THE MANUFACTORY AT NEW YORK. 107 



upon medals that were awarded to the inventor at that time, 

 serve to show the estimation in which the improvement was 

 held by them. These will be found quoted among the tes- 

 timonials. 



Those, however, who have had experience with the progress 

 of inventions, and of the hindrances in the way of bringing them 

 into notice, will be sensible of the wide difference there is 

 between the theoretic approbation of an invention by the public, 

 and the substantial aid which is necessary to make a practical 

 demonstration of its utility. 



The prospect of success with this improvement, enabled the 

 inventor to make arrangements with an individual in New York,* 

 to furnish the capital for manufacturing on joint account. Ac- 

 cordingly a steam power was rented in Bank street for this pur- 

 pose. The , inventor proceeded to Washington and procured 

 letters patent for the invention, which was highly appreciated 

 by the officers of the various departments of Government, from 

 whom he received much encouragement. 



This process, however, did not change the character of the 

 gum throughout, as it was then supposed to do by himself and 

 others ; and in consequence of an occurrence hereafter referred 

 to, it has not received the attention to which it is really entitled. 

 In consequence of some modifications in the method of operating 

 it, in connection with the inodorous fabrics, it has also gained 

 increased importance in the mind of the inventor, and he has 

 no doubt that when the subject is understood and duly appre- 

 ciated, it wall be ranked next in importance to the vulcanizing 

 improvements. 



For this invention letters patent were granted him in 1837 — 

 and a patent was granted to Thomas Hancock, in England, for 

 the same thing in 183-. 



While secretly operating this process, before having applied 

 for letters patent, the inventor came near being suffocated by 

 generating a large quantity of gas in a close room ; he, however, 

 escaped with a course of fever, during which he was attended 



• Mr. William Ballard. 



