ROBERT FULTON 
 AND THE "CLERMONT"
 
 KuUUKl i-ll, lu.N 
 
 Iroiii tlie oriktiii.Tl miniature owned by C. Franklin Crnry, trrandson 
 of Koliert Iiilton. Never before reproiluccd
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 AND THE "CLERMONT' 
 
 THE AUTHORITATIVE STOHY OF 
 
 HOBERT FULTOn's EARLY EXPERIMENTS, PERSISTENT 
 
 EFFORTS, AND HISTORIC ACHIEVE3IENTS. 
 
 CONTAINING MANY OF FULTOn's 
 
 HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED 
 
 LETTERS, DRAWINGS, 
 
 AND PICTURES 
 
 BY 
 
 ALICE CHARY SUTCLIFFE 
 
 GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER OF THE INVENTOR 
 
 NEV/ YORK 
 
 THE CENTURY CO. 
 
 1909 
 
 -<j 
 
 a- 
 
 6360
 
 Copyright, 1908, 1909, by 
 The Century Co. 
 
 PublisJied September, 1909 
 
 THE DE VINNE PRESa
 
 '\r 3 ^- 'i 
 
 THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED 
 TO MY FATHER 
 
 THE REVEREND ROBERT FULTON CRARY, D.D. 
 
 (eldest GRANDSON OF ROBERT FULTON) 
 
 FOR FORTY YEARS RECTOR OF THE CHURCH OF THE 
 
 HOLY COMFORTER, POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, 
 
 WHOSE SERVICES THROUGHOUT LIFE, 
 
 NO LESS DEVOTED THAN THOSE OF 
 
 HIS ILLUSTRIOUS ANCESTOR, HAVE 
 
 BEEN IN THE GREAT NAVY 
 
 OF THE CHURCH OF GOD
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PART PAGE 
 
 I Early Life 1 
 
 II Robert Fulton in France .... 59 
 
 III The Trial Boat on the Seine . . .107 
 
 IV The "Clermont^' 177 
 
 Appendix 301
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Robert Fulton Frotitispiece 
 
 Farm-house at Little Britain, Pennsylvania, the Birth- 
 place of Robert Fulton 5 
 
 Robert Fulton, Sr., and IMary Smith Fulton, the Pa- 
 rents of Robert Fulton 16 
 
 Miniatures Painted by Robert Fulton 27 
 
 Charles, Third Earl of Stanhope 4.3 
 
 Robert Fulton— Painted by Himself 54. 
 
 Plan in Water-color for a High-level Canal .... 69 
 
 Facsimile of a Part of the First Page of Fulton's Let- 
 ter to the Citizens Monge, La Place, and Volney 85 
 
 Three Views of the Bust of Robert Fulton by Houdon 103 
 
 Robert Fulton 114 
 
 Fulton's First Plan for Steam Navigation . . . . 131 
 
 Fulton's First Prophecy of Steam Navigation on the 
 
 Hudson 141 
 
 An American Lithograph Entitled, " Fulton and 
 
 Napoleon in 1804" 161 
 
 Joel Barlow 170 
 
 Chancellor Robert R. Livingston 183 
 
 ix
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 "Plate the First": Fulton's Desij^n of Orip:inal Ap- 
 paratus for Determining the Resistance of Paddles 
 for the Propulsion of the Clermont, Dated 1806 . 193 
 
 "Plate i." Fulton's Preliminary Study for the CUr- 
 
 vionfs Engine 200 
 
 Fulton's Inkstand 205 
 
 Compass Used by Pilot Acker on the Clermont . . 205 
 
 Mrs. Walter Livingston (Cornelia Schuyler), Mother 
 
 of Mrs. Robert Fulton 215 
 
 Robert Fulton 229 
 
 Statue of Robert Fulton at the Fulton Ferry-house, 
 
 Brooklyn, New York 244 
 
 Fulton Medal. Struck after the Inventor's Death in 
 
 1815 261 
 
 Facsimile of Regulations facing page 268 
 
 A Modern Steamboat on the Hudson River and the 
 
 Clermont 291 
 
 Fulton's Drawing for a Steamboat .submitted .to the 
 
 Commission appointed by Napoleon in IHO.'J . . 336 
 
 A. Fulton's Plan of the Machinery of the North River 
 (the Remodeled Clermont) 346 
 
 B. Fulton's Elevation of Plan A 347 
 
 C. Fulton's Plan of a Later Steamboat, showing Ap- 
 plication of the Square Side-connecting-rod En- 
 gine, the Invention of which he ascribes to John 
 Stevens 348 
 
 D. Fulton's Elevation of Plan C 349 
 
 X
 
 PREFACE 
 
 An explanation seems necessary for doing 
 again a deed already well done. Several 
 biographies of Robert Fulton have been 
 written: Cadwallader D. Colden, James 
 Renwiek, J. F. Reigart, Robert H. Thurs- 
 ton, Thomas W. Knox, and Peyton F.Mil- 
 ler have successively interpreted the life of 
 the inventor, and to them I would acknow- 
 ledge a debt of interest and illumination. 
 But in no volume can be found so full a 
 quota of Robert Fulton's own descriptive 
 plans for his inventions as are here pre- 
 sented. During a research extending over 
 three years I have been able to transcribe 
 many of Fulton's unique and original 
 xi
 
 PREFACE 
 
 records, and to secure reproductions of 
 interesting portraits of or by him. 
 
