CHAPTER X.  THE INVENTION OF THIS STEAMBOAT- JOURNEY TO VIRGINIA. IN the month of April, 1785, upon a Sunday, John Fitch was walking in "the street road" near Neshamony, in Bucks County, in company with James Ogilbee. They had been at a religious meeting, at which the Rev. Mr. Irwin preached, and they were now returning home slowly. A rheumatism, contracted no doubt during his recent surveying tours in the Ohio country, had stiffened the limbs of Fitch, and his progress was somewhat difficult. Whilst he was limping along, a gentleman, Mr. Sinton, and his wife, who were seated in a "chair," drawn by a noble horse passed them at a rapid pace. The circumstance was not uncommon, but just at that moment the progress of those travelers was so much more rapid than the pace of the pedestrians, that the circumstance set one of the latter to thinking. Mr. Fitch thought that it would be a great thing to have a means of conveyance without keeping a horse. He considered within himself, whether it might not be possible to find some force which would accomplish this important end. The expansive qualities of the steam engine presented itself to his fancy as an efficient method of propelling carriages upon land. At this time, he was altogether ignorant that a steam engine had ever been invented. FURY of enthusiasm with the idea, when he reached home he proceeded to make drafts of a Steam land carriage. He worked diligently at this thought for about a week, but doubtless soon became disheartened when he reflected upon the roughness of the common roads in America-the plan of a railway not having presented itself to his imagination.
his own quaint account of the consequences of that discovery is curious. He Says:

"I was So unfortunate in the month of April, 1785, as to have an idea that a carriage might be carried by the force of steam along the roads. I pursued that idea about one week, and gave it over as impracticable, or, in other words, turned my thoughts to vessels, which appeared to me that it might be applied to advantage on the water. From that time I have pursued the Idea to this day, with unremitted assiduity, yet do frankly confess that it has been the most imprudent scheme that ever I engaged in. The mechanism has been the grandest, although executed upon a small scale, that was ever executed by mortal man, although it does not make the grand appearance that it would in a first-rate man-of-war. The difficulties have been infinitely greater, as in a small boat we arc confined to room and weight, therefore the works are much more noble than if we had carried one thousand tons one hundred miles in a day. And to reflect on the disproportion of a man of my abilities to such a task, I :am apt to charge myself with being deranged at the time of my engaging in it, and had I not the most convincing proofs to the contrary, that I have now by me, I most certainly should suppose myself to be non compos menus at that time.
But on examining over my papers, I find that there was 46 capital, and many of them principal characters, for Philosophy and mechanism, that gave me their opinions that the scheme was rational. I may add to them the Committee of the Assembly of Virginia of 7 members, of Maryland 5, of Pennsylvania 3, and to that number 27 that have engaged and advanced money on it, which are generally men of the first character- in all 90-that has testified either by Certificate or otherwise that I absolutely was in my senses at the time.
