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The institution of long apprenticeships can give no security that

insufficient workmanship shall not frequently be exposed to

public sale. When this is done, it is generally the effect of

fraud, and not of inability; and the longest apprenticeship can

give no security against fraud. Quite different regulations are

necessary to prevent this abuse. The sterling mark upon plate,

and the stamps upon linen and woollen cloth, give the purchaser

much greater security than any statute of apprenticeship. He

generally looks at these, but never thinks it worth while to

enquire whether the workman had served a seven years

apprenticeship.