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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