Extracts from the Diaries of Commissioner Charles Mason
Extracts from the diaries of Charles Mason, who was, among other things, Commissioner of Patents and patent solicitor

A transcript of these diaries is in the Library of Congress, among the manuscripts.

Several themes run through these diaries. Mr. Mason had lost two of his children to disease (all except for a young daughter) about four years before these diaries begin. He was frequently ill, his wife had a constant cough, and he suffered from frequent melancholia, especially when alone. The only thing he could do to stop the melancholia was to lose himself in work. He was a brilliant man (graduating first in the West Point class that had Robert E. Lee at number two) and had little patience with political pressures, especially stupid political pressures. Mr. Mason was a strong temperance man, although he occasionally took a drink for medicinal purposes and noted the occasions in his diary. He was a religious seeker, going to two different church services most Sundays, apparently without any great preferences.

[Biography in front of each volume of the typed diaries]

Charles Mason, of Washington, D.C., and Burlington, Iowa

Charles Mason, the third and youngest son of Chauncey Mason and his wife Esther Dodge, was born in Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, October 24, 1804. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point at the head of the class of 1829, in which class were many noted officers, among whom was General Robert E. Lee. Two years later Charles Mason resigned from the army, studied law, traveled and prospected in the western states, and eventually settled in Burlington, Iowa. In 1838 he was appointed First Chief Justice of the Territory of Iowa, which office he held until his resignation in 1847. From 1853 to 1857 he was the United States Commissioner of Patents. During this tenure of office he became the first head of a government department in Washington to give regular office employment to a woman, when he chose Miss Clara Barton to be his secretary, contending that if a woman's work equalled that of a man she should have a man's pay. Thus he established a precedent now providing positions for thousands of women.

To the founding and development of law and order in Iowa the Hon. Charles Mason devoted much time and energy. The last twenty years of his life were spent largely in the study and promotion of questions of public welfare, upon which he lectured and wrote much for publication. He was among the pioneer advocates of temperance in this country. Some of his articles thereon are incorporated in the series of his diaries, now preserved in the Historical Department of the State of Iowa. He traveled widely in this country and abroad, dividing his time principally between Burlington, Iowa, in the summer and the City of Washington, where he usually spent the winter. He died at his home in Burlington on February 25th, 1882, survived by his daughter, Mary Josephine Mason Remey, the wife of George C. Remey (now Rear Admiral), United States Navy.

C.M.R. [Charles Mason Remey]

December 1927

The portrait on the book plate of Charles Mason is taken from the painting of him by George H. Yewell. The original hangs in the Supreme Court Chamber in the State Capitol at Des Moines, Iowa.

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Tuesday June 5, 1855

This day a cripple called on me with books for sale. I purchased this with a view of keeping a diary which in all my life thus far I have never done.

Attended a call of a meeting of the "Establishment" of the Smithsonian Institution. No one present but Professor Henry and myself. Adjourned over till first [blank] in November next. This is probably the last time I shall be called upon to attend any one of these meetings.

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Sunday, June 10, 1855 [in New York]

I do not suppose my continuance in Washington will in many respects be as advantageous to me as my return to Iowa. In a pecuniary point of view I am sure it would not be. On the score of health of myself and family I think my return to the West would be for my benefit.

But I am better adapted to my present business than to any other I should be likely to follow and I dislike to give up and leave Washington and abandon my plans just at this time.

On yesterday I visited the rooms of Messrs. Fowler and Wells, phrenologists. How astonishingly accurate they give the traits of character. Among other things I was told that if there was a complicated piece of machinery to be examined I was the very man to do it. When this was said he was wholly ignorant as to who I was. In a great many other respects his descriptions were strikingly correct.

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Wednesday, June 13, 1855

Reached Washington at the usual hour this morning and found all well.

My clerks seem much gratified at the probability of my remaining with them. I am not sure that it would not be better for me in many respects to return at once to Iowa. Still I feel myself better qualified for my present employment than for any other which I should be likely to engage if I should leave here.

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Thursday, June 14, 1855

A ten hours' sleep has made a great change in my capacity for business. This has accumulated during my absence to a considerable amount.

Two cases came before me today supposed to be of very considerable importance. Jackman's machine for rolling puddler's balls and Blanchard's contrivance for using the products of combustion intermingled with steam as a motive power. This latter especially if his statements and those of his witnesses are found to be correct will furnish grounds to hope for the introduction of a new era in the history of the steam engine. The great objection to the use of hot air as a motor is supposed to be avoided by the intermixture of sufficient steam to serve as a lubricator.

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Friday June 15, 1855

The business of the office -- especially that which comes to my share -- shows no signs of diminishing. I shall probably order as many patents to issue during the present year as any one of the examiners.

No small change has certainly been introduced since I have been at the head of the office. Some persons may doubt the propriety of allowing so large a proportion of patents. I am satisfied however that a liberal policy in this respect toward inventors is the right policy and most in accordance with the intention of the patent laws.

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Monday, June 18, 1855

Have been looking for a house to rent as we have concluded to keep house if we remain any longer in Washington. Am daily looking for information from New York which would determine whether I remain or return to Iowa.

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Wednesday, June 27, 1855

News of Know nothing removals are in circulation and partially credited. The Commissioner of the General Land Office is among these.Thursday,June 28, 1855

So I shall return to Iowa rather than accept either of these propositions and have so informed them.

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Friday June 29, 1855

I am making my arrangements to leave next Thursday.

John Wilson, the Commissioner of the Land Office, has been removed from office on account of his having joined the Know Nothings. Men who have associated themselves with that party -- the leading maxim of which is proscription -- can hardly make any just complaint at being made to take their own medicine. It is rumored that the offices (the Patent Office among the number) have more or less of this fraternity employed in various capacities. If so we may hear more from them before long.

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Saturday June 30, 1855

I am endeavoring to bring up my work by the time I leave so as to leave nothing on hand if possible. I hope the examiners will be able to do the same.

Made an arrangement for preparing descriptions and drawings for my report of the current year -- or rather the Patent Office report which some one else will probably make to Congress.

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Monday July 2, 1855

There are many things which I have been contemplating by way of improvements in my office.

Among other things is a plan to illustrate all the patents that have been issued since the year 1836. An artist is proposing to do this on private account. The plan is to publish brief descriptions after the style of the last year's report accompanied by neat and accurate copperplate illustrations. There will be five volumes of descriptions and as many more of plates previous to the year 1854. These will be in quarto size, the same as originally proposed for the last year's report.

I promise the artist to subscribe for fifty copies for the use of the Patent Office and I presume Congress will subscribe for 1000 more which would more than secure the completion of the work. Even without this subscription by Congress the plan might probably be carried out. A subscription list of 1500 would be sufficient for that purpose. It is proposed to charge $40 for the entire set including the year 1855.

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Monday, July 2, 1855

Applicants for patents will regret my resignation ... I have not done all for them that I intended though I have brought about a partial reform. A very narrow and illiberal course had been pursued in some respects. In most cases the rejected applications were doubtless valueless but I have seen some highly useful and valuable inventions which were thrown out by the rules adopted and followed. When a patent if granted would encroach upon a preexisting patent, or would narrow the field of action properly belonging to the public, I have endeavored to be cautious in granting patents. But in a vast number of cases the patent if granted could not injure anyone but the patentee himself. In such cases I have not been very scrutinizing but generally allowed the patent leaving the applicant to take the risk.

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Tuesday July 3, 1855

A very hard day's work and still unable to finish off all the work before me. I have been beset nearly all day by persons who supposed they had special claim to speedy action on their cases in total disregard of the order in which they stood upon the calendar. In fact in all these instances the cases had not passed through the hands of the examiners and still I have been most urgently importuned to take the decision into my own hands.

This I have refused to do and though I may have given dissatisfaction, they cannot complain of favoritism; I have treated all alike.

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Wednesday, July 4, 1855

On the whole I have spent the two last years pleasantly. My relations with my superiors and my subordinates in office as well as with persons doing business with the office have been extraordinarily agreeable and harmonious with scarcely an exception. The sundering of those relations fills me with sadness.

I have just written and sent my resignation.

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Thursday, July 5, 1855

Reached New York safely about sunset.

Attended Barnum's museum in the evening.

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Sunday September 30, 1855

I wrote again to the Secretary of the Interior last Thursday stating the present state of things to him and intimating my willingness that he should appoint my successor. I also received on Friday last a letter from Mr. Shugert informing me that the amount subscribed to the "Mason Testimonial" would be about $3000. At this I am no little surprised and gratified and should think there was one cipher too much in stating the sum but for the fact that he states in another part of the letter that there was some $300 that has been subscribed by some particular persons which had not yet been paid in but which awaited his call.

The evidence of kind feeling on the part of the inventors of the country, while extremely gratifying, is at the same time somewhat embarrassing in case I should succeed in making arrangements to return to Washington. I am hesitating whether in that event I could consistently accept the present.

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Sunday October 7, 1855

If I could be plunged into the business and labors of the Patent Office I should have little time to brood over my bereavement and the affectionate attachment of my subordinates would be in part substitute for the love and society of my dear lost children.

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Sunday October 14, 1855

Wrote to the Secretary of the Interior in answer to a recent letter from him in which he seems to feel rather wore in consequence of some strictures on his course contained in Scientific American. I have no doubt those strictures are undeserved. The secretary is a very honest man and he has the good of his whole department at heart. He has recently been making some encroachments on the Patent Office for the benefit of the Indian Bureau which has given umbrage to the class of inventors and their organs. I regret that these encroachments were deemed necessary and so wrote the Secretary but at the same time he meant all for the best and perhaps it will prove so. Had I been there however, I doubt whether this change would have been made and perhaps some remedy may be found should I return.

I understand from other sources that the Secretary has dismissed the female clerks whom I had employed in the office and sent instead a detachment of male clerks down from the Pension Office. To this I shall have some grave objections if I understand the matter rightly. They were some of my best clerks and besides, charity dictated their appointment and retention.

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Friday November 2, 1855

Saw the Secretary who was very willing that I should again engage in the Patent Office pending the efforts to make arrangements referred to on the previous page.

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Saturday November 3, 1855

I have been this day again in my old place in the Patent Office. I do not know how well I shall be pleased with it after all. I shall have some very unpleasant duties to discharge in general of the clerks and examiners (who) have been reported to me as having indulged in intemperance. I fear I shall be obliged to discharge some of them. There are some other cases where complaints of a different character will need attention.

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Tuesday, November 6, 1855

Called on the President last evening who invited me to dine with him tomorrow afternoon. He also intimated that he wished on some early opportunity to have a conversation with me in relation to some changes in the Patent Office. I shall not object to making changes but I fear we shall not agree on the principle on which they ought to be made.

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Wednesday November 7, 1855

Dined with the President this afternoon. Everything was as quiet and unostentatious as at the dinner of a private gentleman. I had the honor of escorting the Lady of the Mansion in to the dinner table. She seems still overwhelmed with sorrow and I can appreciate the weight of the sadness which she manifests.

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Thursday, November 15, 1855

Today is set apart by the Mayor of the City as a day of thanksgiving. The office is closed but I have been here all day till two o'clock in my office as usual

Roast turkey and pumpkin pies are the most substantial evidences of the real devoutness of our people and these we had in great perfection at our boarding house.

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Saturday November 24, 1855

The west wing of the Patent Office is nearly covered with copper. We shall soon be ready for winter.

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Friday November 30, 1855

Today I found it necessary to remove one of the watchmen of the Patent Office at the special request (amounting to an order) of the Secretary of the Interior. He had been a member of the Know-nothing order and had not sufficiently exculpated himself. Poor man, he has a large family and no other means of support. How I pity him. I could not have had the heart to remove him myself.

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Monday, December 3, 1855

Congress met today and after four ballotings adjourned. There will be difficulty in agreeing. The Democratic nominee received 74 -- the fusionist and northern Know-nothings 53 to 57; the Southern Know-nothings and some of the northern Know-nothings voted for Banks of Massachusetts, about 22 in number. The rest were scattering. One hundred and thirteen would have been sufficient to have elected today. The whole number when all are present is 234.

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Tuesday December 4, 1855

We called upon the President and his Lady last evening. Everything in that mansion seems cold and cheerless.

Business is pouring in with the members of Congress.

Today also we commenced packing seeds, and the selection of a few employees from a host of applicants has given me no little trouble.

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Wednesday December 5, 1855

Members of Congress are flocking into my office in great numbers bringing with them much business as usual.

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Sunday December 9, 1855

One of the Iowa members of Congress told me a day or two since that the farmers and mechanics of the country were beginning to use my name in connection with the Presidency in such a way as to show that it was not a mere random suggestion of one or two individuals but in such a way as to show that there was something real and important in their purpose. He advised me therefore to remain in my present post through the year, if possible.

This astonishes me. I can hardly realize it. My position is one which brings me into more immediate connection with the bone and sinew of the country than any other person in the government.

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Monday December 17, 1855

We shall issue 2025 patents this year which is 122 more than we did last year which will be doing very well. The amount of money received is about equal to our expenditures notwithstanding the latter have been so greatly increased.

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Thursday January 3, 1856

I am so taciturn that silence would be often felt to be unpleasant if all others were like myself.

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Sunday January 6, 1856

My duties are daily growing more strenuous -- resulting just now from the fact that very nice and difficult questions have been presented for my decision. One in particular requires me to make myself acquainted with the whole process of taking daguerrotypes (in a general way). The examiner is flatly opposed to granting the patent and I have an indefinite impression that he is wrong. He understands the matter practically, as well as theoretically. I cannot overrule him without I become acquainted with the art superficially well to refute his arguments. [This might have been J.H. Tompkins, pat no 14,122, January 15, 1856, Improved Box for Coating Daguerreotype Plates.]

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Sunday, February 3, 1856

.... I have pretty much concluded to take Mr. Fitzgerald's house by the month at the rate of $1000 per annum until it is certain what I shall do. I am quite tired of waiting in uncertainty and only living by halves. I want my books where I can get at them and many other conveniences of which I am now deprived.

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Wednesday February 6, 1856

[Mason has earlier explained a contest for the speakership of the House of Representatives, ending in a compromise that resulted in the displacement of some clerks loyal to the Democratic party from the House payroll.]

The President sent for me this morning and stated that he had determined to provide for some of those who had been removed from office by the opposition at the Capitol. I shall have to allow some of my clerks to be removed to make place for one or two. This is something very unpleasant to me but perhaps it is just. Retaliation in politics cannot be complained of by those who give occasion for it.

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Friday February 8, 1856

Today General Cass fell in going down the steps on the east front of the Patent Office and injured himself very seriously. The principal injury was to his head which would not have been dangerous on that of a younger man but the physicians feel somewhat doubtful how it will terminate with him. If it should prove fatal how singular it will seem that one who has passed through a long life of danger should at last meet death from so little apparent danger as is shown in the steps of the Patent Office.

[Note: Probably Gen. Cass is Lewis Cass (1782-1866), who, in 1856, was a senator from Michigan, later Secretary of State. KWD]

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Saturday February 9, 1856

General Cass is better today and will probably recover.

Professor Henry called again this day to confer further in relation to the cooperation of the Patent Office with the Smithsonian. He is very jealous of Lieut. Maury who is also desirous for a similar cooperation with the observatory. I am willing to work with either or both but do not wish to espouse the quarrels of either. We can all find enough to do without jostling one another.

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Wednesday, February 13, 1856

I visited the Observatory and had a conference with Lieut. Maury in relation to our future proceedings in relation to meteorology. He has an idea of using the telegraph for the purpose of collecting information relative to the weather several times in each day from all points to which the telegraph extends and also that we should act in concert with the scientific men in Europe.

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Thursday, February 14, 1856

I have just called on Professor Henry who is very jealous of Lieut. Maury. I think however the Professor is really a man of science and shall be glad to cooperate with him. I shall also be glad to act in concert with Lieut. Maury as far as is consistent with my other relations.

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Monday March 17, 1856

Had an invitation to dine again with the President today. He is exerting every nerve to be again nominated. I do not think quite as well of him on this account for I thought before that office has always sought him.

One of my clerks who was appointed to me at the pressing desire of the President is found not equal to his place. I spoke a day or two since with the Secretary of the Interior with a view of making some change but was answered that we had better wait till after June as the clerk had married the relative of an influential man (Col. Lally) who was to be in the Cincinnati convention. I learned yesterday morning that the President had been informed that I had great influence with Judge Wilson, another delegate from Iowa, and shortly afterwards I was invited to dine.

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Tuesday March 25, 1856

Sent out 64 patents today which is one of the largest issues from this office in one week.

