PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 643 



one I had patented here, the same model, the same defects of construction, 

 all of which I had not yet overcome. 



I had here exhibited at the Fair of the American Institute in 1834, this 

 meter ; and had received tlie highest premium therefor. Afterwards, not 

 being- satisfied with it (because the light flickered after the gas had passed 

 through the meter), I further improved it, and corrected the imperfection, 

 by the introduction of a rotary motion by means of two or more movable 

 partitions, which I called diaphragms. With this improved meter, I started 

 for London in 1836, in company with a supposed friend, who had engaged 

 to take out the patent for me, and in my name. The patent was taken out 

 not in my name, but my agent took it for himself, coolly informing me 

 " that the patent was his, that I had no more right to it than any other 

 individual." 



On making inquiries there, 1 ascertained that the first patent had been 

 sold by Messrs. Newton & Berry to a Mr. Thomas Edge, of No. 6 Poultry 

 Cheapside, for three thousand pounds, who had again sold it to the London 

 Gas Meter Company (which had been formed by him), for twelve thousand 

 pounds. After the second patent had been granted, I saw Mr. Edge, who 

 informed me that the Company had decided to give the same amount for 

 this, as for the first one, namely, twelve thousand pounds. What it really 

 brought I never knew, although I was told that the patentee valued the 

 invention at 100,000 pounds. 



My American patents had no better fate, at least brought no better 

 returns to me. My long absence may, perhaps, in part account for the 

 manner in which my invention was appropriated by others ; I only know 

 that my five years' labor and perfected invention never brought me a far- 

 thing in return. Some changes have been made from time to time since 

 then ; but the latest improvement was getting the meter back into exactly 

 the same shape in which it left my hands. 



I received a notice, cut from a London paper, in which was reported the 

 charge of an English judge to the jury upon a dry gas meter patent case, 

 who said, "All changes undertaken to improve the meter, have not im- 

 proved it, and therefore, Bogardus is the inventor of the Dry Gas Meter." 

 Mr. Leonard, late secretary of the American Institute, received a similar 

 notice. Thus has my long labor been lost ; and what has proved a valua- 

 ble invention, passed into other hands. It is not a consoling reflection, 

 that while I have never been able to obtain the smallest remuneration for 

 my labor and service to the public in this matter, neither have the pub- 

 lic enjoyed the free use of my invention. It is not with any pleasure that 

 I recur to this subject, — but I have a right to claim that the Institute 

 which has in times past honored me by its notice and rewards, should not 

 now allow, a falsehood, damaging to me, to remain uncontradicted in its 

 records. 



In the year 1831, I invented and made an engraving machine, (this is 

 the machine that cut the die for the gold medal of the American Institute) 

 I hired a room over Seymour's hardware store in Chatham Square, and 

 partitioned off a small part for a private room, in which this machine was 

 kept. — Some time in 1832 Mr. William S. Johnson brought his son John, 



