The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-13
The President and the Patent Once.
Extract from letter dated Washington, July

Before closing let me mention an incident in con-
nexon with the Patent Office. Few persons visit
Washington without taking stroll through II;
more or less strangers are seen IN 1t daily Saturday
morning, 3Oth ultimo, an elderly and plainly dressed
gentleman accompanied by young one of twenty
two or three) stepped into this museum of natural
and artificial mechanisms, and, after spending
little time in the Commissioners room, was attend
ed through the various apartments. The port-fo-
lios Of drawings were opened before him, and
among them some splendid plates of rotary steam
engine invented by Mr.. Thompson, of New York;
next models fpending applications in the offices of
the Machinist and Examiners were shown him,
and of these he anticipated the value of some and
the defects of others. Thence his attention was in
vited to the saloon of models, wherein is embodied,
in visible and tangible forms, mass of mental Gre
atoms whose value no superficial observer can even
begin TO appreciate. CHANGING over the cases,
months might be spent over one,) in which every
profession of civilized society is represented by
or more Devices he every and then paused to re-
mark such related TO the arts of peace--indus
trial and ornate-passed furtvely by those connect
ed with war, and closed his inquiries by asking
"Where your best ctilipator? Three or four were
Withdrawn, and on them he commented in a man
ner that showed him quite at home in agricultural
matters; this was farther confirmed by remarks on
the cereals, of which he observed, by the way, that
maize was his favorite, for she could live on corn
bread"
He now assembled to the upper saloon and in
spected, with much interest, the collection of natu-
raj and other rarites brought home by the Explor-
ing Expedition; the statuary, paintings, Indian
arms and antiquities; Washingtons sword coat
and camp equipage; Franklin's cane, Smithsons
domestic and chemical utensils &C., &C., and what
will one day be held as the worlds charter of inde-
pendence, the original Declaration. After thus
spending couple Of hours, this singularly affabe
and unosentatious visier took leave Of the officers
Of the Institution with promise TO call again.
Now, who do you suppose he was Why, no
other than the President Of the United STATES. This
was Gen. Taylor's and his sons first visit to the
Patent Office.
patentee yourself, you take lively interest in
amendments to the Patent laws. For your satisfac-
ton, let me tell you that warmer friend of invent
ors than President Taylor does not live. He is
with you heart and SOUL and if you and your
brethren do not realize under his Administration
all that you can reasonably ask for, it will not be
his fault will not repeat, at this time, an en-
phatc declaration Of his in favor of the mechanics
and inventors of our country, nor what he said OF
his readiness to urge upon Congress their just
rights, but will merely add, that amid the weighty
matters pressing upon him, their interests are, in
his estimation, neither the least nor the last to be
looked to-
II