314 Literary and Philosophical Society, 



his inventions and improvements, that it would merely 

 lengthen this notice uselessly to describe them. It will 

 therefore suffice to give the dates of the principal ones. 

 In 1809 Mr. Perkins sent him his plans for steel engraving, 

 and a patent was taken out in their joint names. The 

 fur-shearing and nail-making machines were patented in 

 1 8 10; the carding engine in 181 1 ; and in that year Mr. 

 Fulton sent him the drawings and specification of his 

 steamboat, then in successful operation on the Hudson. 

 In his paper on steam navigation Mr. Dyer relates the 

 difficulties and discouragements he encountered in trying 

 to introduce the system into England. In 1825 he took 

 out his first patent for the roving frame for himself and 

 Mr. Danforth, from whom he purchased the exclusive 

 patent right for 1,500/. It is very characteristic of Mr. Dyer, 

 that having improved this machine and brought it into 

 successful operation, he sent out to Mr. Danforth, who had 

 returned to America, an additional 3,000/., on the grounds 

 that the principle of the machine was sounder than he had 

 thought it to be. It is nevertheless true, that the practical 

 working out of that principle was due alone to the inven- 

 tive talents of Mr. Dyer. The same may be said of the 

 nail-making and carding engines, the successful working of 

 which was wholly due to their simplification by Mr. Dyer, 

 and it seems to the present writer that the real inventor 

 of any machine is the man who brings it into practical 

 working form and renders it commercially successful.^ 

 Thus James Watt is justly famed as the inventor of the 

 steam-engine, the previous labours of Savory, Newcomen, 

 and others enhancing rather than detracting from his 

 merits. 



* Mr. F. N. Dyer is solely responsible for this opinion. 



