Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-07-06
NTSIKsT ,T..ANE.

Tic Cotton Chit has cften and justly been
observed, that Nltney's gin Is ono of the most
import ant discoveries OF The aye. 1t has lately been
quoted in illustration of the undenablc fact, that
4hc mechanical skill, which is developed ANA per
fpcted in manufactures has conferred ti, most sa
nal benefits on the other branches OF industry. 1t
i rlain that none but OF mechanical genius,
acquainted with the combination Of the mechanical
movers which exist in machinery, could ever ila'
Snyented the c0tt8n-gn.
Capt. Eli Whitney was born in Nesbornngh, IN
the county of Worcester, aud received from ma
ture gift as strongly marked. md in this cenntry
perhap3 as well calculated to be uaeinl. as the most
brilliant ntelleci ual endOWmcns We mean what Is
called mechanical farn From his early youth lie
showed, an sight into the combinations OF machinery
and WAS remark 1hly observant Of rhe construction
and oncration of mill-work. His father was tar
MGR of comfortable circumstances. IN the town OF
ITestborough, (where portion OF the family now
rcsi,ie) bat was unable to render his children much
as.l,tance in getting forward in life. Eli, however
from lad resolved upon securing hmselta coliegl,
ate education. and succeeded, after the usual efforts
and struggles Of young men similarly situated in
Now EnTand, in entering himself n Yale COLLEGE
where he was griAnated in tT92. lhia far he 10
frayed the expense Of his education. partly bS
assistance derived from his father.
When he left college. he found him9e'i without
funds, for his maintenance during the pursuit Of =
Yield HIM further aid. Thus circumstanceA, he re
iuctantly found himself obliged to enter into a cut
tract with gentleman IN Georgia. TO becnlnc p.i
gate teacher in his family. Wuh thar object ii
view he sailed for Georgia. On arriving ''lerr. b
found his employer embarrassed nv falnis Vt hi
crops, and unable to fulfil his contract. eycep
at a reduction of one hall OF the Compensation
which had been stipulated to Mir. Whitney. BEST
tuts as he was, this was positively refused BY ",
Whitney.
In this emergency he f,nntl Il friend aud hencfat
-or in a gentleman living in the vicinity OF the nan
of Miller Interested in Whitney's appearance al
character. and in the situation into which he W;
+hrown Mr.. Miller took him homo to his p!&rfa''o
While there, Whitney saw the slaves employed
clearing cotton from the seed, by hand, process
slow and expensive. that il scarcely enabled the J
bourer 10 earn his bread. III fact. the short slap
cotton, the great article Of expectation {" the scout
ern States, was not then thnngNt ut, rs an art'c
for the market. III proof cf this, 1t may be iac
1r;onca. that BY the 10Th article Of Jays treaty.
was stipulated, that no cottnn shonla he export
from America it not being known 10 Chief Just
Law. that there was any raised for cyp0rtation
the United States, and his object being TO sec'
to the English the carriage Of the West India c
.nn 10 its market in Europe. This is the rea
land not that assigned by Gem smith, IN MS spec
last winter, on the colonial tradel why the sen
If the United States refused to ratty the 18th
tice Of that treaty.
The mechanical genius of Whitney, acting VI
his acquaintance with the general principles of
chinery, and stimulated by witnessing tie :,
strous expense Of |abor in cleaning the cotton
hand, soon led FIN TO believe. that mac
could be constructed. which would greatly abr
the process. He communicated his views to
lev. who was so fatty convinced Of their sounds
INA. &c proposed to furnish tools and rnachiner
board Whitney, and to be at all other expense
.deot:o an attempt TO construct machine
,,fS.r was accepted. and the parties were
;oiutlv Interested in the fruits Of the inver
This was in the fall of the year, and IN tine c
Of the winter Whitney got a machine into oper
Wv which ore person coula clean about 1000 p
81 eotton per day. instead of pounds or there;
a. formerly done by hand