Yet notwithstanding all this, I should have doubted both them and myself, had not the God of Nature testified the same. What, I call Lunacy, is a train of deranged unconnected ideas. It is well known that a steam engine is a complicated machine and to make that and connect it with the works for propelling a boat, must take a long train of Ideas, and them all connected, and no one part of them disjointed; for the Laws of God are so positive that the greatest favorite of Heaven would not succeed contrary to the fixed Laws of Nature, no sooner than the most profane sinner. I have now made use of a long train of reasoning to prove that I v. as not a lunatic, and doubt not but that my reasons will convince the world in general, that I was not. Yet, not withstanding the infallible evidences which I have produced, it does not g conviction with me; for had I the abilities of Cissaroe , it ought to be esteemed madness in me to have undertaken it in my state of penury. Had I been a Nobleman of 3000 per year, it would bearly justify my Conduct, than as the world from the evidence which I have produced are obliged to justify my Conduct. I, on the other hand, have a right to declare myself a Madman, and I think I can prove this on the following principles:
As I know of  nothing so perplexing and vexatious to a man of feelings as a turbulent Wife and Steamboat building. I experienced the former, and quit in a season, and had I been in
my right senses, I should undoubtedly treated the latter in the same manner, but for one man to be teased with Both, he must be looked on as the most unfortunate man of the world. There fore I find I must leave the World and myself as much in the dark as ever about my intellects, and inform them how I proceeded." Discouraged by the difficulty of completing land carriages, Fitch turned his attention to the perfecting of some method of propelling vessels upon the water. He immediately set to work with ardor to perfect the draft of a boat to be moved by steam, and after two or three weeks he took his drawings to his friend, the Rev. Mr. Irwin, of Neshamony. The latter had in his library "Martin's Philosophy,"' in which was a description of a steam engine. "Although it was not to my credit," confesses Fitch, frankly, "I did not know that there was a steam engine on earth, when I proposed to gain a force by steam;" and he adds, that upon being shown the drawing at Mr. Irwin's, he was "very much chagrined." But upon reflection this knowledge strengthened his resolution, now being assured that the machinery would not fail of propulsion, if he could gain the force. The first and most obvious course, was to try by experiment to obtain a proper method of propulsion, by which the vessel could be moved by the active power. In casting about for the best means, paddle-wheels similar to those afterward used by Fulton, seem to have suggested themselves. Mr. Longstreth says  
" It was in this log shop [Cobe Scout's] that Fitch made his model steamboat, with paddle-wheels as they are now used. The model was tried on a small stream on Joseph Longstreth's meadow, about half a mile from Davisville, in Southampton township, and it realized every expectation The machinery v-as made of brass, with the exception of the paddle-wheels, which were made of wood by Nathaniel B. Boileau, whilst on a visit during vacation from Princeton College. Mr. Boileau, a highly respectable man, who was at one time an influential politician in Pennsylvania, and who was Secretary of State under Governor Snyder, made this statement to Daniel Longstreth.'