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Thursday March 27, 1856

I have just granted a patent to Mauria Vergnes for a new galvanic engine refused by the examiner. The applicant promises within two years to outstrip steam power. We shall see.[This would be Maurice Vergnes, pat no. 14,682, April 15, 1856, for Electrogalvanic Machine for Producing Motion by Galvanic Electricity. The invention seems never to have amounted to anything.]

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Wednesday April 30, 1856

One of my examiners, Mr. Langdon, is about to resign and already a great number of applicants are after his place.

I wish I could be spared the trouble and perplexity of disposing of this business.

Since I have been absent renewed efforts have been made to remove Dr. Holt. Mr. Senator Jones has made a fresh attack though Dr. Holt is said to have conducted himself with perfect propriety. Mr. Shugert has managed to stave off the matter and now I presume it will be dropped.

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Thursday May 1, 1856

Mr. McKain, lately a clerk removed by the House of Representatives, has been induced by the President (as he informs me) to expect the place made vacant by Mr. Langdon's expected resignation. I should very willingly give him a place as an assistant examiner but I am not quite satisfied to give him the place of a principal examiner. However I must think further on the subject.

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Friday, May 2, 1856

Another person, a Mr. Street, is urged upon me by the President. It is said he has rendered efficient service in Virginia. I wish the convention were over.

The Chairman of the Patent Office Committee in the Senate is again travelling around in a circle with his bill. It will all amount to nothing. He has requested me to make some amendments which I have done and left them with him, this evening -- but I might as well have spared myself the trouble. I believe however that I shall not remain here long than till it is perfectly settled that the Patent Office law is to remain unchanged as I cannot perform the labor now thrown upon me.

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Sunday May 4, 1856

I shall have no difficulty in satisfying myself who should receive the office of examiner made vacant by the resignation of Mr. Langdon. I do not believe the President really desires me to appoint Mr. McKain. I fancy he suspects or knows that the latter is a friend of Mr. Buchanan.

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Tuesday May 6, 1856

I have appointed Mr. T.H. Dodge the vacant examinership. This has been done partly because the President recommended it -- partly because he was well qualified for the place of examiner and partly because he had attained some experience in that particular room having been the assistant of Mr. Langdon for several months.

My agricultural department gives me much trouble. Mr. Brown is in some respects a very good clerk but in others perfectly incompetent. I have therefore to divide up the duties and keep a control over the business which gives me much additional labor ... I wish I was in Iowa.

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Monday May 12, 1856

I have been puzzling myself with a philosophical problem in relation to a revolving desk which seems to manifest an apparent departure from the ordinary power of gravity. I can pretty nearly explain the phenomenon presented but there are some features of it that are still somewhat difficult of solution.

Wednesday May 14, 1856

Called upon Mr. Buchanan this afternoon. He looks well. Is a splendid man. I should be glad to see him President. My only misgiving is in relation to the satellites he would have around him. I do not altogether fancy such men as J.W. Forney, Danl. E. Seckles, George Saunders, etcetera because I regard them as Political fortune hunters.

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Saturday, May 31, 1856

I was informed this morning that there was a good deal of talk of presenting me as a compromise candidate for the Presidency in case there was difficulty in making a choice between those most prominent. The very thought almost bewilders me. I am sure I have done nothing to induce such action. This is not the first time I have heard such intimations but they have given me no expectation of such a result. They do not now create any. If without being sought by me such a station were tendered me I can hardly tell, what I ought to do.

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Monday, June 2, 1856

The business of the agricultural branch of my office is greatly expanding under the influence of the increasing appropriations. I am about employing a person to investigate and report upon the subject of grapes as this is the most valuable agricultural production of the United States.

I am somewhat in doubt how far I should engage with Professor Henry in meteorological statistics. To a certain extent these may be useful in connection with agriculture but how far?

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Sunday June 29, 1856

One of the watchmen in the Patent Office, William E. Asquith, died this morning. Poor fellow. I knew him thirty years since, a cadet at West Point where he was two classes in advance of me He then looked forward to as bright a future as any of us. He was regarded as rather extraordinary in soldiership. He was a sergeant of the cadet company in which I was a private and has often marched me on and off guard as a sentinel.

After graduating he joined his company and like to many he gradually acquired habits of indulging in strong drink which increased to such a degree that he was finally cashiered and obliged to leave the army.

Ten years ago during the Mexican war he enlisted as a lieutenant and served I think till the close of the war as a commissioned officer. He was afterwards employed at the Navy Yard in some subordinate capacity.

Some two years since he presented himself to me for a situation as a watchman and hoping he had thoroughly reformed and at the urgent request of the Secretary of War I gave him the appointment. I think he has sometimes transgressed in relation to the use of ardent spirits but not so flagrantly that I felt compelled to discharge him.

His wife died some years since and he has now left three orphan daughters said to be very interesting children.

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Monday July 7, 1856

I made today a satisfactory solution of the puzzling problem of the revolving disk. [No more was said, but perhaps this refers to a revolving desk that was mentioned elsewhere.][This is probably H.H. Torrey, pat no. 15,353, July 15, 1856, for Clothes Washing Machine, in which a revolving disk with pegs on its lower side was placed over a load of clothes in a washing machine to assist in washing the clothes.]

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Tuesday July 18, 1856

Today a person brought into the office some prepared hemp. This put me in mind of the process of dressing flax by hand which I had seen in my boyish days. How the world has changed since then -- but not more than I have changed myself. A generation has passed away and another generation is fast on its way following in the same direction.

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Tuesday September 9, 1856

I have today had a conversation with the acting Secretary of the Interior in relation to certain orders sent to the Patent Office during my absence. From these it appears the Secretary regards himself as authorized to control me in matters left by law to my discretion. If this be so then I ought not to be held responsible if he exercises that authority as he seems disposed to do in the present case.

Another subject of communication was that no appointment however trivial should be made nor any project for the expenditure of any money however small be entertained without first consulting him.

I am every day feeling myself more and more uncomfortable in my position. I don't think I shall continue in it long.

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Wednesday September 10, 1856

I called last night to see the President but he being engaged I was invited to wait on him this morning which I have done. He seems to disapprove of many things I had done and contemplated doing. The employment of Dr. Jackson and Mr. Lapham in particular he objected to and although he did not give his final decision he advised that they should be temporarily discharged and the matter allowed to rest till the Secretary returned which would be in about five weeks. I doubt whether I shall wait that long, but I shall take no step until Mr. Shugert returns.

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Sunday September 14, 1856

Some notes received from the Secretary have also increased my desire to leave the office.

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Monday September 15, 1856

Today I sent in my resignation to the President to take effect on the first of the ensuing month. It makes me feel sad to leave the Patent Office where I have had so much to do and so many perplexities.

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Wednesday September 17, 1856

I hear nothing from the President all this time. It was stated today that the matter had been before the Cabinet and that they had determined that I should not resign but that the causes of dissatisfaction be removed. The main difficulty however, is beyond their reach unless they have the means of securing the election of Mr. Buchanan.

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Thursday September 18, 1856

I am making preparations to start for home about the first of next month. I hear nothing from the President and perhaps he intends that I shall not go but I think two persons will have something to say on that question. At all events there will have to be some understanding on certain subjects before I consent to remain.

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Friday September 26, 1856

I have spent most of the day in writing and in the transaction of miscellaneous business so that I have hardly had a moment to devote to the examination of cases appealed to me. I think the applicants for patents will find some difference in the condition of things after I leave them. Among them the regret at my leaving seems general if not universal. I feel very sad at the idea of severing my connection with the office forever but am unwilling to remain under present circumstances.

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Saturday September 27, 1856

I had an interview with the President last evening. He was very gracious and expressed much regret that I was not willing to remain till the close of the administration. I told him of the other causes of my unwillingness growing out of the orders of the Secretary. He said he was sure nothing unkind towards me was intended and that if I would wait until the Secretary returned he was confident all would be made satisfactory. I have rather concluded to do so -- the more willing as I am not quite so apprehensive of Fremont's election as I was two weeks since.

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Sunday October 17, 1856

I have this month already granted 22 patents on appeal and rejected more than half that number. I patent more than one half the cases. This is partly owing to the fact that agents do not generally bring up cases unless they feel pretty certain of success as they know how much labor I perform. I have now fifteen cases awaiting my action.

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Thursday November 13, 1856

The President called today to make an enquiry as to a case pending in the office in which one of his friends was interested. I shall let the matter take its regular course.

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Friday November 14, 1856

Among other things I have been engaged a great part of the day in making out a report to the Secretary showing the rapid and great expansion in the business of the Patent Office. He is disposed to recommend a separation of his department, it being too extensive. The Patent Office with the National Gallery and Agricultural Branch is more extensive in its scope and scale of importance than the whole of the Navy or War Department.

I shall not be sorry if Congress makes a separation. I should at least be glad to be released from the control of the Interior Department and made a separate bureau which is all I care about effecting.

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Saturday November 22, 1856

Cases are pouring in on me for my decision much faster than I can dispose of them. Some method must be devised to dispose of these matters different from that now in practice in which I did not expect to have continued till the present time. Congress will be obliged to do something this winter.

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Wednesday, November 26, 1856

I had a letter from my brother Edwin the abolitionist, which was certainly something of a trial of patience to read. Really the northern fanatics seem to suppose themselves the very elect of this world and as though there were no other persons who could be regarded as virtuous or intelligent but themselves. If there is no class possessing more common sense than they do the Union will certainly not last long.

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Friday December 5, 1856

I have just been informed that an effort is being made to place me at the head of the Department of the Interior. This has been without any suggestion or thought on my part. I should feel it a great compliment and should in that capacity be willing to remain here four years longer.

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Saturday December 6, 1856

I am troubled with the bad habits of many of my examiners and clerks. They are some of them very hard drinkers and the trouble is that one of the very worst is a protege of the President and I do not feel justified in turning him out without the President's approval. I reported him two or three days since for being beastly drunk and today received information that the President desired me to try him once more -- the old story. While I give him this liberty I cannot apply a different rule to others and thus discipline becomes impaired.

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Sunday December 7, 1856

I do not think there is any probability that I shall be appointed Secretary of the Interior. I have not been a sufficiently decided and active politician in the first place. Next I shall be opposed by the special friends of Gen. Dodge on the ground that my elevation will stand in the way of his success, and in the third place Gen. Jones and some of his friends will oppose me on the ground that I am unfriendly to him personally.

This last ground however is not just except that I have refused to be controlled by him in my action since I have been in this office. I know of no reason why Gen. Jones claims to control my course any more than why I should claim to control his. I owe him nothing that I do not consider myself as having paid for long since.

He opposed my appointment which he had a right to do and I do not blame him for it. But it takes away all claim to control my conduct in the office, which he might have thought himself entitled to if I had owed my appointment to him.

[Note: Gen. Dodge was probably Henry Dodge, formerly a military officer, and, after 1848, Democratic senator from Wisconsin. George Wallace Jones was at this time Democratic senator from Iowa, and during the Black Hawk Wars had been aide-de-camp to Gen. Dodge and later a Major General himself. KWD]

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Tuesday December 16, 1856

I am almost overwhelmed by applications for employment. What an alms house is this City of Washington.

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Thursday December 18, 1856

I have this evening met Gen. Jones for the first time. Though he was walking with a lady who was a stranger to me he stopped and turned back to speak to me and enquired after my family. This looks as though he was willing to cease hostilities which I shall be well pleased to know. I wish to be on terms of peace and good will with all men.

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Thursday February 5, 1857

Mr. Floyd, one of my clerks, died suddenly last night from hemorrhage of the lungs. He was at his work yesterday but he had the consumption and not been expected to live long for some time.

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Monday February 16, 1857

I have just been offered $6000 per annum by one man to attend to his patent matters alone in case I leave the office. I believe however I shall not accept it, as my own business will keep me pretty busily employed. I do not believe anything will be done with the patent laws in Congress.

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Saturday February 28, 1857

Have been employed with Messrs Meigs and Walter in examining bids for building Patent Office.

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March 18, 1856

... I have been trying to effect some change in the business of the office by relieving three of the examiners of a portion of their duty that they may the better assist me in reviewing but this has not yet been accomplished.

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March 26, 1857

Had an interview with the Secretary of the Interior today which did not amount to much. It however opened the subject which was unsettled during the last administration as to the control of the Secretary of the Patent Office.

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March 30, 1857

Visited the dentist and the daguerrian. Issued 68 patents. Feel pretty well.

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June 11, 1857

... Saw the Secretary. He consented to the appointment of Dr. Antisell as assistant examiner.

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June 12, 1857.

Appointed an assistant examiner (Dr. Antisell.)

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July 14, 1857

Was sent for by the Secretary. Mr. Robbins has sent in a complaint against Dr. Everett and incidentally against me. I am to report upon the matter.

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July 16, 1857

Finished a report commenced day before yesterday in reply to charges and specifications filed with the President against me by T.C. Robbins. I trust he will be now satisfied.

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July 29, 1857

Sent my resignation to the President today to take effect August 5. I suppose the long doubt is now at an end.

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July 30, 1857

Have been engaged in making preparations for leaving. Feel much relieved since I have taken the final step and ended the uncertainty.

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July 31, 1857

Am very busy in arranging affairs in my office and in packing. Came after dinner and worked till seven packing up books and getting papers ready.

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August 1, 1857

Engaged all day in the office. Many calling and expressing regrets which is very agreeable and yet makes me feel somewhat sad.

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August 2, 1857

I have been in the office all day making preparations for my departure -- principally engaged in writing letters.

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August 3, 1857

Today has been a very sad one. I have taken leave of all my examiners, clerks etc. Many of them wept and I had to cry for sympathy. It resembles death in some degree

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August 4, 1857

Wrote my last official letter this morning to Munn and Co., and took my leave of the office. Left at 8 1/2, several of the clerks and employees being at the depot.

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February 14, 1858

Received a letter from H.F. French stating that the Secretary of the Interior had refused to consummate a contract made by me because I had not consulted his predecessor.

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March 6, 1858 [visiting Washington, D.C.]

Called at the Patent Office on many of my acquaintances and received calls from many. It does me much good to witness the kind feeling exhibited by many.

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April 2, 1858 [back in Iowa]

Some rascals stole a buggy harness and two saddles and a bridle last night from my farm. There are some Mormons in the neighborhood who are suspect.

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April 29, 1859 [in Washington]

Saw Munn and Co. They still wish me to join them or go into the Patent Office. I wish I was fairly there.

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November 14, 1859

I have been engaged part of the day for Mr. McKibbin and Edwards in a patent case, part of the time at my other business

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November 16, 1859

I have been writing an article for the Atty Genl in a case before the Patent Office and which has been referred to him.

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November 26, 1859

I learn that the Atty Genl has decided the patent matter in our favor. I expect $100.

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January 12, 1860 [New York]

Commenced with Munn and Co., this morning. Cannot tell how I shall be pleased though they take every pains to show me kindness and consideration.

Mr. Wales took me to his house at night and invited me to remain for a week or two. I shall however try to get a permanent boarding place though probably in some different quarter.

-----

January 17, 1860

I am preparing an article for the Scientific American in relation to the Canadian patent law.

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January 19, 1860

I am writing a brief review of the Canadian Patent law or rather the proposed law. At the same time I am engaged in other matters a portion of the time. I think I shall be tolerably well pleased when I get fairly under way.

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January 21, 1860

Have just been informed in confidence that the present Commr. of Patents will resign at the end of the month and have been asked whether I wish to return there. I am not quite prepared to accept that place should it be tendered to me. That will hardly be done with the present Secretary of the Interior.

-----

January 25, 1860

I am busy in my office all day and leave near five PM every day and go home to dinner.

Several Iowa gentlemen called on me and also several inventors. I am writing an argument in an interference case and I write for the paper. Mr. Munn and Mr. Beach are both absent.

-----

February 4, 1860

I am engaged with Mr. Brown's claims which as his application for a reissue is very important require much attention.

-----

February 6, 1860

Called to see the President who asked me why I did not call in the evening. I promised to do so and at evening accordingly went and had quite a sociable conversation with him on various subjects especially political.

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February 15, 1860

Was very hard at work all day. Wrote a review of the report of the Commissioner of Patents for Scientific American and several letters and opinions for the office and for myself.

-----

February 22, 1860

Have been engaged in taking testimony in an interference case concerning an improvement in skates -- a small matter apparently but it may prove valuable to the inventor.

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February 24, 1860

I wrote two opinions today for which they will probably charge fifty dollars. I cannot stand this arrangement long.

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February 28, 1860

I am to have $500 for this case or rather Munn and Co. are to have it. This will not satisfy me long. I must make some new agreement with them.

-----

February 29, 1860

Have been engaged all the morning in the preparation of Prof. Morse's papers. They are to be filed by tomorrow morning.

