USEFUL INVENTIONS. 185 chanism may be, if it is useful to mankind, it is sure to perpetuate the inventor's name, unless it originated in a barbarous age. Tradition has preserved the names of William Beuchels and John Rouvet, because the former first taught the art of salting and packing herrings, and the latter was the inventor of the art of floating wood. History will never forget the modest Jacquard, who, by the invention of the machine which bears his name, has contributed greatly to the prosperity of an important branch of manufactures. In the same manner Maelzel will remain immortal through his metronome; even if musical science should ever be entirely overturned by one of those revolutions which sometimes take place in the regions influenced by the human mind, his name will always maintain a place in the annals of general science. CALICOES, SILKS, AND OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS. T this period we meet with a founder of important manufactories, who, by the services he rendered to his country, demands our attention and the gratitude of al France. I speak of Oberkampf. Born at Weissenbourg in 1738, Oberkampf served an apprenticeship to his father, in the manufacture of printed calicoes. The latter, an ingenious and industrious man, had established a manufacture at Aarau, in Switzerland, where he was naturalized in return for his energetic efforts in favour of his art. Under so skilful a master, the young man acquired much valuable information, which afterwards gained him both fortune and fame. At that time, printed calicoes and chintzes only were known. in France, and were sold at very high prices. A severe prohibition forbade their importation from other countries. The interests of the cultivation of hemp and flax, as well as that of the preparation of silk, were the principal motives alleged against it. A man of a genius as persevering as that of Oberkampf was required to triumph over these obstacles. Full of his project for founding a manufactory, Oberkampf set out for Paris with the moderate sum of six hundred francs, the fruits of his savings. He was then but nineteen. After many efforts and many solicitations, he obtained, in 1759, the permission to form an establishment, and set himself to work at once. He remarked, in the neighbourhood of Versailles, a desert piece of ground, situated in the valley of Jouy. It was here that he laid the foundation of his manufactory of printed calicoes. An extensive marsh made this spot extremely unwholesome; but ingenious labour dried it, and rendered it an agreeable and salubrious residence. At first, Oberkampf, reduced to his own resources, lived alone in a small peasant's house, fulfilling, by turns, the functions of designer, calico printer, and painter. But his solitary residence was soon peopled in a surprising manner. He undertook the charge of pupils who assisted him in his labours. By degrees his establishment increased and prospered. Thousands of labourers and workmen crowded thither, bringing with them new resources, new talents; and, notwithstanding the persecutions and the difficulties to which Oberkampf was subject, he had the honour, by the exhibition of the products of his manufactories, of setting France free from the tribute paid to foreign countries. From one year to another, the Jouy manufactory received important additions. Oberkampf had agents in England and Germany, and even in India and Persia, who procured him all the technical information relative to the secrets of his art, especially in dyeing. He succeeded in making window-blinds, at Jouy, of printed calico, coloured and designed after the manner of the old-fashioned church-windows, and which, by admitting the light, had a very beautiful effect. Before the breaking out of the revolution, Oberkampf was in Louis XVI., in order the enjoyment of considerable renown. to recompense him for having created so important a branch of industry, wished to ennoble him; but Oberkampf had the prudent modesty to refuse an honour which would make him the object of much envy. During the reign of terror, it was not without difficulty that he escaped from banishment and from death. Oberkampf obtained the gold medal at the exhibition in 1806. The printed calicoes from Alsace took the second rank. Napoleon, whose great mind embraced every thing which contributed to the prosperity of his empire, did not neglect the eminent merit of Oberkampf. During a succession of visits made by him to the manufacturing towns of the west and north of France, surprised to behold himself every where surrounded by manufactories founded by Terneaux, the emperor exclaimed in admiration : "Why, Monsieur Terneaux, I find you and your works every where!" When he visited the Jouy manufactory, he took the cross from his own breast and placed it upon that of Oberkampf. At a second visit he addressed to him the following extremely flattering words: "You, as the founder of Jouy, and I as emperor, carry on an animated war with England; you oppose them by your industry, I by arms; nevertheless, I must confess, your mode of battle is preferable to mine." At that very time, Oberkampf was employed in seeking a means of imitating the English method of spinning and weaving cotton. This was the origin of the cotton spinning mill at Essone, the first ever established in France. In 1790, the council general of the department of Oise, in consideration of Oberkampf's services, wished to erect a statue in honour of him; but he, with the same modesty which induced him to decline Louis XVI.'s offer, would not consent to it. Under the empire he also refused the dignity of senator, offered him by the chief dignitary of the country. Oberkampf's last days were embittered by grief. This was in 1815. His industry had much to suffer from the invasion of foreign troops. He sighed at the view of the picturesque walks in the neighbourhood of his manufactory, which now presented the mournful silence of poverty and despair, instead of the life and activity which he had formerly by his own example introduced in this well-loved spot. His workshops were closed; the workmen with whom they had for sixty-one years been filled, asked for work and for bread.-"This spectacle kills me," said the venerable Oberkampf, and he died in fact, in the month of October, 1815. The branch of industry which owe its origin to Oberkampf has spread over all France with rare prosperity. Numerous establishments have been formed upon the plan of that at Jouy. The workmen employed in them are estimated at from two to three hundred thousand. From a raw material of the value of 60,000,000 francs, France gains a profit of 240,000,000. At present the richest and most beautiful designs are printed on cotton; three or four colours are combined, presenting a beautifully shaded appearance. The exportation of printed calicoes has been an important part of French commerce. This material is used for bed and window-curtains, coverings for divans, sofas, arm-chairs, &c. At the present day the value of the printed cottons exported by us, exceeds 53,000,000 francs. And all owing to Oberkampf. In imitation of Oberkampf and of Terneaux, other manufacturers instituted new arts, or originated important improve ments. In 1806, the manufactories of Saint Quentin and Tarare obtained gold medals for the excellence of their muslins. Their success was an extremely remarkable manufacturing triumph, for it is well known that this branch of trade presents great difficulties in the weaving of cotton. The town of Lyons, so long under the axe and the fire of a revolutionary government, had resumed her rank among the manufacturing cities of France; and, thanks to the protection |