332 [ Assembly 



If we do not add to it, also, the manufacture of steel — permanently 

 and beautiful — I shall be much disappointed, from the fine specimens 

 exhibited to-day from New-Jersey. 



Another great improvement in machinery, will be in the economy 

 of power to move it. 



Judging from recent improvements in imparting motion to it, much 

 more can yet be accomplished, without relying greatly on gun-cotton 

 or gun-powder, or on air vacuums, but merely by increased attention 

 and science in using, in a more effective manner, our numerous and 

 beautiful water-falls, as well as reservoirs, and resorting oftencr to the 

 standing or stationary steam-engine. The water- fall, sustained by the 

 reservoir, exhibits in nature almost the beau ideal of that perpetual 

 motion so long sought in vain, in the world of mechanics. 



The self-acting machines, that seem almost with mind and thought 

 to perform combined motions, and complicated functions, by one con- 

 tinued operation — such as that for turning lasts and gun-stocks ; that 

 for making pins j that wonderful one for making cards, without enu- 

 merating others which crowd your interesting Fair — are rapidly in- 

 creasing, and will ere long, form a new era in the arts. • 



Again, the protection yielded by the constitution to inventions and 

 discoveries in the arts, will prove an additional encouragement, and 

 be much increased by more reforms in the patent system and patent 

 laws. A most opportune occasion has arrived, and been improved, to 

 place the whole in a more appropriate charge, as in that of the new 

 Interior Department, rather than of the State Department ; and the 

 change already made would be rendered still more effective. And 

 whenever real inventors shall be more fully secured, technical objec- 

 tions obviated by express legislation, and piracies on their hard earned 

 labours punished at less expense, and suitable protection given for 

 new and useful applications of old machinery, as well as for inven- 

 tions of what is new, an encouragement will at once be felt by inven- 

 tive talent which will soon add much to the treasures it has already 

 secured in this ingenious country. In any event, it can and will make 

 further advances. Notliing can chain its powers. It can wisely ex- 



