e six or eight years after the date of the patent, could the
machine be made to work even tolerably well. Indeed, he states, "I may
say they were not of much practical value, until the improvements of my
second patent in 1845," being eleven years after the date of the patent,
and fourteen years after the alleged invention in 1831.

On the other hand we have shown by as good and respectable testimony as
can be had in any cause, that from 1833 to 1854, a period of twenty-one
years, Hussey's invention was most efficient and satisfactory, _every
year_; not by cutting a patch of the fraction of an acre, but by
reaping hundreds, nay thousands of acres annually, by the few machines
placed in the hands of the farmers from 1833 to 1840.

As, however, we have given no direct evidence from Delaware, or
Virginia, none from North Carolina, and but one from New York, we annex
a few short testimonials from each, that embrace the period from 1838 to
1845; and with a few more of the same respectable character up to 1853,
both in this country and in England, we will leave the decision of the
question to the intelligent reader. We will, however, call the reader's
attention to the concluding paragraph of Maj. J. Jones' letter, from
Delaware--one of the smallest States, but containing as large a
proportion of noble minded, talented men, and as good practical farmers,
as any in the Union.[5]

[5] It is reported of one of her sons, that during the struggle
for Independence, when a Delegate to the Convention from one of the
largest and most powerful Colonies was ready to quail and almost
despair of success in the unequal contest, he was encouraged and
cheered on by a member from little Delaware; and told that when he
found his Colony likely to be overrun by the enemy, to call on
Delaware for aid--she would lend a helping hand.

It will be perceived that a reaper sold in 1838 to the St. George's and
Appoquinomick Agricultural Society had, after subsequently coming into
the possession of Col. Vandergrift, and prior to 1845, "cut about
_seven hundred acres_ of his grain," and "was then in good repair"!
We wish it was in our power to state how many times seven hundred acres
this single machine had reaped since 1838.

[Sidenote: An Important Testimonial from Delaware]

"Wheatland, Del.,
"July 21, 1845.

"_Mr. Hussey:_

"Dear Sir:--I have just finished cutting my oats; I finished