INVENTUJN OK KEAl'INt; MACHINKS. 13 



ation is similar to the revolving frame of James Ten Eyck, patented 

 November 2d, 1825." It is certain the reel was no "novelty," either 

 in 183 1, or 1834 when patented by C. H. McCormick; he tells us so 

 himself; and it is most likely the Father of C. H. McCormick also used 

 a reel for his "cylinders standing perpendicularly, in 1816," and also 

 for his other plan in 1831, and "which satisfied my father to abandon 

 it." And it is equally probable that most of the "fathers "and the 

 sons, who invented Reapers for a hundred j'ears preceding the date of 

 Hussey's patent, used reels; — indeed the reel seemed to be considered 

 a Sine qua ?ion by many; most of the inventors we have any clear ac- 

 count of, resorted to the reel. 



Hussey also used the reel in 1833, — of course the reel and seat in 

 combination — but only for a short period, as it was found quite unnec- 

 essary, — an actual incumbrance with his cutting apparatus, and soon 

 laid it aside. 



We will now examine another invention patented by C. H. McCor- 

 mick, in 1847. VVe here assert and challenge a denial, that from 12 to 

 14 years after the alleged invention of a Reaper by C. H. McCormick 

 in 1831, and from 9 to 12 years after the date of his patent in 1834 his 

 raker walked by the side of his machine, while Hussey's raker rode on 

 the machine as they ahvays had done since his first machine that cut the 

 grain like " a thing of life" in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1833. Yet, 

 in 1847, C. H. McCormick takes out a patent for the raker s seat! this 

 ivas a " novelty" and well worth a patent! 



In two trials of reaping machines by Hussey and McCormick in 

 the same fields in Virginia, in 1843, o"^ at Hutchinson's, and the other 

 on the plantation of the late Senator Roane, at Tree Hill, near Rich- 

 mond, McCormick's raker zvalked by the side of the machine, while 

 Hussey's rode on the machine, in the same manner as he did just 

 exactly ten years before. 



We have three letters from the late Hon. \Vm. H. Roane referring 

 to these trials, and ordering a machine from Husse\', after witnessing 

 the operation of both. Two of the letters he desired might not be 

 published; but says in one of them, "I have no objection to your 

 stating publicly that a member oi the committee who made the report 

 last summer at HtitcJiinso7is, which was published a few days there- 

 after, witnessed a fuller and fairer trial between the two machines, and 

 has in consequence ordered one of yours. * * * What I have said 



above of , is intended only for your eye confidentially, to show you 



in part the character and probable motives of the opposition your 

 Reaper has met. Let what I say be private, as I have a great objec- 

 tion to going into the new spapers. Should you ever want it, you can 

 have from me the strongest public testimonial of my good opinion of 

 your machine." 



The third letter, giving this " testimonial " was published in the 

 American Farmer, in January, 1844. As the Raker's Seat — the main 

 feature of C. H. McCormick's patent of 1847, comes fairly within the 

 scope of this Enquiry as to priorit\' of invention, we re-publish Sen- 

 ator Roane's letter and also furnish other testimony on the subject. 



