurious to health and morals : dedicated most respectfully to the British legislature / by Robert Owen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    ings, or narrow mistaken potions of immediate self- interest, but considered solely in a national view, will be found to be beneficial to the child, to the parent,, to the employer, and to the country. Yet as we are now trained, many individuals cannot detach general subjects from party considerations, while, others can see them only through the medium of pre- sent pecuniary gain. It may thence be concluded,, that individuals of various descriptions will disap- prove of some, or all of these measures. I will there- fore endeavour to anticipate their objections, and re- ply to them. The child cannot be supposed to make any ob- jection to the plans proposed : he may easily be taught to consider them, as they will prove to be by experience, essentially beneficial to him in childhood, youth, manhood, and old age. Parents who have grown up in ignorance and bad habits, and who consequently are in poverty, may say We cannot afford to maintain our children until they shall be 12 years of age, without putting them to employment by which they may earn wages, and therefore object to that part of the plan which pre- cludes us from sending them to manufactories until they shall be of that age. If the poorest and most miserable of the people formerly supported their children without regular employment until they were 14, why may they not now support them until they