The republic., 1851-10-29

which, II II realizes the anticipatons OF compeien
Judges will amply remunerate England for al
ner outlay connected with the Great Exhibition
The reaping machine from the United States s th,
most valuable contribution from abroad to the stoch
OF our previous knowledge that have yet dis
covered, and several facts in connexon with il
not a little remarkable"
II has been a of patriotic, and trust egi-
mate pride, to me as Virginian that invention
emanating from my own State, and may say
from my own neighborhood indeed, has done 30
much 10 procure honor to the American name
abroad, and to vndcate the claims Of American
genius and enterprise to the respect and gratitude
of other nations. In these feelings you and ys'ur
friends around you, who know so well both the in
vention and the inventor, will, am sure, largely
share. cannot describe to you the feeling of home
delight, not unmixed with triumph, with which,
on one of the days that attended the Exh bition,
saw the "Vnginia Grain Reaper (for by that
| name Mccormick himself entered his machine on
the official catalogue of the Exhibition) as much
surrounded by curious and interested spectators
the priceless Indian diamond-the Koh moor or
Mountain OF fLght-whch ually attracts the larg.
est and most eager crowds Ii is in the country,
however, when il is at work. sweeping with ease
over Its hlteen or twenty acres of thick standing
wheat day, that 1t excites the strongest enthu-
siasm, as IL achieves its greatest triumphs On
some oi these occasions as many as fifteen hundred
or two thousand persons have been assembled to
witness its performance, and they have cheered il
with loud and hearty paudits, when has finished
row or turned corner OF the field, as If it we're
some great living hero or conqueror. Mccormick
himself has been feted; and when in acknowledge
ing a toast, with true Washingtonian modesty and
Spartan brevity, he SAID he was "more accustomed
TO working than speaking, and preferred always
that his machine should speak for itsef he brought
down as laundering applause as ever greeted an
orator in the House OF Commons.
Everybody in England now wonders that a ma
chine at once so simple and effective, and so
precisely adapted to the wants of British agricul-
ture should never have been invented and brought
to perfection by some OF their own people, and that
II should have been reserved for u modest inhab
liant OF the mountains of Virginia, more than
three thousand miles distant, to conceive and
cute and bring to them what so exactly suited
them, without their having been able previously to
form distinct conception either of its nature its
practcabity. What renders THE the more extraor-
dinary (and 1t is circumstance which greatly en-
hances both the merit and the glory of the Ameri-
can invention) is that the minds Of the most inge-
nious mechanicians in Great Britain had been ear
nesty directed to the object for the catalogue
ofhe Exhibition registers less thaneght different
but very imperfect essays towards its accomplish
ment. My own observation last year at the an nual
meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng
land convinced Inc that good reaping machine was
the great deSideTatum in British agriculture In
the immense and almost infinitely diversified coec-
ton of agricultural implements displayed there,
no instrument OF that kind was seen and yet twas
evident that in climate so humid and uncertain
some accelerated and at the same time economical
process Of getting in their harvest was matter of
the highest importance. Immediately wrote TO our
friend c. j. Meriwether, as he will, doubtless reco-
ect, that the Virginia Reaper sent out to the
Great Exhibition OF the next year, for which the ar
rapgements were then commencing, twoud make
the fortune OF its inventor. Ii has not only done
this, but 1t has reaped harvest of honor and re-
nown for himself, his native State, and the reputa
ton of American genius in general, which is a re-
suit far more to be priced.
With this encouraging example before us, are
we not strongly invited to some change in the di-
rcction which has been heretofore 80 exclusively
given to the youthful talent of our State? As coon
a m leny theu, n,
hundreds into what are called the learned proes
sions, which are already filled to repletion or they
devote themselves TO still more sterile and unpro-
fltabe employment of their faculties, both for
themselves and the country, in mere party poll
tics. Ii the same amount of mind and energy
were applied to those useful practical pursuits in
which science ia the auxiliary of art in indefinite
ly multiplying the results of labor and unfolding
the latent capabilities of nature what n magical
change would soon be manifested in the prosperity
and power of our ancient Commonwealth, rich, as
all admit her to be- in every element of moral in
tellectual, and material wealth
In rejecting upon this subject, as often do with
a socitude ever alive to the honor and destinies of
my native State, have thought that some modili-
cation OF the systems OF education pursued in most
of our public schools would greatly contribute and
Is perhaps Indispensable, to introduce the change
which appears desirable in the active direction
OF our mental resources. Could not that education
be made more practical, without abating any thing
from the high standard of science and learning
which should characterize it, simply by giving
more development to the applications of science 10
the various branches OF industry and art is done
in the admirable institutions Of this country, the
Ecole PoIyfechnique, the Ecole des Points ct Chaus
sees, the Ecoe deS Mines and the Eco8e Cetrae des
44rts ct Man,gactves, from which England, with
her Usual sagacity, has taken hint in the estab-
lishment of her government school of mines and
science applied to the ar,s, not being able to en-
graft these new studies upon the ancient and char
tered systems of her universities. Whether the
Objects to be accomplished with us by some modi-
fcation in existing institutions, or by the cstab-
lishment of new and special institutions, ia ques-
ton on which / am not prepared to pronounce an
opinion. Those who more competent than
myself, recognising the utility of the end, will,
trust, devise the proper means, and my prayers
will be for the success of whatever they shall adopt,
as they ever are for the happiness and prosperity
in all things ofny native land
Most truly and faithfully yours,
w G. RIVES.