Mr. Whittlesey says upon the same subject:
The buckets of the wheels were found to labor too much in the water, entering, as they did, at a considerable angle, and departing at the same. They lost power by striking at the surface and afterwards lifting themselves out of water. This led to the substitution of oars or paddles."

A further evidence frill be seen in the letter of Dr. Swings which will be shorter quoted, which shows that his method was by turning wheels, or a single wheel in the water. A still further confirmation is found in the General Advertiser of November 29, 1791. The difficulty under which the small paddle-wheels labored is there concisely noticed.
Whilst engaged in experiments, he had printed a number of copies of his map of the North-Western county for sale, and thus announced the fact in the Pennsylvania packet of June 30, 1785:

"JOHN FITCH
Having traversed the country North-West of the Ohio, in the several capacities of a Captive, Surveyor, Traveller, &se. As the result of his labors and remarks, has completed, and now  to sell, a new accurate map of that country, generally distinguished by the Ten new States, including Kentucky, which pens immense sources of health and advantageous speculation to the citizens of the United States, and is, therefore, an object
general attention And having performed the engraving and printing himself, is enabled to sell at the very small price of a French crown. To be sold by William Prichard, on the North side of market street, opposite Laetitia Court."

Every thought encouraged Fitch in his plan, and after spending more time upon the details of his invention he determined to seek the assistance of Congress. On the 20th of August, 1785, Dr. John Ewing, provost of the University of Pennsylvania, gave Fitch a letter to William a. Houston, formerly a member of Congress, and who, by some mistake, Bras supposed to be a representative at that time.

