COTTON GIN— LEWTON 553 



The models destroyed were about 7,000 and the records covered 

 about 100,000 inventions. The work of restoration continued for 12 

 years, and something over $88,000 was expended out of the amount 

 allowed. On page 125 of volume 1 of the Kestored Patents, there is a 

 record of the Whitney patent of March 14, 1794, entered in the book 

 on May 2, 1841. It opens with a certificate by James Madison, 

 Secretary of State, dated November 26, 1803, and reading in part as 

 follows: 



I certify, that the annexed writings are true copies of a Patent granted to Eli 

 Whitney on the 14th day of March, in the year one thousand seven hundred and 

 ninety-four, and of the Specifications annexed thereto, compared with the Record 

 thereof, and with the original Specification, remaining on file in the office. 



Then, after writing in a copy of the grant of the patent, signed bj'^ 

 George Washington, and the certification by the Attorney General, 

 William Bradford, there appears this paragraph: 



The schedule referred to in these Letters Patent & making part of the same, 

 containing a description in the words of the said Eli Whitney himself of an improve- 

 ment in the mode of Ginning Cotton. 



"A Short Description of the machine invented by the Subscriber" 

 occupies part of page 126 and page 127. This is in the same wording 

 as the "Short Description" furnished to the American Farmer, by 

 Wm. Thornton in 1823.^2 



D. A. Tompldns, when pubhshing the detailed description taken 

 from the records of the Georgia Circuit Court, already referred to,^^ 

 printed in adjoining columns for comparison, the "Short Description" 

 which he copied from volume 1 of the Restored Patents in the Patent 

 Office. He called the "Short Description" the "Substituted Patent" 

 and questioned its vaUdity because of the following paragraph, which 

 on page 128 closes the "Short Description": 



There are several modes of making the various parts of this machine, which 

 together with their particular shape and formation are pointed out and explained 

 in a Description with Drawings, attested as the act directs and lodged in the office 

 of the Secretary of State. 



This paragraph also accompanies Commissioner Thornton's descrip- 

 tion, furnished in 1823. 



On May 2, 1841, there was also copied into volume 1 of the Restored 

 Patents, on pages 85 to 93, the already mentioned long description, 

 in detail, of the Whitney invention, closing with the certificate of 

 Elizur Goodrich, dated October 28, 1793. It is introduced with a 

 certificate by James Madison in practically the same wording as that 

 already quoted as introducing the wording of the patent granted by 

 Washington and the "Short Description", but in this case the date 

 is given as November 25, 1803, instead of November 26. This detailed 



n Idem. 



" Tompkins, D. A., Cotton and cotton oil, pp. 444-462, 1901. 

 31508—38 39 



