The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-02-15
From the Salem Gazette.
ELI WHITNEY.

/ tlOn OF the southern States, from childhood
to age, with lucrative employment bv
which their debts have been paid off; their
capitals increased, and their lands trebled
in value.
Eli Whitney was born in Westborough,
Worcester County. Dec. s, 1865 His pa
rents belonged to the middle class in soce-
ty, from which have arisen most Of those
who, in New England, have attained to
high eminence and usefulness No other
situation in society is so favorable to the
early formation of those habits of economy,
both of time and moneyswhich, when car
ren forward into the study of the scholar,
or the field of active enter prlse, afford The
surest pledge of success. Whitney early
displayed the germs of those qualities for
which he afterwards became distinguished
prudence, energy, and mechanical inge-
nulty. As soon as he could handle tools, he
was always at work in his fathers workshop,
and was soon able to-perforn1 the little jobs
OF the neighborhood, which were too nice
for the ordinary mechanics. His fathers
watch, being the greatest piece of mechan-
ism that had yet presented itself TO his OBJ
servation, he was extremely desitous of ex-
amlning its interior construction, but was
not permitted to do so One Sunday morn
ing, observing that his father was geirsr to
meeting, and would leave Mt home the
wonderful little machine, he Immediately
feigned illness as an apology for not roing
to church. As soon ms the family were out
of sight, he flew to the room where the
watch hung, and taking it down, he was so
delighted with its motions, that he took it
all in pieces, before he thought of the con.
&c bic Iaal
put the work all so neatly together, that his
father never discovered his audacity until
he himself told him, many years afterwards
During the revolutionary war, nails were
scarce and in great demand. Whitney,
then about fifteen or sixteen years old, in
duced his father to set up the manufacture
He continued this labor with great indus
try, and proftably for his father, till the
close of the war, when it ceased to be prof
table. But as fashion began to prevail
at that time among the ladies, of fastening
on their bonnets with long pins, he contriv-
ed TO make those with so much skill and
dexterity, that he nearly monopolized the
business.
Whitney early manifesteda fondness for
figures, and at the age of fourteen had ac-
CURED so much general information as to
be considered on this account, as well as
for his mechanical skill, remarkable boy.
From the age Of nineteen, he had conceiv-
ed the idea of obtaining a liberal educa-
ton, but being warmly opposed by his step
mother, he was unable to procure the con-
sent of his father until he had reached the
age of twenty-three years, when he enter
ed the Freshman class of Yale College,
His propensity to mechanical inventions and
occupations, was frequently manifested dur
ing his residence in College A carpenter
being at work upon one of the buildings
belonging to the gentleman with whom Mr..
Whitney boarded, the latter begged per-
mission to use his tools during tie intervals
of study; but the mechanic, being a man
Of careful habits, was unwilling TO trust
them with student, and it was only after
the gentleman of the house had become re-
sponsible for all damages, that he would
grant the permission. But Whitney had
no sooner commenced his operations, than
the carpenter was surprised at his dexteri-
ty, and exclaimed, There was one good
mechanic spoiled, when you went to COL
lege."
Soon after Mr.. Whitney took his degree,
in 1892, he repaired TO Georgia, to fulfil an
engagement he had entered into with Mr.. |
b. to reside in his family as private teach |
er. He had scarcely set his foot in Geor-
gla, before he was met by disappointment |
which was an earnest of that long series |
of adverse events which, with scarcely an
exception, attended all his future negota-
lions in that State. On his arrival he was
informed that Mr.. B. had employed another
teacher, leaving Whitney entirely without |
resources or friends. He was so fortunate,
however, as to attract the notice and SYM
pathy of Mrs. Greene, the widow of Gen.
Greene, who invited him to make her house
his home, and he accordingly commenced
the study OF the law under her hospitable
roof. 1t was here and by Mrs. Greene
that his attention was first directed to the
invention of machine for cleaning cotton
from its seed. A. that time, separating
one pound of the clean staple from the
seed, was days work for woman. Whit
ney procured some cotton in the seed, and
Immediately set himself to work with such
rude materials and instruments as Geor-
gla plantation afforded. With these re-
sources, he made tools better adapted to
his purpose, and drew his own wire, of
which the teeth of the earliest gins were
made. Near the close of the winter, the
gin was SO nearly completed as to leave no
doubt of its success. Mrs. Greene invited
her friends from various parts of the State,
TO view this machine, which vas to open to
the planters boundless resources of wealth,
and they saw with establishment and de-
light that by means of it more cotton could
be separated from the seed in one day, by
the labor of single hand, than could be
done in the usual manner in the space of
many months.
The chivalrous honor of the generous
south" was displayed in remarkable man
ner, at the expense of poor Whitney. The
knowledge of his invention soon spread
through the State, and so great was the ex-
element on the subject, that multitudes
came from all parts to see the machine; but
1t was not deemed safe to crafty their Gu
rIosity until the patent right had been Sc
cured. But so determined were they to
possess this treasure, that neither law nor
justice could restrain them; they broke open
the building by night, and carried off, the
machine. In this way the public became
possessed Of the invention; and before Mr..
Whitney could complete his model and Sc
cure his patent, number of machines were
in successful operation. Abou. this time,
Mr.. Whitney formed copartnership with
Mr.. Miller, the second husband Of Mrs
Greene, who had considerable funds at his
command. The company gained nothing
however, but hardship, injustice, and mis-
fortune. They were defrauded Of their pa.
tent right; and their funds were consumed
IN endless law suits, all of which they los,
the lsrymen at Augusta" in the words o.
Mr.. Miller, having come to an understand