Called on the Commissioner of Patents this morning. He is apparently a very pleasant man.

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March 2, 1860

Prepared claims for Mr. Marney. Posted myself in the interference case of Laidley and James and commenced writing the argument. I think I shall be able to reverse the decision of the office.

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March 6, 1860

Commenced taking testimony at 2 PM in the Morse extension case and spent the later afternoon in taking testimony of Mr. C.W. Feld. The opposition are long winded and threaten to fight hard.

-----

March 7, 1860

I have been engaged in taking testimony nearly all day. There is no hope of getting through with this business in any other way than by the lapse of time. Everyday from now till the 19th of the month will be taken up in the business. O'Reilly is bottomless in his cross examination.

Dined with Prof. Morse this evening. Met several gentlemen. Don't like these dinner parties and am almost determined never to go to another.

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March 8, 1860

Have been hard at work all day. Gave some men an opinion in the morning in regard to the infringement of a patent.

Took the testimony of one witness besides finishing with that of Dr. Gale. I am not afraid of their testimony but I am of some facts which I suspect will come up hereafter. Morse has assigned all his interest in the extension and I am somewhat apprehensive that they will show him not the inventor of this device.

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March 9, 1860

Rose at half past 4 and wrote for three hours on my argument which is nearly finished.

Was engaged all day in the examination of F.J. Smith in the Morse case and did not finish.

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March 10, 1860

Have been engaged again in taking the testimony of Mr. Smith. The whole day was taken up with his direct examination and he would not stay until Monday but offered to continue tonight. This I declined as I did not feel well enough and he will go away I suppose.

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March 12, 1860

Was engaged in cross examining F.O.J. Smith for several hours. He concluded to remain after all supposing no doubt that his absence under the circumstances would be to the disadvantage of his friends.

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March 13, 1860

We have finished the testimony here and shall only take that of two or three in Washington. They have not I think made out as good a case as they think.

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March 14, 1860

Took a ride this afternoon with Mr. Munn to the central park which I had never before seen. It is worth a visit. There is much to be done before it is complete however.

Took supper with Mr. Munn and returned home at 8 PM.

-----

March 16, 1860 [Washington]

I have been engaged a while today taking the testimony of Mr. Kendall but feel unfit for business after my night ride. I don't intend to ride all night again very soon. I fall asleep as soon as I sit still for a few minutes.

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March 17, 1860

Saw Judge Merriet this morning in relation to the argument in the James and Laidley case. It was to have been filed today but will be postponed till Monday in order to give time to have it copied in a fair hand. I find a difficulty in the mind of the Judge growing out of the fact that the reasons of the appeal are not well stated. However I hope to succeed still.

-----

March 19, 1860

Filed my argument in the case of Laidley and James.

Am engaged in a case of interference before Judge Morsell in relation to the patent for coal oil. Mr. Allen of Boston is the party of interest. Mr. Pollak has engaged me. It was he who employed me last spring for the same person to write an argument in a case similarly situated.

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March 20, 1860

Went to the clerk's office and learnt that the judges had my case before them and that there was great danger that they would decide it without waiting for my second argument. Made an arrangement by which I have till Friday morning to file my argument.

Have been engaged some time in reading Wheatstone's patent. It occupies about 50 pages in the record book.

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March 22, 1860

Am at work upon my telegraph case and shall succeed unless the Commissioner takes ground against extensions generally.

Have modified my argument somewhat and am very sure of beating unless the Court refuse to entertain juries diction on account of its containing evidence. [whatever that means KWD]

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March 24, 1860

Have been engaged in posting myself in regard to the Morse case.

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March 27, 1860

Find it difficult to prepare for an oral argument. Have been reading Cooke and Wheatstone's patent all day.

After dinner I was astonished by being informed that the examiner had reported the claim of Morse too broad. This is almost equivalent to a report adverse to its patentability. I shall look into this matter tomorrow.

-----

March 28, 1860

Have been engaged in studying matters connected with our telegraph case.

Mr. Gwynn of Baltimore has been employed. He was formerly a partner of the Commissioner and was probably employed on that account. If that is the whole reason I was opposed to it.

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March 31, 1860

I have been hard at work all day preparing my argument.

I am nearly ready for the trial on Monday.

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April 2, 1860

The argument in the case of Morse's application for extension was commenced today. It will take two more days to complete it.

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April 3, 1860

Have been all day since ten o'clock in the Patent Office hearing arguments. I have little doubt of being able to answer satisfactorily all I have heard.

O'Reilly spoke for an hour and is to continue tomorrow.

Morse came on last night.

The room was full of people. There is much interest felt in the case.

I long to get through with it.

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April 4, 1860

O'Reilly has consumed that whole blessed day and has not got through with it.

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April 5, 1860

O'Reilly finished his speech today about ten minutes past one PM. I spoke from that time till 3 and shall conclude tomorrow.

I feel confident that we shall succeed.

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April 6, 1860

Finished my argument at a quarter past 12 having spoken today two hours longer. I was not hoarse nor fatigued.

I think my speech made a very favorable impression and gave satisfaction. It is to be printed.

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April 7, 1860

Finished writing out my brief or argument for the printer. Placed it in his hands at nine or ten in the morning..

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April 8, 1860

Stopt at the Printing Office to correct the proof of my argument which must be before the Commissioner of Patents tomorrow morning.

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April 9, 1860

Filed my printed argument with the Commissioner of Patents.

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April 11, 1860

The Morse telegraph case has been decided in my favor.

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April 20, 1860

Mr. Smith of Illinois has been consulting me today in regard to a patent for casting steel. Collins the axe man is concerned with him It is thought to be a valuable invention.

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April 23, 1860

Among other things I prepared an article for the Scientific American showing that patent rights cannot be levied upon attachment or execution.

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April 28, 1860

I have been looking into the question of Waldo's Interference or rather infringement of Wagener's patent of 1855.

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April 30, 1860

Was engaged for an hour or two in the morning with Mr. Waldo's mill case. I hardly think he infringes on Wagener.

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May 2, 1860

Have been to the Patent Office all morning examining in reference to the case of Waldo. ...

Have been busy the rest of the day with the business of Corliss and of Allen's interference with Alter and Hill. I hope to win in both cases.

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May 4, 1860

Went before the Committee on Patents to oppose the Sickles extension and made an argument. The case is adjourned over to Tuesday next at 10 1/2 AM. I think I shall succeed in preventing the extension.

Have been writing an argument this afternoon and evening in the interference case of Alter and Hill vs Allen and feel confident of succeeding.

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May 8, 1860

Went before the committee on patents in the House. Am to make another appearance there on Friday. I trust that will be the last.

Have been engaged part of the day with the Habbody case for Munn and Co.

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May 11, 1860

Went before the Patent committee of the House again and mademy third argument. I trust this will be the last.

Received an interference case from Munn and Co., in which the argument is to be filed next Monday. I shall therefore have to stay over till then.

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May 21, 1860

Mr. Jacques from Newark called and took me over to see his works. He employs about 600 hands when in full operation. It is the largest hat manufacturing establishment in the country.

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May 22, 1860

Went to the Astor Library to make some examinations. It is a very useful and well regulated establishment and I found many people there on the same business.

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May 25, 1860

Went to Newark at 2 PM to see some machines for forming hat bodies.

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May 29, 1860

Met Prof. Henry who invited me to the Smithsonian tomorrow or the next day to see the Japanese. Have more business than I can attend to well.

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Sunday, June 3, 1860

I went to hear Dr. Gurley and heard an able sermon as usual.

I met the Japanese several times around the streets. They seem quite at home here and very well satisfied judging from their looks.

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June 5, 1860

Have been engaged part of the day on the hat case of D --- Jacques and Co.

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June 6, 1860

Spent several hours in the Patent Office searching for facts for D --- Jacques and Co. I am more and more of the opinion that they are not infringers.

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June 7, 1860

Spent some time in the Patent Office on the hat case

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June 8, 1860

The Japanese left today.

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July 3, 1860

Today I have finished all I was to write for the new edition of Bouvier's law dictionary.

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July 9, 1860

Received my pay from Munn and Co. in full to date inclusive.

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August 10, 1860

Among other things I made an invention of a mode of obviating the cinders and smoke on board of rail cars by means of a pipe which shall conduct the smoke to the rear. It is only necessary to contrive some sufficient mode of connection between the different cars and I think I have effected that.

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August 14, 1860

The decisions of the office are not very sound of late as it seems to me. Called on Major Townsend for Mrs. Castor. Met the President on the way. He looks rather the worse for wear. I think Van Santvoord will report against Howe on his application for reissue. I do not think the patent should be reissued.

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August 17, 1860

Saw the Commissioner of Patents in behalf of Gregg. The poor fellow has hardly energy enough to live without being fed with a spoon. I have a promise of something better for him.

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August 18, 1860

Rode to Georgetown to see Judge Dunlop in relation to Mr. Dyson's appeal. The Judge did not understand the working of the machinery very well, and we shall have to postpone the explanation till we can show him the model. We shall perfect the appeal on Monday, and I shall trust Mr. Dyson to explain the machine unless he thinks it best for me to come again.

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September 24, 1860

I have been busy in writing another article for the paper. I have packed up my books and papers etc. I have had some talk with Munn and Co. They propose to continue my name and pay me something for the use of it. I do not know what to charge them.

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September 25, 1860

Settled off with Munn and Co., and left the office for good at a quarter past 3 PM.

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October 1, 1860

I have been out much of the time looking at offices, etc., but have taken none as yet. I can have one at Dr. Page's and one at Robin's and elsewhere. I don't really like either.

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October 3, 1860

I am uncertain what to do in regard to an office. Fenwick is anxious to form a partnership and he is industrious reliable agent. But I believe I shall not form any connection with anyone at present.

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October 12, 1860

Engaged my office with Fenwick.

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October 29, 1860

The Patent Office is returning to the old practice of thwarting the inventors instead of facilitating them in their efforts.

I have been trying to get upon the track of Dyson's case. But the Attorney General has not yet received it. The Commissioner and Mr. Baldwin hold the matter in their own hands and have done so for more than a month.

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October 30, 1860

I have been engaged most of the day with Mr. F.F. Smith's matters. He has a good invention but it is very hard to bring out the point of patentability. I shall try hard however to develop it. [This would be F.F. Smith of Momence, Illinois, pat no 30691, Improvement in Making Plow-Plates from Molten Steel, November 20, 1860]

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October 31, 1860

I have been engaged most of the day with Mr. Smith. He agrees to give me and Stroughton $500 when we get his patent through. We shall in all probability succeed as I think he has a good invention though somewhat difficult to present to the office.

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November 1, 1860

I am still busy. We have finished Smith's case and he will probably obtain his patent which he thinks will make him rich. I hope he will not be disappointed.

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November 2, 1860

Saw Mr. Baldwin in relation to Mr. Dyson's case. He promises to send the case to Mr. Van Santvoord.

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November 6, 1860

Mr. Pollak came to employ me in two cases just as I had about completed the business I hold on hand.

Judge Dunlop has been sitting in my room for two hours or more today. He is very decided in condemnation of some of the practices of the Patent Office. ... It is election day. The fate of the country is now being decided but I have felt more equanimity than I suppose I should.

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November 8, 1860

The Patent Office has given me a reference in Dyson's case which has troubled me some. At least the main feature of what I supposed to be Dyson's invention seems to have been anticipated by an English inventor. I shall however study the case further before I write a reply.

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November 11, 1860

Heard a very impressive sermon from Dr. Gurley in the evening.

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November 13, 1860

Received a letter from Mr. Dyson. He is so much exercised in regard to the disturbance in South Carolina that he cannot attend to the business of the patent now pending.

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November 14, 1860

The great question of secession is now uppermost in all our minds. The general impression is that several of the southern states will wheel out of the Union and God only knows what will be the final result.

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November 16, 1860

Wrote to Dyson suggesting to him to come to Washington. I cannot manage his business well without a personal conference.

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November 17, 1860

I have the prospect of plenty of business next week having two cases of Mr. Pollak's to look after besides several of my own.

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November 19, 1860

Went with Mr. Pollak to see Judge Morsell. Explained the nature of the case which had been appealed to him.

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November 22, 1860

Finished an argument in a case for Mr. Pollak. Completed an application for Mr. Densmore.

Spent several hours with Mr. Dyson. Went at evening with Mollie to hear the performance of Christie's Minstrels.

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November 23, 1860

A.M. Boardman employed me to obtain a patent for him for a clothes dryer. This seems a rather small business. But I can make money by it and I shall undertake almost any honest business that promises to pay.

Mr. Broadman called today to consult me as to a couple of cases he has in court and promises to retain me. This will be a more important matter but I am not sure it will pay much better than the other.

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November 24, 1860

Received a letter from Mr. White and have shown it to Mr. Rhodes who is much gratified with it. He says if he thought there were two men like him in the north he should have hope.

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November 25, 1860

Received a letter from W.W. White at Burlington on yesterday and showed it to some of our southern friends who say that if they were sure that there were 100 men in the north who felt in that way they would have hope. I tell them there are one hundred thousand.

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November 26, 1860

Mr. Boardman has put another case into my hands. I shall do enough transient business to pay my way according to what I am doing now.

I receive some business from the patent agents here in Washington and shall get more when Congress meets next week.

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November 30, 1860

Unless I get plenty to do soon I believe I will go into the Patent business fully. I have not thus far sought business of that kind.

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December 1, 1860

I have had plenty to do today and have received a very satisfactory amount, that is to say $250 from Mr. Smith for obtaining his patent and $250 from P.H. Watson for Mrs. [blank] as a retaining fee with one or two small sums from others. This is very agreeable.

I am also promised $500 from C.A. McCormick as a retaining fee to be paid about the first of February. I also received a letter requesting me to oppose McCormick, but I can't.

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December 5, 1860

Have been busy this morning for three hours with McCormick's case.

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December 6, 1860

Have been very busy all day. Munn and Co. wrote me to take charge of Meyer's case. Pollak gave me a case to argue and I had more than I could do from other sources. I have two or three weeks business on hand now.

December 9, 1860

-----

Took a long walk across the long bridge into Virginia.

While walking an idea occurred to me of proposing a compromise which should be proposed as an amendment and which I have some hope will prove acceptable. At least it is a straw at which it will do for a drowning man to grasp.

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December 10, 1860

Mr. Fenwick today spoke to me to assist in an important interference case.

It is said that a violent debate has today taken place in the Senate which has dispelled all hope of a reconciliation of our differences. We seem to be hastening to our destruction. I can do but little to avert the danger. The streets are about as muddy as they ever become.

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December 12, 1860

Had another case placed in my hands today and almost every day now brings in something of the kind. I am taking in some $20 or $25 every day and shall do well if the Union holds together.

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December 15, 1860

Mr. Lawrence has just made a little invention for which he has been paid $1000 in gold and still holds 1/4 of the invention.

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December 19,1860

Went to Baltimore this morning to take testimony in Dyson's case. Returned in the evening.

Met Mr. Latrobe who appeared as my antagonist. Was very glad to make his acquaintance. He is an old West Pointer. Dined with him and had a long conference on the state of the Union.

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January 19, 1861

The Commissioner of Patents informs me that the office is not paying one half of its expenses.

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January 21, 1861

Received a dispatch from Fenwick and spent some hours in preparing to answer it.

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January 22, 1861

The Senators and Representatives from three of the southern states left today. It was a solemn thing to see the Union thus breaking up.

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January 26, 1861

Have been busy a good part of the day in answering an enquiry of Munn and Co., in relation to Meyer's case. Went to Prof. Henry's in the evening.

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January 29, 1861

Mr. Meyer wishes me to carry on all his cases in the Patent Office.

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January 30, 1861

Mr. Meyer agreed to give me $500 each for two cases in case I would obtain a patent for him. I shall try.

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February 8, 1861

Received a letter rejecting Meyer's case for shoes.

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February 9, 1861

Saw the examiner in relation to Meyer's case for a process.

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February 10, 1861

We have just heard that Jeff Davis is President and A.H. Stevens Vice President of the New Confederacy. They are both at heart Union men but I fear the cotton states will never return.

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February 15, 1861

The mud is very plentiful.

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February 16, 1861

It is warm as spring.

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March 7, 1861

Today there is a rumor that I am to be offered the Patent Office.

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March 14, 1861

Went to the Supreme Court to move for the admission of Mr. Lawrence.

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April 28, 1861

Saw a battalion paraded in front of the Patent Office. They are quartered there. A sad sight for me.

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June 3, 1861

I have been looking into the Patent Office to see if my speech arrester has been anticipated and find nothing. Have little to do.

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June 4, 1861

Have a little business all the time but begin to feel lonely when I have nothing to do.

