SAML. CROMPTON. _P.S._ It would perhaps be of some use if some Acct. could be given how much the Machine is used in and has improved the woollen Manufacture, though it may not be essentiall. REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON THE PETITION OF SAMUEL CROMPTON OF BOLTON-EN-LE-MOORS, IN THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER, COTTON SPINNER. The COMMITTEE to whom the Petition of Samuel Crompton, of Bolton-en-le-Moors in the county of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner, was referred: and who were empowered to report their Observations thereupon to the House, and also the Minutes of the Evidence taken before them;--Have, pursuant to the Order of the House, examined the matter of the said Petition; and have agreed upon the following REPORT: YOUR Committee have called before them several Witnesses, whose Evidence they have hereunto subjoined, and beg leave to state, that from the Evidence so adduced before them, it appears to Your Committee the Petitioner has fully proved his Claim as to the discovery of the machine called “The Mule,” described in the said Petition; and that it also appeared from the said Evidence that the Public have for a long course of years derived great and extensive benefit from the use of the said Machine, but that the Petitioner had derived little or no advantage therefrom; in consequence of which Your Committee beg leave to observe, that the Petitioner appears to them to be highly deserving of a National Reward. MINUTES OF EVIDENCE COMMITTEE _on the petition of_ MR. SAMUEL CROMPTON.[500] _Mercurii, 18º die Martij, 1812_, THE LORD STANLEY _in the Chair_. [Footnote 500: _J.H.C._, lxvii., pp. 838-839.] SIR ROBERT PEEL a Member of the Committee, stated, That in the year 1769, Sir Richard Arkwright obtained a Patent for the use of a Machine by him invented, for spinning cotton, commonly called a Water Frame, the benefit of which invention he exclusively enjoyed during the full period of fourteen years, and derived great advantage therefrom; and the above Machine, although excellent for purposes to which it could be applied, was exceedingly limited in its application, it being, from its construction, utterly incapable of spinning weft of any kind, or of producing twist of very fine texture. MR. JOHN PILKINGTON, _Merchant and Manufacturer at Bolton; called in, and Examined_. At what period were you first acquainted with Mr. Crompton’s Machine?--I did not see it till the year 1780, when the yarn produced by Mr. Crompton from his Machine drew the attention of the Cotton Manufacturers. At that time I went to Mr. Crompton’s house, and I saw his Machine: soon after which I drew up a paper with a view to obtain for Mr. Crompton a reward for making public his invention, by a subscription amongst the Manufacturers; but the amount of which subscription proved very inadequate to my expectations and my opinion of his deserts.