Memoir of the Life of Eli Whitney. 217 
Roller Gins ; and, what is to the last degree vexing, many prefer 
their cotton to ours. 
At this time (1796) Miller & Whitney had thirty gins at eight dif- 
ferent places in the state of Georgia, some of which were carried by 
horses or oxen, and some by water. A number of these were stand- 
ing still for want of the means of supplying them. The company 
had also invested about $10,000 in real estate, which was suited 
only to the purposes of ginning cotton. All things now conspired to 
threaten them with deep insolvency. Under date of April 27th, Mr. 
Miller writes thus: “A few moments only are allowed me to tell 
you, that the industry of our opponents is daily. increasing, and that 
prejudices appear to be rapidly extending themselves in London 
against our cotton. Hasten to London if you return immediately— 
our fortune, our fate depends on it. The process of patent ginning 
isnow quite at a stand. 1 hear nothing of it except the condolence | 
of afew real friends, who express their regret that so promising an 
invention has entirely failed.” 
Through nearly the whole of the year 1796, Mr. Whitney was on 
the eve of departing for England, whither he was going with the 
view of learning the certainty of the prejudices, which were so cur- 
rently reported to be entertained by the English manufacturers against 
the cotton cleaned by the Patent Gin, and the fame of which was so 
industriously circulated throughout the southern papers; and should 
he find these prejudices to exist, firmly believing, as the event has 
shown, that they were utterly unfounded, he hoped to be able to re- 
move them by challenging the most rigorous trials. He had several 
mes fixed on the day of his departure, and on one occasion had 
actually engaged his passage, and taken leave of some of his friends. 
Dut he was in each case thwarted by an unexpected disappointment 
Mregard to the funds necessary to defray the expenses of the journey. 
Mr. Whitney had counted on obtaining one thousand dollars for 
this purpose through the aid of Mr. John C. Nightingale, who, having 
Married a daughter of Mrs. Miller, had become interested in their 
Concerns. Mr. N ightingale had inherited considerable fortune, but 
ad become greatly embarrassed by speculations in the Yazoo lands. 
He had however some credit left, while neither Miller nor Whit- 
ney, nor both together, had credit enough to borrow a thousand dol- 
lars. The plan was, therefore, for Nightingale to borrow the money 
and lend it to them; and Miller urges this even at the rate of thirty 
Per cent. per annum. After various ineffectual tials, Nightingale 
OL. XXI.—No. 1. 28 
nas Oe 
