frames during the continuance of the Luddite riots. By this name was known an extensive conspiracy among the workmen, directed to the destruction of machinery, and resulting from a general attempt to reduce the very high rate of wages they had been in the habit of receiving. These disturbances lasted at intervals from 1812 to 1817, spreading over several counties, and were not put down until many who took part in them had atoned for their outrages with their lives. The bobbin-net machine, although very valuable from its entire novelty, was at first complex in its arrangements-one single hole in the fabric now completed by six motions, then requiring sixty. The expense of its production, too, was so great as to circumscribe its use; for we find that, in 1815, when 140 of these frames were at work, one square yard of net was worth 30s., the same quantity being now attainable for 3d. From this time, however, the trade rapidly extended, absorbing, in the year 1831, a capital of L.2,310,000, and affording employment to 211,000 persons. The cotton Mechlin, as we have already mentioned, entirely disappeared before the superior attractions of bobbin-net; and another production of the warp-machines, called blonde, which, soon after its invention, had obtained a great repute, the wages of the workmen being, it is said, as high as L.10 a week, had suffered considerably from the large importations of French silk-lace, their mode of dressing or stiffening being superior to our own. Altogether, the warp-trade was in a most depressed condition; many of the machines were broken up as no longer of use, or sold for old iron, when some adventurous persons thought of employing them in a new direction, and were able to give a fresh impulse to this branch of Nottingham manufacture.

ness.

Hitherto all machine-made net had been produced in a perfectly plain state; that portion of it which it was desired to ornament being embroidered by hand. It had been the practice to extend the full width of the material in a kind of tambour-frame, the pattern selected being then worked in gimp or coarse thread by women or children. They were supplied with large drawings, and by carefully observing the course taken by the thread among the meshes of the net, were able to copy them with great exactThis was, however, a slow and laborious process, and the idea of ornamentation by machinery, when once conceived, was seized upon with the greatest avidity. To the warp-frame, driven from its former occupation by the bobbin-net, is due the merit of leading the way in what has become a most important department of the lace-trade. The first designs were very simple, being merely spots and bullet-holes; but a new description of net was produced called mock-twist, in imitation of bobbin-net. From these originated the tatting-trade; machines, before worthless, rose to great value, and new ones were erected, as this warp-tatting was thought to promise much for the future. Whilst this success was at its height about the year 1830, the silk-net also obtained renewed attention, in consequence of the favour extended to it by

the court; but only five years later, both silk-blonde and cottontatting had greatly fallen in general estimation. This fact may be easily explained: the bobbin-net machines had once more excelled their forerunners, and Heathcote's ornamented laces and plain-silk bobbin-net had taken precedence of all others. The unemployed warps were again unoccupied; some were applied to making gimps, &c., but a greater number to the production of lace-gloves and mittens, which were for some time in great request.

În 1839, the Jacquard machine was applied by Mr Draper, of Nottingham, to both bobbin-net and warp, and so very much increased their capabilities for ornamentation, that at the present time there is scarcely a machine at work without it, excepting those purposely adapted for plain net. Such an impetus was given to the trade, that hundreds of machines which were useless, or, as it is called, worked up, were again made available; and many of their owners, after spending perhaps L.80 in alterations, were able to regain their outlay in the course of a few weeks. It was evident, however, that to succeed in the more elaborate branches of lace-making in the flounces, shawls, &c., which were now attempted, beautiful and tasteful patterns were required, unless we could be content always to borrow from our continental neighbours. To obviate this necessity, a School of Design was established at Nottingham; and it has borne such abundant fruits in increasing the facility and elevating the taste of the local designers, that there is little doubt that they might honourably sustain their reputation in a competition with foreign rivals.

Having thus endeavoured to give a connected though slight account of the principal events in the past history of machinemade lace, it only remains to enumerate the varieties in the machinery and their productions, which have survived these manifold fluctuations, and extended the fame of our Nottingham manufacturers at the present day. By means of the Leavers, a machine called after its first constructer, are made black silk piece-nets, ornamented; piece-blondes in white and other colours; scarfs, shawls, flounces, and trimming laces, some finished entirely by machine-power, and others partly embroidered by hand. From the pusher-machine-so called from having independent pushers to propel the bobbins and carriages from back to front-are made mantles, flounces, and similar articles of a superior description, having the pattern traced with a thick thread by hand-labour. A new manufacture has been introduced since 1846, consisting of good imitations of Swiss curtains and blinds, which, although so recently commenced, employs a hundred machines of the kind called circular, from the bolts or combs on which the carriages pass being made circular instead of straight, as in the straight-bolt machines; this promises to continue an important and improving branch. Lastly, a few traverse-warp machines are employed, chiefly in manufacturing spotted lace, blonde edgings, and imitation thread

