Memoir of the Life of Eli Whitney. 219 
ed with a shattered oar, and struggled in vain unless some speedy 
relief is obtained. Iam now quite far enough advanced in life to 
think seriously of marrying. I have ever looked forward with pleas- 
ure to an alliance with an amiable and virtuous companion, as a 
source from whence I have expected one day to derive the greatest 
happiness. But the accomplishment of my tour to Europe, and the 
acquisition of something which I can call my own, appears to be ab- 
solutely necessary, before it will be admissible for me even to think 
of family engagements. Probably a year and a half, at least, will be 
required to perform that tour, after it is entered upon. Life is but 
short at best, and six or seven years out of the midst of it, is, to him 
who makes it, an immense sacrifice. My most unremitted attention 
has been devoted to our business. 1 have sacrificed to it other ob- 
jects from which, before this time, I might certainly have gained 
twenty or thirty thousand dollars. My whole prospects have been 
embarked in it, with the expectation that I should, before this time, 
have realized something from it.” 
hese observations are made with reference to a proposition which 
he had brought forward, to be allowed to retain a certain portion of 
the proceeds of the receipts from Mr. Nightingale as his private 
‘property ; or, at least, to be permitted to adopt such arrangements 
®S would secure it to him after a limited period. But the involved 
state of the company concerns was such that Mr. Miller would not 
Consent to such an arrangement, nor does it appear to have ever 
been made. However, brighter prospects seemed now to be open- 
ing upon them, from the more favorable reports that were made re- 
specting the quality of their cotton. Respectable manufacturers, 
both at home and abroad, gave favorable certificates, and retailing 
Merchants sought for the cotton cleaned by Whitney’s Gin, because 
It Was greatly preferred by their customers to any other in the mar- 
&. This favorable turn in public opinion, would have restored 
Prosperity to the company, had not the encroachments on their pat- 
at tight become so extensive as almost to annihilate its value. 
_ the issue of the first trial they were able to obtain, is announced 
in the following letter from Mr. Miller, dated May 11, 1797. 
“The event of the first patent suit, after all our exertions made in 
such a variety of ways, has gone against us. The preposterous cus- 
fom of trying civil causes of this intricacy and magnitude, by a 
Common jury, together with the imperfection of the Patent law, frus- 
trated’ all our views, and disappointed expectations, which had be- 