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June 10, 1861

Mr. Shugert is removed.

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November 29, 1861

Visited the hospital in the Patent Office.

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December 4, 1861

Feel very much out of place in Washington and wish I were back in Iowa. I shall find nothing to do unless I go into the army.

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December 10, 1861

I called to see Gen. Totten. He wanted to know whether I would go into the Engineer service in the Spring. Says they only pay $175 per month to the best who will be employed. If I do it the pay will not induce me.

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December 14, 1861

Am told that Mr. Lincoln is strongly southern in his feelings and that he is firm in his opposition to the fanatics. If this is so there is some hope.

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December 16, 1861

We have heard from Great Britain and the news looks squally. The ardent however seem unawed. Some think we can whip England too.

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December 18, 1861

Have been in my office all day but have done little. Feel that I am left behind by others and almost disposed to go home at once. Shall stay a while longer. The news of battles comes to us daily. Oh God save us.

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December 27, 1861

Received a letter from B.M. Samuels requesting a copy of the letters for which Gen. Jones was arrested. Staid in my office all the morning with very little to do. I feel something as I did 25 years ago in New York.

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December 28, 1861

Tried again to get the copies of the Gen. Jones letters but the secretaries' office was closed again. Mr. Lawrence proposed that I should join them in business.

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December 29, 1861

Took a long walk with Mr. Lawrence ... The administration concluded to surrender Mason and Slidell to the demand of Great Britain. This is a great coming down.

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January 2, 1862

Commenced business as one of the firm of Mason, Fenwick and Lawrence.

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January 14, 1862

Business is coming in more freely. All patents are for the war.

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January 17, 1862

Have been writing an argument in a rather doubtful case. Short vs. Arlington. One man came for a patent on a pump. It is pleasant to have something besides war-like implements.

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January 23, 1862

Still muddy and disagreeable. Had a tooth filled at the dentist's. Am engaged in writing an argument in Bell's case.

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January 31, 1862

Made an argument before the examiners in chief in Aldridges's case. Sat for my photograph at Brady's.

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February 22, 1862

The order for illuminating was countermanded on account of the death of the President's son which took place two or three days ago. The flags were not presented lest it would be recognizing the Confederates.

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March 24, 1862

The Supreme Court decided the case of Claggett vs. Kilbourne in our favor.

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March 28, 1862

The troops are leaving for the south. Regiment after regiment are passing through the city from the camps around.

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March 30, 1862

Yesterday the provost marshal took possession of the Church of the Ascension and ordered that no services should be held there. Dr. Pinkney had failed to read a certain prayer last Sunday.

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March 31, 1862

Spent the evening with Mr. Pollak examining Keller's argument in the case of Silverthorne. [This is probably Newman Silverthorn, Reissue no. 1339, Sept 2, 1862, Boot and Shoe tip]

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April 6, 1862

The interdict is removed from Dr. Pinckney and he preached again today.

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April 7, 1862

Have been engaged in reading the argument of Mr. Keller and at evening wrote on the reply till 11 1/2 PM.

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April 8, 1862

Have been at work upon my argument. Am only afraid of the motion to dismiss for want of jurisdiction and not much afraid of that. ... A great slaughter at Yorktown reported.

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April 10, 1862

The Merrimac is expected out.

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April 12, 1862

The Federal arms seem to be triumphant everywhere. It is expected that Richmond will soon be captured. The bill has passed both houses emancipating the slaves of this District. [D.C.]

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April 13, 1862

Went to church at Dr. Pinkney's. He did not read the prayer recommended by the President and endorsed by the Bishop. This may make trouble.

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April 21, 1862

Went to see Judge Black and hear his argument in Silverthorne's case read. It is excellent. It cannot be resisted.

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May 1, 1862

Have not been kept so closely occupied as yesterday. Found on examination that what I supposed to be a new invention of my own was in fact old.

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May 4, 1862

The news is that the Confederates have evacuated Yorktown. For what reason is not known. The season is advancing and we shall soon have to contend with yellow fever.

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May 8, 1862

We do not have full employment though we keep doing something every day.

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May 10, 1862

We have just printed our circulars for war claim agency. I am in hopes of being busy soon.

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May 11, 1862

We have just heard of the evacuation of Norfolk and Portsmouth and the burning and blowing up of the Merrimac. The Confederates withdrew, taking the lighter cannon.

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May 13, 1862

We are beginning to do a little business in war claims. ... Have just read Mr. Keller's last argument in the shoe tip case.

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May 16, 1862

Have been writing a final argument in the Silverthorne case.

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May 17, 1862

We are beginning to receive business in war claims. I have been writing my fifth argument (one last year) in the Silverthorne case.

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May 26, 1862

Some alarm is felt by many here as to the safety of Washington. I brought my money from the Patent Office.

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June 11, 1862

Have been busy all day with Dr. Smith's light case. Letter from Gail Borden proposing that I take a part of his patent for cider preserving.

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July 19, 1862

The new currency of postage stamps is just coming into use. It seems somewhat strange to see the United States issuing promises to pay off one cent in amount. Good bye to silver as well as gold.

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July 22, 1862

Business is increasing of late and as Mr. Fenwick is gone we have our hands full. It is said that McClelland's situation is still critical. I understand Gen. Halleck has just arrived and is to be made commander in chief of the whole army.

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July 23, 1862

Have been busy writing specifications. Mr. Fenwick is away and we are having a good deal of business.

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August 16, 1862

Have plenty of work. Have not looked yet at the business of Mason and Cobbs but am trying to bring up that of the other firm.

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August 18, 1862

Have plenty to do. Mr. Fenwick returned and we shall work up the business pretty fast.

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August 30, 1862

The news came that there had been a great battle at Bull Run and a great victory but bloody -- that Jackson had been captured. Aid for the wounded was called for and a great many started down. I went among the number in company with several physicians.

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August 31, 1862

We find it all a mistake about the victory. The Confederates hold the field of battle and we have been very much worsted. Reached Centerville at 6 AM after riding all night long in an ambulance. Found that we could do nothing and started back at noon and rode all night.

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September 2, 1862

Have my hands full of business. Have been writing an argument. Called to see Judge Adborah on Mahoney's case. There is fear of Stonewall Jackson.

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September 23, 1862

The President is out with a proclamation of emancipation, confound him.

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October 6, 1862

Gold is worth 23% more than paper money. It will go much higher.

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October 7, 1862

Am kept quite busy in my office. Mr. Fenwick has been bitten on the hand and I am apprehensive of danger to him. He has gone to a physician.

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October 15, 1862

Called to see Capt. Steele who is likely to die soon. He was in the Patent Office while I was Commissioner.

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October 20, 1862

Business very dull. The Patent Office doing very little. So many of the active men of business are in the army.

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October 21, 1862

Called at Van Santvoord's He is dealing in contrabands. One whom he has employed stole his spade. Another stole most of the shirts and collars she was washing.

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May 15, 1862

There is a rumour that Richmond has surrendered but I do not believe it. The confidence of success in the battles expected to come off soon is growing less.

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June 2, 1862

We have many rumours. One is that Federal troops are in Richmond. That there has been an awful slaughter, etc., etc. But this is all premature as we now believe.

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June 14, 1862

Several of the churches in the city (especially four of the Episcopal churches) have been taken for hospitals. All sorts of extravagant rumours of defeats are afloat in consequence.

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June 15, 1862

We had no church today. Five Episcopal churches are taken but none others it is said.

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June 16, 1862

Wounded men are being brought into the city from Shedd's army. It is now believed that he sustained a serious repulse. Prof. Henry spoke to me today about my invention which he thinks ingenious.

June 21, 1862

-----

Went to see the Asst. Secy. of the Navy in relation to Rumbold's plan. He does not approve of it. Spoke to him of my shot. He thought they had something of the kind but it could not be found.

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June 22, 1862

Went to our new church in Corcoran's picture gallery. Most of the churches are taken for hospitals. The work of preparation goes on. Everyone speaks of the great battle soon to take place.

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June 27, 1862

Dr. Elliot called to see me. He is from Plattsburgh, an inventor who has some new contrivances. Among other a plan for blowing up vessels which seems feasible. He has also a breech loading rifle which is very ingenious.

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June 28, 1862

Went out with Misses M --- and Doty to try my invention. It succeeded as well as I expected. Out of four shots three went straight. The fourth was quartering at about 45 degrees. I shall try it again.

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June 29, 1862

Rumours of a dreadful battle are prevalent. No one knows the particulars. The Government does not reveal all it knows which looks unfavorable.

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July 30, 1862

Called at evening at Mr. Holmead's where I was told the Ellsworth's avengers from 1064 were now only 131. The bucktail (Penn) regiment only numbered 122.

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September 15, 1862

Gen. Lee is said to be mortally wounded and the army entirely routed. We shall see. I am not entirely satisfied yet. I really hope it is not true as I am more afraid of our friends than our enemies.

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September 19, 1862

I have been engaged in endeavoring to get Mr. Borden's cider introduced and in trying again to see our Iowa prisoners among other things. Business falls off of late. The news is that the Confederates are retreating across the Potomac though some doubt it.

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September 30, 1862

Commenced an investigation for parties in India Rubber case.

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December 9, 1862

Mr. Corliss appeared today and we have been busy with the preparation of his cases for extension all day. We are having a pretty good prospect of business this month. We have divided $160 each this month already.

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December 24, 1862

Received a letter from Geo. H. Parker proposing me as a candidate for Governor. Went to church to see the Christmas tree. The children were in high expectation.

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January 16, 1863

Have been engaged for Mr. Jas G. Wilson most of the day and evening. We have plenty to do and ought to be making money. Things look better.

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January 29, 1863

Have been engaged all day busily in preparing an argument for the Secretary of the Interior in J.G. Wilson's case.

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January 30, 1863

Finished argument in Wilson's case. There is a small party at our house tonight and I sat up till after midnight. Shall feel the effects tomorrow.

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January 31, 1863

I have completed my argument for the Secretary in Wilson's case. There are serious charges against the Commissioner of Patents.

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February 1, 1863

Called in the evening at Mr. Purdy's Staid to ten and saw an exhibition of spirit table moving. Mrs. Wallace is a medium.

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February 13, 1863

Received letters from T. Gordon proffering me 2.3 of the patent for his father's invention if I would procure it. Wilson's patent has been issued.

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February 20, 1863

Finished my argument in the Litchfield case and sent it to New York to be printed.

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March 11, 1863

Mr. Lawrence started off with his son-in-law [Mr. Wedderburn] this morning and has not yet returned (10.20 PM). We know not what has become of him.

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March 18, 1863

Went to the model maker to have a model for my pump made. I am not certain but I had better let it drop without spending good money on it.

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March 23, 1863

Called with my wife on Mrs. Fales. It makes me shudder to hear her talk of the horrible cases of wounds and disease. She has become callous.

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March 24, 1863

Obtained my model from the maker. Finished and filed addition argument in Haines case.

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March 28, 1863

I have today bought $400 in gold at $1.43 so that I now have about $5000 in gold lying idle which ought to be at work. This is part of my war tax.

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April 2, 1863

Have been before the Board of Examiners in chief with the Gordon patent. They have not yet decided it.

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April 3, 1863

Pleasant again but the mud grows worse all the while as it begins to stiffen. The walking is improving but the wheeling is worse than ever I saw it.

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April 16, 1863

Have been endeavoring to get ready to start on Monday night but shall probably be delayed till Tuesday. Am at a loss whether to take my gold with me or leave it in the East.

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April 18, 1863

Have been writing the specification in my pump invention.

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April 20, 1863

Deposited $1000 with Riggs and Co., making $3000 in all at his bank.

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April 23, 1863

Reached Albany about 7AM. Breakfasted at Ramoix Hall. Had my overcoat stolen while breakfasting.

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June 6, 1863

Learnt that Tom Fales was killed on the 3rd May. Heard also that Capt. Latimer had been killed but doubt the truth of the statement but feel apprehensive

[For some reason, Mr. Mason began keeping two journals at about this point, one daily, the other weekly, the weekly one being filled with longer rambling philosophical discussions. In this copy, entries are mixed in chronological order.]

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December 28, 1863

I have written one argument in a case before the Examiners in Chief in the Patent Office and another in a case before the Supreme Court (It was an argument in reply to P. Smith) I am also preparing to give an opinion in a case which may come before the Court and for which I have received $200. Business is coming in quite freely. I have all I desire at present and have had to work mornings and evenings as well as all day on Christmas in order to keep up with my work which in addition to what is above stated has been increased by two very difficult specifications in a reissue case of the Atkins reaper which I hope to make available. It is a very ingenious invention and led off into a new field of discovery. But the patent was not what it ought to have been and it has proved of very little advantage to the owner. We are to have one half of the patent for taking out the reissue and I hope to make it of value to us.

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January 3, 1864

It is said that the President received colored gentlemen at his reception on the 1st and that Mrs. Lincoln takes some of her colored lady friends out riding in her carriage. Whether this is true or not is not very important. One thing is certain. The party in power is doing all it can to erase the line of separation between the two races. They will never annihilate the instinctive repugnance that a higher power has ordained for wise purposes.

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January 7, 1864

Have been again before the Examiners in Chief on the telegraph wire case. They are opposed to us but I have nearly cornered them as I believe.

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January 14, 1864

The smallpox is becoming so prevalent that we are all going to be vaccinated. It is said that the disease is increasing fast.

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January 15, 1864

Attended the third of Prof. Agassiz's lectures. [He also attended first two.] A vast crowd. He was as usual interesting but I can hardly subscribe to his theory which attributes so much to the glaciers. We were vaccinated today.

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January 20, 1864

The smallpox is raging. Twenty or thirty deaths are said to take place in the hospitals of this city daily.

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January 22, 1864

A Miss Britain called. She has half a dozen inventions some of which are already patented -- others in contemplation. They all relate to domestic matters -- she seems to have a passion for such inventions. [Clarissa Britain already had patents no 37851 Floor Warmers, 39460 Ambulances, 40157 Boilers, and 41274, prosecuted by Munn & Co. MF&L quickly got her three more patents, 43087 for Vegetable Boiler, June 14, 1864; 43088 for Dish Drainer, same date, and 44393 for Lamp Burner, Sept. 27, 1864. The dish drainer may have been the first.]

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February 5, 1864

Wrote a reply to the Patent Office in the case of Walter Wright. Went to the theatre at evening with Mollie and Mr. Lawrence of Virginia to see Laura Keene in "Our American Cousin."

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February 27, 1864

I am preparing the papers for a patent for making vegetable fibers out of the seed spikes of the cattail flag. It may prove highly valuable but all is yet uncertain.

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March 19, 1864

Have been preparing an argument in the telegraph case before the Commissioner.

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June 7, 1864

I have today lent £1000 to London to Barine Brothers and Co. on deposit. I wish all I own was converted into gold and placed in the same situation. I would then go to Europe next year in case Lincoln is reelected.

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June 23, 1864

Went to see Frye's steam horse. It looks well if there was of so much of it.

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June 26, 1864

I met my old acquaintance Jesse Frye in New York and visited with him his steam horse. He is just as sanguine as ever. Supposes his invention to be worth $100,000,000. He offered me five per cent of his net profits until my portion had amounted to $500,000 if I would joint him in bringing his steam horse into use. This shows the extent of his infatuation. All this is necessary to constitute a successful inventor. I am not quite sure that he is not partly right in his enthusiasm. He has produced a wonderful machine and it may very possibly prove successful. In listening to his magnificent plans I could not help comparing his enthusiasm to that of Columbus. I hope he may meet with as brilliant a success. He thinks that with our locomotive he can move a hundred tons or more of freight at the rate of ten or twenty miles an hour over the unimproved prairies and through the unbridged rivers provided they are not more than six or eight feet in depth. He will do away with the necessity for a Pacific Railroad.

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July 15, 1864

Mr. Thomas Green called and proposed that I should endeavor to dispose of his interest in Borden's milk patent. Wrote a letter to Mr. Borden on the subject. It will amount to but little.

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July 21, 1864

Mr. Lawrence started last Tuesday evening for Canandaigua with a view to purchasing a patent right to a horse rake.

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July 30, 1864

Mr. Fenwick left for the seaside yesterday. I am therefore alone with Mr. Campbell.

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August 1, 1864

We hear of reverses at Petersburgh. Grant has been preparing a mine under one of the forts. It was exploded but someone blundered and we had much the worst of it. Several thousands are killed and wounded and missing.

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November 28, 1864

I have taken a very important step today, having connected myself to the Episcopal church and received the rite of baptism. I feel an unworthiness and hope that if I have done wrong I shall be forgiven.

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December 20, 1864

Have been turning attention a little to petroleum of late. Especially to pumps for raising the oil.

