laim the opening above the blades A, fig. 3, and at D, fig.
1, in combination with vibrating blades. I also claim the particular
application of the flush edge at the fork of the blades, for the purpose
described.

"The end and design of the improvements above claimed is to prevent the
blades choking."

[Sidenote: McCormick Twelve Years Late]

_En passant_, we would ask any intelligent and candid farmer or mechanic
who has examined a successful reaper, to compare the foregoing plain
specifications which all can understand, with the cutting apparatus of
the most successful modern machine. And we would especially desire him to
compare them in principle with the "improved form of fingers to hold up
the corn, and an iron case to preserve the sickles from clogging;" not
the alleged invention of 1831, by C. H. McCormick, and abandoned from
1840 to 1843, but the claims patented by him in 1845 [as stated in the
letter to Philip Pusey, M. P.], twelve years after the date of Hussey's
patent, and twelve years after his most complete and uninterrupted
success in cutting both grain and grass. In fact, there was no year from
and including 1833 up to 1854, a period of 21 years the past harvest,
that we have not the most positive and conclusive evidence of the success
of Hussey's reaper; in numerous cases the same machines had cut from 500
to 800, and even one thousand acres; in one instance, the same machine
was used for fourteen harvests, or as many years, successively and
successfully.

[Sidenote: Canfield Testimonial]

We have given some of the evidence for 1833. For 1834 we annex two
letters giving an account of the two machines made this year, one in
Illinois, and the other in New York, viz:

"Spring Creek, Sangamon Co., Ill.,
"October 1st, 1854.

"_Mr. Obed Hussey, Baltimore:_

"Dear Sir:--Your favor of August 10th came to hand a few days
since. The reason was, it lay at Berlin (formerly Island Grove
Post-office) and my Post-office address is Springfield, the only
place where I call for letters.

"In answer to your query, how your Reaping Machine worked in 1834,
I have to say that it cut about sixteen acres of wheat for me on
my farm; that it did the work in first rate style; according to my
best recollection, as well as any of the machines that have since
been introduced. The only objection I recollect being made, was,
that when the straw was wet, or there was much