Star.
London, England, 1830-07-26 00:00:00

LlrsnAstr INTELLIGENCI

To those who watch the signs of the times, and wish to see the
germination of seeds which may promise trees of important
=studs, we recommend, in their range of inquiry, to peruse the
121. monthly publication ailed " The British C,o.operator."
A friend has placed in our hands the two last numbers, and they
have impressed us with the truth of what we have above stated.—
We possess no personal knowlet:ge of any of the Co-operative So-
cieties, as they are termed, or their proceedings; and we do not
mean, at present, to offer any observation on what appears to be
their tenets, or objects ; but we feel it our duty to call the pubile
attention to what we perceive, without doubt, taking pLce—that ice,
their rapid increase. It appears, from these pamphlets, that there are
now three hundred societies of this kind in England ; and the
details we read of their operations, show forth a consistency of con-
duct that, we must confess, surprises us a little • for what we have
always thought would prove the destruction of their plans, was, that
we saw no adequate security against the many becoming the dupes
of occasional individual unworthiness,—which every sound viewer
of societies, made up of the " wild beast, man," should consider as a
probable contingency. ‘Vbetiter the plans are Utopian, or not, they
are now in a fair way of being fairly brought to the philosopher's
test; they are in the way of submission to the test of experience,
and we shall feel it our duty to watch the events, and report fairly
the result. On some future opportunity, we may probably take a
view of the theory on which these societies are founded; but, at
present, we hue not time, nor adequate information, to satisfy our.
selves on the subject. Among many novelties in these two small
numbers, we are struck with a communication from Cincinnati, in
America, on a cheap printing apparatus. Any thing tending to
facilitate printing, we consider of the first importance, and therefore
shall extract the substances? the letter :
" REDUCTION 171 TAI COST OF PIIIIITINO APPARATUS.—
It is well known, by those who have considered the subject, that
printing is a power that peens, the destinies ofeinnkind : and
therefore those who can control the printing press, can control their
fellow creatures.

" The fundamental importance of thew considerations, induces
the subscriber to make known, in the most effectual meaner, the
results of a series of experiments, instituted with the hope of bring-
ing the printing press equally within the reach of all.
" Preparations for casting types have been made with the expense
of about twenty days labour, with the use of white.smiths' tools,
and about firs dollars in money. In this department, labour and
money expenses have been diminished, in many particulars ; the
most important of which is, the substituting matrices of lead,
stamped with types, instead of matrices of copper, stamped with
steel punches • whereby the difficult and expensive business of cut.
ting steel punches is avoided, and the casting of types, which is now
monopolised by monied capital, can be effected by almost any per.
son of common intelligence, without apprenticeship, and without
dependence on capitalists.
" A printing press has been constructed of a stone platform, and
a roller of 'trill dent weight to give the impression, supported at
the ends by bearers, which keep is at a proper height above the
types, to admit the clothing mid paper between. The necessary
cost Of this press is aboutfioe d lye simple labour; while it requires
an experienced workman to make the common press, and it costs
from two to three hundred dollars.

" Labour and expense have been diminished in other particulars.
which cannot easily be described here. It may suAlice to say, that
the materials employed in Miscortowstnsicatiort, can be manufactured
for about 23 dollars ; twice this size, for about thirty-five, and in
• smaller proportion, as the size increases ; while the common
printing establishments cost from about four bunt.red to two thou-
sand dollars. _ _

" Preparations are now making to supply those who prefer to pup.
chase these materials, rather than make than. They will be ma-
nufactured and sold upon the principle of labour jor labour ; and
it may be useful to inform those who are unacquainted with the fact,
that the art of using types may be acquired by female.. or chi).
then in a few hours."