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January 12, 1865

We are thronged with business. I am also engaged in the Goodyear extension case.

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January 14, 1865

I have been writing an argument in the case of the application of the Goodyear extension case.

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January 16, 1865

Went to the office but did not much business. Saw the commissioner in regard to the telegraph case. Read the Goodyear argument to Mr. Lyman. He seemed fully satisfied with it.

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January 18, 1865

There is a good deal of excitement in regard to the Goodyear extension but I think we shall carry it.

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January 24, 1865

Finished an opinion for which I charge $300. Have two more on hand.

The Smithsonian building was burnt today. Great loss sustained.

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January 24, 1865

Plenty to do. Finished a $300 opinion and commenced a $200 one.

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January 26, 1865

Went to the Capitol to attend a sitting of the committee on patents who have the Goodyear case on hand. My argument seems to have made some stir among the opponents.

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January 29, 1865

There is a great furor in favor of oil enterprises. A company is now forming here to go on and work an oil well after boring it. I am solicited to unite in the undertaking. It is like a lottery but I am almost disposed to invest $500 in the enterprise.

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February 1, 1865

Went before the committee on the Goodyear case this AM. I have a good deal of confidence that we shall succeed.

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February 2, 1865

Have been preparing a specification for Wm. M. Arnold for a composition metal to answer the purpose of iron and other metals. As usual he supposes it is going to work wonders in the arts.

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February 18, 1865

Have just had a conference with Mr. Carlisle and shall probably take an interest in his oil companies by exchanging lands therefor.

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March 1, 1865

I have made an arrangement for $100,000 of petroleum stock exchanging wild lands for it.

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March 2, 1865

Have been very busy in the office. Have sold over 3000 acres of land for 2000 shares of stock in one of the petroleum companies (The standing Stone).

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March 5, 1865

The inauguration yesterday was said to have been a spiritless affair. The address of the President was certainly an oddity. It would seem that there was but one object of desire for this great Nation -- the emancipation of the negro and his elevation to the level a little above that on which the whites stand.

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March 6, 1865

The loyal people have a great ball tonight at the Patent Office. About fifty negroes are said to have obtained tickets. The intermixture is probably about secured.

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March 12, 1865

On the other side there is also no little reluctance to enter the army. The current price for a substitute for one year is about $900. Mr. Campbell, our draftsman, has just paid this. In some districts of this city it is said that the draft will take every able bodied man. I am told that in the city of New York it will take about one half of these.

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March 17, 1865

Am engaged in writing an opinion for which I am to receive a very considerable sum. Our income for the present and three past months will average six or eight hundred dollars. I do not like to give up such a business.

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April 10, 1865

At dawn of day cannon were booming to celebrate the surrender of Lee and his army which has doubtless taken place. I am not taken by surprise. I hope this will end the war. It can be made to do so if we are reasonable.

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April 15, 1865

A gloomy day. Just after I had dressed myself the servant came to inform me that the President had been shot at the theater last evening. He died about 8 o'clock this morning. There has been great excitement all day. Most of the houses and stores and all the public buildings are draped in mourning.

[Throughout this period, Mason is engaged with others in the defense against criminal charges of Mary Harris]

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April 21, 1865

I last night made an invention of a gun lock so contrived that there shall be no jerk or sudden movement given to the finger as the trigger is pulled at the moment of firing. It is peculiarly adapted to pistol locks.

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May 4, 1865

I still have something like $40,000 of property left in Lee County according to a computation which does not seem to me excessive.

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May 20, 1865

Found that Lawrence had sold our rake patent for $5000 each which is good luck.

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May 26, 1865

The town has been full of loose soldiers who seem to be permitted to run at large for the day. There were thousands of them in the Patent Office at one time.

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May 28, 1865

I returned from Iowa starting on the 17th and reaching Washington on the 20th after riding again three nights in succession. I found that during my absence they had sold out our interest in the Sabin rake patent for $15,000 so that I have $5000 in the bank subject to my order. This will do pretty well if I can only follow it up with other sales of patents hereafter.

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June 5, 1865

Have been busy with Dr. Boyerton's patent papers. Mr. Dumfel came today to look after his extension case. The business of the Patent Office is managed wholly in a haphazard manner.

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June 11, 1865

Saw Herbert Bryant at church. Several other young men who have been in the Confederate service have returned. The war is beginning to end.

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June 27, 1865

Am getting my model made for the improved gunlock.

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July 1, 1865

Have had a hard fight at the Patent Office to get the extension of Dumpfel's patent, but finally succeeded.

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July 23, 1865

As I expected, Mary Harris was acquitted at once. The jury went out for form's sake but were absent only five minutes. This was on Wednesday evening. She left the next day and will go to Burlington next month.

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July 24, 1865

We have had a long conversation with Rhodes. He gives a sad account of the condition of things south. He thinks the number of negroes is already diminished 25 per cent and by next spring will be 50 per cent less than they were last spring all through the South.

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October 23, 1865

Have been busy all day opposing the extension of a patent of Isaac Constant for a two horse cultivator. The farming interests of the west are involved.

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November 3, 1865

Business which has been a little slack for a few days is again coming in as usual.

We divided $660 last month (each) and there is an equally good prospect this month from all appearances.

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November 24, 1865

I have been engaged a part of the day with Messrs. Harding and Hubbard. I shall perhaps make an arrangement with the latter in relation to the Atkins patent to be used on the Syracuse machine. Harding thinks we cannot sustain the Atkins patent. Am engaged with the Gordon case also.

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November 25, 1865

Have been busy preparing materials for an argument in the telegraph case. I have no great expectation of success, but the result will be so important in case of success that I shall make a serious trial.

I have some hope.

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November 30, 1865

Mr. Robert Brown came down and we have received a power of attorney to sell his patents with an understanding that we may be part purchasers ourselves.

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December 3, 1865

I have been preparing a very thorough argument in Gordon's telegraph case now before Judge Carter.

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January 3, 1866

Have been to see the Judge of the Sup. Court and fixed up tomorrow to explain the telegraph case.

Dr. Page has finally awoke and has exerted himself to defeat us. I have certainly no great hope of success, but the gain will be great if we succeed finally.

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January 4, 1866

The argument of the telegraph case was postponed till Saturday.

Have been looking into the law as to broad patents.

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January 6, 1866

Was to have argued the telegraph case today before Judge Carter, but he was otherwise engaged.

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January 11, 1866

Argued the telegraph wire case before Judge Carter. Have some well grounded hopes of success.

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January 14, 1866

Argued the telegraph case on Wednesday last. Have some hope of success. The only cause of doubt of this subject is the great importance of the matter. The Judge informed me that he thought the patent ought to have been granted at the time it was applied for. I have made a written argument on the question of delay and abandonment which I did not read but left with Judge Carter. I think I have made some strong points and he will find it difficult to answer the arguments made if he will read them.

Mr. Hubbard consummated the contract for the Dorsey patent but whether we can now complete the arrangement with him and others to make the consolidation remains to be seen.

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January 22, 1866

Have been preparing a specification for Gen. Roberts in his breech loading gun. I have perfected my invention of a projectile for small arms or cannon.

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January 30, 1866

Am getting molds made to cast my projectile with a view of testing it. I am of the opinion that I have hit upon the true plan for an arrow projectile for smooth bore guns.

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February 3, 1866

Have got Gen. Roberts' patent allowed all but one claim and have taken an appeal to the Board on that.

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February 6, 1866

Went with Gen. Roberts to try his balls. They proved a failure.

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February 14, 1866

Have been engaged all day with Roberts matters and have brought his difficulties with Col. Bordan to a close.

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February 18, 1866

Called this morning to see Gen. Lee and had a short conversation with him. He was very dignified and as Professor Davis was present I did not feel free to talk quite as I should otherwise have done.

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March 17, 1866

Mr. Fenwick returned and with him Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Hoffheim. We have been all day arranging with them and have completed the "pool". I am in hopes we shall be able to do something with it.

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March 26, 1866

Water froze in the bathing room today. I have been very busy preparing a patent for Mr. Hogan for a gas carbonizer.

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April 9, 1866

Am preparing to start for Iowa tomorrow evening. Mr. Lawrence talks of going with us but it seems to me rather a strange undertaking for a sick man as we shall travel night and day.

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April 13, 1866

Spent the whole day in conversation with Mr. Atkins and in listening to his explanations of some of the inventions. He is much of a genius and is full of the subject.

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April 25, 1866

Heard that Fenwick was sick. Must return as soon as possible.

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April 27, 1866

Staid at home all day. Mr. Lawrence is gaining health and strength under Mrs. Mason's prescription.

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April 28, 1866

Saw H.C. Dean and others. He thinks there is a project on foot to arrest the President and proclaim a dictator. I think he is a little cracked.

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May 3, 1866

I shall not be able to get away till tomorrow at best. Dr. Sanford has made an invention in lamps which I think may be of some value.

He is quite sanguine like all inventors.

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May 10, 1866

Saw the exhibition of Mr. Hay's plan of telegraphing through water by means of a return wire. It looks like a success. He has two other inventions.

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May 12, 1866

Saw Hay in relation to his inventions. I am not sure that he has not made some valuable inventions.

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May 21, 1866

Am fearful that Hay's invention in telegraph wires may prove not to be new after all from what Mr. Stickney has told me.

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May 23, 1866

Went to see Judge Carter in relation to the decision of the telegraph case which he promises to dispose of soon.

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May 24, 1866

Have ascertained that there are many plans for stopping and starting rail cars somewhat upon my principle but not precisely in the manner proposed by me.

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June 6, 1866

Heard today that our Standing Stone Oil Company was likely to meet with some success after all. Hope so.

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June 20, 1866

Have received a letter from F.O.J. Smith offering us 1/3 of his patent if we will bring it out and have accepted the proposition with modifications.

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June 21, 1866

Had a long talk with Prof. Henry. He thinks the new mode of telegraphing by a return current unphilosphical.

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July 11, 1866 [Auburn]

Went to fair grounds in the AM and to the fields in the PM. They are cutting a very unfavorable field of clover, but they do it well. Four machines only are at work at once. Mr. Foote at the Patent Office took me out with him in a carriage of the committee

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July 21, 1866

Attended a meeting of the directors of the Standing Stone Company. We have now about six thousand dollars remaining. All that I have placed in that company is probably a dead loss.

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July 22, 1866

I went north on account of our reaper business. Hubbard and Hoffheim and myself formed a company under the law of New York. We also attended the trial of mowers and reapers at Auburn. I only staid three or four days while they were trying the mowers. I am since informed that Hubbard or Hoffheim succeeded in the strife for the superiority of reapers but I want to learn more on this subject. I saw Morgan there and he seemed anxious to enter into some relations with us. I also met some of my old acquaintances -- Geo. Geddes and Gen. Patrick among the number. I have some hope of succeeding in our organization in the reaper business.

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July 29, 1866

The Philadelphia convention seems to be growing in importance and magnitude. We are having a wigwam erected which will accommodate some 15,000 persons. Most of the railroad companies have consented to carry at reduced prices.

.... Jesse Frye's bill finally failed -- that is to say it was not acted on in the House and lies over till next December. This will almost kill him and I extremely regret the results. It will not however discourage him whatever may be the effect on others.

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August 10, 1866 [Philadelphia]

Rode to the wigwam.

The wigwam is a grand affair. It will seat ten or twelve thousand persons.

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October 5, 1866

Hubbard and Hoffheim are here and we are trying to arrange matters on a better basis. I fear the whole thing will result in failure. I have been busy all day as usual. Dr. Van Camp was here but left at 2 PM. He reports favorably as to oil.

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October 6, 1866

Hubbard and Hoffheim left for home. Saw Gifford in relation to Morgan's patent. Wrote to Morgan and to Atkins. Am apprehensive that we shall not make any great amount of money out of our "pool" unless we can modify our plans somewhat.

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October 7, 1866

We have moved back to Mr. Lawrence's and have given up housekeeping. Business in our office has fallen off very much for the last month. It is perhaps accidental in parts but is partly owing to my being engaged in other matters. I give almost every moment of my time to matters connected with politics. Hubbard and Hoffheim were here during the past week. Our plans for a self-raker association have brought no fruit as yet. I have no great hopes from it.

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October 26, 1866

Met Hubbard and Huntley at evening. They want to dissolve our reaper association.

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October 27, 1866

There is a great effort to remove the Commissioner of Patents, but there is a difference of opinion as to his successor, which may save him.

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October 30, 1866

Hubbard, Huntley and Hoffheim are here and we have had a long interview this evening. I hope we shall be able to agree upon something.

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October 31, 1866

Have been making a new arrangement with Hubbard and Hoffheim. I suppose it will about amount to a rescission of former arrangements and to nothing more. But I do not wish to hold them in an unwilling connection.

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December 1, 1866

We have divided $910 this last month which is a little more than ever before I believe.

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December 24, 1866

Have been hard at work all day -- a part of the time as usual for other folks. Have been writing a specification for Maximilian Wappetch, a one armed German but an inveterate inventor and quite as inveterate a talker. [This would be Maximilian Wappich of Sacramento, CA, pat no 66540, patented July 9, 1867, antedated June 29, 1867, for Improvement in Joints of Metallic Casks, etc.]

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December 31, 1866

We are winding up the year. Our income this year over and above office expenses has been some $7450 each but the depreciated currency and the taxation to which we are subjected renders it of much less value than the sum would have been formerly.

End of year comment --

None is so severe a critic of the faults of another as he who would have been readiest to have yielded to a like temptation.

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January 9, 1867

Sent my compound interest notes and bond to New York by Mr. Geo. W. Riggs for sale and shall buy gold soon.

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January 20, 1867

I had a long talk with Senator Grimes last evening. He says there will be no impeachment of the President and that it is only spoken of by some foolish men just for effect. I however do not feel satisfied on this subject.

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February 8, 1867

Mr. Lawrence has been ill and not in the office for nearly a week. The trouble between his daughter and her husband has caused his illness and he is almost bereft of his senses. A separation is determined upon.

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February 10, 1867

Mr. Lawrence is somewhat better but his mind is very weak and I fear it is somewhat unhinged.

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March 26, 1867

We have had plenty of work. Fenwick has gone to Ohio and I am left in charge of the whole office.

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December 10, 1867

A project is on foot to make the Commissioner of Patents again.

Theaker has received notice to quit. He came to me himself to urge me to accept the office. I may do so.

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December 11, 1867

Am not willing that my friends should ask the President to appoint me commissioner.

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December 13, 1867

Hoffheim has been here and gone. We have completed the arrangements of selling out our patents to him.

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December 16, 1867

It is said that Gen. Cox's name has been sent to the President for Commissioner of Patents.

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December 23, 1867

Mr. Browning informed me that he preferred my appointment to anyone else's appointment of Commissioner and wished me to see the President.

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December 24, 1867

Have been very closely occupied in preparing an argument in Wm. Miller's case before the Commissioner. I hope to be successful and am promised a good fee in that event. Have my hands full of business.

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December 26, 1867

Am getting business daily and can pay my way whether I am a partner or not in the old firm.

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December 28, 1867

Called on the President to suggest the release of Dr. Mudd from confinement. He promised to take the subject into consideration, soon.

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December 29, 1867

I called to see the President last evening to see if I could not induce him to interpose at once in favor of Dr. Mudd and his fellow prisoners at the dry Tortugas. He did not seem to relish the idea. It seemed to give him pain. Is it possible that he fears to do an act of justice lest some of his enemies should find fault with it? To me it seems that this is just such an occasion as he ought to desire; when he can strike a blow at radicalism and be sure to have the great mass of the people with him. He should follow up the Hancock message with something of this kind whenever he has an opportunity and he should pray for such opportunities often. I have almost had a suspicion sometimes that there was something connected with the murder of Lincoln that Mr. Johnson feared might come to light. If that were a fact it would account in a degree for the murder of Mrs. Suratt and for his delaying to discharge Dr. Mudd after the Supreme Court has declared that the tribunal by which he was sentenced was unknown to the law. By keeping him in prison a day after that decision was promulgated he became morally and perhaps legally liable for the wrong that was being done to him.

In taking my walk today I conceived of the idea of building an enormous crystal palace in which specimens of fabrics and inventions might be permanently exhibited and in which a world's exposition might be occasionally held. It would be a great advantage to the skillful manufacturers of the United States and would perhaps make this the center of art for the entire world. I thought of making it at least 600 feet in diameter and to cover some eight or ten acres. The Smithsonian building might be made a part of it or it might be built east of that building.

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January 2, 1868

Have made a new arrangement with Lawrence and Fenwick. They are to pay me $100 per month perpetually if I am in Iowa or elsewhere.

