CHAPTER XVI

. THE SECOND SUCCESSFUL STEAMBOAT OF 1788 . WHILST Fitch was at New York, the ever busy Voight had been making various improvements in the mechanism of the boat, and, by the means of rollers, had managed to take off one-half the friction caused by working the oars. He also strenuously urged the adoption of the pipe-boiler. This proposition was warmly resisted by Fitch. He had " opposed it twelve months before, and continued of the same opinion." But ere the matter had been finally determined upon, " Rumsey came to town, and blazoned his pipe-boiler in such a light that it made the Company unanimous for it." Fitch said afterward, " I could not stand the torrent about the boiler; and knowing ourselves to have the priority, and that he must have taken the idea from Governor Johnston, who had seen my drafts, and not knowing but he would gain the priority in one if we did not adopt one, gave my hearty consent." The old style boiler was therefore removed from the boat, and pipes having been secured and properly bent, the new boiler was set up. In the meanwhile, the eighteen inch cylinder had been cast, but upon inspection was found to be somewhat defective. Whilst the Company were debating whether they should take it and line it with copper, to make it strong, the proprietors of the furnace, for some unexplained reason, broke it up for pig-metal. This circumstance disconcerted the shareholders when it became known; and as they could not get a cylinder to fit their boat, they resolved to get a boat to fit their cylinder. The first boat used was forty-five feet long and twelve feet beam. The width of this craft was ] believed to be the greatest obstacle to its progress; and it was calculated that a boat of eight feet beam and sixty feet in length might be easily propelled by the old machinery. At the same time, a very important modification was made in the position of the working oars. They had previously to this time been placed at the sides of the boat. They were now fixed at the stern, and pushed against the water. The number of paddles thus employed was either three or four. Brissot de Warville, who saw the boat in this year, (1788.) says there were three broad oars. Rembrandt Peale derscribes it (1790) with three or four oars like snow-shovels, which hung over the stern. It is very probable the number was changed during the course of the experiments; but from thenceforth the boats on the Delaware were propelled by oars or paddles at the stern. The craft was, after many delays, completed, and the machinery set up in it; and being lightened by the pipe-boiler, which dispensed with three and a half tons of brick work, the velocity was expected to be greater. Fitch says in his journal, " We finally got it to work pretty well, and set out upon a journey to Burlington." 'The boat went very well until it came opposite the town. When within twenty or thirty poles of the upper wharf, where it was intended to come to, the pipe-boiler sprung a leak, so that the engine would not move, and they were compelled to come to an anchor. Some of the Company went ashore and represented that they had anchored through choice; but upon Fitch's reaching the wharf, he stated the true facts of the case. There were on the boat during this trip, beside the inventor and Voight, Richard Wells, Thomas Say, and others whose names are not now known. It is unfortunate that the time of this long trip is not mentioned, but we are inclined to think it must have been near the end of the month of July, 1788. In a letter of Dr. Thornton to a gentleman of London, dated July 27,1788, he says, " Our boat will be tried this evening or tomorrow. * * * Ours is moved by paddles placed at the stern, moved by a small steam-engine." " The boat fell down with the tide. Dr. Say and Mr. Wells were set on shore on the Pennsylvania side, to find their way home as well as they could. Fitch and Voight got their vessel to the dock by the next tide. Whilst floating: back they applied for assistance to the crews of several river boats, who treated them with insult and derision, and seemed highly pleased at their calamity. An account of this voyage was given in the Trenton Gazette, July 1855, from the reminiscences of some old persons, who remember to have heard in their youth of the first long trip of this steam-boat. We subjoin an extract: Fitch s crude ideas his want of experience, as well as the low condition of the mechanic arts at that early day, subjected this unfortunate man to difficulties of the most humiliating character.' Many regarded him as a visionary. His project was discredted by those vhose want of all motive for such a course rendered their opposition the more barbarous; while those I who's fortune placed it in their power to assist him looked coldly on barely listened to his elucidations and received them with all indifference that chilled him to the