" Philad., 20 August, 1785.
"DEAR Sir:-I have examined Mr. Fitche's machine for rowing a Boat, by the alternate operation of steam, and the atmosphere, and am of opinion that his principles are proper, and Philosophical, and have DO doubt of the success of the scheme if executed by a skillful workman. It is certain that the extensive force of Water, when converted into steam, is equal to any obstruction that can be laid in its way, so as to burst any metalick vessel in which we would endeavor to confine it, and the application of this force to turn a wheel in the water, so as to answer the purpose of Oars, seems easy and natural by the machine which he proposes, and of which he has shown me a rough model. Should such a machine be brought into common use in the inland navigation through the United States, it would be exceedingly advantageous in transporting the productions of America to market, and thereby greatly increase the value of our back Lands.He proposes to lay his invention before Congress, and I hope he will meet with the encouragement which his mechanical genius deserves. The project deserves a trial to be made of it, to see how far the execution will answer the theory; the countenance of Congress in these productions of Genius, v ill encourage others and thereby give birth to discoveries that may be infinitely Beneficial. As you are a Gentleman of Know ledge in these matters, I make no doubt of his receiving your patronage so far at least as to give him an opportunity of laying his scheme before Congress.
" I am, sir,

" John EWING.

" TO WILLIAM C. Houston, ESQ."

The letter of Dr. Ewing to Mr. Houston, Bras delivered to the latter in a day or two after it was written. Mr. Houston, not being a member of Congress, enclosed the recommendation of Dr. Ewing to Lambert Cadwallader then a delegate for New Jersey, accompanying it with a letter of his own in the following terms :

" TRENTON, 25 August, 1785.

" SIR:-I have examined the Principles and construction of Mr. Fitche's steamboat, and though not troubled with a Penchant for projects, cannot help approving the simplicity of the plan. The greatest objections to most pretensions of this sort, is the delicacy and complication of the machinery. This does not seem liable to such objections; as to the moving force of the wholes we know very well that the power of steam is beyond conception, it is everything but omnipotent, and almost that.
' The model is plain, and you will at once form a judgment of its probable general effect.. The difference produced by standing or running water is to be more attentively considered. I enclose you Dr. Ewing'g letter. He is certainly an able judge in these cases, and I cannot help expressing a wish that it may be practicable to do something toward procuring an experiment. The person who offers it, you know. He is a man highly deserving, as modest, ingenious, enterprising and of good morals.

" I am, sir,

" WILLM. C. Honorable. HONORABLE L. Cadwalader, Esqre.

Congress Gas then in session in New York, and while upon his way thither Fitch stopped at Princeton, cohere, having shown his plans to Dr. Smith, provost of the College, the latter gave him the subjoined letter to the Hon. Mr. Read, member of Congress from North Crowing : but, like a faithful subject, he desired that the invention should be for the benefit of his Royal master. Fitch, on the contrary, wished that the invention should be for the advantage of mankind. If he had accepted the offers of the Spanish minister, he might have been rich. " God forbid!" exclaims he, writing in great distress of mind and while meditating suicide in 1792, " God forbid that I should ever be in the like error again, if ever in my power to prevent it. The strange ideas I had at that time of serving my country, without the least suspicion that my only reward would be nothing but contempt and opprobrious names, has taught me a mighty lesson in mankind and to do it at the displeasure of the whole Spanish nation, is one of the most impolitic strokes that a Blockhead could be guilty of."
Fitch returned to Bucks County very much incensed at the cool treatment he had met with in New York, and with a determination to persevere and show the committee of Congress that they were " ignorant boys." He had not much else to occupy his mind, for in the meantime a new misfortune had fallen upon him. Congress had resolved that the public lands should be sold at public venue, and in such a manner that all the hopes of the land company, in consequence of their superior knowledge, were swept away. This was a severe disappointment not only to our adventurer, but to his associates. In reference to his own hopes he said, " Thus was an immense fortune reduced to nothing at one blow. I could have located two hundred thousand acres, beside what the company were entitled to for the halves, and found plenty of encouragement."
He had nothing to do now but to apply his energies to the protect of the steamboat, to which he lent every thought.
On the 27th of September, 1785, he presented a drawing of his boat and models to the American Philosophical Society, at Philadelphia, and was permitted to attend their meeting. He said, " that upon that occasion no new ideas were advanced more than he had previously thought of, and some of the most material were not touched."    He had now modified his plan by substituting for paddle-wheels an endless chain, passing over screws or answer as paddles.





