CHAPTER XIV.
APPLICATION TO CONGRESS
JAMES RUMSEY'S
STEAMBOAT.
WHEN the inventor returned to Philadelphia, the funds of the company were again nearly exhausted, and there seemed to be but little prospect of completing the boat with the means provided. Hope was now indulged that Congress would act favorably, and Fitch went to New York, where that body was sitting, and presented the following memorial:
To His Excellency, the President of the United States, in Congress assembled-
The subscriber humbly begs leave through you, to represent his situation, and reasons why he has presented a Petition to the United States, praying encouragement to his steamboat. I beg leave to inform you, Sir, that my embarrassments is really such, that I am under the necessity of praying Congress to give me some assistance. I Know that Congress are delicate in running into projects, for fear of having the honor of our Empire stained by adopting chimerical whims. Yet when matters are well ascertained, the greatest honor that Princes can do themselves, is to promote Useful arts. That part of life shines with much more fixture in peter the great than all his acquired glories in his just wars. I know that the finances of Congress are small at present, of course; I know that they have not money to give, yet was they to give me land I could turn that into money, and complete my undertaking. The report of a Committee of Congress on Mr. Rumseys petition, now lying on your files, appearing to me as a reward held forth to the public for promoting inland navigation, and being convinced that I have merited the reward by carrying my Boat on the Delaware with velocity sufficient to move at the rate of 60 miles per day against the Ohio, when the Water is low, and also being strongly urged by necessity, emboldens me to present the above-mentioned Petition.
I do not desire at this time to receive emoluments for my own private use, but to lay it out for the benefit of my Country.
And should they think that a proper medium that would not be too much, and so that I should not apply to them again, it would probably effect one of the greatest things that was ever exhibited to the World, and Congress might at a future day, reward me further, accordingly as they should see the utility of the scheme merited it. I know, Sir, that there is doubts yet remaining whether it will ever answer a valuable purpose or not, I beg leave to say that two of the most obstinate questions -that could be asked is fully Decided. The first is, Can an Engine be placed in a boat so as to work; the 2nd, Can a Boat be made to carry an Engine? We find that it is resolved to our satisfaction .
There is other objections that yet causes doubts. The first is, Can we make it go fast enough to answer a valuable purpose? 2d, Will it not be so weighty that it will not be valuable? 3d, Will it not take up so much room as to render it useless? 4th, Will it not be continually getting out of repair? 5th, Will not the expense over run the profits? As to the first, we can obtain any force that we wish for; of course, we can carry it any distance, in a given time, we choose, provided our works are strong enough to stand, and I expect they may without much difficulty be made to go Eight miles per hour, and it is out of the power of man to estimate the power of a vessel that would go at that rate. And as to the room,-a Vessel of 100 tons burthen would not take but about seven tons of machinery to work it, and in a vessel of 300 tons burthen it would be lighter than most sails and Rigging. Of course, for river vessels on the Mississippi, it would be lighter than men, baggage, and provisions; for Sea vessels lighter than the present mode, and as to repairs, Heaven has so decreed, that whatever machinery is most useful to mankind is generally least liable to get out of repair, and particularly as for the Steam Engine, as complicated as they be. I expect that the labor of One man would keep three such engines perpetual repair as turns the Mills at Blackfriars Bridge. Neither do they expect that they are Idle two days in a year, on act of the repairs of the Steam Engines, which Engine would be sufficient for a first rate man of war.
And as to the expense, labor that could be done by three or four men it would never be worth while to erect a engine to do it; but where it could do the business of 10, 20, or 30 men, it may be applied to advantage, and it is immaterial whether it be applied to a Pump, to a Mill, or to a vessel.
I am persuaded, for a vessel of 300 tons, that an Engine sufficient for her, could be made for less money than for masts, sails, and rigging. And when I have my trade fully learned, and tools in good order, I will obligate myself to make a Boat of 60 Tons burthen for 2000 Dollars, with the engine all complete for the Voyage, which is much short of what it now costs to carry a Boat of 30 Tons burthen, too and from New Orleans to the Illinois. And this could do four times the business of the other, as it could work double the hours as men at Oars. These are stubborn facts that cannot be controverted, but by men who will not reason in it.
Having overcome every difficulty that occasioned doubts to arise, and having done what was never done before, (The world has been worrying against the stream this six thousand years,) but we have exhibited to the World a Vessel going against strong winds and Tides, without sails, or men to labor; the Vessel carrying the Engine, the Engine propelling the Vessel, and all moving together against the Currents.
Now I presume, if we never carry it to any greater degree of perfection's we have merited a generous reward for laying the foundations for future improvements. We have by this means introduced Engineers into our Country, and Consequently, one of the first power of Nature into our Empire, which may be useful in most great works-which alone is sufficient to merit the attention of Congress. But, as I said before, I do not wish any premiums to make a monopoly to myself,-only to lay it out for the Benefit of my country,-and will wait the Generosity of the Legislatures for further compensation.
My situation is truly this: I have been obliged to support myself in the City of Philad near two years, and have run out the last shilling which I have. Our Company is so numerous, and some of them gave their money purely to encourage the undertaking, without any selfish motives; and some others not being well abet to pay thru the scarcity of cash, which brings money in such small sums, I am continually embarrassed; and my demands being so much beyond what we ever expected, I am thrown into the greatest difficulties and distress. These inconceivable disappointments, delays, and expense, has a tendency to relax the good intentions of my Patrons. Although I do not know one that I think would withhold supplies, yet my feelings are so delicate on the matter, had I money of my own, I would complete it at my own expense sooner than at theirs, as the expense has so far exceeded what I ever expected. But that is not what gives me the most acute distress: the thoughts of Living on mean and base dependence destroys my thoughts from being implied where they ought to be; that is, on the execution of my business.
