The native American., 1838-05-12
HENATIVE AMERICAN.
COMMUNICATED.

The frequent loss of life by steam explosions,
has aroused the public to call loudly for remedy
which MANY have thought Legislation may afford,
and bill is now before Congress for the purposes;
but we fear that all legislation with reference to
the present mode of using steam on our waters,
will prove of but little avail, and that the only
remedy to be found is IN machinery not liable TO
explosion: and whilst next to Fulton we would
rank the man that shall give TO the world such an
application of steam as will save us from those
heartrendng events which have hitherto clothed
In mourning so many of our fellow citizens; we
would not cherish him the less for being native
Amencan-nor yet the less for his having been
long resident of Washington
The employment of foreigners in our Patent
Office, has before been noticed; and tale remains
to be told respecting the promptitude with which
our Inventions have been patented in England
calculated to the indignantieelings OF every
honest man against the policy which so wantonly
exposes the interests of the Patenaesoithls coun-
try, one of whom, after using all diligence to reach
Europe, found on his arrival in England, that
his invention had been patented there just three
aceeks before. Indebted as the people Of England
are to us for their steam machinery, it is there
fore not to be wondered at. that whilst we. from
1898 to the present, have been repu!slng the pre-
tensions of our elbow citizen EDWARD ID. TIPpETT
to the credit of having ascerained this much
desired application of steam, they have pro-
fitted by his labors, and sent us ship propelled
by steam generated by throwing water on heated
plates: thus demonstrating that power may be
obtained in this way, and setting aside the only
objection here raised to the invention
1t is much to be lamented that Congress and
our fellow citizens generally are so slow in adj
vancing the interests of science. Wewondcr not
so much at Fultons difficulties the vastness of
the beneficial consequences of his invention to
this country could scarcely have entered into the
imagination. But here is offered a remedy for
the only evil attendant upon the production OF
Futons genius-an evil for the relief of which
there has been universal ca and vet the small
sum necessary fully to test the principle Of Mr..
Tippetfs discovery has been withheld, and he is
now imploring Congress for the sake of humanity
to grant the desired aid. We would suppose
that the instructive love of life itself would prompt
some one of our millionares to give $40, 900 for
such an object, that he might be safe whilst
travelling, and released from that unpleasant
of danger which all feel in stepping on board a
steam boat; and we really are ashamed for our
government, that an object so important has not
promptly received its patronage. One has OBJ
served that sin some respects, ours is Etie
government" In its relations to science and
the arts, It's policy is contracted indeed.
There are persons in this city, we regret to
say, interested in defeating Mr.. Tippeu. The
origin of the opposition of one is of dark and
damning character, and HE FEARS THE coNsE-
OFFENCES TO HIMSELF OF THIS MANS SUCCESS IN
LIFE. He is man Of great influence, and his
minions are busy decrying the invention and
representing its protector madman. Reader,
Legislators of our country, he is not mad; but he
has suffered much wrong-sees that more is
meditated-and feels as an American-As AN
AMERICAN FATHER; and he has not that control
of his feelings which the great interest in hand
demands. We know him well-for we have
known him long He is man of decided ma
thimatica and mechanical genius, and ought to be
cherished. The calling in which he spent
considerable portion of his life, in connection
with sense of the wrong he has Suffered and is
suffering, and the certainty he feels of having
made the desired discovery, causes him al times
to appear impatient Of contradiction. We hope
notwithstanding, that he will find many more snch
patient and intelligent inlnirers were found
about his machine in the capital square few DAYS
since-none of whom, we feel persuaded, went
away without being impressed with the belief
that Congress ought forthwith to grant the funds
wanted. +.