 For access to these manuscripts and pic- 
 tures, or for copies of them, I am indebted 
 to the estate of Fulton's daughter, Corneha 
 Livingston Crary ; to JNIrs. Robert Fulton 
 Blight; to ^Ir. R. Fulton Ludlow; to 
 Judge Peter T. Barlow; to John Henry 
 Livingston, Esq., of Clermont; to Earl 
 Stanhope of England; to Mr. H. Harri- 
 son Suplee, Editor of "Cassier's Maga- 
 zine"; to JNIr. S. W. Stanton, Editor of 
 "The Nautical Gazette"; to J. Eliot 
 Hodgkin, F.S.A., of London, England ; to 
 Mr. Frank E. Kirby, Naval Architect; 
 to Mr. E. C. Eldridge of Paris, France; 
 to Mr. C. H. Hart, Mrs. C. S. Bradford, 
 Miss Elizabeth G. Sparks, Mrs. Joseph 
 Drexel, and Mrs. McHenry, of Philadel- 
 xii
 
 PREFACE 
 
 phia; to Mr. H. A. Boardman of St. Paul, 
 Minnesota ; to Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet 
 of New York; to Mr. Charles Burr Todd, 
 biographer of Joel Barlow ; to Mr. Joseph 
 Swift of Little Britain, Pennsylvania; to 
 the Misses Vinton of Pomfret, Connecti- 
 cut; to ]Mr. R. Livingston Jenkins, Mr. 
 J. Seymour Bullock, INIr. Edward Bring- 
 hurst, Rev. Wm. B. Gilpin, Mr. W. U. 
 Hensel, Mr. Henry B. Bayer, Mrs. E. 
 Harrison Sanford; J. H. Leamont, Esq., 
 of Montreal; Mr. Herman Livingston of 
 Catskill; and to the authorities of the 
 Lenox Library, the Library of Congress, 
 the Boston Public Library, the Historical 
 Societies of New York, Pennsylvania, New 
 Jersey, and Chicago; the National Acad- 
 emy of Design; the Pennsylvania Acad- 
 emy of Fine Arts; the British JNIuseum; 
 xiii
 
 PREFACE 
 
 the Society of Mechanical Engineers, 
 New York; Haverford College and Co- 
 lumbia University. 
 
 Robert Fulton anticipated the enlight- 
 enment of this century. He emphasized 
 truths which prevail to-day and are termed 
 modern: a hope for Universal Peace; a 
 claim for Intellectual Freedom through a 
 system of general, free education; a dis- 
 cernment that a Nation's wealth is the sum 
 of the talents and handiworks of its citi- 
 zens ; and a sacrifice of any personal claim 
 to leisure that through labor a world might 
 be served; — these were the ruling motives 
 of his life. 
 
 He was an artist with unbounded de- 
 light in the glories of color and form; he 
 was an engineer and inventor, with pa- 
 tience developing a knowledge of un- 
 xiv
 
 PREFACE 
 
 known powers awaiting human control; 
 he was, through all, an American states- 
 man who, although he lived for years 
 amidst the cultivation and advanced intel- 
 lectual attainment of France and Eng- 
 land, was glad to return to his native land 
 to demonstrate the truth of his final dis- 
 covery in science and to launch his first 
 steamboat upon* the waters of the New 
 World. 
 
 If it be true that Fulton lived one hun- 
 dred years before his time, the centennial 
 of his achievement fulfils the span neces- 
 sary for human recognition ; and America 
 will welcome the recital of the purposes of 
 his life in these original papers which por- 
 tray, not solely his inventions, but his 
 spirit of true liberty. 
 
 Alice Crary Sutcliffe. 
 
 XV
 
 PART I 
 EARLY LIFE
 
 ROBERT FULTON AND 
 THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 ROBERT FULTON was born at 
 > Little Britain, Lancaster County, 
 Pennsylvania, November 14, 1765. Pre- 
 vious biographers have called him "a self- 
 made man," and have made brief allusion 
 to his parentage. It is noteworthy that 
 his father, the senior Robert Fulton, in a 
 failure to leave financial patrimony to his 
 children, has not been accorded the men- 
 tion of other achievements, not slight in 
 those primitive days. His ancestors 
 were of Saxon origin, having crossed 
 from Scotland to Ireland at an early date. 
 From Kilkenny, the Fulton family came 
 3
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 to America before the year 1735. The 
 senior Robert Fulton was among the 
 prominent men of Lancaster, his name 
 having been on record upon all the town 
 organizations which existed at that period/ 
 He married Miss Mary Smith, a sister of 
 Colonel Robert Smith of Chester County. 
 They Avere the children of Joseph Smith of 
 Oxford township, Pennsylvania, whose 
 will, dated May 22, 1760, bequeathed "To 
 my beloved Daughter, Mary, wife of Rob- 
 ert Fulton, the simi of Five Pounds, to be 
 levied off my Estate." 
 
 On August 23, 1759, the elder Robert 
 Fulton bought the brick dwelling-house 
 on the northeast corner of Penn Square, 
 afterward known as Center Square, in 
 the town of Lancaster. Two children, 
 
 1 He was a founder of the Presbyterian church, the Sec- 
 retary of the Union Fire Company, and a charter member 
 of the Juliana Library of Lancaster, the third library estab- 
 lished in the American Colonies. (1763).
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 daughters, were born in this house, and 
 Mr. and Mrs. Fulton Hved there until 
 1765. On November 8, 1764, he pur- 
 chased a farm of 393% acres, situated on 
 the Conowingo Creek, in Little Britain 
 township, and during the following spring 
 moved his family to the farm-house which 
 is still standing at the country cross-roads. 
 There Robert Fulton the inventor was 
 born. 
 
 In 1844 the township of Little Britain 
 was resurveyed, and a new section was set 
 aside, to be known as "Fulton Town- 
 ship," in honor of the child who lived 
 for the first few months of his eventful 
 life within its quiet borders. The farm- 
 house which sheltered his infancy was built 
 of plastered stone, two stories high, and at 
 one end the roof sloped to a low porch. 
 
 Robert Fulton's father was not a 
 successful farmer; perchance he yearned 
 7
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 for the companionship of his Lancaster 
 friends. One thing is certain: during the 
 following year he and his wife mortgaged 
 the property, and moved back to the town 
 of Lancaster. 
 
 Not long ago the present owner rebuilt 
 the house and the old section of the 
 homestead was encompassed by the new. 
 The two parlors, low-ceiled and broad, re- 
 main ; and in one of these rooms, formerly 
 the kitchen, the original fireplace is intact, 
 the crane still swinging within the sooted 
 inclosure where Robert Fulton's father 
 laid the logs so many years ago. Above 
 the parlor is the room where the inventor 
 was born. Only the broad window-sills 
 show age; the remainder of the house is 
 placidly and emphatically modern. 
 