heart. By a perseverance as unwearied as it vas ultimately unrewarded, his darling project was at length suffieiently matured, and sixty seven years ago the first American steam-boat was seen floating at the wharves of Philadelphia. Public expectation was now highly excited and the general curiosity was equally intense. Many still predicted failure and but few encouraged him. Yet his success, amid all manner of discouragements, had so far demonstrated the merits of his plans. A reverse, however, was speedily to overtake him. His boat started on her first trip to Burlington. Crowds of persons assembled at all the prominent points along the river to see her pass, and waited for hours to witness what was then the greatest wonder of the day. At Point-no-point, now Bridesburg, the vb al o population of Frankord and the upper end of Philadephia county were assembled; and they saw the boat slowly steam by them on her upward progress. Great indeed was their enthusiasm, and long and loudly did they cheer the grotesque exhibition. Women waved their handkerchiefs in approbation Batteaux put off from shore and rowed alongside the steamer cheering the adventurous and now exulting Fitch. At Dunks Ferry a similar demonstration took place as the new boat steamed onward. A vast concourse of people had collected there from the interior of Bucks county to witness the passing of the new wonder. Loud cheers greeted her as she approached, and a cannon-one of those vhich Gen. Reed had vainly endeavored to carry across the Deleware on the night of Washington's masterly surprise at Trenton and which by some oversight had left behind was hastily loaded and discharged in honor of the discoverer of navigation by steam. At length she approached her destination. So far every thing had gone on to the satisfaction of Fitch, whose crudely constructed machinery had performed its office for several hours in succession without any faltering. He believed that he had demonstrated the reality of his anticipations, and that the shareholders in the company, many of whom were on board, would be entirely convinced, and able to comprehend the magnitude and value of the great discovery he had thus established. The green bank at Burlington was thronged with ladies, who beheld with astonishment the apparition as it Swung its uncouth oars * * yet steadily advanced without wind or sail. The town wharf was also densely thronged with people. As the boat came opposite the wharf she rounded to, and even while the cheering went up, both long and loud, she unexpectedly dropped anchor in the middle of the river. A batteau was sent off to learn the cause, when it was discovered that she had burst her boiler ! There was nothing in the character of this accident to discourage the projectors. The vessel had done what had never been done before in any part of the world. It had been impelled, by the force of the elastic vapor, twenty miles; and the casualty which caused the stoppage was of a trifling; character, and of easy repair. Fitch and Voight set to work to tighten the boiler and make other improvements Whilst engaged in these operations, their boat was seen and examined by the eminent French travelers J. P. Brissot (de Warville). The translation of that portion of his account of his travels relating to this subject is very imperfect in the English edition published by Corbet, Dublin, much being omitted. The following has been translated from the originals and is more full and complete: LETTER XVI. INVENTION FOR DESCENDING RIVERS Monday,Sept.1st,1788 I went to see an experiment was being tried near the DELEWARE, on board of a boat, the object of which was to ascend rivers against the stream. The inventor was Mr. Fitch. He had formed a company to carry out his enterprise. One of the stockholders, and his most zealous advocate, was Dr. Thornton, of whom I have already spoken. Mr. Fitch's claim to this invention had been disputed by Mr. Ramsay of Virginia, and the discussion had occasioned the implication of several pamphlets. Be that as it may, the machine I saw appeared to me to be well executed, and to answer its purpose; through the agency of fire it put in motion three broad oars, the power of which must he considerable. I was assured that it made seventy-six strokes per minute, with the promise of sixty. I was told that a similar boat, with a capacity to transport ten to twenty tons, would only cost from three to four hundred pounds, that it could managed by two men, one at the helm, and the other continuously employed at the machine, keeping up the fire, &c. I had no doubt that, physically speaking, this machine would produce a part of the effects expected from it, but I do doubt whether it could be useful in commerce; for, notwithstanding the assertion of the builders, it appeared to me that the machine demanded extensive renewals, that it required many men to be continuously engaged about it, and that consequently the expected uses would be considerable, either for repairs which must fluently result from the rapidity and multiplicity of the moter, or the attendants. I admitted, however, that if the, economy could be introduced in the renewals, and the movements could be simplified, this invention might be useful in a country where manual labor was dear, and where the rivers were not, as in France, accessible for horses and for men, who take the place of machines ascending rivers. 