Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-12-08

sibiIiy, 10 manufa cture even our common and
coarse fabrics;- and SO spell-bound by ancient
prejudices, were the people, thai they fenced
that nothing could be good, unless ii came
from the ma actories Of Europe; and he who
would hazard tho conjecture that o BUTTON
could be made in the United States, would bc
treated as u ~lunatic. and be derided and scofied
at.
Some fifteen years ago. an Engiish gentle
man, named HERING-it was during the
last war between this country and Great Brit
ain-located himself in this town, and cstab-
lishcd a button-manufactory in Transit -street,
where, for a whilo, he carried on the manu-
facture of Buttons to a considerabhmcxtcnf,
and furnished large supplies 10 dealers;-but
The peace Of 1914, breaking upon him at an
untimely moment, and there being no tariff 10
project him against foreign importations, be
was compelled to'abandon the business, and
was Ilet a bankrupt in fortune, il not in fame.
From that period, up TO the year 1919, no
one venturcd to attempt tho business, as il was
considered n hazardous enterprise, and one
that could not rebound TO the profit Of those
who engaged in il, and who thus placed their
fortunes at a hazard.
But in the year 1919, Mcssrs. Richard Rob-
inson & Co. gentlemen Of Attlcborough, Mas
sa chusotts, nothing discouraged by the imped~
ments that had formerly existed. TO arrest the
progress Of American manufactures, undertook
tho business of manufa curing buttons; and,
after having had 10 encounter almost inDcme-
rabie and vcxatious embarrassments, have at
length, brought the manufa cturc TO q state Of
perfection, which enables them to compete
with the most eminent manufa ctories of En-
rope.
Al the commencement ofthe;r establishment;
they depended solely upon manual operatives.
L., L-.s,A .,..I.I e.. L-,ouI tt.:r xnnef
s~anguinc expectations, they have at length ap-
pliod water power, and now carry on the husi-
ness to an extent which was never anticipated,
even by themselves, in those happy moments,
when they built castles in the air, and dreampt
Of future prosperity.
We deem il unne cessary TO go into a minute
description Of the mandatory Of tho Messrs.
Robinsons indeed. If We attempted any thing
Of the kind we should fail. and must therefore
content ourselves with saying, that those who
have not seen it, would be astonished in Wit
Messing its operations, and its extent.
1t was about four years since, that We wit
messed the early efforts Of those enterprising
manufacturers, and if we then looked upon their
productions as articles of decided excellence,
we know not what 20 say of those which they
have more recently made.
In a word, Messrs, Robinson and Company
have brought the button manufa cture, to Il
state Of perfection; and have already gained
The applause, of men distinguished for their IN
telligence. and the interest they take in the
great cause Of National Industry;-as an evil
dence of which, We present to our readers, a
copy Of a letter from the Franklin Destitute Of
Pennsylvania, for tho promotion Of The Mechan-
ic arts:
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 18th, 1927.
Messs. Richard Robinson, r. Co.-l.hborouyh Mass'
The Frankl lin Inditutc, Of the State Of Pennsylvania, for Tie
propOftn nf tha at. nj tbatr fnu,fb ananuIc xtrhn-
ion, held In this city, in October last, awarded to you he silver
medal, herewith presented, as an honorary premium fos the
specimens OF gilt Buttons, Of your manufacture, offered ut that
exhibition.
Very respectfully your obcdieni, humble servant,
MATTHEW CARRY, pict President,
Attest. THOMAS FLETCHER, Secretary Preston.
Within a few months, William II. Jones,
Esq. an English gentleman, has been associa-
ted with the Messrs. RobinsoDs, in their BUSH
ness, and to the efficient aid afforded by
him, the mandatory is at present principally
indebted for its Hourishing and prosperous con-
dition.
In conclusion ofthis article, VIC beg leave 10
congratulate the Mcssrs Robinsons & Co. to
assure them, that they have our best wishes for
their prosperity, and hope that they will
live long, to enjoy the fruits ofthcir labor, and
to prove the wisdom Of those who conceived
the great American System.