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January 10, 1868

Had an argument before the Examiners in Chief but failed to convince them though I thought it a clear case.

Have been engaged most of the day in matters pertaining to politics rather than profit.

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January 11, 1868

Called to see Mr. Clarke, the architect. He thinks the idea of providing for a constant fair on the Smithsonian grounds is excellent. We could make a good beginning with $200,000 and increase as we had means.

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January 16, 1868

Mr. Theaker's resignation was accepted last night and he is out of office.

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January 19, 1868

Mollie has just written me that she is not in favor of my accepting the office of Commissioner of Patents if it is tendered to me. She wants to travel some and thinks if I get fixed in the Patent Office I shall not be likely to go with her. There does not seem much probability that I shall be put to the trouble of declining that appointment.

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January 20, 1868

Prof. Davis called today and John Tyler, Jr. Have not done much in the office today. Nothing heard of the commissionership.

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January 21, 1868

Called to see Prof. Henry who is much delighted with my plan for a permanent crystal palace for exhibition.

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January 27, 1868

It is said from a source that is reliable that the President will send the name of Mr. Bishop as Commissioner. I shall wait no longer at any rate.

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February 2, 1868

Mr. Bishop's name was sent in to the Senate for Commissioner of Patents one day last week. It is said that he will be rejected but I know nothing about that matter. Should he be rejected my own name will very possibly be sent in next though Gen. Cox, the chief clerk of the Interior Department, is expecting it. I am very unconcerned about the matter however and shall expect to go home before many weeks should I not be appointed and confirmed. Strange as it may seem I am assured by many Republicans that I shall be confirmed in case I am nominated.

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February 16, 1868

Mr. Bishop has been rejected but in his place have sprung up half a dozen aspirants for the position. I do not feel any strong inclination for the place and care very little whether I am nominated and if nominated whether I am confirmed. I shall enjoy better health if I go home and leave Washington entirely.

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February 28, 1868

I have been busy all day with a case of Mr. Marsh. He has lately employed us in two important cases.

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February 29, 1868

I have been arguing a case before the Commissioner in behalf of James A. Marsh, but have failed to gain my point, which even in a small matter is not pleasant.

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March 9, 1868

Have been before the Commissioner in an Indian Rubber case for Mr. Ezekiel.

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March 12, 1868

Christian Shunk called. He claims to have been the first inventor of what is called the Bessemer process of making steel, and I think he is so.

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March 19, 1868 [near Newark, DE]

After breakfast we rode to the factory of the Miller's to witness some experiments in the manufacture of hard rubber. Dr. Hayes, Dr. Kidwell, and Prof. Hedrick were of the party. We saw the materials mixed and worked.

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March 20, 1868

The experiments proved much more satisfactory than I had expected.

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March 22, 1868

During the past week I have been to Chester County, Pennsylvania, to witness some experiments in a new process for manufacturing hard rubber, which seemed successful. There is much of the attention of capitalists now turned towards patents and I am inclined to think speculation will take that direction in a considerable degree. Jay Cooke and Co., are concerned in this matter and they are engaged in some other like enterprises. No little money will be made or lost in such things before long. I shall be in a position to secure my share. Hawkins Taylor is bring another matter forward and is proposing to engage my services in another proposal of a similar character.

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March 24, 1868 [Washington]

Prof. Hendrick has returned, but he would not order our patent to issue. He seems in the interests of the men.

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March 27, 1868

I have been making an argument in the Marsh and Dodge case before the Commissioner. Think we shall get a decision in our favor.

Have been pushing the office pretty hard in the M. case but no patent yet.

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March 28, 1868

Have been busy all day. Am employed by the United States to give an opinion in a patent case.

Have arranged the Miller case. Have two other cases now on hand.

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March 31, 1868

We have finally succeeded in obtaining a patent on the Miller process for which my services are well worth $1000. Shall I get it?

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April 6, 1868

I have been searching for postal boxes but have not succeeded.

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April 8, 1868

Have taken cold and do not feel very well, but have been at work all day writing an opinion in a case for the Post Office Department and in preparing for an argument before the examiners in chief tomorrow.

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May 3, 1868 [Iowa]

I have just been written to by our Mr. Fenwick to go to New Haven on the first of June next to argue an important case before the circuit presided over by Judge Nelson. I shall try to go as a large interest is therein involved.

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May 29, 1868

Started at 7 PM for New York on my way to New Haven. Go with reluctance to argue a patent case before the circuit court as I have never done such a thing before. Mr. Nicholson started with me.

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June 6, 1868

There is much interest still taken in the appointment of a Commissioner of Patents. I would hardly take the office now.

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June 9, 1868

Have been engaged in preparing an opinion for Weathaerty and Sons of Baltimore and have commenced reading up a case for another opinion on a knitting machine for $1000.

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June 11, 1868

I am engaged with the knitting machine case.

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June 12, 1868

There is a contest going on in the city government in which Mr. Fenwick is much interested. Congress will doubtless interfere to put down all opposition to the negro rule.

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June 19, 1868

Finished my opinion in the knitting machine case.

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December 4, 1868 [back in Washington from Iowa

Changed my boarding house to Mrs. Fenwick's, 523 I Street.

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December 15, 1868

Have seen General Hinkle in relation to my compensation for the Miller rubber patent. I shall not be likely to ever receive anything on that account. We shall not get full pay on some of our other cases. One for the P.O. Department in particular.

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December 19, 1868

Finished an opinion for J.S. Perry. My namesake, J.L. Mason, is still in great tribulation in regard to his patent. Business is daily coming in. We should have plenty to do if I were to remain here.

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January 2, 1869

Have been busy with J.L. Mason's business. He has a valuable invention but there are some scamps who seek to cheat him out of it.

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January 17, 1869

I received a dispatch from Dr. Sanford two days since requesting me to remain here till the 24th when I suppose he intends to be here to make some arrangements for having his lamps manufactured. I think I shall not go home for some weeks.

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January 20, 1869

The board has decided against us on the Mason jar. A wrong decision which I hope to see corrected yet.

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January 25, 1869

Dr. Sanford arrived here three days since and we shall start for the North this evening or tomorrow to arrange for having his lamps manufactured. He is as sanguine as ever and thinks a fortune is now within our reach.

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February 6, 1869

The Patent Office still hold my namesake Mason in suspense. It is shameful, that they keep him so.

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February 7, 1869

We did not start north till the evening of the 28th ult. I was gone just one week and returned on the 4th inst leaving Dr. Sanford in New York. We visited Waterbury and Meriden in Connecticut but could make no satisfactory arrangement for the manufacture of our lamps. But on returning to New York, we found better prospects. The Manhattan manufacturing company seem inclined to take hold of the business in earnest and I trust we shall make some arrangement with them ultimately which will be for our mutual advantage. They are now getting up an exact model of the lamp that is to be made. They will let us know the exact cost. We intend to have a thousand or two made at any rate and more if the cost is not too great.

I found my namesake Mason still in Washington on my return and just as far from a decision (apparently) as when I left. There is no excuse for this delay on the part of the Commissioner. He might better by a thousand fold to decide wrong than to thus delay and then decide right. The testimony is short and not difficult to be understood. He has promised to decide the case tomorrow. Nous verrons.

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February 8, 1869

Mason has not yet received a decision of his case as was promised and is still kept in an agonizing suspense. I have been writing a pamphlet for him all day neglecting everything else.

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February 9, 1869

Have written an article for Dr. Sanford for the Scientific American and one for Mason also besides other things.

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February 12, 1869

A Mr. Whittemore who has a patent for making a split spike proposed to give me a 1/4 interest if I would aid him in bringing it out. I am going to look into the matter a little. Have been preparing to argue one of Mason's cases before the Commissioner.

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February 13, 1869

Wrote a long article of near 14 pages in one of J.L. Mason's cases which is before the Commissioner of Patents. I feel sure I ought to be successful.

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February 14, 1869

The Commissioner has not yet decided Mason's case and he has gone home. He has another appeal now pending before the Commissioner and I have just written a long and I think conclusive argument in the matter. He will probably decide these cases sometime hereafter.

A man named Whittemore has a patent for a machine for making a split spike for railroads which he wishes to have me aid him in bringing out and will give me a share of the patent as my compensation. I shall also perhaps take an interest in Christian Strunk's patent for making iron and steel direct from the ore by what he calls the pneumatic process which is what is generally known as the Bessemer process and if he can enforce his rights it will prove valuable.

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February 21, 1869

The Commissioner has decided Mason's case in his favor but the other party will doubtless appeal.

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February 28, 1869

I shall probably make an arrangement with Mr. Whittemore for a share of his patent for forming split spikes for railroads. I am in hopes that this will prove valuable. He is one of the practical inventors and I have faith in his machine proving a success. I have no little confidence also in my own invention of a means of rendering road indestructible or at least comparatively so. I have fixed up my affairs in a tolerable condition but expect to have to return here in a month of six weeks.

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August 16, 1869

Nearly six months have passed by since my last entry in this diary. [the one with the long, philosophical entries. KWD]

Our lamp enterprise has not resulted as profitably as we hoped. I never allowed myself to be exalted to any considerable degree but Dr. Sanford and Judge Lowe were expecting great fortunes from this source. I have recently received a letter from Dr. Sanford in which he expresses a willingness to sell out all his interest in these inventions if he can get his money back with interest. I have paid out about $1000 in money and have done a good deal of labor to say nothing of botheration and to his enquiry whether I am willing to sell out on the terms he mentioned I have replied that I have long regretted ever having done anything with this matter and that if I can get my money back again with a reasonable compensation for my time, labor and bother I am willing to sell out. I hope he will succeed in doing this.

I have made an arrangement with Mr. Whittemore so far as to agree to make an effort to organize a company to manufacture the split spike. I am now awaiting an answer to my propositions. It is said that there will be no difficulty in organizing a company if we can show a machine that will manufacture the spikes successfully. Whittemore thinks there can be no machine invented unless upon the plan presented in his patent and therefore it must be subordinate to his patent. This is to be tested.

George W. McGill has two patents for forms of split spike. Gen. Chas. Ewing who owns most of these patents would be willing to unite with us but he is unwilling to give us an equal interest. I am equally unwilling to give him and his associates more than an equal share unless it shall be made manifest that some other machine can manufacture these spikes in competition with our own without infringing our patent.

But McGill does not pretend to be the first inventor of the split spike but only of a particular form. I do not believe we need to make them of that form. Two men of the names respectively of Kirkup and Balmer living in New York or Brooklyn have been contending for some time for the right of priority in regard to this invention. They have each now a patent for the spike made in the only way that can be successful. I feel very doubtful which of them was really the inventor but I think that either the one or the other of them was the first to make the invention. I am proposing to secure both their inventions -- coupling them with Whittemore's Having effected this we shall be in a position to talk as dictatorially to Gen. Ewing and his party as they do to us.

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November 15, 1869

Have been engaged all day in the office. Lawrence is engaged in preparing an argument before the Commissioner. Fenwick is afflicted with boils. Mr. Smith is taking testimony in his suit for infringement of his elastic fabric patent.

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November 16, 1869

Mr. Ashley from New York called. He and his brother have several cases in the Patent Office. They propose to employ us. Mr. Fenwick has gone to New York to take testimony. I have been examined as a witness in the case of Wm. Smith.

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November 18, 1869

Went to the photographers to have my likeness taken to be placed in the Patent Office.

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December 1, 1869

Received a letter from Munn and Co., asking permission to publish my letter on the subject. [of the crystal palace on the Smithsonian grounds for a permanent world's fair KWD] I gave it.

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March 18, 1870

A Mrs. Muir called today to obtain writing if possible. She was in Vicksburg during the siege of that city in 1863. We have no writing to give her. [This would be handwritten copywork, as commonly done before typewriters. KWD]

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March 25, 1870

Several persons called. Among these was a Dr. Littlepage with a new method of determining latitude by the different weights which the same body would possess at different latitudes owing to the oblateness of the spheroid and the centrifugal forces at different latitudes. It is ingenious.

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March 26, 1870

Expressed my doubts of success to Dr. Littlepage when he called again this AM, but he is still hopeful. He has doubtless the correct idea. I am only doubtful whether he can make an instrument sufficiently sensitive for success.

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May 20, 1870

Have been engaged with Messrs. Holly and Keep. Theirs is a $550 job. I am not receiving from my association any more than I bring into the concern. I refer to my partnership association. It does better when I am away to receive $100 per month.

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May 25, 1870

Am hard at work preparing for the reissue of an important patent for Birdsill Holly of Lockport for a water supply regulator. I am intending to introduce his method of supplying cities with water into Burlington when I return there.

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May 27, 1870

Have been engaged in Mr. Brown's business and also in the preparations of Holly's reissue morning, daytime, and evening.

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May 28, 1870

Went to the Senate committee room but was not admitted. It is said that they propose to wipe out all the old rejected cases. I am preparing an argument on that point. Am likely to make an arrangement with Gen. Ewing.

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December 19, 1870

Have been tolerably busy looking up facts and circumstances connected with the Gordon case; I am rather inclined to try that case in Congress. A patent thus obtained will be of more value than though [sic] obtained in the usual way.

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December 20, 1870

Went to the Capitol but found the room of the Senate Committee on patents fastened. I wished to enquire after the Hull case.

Have been writing up the Gordon case preparatory to some further action either by the Patent Office or by Congress. Hedrick is now absent and I must await his return.

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December 21, 1871

Have been writing to Timothy Gordon

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December 22, 1870

Have been writing a supplemental argument for the Commissioner in the Hull case. Also a form of petition for T. Gordon and a long letter of instructions and suggestions, so I am not over confident as to the obtaining of a patent but I may as well have something to busy myself about.

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December 25, 1870

Col [John W.] Caldwell [at West Point with Mason] went to church with us and staid to dinner. He told me a most extraordinary story about our old West Point chaplain, Mr. Warner and how he became a beggar in Paris and was buried at the expense of the beggar boys.

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January 4, 1871

Drew specifications for T. Gordon's application. Fear there will not be time to receive it back before Saturday which is the last day on which to file it.

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January 6, 1871

Have been attending to some office business. Timothy Gordon sent in the new specifications in the old telegraph case just in time.

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March 20, 1871

Received a letter from Whittemore in which he says he can easily make 30 or 35 split spikes per minute; 20 looks to me like a success.

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March 23, 1871

Mr. Whittemore arrive this A.M. He is confident of the success of his spike. Gen Irving promises to test it tomorrow.

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March 24, 1871

Have had some talk with Mr. Whittemore about a patent he hopes to obtain from Congress for a boot pegging machine. He was the first to make such an invention and his machine is the progenitor of all those that are now in use. Am pretty well convinced in regard to his spike machine.

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March 25, 1871

Whittemore and Gen. Irving went to Navy Yard but could not try spikes till Monday. I feel quite sure they will prove successful.

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March 28, 1871

The experiment yesterday with the split spikes was tolerably successful. Gen. Irving was well pleased. Went to see Mr. Bodisco's partner, a young Russian by the name of Kabath, who came to my office. He is not altogether pleased with out spike machine but wants to know more in regard to it.

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April 9, 1871

Went with Mr. Lawrence to call on Mrs. Wallace who is curing him of a blind eye by mesmerism. He says he can see better already.

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May 12, 1871

There has been a great fire in Galesburg and another in Mammorak within a few days past. The property destroyed would have more than paid for a Holly water works in each of those towns and such a system being in operation there would have prevented the fires.

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May 13, 1871 [in Iowa]

Received a letter from Fenwick in relation to a modification of our relations. Some changes seem necessary.

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May 14, 1871

Wrote to Fenwick about a modification of our present arrangements in business matters.

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June 21, 1871 [in Iowa]

Spent AM with Mr. Purdy and Mr. Atkins discussing patent matters. Sent two more cases to M. F. L. at Washington. Atkins is an extraordinary man in relation to mechanical philosophy. I have received some new ideas from him on that subject. He has several new inventions.

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January 31, 1872

I saw Mr. Senator Conkling who promised to present Stephen Hull's case petition to the Senate and have it referred to the Committee on Patents. I had finally effected its withdrawal from the House Committee. I hope it will go forward now.

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February 6, 1872

Have been busy with the case of Beardstone opposing the extension of the Cook patent for a cotton tie.

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February 9, 1872

Have read all the testimony of Cook, the applicant for an extension. He makes out so strong a case that I have little hope of defeating him.

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February 10, 1872

Have been reading up the extension case. It looks a little more promising.

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February 12, 1872

Have been writing an argument in the Cook extension case.

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February 13, 1872

Have finished my argument. He expected the arguments would be oral tomorrow and they may be so. I cannot find out what is the practice. The Commissioner gave me his views of some changes he proposed to introduce.