The model thus prepared is the only memorial of
Fitch now preserved by the society.The drawings,
descriptions, and all other papers are missing. The following entries on the  minutes are the only recorded evidence on the subject:

" Tuesday, September 27, 1785

" The model, with a Drawing and Description, of a Machine for working a Boat against the stream by means of a steam. engine, was laid before the Society by Mr. John Fitch."
" December 2d, 1785.

" A copy of the Drawing and Description of a Machine for rowing a boat against the current, which sometime ago was laid before the Society by Mr. John Fitch, he this evening presented to them."

He now determined to set out for Kentucky, in the hope that encouragement might be obtained there. His intended course was by way of Virginia, where he wished to stop at Richmond to look after his patents. Not having relinquished his idea of the steamboat, he appealed to the distinguished American whose reputation in philosophy had attained a world-fide celebrity, in the anticipation that he would extend a helping hand to genius struggling against the most dispiriting difficulties. He tells the story thus, in 1790:

' Before I went I called on Dr. Franklin, who spoke very flatteringly of the scheme, and I doubted not of his patronage in it, although I could obtain nothing from him in writing before the 2nd day of December, when he laid a scheme of a steamboat before the Philosophical Society; but not knowing him then as well as I do now, before I set out I wrote him a letter on the occasion, setting forth the practicability of the scheme, the Great use it would be to the Ignited States, and praying his patronage and of my determination of Returning from Kentucky early in the Spring; but as the Dr. had other things in view, he did Dot answer it, but being desirous of gaining the Honor to himself, laid down some what of a different plan to the Philosophical Society in December. Had the Doctor acted himself, he might easily engrossed the whole honors, as I was no ways tenacious for that, but my grand Views were to render service to my ¡
try, and Chastise the Ignorant Boys of Congress." 

Tile letter thus referred to, is in the possession of the American Philosophical Society, and is as follows

BRACES COUNTY, 12 October, 1785.  May it please your EXCELLENCY- The subscriber most humbly begs leave to trouble you with something further on the subject of a Steam Boat. His sanguine opinion in favor of its answering the purpose to his utmost wishes, emboldens him to presume it will not give offense And if his opinion carries him to excess, he doubts not but your Excellency will make proper allowance. As it is a matter in his opinion of the first Magnitude not only to the United States but to every Maritime power in the World, as he is full in the belief that it will answer fur sea Voyages, as well as for inland Navigation, in particular for Packets where there should be a great number of Passengers. He is of opinion that fewel for a short Voiag, would not exceed the weight of water for a long one, as it would produce a constant supply of fresh water. He also believes that it would be able to make head against the most Violent Tempests, and thereby escape the dangers of a Lee Shore. And that the same force may be applied to a Pump, to free a leaky Ship of her Water. What emboldens him to be thus presuming in the good effects of the machine, is the almost Omnipotent force by which it is actuated, and the very Simple easy and natural way by which the Screw or Paddles are turned to answer the purpose of Oars.
I expect to return from Kentucky about the first of June next and nothing would give me more secret pleasure than to make an Essay under your Patronage, and have your Friendly assistance m introducing another useful art into the World With the most perfect Respect, I am your most Devoted Humble Servant,  JOHN FITCH.  His Excellency, Dr. Franklin.  The presentation of Franklin's plan referred to by
Fitch is noted in the minutes of the American Philosophical Society, as follows:

