No. J 99.] 333 



pand its energies more to help what i? mostj rather than least defi- 

 cient — to improve what is uiost, rather than least important — to ad- 

 vance what will be useful, rather than frivolous or trifling, and useful 

 to millions rather than a few. Genius thus employed, when not duly 

 protected by legislation, or rewarded by gain, can, and thanks to a 

 kind Providence, will often find its own great reward, in the conscious- 

 ness of its own noble efforts, and in that honest fame which cheers 

 onward many of the benefactors of the human race. 



In truth, often new discoveries, instead of disheartening us as to 

 making more, should prove an encouragement, by being new steps to 

 mount higher, or by being only one stage in the growth or development 

 of the whole tree. After obtaining from fifteen to sixteen thousand patents 

 which have been issued here, American ingenuity is so little exhausted or 

 daunted by the difficulties it encounters, that yearly, near fifteen hun- 

 dred new applications are still made, and from two to five hundred, 

 granted. It must be gratifying to this Institute, that the Slate in 

 which it has long assembled, appears to have the lead in inventions, 

 taking out quite one-third of all the patents allowed annually ; and 

 that the remarkable proportion to this city, which is more immediately 

 influenced by its exhibitions, is near forty-five per cent of those granted 

 to the state, and fifteen per cent, of all those issued to the whole Union. 



Commerce, last, though not least, opens likewise a wide field for 

 additional improvements. 



By continuing to spread it over every portion of the globe accessi- 

 ble to sails or steam, we shall be likely to get more into the heart of 

 new governments, like the centre of Africa through the Niger, or like 

 many islands yet unexplored in distant oceans. We may thus disco- 

 ver new articles of trade, or of food and clothing, or new arts or new 

 markets ; or win the glory to indroduce literature, civilization and a 

 true religion where they had never before oast their cheering radiance. 

 The exploring expedition followed up ; the track of our whalemen 

 pushed with more care, as dangers multiply ; the survey of our thou- 

 sands of miles of coast completed : our ocean and lake borders furnished 

 with still better light houses, lights and reflectors ; more treaties formed, 

 binding nations more closely together for mutual trade ; in short, peace 