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February 14, 1872

The argument which was to have come off today before the Commissioner of Patents is postponed till tomorrow at 11. I am preparing myself as well as I can but do not like the idea of making an oral argument.

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February 15, 1872

Argued our case today and rather expect to be beaten but must let the result be as it will. There are great interests concerned.

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October 31, 1872

Have just received a letter from Mr. Lawrence informing me that Commissioner Leggett will soon resign and that I had better hurry up my argument in the telegraph case.

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January 6, 1873

Called at the Patent Office. The Commissioner promises to take hold of the Gordon case soon. Had a conversation with Mr. Taylor on scientific subjects. He is well posted.

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February 1, 1873

Have been in the office nearly all day. Atkins and Whittemore have both been there for some time each.

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March 29, 1873 [Iowa]

My wife died at 7:25 this evening. [of cerebro spinal meningitis KWD] I felt a great relief when she ceased to breathe and thus ended her misery though that did not seem very great. Mollie and I were alone with her when she breathed her last.

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January 17, 1874

Have been to the office and visited the Patent Office. Prof. Schaeffer and Mr. McCormick have both died since I was here in July. They were two landmarks of the office having both been in office here before my appointment as Commissioner. Schaeffer had been removed from office before he died, but did not survive long afterwards. This removal probably killed him. He was not a good examiner, but was a capital librarian which office he held for many years past. It was cruel and I think unwise to remove him. The telegraph case is still undecided, but I am promised a decision soon. The decision will be against me I think, but not on the merits.

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January 19, 1874

Called to see the Commissioner of Patents who was absent looking after a pet prospect of his involving a separation of the Patent Office from the Interior Department and also giving the Commissioner the power of an autocrat over the whole business of the office. I trust the bill now pending will not become law.

January 20, 1874

Had an interview with the Commissioner of Patents who still holds the Gordon case under advisement. He told me that he had once written out a long opinion allowing the patent but had doubted again; that he never could refuse the patent on its merits, but felt doubtful whether he ought to refuse to allow it out of deference to Judge Carter's opinion in relation to it in 1866. A year or two ago he decided that very question which was published in the Official Gazette holding that the case should be decided on its merits irrespective of Judge Carter's opinion, but there is something which is not outwardly apparent that holds him back now. He promises however to make a decision soon which I hope he will do. He expresses the belief that we should obtain the patent from the court.

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February 3, 1874

I am studying up the cases of Gray and Woodbury which are precedents which if followed would give us the Gordon patent without hesitation. This must be the reason why the Commissioner expresses a readiness to award us a patent if the case can be presented on its merits and perhaps renders him desirous to find some excuse for withholding our patent notwithstanding the granting of a patent to Woodbury in a case much less worthy of it than ours is. The application in his case was filed in June, 1848, was rejected in January, 1849, was withdrawn in 1852, and the $20 paid back. It then lay till 1869 before any further action was called for.

A new application was then filed which came in under the act of 1870. It was rejected by the Examiner and the board on account of abandonment. Without waiting for an appeal and without requiring an appeal fee to be paid the Commissioner interfered by an endorsement upon the papers on file directing the Board to disregard the objection of abandonment and decide the question on its merits.

How could the Commissioner know that there was no circumstance evincing proof of abandonment even supposing the withdrawal of the application and allowing it to remain thus withdrawn for 17 or 18 years did not furnish sufficient evidence of that fact? And if he was going to look fully into the matter why did he not require a regular appeal as a matter of revenue?

But this order was made on the 22nd of the month and on the 26th he himself sends a notice to the attorneys of the applicant that the patent has been allowed contrary to the opinion of himself, of the Board, and of the Examiner, but solely in obedience to the decision in the Gray case. As there are always circumstances in every case which cause it to differ from every other and as it is certain that the Gray case fell far short of this in the length of time which elapsed between the withdrawal and the refiling, it is not quite clear that the latter was a necessary precedent that was conclusive in the case of the former.

But there was another extraordinary circumstance in connection with this case. Ordinarily some two weeks elapse between the allowance of a patent and its issuance. This time cannot in any case be less than about twelve days according to the regular course, but in this case only three days elapsed between the date of this notice and the issuance of the patent. Was there ever such hot haste known before in the business of the office? It usually requires several weeks for a case to pass through the hands of the Examiners in Chief. This was rushed through almost instantaneously and the issuance of the patent was accelerated in a still more irregular and extraordinary manner. What is the explanation of these phenomena? Fisher and Duncan were the attorneys of Woodbury. He had offered another attorney $5000 if he would obtain this patent and he had refused to make the attempt for the reason that no patent could be legally obtained in this case. The result furnishes strong probability to the theory that the Commissioner lends his countenance to his friends. There is another case that has come to my knowledge equally confirmatory of the same theory. And besides, his own sons are extensively engaged in practicing before him, especially in extension cases, and are said to be generally successful.

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February 5, 1874

I have been looking into the papers in the Stephen Hull case in which the reasons for allowing a patent are a thousand times stronger than in the Woodbury case. A patent had been allowed in 1869 and the patent had been prepared to be signed when someone brought the matter to the attention of the Commissioner (Fisher). He at once interposed arbitrarily and directed the Board of Examiners in Chief to review their decision in the light of his opinion in the Cochran case. They did so but a majority of the Board came to the same conclusion as before. They drew a clear distinction between this case and Cochran's; and besides the Cochran case was reversed on appeal to the Supreme Court of the District.

Notwithstanding all this the case was withheld and the patent could not be obtained. Despairing of obtaining justice in the Patent Office, an application was made to Congress. As the decision of the Board had been in our favor we could not appeal and the Commissioner would not allow the patent to issue. We therefore thought we had good ground for relief from Congress.

A bill was passed through the lower House and went to the Senate where it was referred to the committee on patents and subreferred to one of its members. He reported in favor of its passage, but it was the short session and the committee wanted the opportunity or the inclination to make their report.

At the next session the application was renewed and was referred to the committee who interposed interminable delays. They seemed [to think?] that the matter should have been settled in the Patent Office. The last time I enquired at the committee room the report had not been made and I gave up all hope of success in that quarter.

After the decision in the Gray and Woodbury cases, I thought that the matter might be successfully brought before the present Commissioner. On looking into the papers I found that the Commissioner had made no decision in the case after the reaffirmance of the Board, but had only suspended it until his further order. I do not see how he can now refuse to act upon the case favorably.

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February 7, 1874

I have had an interview with the Commissioner who raises the technical objection to granting the Hull patent that we are shut off from all remedy in consequence of allowing more than six months to elapse since the last action of the office. I reminded him that the last act of the Commissioner was a mere holding of the case under advisement while the last official act was a decision of the Board allowing the patent. This I am sure is the right view of the matter, but can I get him to take it? He will hold the matter under advisement for a while longer.

I received a letter from Whittemore stating that his spike machine had been put into operation sufficiently to manufacture 200 pounds of spikes at the rate of one per second, but the machine needs some further modification to prepare it for constant work. Gen. Ewing who began to think that Whittemore was deceiving us feels greatly relieved. I have always believed that Whittemore's machine could make the spikes, but feared that they would not be used generally. Ewing is confident of their general use if he can successfully make them.

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February 10, 1874

Have been preparing a pretty strong paper for the Commissioner in the Hull case, but I fear it will be unavailing. I have but little confidence in the present Commissioner; he seems to have his favorites on the outside of the office among whom are his two sons who are said to be employed in the most doubtful cases -- especially in extensions. Fisher and Duncan are also a favored firm. The outside world are becoming aware of the workings of the machinery within. I trust the new bill giving the Commissioner further and extraordinary power will not become a law.

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February 11, 1874

Finished my paper for the Commissioner in the Hull case. I don't suppose he will grant the patent, but he will have hard work to find a reason against doing so.

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February 12, 1874

Have received five kegs of spikes from Whittemore and was dreadfully disappointed. I have about given up all hope.

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February 28, 1874

I know how difficult it is for new ideas to get a foothold in the world. Those truths which ultimately become the most unquestioned are often at first met with the most determined incredulity.... Some men cannot comprehend a mathematical demonstration if they try ever so earnestly, but most men have a smattering information which involves errors that stand more in the way of truth than does even incapacity itself. Men can be more easily instructed when ignorant than they can be made to learn truth after errors have become inveterate.

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March 6, 1874

The Commissioner has concluded to refuse the Hull patent but may very possibly allow the wrench and promises to decide the telegraph case soon. It is high time as he has now had it before him nearly two years.

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March 13, 1874

The Commissioner has finally rejected the case in which T.H. Dodge was interested. I think I will send out a writ of mandamus in the Hull case.

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March 20, 1874

A Mr. Jones from St. Louis has been here for assistance in getting relief from Congress for money advanced and for the use of his patent in arming gunboats on the Mississippi River. He seems to have a good case.

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March 21, 1874

E. Harmon called from New York. He is talking again about his ruled envelope patent and wants an opinion which is worth $50 at least to prepare. He will expect to pay in nothing more than blarney of which I have already had sufficient. He wishes me to write a letter for publication in one of the New York papers, but I shall hardly find time to do that now even if I had the inclination. His whole purpose manifestly is to induce me to write an opinion for him without charge on account of the service he can render me in regard to the letter or something else of the same nature, but I already understand him pretty well and have on more than one occasion; of late refused to do work for him without the same pay I should expect from anyone else.

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March 23, 1874

Sent off today the petition for a mandamus in Stephen Hull's case to be executed. Completed also the petition to Congress for John L. Jones. Have also nearly completed the opinion for Mitchell Stevenson and Co. Mitchell will be here tomorrow. I shall be in readiness for him or can soon make myself so.

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July 10, 1874 [Iowa]

We are laying a plank sidewalk in front of our grounds 8 feet wide which will prove quite an improvement.

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November 4, 1874

Called on the Commissioner. The decision of the Gordon case is flat footed against us.

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November 6, 1874

Have seen the Commissioner in relation to the Gordon case. He seemed to think that new office fees would not be required on appeal in the new case made. But I do not wish to contest the matter on the ground where it now stands per Commissioner's decision.

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November 10, 1874

Reached Boston at 6 AM and went to the Parker Hote. Saw Whittemore after breakfast and witnessed his machine making spikes. Arranged with Brigham, Whittemore, and Ewing.

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November 27, 1874

Finished my two articles for the Scientific American and sent them off. I had taken some pains with them. Am getting more industriously inclined. Get nothing to do that brings pay.

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December 4, 1874

Have received a letter this evening from Brigham that Whittemore is on his way here to get a new patent.

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December 5, 1874

Received from Munn and Co. $25 for articles written by me without expecting compensation, and a request to write a large number of other articles at my discretion. Whittemore did not make his appearance. B. Holly called to obtain some information from me and from Pat. Office.

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December 9, 1874

Mr. Whittemore called this morning. He comes to take out a new patent in consonance with his new spike machine.

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March 6, 1875

The Supreme Court of the District has decided the mandamus case against us. Strange that all the wrong decisions are adverse to us. Cannot some court decide right or at least in our favor. I shall not give it up.

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March 8, 1875

I am thinking of taking steps to obtain a new trial in the Hull case. It is certainly strange that the court denied the mandamus. We have no other remedy.

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March 9, 1875

Am informed that the court held that the Commissioner had no right to control the examining [sic] in the decision they might make but the mandamus was refused on the ground that the remedy was by bill in equity. Shall move for a rehearing.

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March 10, 1875

I am preparing to move next Saturday for a rehearing of the Hull case. Three of the judges have expressed a desire or at least a willingness to have the case reargued. If this is done the argument will not come off till April 15 or so.

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March 11, 1875

Have been preparing for a motion for a rehearing of the Hull case which will be made next Saturday. Think I shall succeed eventually -- if so the way will be open for success in the telegraph case.

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March 13, 1875

Made a motion in the Supreme Court of D.C. for a rehearing, but the Court declined to hear argument now, postponing that till next time (in April next) when there shall be a full Bench. This was perfectly satisfactory.

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March 17, 1875

R.L.B. Clark is dismissed from office.

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March 30, 1875

We are all confusion in the office being in process of removal to our new quarters on 8th Street corner of F. Mr. Clark's case is not yet fully settled. I have some hope he will be retained.

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March 31, 1875

Appeared before the Commissioner in Dodge's case (Coel). I think he will refuse this patent but it will be clearly wrong. We are removing into our new quarters. They will be somewhat scant but the change will be grateful. R.L.B. Clark is still in the office but rather shaky.

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April 3, 1875

I have remained in my room most of the day as my room at the office is not yet in readiness.

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April 7, 1874

Our offices are now about fitted up though the paint is somewhat disagreeable and perhaps unwholesome. I have remained there a part of the day and am engaged at home getting up my argument in the Supreme Court of D.C. It is nearly completed.

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April 8, 1874

Have nearly finished my argument in the Hull case. Had several calls. Among these was Mr. Munn of the Scientific American. I have written a number of articles for that paper, one of which appears this week.

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April 23, 1874

I tried an experiment of having my argument printed at another office from that of Polkenhorn but have made a mistake. They are making a botch of it; if we gain in cheapness, this is overbalanced by vexation.

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April 26, 1874

I have today made my argument in the Hull case but the court then adjourned and the case will be finished tomorrow. I am in much doubt whether I have succeeded in convincing Judge Humphrey and there is no hope of either Wiley or the other.

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April 27, 1874

Made my closing argument in the Hull case this morning and have no little hope of having been successful. If Judge Humphrey's head were half as good as his heart I should have no doubt whatever.

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November 25, 1874

I was this morning greatly shocked by the information of the death of A.B. Stoughton

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November 27, 1874

We had a meeting in the Patent Office on the occasion of the death of Mr. Stoughton, at which I presided, and I am to become one of the pall-bearers on Monday next.

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December 10, 1874

The Commissioner has decided the Hull case in our favor and in doing so has partially decided the Gordon case.

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December 14, 1874

I have been commencing to write another argument in the Gordon case but find I cannot write as readily as I once could. Is it owing to disuse of the faculty of writing, or to other causes.

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December 15, 1874

Am writing an argument in the telegraph case and am in no small hopes of success this time. The decision in the Hull case has opened the door of success as I believe. I do not feel inclined to hard study in as great a degree as formerly but I hope to improve.

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January 3, 1876

Have about completed my argument in the telegraph case and have made it more complete than on any former occasion. We have appealed the case to the Examiners in Chief but for some reason the examiner in charge has failed to send it up. I think my argument will hold water.

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January 9, 1876

Mr. Lawrence has been taken with a chill and is threatened with pneumonia.

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January 15, 1876 [Philadelphia]

After finishing my business I rode out to the Centennial buildings where I spent an hour or more. They make an imposing display and are advancing towards completion.

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January 17, 1876

Have written a long letter to Mr. Hedge and have been examining the law on some points connected with the telegraph case which I hope to bring before the examiners in chief before long. I am pretty well satisfied with the argument I have been preparing and am writing it preparatory to its final delivery.

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January 18, 1876

I am rewriting the argument in the Gordon case and hope to have an opportunity of making it before long. The patent in the Hull case is about to issue after so long procrastination but it goes out as of the date September 14,/69 but half a loaf is better than none.

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January 20, 1876

We have got our Hull patent at last. We shall now look up the case thoroughly first with a view of obtaining a reissue and an application to Congress for an extension so that the patent may have 17 years to run from the time it came into our hands. We are somewhat in hope of making something handsome out of it.

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January 21, 1876

We are investigating the Hull patent and find everything favorable. The probability is that most of the harvesters will be infringers of our patent and there are supposed to be 150,000 manufactured annually. There is a possibility that we shall realize something very handsome from this patent.

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January 22, 1876

The prospect of doing something with the Hull patent is all the while improving. I rather think that more is to be hoped for from that than from the telegraph patent. If we should also get that. The examiner would at once give us the latter if it were not for the order of Leggett.

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January 24, 1876

I have amended the specification of the Gordon case and have sent it back for further action but am only expecting a rejection preparatory to an appeal to the Examiners in Chief.

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January 28, 1876

The Gordon case is now before the examiners in chief and I am having my argument copied. It will cover some 50 or 60 pages of foolscap. The subject is worthy of attention.

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January 31, 1876

I have put my manuscript in the printer's hands re my argument in the Gordon case. I feel pretty well satisfied with it and I believe it ought not only to secure me the patent but that the argument shows that we can sustain the patent when obtained.

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February 4, 1876

I have been reading part of the proof of my argument. I think it will hold water.

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February 12, 1876

I forgot to state yesterday that I made the argument in the telegraph case before the examiners in chief and have great confidence that a patent will be allowed by them.

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February 17, 1876

Went to the Capitol at 11 AM. After waiting an hour had an opportunity to explain the Hull case to the subcommittee. I doubt if they will recommend the bill but I shall try further.

