his Indenture Vitnesseth. Thal Samud Hater of Betper Term of Six Years and an half from thence next following to be fully compleat and ended which he useth.by the best Means that he J. Luper Jed Strut. Scal his playmates, his schoolmaster, Jackson, who was then living; the sons and grandsons of his old master, Strutt; the old mill; the meadows and orchards, &c. that surrounded Holly house. He left them all, in the bloom of youth, and retained a vivid recollection of every particular. These early remembrances would cause the tear to escape, even in his old age. But the state of his health, the multiplicity of his concerns, and his concentrativeness, bound him to Webster, and forbade the thought of a voyage across the Atlantic. He refrained, denied himself, sent his love by his son, and never returned to his father's land. But he ever retained a strong affection and lively concern in the welfare of his native. country. As is usual, Samuel went on trial to Mr. Strutt, previous to his indenture of apprenticeship, and during this probation his father fell from a load of hay. This fall was the occasion of his death. During his father's sickness, and perceiving that he was dangerously ill, he wished his father to article him to Mr. Strutt, as both parties were satisfied. As a proof that his father had confidence in him, and that there was stability in the boy, he said to him, "You must do that business yourself, Samuel, I have so much to do, and so little time to do it." It is believed that this was his last interview with his beloved parent. He lost his father in 1782, when he was fourteen years of age, at a time when a father's care and advice are much needed. A boy left without guardianship, or watchful eye to restrain him, is frequently exposed and led into temptation and ruin. Young Slater, however, had an indulgent and faithful mother, and elder brothers, so that he was not left entirely to his own resources. The plate opposite is an engraved copy from the original indenture, which is preserved in the family, as a relic of their father's early fidelity, and as a proof of his favoured means of knowledge. Mr. Strutt was then building a large cotton factory at Milford, and was a partner with Sir Richard Arkwright, in the cotton spinning business; the latter having been induced to this connection by the prospect which Strutt's machines afforded, of an increased consumption of yarn. Samuel Slater asked Mr. Strutt, before he went into the business, whether he considered it a permanent business. Mr. Strutt replied, "It is not probable, Samuel, and perfect peace for ever. And we thereby are deprived of one of our brightest earthly gems, the glittering of which, time will never efface. But the Lord gave him, and he hath taken him away; and from henceforth and for ever, blessed be his name." that it will always be as good as it is now, but I have no doubt it will always be a fair business, if it be well managed." It will be recollected, that this was before Mr. Peel invented the printing cylinder. Indeed the whole cotton business of England was, at that time, confined to a small district in Derbyshire, and its whole amount not greater than that which is done at the present day in a single village in New England. In the early part of our young apprentice's time, he manifested the bent of his mind, for he frequently spent his Sundays alone, making experiments in machinery. He was six months without seeing his mother, or brothers and sisters, though he was short of a mile from home. Not that he lacked in filial or fraternal affections; but he was so intent, and so devoted to the attainment of his business. To show the expertness and the propensity of his mind, the following circumstance is related. Mr. Strutt endeavoured to improve the heart-motion, that would enlarge or raise the yarn in the middle, so as to contain more on the bobbin. Jedediah Strutt was unsuccessful in his experiments, and Samuel saw what was wanting, and went to work the next Sunday, (the only time he had to himself,) and formed such a motion, (a diagram of which is given below) to the satisfaction of his master, who presented him with a guinea. Mr. Strutt was an economist, and enforced his maxims on Samuel, cautioning him against waste, and assuring him that it was by savings that a fortune in business was to be made.* During this time, Samuel became an excellent machinist, as he had an opportunity of seeing the latest improvements. Arkwright and Strutt were in company, and it was at a time when there was much excitement and lawsuits on the patent rights; so that he was initiated into all the crooks and turns of such controversies. This may have prevented him applying for a privilege as the introducer of Arkwright's patents into the United States. Slater served his indenture with Mr. Strutt, and faithfully performed his part of the contract to the last day of the term, and there was a good understanding between the parties to the last. This accomplishment of his full time was characteristic of him, and was praiseworthy and beneficial, as it laid the foundation of his adaptation to business, and finally to his perfect knowledge of it. He was different from those restless youths, who think they know every thing before they have cut their eye teeth, and who set up for themselves before their beards are grown, without either knowledge or capital, and who fail and defraud their creditors, during the time they ought to have been serving an apprenticeship. Such boys break their engagements, forfeit all confidence, and follow the example of Franklin, in that particular, though they cannot be compared to him in any thing else. And in this, Franklin was to be blamed; I praise him not. He himself acknowledges it to have been a great error in his life. A conscientious regard to contracts is a principle by which every person ought to be influenced, and without which, there is no hope of their arriving at eminence in their profession. Mr. Slater told me a short time before his death, that after his time was out, he engaged with Mr. Strutt to have the oversight of the erection of some new works, in addition to the mill, and this general employment, with his close observation (for he always saw and heard every thing, nothing could escape his notice,) and retentive memory, was of great service to him in afterwards assisting him to erect his first mill in Pawtucket. If he had been confined to one branch of business, as is usual with an apprentice in England, his knowledge would have been inadequate to perform what he *The following anecdote is told :-" When Mr. Slater was yet a boy, with Mr. Strutt, he passed by some loose cotton on the floor without picking it up; Mr. Strutt called him back and told him to take up the cotton, for it was by attending to such small things that great fortunes were accumulated; and Mr. Strutt observed to his wife, by way of still impressing the subject on the mind of his favourite apprentice, 'that he was afraid that Samuel would never be rich."" did on his first coming to America. But his residing in Strutt's family, his being the son of his deceased friend and neighbour, as well as his close application to business, his ingenious experiments, and his steady habits, gave him the character of the "industrious apprentice." He had the confidence of his master, and became his right-hand man, and he might have attained the highest eminence by a continuance in England. Mr. Strutt afterwards declared that had he known his intentions, nothing should have induced him to part with him. But Mr. Slater told me that he contemplated trying America for some time; and that his object was, to get a general knowledge of the business, in order to come to this country and introduce the manufacture of cotton, on the Arkwright improvement, and that he remained after the time of his indenture with that special object in view. There were early indications that he designed embarking in business for himself, and it is said, that he used to enquire of Arkwright and others, if they thought the business would be overdone in England. Yet it does not appear that he ever made known to any person his intention of leaving England. The father of Samuel Slater must have been a man of considerable property and business for those times, from the fact of his supporting so large a family respectably, and giving them such an education as was equal to any children who were calculated for business, sixty years ago. After making provision for his widow, he left to each of his children what was then a considerable sum for persons in business. There was included, in Samuel's portion, two houses in Belper, a nail store, and another building; all of which sold as they were, under many disadvantages, for nearly two thousand dollars. He did not touch this property when he left home, but probably reserved it for a retreat in case of failure of his object in coming to the United States. He had always that kind of generalship which provides for a retreat in case of accident, or as he would say, "to lay up for a rainy day." Few persons who are extravagant when apprentices, ever gain in business; and it has been said, that few who saved money then but what succeeded in after life. The following copy of a note* "Four-pence Stamp. £2 2s. I promise to pay to Samuel Slater, or order, upon demand, the sum of two pounds two shillings, for value received, with lawful interest for the same, as witness my hand this tenth day of January, 1768. Signed in the presence of us, Wm. More, J. Pratt." WILLIAM ASHMOLE. |