DEC. 2,1785. Mr. Hopkinson presented to the Society a  dissertation written by Dr. Franklin, containing a great number of curious and useful observations and discoveries relative to voyages and maritime affairs, which being read,
01l motion, ordered that the thanks of the Society be returned to his Excellency for this entertaining and valuable communication. The accusation made by Fitch against Franklin is not borne out precisely "in manner and form" as preferred, but it is substantially sustained. The article "on Maritime Affairs" is published in the Transactions of the Society, but easy reference for general purposes may be made to Sparks' Life of Franklin, Vol. VI., page 463. It purports to be a dissertation written at sea, on board the London packet, Captain Truxtun, August, 1785, and is in the shape of a letter to David Leroy, Paris. The subjects treated of are various and have no reference to steam navigation whatever. Among other things, Dr. Franklin speaks of plans of propulsion by circular paddles on the circumference of wheels-a method frequently used, but which had never been found so effectual as to encourage a continuance of the practice. He then refers to the plan of M. Bernoulli, as being most singular. It was to have fixed in the boat a tube, in the form of an L, with an upright funnel opening at the top, convenient for filling it with water, which, descending and passing through the lower horizontal part, and issuing from the middle of the stern of the boat, under the surface of the water, should push the boat forward. The Doctor observes that a defect of this plan would be, that every bucketful dipped or pumped from one side, or both, must have its tvis intertiae overcome, so as to receive the motion of the boat before giving motion to its descent, and thus be a deduction from the moving power. To remedy this, Dr. Franklin proposed that another tube same shape, having a valve for the entrance of the water below at the bow should be placed alongside the other L pipe, back to back, thus JL. The water pumped in front would thus help to give motion to the boat.




He also suggested that a stream of air might be made to issue from the stern, so as to give means of propulsion by the reaction against the water. In all these suggestions there is no hint of employing steam to do the pumping; and for aught that appears, Dr. Franklin, who speaks of it more as a curiosity than of presumed utility contemplated no other moving power than the strength of men. 




But there is evidence to sustain Fitch from other sources. The most important is an article printed in e General Advertiser for Nov. 29, 1791, which was

edited and published by Benjamin Franklin Bache, a grandson of the philosopher. What is therefore said in relation to Franklin's plan for a steam-boat has the stamp of family authority. The article was an editorial. It depreciates Fitch's efforts, and asserts that Franklin proposed to apply steam to a boat for pumping and ejecting water, as early as 1785. It is also curious upon account of its containing a suggestion of the employment of a screw propeller. The following is what was said on this subject:

Some attempts have been made to propel boats by the force of steam. The power of steam is certainly prodigious, and there can be but little doubt of its answering this desirable object, if properly applied. Hitherto, the machinery made use of has been complex, occasioning much friction, and wanting frequent repairs. Besides, the force has been applied to give motion to paddles, whereby poser has been always misapplied. In the first experiments the force was applied to turning an axis, vehicle carried a number of paddles as radii. In this mode of proceeding, power was lost; for when the paddle began to act in the
water, it acted obliquely, tending but in a small degree to propel the boat, but chiefly only to lighten it. In this manner of operating, the paddle in its progress produced more and more of its desired effect, until it acquired a perpendicular position, at which point only for an instant all its force acted in propelling, after which, while emerging its propelling power decreased, and its action tended more and more to sink the boat deeper. To avoid this misapplication of power, a more complex and unwieldy machine was constructed, in which the paddles dipped into the water perpendicularly when operating, acting altogether in propelling, and emerged also in a perpendicular position. This contrivance had its inconvenience. While the paddle was immerging and emerging it opposed a considerable surface to the action of the water, and checked the progress of the boat.
Dr. Franklin, in the year 1785, planned a simple method of applying steam to give motion to boats. He proposed that the  steam should act immediately upon a piston, which should move in a cylinder perpendicularly fixed in the center of the boat. The bottom of this cylinder connected with a horizontal cylinder fixed from bow to stern, and there communicating with the surrounding water. Two valves in the horizontal cylinder on each side of the perpendicular one, each opening towards the stern. When in this simple machine the piston rose by the force of the steam. the bow valve would open and the water rush in with considerable force, fill it, and also the perpendicular cylinder. The piston would then descend, the bow valve shut, that nearest the stern open, and the body of water rush through the after part of the horizontal cylinder, and out Pith considerable violence against the surrounding 'fluid, and consequently propel the boat. He conceived also that when the piston ascended the boat would acquire a small quantity of motion by water being sucked in at the bow. These cylinders he proposed should be of a considerable diameter, the exact size to be fixed by experiment, and suggested the propriety of doubling the apparatus, the pistons to work alternately.
The simplicity of this contrivance, and the little friction it would occasion, are considerable recommendations to it- but a striking objection to this is a waste of power. The whole force of the water rushing out of the stern would not tend to propel the boat, as the surrounding fluid would not oppose an absolute resistance to the column of water acting on it.
The following is proposed as free from the objections to the above contrivance.
Let the steam act in turning an axis, bearing a number of thin metal vanes fixed like the vanes of a windmill, in the proper angle, and let these vanes act under water at the bow or stern of the boat, as most convenient. By the rotary motion of the axle the vanes would all continually screw themselves into the water, and give motion to the boat. All the power would here Propel the boat, and the continued action of the vanes give the a vantage of accelerated motion. It might perhaps be found more convenient to apply the force of two sets of vanes, one fixed on each side of the boat. This might, without much complexity, be done.



