INVENTOR OF THE MODERN PLOW. 15 



as soon as I shall have received some other 

 materials collecting for me. 



" I have seen, with extreme indignation, the 

 blasphemies lately vended against the mem- 

 ory of the father of American philosophy. 

 But his memory will be venerated as long as 

 the thunder of heaven shall be heard or 

 feared.' 7 



March 27, 1798, Jefferson wrote to Mr. Pat- 

 terson: " In the life time of Mr. Rittenhouse, I 

 communicated to him the description of a 

 mould-board of a plough, which I had con- 

 structed, and supposed to be what we might 

 term the mould-board of least resistance. I 

 asked not only his opinion, but that he would 

 submit it to you also. After he had consider- 

 ed it he gave me his own opinion that it was de- 

 monstratively what I had supposed, and I think 

 he said he had communicated it to you. Of 

 that however, I am not sure, and therefore, now 

 take the liberty of sending you a description 



