No. 216.] 525 



mode of cultivation; distinctions which constitute their value, and 

 form the particular feature for exhibition, but which those do not 

 make who judge only from a slight glance at the general appearance 

 of the collection; and distinctions, too, which often cannot be made 

 without a particular acquaintance with the articles and the depart- 

 ments of the arts to which they belong. Many novelties appear on 

 these occasions in small things, which, in their existing form, are 

 mere curiosities, and of no practical utility, but which, when sub- 

 jected to the eye of the ingenious artisan, may suggest modes of 

 surmounting difficulties in something important which he has in 

 progress, and by which he will be enabled to readily accomplish an 

 important purpose which he had before lorg and unsuccessfully la- 

 bored to attain. It is by gathering up detached novelties, adding to 

 them, and therefrom devising new combinations and applications, 

 that the greatest results are attained. 



The greatest inventions are not the products of one mind; they 

 are the concentrated results of the arduous investigations of many; 

 and few, very few, I regret to say, whose labors have most contribu- 

 ted to such final result, have ever partaken of its honors. Their 

 merit, long after them, has formed the garb of fame for some fortun- 

 ate successor, who, commencing the investigation where they left it, 

 and using the materials thus furnished, has been enabled with such 

 assistance to attain an immortalizing object. 



The locomotive is not the creature of one mind, but of thousands. 



From the first recognition of the expansive power of caloric, ex- 

 periments were carried on and followed up, by one after another, 

 until the detached discoveries in the parts resulted in the combina- 

 tion of that trophy of genius. 



Our articles of apparel are each the result of innumerable process- 

 es, and each process is the result of many inventions. 



In the progress of inventions, those once important in themselves^ 

 afterwards become mere ingredients or elements in those of greater 

 consequence. One uses the superstructure of others as a base to erect 

 his own upon, and is himself preparing only a foundation for the 

 starting point of successors. 



Such, then, is the mode and means of progress in new things^ 

 wherein each succeeding proposition, which science would demon- 

 strate in theory, is illustrated in practice. And from observing this. 



