242 Memoir of the Life of Eli Whitney. 
that you would so far extend to him your favor, as to inform yourself 
particularly of the merits of his case and the services he can perform; 
in which case, I am certain he will receive all the patronage and pro- 
tection to which he is entitled. 
Lhave the honor to remain, with the highest respect Sir, yout obe- 
dient servant, Signed) LiveER Wotcort. 
The Hon. Secretary Armstrong. 
-*Several other persons made contracts with the government at 
about the same time, and attempted the manufacture of muskets, fol- 
lowing, substantially, so far as they understood it, the method pur- 
sued in England.—The result of their efforts was a complete failure 
to manufacture muskets of the quality required, at the price agreed 
to be paid by the government : and in some instances they expended 
in the execution of their contracts, a considerable fortune in addition 
to the whole amount received for their work. 
The low state to which the arts had been depressed in this coun- 
try by the policy of England, under the colonial system, and from 
which they had then scarcely begun to recover, together with the 
high price of labor, and other causes, conspired to render it imprac- 
ticable at that time even for those most competent to the undertak- 
ing, to manufacture muskets here in the English method. 
doubtless Mr. Whitney would have shared the fate of his enterprising 
but unsuccessful competitors, had he adopted the course which they 
pursued ; but his genius struck out for him a course entirely new. 
In maturing his system he had many obstacles to combat, and a 
much longer time was occupied, than he had anticipated ; but with 
his characteristic firmness he pursued his object, in the face of the 
obloquy and ridicule of his competitors, the evil predictions of his 
enemies, and the still more discouraging and disheartening ™m'sg'¥- 
ings, doubts, and apprehensions of his friends. His efforts were at 
length crowned with success, and he had the satisfaction to find, that 
the business which had proved so ruinous to others, was likely 0 
prove not altogether unprofitable to himself. 
Our limits do not permit us to give a minute and detailed account 
of this system; and we shall only glance at two or three of its mor 
: js article 
* For the following remarks on the manufacture of arms, the writer of pein 
is indebted to a gentleman who is personally and intimately acquainted W 
ject. 
