Europe cannot occur in so serious a shape as to form any valid objection to useful inventions for the

of lessening animal labor.

purpose

Notwithstanding these circumstances, and the state of society in the United States, would seem extremely favorable to the introduction of useful inventions, we were informed by one of the most distinguished of the American artists, whose own inventions have proved of great and extensive utility, that "the ingenious inventors of useful improvements in this country, are still left to struggle, not only with the taunting sarcasms and embarrassing opposition of those, who, wise in their own conceit, apparently take delight in condemning and opposing projects, until they are brought successfully into operation; but with heavy losses, and oftentimes ruin, even if the attempt succeeds. Nine tenths of the exclusive rights granted, will injure the inventor for the first fourteen years in this country; especially if the patent be taken out before the improvement is in full operation; and if not till then, some pilfering genius may attempt, surreptitiously, to take out a patent for the principles of the invention before the true inventor, and occasion him the heavy expense of a law-suit, before his right can be established." The same ingenious man, after pointing out certain principles, which might lead to the discovery of a variety of useful and important inventions, complains that "the expense of the experiments, necessary to bring these principles into operation, would be too great.

No prudent man will risk the attempt, until the prospects of a sufficient reward brighten. We unite in a belief, that fate has ordained that ingenious men shall never be rich; not considering that the injustice and impolicy of governments have passed the decree. Who would get rich, if the property he acquired by his industry, was to become common as soon as he gained it? What prudent man will spend his thoughts, time, labour and money, for property no better secured to him? Ingenuity makes none poor; on the contrary, it has made many rich, whose prudence directed them to the pursuit of permanent property. To ingenuity, we owe all our superiority over savage nations. England has made herself more rich and powerful than other nations, by her liberal policy of securing to ingenious men, an exclusive right to their inventions, so long as to afford them an opportunity of being amply rewarded.*

Notwithstanding, however, the impediments and discouraging circumstances, which, according to the worthy artist above quoted, are opposed to the efforts of American ingenuity, it appears that the native genius of our countrymen has surpassed every obstacle opposed to its splendid display in devising numerous inventions, some of which are of great and acknowledged utility. The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney, Esq.

*Evans' Tract on the Steam Engine. The laws of the United States, however, are more favourable to inventors than those of England, and we believe our courts are not less inclined to protect the rights of patentees,

gave a new staple to several of the southern states, and is said to have more than doubled the value of their lands under cultivation. Improvements in flourmills, by Oliver Evans, threshing-machines, spinningmachines, machines for nail-making, for weaving, for impelling boats by steam, for dressing and spinning flax and hemp, for making cards, for splitting leather, for ruling paper, for pulverising dye woods, for making earthern and stone pipes for aqueducts, improvements in manufacturing morocco leather, the substitution of steel plates for copper in engraving, various processes for facilitating the excavation of canals, invented and carried into effect by those concerned in forming the Grand Western Canal; a work, which for grandeur of design, industry and skill displayed in its execution, and the utility of its results, has no rival on this side of the Atlantic; together with a great number of others, evince the ingenuity of Americans, and have greatly increased the power and resources of the United Empire.

It has been the absurd and infatuated policy of some of the most ancient nations of the eastern world, to oppose modern improvements in science and arts, as useless or injurious innovations. The consequence has been, that their science has gone but little beyond first principles; their arts have been confined to simple processes, and they have, long since, stopped in their progress to improvement, at a point far short of attainable perfection. The Chinese adhere with tenacious

formality to processes, whose inconveniences are sanctioned by time; and in India the arts have made but little progress since the days of Alexander, in consequence of a superstitious dread of novelty. Americans will not imitate those examples, when they reflect that improvements in the arts, if fostered by that liberal encouragement, which true policy dictates; will proceed with an accelerated motion to a degree of perfection, now almost inconceivable. Every improvement opens a door to farther and more important improvements; and every step in our progress, facilitates further advances, by furnishing new means, instruments, and a knowledge of intermediate processes, which may lead to results, surpassing the anticipations of the most sanguine. The field of invention and discovery is inexhaustible; and the fruits of our researches beyond all price.* "Men of genius," says an elegant writer, "are the most productive of all classes of mankind. Their inventions not only fix and realize themselves in some subject, and for some time, but they direct the mode of storing and setting in motion future industry; and instead of perishing in the performance, they are renovated in every renewed action

* "Sir Isaac Newton and Dr. Bentley met accidentally in London, and on Sir Isaac's inquiring what philosophical pursuits were carrying on at Cambridge, the Doctor replied, "none;" for when you go a hunting, Sir Isaac, you kill all the game; you have left us nothing to pursue." "Not so," said the philosopher; "you may start a variety of game in every bush, if you will but take the trouble to beat for it." "And so in truth it is," observes bishop Watson; " every object in nature affords occasion for philosophical experiment." Pursuits of Literature.

of a similar nature, and endure forever; shortening the labors, and multiplying the comforts of mankind."

It is true, that many novelties attempted to be introduced, are not improvements; and sometimes patents are solicited for new inventions as old as the days of Tubal Cain. But the abuse of a privilege, is no argument against the privilege itself; and if the law upon this subject is generally well understood, pseudoinventions, and pretended discoveries, will not often be palmed upon the public; and those who deal in impositions of that kind, will soon meet the common lot of dishonesty in the loss of property and reputation.

In a moral, as well as a political point of view, the author of a new and useful invention, has the best of all possible titles to a monopoly of the first fruits of his ingenuity. The invention is the work of his hands, and the offspring of his intellect; and after he is allowed a temporary monopoly, becomes, at the expiration of the patent, a valuable donation to society. In the United States, so long as they retain their freedom, the public can be the only efficient patrons of men of inventive faculties; and the patronage of the public can be obtained in no way so effectually, as by securing to the inventor an exclusive right for a term of years, to his invention.* We have no Pericles, Lo

It is the dictate of sound policy, that a nation, by stimulating encouragements, draw forth all the useful products of inventive genius, while the possessor is alive. Reward is the only engine in the hands of the public, whereby they can draw forth the powers of genius; and if it be bestowed