'This idea consoled Dr. Thornton, who, I saw, was assailed with jokes on account of this STEAM-BOAT. He was annoyed by these pleasantries,, which appeared to me to he very much out of place. The obstacles which genius is everywhere obliged to surmount,, arc so considerable, the incentives are so slight, and the necessity in America of supplying the deficiency of natural labor seemed to me so clearly demonstrated, that I could not, without indignation, see the Americans retarding by their sarcasms the genereous efforts of one of their fellow citizens. In a note on the same page, Sir. Brissot added: "Since this letter was written, I have made inquiries about Mr. Ramsay's invention. I saw him personally in England. He is a man of great genius; and from the explanations he gave me, it appeared that his invention, although starting from the same principle, is very different from Mr. Fitch's in its means of execution. Mr. Ramsay, at the time (February, 1789) proposed to build a boat which would go to America, with the assistance of the fire pump (pompe a feu) alone and without sails; he was not to employ more than fifteen days in this trip. I see with pain that he has not yet realized his project, which, if it were practical and were carried into execution, would introduce into commeree as great a change as the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope." In another note, Sir. Brissot added what he had subsequently heard in Europe about the performances of Fitch's boat: "There have been several experiments made with this STEAM BOAT. Mr. Fitch on one occasion ran twenty miles in three hours; with the tide in his favor, he made eight miles an hour. This artist is unceasingly engaged in perfecting his boat. He is a modest and estimable man. " In looking over the American journals of 1790, I see with pleasure that Mr. Fitch by no means abandons his invention. I learn that on May llth, 1790 he made the run from Philadelphia) to Burlington in three hours and a quarter, having the wind against him and the tide in his favor. Under these circumstances( he ran seven miles an hour." The efforts made by Fitch and Voight, after the accident, to render the boiler tight and to remedy other defects, were not in vain. The laborers were at length rewarded for their patience by a success which was flattering to their delayed hopes. It was not very long after the first trip to Burlington ere the steamboat again seen by the inhabitants of that quiet village. " Shortly after that," said Fitch, referring to the previous disaster, "We went to Burlington and back under the auspicious guidance of the God of nature. " The feat now seemed to have been accomplished. The boat lllaflc several voyages to Burlington and returned without any accident. On the 12th of October, 1788, there were thirty passengers on board, and they were taken from Philadelphia to Burlington (estimated twenty miles) in three hours and ten minutes, with a tide which set at the rate of two miles an hour. A certificate of this fact was given by Andrew Ellicott, Richard Chase, John Poor, and John Ely. On the 16th of October, 1788, Jno. Ewing, Robert Patterson, Andrew Ellicott, John Smilie, David Redick, James Hutchinson, Timothy Matlack, Chas. Pettit, J. B. Smith, and David Rittenhouse were on board, and (Sapt. John Heart, of the 1st U. S. Infantry, certified that "the boat moved at the rate at least of four miles an hour," and that he was "fully convinced that the same force applied to a boat would be sufficient to carry it against the most rapid waters between the mouth of French Creek on the Allegheny, and the mouth of the Muskingum upon the Ohio, and that on an average it would carry it between three and four miles an hour on any of the Western waters." But this rate of speed did not satisfy the projector or his associates. It was thought that t]he boat ought to be able to go from Philadelphia to Trenton (then estimated thirty-eight miles) in five hours, to be an object worthy of prosecution upon the Deleware. The patience of a majority of the members of the Company became exhausted and they withdrew from the concern. To add to the troubles of the inventor, his tried companion , Yoight, also abandoned the work, urging the duty which he owed his family, whose interests had been neglected whilst he was engaged upon the boat. In this distressing and dispiriting state of affairs, the perseverance and energy of the unfortunate man did not fail. He determined to again endeavor to arouse an interest among the shareholders by attempting to form a new auxilliary company. For this purpose he drafted proposals, and furnished an estimate of the probable cost of perfecting the machinery so as to make the boat go faster, together with a calculation of the receipts. Those papers were as follows: PHILADELPHIA., 5tll Dec., 1788 PROPOSAL OF JOHN FITCII TO TIIE STEAMBOAT CO. Whereas, from the great difficulties that have arrisen in the execution and completion of the Steam Boat beyond our first calculation, and the present improbabilities of raising sufficient supplies from the present Co.