A KKVIEW. 



The fore-castic, not the Forum — the work-shop, and not, the Uni- 

 \-ersity, ha\c been, we presume, the schools in wliich he was taught; 

 and doubtless his hands are more familiar witii the Jiarpoo)i, the ham- 

 mer and the chisel, than with the pen. For more than twenty years — 

 indeed the prime of his life — he has devoted all the energies of his 

 mind to perfect and bring into use, this great labor-saving implement, 

 the Reaping and Mowing Machine. And if he has by so doing bene- 

 fitted others, it is certainly no more than right and fair that he should 

 receive a reward in return; — such as the laws of the land recognize as 

 " adequate reward." 



We honestly believe that he is justly entitled to what he asks for; 

 and are willing " without money and without price," to aid the deserv- 

 ing as far as our efforts and influence can avail in so laudable a cause. 



In asking Congress for an extension of his Patent it is no more 

 than hundreds have asked before him; and have had granted to them, 

 tor inventions of small comparative value in many cases, to the public. 

 If his is of great value to i\\e public, it certainly ought to be considered 

 of corresponding value to the inventor. 



VVe will endeavor to show that his invention has proved itself of 

 very great I'aUie to the Agricultural interests of the country. 



As to the benefit of Reaping Machines to the farmer, and the just 

 or adequate rezvard to the inventor, we will give the opinion of one who 

 was not only disinterested, but fully understood both branches of the 

 subject;* he says: "In Agriculture, it is in my view, as important, as a 

 labor-saving device, as the spinning jenny and power loom in manu- 

 factures. It is one of those great and valuable inventions which com- 

 mence a new era in the progress of improvement, and whose beneficial 

 influence is felt in all coming time; and I do not hesitate to say that 

 the man whose genius produces a machine of so much value, should 

 make a large fortune out of it. It is not possible for him to obtain 

 during the whole existence of the term of his patent, a tenth part of 

 the value of the labor saved to the community by it in a single 

 year." 



There are doubtless applications for extensions, and perhaps 

 granted too, in which the applicant has been amply rewarded; others 

 again, and it is believed by far the greater number, have been made 

 poorer instead of richer, by devoting their time and energies to intro- 

 duce useful implements and machinery. 



The shrewd and designing, not the poor inventor, usually reap the 

 reward due to genius. Such are e\'er ready for the sake of gain, and 

 with a reasonable prospect of impunity, to invest their capital; often 

 realizing (T^w/./^r r^w/. profits out of the public — ^taking the bread out 

 of the mouth of the poor, but honest inventor, and frequently with 

 means too limited to protect his known and admitted right.s.; or if these 

 rights are acknowledged, the Capitalist usually retains the " lion's 

 share," and the poor inventor must be content with a mere pittance, or 

 get nothing. 



We do not propose to follow the example of this "counsel " by ar- 



*Hon. Edward Burke. 



