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Long apprenticeships are altogether unnecessary. The arts, which

are much superior to common trades, such as those of making

clocks and watches, contain no such mystery as to require a long

course of instruction. The first invention of such beautiful

machines, indeed, and even that of some of the instruments

employed in making them, must no doubt have been the work of deep

thought and long time, and may justly be considered as among the

happiest efforts of human ingenuity. But when both have been

fairly invented, and are well understood, to explain to any young

man, in the completest manner, how to apply the instruments, and

how to construct the machines, cannot well require more than the

lessons of a few weeks; perhaps those of a few days might be

sufficient. In the common mechanic trades, those of a few days

might certainly be sufficient. The dexterity of hand, indeed,

even in common trades, cannot be acquired without much practice

and experience.