on. I had also, at the
suggestion of another person, endorsed a hundred pound note, on which I
was afterwards sued and arrested; but I was finally released on taking
the 'poor debtor's oath.' By small loans from fellow mechanics, and by
pawning a few articles, I managed to live with my family in London,
until, from friendly representations from some American acquaintances,
the captain of an American packet was induced to take my wife and
children home to the United States on credit. I was then alone, and
extremely poor, in a foreign land."

"My invention was patented, and in successful use in England, but without
any profit to me, and wholly out of my control. In the spring of 1849 I
was indebted to a Scottish mechanic for a steerage passage, and I
returned to the United States, poorer, if possible, than when I left. On
my return I found my wife and children very destitute; all other
personal effects, save what they had on, being still detained to secure
payment for their passage home. My wife was sick, and died within ten
days after my arrival. During my absence in England a considerable
number of sewing-machines had been made, and put in operation in
different parts of the United States; some of these by the procurement
of the friend to whom I had sold half of my American patent but most of
them infringements on my patent."

"Having obtained from my father, in the summer of 1849, an agreement to
re-convey to me his half of my patent; I tried to induce the friend who
held the other half to join me in prosecuting our rights against
infringers, but he declined to do so. After failing to make any
satisfactory settlement with the infringers, who well knew my poverty
and embarrassments, I filed a bill in equity against one of such
persons, and made my friend a party defendant also, in order to bring
him into court as co-owner of my machine. After this he joined me in a
suit at law against another infringer. In this case the validity of my
patent was fully established by a verdict and judgment at law. After
several transfers of the half share sold my friend, I purchased it back,
about five years ago, and I am now sole owner of the American patent."

Thus did Howe modestly tell the story of his terrible trials and
suffering. After long litigation Mr. Howe's claim to have been the
original inventor was legally and irreversibly established, the judge
deciding, "that there was no evidence which left a shadow of doubt that
for