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February 18, 1876

Received a letter from Hull making a proposition which we concluded to accept. We are to apply for another patent for him and have one half on all his patents.

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March 20, 1876

A most gloomy day. Took my walk in the PM and staid at home all evening. Have done little but read the newspapers. Oh, I feel sad and lonely. Sometimes I want to return to Iowa very soon. But I should be dissatisfied there in a short time. This dissatisfaction will end before many years, which are passing with a continually accelerated rapidity. Am I to know no more happiness here?

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March 31, 1876

The examiners in chief have decided the Gordon case in our favor and the patent will be issued in two or three weeks if nothing prevents.

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April 1, 1876

We have finally got our telegraph case fairly on the highway to a patent as I believe. It was placed today in the list of cases that are to be patented next Tuesday week as I believe. It has been a long struggle and success has only been obtained through the most persistent perseverance.

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April 13, 1876

Went with Fenwick and Lawrence to an agricultural store to look at a harvester. It hardly infringes Hull's patent now and perhaps will not do so when reissued.

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April 19, 1876

Have been engaged a portion of the day in framing a specification for a reissue of the Hull patent which will have to be done in order to give it a full effect. It is not shaped yet to my liking and it will be very difficult to put it into its best shape.

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April 20, 1876

I have been all day engaged in writing a specification in the case of Stephen Hull for the reissue of the patent in which we have a one half interest. I think we shall be so able to shape the patent and the claims as to subordinate most of the harvesting machines that are made in the United States, which would be fortune enough to satisfy any reasonable man.

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April 22, 1876

We received our corrected patent in the Gordon case today and sent it to him. I think he will be pleased with it. We must now see what we can do with it.

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May 4, 1876

I have been reading the testimony in the case of Eastman v. the Western Union Telegraph Company. I do not think the patent will be sustained in that case but it will be many years before the litigation will be at an end.

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May 9, 1876

Congress has adjourned over on account of the Centennial and many of the members have gone to Philadelphia. The weather will probably be fine soon again. Am inquiring about the best place to buy a new carriage.

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May 12, 1876 [Philadelphia]

Attended the Centennial today. A thunder shower this PM drenched all that was out of doors but did little injury to us except by darkening the buildings. Met several acquaintances on the grounds and elsewhere. Got very tired and was back at the hotel before 6 o'clock. The hotel keepers have raised their charges. I am informed the Colonnade which formerly charged $3.00 now charges $5.00. There are others that have been following a like course.

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May 13, 1876 [Philadelphia]

Went after breakfast to look at some carriages at Rogers and Co., 1009, 1011 Chestnut Street. They were too expensive, rating from $950 upwards. I expected to get one for half this smaller price. I shall wait till I go to New York or perhaps till I reach home.

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May 17, 1876

Wrote last evening to two telegraph companies in New York informing them of our Gordon patent and sending them each a copy. We must commence our operations soon, though by delay in bringing suits we can avail ourselves of the litigation now in progress at the expense of others.

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August 7, 1876

Received today a pamphlet presenting a new kind of railroad. It was but a single rail, can turn on a ten foot radius and ascend a grade of 500 feet in a mile. I do not understand how it is constructed and I do not believe in it. But in these times scarcely anything should be looked upon as impossible.

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September 15, 1876 [Burlington, Iowa]

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence returned home last evening.

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October 2, 1876 [Burlington]

Mr. Mountfort, the father of the photographer, has made an invention by which he proposes to cancel the postage stamps upon letters by burning so as to render it impossible to remove that cancellation. The means are very simple and the process cheap and convenient. I think it very possible that his invention may prove valuable. I have written to Washington on the subject.

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October 10, 1876

I am gaining in flesh quite considerably. I weighed only 130 two or three months ago. I now weigh 138.

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October 27, 1876

I am laying in my winter supply of vegetables, having purchased 25 bushels of potatoes at 75 cents per bushel.

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December 26, 1876

I am rather intending to go to Washington in the course of two or three weeks. One object in so doing will be to make some disposition of my interest in the telegraph patent. Jay Gould is waging war with the Union Telegraph Company, and I may perhaps take advantage of that war to further my own interests.

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January 31, 1878

Lawrence Fenwick as well as all patent attorneys are doing very little and some of them nothing.

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February 2, 1878

Mr. Pease and Mr. Gold called to enquire my terms for giving them an opinion on a patent matter. I am to let them know next Monday. On looking over their patent I am not able to understand it without an examination of the model in the Patent Office which I shall postpone till Monday when they can go with me.

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February 4, 1878

Mr. Pease and Gold went with me to the Patent Office and I understand their invention pretty well. They are to pay me $300 for an opinion which may be increased considerably by their calling for further investigations.

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February 5, 1878

I have been employed in writing an opinion in the steam radiator case which was sent me to Iowa and in examining an English patent which had a bearing upon it.

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February 17, 1878

I find that I can get a round trip ticket for New Orleans for 20 days for $48.35, which is less than one half of the regular cost unless I go through without stopping or consuming more than 5 days each way. Next Tuesday will be Mardi Gras which is the cause of these excursion tickets.

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February 28, 1878

Made a sudden determination to start at 3 AM tomorrow for New Orleans. Can go on board the Pullman car at 10 PM today and not change cars till I reach New Orleans. Purchased an excursion ticket to go and return for $48.35. I shall come back to Washington before going home.

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March 4, 1878

There was a great display of fire companies. At 3 1/2 the steamer R.E. Lee came down the river, bearing his Majesty "Rex", and all the noises of pandemonium arose from steam whistles, etc.

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March 5, 1878

Went to the city at 10 1/2 AM to witness the Carnival. The exhibition in Washington several years since had prepared me for its absurdities. In fact I was disappointed in its not being equal to my expectations. It was not on a level with that which I had before seen.

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March 8, 1878

Started at about 9 AM for Mobile but stopped at Mississippi City to see Jefferson Davis. He was 5 1/2 miles further along at a place called Beauvoir where I went in a buggy and had a very enjoyable visit. He is staying there with a Mrs. Dorsey, an authoress and a sprightly lady.

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December 31, 1878

Received another letter from Timothy Gordon enclosing a slip in relation to Judge ---- ask to have the injunction made perpetual unless the defendant will engage to pay $100,000 a year for a license or 1/3 of a cent on each message sent through any of the lines. The defendant wants him to substitute something besides gutta percha.

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January 14, 1879

S.J. Gordon, Esq. says the Western Union Telegraph Company has concluded to give our patent a serious examination.

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June 20, 1879

Received a letter from Mr. Lawrence giving reference to an English case which I fear will trouble our Gordon patent.

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July 13, 1879

Have lost a pound or two the past week. I only weight 110 pounds. A part of this loss is due to a change of clothing, but not all.

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January 16, 1880

Went to the Patent Office records and found that I had not put the agreement between Whittemore and myself on record and he (Whittemore) had last month assigned all his interests in both patents to Chas E. Brigham. It looks much as though they intended to play the rascal with me. We shall see whether they will succeed.

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March 12, 1880

I went to the office at ten and found Jerum Atkins with some of his inventions, who kept me an hour. Before he left Mr. Ambler came who staid two hours descanting upon his inventions. I did not go out after lunch.

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June 29, 1880

Among other things I have been looking over the case involving the Page patent for my friend George H. Parker who is acting in the interest of the American Union Telegraph Company, now at loggerheads with the Western Union Company.

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September 1, 1880

The fare from Chicago to New York is $20 with $5 for sleeping car fare.

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December 24, 1880

Have spent a considerable portion of the day in conference with Messrs. Donahue and McCosh and in writing connected with their steel barbed wire patent. I think I have that matter in a good way now. The patents of Washburn and Company are not likely to be resisted and the proper loss [sic, proprietors?] will reap a harvest of profits.

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January 27, 1881

Have been into the Patent Office looking into the Page patent.

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April 21, 1881

I have been more industrious than usual, having been pretty closely engaged in writing for several hours without feeling much fatigue. I am in hopes that I shall be able to apply myself to writing after I return home. Mr. Fenwick informs me that he finds the same difficulty in applying his mind as I do.

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December 9, 1881 [Burlington]

Mr. McCosh called to have steps taken to procure patents on his barbed wire fences taken out in several countries, especially Great Britain, Canada and Mexico. He is dissatisfied with T.H. Dodge.

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February 16, 1882

[Last diary entry]

Diary copy ends with note "Judge Mason died February 25, 1882.

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Extract from a long letter dated January 23, 1882 to Edward H. Stiles, Esq., on the early history of the bar in Iowa

I was born in Central New York among the hills some twelve or fifteen miles south eastwardly from the city of Syracuse; graduated at the U.S. Military Academy in 1829, and immediately thereafter entered my name in a law office as a student, while I remained for two years as an assistant professor of engineering at the Academy; then resigned from the Army and entered a lawyer's office in the city of New York, and in June 1832 was licensed to practice; commenced the practice in September of that year in Newburgh N.Y., and two years later removed to New York City where I remained until July, 1836. I then went West on a tour of observation and emigrated to Wisconsin in Nov., 1836, spending three months near Belmont where the legislature of the territory was then in session....

I commenced housekeeping in Burlington Nov. 3rd, 1837, and have ever since made it my home.

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Department of the Interior

Washington, March 29, 1853

Sir:

The president having nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointed you Commissioner of Patents, I herewith enclose your Commission.

Be pleased to acknowledge its receipt and, should it be accepted, advice to the Department of the place of your nativity.

I enclose the form of the bond which the Act of 4 July 1836 requires shall be executed prior to your entrance upon duty. The oath of office may be taken here.

I am, sir, Very respectfully, your obt. servant,
R. McClelland, Secretary

Charles Mason, Esq.
Burlington, Iowa

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Washington D.C. Jany 22d, 1861

To Hon. Chas Mason
My esteemed friend:
I believe there are few things more difficult than an attempt at finding a suitable acknowledgement of indebtedness which we feel we can never repay. This has always been my position in regard to you, sir. I first knew you through special acts of kindness directed to myself, and time, so far from canceling, has added, not only the accumulating interest, but sum after sum of new principle to the face of the obligation. If at first I felt myself at a loss for language to express my gratitude, what can I say now?

That I have never remained silent through any lack of grateful feeling is certainly very clear to me, and I trust has never been misunderstood by myself (if thought of at all.) -- but words seemed so cold, and thanks so poor, to offer in return for the kindness which had enabled me to stand independently, and draw the comforts of life around the suffering and afflicted, and had sustained me through such trials as no sensitive nature can endure unaided, that I dared offer them only in the presence of Him, who searcheth the heart, and knoweth it. And I have ever besought the Great Dispenser of Blessings temporal and eternal, that His guiding care be over you, -- that His watchfulness protect, bless and spare to you, through a long and happy life, the loved and loving, whose peaceful smiles make up the sum of domestic bliss. May you never feel the need of counsel or aid lower than His. And finally when the great drama shall be ended, may the freed Spirit learn of the blessed reunion in that other world, which we trust shall be the sure reward of a life well spent in this.

With the kindest regards to Mrs. Mason, and Mary, whom I hope to meet soon, I beg to remain as ever,

With the highest esteem, yours truly,
C.H. Barton

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Charles Mason Remey was secretary of the National Church Foundation, which proposed to build a national church and shrine in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1925.

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Description of Charles H. Mason by the artist and publisher George H. Yewell

He was a man over six feet in height, thin and somewhat angular. His movements were energetic, and he carried himself erect, a habit formed during his military education at West Point. His mind was by nature a judicial one. He was an attentive listener; arranged his thoughts carefully before clothing them in words; not much given to talking; rather reticent than otherwise, yet capable of being very interesting when he did talk, and having a quick sense of humor that brought with it a cheery smile and a twinkle of the eye. He was merciful and kind-hearted, and never any but pure words came from his lips. He had no bad or useless habits; used no tobacco or spirits, and, I believe, never drank coffee or tea until he was quite advanced in life. He was careful of money, economical and self-denying, and yet very few people knew of the many young men he befriended and assisted with money. I know of one for whom he did that and more, for to me he stood in the place of a father, giving me not only advice and money, but that which was better and more precious -- affection.

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Commissioner Mason was the first head of a Government department in Washington to give regular office employment to a woman, [fn: Work had sometimes been given women to do at home, mostly copying and the drawing of models] when he chose Miss Clara Barton to be his secretary, contending that if a woman's work equalled that of a man she should have a man's pay. Thus he established a precedent now providing positions for thousands of women employed in the many governmental bureaus of Washington.

[fn: (By Mrs. Remey). My father, Judge Charles Mason of Iowa, held the position of Commissioner of Patents from May 1853 until August 1857. Miss Clara Barton was appointed by him to a position which she filled to his complete satisfaction. She was a frequent guest at the home of my parents and the regard was mutual. Her friendship for me is one of the cherished recollections of that period of my life. My father died in 1882 and as long as he lived, maintained a cordial admiration and respect for the qualities that made Miss Barton a leader and successful manager of whatever she undertook. (M.J.M.R.)

In Clara Barton's life by Epler, stress is laid on influence of DeWitt. She came with a letter of recommendation from him, but she was already a friend of my grandfather's [C.M.R. speaking], and at the time, just before she took this Patent Office post my grandparents were arranging with her to go out to Iowa as governess to my mother. Her parents, when she was a child, did not want to send my mother to school. And there were no schools in Burlington, the arrangement was for Miss Barton to go out to the farm.]

Miss Clara Barton's biographer, Epler, [fn: Percy H. Epler, "The Life of Clara Barton," Macmillan, 1915] gives the information, also verified by Miss Barton in 1876 and 1886, as shown below, that she was the first woman employed in a government office in Washington.

"During the administration of President Pierce, in 1854, at the request of the representative from Massachusetts, she (Miss Clara Barton) received the appointment she had asked for. The old records of the Department of the Interior, which was established in 1849, disclose her there by 1855 and show that she was one of the first Government clerks of her sex, if indeed not the first, as indicated by a letter, written Sept. 22, 1855, by the Hon. Alexander Dewitt, a member of Congress from Oxford to the Secretary of the Interior, Robert McClelland:

"'Having understood the Department had decided to remove the ladies employed in the Patent Office on the 1st of October, I have taken the liberty to address a line in behalf of Miss Clara Barton, a native of my down and district, who has been employed the past year in the Patent Office, and I trust to the entire satisfaction of the Commissioner.'"

The Commissioner of Patents, Judge Charles Mason, as we know was well satisfied with Miss Barton's work and retained her in office, but dismissed instead some of the men who had sought to undermine her place there. In 1856, when President Buchanan, a Democrat, was elected, there was a cry of "black Republicanism" against all of antislavery sympathies, and Miss Barton was dismissed in 1857.

Her retirement was probably due to Judge Mason's resignation as Commissioner. She went to Oxford, Mass, where she remained two years, but was recalled to her Government office in 1859 and returned to Washington.

In 1886, Miss Barton referred also to her appointment, and mentioned Judge Mason, who had retained her in office in place of some of the men who had unjustly sought her removal: "After some rest I was requested by the Commissioner of Patents to take charge of a confidential desk, with which he had found difficulty. The secrecy of its papers had not been carefully guarded. I accepted, and thus became as I believe the first woman who entered a public office in the Department of Washington in her own name drawing the salary over her own signature. I was placed equal with the male clerks at $1400 per year. This called for some criticism and no little denunciation on the part of those who foresaw dangerous precedents.

Commissioner Mason was distressed at the dismissal of the women clerks he had employed, their places being given to men under the Spoils System, as pursued by the Secretary of the Interior, Robert McClelland. [fn: diary note, Oct 14, 1855]

As late as 1873 only about six hundred women clerks in all were employed in the government service in Washington. These were principally in the U.S. Treasury. The salaries paid ranged from $600 to $900. In the Patent Office but 52 "female" clerks were allowed by law in 1873. The women clerks in Washington lived miserably, often in attics, where they prepared their own food over a gas stove.

In spite of the adverse conditions of their employment, it was always humorously said of government clerks, "Few die and none resign."

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The Gordon patent had to do with an invention, something to do with insulation for ocean cables, and it was encroached upon and taken by the cable companies and used all over the world. Gordon himself died, and his relatives and family had no money at all, and they had no power to fight the thing, and simply nothing was done about it. Finally one of them came to my grandfather, who was perhaps the leading patent attorney in the country at that time. My grandfather and his partner made arrangements to fight the thing through on shares, so it was a sort of a tradition in the family that there was a tremendous fortune there. It involved practically every cable in the world, a perfectly clear case, and grandfather and his partners took it up, but grandfather died, and the thing lapsed, and the family didn't get anything, and we didn't get anything C.M.R.


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