"Fifthly, I have represented and described my shuttle boxes as disconnected with the lathe (lay, we suppose,) but I do not now claim the mere disconnecting of these parts, this having been the subject of a claim in the specification of a patent for a loom for weaving coach lace granted to me on the 20th day of April, 1837But I do claim as an improvement thereon, the working of a series of shuttle boxes, so disconnected, and supported by the frame of the loom, or other stationary part of the structure adapted thereto in the manner set forth, that is to say, having the said shuttle boxes to turn or slide in stationary fixtures attached to the frame of the loom, or in any other manner which is substantially the same. series of shuttle boxes so disconnected may be applied, and I intend to apply them to looms in which the fly shuttle is used, and I do not limit my claim, therefore, to their employment in looms of the kind herein described (the above claim is a 'cute one.)

Sixthly, I claim the manner of arranging and combining the nrachinery employed to cause the above mentioned reciprocating arms, rods or bars, to receive, retain or discharge the shuttles, when they are handed through the warp!

"Seventhly, I claim the manner of constructing and arranging the apparatus herein described, for preventing the selvage of the cloth from being drawn in, and of stopping the loom when the filling breaks, or is exhausted on the bobbin.

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'Eighthly, I claim the manner of throwing the loom out of gear, when a change of colour is required in the filling, by means of the connection formed for that purpose between the Jacquard machine and the shipper, whether such connection be made precisely in the manner described, or in any other which is substantially the same." Patent, dated May 26, 1842; antedated, May 1, 1842.

"First, I claim the application of the measuring roller i, to the cloth or yarn, for the purpose of regulating the action of the machinery employed to deliver out the chain or warp, or to take up the finished cloth in the manner above described, or under such modifications thereof as shall produce the same end by similar means.

"Secondly, I claim the combination formed by the tension roller b, and the measuring roller i, co-operating together in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

Thirdly, I claim the mode of giving an uniform tension to each thread of woof or filling as above described, that is to say, I claim the grasping of the thread of woof or filling, at a point between the shuttle and selvage of the cloth, by the bars e', e', and q', q', or by a pair of pliers operating in a similar manner as set forth, to

gether with the mode of giving tension to the filling as above set forth, or in any other manner which is substantially the same.

Fourthly, I claim the manner in which I have connected the shipper and the rotating shaft r', with the apparatus employed to give tension to the woof or filling, for the purpose of throwing the loom out of gear when the woof or filling breaks, or is exhausted on the bobbin."

Patent, granted May 30, 1842; antedated May 1, 1842.

"Having thus fully described the nature of my improvements, in the loom for weaving counterpanes, and other figured articles, and having, also, set forth several different modifications thereof, and particularly in the manner of forming and arranging the cams on the cam shafts, by which the required motion is given to the respective treadles, so as to correspond in their action with the arrangements made in the other parts of the loom, it is to be understood that I do not claim, nor do I intend to limit myself to the particular arrangement of the cams and treadles, these not constituting a distinguishing or an essential feature of my improvements; these consisting, mainly, in the mounting of the loom and of tying up the harness, so as to admit of the employment of one or more moveable harness-boards, and of one or more leaves of headles, and of the Jacquard Machine in the power loom. By this arrangement I am enabled to produce a free and open shed of the warp, and to allow one part, or shed, thereof to descend whilst the other is rising. What I claim, therefore, as constituting my inventions, and which I desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the within described manners or modes of mounting the loom, and tying up the harness, and of working the same, in which, under its various modifications, I combine a moveable harness-board, or boards, with one, or more, leaves of headles, or harness, and with the Jacquard Machine in the power loom, such arrangement and combination being substantially the same with that herein described."

We have given above Mr. Bigelow's claims, exactly as received from the Commissioner of Patents; and we shall now offer a few remarks upon them, beginning with his patent of 16th May, 1842.

The first claim, regarding the action of the knot-cords and trapboards, contains no new feature, as has been already stated. See pages 446 to 448. The working of the card prism or polygon, (Jacquard cylinder), by means of a cam, when the trap boards are at rest (or even in motion) has been done long since. Mr. J. Kyle, of Glasgow, M. Eug. Lefebre, of Lyons, and M. R. Dubois, of Paris, used cams and other contrivances for that purpose many years

ago, on looms for weaving some kinds of vestings and furniture stuffs; and we ourself effected the same thing as far back as the year 1831, on a Joom for weaving quilted vesting stuffs, but owing to improvements which we afterwards made in the mode of tying up the harness, we were enabled to dispense with the cam altogether. Both the second and third claims are comprised in Poole's, Cunningham's, Truffaut's, and Wilbur's patents. See page 462, and Figs. 218, 219 and 220.

The fourth claim contains nothing worthy of notice.

The fifth claim, for disconnecting the shuttle boxes from the lay, making the boxes to turn or slide on stationary fixtures attached to the frame of the loom, is ingenious, and, if simplified in its mechanism, might be found advantageous in the manufacture of many kinds of fancy goods; but, besides Mr. Fletcher (see page 394) there are five other different claimants to the honour of this invention. It remains to be seen, therefore, to whom this contrivance justly belongs; which our forthcoming treatise on carpeting will clearly set to rights.

The sixth claim merits no attention.