An actual experiment gave rise to this idea.
At the time when balloons were in vogue in France, and all heads were at work in devising means to give them motion ad libitum, an ingenious mechanist, to the bow of a common boat, adapted four vanes like those of a windmill, but smaller, and gave motion to them by means old a simple crank. The boat thus equipped, by the action of the vanes in the air crossed the Seine in less time than another crossed the same river by means of a pair of common oars, and returned to the place whence she started, notwithstanding the force of the current. Mr. Latrobe confirms this statement, that Franklin advocated the use of a steam-engine to draw in and eject water from a boat. He made a similar averment in his report on steam-engines, presented to the American Philosophical Society, in 1803. Dr. Franklin was the chief among the patrons of James Rumsey, whose steam-boat was, in principle, a practical adaptation of Franklin's plan, using the steam-engine to do the work of pumping in and ejecting water. It is a matter for conjecture, whether Rumsey was not altogether indebted for his idea of propulsion to the paper of Dr. Franklin, which was published in the Transactions of the Philosophical Society, Vol. II., page 294, which volume was issued from the press about the beginning of July,1786. On the 20th of October, 1785, Fitch left Philadelphia, on his way to Kentucky. He called upon Wm. Henry at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who told him that he had himself thought of steam, as early as 1776, and held some conversations with Andrew Ellicott upon the subject, and that Thomas Paine had suggested it to him in 1778, but that he never did anything in the matter, further than drawing some plans, and inventing a pattern of a "steam-wheel," which he showed Mr. Fitch, and said that as the latter "had first published the plan to the world, he would lay no claim to the invention." He promised that he would make a model of a steam-wheel, as his visitor did not exactly understand how it would work. This undertaking was never fulfilled. At Fredericktown, in Maryland, Fitch visited Thomas Johnson, Ex-Governor of Maryland. It is probable that he there, for the first time, learned that James Rumsey, of Virginia, had, in the previous year, made some experiments with a boat designed to move against streams, by the force of the water acting on a wheel, to which setting-poles were attached. This mechanism, with some manual assistance, had been successfully tried. In their conversation, Fitch averred that Gov. Johnson said nothing about Rumsey's being about to employ steam for the purpose of propulsion, and he was easy in the belief that Rumsey's plan was entirely different from his own. Gov. Johnson advised him to call on General Washington, on his way to Richmond; and accordingly he stopped at Mount Vernon. Washington received him with courtesy and listened to his plans, but did not give him the encouragement he so much desired. Fitch says, in reference to this great man, " I believe that his greatest failure is a too great delicacy of his own honor, which we hardly can Suppose can be carried to excess. The certificate which he gave to Rumsey's pole-boat was, perhaps, one of the most imprudent acts of his life." The projector saw signs of agitation in his countenance, and he asked him if his boat was on the same plan as Rumsey's. Washington replied that he could " not give Rumsey's plan by negatives." After this he went out, and returning after a time, "told me," says Fitch, "that it was not the same as Rumsey presented to him at Bath, but that, sometime after that, at Richmond, he had mentioned something of the sort to him, but he was so engaged in company that he did not attend to it, but he made no mention of Rumsey's writing to him on the subject." This is the statement in the MS. autobiography. In " The Original Steam-boat Supported," Fitch says, in reference to this interview, that Washington informed him " that the thought of applying steam was not original, that Mr. Rumsey had mentioned steam to him," but nothing that passed in the conversation with General Washington had the least tendency to convey the idea of Mr. Rumsey's relying upon steam. "Knowing that the thought of applying steam to boats had been suggested by other gentlemen long before, I left his Excellency, General Washington, with all the elated prospects that an aspiring projector could entertain, not doubting but I should reap the full benefit of the project, for although I found that some had conceived the thought before, yet I was the first that exhibited a plan to the public, and was fully convinced that I could not interfere with Mr. Rumsey, otherwise the well-known candor of General Washington would have pointed out such interference." At Richmond, Fitch found that his deeds were made out for his lands in Kentucky, and being infatuated with the scheme of the steam-boat, he was persuaded by John Edwards, a delegate in Congress from Ken tucked to petition the Legislature of Virginia for assistance. His memorial was presented by James Madison. A committee was appointed, the members of which spoke favorably to the inventor in reference to the subject, but made no formal report. Patrick Henry, who was the Governor of Virginia, was pleased with the novelty of the plan, and Fitch, finding that there was no hope of legislative assistance, conceived the idea that he might sell a sufficient number of copies of his map of the North-Western country, to raise funds to enable him to demonstrate the practicability of the scheme. In this over-sanguine anticipation, he executed a bond on the 16th of November, to Governor Henry, in the sum of £350, conditioned that if he should sell one thousand copies of his map, at 6s. 8d. each, he would in nine months thereafter, exhibit a steam-boat in the waters of Virginia, or forfeit the penalty. There was also a provision in the instrument that he should produce one thousand copies of the map at Richmond, before the second Monday of November, 1786. One hundred and fifteen subscription papers were given out to the members of the Assembly, and it was expected that they would return them full of names, but they paid no attention to the matter, and all that was realized from this plan was twenty subscriptions, obtained by Mr. Dunscomb, of Richmond, to whom forty maps were sent, and from whom eight crowns Mere received. When Bewitch entered into this agreement, he had not a sufficient number of maps ready, and he determined to postpone his visit to Kentucky, and return to Bucks County to print the required number of copies. At Fredericktown he again called on Governor Johnson, who urged him to try what he could do in Maryland. There was some conversation here about Rumsey, and Fitch declared that no hint was given that he intended to use steam. Governor Johnson took some subscription papers for the map, and also gave him the following letter to Governor Smallwood, of Maryland.

