A 1823 history of the British cotton manufacture by Richard Guest, written to dispute Sir Richard Arkwright's claim to have invented the spinning and carding machinery. It covers early hand spinning and weaving, the spinning jenny, water frame, carding engine, mule and steam loom, along with the social and moral effects of the industry on Lancashire's population and weavers. The appendix prints depositions and court testimony from the 1785 trial over Arkwright's patent (Thomas Leather, Thomas Highs, John and Sarah Kay). Twelve engraved plates illustrate peg warping, hand cards, the hand loom, warping mill, jenny, water frame, carding engine, roving frame and mule.