The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-05 00:00:00

vromEN AND WATCHWORI.

Last might Mr. Bennett, the well-known watch-
maker of Cheapside, delivered & lecture on the his-
tory, manufacture, and construction of an ordinary
pocket watch, in the schoolroom of St. Barnabas
Church, King-square, Clerkenwell. The room was
crowded with men and women, as might be expected
in a locality where watchmaking is the great staple
trade, although there was at first a disposition
amongst the male portion not to give Mr. Bennett
a fair hearing, in consequence of his advocacy of the
introduction of female labour in the construction of
some of the finer portions of horology. Mr. Ben-
nett's good-humoured and hearty manner, how-
ever, ultimately secured for him the attention of his
audience.

Mr. BENNETT, having explained that be appeared
amongst them by invitation to deliver the present
lecture, began by giving a history of the origin and
progress of horology from the water-clocks of the
Greeks to the beautiful contrivances of modern
times. Almost all the great improvements in
horology were due to Englishmen. But it Was not
enough that time-keepers were accurately and ele-
gantly. In the present age it was indispensable
they should be made cheaply. How then could the
best possible watch be made for the lowest price /
Mr. Bennett said that his attention was strongly
directed to this subject by the beautiful display of
Swiss watches at the Great Exhibition, and after-
wards at the Paris Exhibition, and by finding that
the Swiss manufacturers could produce an instru-
ment as good as one of English makeand as beauti
ful in finish, 20 and 30, and in some cases 59, per
cent. lower than it could be done in this country.
This was a startling fact ; and to ascertain the
cause of it he paid a visit to Switzerland. lie en-
deavoured to ascertain the secret of this superiority
on the spot. He saw everywhere an amount of in-
dustry, cleanliness, good order, and intelligence
which, he regretted to say, contrasted very un-
favourably with what he often met with in
Clerkonwell. He was told that only 2,000 watches
had been manufactured in the Neufchatel district, 80
yt ars previous to his visit, and only 8,000 watches
50 years before. The year before his visit he was
told, on the best authority, that the Neufchatel
people manufactured 1,500,000 watches, whilst that
very year the number of Hall-marked watches made
in England amounted to only 186,000. Thisvoun-
try received in 1853 no less than 42,000 Swiss
watches for home consumption ; in 1854, 79,000 ;
in 1855, 90,000 watches. He expected the returns
fur 1856 in a few days, which he would make known
,as soon as he had received them. This was not
taking into account the number of watches which
were smuggled, and which probably were quite as
numerous as the watches which paid duty. Now,
he protested against the Swiss making watches for
them to this extent. (Hear.) And let them tact
suppose that the Swiss were not capable of making
good watches. Some of the highest class of watches
were being brought over here from Switzerland.
Mr. Bennett then dilated on the causes of the
superiority on the part of the Swiss, which he
attributed to the greater division of labour, the
employment of women, and the greater diffusion-of
education amongst the population of Switzerland.
By these means a maximum of quality was pro-
duced at a minimum of cost. Mr. Bennett con-
cluded his lecture by referring to his own efforts to
introduce female labour in the manufacture of
watches, and said that the watchmakers of Clerken-
well were the enemies of their own welfare in
throwing obstructions in the way of the employ-
ment of women. He expressed his readiness to
renew the subject on a future occasion if it should
be their pleasure to desire it. (Cheers.)

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S-YISTEUDAT.

About a dozen subscribers were present, and only the
following bets were laid :-100 to 5 agst Harry Lorre.
quer for the Liverpool Steeplechase; 500 to 40 agat
Clydesdale, and 16 to 1 agst Toxophilite for the Derby.
1,000 to 15 was betted agst Clydesdale's winning tbe
Two Thousand and Toxophilite the Derby.

BATH AND SOMERSI
Nominations for the Sotilerfi
and a d.
Age.
Telegram 8
Pavillion
Cu!tivation
Rosa, i
East Langton 3
Zigzig
Knight of the Shire a
Peeping Tom
Gin
Flying Englishman 4
Anton
Humming Bird
York
Brother to Farthingale 3
The Borderer
Coral
Night Ranger 3
Dupe
Riseber
Spacial Lioense
Peeress . 3
Kug of the Gipsies 5
Lifeboat
Schiedam 4
Vighacconi 4
The Old English Gentle-

M MEETING—MAY 11.
ietshire Stakes. Two miles
istance.n

Age.
( Martha 3
Wilton 3
Bridal Tour 3
Pole Star 6
Prince of Denmark 3
Compromise _ 3
Rocket 3
Bird in the Hand
General Bosquet 4
Wrestler 3
Laodamia
Sichmus
Childley
Barbarity 4
Hobgoblin
Flimsy
Misty Morn
Arcanum
Fisherman
Fanny Kaye ... 3
Chaperon 3
Mitraille
f by Jericho—Dividend 3
Poodle a
Odd Trick
Minerva
Sobieski
Nougat . 4
Fulbeck
Yorkshireman 4
Bellefield
Gemai di Verily 4
Neva . . 4

man V 4
Melissa
c by Surprise—Beeswax 4
rinyinaker
Fadladeen
Cotswold 5
King Cob 5
Tricolor

CROXTON PARK.—Meacs 26.

Acceptances for the Granby Handicap.—About a mile
and a half. (The highest weight accepting being list
131 b, it has been raised to 12st., and the rest in pro-
portion.)

Aga at lb
Kestrel
Zuyder Zee
Prince of Orange 5 11 8
Bay Hilton,.. 5 11 7
Hobgoblin
Knight of Shire all 5
Nougat
Acceptances for the Cap.
weight accepted being list 5
and the rest in proportion.)
Age et lb Age st lb
Hobgoblin 4 12 0 Bracken a 10 10
Bay Hilton
Bold Buccleuch... 511 4 Out-and-Outer

Age at lb
Lazy Last
Omar Paella (b b) a 10 0
Saleaica 4 10 0
Peter Trout
Gorsebill
Spero

Two miles. (The highest
1, it has been raised to 12st,