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was so engaged with the business of his office and private affairs that he
had not sufficient leisure and quiet to devote to literary pur-
suits. He took out several patents for his inventions
and engaged with different Persons to carry them into opera-
tion, but as with his horses, he was deceived by many
that he thought were honest till he tried them, and was not
so fortunate as to make thousands as some have done by
their Inventions, never having gained a farthing by them
to my knowledge--while others have robbed him both of
honor and profit; and even lately Mr Perkins now in England
has claimed the invention of a steam gun which he invented
in 1787 (See certificate signed by G. Turner, R Wells and R {Shockton?}
in Box )--*He invented two musical instruments on
which he spent much time and money, and no doubt if he could
have accomplished his plan, it could have been a grand and
novel instrument, and he like the great Franklin (as related
by Leigh Hunt) would have been much gratified in surprizing
his wife with its fine tunes--but alas! that also is left
unfinished! He thought that an Instrument
might be made to speak (I have seen an account of one
in Germany latterly I think) and once when a Clergyman
(D. Ralph) applied to him to subscribe to a Church in