Notwithstanding the superior quality of the water-twist over other yarns, a superiority which rendered it available for use as warp, the prejudiced manufacturers formed a com bination to oppose its use, and thus compelled Arkwright and his partners to commence the manufacture of it themselves, first into stock ings and afterwards into calicoes similar in quality to those now used.
The invention of the machine for spinning by rollers was followed up by various improve ments in the mechanism for carding and for other processes in the cotton manufacture, for which Arkwright obtained a second patent in 1775. As, however, the cheapness and beauty of the new cotton fabrics had by this time led to an extensive demand, the hostile manufac turers altered their tactics, and instead of endeavouring to put down Arkwright's inven tions, theysoon began to dispute his claim to them, and to appropriate them in defiance of his patent rights. The use of his new me chanism was extended in the course of a few years, by licences granted by the patentees, to a very great extent, and this circumstance rendered piracy more easy. In 1782 Ark wright computed that the new manufacture already employed upwards of 5000 persons, and a capital of 200,000/. In some cases the new machinery was destroyed by mobs, con nived at, if not encouraged, by the higher and middle classes ; while in others the unautho rized use of it without payment to the paten tees was carried to a great length. He be came involved in costly litigation, during which attempts were made to deprive him of the fame resulting from his inventions ; the result has been to give merited praise to one or two earlier inventors who had languished in obscurity, but leaving quite enough to jus tify the high fame which Arkwright had achieved.
Prosperity continued to attend the establish ment of Arkwright and his partners, notwith standing the adverse decisions of the courts. His partnership with Mr. Strutt terminated in 1783, after which time he retained the works at Cromford, which were subsequently carried on by his son, while Mr. Strutt continued the works at Belper, which were founded about 1776. How greatly the cotton manufacture extended under the stimulating effect of his improvements may be conceived from the fact that the imports of cotton-wool, which ave raged less than 5,000,000 lbs. per annum in the five years from 1771 to 1775, rose to an average of 25,443,270 lbs. per annum in the five years ending with 1790.
Arkwright was a very early riser; devoted himself most assiduously to business ; was a severe economist of time ; was exceedingly sanguine in his disposition ; and entertained an unbounded confidence in the wealth-pro ducing powers of machinery and manufactures. To his credit it is recorded that when upwards of fifty years of age he made strenuous efforts to retrieve the deficiencies of his early education ; redeeming time from the hours usually devo ted to sleep in order to apply one hour a clay to grammar, and another to writing and ortho graphy. In 1780, on occasion of presenting an address to George III. after the attempt on his life by Margaret Nicholson, he received the honour of knighthood; and in the follow ing year he served as high sheriff of Derby shire. He died in 1792, leaving property to the extent of half a million sterling ; and his son Richard, who died in 1843, is said to have been the richest commoner in England.