240 Memoir of the Life of Eli Whitney. 
ment made advances to the contractor,) the final balance due Mr. 
Whitney, was only two thousand four hundred and fifty dollars. 
During the ten years Mr. Whitney was occupied in perform- 
ing this engagement, he applied himself to business with the most 
exemplary diligence, rising every morning as soon as it was day, and 
at night, setting every thing in order appertaining to all parts of the 
establishment, before he retired to rest. His genius impressed it- 
self on every part of the manufactory, extending even to the most 
common tools, all of which received some peculiar modification 
which improved them in accuracy, or efficacy, or beauty. His 
machinery for making the several parts of a musket, was made 
to operate with the greatest possible degree of uniformity and pre- 
cision. The object at which he aimed, and which he fully ac- 
complished, was to make the same parts of different guns, as the 
locks for example, as much like each other as the successive impres- 
sions of a copper plate engraving. It has generally been conceded 
that Mr. Whitney greatly improved the art of manufacturing arms, 
and laid his country under permanent obligations by augmenting her 
facilities for national defence. So rapid has been the improvement 
in the arts and manufactures in this country, that it is difficult to con 
ceive of the low state in which they were thirty years 4g0- o this 
advancement the genius and industry of Mr. Whitney most essentially 
contributed, for while he was clearing off the numerous impediments, 
which were thrown in his way, he was at the same time performing 
the office of a pioneer to the succeding generation. j 
In the year 1812, he entered into a new contract with the Uni- 
ted States to manufacture for them fifteen thousand stand of arms; 
and in the mean time he executed a similar engagement (we 
know not how extensive) for the State of New York. Although his 
greater despatch, 
t some 
the government 
which made it necessary for him to bring his case before th 
tary of war. The following testimonials, which he obtaine 
occasion from: the late Governor Tompkins, and from 
Wolcott, will serve to show in what estimation" he was 
who knew him best, and who were most competent to j 
merits. The letters, dated May, 1814, are both addresse sins 
eral Armstrong the existing Secretary of war. Governor - P vat 
observes as follows: “I have visited Mr. Whitney’s establisme® 