 Joseph Swift, a cousin of Robert Ful- 
 ton, in writing years ago from Philadel- 
 phia, said that his grandfather well 
 8
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 remembered in his youth "the great prep- 
 arations which a visit to Aunt Fulton 
 required in the way of baking, boiHng, and 
 roasting, and in getting ready the camp 
 equipage which the journey through the 
 wilderness required. It was only less 
 formidable than a journey across the At- 
 lantic." 
 
 FRIENDSHIP WITH THE FAMILY OF WEST 
 
 The father of the celebrated artist Een- 
 jamin West lived in the adjoining county 
 of Chester, and was an intimate friend 
 of the senior Robert Fulton. The inter- 
 esting portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Ful- 
 ton, here for the first time reproduced, 
 have unique value, in that they are 
 among the earliest known works of the 
 young artist, who later attained distinc- 
 tion as President of the Royal Academy 
 9
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 of London. At the age of twelve years, 
 West had gained local fame as an artist, 
 and was invited to visit Lancaster to paint 
 the portraits of Mrs. Ross and her chil- 
 dren, famous beauties of the day. The 
 father's permission was obtained, and 
 West came to Lancaster, and executed 
 his task with such a degree of success that 
 he could with difficulty find time to fill the 
 orders which poured in upon him. It is 
 recorded that he received his first payment 
 in exchange for drawings made on poplar 
 boards, and that he for some time continued 
 to paint portraits in Lancaster. The Ful- 
 ton portraits were found many years ago 
 in the attic of an old house in Lancaster 
 County, and were thought by the owner to 
 be representations of the inventor and his 
 wife. This is manifestly impossible, not 
 only from their lack of resemblance to other 
 authenticated portraits, but also because 
 10
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 of the discrepancy in the date of the signa- 
 ture, which is "B. West 175-," the last 
 figure being indistinct. It is therefore con- 
 cluded that they are the only known rep- 
 resentations of the father and mother of 
 the inventor. The daily sight of these 
 portraits in his home, and the knowledge 
 of the success of his energetic young 
 neighbor Benjamin West, may have 
 proved the inspiration of Robert Fulton's 
 subsequent study and love of art. 
 
 In 1756, Benjamin West's mother died, 
 and he went to reside in Philadelphia, al- 
 though it is probable that he frequently 
 returned for visits in Lancaster. It is 
 known that he painted signs for local 
 taverns, and some of these have been pre- 
 served by collectors. In Philadelphia he 
 gained reputation as an artist, and an in- 
 creased patronage. For his portraits, at 
 this time, he received two and a half 
 11
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 guineas for a head, and five guineas for a 
 half-length. Desirous to increase his 
 prices, he went to New York for a period 
 of eleven months, where he executed many 
 portraits. 
 
 The elder Robert Fulton was an ardent 
 Presbyterian. A letter from Edward 
 Burd of Philadelphia to William Rawle, 
 published in the "Pennsylvanian Maga- 
 zine," concludes with these words: "Hav- 
 ing lived in Lancaster till I was eleven 
 years of age, I recollect that the father of 
 the famous Robert Fulton, who had a 
 sonorous and stentorian voice, used to raise 
 the Psalm in the Court House, where 
 Presbyterians occasionally preached." He 
 was one of the founders of the First Pres- 
 byterian Church in Lancaster. His death 
 occurred in 1768. 
 
 In Delaplaine's "Repository," which 
 may be seen at the Lenox Library, New 
 12
 
 AND THE 'CLERMONT" 
 
 York, the writer on "Robert Fulton" 
 states : 
 
 Although highly respectable, the elder Fulton 
 was far from opulent, and the small fortune 
 he left at his death was to be divided between 
 his widow and five children. The patrimony 
 of Robert was, therefore, but slender. To this 
 circumstance, however, he never looked back 
 with the false shame of common minds, but 
 rather rejoiced on being considered, as he really 
 was, the founder of his fortune. 
 
 ANECDOTES OF EARLY LIFE 
 
 There are several anecdotes which relate 
 to Robert Fulton's early interest in me- 
 chanics — the first steps of progress toward 
 his later skill. In 1773, when he was eight 
 years old, his mother, having previously 
 taught him to read and write, sent him to 
 a school kept by Mr. Caleb Johnson, a 
 Quaker gentleman of pronounced Tory 
 13
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 principles — so pronounced, in fact, that 
 he narrowly escaped with his life during 
 the Revolution. But Robert Fulton did 
 not care for books, and he began at a very 
 early age to search for problems never 
 mastered and bound in print. This greatly 
 distressed the Quaker teacher, who spared 
 not the rod ; and it is said that in adminis- 
 tering such discipline on the hand of Rob- 
 ert Fulton, one day he testily exclaimed: 
 "There, that will make you do some- 
 thing!" To which Robert, with folded 
 arms, replied: "Sir, I came to have some- 
 thing beaten into my brains, and not into 
 my knuckles." Without doubt he was a 
 trial to his teacher. 
 
 He entered school one day very late, 
 and when the master inquired the reason, 
 Robert, with frank interest, replied that 
 he had been at Nicholas Miller's shop 
 pounding out lead for a pencil. "It 
 14
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 is the very best I ever had, sir," he 
 affirmed, as he displayed his product. 
 The master, after an examination of the 
 pencil, pronounced it excellent. When 
 Robert's mother, who had been distressed 
 by his lack of application to his studies, 
 expressed to the teacher her pleasure at 
 signs of improvement, the latter confided 
 to her that Robert had said to him: "My 
 head is so full of original notions that there 
 is no vacant chamber to store away the 
 contents of dusty books." 
 
 These incidents to the contrary, it is 
 nevertheless true that Robert Fulton did 
 absorb a good knowledge of the rudiments 
 of education. 
 
 In 1777, Congress held session in the 
 old court house at Lancaster, and during 
 this time the town became famous as a 
 depot of supplies for the American forces. 
 Rifles, blankets, and clothing were manu- 
 17
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 factured there, powder for the troops 
 was stored in the town, and in that year 
 a certain Paul Zantzinger furnished Gen- 
 eral Wayne's men with 650 suits of uni- 
 form. 
 
