MEMOIR OF ELI WHITNEY. 293 



ful swelling, extending to the bone, ensued, which was finally relieved by surgi- 

 cal operation. After his recovery, he went to Durham, in Connecticut, and fin- 

 ished his preparation for college, under the care of that eminent scholar. Rev. 

 Dr. Goodrich. As we are soon to accompany Mr. Whitney beyond the sphere 

 of his domestic relations, we may mention here that he finished his collegiate 

 education with little expense to his father. His last college bills Avere indeed 

 paid by him, but the money was considered as a loan, and for it the son gave his 

 note, which he afterward duly canceled. After the decease of his father, he took 

 an active part in the settlement of the estate, but generously relinquished all his 

 patrimony for the benefit of the other members of the family. 



The propensity of Mr. Whitney to mechanical inventions and occupations was 

 frequently apparent during his residence at college. On a particular occasion, 

 one of the tutors, happening to mention some interesting philosophical experi- 

 ment, regretted that he could not exhibit it to his pupils, because the apparatus 

 was out of order, and must be sent abroad to be repaired. Mr. Whitney proposed 

 to undertake this task, and performed it greatly to the satisfaction of the Faculty 

 of the college. 



A carpenter being at work upon one of the buildings of the gentleman with 

 whom Mr. Whitney boarded, the latter begged permission to use his tools during 

 the intervals of study ; but the mechanic, being a man of careful habits, was un- 

 willing to trust them with a student, and it was only after the gentleman of the 

 house had become responsible for all damages, that he would grant the permis- 

 sion. But Mr. Whitney had no sooner commenced his operations, than the car- 

 penter was surprised at his dexterity, and exclaimed, " There was one good me- 

 chanic spoiled when you went to college." 



Soon after "Mr. Whitney took his degree, in the autumn of 1792, he entered 

 into an engagement with a Mr. B. of Georgia, to reside in his family as a private 

 teacher. On his way thither, he was so fortunate as to have the company of 

 Mrs. Greene, the widow of Gen. Greene, who, with her family, was returning to 

 Savannah, after spending the summer at the North. At that time it was deemed 

 unsafe to travel through our country without having had the small-pox, and ac- 

 cordingly Mr. W. prepared himself for the excursion by procuring inoculation 

 while in New- York. As soon as he was sufficiently recovered, the party set sail 

 for Savannah. As his health was not fully reestablished, Mrs. Greene kindly in- 

 vited him to go with the family to her residence at Mulberry Grove, near Savan- 

 nah, and remain until he was recruited. The invitation was accepted : but, lest 

 he should not yet have lost all power of communicating that dreadful disease, 

 Mrs. Greene had white flags (the meaning of which was well understood) hoist- 

 ed at the landing, and at all the avenues leading to the house. As a requital for 

 her hospitality, her guest procured the virus and inoculated all the servants of 

 the household, more than fifty in number, and carried them safely through the 

 disorder. 



Mr. Whitney had scarcely set his foot in Georgia before he was met by a dis- 

 appointment, which was an earnest of that long series of adverse events which, 

 with scarcely an exception, attended all his future negotiations in the same State. 

 On his arrival, he was informed that Mr. B. had employed another teacher, leav- 

 ing Whitney entirely without resources, or friends, except those whom he had 

 made in the family of Gen. Greene. In these benevolent people, however, his 

 case excited much interest, and Mrs. Greene kindly said to him : " My young 

 friend, you propose studying the law ; make my house your home, your room 



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