S. T. SHUGERT, Acting Commissioner of Patents. United States Patent Office, Mar. 1, 1861. A BRIEF NARRATIVE OF THE INVENTION OF REAPING MACHINES And an Examination of the Claims for Priority of Invention The object aimed at in this examination is to ascertain as far as reliable evidence within reach will establish the fact--and before the evidence may be lost--to whom belongs the credit of first rendering the Reaping and Mowing Machine a practical and available implement to the American farmer; not who _theoretically invented_ a machine for the purpose, that may have worked an hour only, and very imperfectly for that short period, and was then laid aside; but who rendered it an operating and efficient machine that was proved by successive years in the harvest field, capable of doing its work, and doing it well; better than either the scythe or cradle. The object is _not_ to detract from the merits fairly claimed by any inventor; but it is to examine into some of the rival claims, furnish the evidence that has satisfied our own minds, and leave it for others to judge for themselves. We would not intentionally deprive an inventor of his often dearly bought and hard-earned fame--the creation of his own genius--for it is more prized than even fine gold by many. But it is equally just that merit should be acknowledged, and the meed of praise awarded, where it is honestly and fairly due; and to this end we propose and intend to examine into the evidence closely and critically. It may also be right to remark that we have no private or pecuniary interest whatever, in these, or any other patent claims. [Sidenote: Attempts of the Ancients] As to the theoretical portion of the business, the enquiry might be greatly extended; indeed for past centuries, as we have imperfect accounts of Reaping Machines being used by the Romans. If the ancients were successful in making a practical implement for Reaping, by horse, or ox power, as some ancient writers assert, we certainly have no correct and reliable account of a machine that would be considered efficient or useful at the present day; a machine to save or tear off the heads only--as described by Pliny and Palladius--would more properly be termed a gathering machine, and not at all suited to the wants and habits of modern farmers. [Illustration: Silver medal won by Mr. Hussey with the Reaper at New York in 1852.] [Sidenote: English Endeavors]