 Andre's parole 
 
 During the autumn of 1775, Major John 
 Andre, while on his way to Quebec, was 
 captured by General Montgomery, and 
 with other officers, taken to Lancaster. 
 He was granted local freedom on the fol- 
 lowing parole : 
 
 I, John Andre, being a prisoner in the TJnited 
 Colonies of America, do, upon the honor of a 
 gentleman, promise that I will not go into or 
 near any seaport town, nor farther than six 
 miles from Lancaster, without leave of the Con- 
 tinental Congress or the Committee of Safety 
 of Pennsylvania, and that I will carry on no 
 political correspondence whatever on the sub- 
 
 18
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 ject of the dispute between Great Britain and 
 the Colonies so long as I remain a prisoner. 
 
 Upon these conditions, Major Andre 
 became an inmate in the house of Caleb 
 Cope, and was tutor to John Cope, then 
 thirteen years of age. Major Andre had a 
 talent for art, and made a dainty sketch of 
 a scene in England, probably near his 
 early home. The drawing was in tints of 
 green; a church spire in the background, 
 and in the front, the heavy foliage of trees 
 embowered a lodge. He gave this picture 
 to Mr. Cope, who treasured it and wrote 
 of it in these words: "In memory of the 
 artist and of my affection for that gifted 
 and deceived, that noble-hearted and gen- 
 erous man." Mr. Cope had five sons, of 
 whom John was the eldest. Andre gave 
 lessons in art to his young pupil, and also 
 to Benjamin T. Barton, who became a 
 19
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 clever draftsman. The prisoner also 
 played marbles and other boyish sports 
 with his young friends. Robert Fulton 
 was then eleven years old and eager for 
 every form of activity. It is quite possible 
 that when the Cope boys received their les- 
 sons in art, Robert may also have been in- 
 cluded in the class and thus profited from 
 the excellent tutor. 
 
 At a very early age, a love of art be- 
 came to Robert a profound delight. One 
 of his classmates in the Lancaster school- 
 house told, in after years, an interesting 
 story of those days. He had an older 
 brother, he said, who was fond of paint- 
 ing, and had learned the art of mixing 
 and preparing colors, whicli he displayed 
 upon mussel shells. The War of the 
 Revolution at that time made it difficult 
 to obtain painting materials from abroad, 
 and few people had money or thought for 
 20
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 such quiet pastimes. This painting outfit 
 fell into the possession of the younger 
 brother, who carried it to school and 
 showed it to Robert Fulton. Immediately 
 the latter pleaded for a share, and his pro- 
 ductions were so superior to those of the 
 donor that the entire outfit was ultimately 
 given to him. 
 
 "quicksilver bob" 
 
 Fulton was nicknamed by his comrades 
 "Quicksilver Bob," because of his frequent 
 purchases of the illusive and glittering 
 metal, used by him in experiments which 
 he declined to describe. Before this time 
 he had drawn designs for firearms and 
 had become expert in experimenting with 
 them in order to determine the compara- 
 tive carrying distance of different bores 
 and balls. He is known to have manu- 
 2 21
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 factured an air-gun in the year 1779, but 
 there is no record of its success. The firm 
 of Isch and INIessersmith were employed 
 by the Continental authorities to make and 
 repair arms for the troops. Guards were 
 stationed at the doors of their shops, and 
 to fill the orders the workmen labored 
 night and day and also on Sundays, a rare 
 trespass upon sacred time in those days. 
 "Quicksilver Bob" came and went daily 
 among the workmen, and it has been said 
 that his mechanical judgment was so 
 highly prized that his suggestions and 
 drawings were frequently followed. It is 
 asserted that he also painted signs for the 
 village taverns and shops, as did his fa- 
 mous predecessor, Benjamin West. 
 
 In 1779, when Robert was fourteen 
 
 years of age, he formed a friendship with 
 
 Christopher Gumpf, an apprentice in the 
 
 machine-shop of Mr. Messersmith. Chris- 
 
 22
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 topher was eighteen years old. His father, 
 Deter Gumpf, an experienced fisherman 
 in the quiet waters of the Conestoga 
 Creek, used to take Christopher and Rob- 
 ert with him, and the boys would pole the 
 flat-bottomed boat from place to place, 
 over the good fishing-grounds. The ex- 
 ercise was severe, for the boat was cum- 
 bersome. Robert and Christopher agreed 
 that they were tired of the work. About 
 this time Robert went to Little Britain 
 township for a brief visit with his aunt; 
 and, during his absence from the machine- 
 shops, he busied himself with the manu- 
 facture of a small working model of a 
 fishing-boat to be propelled by paddles. 
 He left this model in his aunt's attic with 
 the request that it be kept, and in subse- 
 quent years it was an object of curiosity 
 in the old lady's parlor.^ When Robert 
 
 1 Repeated inquiries have failed tolocatethis interesting relic. 
 
 23
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 returned to Lancaster, he made a set of 
 paddle-wheels for JNIr. Gumpf's boat, to 
 be operated by a double crank motion. 
 He tried this invention on the Conestoga 
 River, opposite Rockford, and found it so 
 satisfactory that it was used in subsequent 
 fishing-trips. 
 
 At one time in 1777, as many as 2000 
 British prisoners were quartered at Lan- 
 caster, and the natives greatly feared an 
 outbreak. The privates were kept at bar- 
 racks, and the British officers lodged at 
 public or private houses. The prisoners 
 fared poorly enough at times. One day 
 rations were cut off from the women and 
 children, and they were forced to appeal 
 for relief from starvation. The Hessians, 
 some of whom had their Muves with them, 
 occupied square huts of mud and sod. 
 Their strange encampment was naturally 
 attractive to the boys of the village, and 
 24
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Robert Fulton's ready pencil caricatured 
 them. 
 
 FULTON 'S CAREER AS ARTIST 
 
 At the age of seventeen, Fulton left Lan- 
 caster to seek his fortune, and took up his 
 residence in Philadelphia as a painter of 
 portraits and miniatures. His papers are 
 singularly devoid of reference to these 
 years. He was never retrospective, but 
 eager for new accomplishment. Life of- 
 fered him delights in art and science, and 
 his industry appears to have made alter- 
 nate choice in these fields of thought and 
 enterprise. His energy was indefatigable ; 
 he not only earned his own living, but sent 
 remittances to his mother in Lancaster. 
 He apparently seized upon any form of 
 employment which could be secured by 
 personal endeavor. He is known to have 
 drawn plans for machinery, which he sub- 
 25
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 mitted to various shops; he designed car- 
 riages and buildings, and at the same time 
 worked at his regular profession as a 
 painter. White's Directory of the City of 
 Philadelphia for 1785 has this entry: 
 
 "Fulton, Robert: Miniature Painter. 
 Corner of 2nd & Walnut Streets." 
 