The seventh claim, for preventing the selvage of the cloth from being drawn in, and of stopping the loom when the weft thread breaks, is illustrated at pages 403, 416 to 421, 443, 454 to 463, and at 468 to 478.

The eighth claim is, for throwing the loom out of gear by means of a connection between the shipper and the Jacquard machine. If by this Mr. Bigelow means the connection of the shipper with a few spare Jacquard needles, one for each colour employed, these needles being acted upon by the card when a new colour is to commence in the cloth; we say, if he means this, he claims that which truly belongs to us. Besides, we have adapted Jacquard needles, (with lifting hooks, made of No. 10 wire,) for working a series of shuttle boxes, either in hand or power looms; and for which we obtained patents, in the name of Mr. Poole, and others, several years before the date of Mr. Bigelow's patent. A modification of our plan for working the shuttle boxes with the Jacquard, is specified in Poole's patent of May 12, 1839; and any person who feels interested on the subject may obtain a copy of the specification and drawings of this patent, from Messrs. Poole and Carpmael, of the Patent Office, 4 Lincoln's Inn, Old Square, London, on payment of 221. 10s. (about $108,00.)

In Mr. Bigelow's patent of 26th May, 1842, his first claim is, the measuring roller i, &c., for regulating the giving-out of the warp

and the taking-up of the cloth. Our apparatus for this purpose is described at page 352, and represented at Figs. 161 to 164, where a measuring roller is shown, marked Q.

The second claim is only a modification of the first.

The third claim is, for the mode of giving uniform tension to each thread of weft or filling, by means of a finger or pusher at each selvage of the cloth, working in a groove cut in the lay; which fingers draw or push the weft thread toward the cloth at each pick of the shuttle. Mr. B. also claims the grasping of the weft thread at a point between the shuttle and the selvage of the cloth, by bars, or by a pair of pliers, in connection with the fingers for tightening up the weft, as already described. Both of these inventions are ours, and are included in our patents. In the beginning of the year 1834 we laboured under great difficulty in weaving heavy silk and woollen goods, the warps being of a sticky nature, and it was then that we applied these motions for obviating the difficulty. Some of the most competent manufacturers in France, who saw these inventions in operation, were highly delighted with them; and from the testimonials at the end of this work, it will be seen, that they were acquainted with these motions, in connection with several of our other improvements, for upwards of nine years previous to our leaving France, in 1841. See also Enoch Burt's patent of 19th August, 1828, page 403.

The fourth claim is comprised in our patents already referred to, and we need not, therefore, make any observations upon it here.

We have already made some remarks on Mr. Bigelow's counterpane loom (see pages 446 to 449), the patent for which is dated 30th May, 1842; and we would just state in this place, what we before hinted, that without the motions taken from Tompkins and Gilroy's loom, and from "Cross's counterpoise harness," the counterpane loom would be no loom at all; as it is, however, it answers the purpose very well.

We make the following extract from the specification of a patent, bearing date May, 1839, granted to us in the name of Moses Poole, of the Patent Office, London:

"The tenth part of the invention consists, in drawing up or tightening the weft thread or threads at each and every throw of the shuttle, so as to prevent any loose threads or loops, or any other unevenness in the cloth woven, or being wove in the loom to which this new mechanism is applied, which, it must be acknowledged, is a matter of no small importance to the manufacturer; for it is well known that even in hand looms there is often the greatest possible

difficulty to the weaver, or person who tends looms, to keep the weft thread always straight, that is to say, that when the shuttle receives its motion from one side of the loom to the other opposite side, that the weft thread in the opening of the warp yarn will have the appearance of a crooked line, or zig-zag, in and out, or similar to a thread of woollen yarn ravelled or taken out of an old stocking; this has always been a source of the very greatest embarrassinent to the weaving community, and more particularly so to the manufacturers of silk, woollen and such like sticky or gummy yarns; for, as I have before observed, the weft thread must be woven into the cloth in a very loose and imperfect manner, unless something is done to remedy that evil, and this is the case more particularly in looms worked by power. And I would further remark, that it is well known to all manufacturers and weavers in general, that there never has, up to this present time, been any effectual remedy found out to do away with the above mentioned evil, and particularly so in power looms; for it must at once be perceived by the most inexperienced manufacturer or weaver, that unless the surface or texture of the cloth or fabric woven is perfectly smooth and of a glossy appearance, something like the surface of a mirror, then the cloth or fabric will not be so good either in appearance or in substance. But by means of this invention or improvement, all these above mentioned evils will be annihilated, and done away with; the construction and adaption of which will be readily understood by every experienced manufacturer or mechanic who is acquainted with looms and machinery in general; neither is it subject to derangement in any way whatever, when once adopted to any loom or looms, whether such loom or looms are worked by steam or other power."

Then follows a description of the invention, including several different modifications of it, applicable to various kinds of looms; and the patentee further observes :

"Having described the various parts of the invention or improvements in looms, the manner of their working is as follows, namely: as soon as the shuttle has entered the lay box, after having been driven through the shed as in other looms, and when the lay is about half its full course or distance forward towards the fell of the cloth, then the said finger or curved lever-piece will push forward the weft thread or threads before the warp threads descend or close together, and also before the reed comes into contact with the cloth."

The patentee next refers to the figures contained in the patent, and afterwards claims as follows: