Sa 
Steam-Engine—Physics, §c. oe 167 
intelligent, if there is not merit in the invention, and great 
economy in its use. It may be considered the most direct 
application of the power, and the most unexceptionable mode 
of using the expansive force of high steam. And from the 
nature of its movement the most applicable to boats and 
vessels. 
Your Journal being the intended medium of information to 
promote the useful arts, [ hope it may be consistent with this 
object to explain the manner in which these improvements may 
be made extensively useful. ; 
It being necessary to supply the engines at a reasonable 
rate, [ have established a manufactory for this kind only. The 
great expense of steam-boats hitherto, has confined their use too 
exclusively to the accommodation of passengers. There isa 
wide field opening for their use, in freighting, on all our waters ; 
and it is often of importance to a community, ‘when great 
Savings can be made, that large capitalists should be induced to 
engage, that such savings may be greater. Where companies 
are formed for an extensive operation, the legislature may, with 
propriety, grant an extension of the time for patents to run, 
that such persons may be duly remunerated for their enterprise, 
by the duration of the service. 
Our laws do not yet make a proper distinction between pat- 
ents of a large and expensive kind and those requiring little or 
ho capital to go into operation. ‘The period of fourteen years 
remunerates the inventor of those improvements only that re- 
quire no capital, and involve no risk. 
On this ground several of the State legislatures have, with 
g00d policy, given encouragement to this kind of enterprise. 
They suspend the free use of the invention a few years, rather 
lose its immediate operation on a large scale of public 
benefit. 
The constitutionality of the measure plainly appears by its 
not interfering with the laws of the United States. It is not 
an act exclusive of, or in opposition to, patents, but acknow- 
ng and confirming them. It is furthering and giving 
effect to the intentions of the general government, in the 
encouragement of useful inventions. For their own particular 
