Steam- Engine — Physics, i^c. 167 



"intelligent, if there is not merit in the invention, and great 

 economy in its use. It may be considered the most direct 

 application of the power, and the most unexceptionable mode 

 of using the expansive force of high steam. And from the 

 nature of its movement the most applicable to boats and 

 vessels. 



Your Journal being the intended medium of information to 

 promote the useful arts, I hope it may be consistent with this 

 object to explain the manner in which these improvements 

 may be made extensively useful. 



It being necessary to supply the engines at a reasonable 

 rate, I have established a manufactory for this kind only. 

 The great expense of steam-boats hitherto, has confined their 

 use too exclusively to the accommodation of passengers. 

 There is a wide field opening for their use, in freighting, on 

 all our waters ; and it is often of importance to a community, 

 when great savings can be made, that large capitalists should be 

 induced to engage that such savings may be greater. Where 

 companies are formed for an extensive operation, the legisla- 

 ture may, with propriety, grant an extension of the time for 

 patents to run, that such pei'sons may be duly remunerated 

 for their enterprise, by the duration of the service. 



Our laws do not yet make a proper distinction between 

 patents of a large and expensive kind and those requiring little 

 or no capital to go into operation. The period of fourteen 

 years remunerates the inventor of those improvements only 

 that require no capital, and involve no risk. 



On this ground several of the State legislatures have, with 

 good policy, given encouragement to this kind of enterprise. 

 They suspend the free use of the invention a few years, 

 rather than loose its immediate operation on a large scale of 

 public benefit. 



The constitutionality of the measure plainly appears by its 

 not interfering with the laws of the United States. It is not 

 an act exclusive of, or in opposition to, patents, but acknow- 

 ledging and confirming them. It is furtliering and giving 

 eflfect to the intentions of the general government, in the 

 encouragement of useful inventions. For their own particular 