" Fredericktown, November 25, 1785.

" Sir. John Fitch, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, called on me in his way to Richmond. He has gone through a variety of scenes in the back country, which has enabled him to collect a knowledge of a great part of the new States, on which and other helps he has made a map, useful and entertaining. His ingenuity in this way strongly recommends him, but his genius is not confined to this alone-he has spent much thought on an improvement of the steam-engine, by which to gain a first power applicable to a variety of uses, amongst others to force vessels forward in any kind of water. " If this engine can be simplified, constructed, and made to work at a small expense, there is no doubt but it will be very useful in most great works, amongst them, in ship-building.

" Mr. Fitch wants to raise money to make an experiment on boats. The countenance he has met with in Virginia, he hopes will enable him to do it. He wishes also to make other experiments, and is willing to enter into engagements to apply a large proportion of the sales of his maps to his principal fund. I believe his passion for the improvement will be ample security for his applying the money in that way. A11 that I have to request of you, sir, is, that you give him an opportunity to converse with you, you will soon perceive that he is a man of real genius and modesty. Your countenancing him will follow of course.
' I am, sir,
Your Excys.

" Most obed. and most H'ble serv't,
" TH. JOHNSON.
' To His EXCELLENCY

" GOVERNOR SMALLWOOD."

From Fredericktown Fitch repaired to Philadelphia, where the Assembly of Pennsylvania was in session. He there presented a petition for assistance. The committee to whom it was referred, made a flattering verbal report, but there was no definite action. Leaving that application to its fate, he set out for Annapolis Maryland, where he arrived in the latter part of December. Governor Johnson's letter was delivered and the matter brought to the attention of the Assembly Here he ventured to petition for money to procure an engine from Europe, to be expended under the direction of Andrew Elicott. On the 9th of January, 1786, three darts after the memorial was received, the committee reported as follows: "However desirous it is for liberal and enlightened Legislators to encourage useful arts, yet the state and condition of our finances are such that there can be no advance of public money at present." About the same time he prepared the o lowing advertisement, which is to be found in the Maryland Gazette of January 6, 1786.

TO THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF USEFUL, ARTS.

The subscriber humbly begs leave to inform the public, that he has proposed a machine  for the improvement of Navigation b other useful ARTS-that it has been honored with the approbation  of many men of the first characters for philosophical and mechanical knowledge, in each of the middle States that he has laid it before the honorable assembly of Pennsylvania now sitting, whose committee have been pleased to make a very favorable report on the subject. The result has been that a number of Gentlemen of character and influence, have under taken to promote subscription for his Map of the New part of the United States, in order to enable him to make a full experiment of said Machine. Ale flatters himself, the Subscribers will think the Maps Bell worth the money, yet he pledges himself to employ one-half the money contributed in constructing and bringing to perfection a machine that promises to be of infinite advantage to the United States.
Dec. 20,1785. JOHN FITCH.

The subscriber is of opinion that said machine will be able to make head against the most violent tempest, and at any time
w ware a vessel off from a lee shore ¥ and that the same force may
be applied to free a leaky ship of her water, and that it Bill produce a constant supply of fresh crater, and beside the above mentioned conveniences, he believes it will shorten voyages very considerable: He therefore flatters himself that few gentlemen would think much of contributing towards an experiment 80 well supported by such numbers of characters, in each of the middle states, as he does not ask their aid without full compensation.

N.B.-The following opinion was given to said Fitch, and subscribed by a number of gentlemen, whose Dames should do honor to any projection in Philosophy or mechanism:
Upon considering the extent of the principles on which Mr. Fitch proposes to construct his steam-boat, and the quantity of motion that may be produced by the elastic force of steam, we are of opinion that if the execution could by any means be made to answer the theory when reduced to practice, it might be beneficial to the public, and it seems to be deserving of a fair experiment, which alone can justify the expectation of success.
Subscriptions taken in by the Printer hereof and Messrs. Spotswood N; Clarke, Booksellers and Stationers in Market Street. Returning from Maryland, he stopped at Dover, in Delaware, where the Legislature of the latter State was in session. He did not present a memorial to that body, but conversed generally with the members, in reference to his plans. Without receiving such encouragement as made him sanguine of obtaining aid from that quarter, he returned to Philadelphia. Anxious to have the patronage of so influential a man as Dr. Franklin he again waited upon him and requested his good offices. He asked him for a certificate of the merits of his invention, but the wily philosopher evaded a compliance, whilst he spoke in a very complimentary manner of the plan. Finally, he asked Fitch to come into the next room, where he opened a desk and took from it five or six dollars which he offered to the projector. The latter was highly offended at this mode of giving him alms. He refused the money, except as a subscription to the boat, which Franklin refused to make. He afterwards wrote, in referring to this interview, "I esteem it one of the most imprudent acts of my life, that I had not treated the insult with the indignity which he merited, and stomped the poltry Ore under my feet." Greatly incensed, he withdrew and directed his course to his home in Bucks County.