-Therefore makes the following proposals,- That the scheme be divided into Eighty shares, forty of which shares to be given to subscribers, who shall take the present boat, With all its appurtenances, and put a Boat into use as soon as possible by the aid of steam-as soon as this purpose shall be effected, and the Boat shall earn l00 neat profits from the first running, then the original present owners shall be entitled to draw equal to the shares they will then hold of the100, and of all future boats and enaoluments, provided led they bear the then equal proportion of all future expenses, JOHN FITCH ESTIMATE 'The resistance vhich water gives, is as the square of the velosity With which any Body acts upon it. If water should resist a boat, so as it would take 4 men to row it 2 miles per hour, and 36 men to row it 6 miles per hour. Then suppose that our boat went at the rate of four miles per hour, the resistance of the water we amy call16; then as a 12 inch cylinder, or 144 Circular inches, is to 16; so is an 18 inch cylinder, or 324 Circular inches, to 36; the square root of 16 is 4, the square root of 36 is 6;consequently if our boat went 4 miles per hour with a 12 inch cylinder, an 18 inch cylinder working with equal force, according to its size, would carry the same boat 6 miles per hour. Then suppose the tide to help us 8 miles between this and Trenton ,it would carry the B oat to that place in 5 hours. It may be relied upon that this may be done from what skill we have already obtained and if we can get Mr. Hall to assist probably a great deal more which I believe would answer every purpose which we have calculated for. But every individual is as capable of judgeing as myself whether passengers would prefer going in a Boat in five hours at 5s. or in a waggen in four hours for 10. If they would prefer the Boat and the number of passengers to Trenton may be estimated at 8 per day at 5 and 12 per day at Bordentovwn and Burlington at 3 9d each going and coming it would ancient to 8.10.0 per Day, and if we should allow 30s. per day for expenses, the clear profits would be £:7:00 per day. This in 250 days in a year would be 1750 which will justify the continuance of the experiment. The following is an estimate of the expense of completing the Boat.-A Boiler supposed to weigh 600 Ib. at 3 is t90. A cylinder bored compleat, 50, for the works t..0 cocks and tubes at £30 workmanship for hands &c.,. £100 Extra expenses £100, in all £400. This it appears to me is more than it can cost, and 40 shares at £10 each is £-l00. These calculations are the most unfavorable that can be made. The proposal and estimate were shown to some of Fitch's best friends; and although L1600 had already been spent in the enterprise, forty new shares, at <£10 each, were subscribed for, and it was decided to procure an eighteen-inch cylinder in time to prosecute the work of the spring of 1789. The humiliation which the projector was compelled to suffer whilst prosecuting this business, is thus feeling told told by himself in MS. Journal. " But the former imbarrassments, which, I have mentioned were but inconsiderable when compaired with other matters considering the indignities offered me by my best friends and Patrons, who in many instances treated me more like a slave than a freeman, whilst I was in the most excruciating tortures of devising plans of copleating my undertaking which was far beyond my abilities. Not only that but I was obliged to collect moneys from my best friends, who rather esteemed it as moneys levied and collected by me, and extorted from thjem from a mere point of their honour; which ever has been more severe to my feelings than anything which I ever experienced before. Not only that; I have been continually tiezed with duns from our workmen, and imbarrased with Constables, for debts; and continually so bare and mean appearance, that every every decent must and ought to dispise from my appearance. Not only that; but dare not scarsley show my face in my own LodgingS: which occationed me never to remai in them longer than could with the greatest cxpcdition swallow down my food; which always in the evening drove me of to a tavern