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draw, if he desires to rise in his profession. Without wishing in the least to under-estimate the great worth of a really first-class skilled workman, who may have little or no knowledge of drawing, it is still xii INTRODUCTION a fact very generally admitted that just in proportion to the knowledge of drawing possessed by one workman over his fellow, so is he superior to him ; and it follows that those ignorant of that art must hold a lower position as workmen, than those having a knowledge of it. The utility of the power to draw may not present itself to the mind of the workman on its first suggestion to him, but a little thought about the matter will soon make it clear that it has a much closer connection with his daily work than he had any idea of. Neither spoken nor written language can at all times convey ideas that we wish to impart to another, and recourse must be had to some other means, more especially if those ideas relate to the form and position of material substances. To assist us in making our meaning clear, we must make use of what has been aptly called the "language of mechanics," or Drawing a language which appeals at once to the eye for the truth of its assertions, and which enables us, without further assistance, to judge of the form, appearance, and dimensions of bodies. To the intelligent mechanic, a real power of drawing is a priceless advantage, as it enables him to either reproduce a true representation of forms, that upon a casual inspection may have made an impression on his mind ; or, on the other hand, to transfer to paper what he may have conceived, but which has not as yet had any existence. Many a valuable invention has been lost to posterity through the want of the power to draw, on the part of the would-be inventor.