264 Reminiscences of the late Mr. Whitney. 



On Mr. Whitney's tomb is the following inscription : 



ELI WHITNEY, 



The inventor of the Cotton Gin. 



Of useful science and arts, the efficient patron and improver. 



In the social relations of life, a model of excellence. 



While private affection weeps at his tomb, his country honors his memory. 



Born Dec. 8, 1765.— Died Jan. 8, 1825. 



their capitals increased ; theh~ lands trebled in value.' ^ It may be said indeed that 

 this belongs to the physical and material nature of man, and ought not to be com- 

 pared with what has been done by the intellectual benefactors of mankind ; the Mil- 

 tons, the Shakspeares, and the Newtons. But is it quite certain that any thing short 

 of the highest intellectual vigor — the brightest genius — is sufficient to invent one of 

 these extraordinary machines ? Place a common mind before an oration of Cicero 

 and a steam engine, and it will despair of rivalling the latter as much as the former ; 

 and we can by no means be persuaded, that the peculiar aptitude for combining and 

 applying the simple powers of mechanics, so as to produce these marvellous opera- 

 tions, does not imply a vivacity of the imagination, not inferior to that of the poet 

 and the orator. And then, as to the effect on society, the machine, it is true, oper- 

 ates, in the first instance, on mere physical elements, to produce an accuniulation 

 and distribution of property. But do not all the arts of civilization follow in the train .' 

 and has not he who has trebled thS value of land, created capital, rescued the popu- 

 lation from the necessity of emigrating, and covered a waste with plenty — has not he 

 done a service to the country of the highest moral and intellectual character f Pros- 

 perity is the parent of civilization, and all its refinements ; and every family of pros- 

 perous citizens, added to the community, is an addition of so many thinking, invent- 

 ing, moral and immortal natures."— JVeiw England Magazine, JVov. 1831. 



§ The words of Mr. Justice Johnson of South Carolina, in the opinion in the case 

 of Whitney versus Carter. 