 A diligent search has brought to light 
 several examples of Fulton's art, which, 
 by kind permission of the several owners, 
 are here reproduced for the first time. 
 
 His success during the subsequent 
 four years in Philadelphia was due to in- 
 domitable perseverance, aided by the 
 charm of an attractive personality. He 
 seems to have possessed a positive faculty 
 for friendships, and his choice, determined 
 by social rather than sordid considera- 
 tions, speedily won patronage. He en- 
 joyed a personal friendship with Benjamin 
 Franklin, who favored him with unusual 
 attention and kindness. 
 26
 
 ( iwiied liy the Academy of Fine Arts, 
 Philadelphia 
 
 MIXIATL'Rli OF CLEMENTINA ROSS MINIATl'KE OF SAMUEL BEACH 
 
 Owned liy the Pennsylvania Historical Society 
 MK. AM) MRS. JOHN WILKES KITTERA 
 
 MIMATIKIIS PAlNTIiU UY KOHliKT 1 I LliiN
 
 I
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT'* 
 
 After a severe attack of pulmonary- 
 trouble, which gave evidences of a ten- 
 dency toward a hasty decline, Fulton de- 
 cided, upon expert advice, to seek' the 
 recovery of his health at the famous 
 springs of Virginia. At this then fash- 
 ionable place of resort, he formed friend- 
 ships with several persons of wise 
 judgment, and through their recommen- 
 dation, and his own personal desire to 
 seek out and profit by a study of the art 
 treasures of Europe, he began to arrange 
 his affairs for a voyage to the Old World. 
 
 In ill health, and desiring to provide a 
 permanent home for his mother and sis- 
 ters, he invested his savings of more than 
 four hundred dollars in a farm in the 
 township of Hopewell, Washington 
 County, Pennsylvania. The adjacent 
 town of Washington was at this time en- 
 joying a land boom, and in addition to the 
 purchase of the farm for his mother, 
 29
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Fulton also bought four lots in Wash- 
 ington as laid out by Mr. Hogl, the 
 pioneer settler. During the year 1793 
 Fulton wrote from London to Mr. Hogl 
 to convey deeds for three of these lots to 
 his sisters, Mrs. Mary Morris/ Mrs. Isa- 
 bella Cook, and Mrs. Peggy Scott. From 
 this fact it is known that all the sisters had 
 married. 
 
 In 1786, Robert Fulton sailed for Eng- 
 land, bearing numerous letters of intro- 
 duction to distinguished Americans 
 abroad. Among these, a letter -from his 
 friend and patron Benjamin Franklin 
 
 1 David Morris, husband of Mary Fulton, was a nephew 
 of Benjamin West. To hira Fulton wrote in 1793 : 
 
 " Your Uncle West is now at the head of his profession 
 and Presides at the Royal Academy over all the Painters of 
 England. But he is a Great Genius and merits all the hon- 
 our he has obtained — he has ste<adily pursued his Course, 
 and Step by Step at length Reached the Summit where he 
 now looks round on the beauties of past Industry, — an orna- 
 ment to Society and Stimulis to young Men." 
 
 Extract from a lettp.r ownnd hy the 
 Chicago Historical Society. 
 
 30
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 to Benjamin West, the Pennsylvania ar- 
 tist who had attained high honor in Lon- 
 don, was of special help in launching 
 Fulton in the art circles of Europe. The 
 connection between the West and Fulton 
 families, and the pronounced similarity of 
 taste and .ambition, attracted them to an 
 immediate and intimate comradeship. 
 
 EARLY EXPERIMENTS OF WILLIAM HENRY 
 AND JOHN FITCH 
 
 Fulton must already have been familiar 
 with some of the early attempts toward 
 steam navigation. His Lancaster towns- 
 man, William Henry, an ingenious gun- 
 smith, during a visit in 1760 to England, 
 had applied his mind toward the possi- 
 bility of using a Watt's engine in the pro- 
 pulsion of boats. In Bowen's "Sketches 
 of Pennsylvania," it is asserted that 
 31
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Henry, after his return to Lancaster, 
 constructed a machine, and in 1763 at- 
 tached it to a boat. He made an experi- 
 ment with this unique craft upon the 
 Conestoga River, but by a mishap the 
 boat became disabled and sank. He after- 
 ward constructed a second model with 
 improvements, and in 1782 he presented 
 to the American Philosophical Society 
 a design for a machine with steam as 
 motive power. An intelligent German, 
 Herr Shoepff, who visited the United 
 States in 1783, while in Lancaster made 
 the acquaintance of Henry, and was 
 shown a machine intended for the pro- 
 pulsion of boats. He reported that Henry 
 himself had been doubtful whether such 
 a machine would find favor with the pub- 
 lic, "as every one considers it impracticable 
 to make a boat move against wind and 
 tide." But Henry was credited with the 
 32
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 assertion that "such a boat will come into 
 use and navigate on the waters of the Ohio 
 and Mississippi rivers," although the time 
 for appreciation and apphcation had not 
 yet arrived. 
 
 John Fitch, whose name is also right- 
 fully honored as a pioneer experimenter 
 in steam navigation, was a frequent visitor 
 at the house of Mr. Henry in Lancaster. 
 There were doubtless discussions between 
 the two men in regard to the project which 
 Henry had under consideration. On the 
 2d of December, 1785, at a special 
 meeting of the American Philosophical 
 Society, John Fitch was personally pre- 
 sented to the members, and consulted a 
 few, including Henry, as to his project. 
 
 Of Henry and Fitch, and of Robert 
 
 Fulton's ultimate success in solving the 
 
 problem of steam navigation, the late Dr. 
 
