$f^.. 399.] S6S 



profit on its growth. Now we English manufacturers can produce 

 much cheaper than you, and why not let your people by the cheapest 

 articles. We buy raw cotton from you, and there is reciprocity ; we 

 develope your agriculture and you support our manufactures. That 

 is the right feeling which should exist, and the international philan- 

 tljropy worthy an enlightened age. Continue to do so — continue to 

 be satisfied with nine per cent, and leave us the fifty. If you do this 

 we shall flourish — if you do not we shall cease to exist as a manufac- 

 turing people ; and thousands of your people will be supported by cotton 

 and iron manufacture^ and the happiness and welfare of the Union 

 greatly augmented^ 



But whether protective duties be adopted, or free trade encouraged, 

 there is ope rnore method by which manufactures in this country may 

 be promoted and rendered stable. I mean by the adoption of an edu' 

 cation, having for its basis the mechanical and useful arts. Our mauu- 

 ikcturers ought to learn the theory of their occupation, and our ma- 

 chinists and inventors, ought to have a sound and thorough education 

 in the mechanical and piiysical sciences. 



Loo^ at t|ie records of the patent oflace, and see how patents are 

 taken 0]nt for asserted improvements, which are no improvements at 

 ajl, What a. waste of labor, time, and money for what results in 

 nothing. 



This has been a large exhibition, a greater number of articles exhi- 

 bited, a greater variety, and more novelty of design and finish in 

 execution, than has yet been presented to American inspection. So 

 far well — we ought to be proud of it — but do we recollect that after 

 all, these machines and these inventions, are the exceptions 1 The 

 failures are the greater number. One man has spent four years of 

 his life in making these improvements in a capstan — he has been suc- 

 cessful. Another spends six, another ten, and here are the re- 

 sults around us. But far more numerous are they who have spent 

 many years, and wasted away their existence, in the dreamy hope that 

 success was just at hand ; that their invention was complete — that 

 their machine was the paragon in saving time and power — and after 

 fruitless efforts, have sunk down through society into the grave, with 



