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. 



I have the honor to remain, with the highest respect Sir, your obe- 

 dient servant, (Signed) Oliver Wolcott. 



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. And 

 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 misgiv- 

 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 to 

 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 more 



* For the following remarks on the manufacture of arms, the writer of this article 

 is indebted to a gentleman who is personally and intimately acquainted with the sub- 

 ject. 