 Robert H. Thurston, former Director of 
 
 33
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 the Department of INIechanical Engineer- 
 ing of Cornell University, wrote : 
 
 Fitch evidently made the first successful ex- 
 periment in the propelling of boats by steam ; 
 but William Henry has probably the honor of 
 originating the idea, and building the first 
 steam-boat ever built in the United States. 
 Fitch improved on Mr. Henry's model, and Ful- 
 ton improved on both. . . . Fulton took the 
 products of the genius of other mechanics, and 
 set them at work in combination, and then ap- 
 plied the already known steam-boat in his more 
 satisfactorily proportioned form, to a variety 
 of useful purposes, and with final success. It 
 is this which constitutes Fulton's claim upon 
 the gratitude and the remembrance of the 
 nations. And it is quite enough. 
 
 At the time of his visit to England, 
 Robert Fulton's preferred aim was art, 
 though his active mind soon began to busy 
 itself with various inventions. West was 
 conspicuous for the consideration which 
 he showed to young artists; but he be- 
 stowed unusual favor upon Fulton, who 
 34
 
 . Aim THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 became an inmate in his home. During 
 these years Fulton worked indefatigably 
 at his art, and while the sum of his works 
 is unknown, records of a few of his paint- 
 ings have been found. There is mention 
 in the Royal Academy catalogue of three 
 portraits as having been on exhibition, as 
 follows: In 1791 "Portrait of a Young 
 Gentleman," and "Portrait of Two 
 Young Gentlemen"; and in 1793 "Por- 
 trait of a Lady" (Mrs. Murray). The 
 same year he also exhibited four paintings, 
 two subject pictures and two anonymous 
 portraits, at the Society of Artists.^ 
 
 FULTON S COUNTRY TOUR IN ENGLAND 
 
 James Renwick, in his "Biography of 
 Robert Fulton," published in Jared 
 Sparks's "Library of American Biogra- 
 
 ^ For list of Fulton's art works, see Appendix, page 354. 
 
 35
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 phy," is the only historian to refer to an 
 interesting tour made about this time by 
 Fulton among the castles and country- 
 places of the British nobility for the study 
 of their artistic treasures. After leaving 
 London, he went to Exeter, in the County 
 of Devon, and for a time was a resident of 
 Powderham Castle, the chief seat of the 
 Courtenays. The steward of the estate, 
 a gentleman by birth and education, en- 
 tertained all guests without court rank, 
 for the Baron of Powderham lived in a 
 degree of royal exclusion. During Ful- 
 ton's residence at the castle, he occu- 
 pied himself with the copying of several 
 famous works of art. To his titled bene- 
 factor Fulton extended a gratitude which 
 was later put to the test, and found faith- 
 ful. Professor Renwick tells us, in some- 
 what veiled terms, that several years after 
 Fulton had returned to America, 
 36
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 the heir of the title and fortunes of the Cour- 
 tenays, became a refugee in our land under 
 circumstances of disgrace and humiliation. . . . 
 Every door was closed against him except that 
 of Fulton. The feelings of Fulton were prob- 
 ably those which lead the benevolent to minister 
 to the comforts and to soothe the mental an- 
 guish of the condemned criminal ; but in the 
 instance we allude to, it required not only the 
 existence of such feelings, but a high degree of 
 courage to exercise them, in the face of a popu- 
 lar impression, which, whether well or ill founded, 
 was universally entertained. 
 
 During Robert Fulton's sojourn in 
 Devonshire, he formed friendships with 
 several men of distinction, and it is said 
 that portraits and landscapes painted by 
 him at this period are to be found in 
 many of the stately homes of England. 
 It should be remembered that during all 
 these years he was supporting himself en- 
 tirely by his own efforts with palette and 
 brush. 
 
 37 
 
 146360
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 In Devonshire he won the personal in- 
 terest of two influential peers of the reahn, 
 whose scientific investigations were a keen 
 joy and an important factor in defining 
 his subsequent career. These men, the 
 Duke of Bridgewater and Earl Stanhope, 
 were scientists of advanced thought. The 
 former had inherited a vast estate, which, 
 although it abounded in mineral wealth, 
 failed to render an adequate financial 
 return, because the mines were inaccessible 
 through lack of a proper development for 
 the transportation of their output. The 
 growing town of JNIanchester had need of 
 coal for its manufactories, and there was 
 plenty of coal in the lands of the Duke of 
 Bridgewater. But all products had to be 
 carried from the estate in sacks upon 
 pack-horses. The duke, therefore, with 
 the aid of a native genius, Brindley by 
 name, whom he termed his engineer, 
 .38
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 opened canal navigation throughout his 
 lands. This was attained only at great 
 cost in the face of appalling difficulties 
 and much opposition. It is said that, at 
 one time, he barely escaped confinement as 
 a lunatic, so ridiculous did his plans ap- 
 pear to critical friends and relatives. At 
 the time Fulton met him, the success of his 
 canal project was manifest, and he was 
 already amassing wealth through the aid 
 of this new method of water carriage. 
 Similar schemes were projected through- 
 out the country, and the duke became the 
 proprietor of several navigation com- 
 panies which were at that time in forma- 
 tion to construct a great system of 
 waterways through England. It is 
 thought that the duke's plans, if not his 
 solicitation, had much to do with Fulton's 
 abandonment of art for civil engineering ; 
 for, from this time on, his thoughts were 
 ' 39
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 occupied with canal navigation and allied 
 subjects of practical utility. 
 
 With the Earl of Stanhope, whose tal- 
 ent ran to mechanical devices and scien- 
 tific research, Fulton entered into a 
 spirited correspondence. The earl was an 
 enthusiast; his inventions, though they 
 bordered on great discovery, and were 
 based upon noble aims, were never car- 
 ried to a degree of commercial perfection. 
 One of his plans was for the application 
 of steam to navigation, by the use of a 
 ciu'ious paddle, resembling the webbed 
 foot of a waterfowl. He communicated 
 his ideas on this subject to Fulton, who 
 showed the practical impossibility of the 
 project. Cadwallader D. Golden and 
 Professor Renwick both authoritatively 
 stated that Fulton, in a letter written dur- 
 ing the year 1793 from Devonshire, briefly 
 gave, in exchange for the earl's impracti- 
 40
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 cable plan for steam navigation, the very 
 principles of his own later application, 
 which afterward was successfully demon- 
 strated on the Hudson River/ Earl Stan- 
 hope, however, proceeded with his own 
 design, and in an experiment made at the 
 London docks, met with failure. But his 
 generous nature continued to find interest 
 in Fulton's plans and aspirations, and 
 upon several subsequent occasions he gave 
 evidences of his sincere friendship for the 
 American inventor. 
 
