appeared that was the case. A Parliamentary investigation in 1804
determined that in Lancashire one company had only two journey-
men for 55 apprentices, and a company in Dumbarton had only two
journeymen to sixty
apprentices. The rea-
son for this was that
apprentices were ca-
pable of operating the
new cylinder printers,
and their wages were
much lower than that
paid to journeymen.
These changes meant
that Vere would soon
be a qualified trades-
man in an industry that
no longer needed such
people.

Vere completed his
apprenticeship on Feb-
ruary 24, 1806, and
would then be con-
sidered a fully quali-
fied journeyman in
his trade. He was now
22, and tall, about 6’
3”, and was described
as slim and energetic.
You would have to say
he was a very eligible

a . bachelor with a great
Cylindrical Printing future ahead of him.
Except for one thing. The industrial revolution was now in full swing
and the entire economy was being turned on its head.

Vere was also facing problems in his personal life. His mother

 

 

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