and altho I always kept good hours at my return always drove me to my bead. l. Not only that . although they were wortlhy, respectable people, I dare not find fault with any thing which I might with pr propriety do could I have paid them weekley but was obliged to suffer just indignities from nay landlord and be henlpicked by the women. Added to all this there was the Most Powerful combination against me, who thought that they could not serve God or themselves better than saying every illnatured thing they could of me; which made me heartily curse my Barberus Capture for staying the savage Blow." The names of the members of this new Company hive not been preserved It is likely that some of the first patrons of the scheme were in it. We have written the names of the Company of 1787 in a former page. These are known to have been con]nected with the experiments before then ceased entirely, in addition to the gentlemen already mentioned, Dr. William Thornton, Isaac W. Morris, Samuel Wetherill, Jun., Richard Hill Morris, Judge James Wilson, Captain John Heart, Wood Lloyd, Francis Wit, Stacy Potts, and Robert Scott. Colonel Coxe of Burlington, gave twenty dollars toward the experiment, and Robert Morris fifty dollars; but the two latter were not stoclkholders. To increase his troubles, Rumsey, backed by a strong Virginia interest, was now contesting his right to his invention. An association called the " Rumseian Society" was formed in Philadelphia during the summer of 1788, to forward the pretensions of the Southern claimant. Although Fitch had notoriously shown, in the early experiments of 1786 and 1787, that it was possible to propel vessels by his plan, the persons who took up the cause of Rumsey were disposed to look at on their own townsman with contempt. Of this Society Dr. Franklin was a promoter; and it is not out of place to say here that his conduct to Fitch from the ' fit promulgation of his plan of a steamboat seems to have been ungenerous. In patronising Rumsey's scheme of a pumping boat, Dr. Franklin was doing all that was in his power to demonstrate the superiority of his plan of propulsion over that of Fitch; and it needs but little acquaintance with the springs of human action to discover a cause for his conduct. The Rumseian Society, in addition to Franklin, was composed of the following members: Arthur St. Clair, William Bingham, Benjamin Wynkoop, James Tunchard, John Jones, Levi Hollingsworth, Joseph James, John Wilson, George Duffield, Reed & Forde, Woodrop Sims, Joseph Sims, William Redwood & Son, William Barton, Ri chard Adams, Samuel Magaw, Adam Kuhn, Miers Fisher, Charles Vancouver, Burgis Allison, John Vaugh, John Ross, William Turner. (See Colden's Life of Fulton.) It is also certain that some of the opponents of Fitch were incensed against him upon political grounds. Dr. Rush, in a letter to Dr. Lettsom, of London, introducing Rumsey to his attention, calls Fitch " a person in this city, remarkable for his licentious opposition to the Constitution of the United States." Fitch was an antiFederalist. This Society sent Rumsey to London early in 1788, to secure patents there. Encouraged by the association, Joseph Barnes, who in the absence of Rumsey was his attorney in fact, began a very vigorous attack upon the rights of Fitch, which had been already secured by law. The first movement was made in the Assembly of Pennsylvania; where a petition in behalf of the Virginian was presented in the beginning of September, 1788. Remonstrances by Fitch, as inventor of the steam-boat, and of Voight, as owner of the right to the pipe-boiler, were read on the 6th. The matter was referred to a committee of seven members, consisting of Messrs. Wynkoop, Chaplman, Loller, Rittenhouse, Findley, Kennedy, and Willing. Miers Fisher, a lawyer of Philadelphia, represented Rumsey, Colonel Richard Wells supported the claims of Fitch. The parties had a full hearing which lasted five days. The Committee reported as follows: " That having examined the said Petitions and with great attention heard the parties in support of their respective claims, are unanimously of opinion that the law which grants to John 'Fitch an exclusive Right in all Boats propelled by Fire and Stcam, hath not only secured to him and his Heirs, &c. the exclusive right to the method he had then invented for the purpose of applying the powcrs of Fire and Steam in order to propel boats, but also whatever iimprovements he may make himself or obtain from others during the time limited by said law; and however improper or extensive a law may be in its principles yet, Considering that upon the faith of the sd law several Citizens have spent much labor and money for which they are not reimbursed and notwithstanding the Legislature may have a right to repeal Laws that convey grants highly injurious to the public Welfare, yet the re-assuming such legislative grant ought