484 



MEMOIR OF DANIEL TREADWELL. 



special letter of thanks was also directed to be sent to Professor Treadwell through 

 the Consul for France at Boston. 



Soon after its invention Mr. Treadwell gave a full description of it to several offi- 

 cers of the United States Navy, and also sent a description to the proper Department 

 at Washington, but from the latter received no acknowledgment. 



In concluding his Autobiography, Mr. Treadwell says : " Besides the failure of 

 securing for my first gun its adoption by the Government, I have wasted some years 

 of my life upon two other projects from which no good practical results have followed. 

 One was a machine for making wrought iron nails and the other a machine for set- 

 ting types. In both I succeeded in producing machines to operate as perfectly as I 

 promised myself in the outset. But neither, on actual trial, gave the promise of 

 profit that would alone warrant attempting the establishment of them as practical 

 instruments in the arts." 



The following letter to Professor Treadwell from Lieut.-Colonel W. de Raastoff, 

 Charge d' Affaires de S. M. le Roi de Danemark, and his reply, are here given. 



Lieut. -Colonel Raastoff to Daniel Treadwell. 



Danish Legation', Washington, September 19, 18G2. 



Sir, — H 



titles, " On the Practicability of Constructing Cannon of great Calibre, 1856," and " On the Con- 

 struction of Improved Ordnance, 1862," I take the liberty most respectfully to solicit from you 

 one or two copies of each of those publications, in case you should be able to spare as many, with 

 a view of sending them to my government. I may be allowed to mention that I have been an 

 officer of ordnance for a number of years, and that I have ever since taken a lively interest in the 



much 



> 



in a manner both lucid and novel. 



Wiard 



information from them, and who encouraged me to solicit copies from you. 



Hoping that you will not think me indiscreet in addressing myself directly to you without 

 having the advantage of your personal acquaintance, I have the honor to be, with high and 

 sincere regards, your very obedient servant, 



W 



Daniel Treadwell to Lieut.-Colonel Raastoff. 



Cambridge, December, 18G2. 



Sir, — In compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 19th instant, I forward 



■ n _ 



of ordnance. 



improv 



1 pray you to accept the assurance of my sincere gratification at the approbation you have 

 been pleased to express of my investigations, an approbation especially valued as coming from 

 one practically acquainted with the subject by having been an " officer of ordnance for a number 



of years. 



5 



Daniel Treadwell. 



