46 BRIEF NARRATIVE OF THE 



twelve prominent men and practical farmers, we refer to the annexed 

 English account for the complete triumph of the unmedalled machine. 



In an interview with an extensive agricultural implement maker of 

 Yorkshire — himself an inventor of many valuable implements, and to 

 no small extent a rival — he spoke of Obed Hussey as a man who con- 

 ferred honor on his own country; as well by his genius and talents, as 

 by his integrity of character. This feeling was alike honorable to the 

 gentleman who gave it expression, and just to an American citizen. 



Obed Hussey is perhaps the only American who ever waved the 

 "Stars and Stripes" on the soil of England, [placed there too, at dif- 

 ferent times, on his machine, by Englishmen^ or who could do it with- 

 out a strong feeling of envy and jealousy being engendered. Even 

 Englishmen, jealous as they are known to be, viewed Hussey as a 

 public benefactor, and his mission as one calculated either directly or 

 indirectly to benefit all classes. Yet in his own country, which he has 

 so signally benefitted, he is compelled to supplicate for years, and 

 as yet in vain, for rights, that others, with not a tithe of his claim and 

 merit, but with more ample means perhaps, or more influential friends, 

 succeed in obtaining. It is a reproach to the age and to the Halls of 

 Legislation. When it was supposed this great invention was perfected 

 in England, many years ago — though ?iot successful, as was subse- 

 quently proved — the Nation took the matter in hand.and Parliament 

 voted a reward to its author. 



At the great Agricultural Exhibition for "Bath and the West of 

 England," held at Plymouth in i<S53, the Plymouth Mail states: ["the 

 interest and excitement created by the trial of Reaping Machines was 

 very great, and the crowd of persons assembled to witness their per- 

 formance was immense"] — that Hussey won the prize for Reaping,by 

 acclamation, over all competitors — the only other American machine 

 present, McCormick's included; and an eye witness states that three 

 cheers were proposed for Mr.- Hussey by Sir Thomas Ackland, the 

 President, and member of Parliament, which was responded to by 

 thousands, and without a dissenting voice; that his reaper was crowned 

 with laurel by the Judges, and the "stars and stripes" waved in triumph 

 twenty-five feet high over American ingenuity and enterprise on P^ng- 

 lish soil. 



At this trial it was again demonstrated to the agriculturists of 

 Great Britain by Obed Hussey, [and not for the first time, though he 

 was Xhe. first to do it], that his machine would cut their grass quite as 

 perfectly as their "corn." The Mail goes on to say: "A mowing 

 machine was so remote from the expectations and hopes of the Society, 

 that no prize was offered for one; yet Mr. Hussey was prepared with 

 a mowing machine, which was taken to an adjoining field of meadow 

 grass and clover mixed. The people followed, but evidently with no 

 expectation of being gratified. The machine mower was put inaction, 

 and to the admiration of every one, it cut the grass with an evenness 

 and precision which is truly surprising, being more close and even 

 than a scythe. The grass left behind the machine was quite evenly 

 spread, and where it was not so, it lay so light and open that the use 



