July 4, 1830
It would seem that the industrial system of Europe required for its administration an amount of suffering, depravity, and brutalism, which formed one of the great scandals of the age. No form of serfdom or slavery could be worse. . . .But you will all bear me witness. . . .that for physical comfort, moral conduct, general intelligence, and all the qualities of social character which make up an enlightened New England community, Lowell might safely enter into a comparison with any town or city in the land. . . .

In demonstrating to the world that such a state of things is consistent with the profitable pursuit of manufacturing industry, you have made a discovery more important to humanity than all the wonderful machinery for weaving and spinning—than all the miracles of water or steam.

. . . .[the city's tremendous growth] seems more the work of enchantment than the regular process of human agency.

. . . . “It certainly deserves the title given it by the Hon. Edward Everett, of ‘The noble City of the Arts’ -- quoted by Thomas Spence in The Settler's Guide: In The United States And British North American Provinces.

. . . . Everett assured his young son that the mechanical arts were among the "noble arts."