 From Devonshire, Fulton went to Bir- 
 mingham, where he took up his residence. 
 Although his name does not appear in the 
 list of engineers who were engaged upon 
 the Duke of Bridgewater's project of 
 building canals from Birmingham to the 
 chief seaports, there is little doubt that 
 he went there with the aim of studying 
 
 ^See page 129. 
 
 41
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 the new enterprise. It is asserted by sev- 
 eral biographers of Fulton that during 
 his eighteen months' residence in Bir- 
 mingham he met and entered into confi- 
 dential correspondence with Watt, the 
 inventor of the steam engine/ One narra- 
 tor states that Fulton actually superin- 
 tended the construction of an engine, 
 where no other aid could be obtained. 
 This friendship has been questioned by 
 others, whose proof against it lies in the 
 fact that a letter from Joel Barlow stated 
 that Fulton had never met Watt. Mr. 
 Golden agrees with Renwick that as early 
 as 1793, Fulton had turned his thoughts 
 toward steam navigation as an important 
 possibility, and had outlined his plan for 
 putting it in practice, and this fact is con- 
 
 ^ A letter recently shown to the Society of Naval Archi- 
 tects by Sir Frederick BrarawcU proves that Fulton wrote 
 to order an engine from Watt in 1794. There is no record 
 that the order was filled. See Appendix, page 303. 
 
 42
 
 CHARIJ'S, IHlkU KARL Uh STANHul'li 
 Painted by Robert luUo.i. Now in possession of Hermann Livingston
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 clusively proved by the first reproduction 
 of Fulton's letter to the earl (see p. 129) . 
 But these dreams did not keep him from 
 the development of other practical con- 
 trivances. In 1794 he secured from the 
 British government a patent for a double 
 inclined plane for raising and lowering 
 canal-boats, and also received from the 
 British Society of Arts and Commerce 
 the thanks and an honorary medal of the 
 society for a submitted invention for saw- 
 ing marble. About the same period he 
 obtained English patents upon a machine 
 for spinning flax, and for a new invention 
 for twisting hemp rope. He appears to 
 have been reaching out in many directions 
 of thought, to try to solve some industrial 
 problem, great or small; but his energies 
 were chiefly turned toward the further 
 development of canal systems. He de- 
 signed and obtained English patents for a 
 45
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 dredging-machine for scooping out earth 
 to form the channels for canals or aque- 
 ducts, and later patented "The Market or 
 Passage Boat" for use upon canals; and 
 still later, a "Dispatch Boat," devised for 
 special speed in transporting goods which 
 required expedition. These smaller in- 
 ventions, although they were useful at the 
 time in furthering the utility of canal 
 navigation, were but steps toward a 
 greater development of the inventor's 
 knowledge of practical science. The dis- 
 tinguished John Owen, founder of Eng- 
 lish Socialism, a one-time partner of 
 Fulton in the enterprise of the dredging- 
 machine, in his autobiography tells of the 
 interesting fact of a meeting in 1794 be- 
 tween his friends, Samuel Taylor Cole- 
 ridge, the poet, and Robert Fulton, whom 
 he terms "the famous American engineer 
 and inventor and introducer of the steam- 
 46
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 boat." It is a significant coincidence that 
 the author of "The Ancient Mariner" 
 should have known the inventor who was 
 so soon to change the world's methods of 
 navigation. Fulton answered in practical 
 fashion the dreamy question of the poet, 
 
 But why drives on that ship so fast, 
 Without or wave or wind? 
 
 Fulton's power as an accurate drafts- 
 man enabled him to describe fully upon 
 paper, with accompanying charts, his 
 various models of inventions. He also 
 made copious notes upon the subjects 
 which he had in mind, and later, as 
 his ideas matured, he wrote essays and 
 pamphlets upon specific subjects, and 
 sent them, with accompanying letters, 
 to those persons who had the power to 
 promote their advancement. In 1796 he 
 published "A Treatise on Canal Naviga- 
 47
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 tion,"* illustrated by seventeen plates, and 
 designed to show "the numerous advan- 
 tages to be derived from small canals." 
 The title-page indicated that the author- 
 ship was "By Robert Fulton, Civil Engi- 
 neer," his first public use of that signature. 
 He appears to have entirely abandoned his 
 painting and thereafter to have used his 
 talent for art solely to illustrate his ideas 
 for mechanical contrivances. 
 
 Throughout the succeeding pages he 
 endeavored to show the advantages of a 
 system of small canals, which, if intro- 
 duced in any fertile country, would in- 
 crease the financial resources of all the 
 inhabitants of the inland districts, by en- 
 abling them to offer their farm products 
 to the inhabitants of the larger coast 
 towns. He acknowledged that his first 
 study of the subject of canal navigation 
 
 ^ See Appendix, page 304. 
 
 48
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 was inspired by the reading of a paper 
 descriptive of a canal proposed by Earl 
 Stanhope. Fulton's treatise dealt with 
 the practical contrivances necessary for 
 such a waterway, and described his pat- 
 ents already secured for the easy trans- 
 portation of boats from one level to 
 another by use of inclined planes. 
 
 Fulton did not confine himself to a 
 mere recital of the technicalities of his in- 
 vention; with broad-minded prophecy he 
 viewed the possibilities of canal navigation 
 as contributing to the best form of polit- 
 ical economy for any nation which would 
 adopt it. He calculated the profits to be 
 derived, the expenses incident to the de- 
 velopment of his plan, and the immense 
 advantage which would result from an 
 enlarged system which, like arteries of the 
 body, would unite all parts of the country. 
 He especially emphasized the advantages 
 49
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 which America would gain from the sys- 
 tem. 
 
 Fulton sent copies of his treatise to 
 Governor Mifflin of Pennsylvania, and to 
 George Washington,^ who was then Presi- 
 dent of the United States, urging their 
 thoughtful consideration of the project. 
 Washington wrote a courteous acknow- 
 ledgment, but there is no record of official 
 action on the part of the Federal govern- 
 ment. 
 
