ABSTRACT
The cotton mills at New Lanerk in the county of Lanerk in Scotland, are situate in a beautiful and romantic amphitheatre, near the high road between Carlisle and Glasgow. The rapid stream of the Clyde supplies that abundance of water, which is the powerful operator of the machinery. The healthy and pleasurable appearance of these children has frequently attracted the attention of the traveller. Peculiar regulations, adopted by Mr. Dale for the preservation of the health and morals of those under his protection, have made this striking difference between his manufactory and many other similar undertakings in this kingdom; so that while some other mills must be regarded as seminaries of vice, and sources of disease, those at Lanerk are so peculiarly exempt from these objections, that out of nearly 3,000 children employed in these mills during a period of 12 years, from 1785 to 1797, only fourteen have died; and not one has been the object of judicial punishment.