never to be done unless upon the most pressing necessity." The Committee therefore reported that the petition of Rumsey ought to be granted, except so far as it reproduced "the propelling of Boats by the force of fire or steam." They also passed a resolution that the prayer of Henry Voight could not be granted. The next hostile demonstration was made in Virginia, were Charles Morrow presented a petition on behalf of Rumsey, praying that the act securing the rights of John Fitch should be repealed. The latter being unable to attend the assembly, transmitted a letter, petition, and argument again at the proposed move mcnt. The papers were referred to Messrs. Trage, Henry, Randolph, Carlins, Bland, White, David Stuart, Carrington, and King, who reported November 21st that the act in favor of Fitch ought to be repealed. This report was rejected by the House, ayes 15, nays 100. From Virginia the indefatigable Barnes transferred the contest to New York. Petitions were presented in behalf of Rumsey's steam-pump, steam-boat, saw-mill, and other inventions. At the same time John Stevens, claiming to be the inventor of a steam-boat which did not interfere with the others, also asked for legislative protection. Fitch protested against these propositions by letter and remonstrance, which were prevented in December. The Committee, Messrs. G. Livingston, Havens, and Van Cortland, reported that the act securing the rights of Fitch was conceived in such general terms that it would be improper to vacate it without giving both parties a hearing; that they were of opinion that Stevens' plan did not differ much from Rumsey's, and that both differed from that of Fitch, but that there was nothing in Fitch's act which would prevent the Legislature from securing to Rumsey " the exclusive right of generating steam by a pipe-boiler." They therefore recommended that a bill should be brought in to secure him in that invention, and in the others which were not contested. This report was presented December 23rd. In New Jersey a bill to give Rumsey exclusive rights was now presented. A remonstrance was prepared, but the Assembly laid the matter on the table until the next session. The Legislature of Delaware was also besieged by the same infuence but with no better success. These failures did not discourage the members of the Rumseian society. They made a new effort before the assembly of Pennsylvania in the spring of 1789. A scheme was suggested for the appointment of commissioners to grant patents on behalf of the State. The Judges of the Supreme Court were consulted as to its legality. Fitch, who saw in the measure an attempt to injure him, protested against it on the 11th of March. The Committee was composed of Messrs. Lewis, Clvmer, Downing, Nevil, and Hoge. The question proposed to the Judges of the Supreme Court was- ' Can this House, consistent with the principles of law and justice and the Constitution of this State enact a law upon the principles reported before this House in the case contested between John Fitch and James Rumsey ?" The matter was argued by Miers Fisher, a lawyer for James Rumsey, and by Mr. Wells for John Fitch. The opinion of Chief Justice McKean was evidently biased by prejudice. He argued that if Fitch's law was obtained by deception, it might be repealed. He suggested that it was possible that there was deception, therefore the Legislature had the power of repeal. Judge Bryan was opposed to disturbing the law. He referred to the English laws granting monopolies, and showed that they had been sustained for the reason that, having been passed, it was better to abide by them than disturb the course of law, as it was a mischievous thing for government to have its faith suspected. A third Judge gave no written opinion. The Committee, upon consultation, again reported in favor of :Fitch, by declaring that the passing of a patent law by the State was inexpedient. The matter was postponed, but towards the end of the session Mr. Fitzsimmons presented a bill to secure Rumsey's right to a steam-boat, which was rejected. Fitch, notwithstanding his poverty and distress, was not humbled by his misfortune, but Divas bold in defense of his invention. He, therefore, notwithstanding the high social position of the persons who had offended him, prepared and published the following notification. It appeared in the Independent Gazetteer, March 31, 1789: To MESSRSS GEORGE CLYMER and THOMAS FITZSIMONS GENTLEMEN I think proper to tell you that I have felt the full force of all your endeavors to injure me, in the state which has sent you to Congress; but, notwithstanding every exertion you as members of Assembly, have been able to take, many rights in Pennsylvannia remain yet unshaken-The attempt made by you Sir Fitzsimons to introduce a bill into the House, to take them by sure surprise and was purposely intended to hurt me, was treated by the