laces. They derive their name from the warp traversing instead of the carriages, as in the circular and pusher machines. Of these various articles, perhaps the most important are the plain piecenets and blondes, the constant demand for which keeps 2000 machines in continual occupation. The latter material has entirely lost the reproach which attached to it in former times, of being inferior as regards dressing to the French blondes. It is now produced perfect in colour and finish, and affords employment to many thousands of artisans. Additional improvement has been effected in it by the adoption of the foreign method of working the silk, in a single thread and in a raw state, instead of the organzine thrower, which had been previously used here.

Such is a brief sketch of the lace manufacture, from the days of its infancy to those of its prime. If it is an art which has supplied directly no marked requirement in the necessities of the world, or advanced no great principle in its progress, it has not failed to fulfil, in the sphere allotted to it, its own peculiar duty. For many centuries it has afforded employment and means of support to thousands of that sex which, possessing so few industrial resources, has occasioned increasing anxiety to the philanthropist and statesman. The words of a Cynic philosopher, that the wants of the poor might be covered by the trimmings of the vain,' have often been quoted with emphasis by the unco guid.' We accept this truth in a wider and more liberal sense than they attributed to it; and bless God that, as he has ordained 'the poor shall never cease out of the land,' the superfluities and refinements of the rich are so often made subservient to their necessities.

HE origin, growth, and present condition of the singular sect calling themselves the 'Church of Latter-day Saints,' form a curious and instructive chapter in the history of fanaticism. Within the space of twenty years since they first sprung into existence, they have gone on rapidly increasing in influence and numbers, and are now an established and organised society, amounting to not less than 300,000 people. They have borne the brunt of calumny and misrepresentation, endured the severest persecutions, and, in spite of every conceivable obstruction, triumphantly vindicated the earnestness and sincerity of their mistaken faith, and the practical objects which they have considered it their special mission to realise in the world. Their progress within the last ten years has been extraordinarily rapid, and is utterly unparalleled in the history of any other body of religionists. They are now a distinct and

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peculiar community, with a complete and effective organisation they possess and enjoy in common great wealth and material resources; their final settlement of Utah or Deseret, in New California, is in the highest degree flourishing, peaceable, and orderly; and they appear not unlikely to become an important and independent nation, whose influence, politically and socially, may be expected to affect, and possibly to modify, the older and neighbouring forms of civilisation. To trace the beginnings and progressive advancements of so remarkable a people, and thus to render their opinions, actions, sufferings, and successes familiar to a more extensive class of readers, may be considered work not unsuitable for us in the present pages; and therefore, with as much impartiality, soberness, and fair appreciation as may be at our command, and without any disposition or temptation to speak contemptuously of their peculiarities, we will here endeavour to represent these much-derided Mormons and their proceedings in such a way as shall seem warranted by their actual character and achievements.

It is generally known that the founder and acknowledged 'prophet of this people was a young man named Joseph Smith. Between twenty and thirty years ago, when he first attracted notice, he was living with his father on a small farm near the town of Manchester, in the state of New York. He is said to have been a person of a loose and irregular way of life, and this was afterwards urged as an objection to his pretensions; but he used to reply confidently, that he had never done anything so bad as was reported of King David, whom his orthodox enemies could not consistently deny to have been ‘a man after God's own heart.' That he was a good deal of a sinner, there is sufficient reason to believe, but yet it does not appear that he was given up for any length of time to habitual and confirmed wickedness. Very early in life he had decided impressions of the religious sort, and his mind seems from the first to have taken a fanatical and enthusiastic turn. We are told that when he was about fourteen or fifteen years of age, he began seriously to reflect upon the necessity of being prepared for a future state of existence.' He used to retire to a secret place in a grove, a short distance from his father's house, and there occupy himself for many hours in prayer and meditation. Once when so engaged, he saw a very bright and glorious light in the heavens above, which at first seemed to be at a considerable distance; but as he continued praying, 'the light appeared to be gradually descending towards him, and as it drew nearer, it increased in brightness and magnitude, so that by the time it reached the tops of the trees, the whole wilderness around was illuminated in a most glorious and brilliant manner.' The account of this vision, which is given by a Mormon apostle, Mr Orson Pratt, goes on to say, that the light' continued descending slowly, until it rested upon the earth, and he was enveloped in the midst of it. When it first came upon him, it produced a peculiar sensation