MEMOIR OF DANIEL TREADWELL. 477 



To Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. 



Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Department, 

 Boston, May 7, 18Uii. 



Sir, — Professor Tread well, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Francis C. Lowell, Esq., of 

 Boston, intend to invoke the attention of tiie Government of the United States to an invention 

 of the former in heavy ordnance, which I think it is easy to prove of great value. It was my 

 intention to have caused the manufacture of a quantity of the " Trcadwell gun " under a resolve 

 of the Legislature of Massacliusetts ; but, by some misunderstanding, the appropriation failed in 

 the Senate on the last night of the session, although a resolve authorizing me to spend half a 

 million of dollars for the purpose had passed with no serious opposition. 



A very intelligent commission of four gentlemen, appointed for the purpose, had examined 

 and reported on the Trcadwell invention in the most satisfactory manner. Of the scientific 

 attainments of Professor Trcadwell, and of the high character of that gentleman and of Mr. 

 Lowell, it would be superfluous to speak in Massachusetts. And I venture to urge that what- 

 ever attention you can pay to such a subject, if presented by any persons of eminent and un- 

 questionable position as men of the highest honor and intelligence, should be accorded to these 

 gentlemen and their errand. 



If the army or navy would give the order for a certain quantity of Professor Treadwell's 

 ordnance, it would secure the perfection and success of an invention which has already ceased 

 to be merely experimental, and that too without risk to the Government. 



It does not seem to require that any ordnance officer should be convinced in advance, since, 

 unless the guns will stand the tests previously agreed upon, the parties contracting will not 

 expect them to be taken. They only ask an order, with the understanding that tlie Government 

 shall not receive and pay for the ordnance imless it proves capable of doing what is promised. 



With the highest respect, I am your obedient servant, 



John A. Andrew. 



A duplicate was given, directed to Captain Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy. 



Professor Treadwell was willing to undei'take the manufacture of cannon of large 

 calibre ; but as he was not a founder, or gun-maker, he had no establishment for 

 making these guns, and after the experience he had of the United States Govern- 

 ment Avhen making his wrought-iron guns, and the great losses he had been subjected 

 to thereby, he did not think it advisable to put up the necessary machinery, and 

 supply the necessary tools, in order to undertake a manufacture upon the uncertainty 

 of bargaining with a single customer, not even the United States. 



In June, 1862, the United States Government issued proposals for the manufacture 

 of heavy guns. Anticipating this, Professor Treadwell had made the following pro- 

 posals in advance. 



To THE Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. 



Cambridge, May, 1862. 

 Sir, — The improvement of ordnance by increasing it in strength and size has been the prin- 

 cipal object of my labors and thought for more than twenty years. I have done this with great 