Did it yet remain in a doubt, and Congress must risquŽ their reputation on projects, I would not ask any thing from them; but as long as they can give it for something already done, which has merited their attention, for introducing the improved steam-engine, if for nothing more, that I hope they will not look upon my Petition unreasonable. I beg leave, sir, to make some observations more. The certificates and information that I have produced to your house, will undoubtedly raise the value of our Western Territory, in a greater or less degree, more than if the scheme was returned into the Chaos of night, as it was before I suggested the Idea. If I should be instrumental in raising the value of them lands, it is but reasonable that I should have some compensation for it; and be it ever so small, I never shall need it more than at the present time. And should any doubts arise respecting Mr. Rumsey's propositions be assured that I proved to the Committee of the assembly of Virginia, by the testimony of Mr. Ed. Penington, General Wood, and Conl. Wills, that my plan was different from Mr. Rumsey's; which Testimonials are now in the hands of the Clerk of the Assembly of Maryland, in order to obtain an exclusive right in that State, as I have done in the State of Virginia, for 14 years. All which observations, tho' suggested without order, the subscriber humbly prays your Excellency and the Honorable House, will indulge without offense; to whom it is humbly-submit, ted, by
Your Excellency's most Devoted and
very Humble Servant,
John Fitch.
To his Excellency, the President
of Congress.
When this communication was presented, Congress was not full. It was not until the latter end of February, or about the beginning of March, 1788, that nine states were represented. Before any act could be sanctioned, the representatives of nine members of the confederation were required to vote upon it. This peculiarity of the system was calculated to repress the passage of wholesome laws. If a state was only represented by two persons, the negative of one of those individuals would operate to prevent any vote being recorded as the voice of that particular state. Thus, it might be that a single representative could defeat the desires of eight states, and neutralize the influence which his own constituents might have on the affirmance of important matters. The report of the Committee of Congress was very favorable to the wishes of the petitioner, but he feared to have it pressed to a vote, although he believed that there was a general good feeling among the members for its advancement. He did not deem it prudent to risk so much on a contingency which a single dissenting vote might ruin. He therefore left New York, and returned to Philadelphia; where the advance of the season required his attention to the steamboat. This procrastination proved very unfavorable. Rumsey had now made his appearance, claiming to be the original inventor of the steamboat, and he was distributing widely his pamphlet. This was entitled, "A short treatise on the application of steam; whereby is clearly shown, from actual experiments, that steam may be applied to propel boats, or vessels of any burthen, against rapid currents, with great velocity. The same principles are also introduced with effect, by a machine of a simple and cheap construction, for the purpose of raising; water sufficient for the working of Grist Mills, Saw Mills, &c., and for watering meadows, and other purposes of agriculture. By James Rumsey, of Berkeley County, Virginia. Philadelphia: Printed by Joseph James, Chestnut Street. MDCCLXXXVIII." In this publication Rumsey assumed to be the inventor of the steamboat, and he pronounced Fitch to be a plagiarist. While the latter was at New York, one of these pamphlets had been given to Colonel Wells, who had hitherto been a warm friend of the Pennsylvanian. His faith in the originality of his claims was at first considerably shaken by the publication, and he received Fitch on his return coldly. The latter was much afflicted at this manifestation, and he resolved to fight Rumsey with a similar weapon. He applied himself assiduously to the pen for three or four days, and he produced a reply, which he showed to Colonel Wells, who was so much struck with its excellence and strength of argument that he volunteered to rewrite it, correctly the deficiencies in style of the author, and presenting it to the world in a more logical form. The title of this pamphlet was " The Original steamboat supported; or, a reply to Mr. James Rumsey's Pamphlet; skewing the true Priority of John Fitch, and the false datings of James Rumsey. Philadelphia: Printed by Zachariah Poulson, Junr., on the west side of Fourth Street, between Market and Arch Streets. MDCCLXXXVIII." Whilst this literary battle was in progress, the report of the Committee on Fitch's memorial was called up in Congress, twelve states being represented. Either the feelings of the members had meanwhile been affected by Rumsey's statement, which was sent to New York, or some of them who had professed themselves Fitch's friends were false to him. At all events, for some cause, the motion to adopt the recommendations of the report was not agreed to, and the motion was only saved from utter defeat by a postponement.
In reference to that failure, he afterwards wrote-
When I received information of that, and reflecting how I had ruined myself to serve my Country, and how many sleepless, restless nights I had suffered to bring about one of the greatest events, and such exquisite tortures of the mind and had placed myself on the base dependence of my friends, it effected me beyond measure, could I have been dependent on my township only for my sustenance I could have supported it much better, or could I have recalled my life back for four years, I would gladly have offered my neck to the common executioner."
His spirits were very much depressed for a time, so much so that he resorted to the bottle more freely than usual, although he did not indulge to an extent calculated to render him utterly stupid. After giving way to this weakness, his energy of mind returned, and he again determined to apply every faculty to the great work, hoping thereby to vindicate himself in the good opinions of men.