House as it justly deserved, and you were not permitted to deliver it to the Sy)cllier The active and unnecessary part which you Sir Clymer took to endeavor to get an;,tller larv passed that xvas intended to ruin me you will be mortified to have it known to the world that you failed in your design lout I think I ought not to suffer it to pass in silence You are now going now going to Congress, and wish to have it known to your fellow-citizens that I deem you my professed enemies on this subject, and that you will leave no stone unturned to hurt my interest with that honorable body. JOHN FITCH. PHILADELPHIA, 28th MARCH 1789 Mr. CLYMER came out in the papers a day or two later, and charged that publication to Mr. Wells. To this Fitch replied, assuming all the rcsponsibilitv, and denying that Col. Wells had any knowledge or connection with it. These contests kept our disputant very actively employed, and distracted his mind from the proper business of the Company. After the legislatures had adjourned, he set out to Shepherdstown. in Virginia, ' where Rumsey did his mighty feats." He started on that journey about the middle of May. The landlord of the inn where he lodged was inquisitive about his business, and Fitch told him the object of his visit in confidence. He inquired how fast Rumsey's steamboat went. The landlord said, nearly as fast as he could walk." This was noted down; seeing which, he corrected himself by saving " as fast as he could ¥N-alk." Correction was made accordingly, when he again changed his phrase to faster than he could walk." Fitch then went out into the town, to hunt up information. He declared that he discovered that Barnes had made a bet with a certain Captain Ross, that Rumsey's boat would ascend the Potomac at the rate of' three miles an hour; Which wager was lost, and Ross got the money. At that trial Fitch was told that the boat was not carries further than four inches; and he was informed that Rumsey had never carried his boat further than four hundred yards by steam also declared that the trunks were not placed in the boat until the spring of 1787; and that spies were in Philadelphia, watching the movements of Fitch and Voight, in 1786 and 1787. The bold errand which brought the Philadelphian into the enemy s camp was soon rumored about the town, and our adventurer got himself into difficulty. He was insulted by Charles Morrow, and only escaped a fight with him by prudence. He left Shepherdstown the same afternoon, crossed over into Maryland, and went by a circuitous route to Sharpsburg, about four miles distant from the former village. Leaving this place the next day, he again kept out of the high road (in order to avoid some iron-works, at which he believed friends of Morrow were to be found)and went toward the Great Falls of the Potomac. It was not necessary for him to go so far. On the road, and at Harper s Ferry, he got from Eremere, Cruze, Harris, Smith, and others, the information he wanted The affidavits were made at Sharpsburg, from which place it was necessary to go to Hagerstown, to get them authenticated by the county seal. He returned, and stopped near night at the house of one Lewis, on the road to Sharpsburg, where he came upon an assemblage of the friends of the opposition. They were rough and unmannerly, and they were ripe for an attack upon the unoffending stranger. He tried to conciliate them in the usual way at that time, by ordering whiskey for their refreshment. The majority drank with him but one Crampton refused to do so, and amused himself while at supper by throwing a potato at " the steam-boat man." The latter remonstrated , but kept his manner very well and Crampton and some of his companions at last went off, declaring significantly that they intended to return in the in morning,." The hint was not lost upon our adventurer: who rose before daylight, gave out that he was going to Sharpsburg, and went away in the right direction. When out of the sight of the people in the house, he changed his course, and by a detour got on the road to Philadelphia, " walking fifteen miles to go three." No other danger menaced him, and in good time he got to Philadelphia with his additional proofs. Among other ideas of the practical application of steam which he had formed, either at this time or previously, was a contrivance for a steam ice-boat. He communicated his views to Oliver Evans, who thus related them in an affidavit sworn to in 1814: About the year ]786, 1787, or 1788 John Fitch informed me that he contemplated employing steam on the Lakes and meant to construct two keels to answer as runners; and And when the lakes would freeze over he would raise his boat on the ice and lay a wheel on each side with spokes in the rim to take hold of tile ice, he calculated it would be possible to run thirty miles an hour; and also that he meant to tow boats and other floats by steam boats.