238 Memoir of the Lafe of Eli Whitney. 
Treasury, and through his influence obtained a contract for ten thou- 
sand stand of arms, amounting (as the price of each musket was to 
be thirteen dollars and forty cents) to one hundred and thirty four 
thousand dollars,—an undertaking of great responsibility, consider- 
ing the limited pecuniary resources of the undertaker. ‘This contract 
was concluded on the 14th of January, 1798, and four thousand were 
tobe delivered on or before the last day of September of the ensu- 
ing year, and the remaining six thousand within one year from that 
time; so that the whole countract was to be fulfilled within a little 
more than the period of two years; and for the due fulfilment of it, 
Mr. Whitney entered into bonds to the amount of thirty thousand 
dollars. He must have engaged in this undertaking resolved “ to 
attempt great things,” without stopping to weigh all the chances 
against him ; for as yet, the works were all to be erected, the machi- 
nery to be made, and much of it to be invented ; the raw materials 
were to be collected from different quarters, and the workmen them- 
selves, almost without exception, were yet to learn the trade. Nor 
was it a business with which Mr. Whitney himself was particularly 
conversant. Mechanical invention, a sound judgment, an perse- 
vering isdustry, were all that he possessed, at first, for the acconl- 
plishment of an enterprise, which was at that time probably greater 
than any man had ever undertaken, in the State of Connecticut. 
The low state of the Mechanic Arts, moreover; increased bis dit 
ficulties. ‘There were in operation near him no kindred mechanical 
establishments, upon which some branches of his own business might 
tent fabricated 
by himself. If it is recollected also, in what a depressed state the 
cotton ginning business was at this period, it will appear still more 
evincive of the bold spirit of enterprise which Mr. Whitney poss 
sed, as it will be seen that he could not avail himself o 
from that quarter, nor could he reasonably hope to derive irol 
same source any future succor. But Mr. Whitney had strong friends 
among the most substantial citizens of New Haven, who ad bee 
witnesses alike of the fertility of his genius, and the extent of his indus 
try. Ten of these came forward as his security to the bank of New 
Haven, for a loan of ten thousand dollars. Mr. Wolcott, 00 the ae 
of the United States, advanced five thousand more at the tme 
contract, with the promise of a similar sum, as soon @S the preparal”” 
ry arrangements for the manufacture of arms were completed: ( 
farther advances were to be demanded, until one thousand stand ° 