 The "Treatise on Canals," with Ful- 
 ton's letter to Governor Mifflin, was trans- 
 lated into French and published in Paris 
 in the seventh year of the Republic. It 
 won the attention of many engineers and 
 mechanicians, but apparently produced no 
 large constructive results. 
 
 Universal free trade was the avowed 
 motive of Fulton's various experiments, 
 and for this cause he wrote several 
 
 ^See Appendix, page 306. 
 
 50
 
 And the "CLERMONT" 
 
 treatises during his residence in Birming- 
 ham and later. In 1795 he published 
 some essays on canals in the London 
 "Morning Star," and two years later ad- 
 dressed a paper to the French Directory 
 which he entitled "Thoughts on Free 
 Trade. ' ' It should be remembered that 
 only a short time before Fulton's removal 
 to Birmingham, the French Revolution had 
 charged two nations with new desires for 
 political advancement. This great histor- 
 ical event had immense weight in the defi- 
 nition of Fulton's subsequent career. 
 
 That Fulton was studying these inter- 
 national disputes is proved by an extract 
 from a letter written to his brother-in- 
 law, David Morris, in 1794. It is pub- 
 lished by permission of the Chicago 
 Historical Society: 
 
 "As to Europe it is all in alarm, the 
 united efforts of England, Prusia, Spain, 
 Holland, Germany, Rushia, and all the 
 51
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 allied Powers have not been able as Yet 
 to mount Another King on the Back of 
 the French Nation. It is almost incred- 
 ible with what Vigor the French meet 
 their enemies, while Live the Republic is 
 the Constant Song; and Liberty or death 
 their Motto. Thus determined to Estab- 
 lish Republickism they have at this mo- 
 ment, five hundred thousand Men under 
 Arms, Ready for the ensuing Campaign. 
 The Allies Seeing so much unshaken 
 firmness Ready to meet them begin to 
 despair of King making, And think it 
 time to Look to their own Safety, As the 
 discontented enumerate fast in all the 
 Belligerant States, the People Contem- 
 plate the Nature of a Republic, and the 
 more they think, the more they admire it. 
 When a Revolution once takes place in 
 the mind it will Soon make its appearance 
 externaly. And I Can assure you there 
 52
 
 l^OiiliKT IL'I.TON 
 
 Iruiii Ihe urigiiiHl |jaiiitecl t>y hiiiibeiriii 1795, iiuw 
 owned by Mrs. Koliert 1-ultoii Blight 
 
 This portrait was purchased from the authorities of Fultmi Hall, Lancaster, I'enn., by Koix 
 I-ulton Blight. Il was exhibited at the World's I-air in Chicano, and at the request of Iht 
 German Consul was copied by Thomas Anschut2 lor the Postal Museum at Berlin
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 are numbers who do not hesitate to say 
 that Monarchial Governments are going 
 out of Fashion. Things Being thus situ- 
 ated it is the report of the day that the 
 King of Prushia has withdrawn from the 
 alliance. The Empres of Rushia has cer- 
 tainly found work at home with the turks. 
 And thus the French are eased of two 
 powerful adversaries— how things will 
 terminate God only knows. But as far as 
 Man Can penetrate into events it is be- 
 lieved the French will prove Successful 
 and establish a Republic, the Natural Con- 
 sequence will be Republicks throughout 
 Europe (In time.) It has been much 
 Agitated here Whether the Americans 
 would Join the French. But I Believe 
 every Cool friend to America Could wish 
 them to Remain nuter. The americans 
 have no troublesome Neighbours, they are 
 without foreign Possessions, and do not 
 55
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 want the alliance of any Nation, for this 
 Reason they have nothing to do with for- 
 eign Politics. And the Art of Peace 
 Should be the Study of every young 
 American which I most Sincerely hope 
 they will mentain" 
 
 His earliest impressions of patriotism 
 had been gained during the struggle for 
 American Independence, and the reason- 
 able and sympathetic minds of England 
 and America were excited to profound 
 commiseration over the unhappy condi- 
 tions resultant from the misrule of the 
 French democracy. The unbiased minds 
 of the American people were active in ob- 
 servation; Fulton, who was avowedly a 
 Republican, shared the prevalent sym- 
 pathy for the oppressed. But in 1796 
 the excesses of the French Revolution had 
 ceased, and Great Britain commenced an 
 aggression on the seas through wliich the 
 56
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 United States were the greatest sufferers. 
 Fulton shared the resentment which Eng- 
 land's attitude excited among Americans 
 and set himself the task of abolishing 
 piracy upon the seas. Temporarily he 
 turned his attention from canal structure 
 to the study of a new weapon designed to 
 provide universal peace; and this resulted 
 in the invention of the torpedo, a work of 
 equal magnitude to his later production, 
 the steamboat. 
 
 57
 
 PART II 
 ROBERT FULTON IN FRANCE
 
 IN the year 1797, the Earl of Mahnes- 
 bury went to Lille to propose terms 
 of peace between England and France. 
 During that neutral period, Fulton 
 thought that he saw an opportunity to 
 convey to the world, through the French 
 Directory, his ideas for future tranquil- 
 lity, which embraced "a Universal better- 
 ment of Humanity, through a constructive 
 system of Canals, and a destructive system 
 of Torpedoes." His great hope for uni- 
 versal peace led him to dream of an 
 ultimate invention which should set at 
 naught the oppression of maritime influ- 
 ences. He planned to make the seas and 
 waters open channels to a friendly inter- 
 course among the nations. To this end, 
 61
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 without abandoning his hope of canal 
 structure for the welfare of inland dis- 
 tricts, he conceived a submarine contri- 
 vance, which he named a "Torpedo," that 
 through tremendous explosive force might 
 destroy the armaments of the seas. The 
 French statesman Carnot, an inflexible 
 republican, formerly Minister of War, 
 was then an executive of the Directory, 
 but after the revolution of 18 Fructidor 
 he was obliged to flee to Germany. Ful- 
 ton had reason to hope that he would be 
 able to influence Carnot, who was already, 
 through correspondence, his personal 
 friend. 
 
 For this purpose, and with the hope of 
 perfecting patents in France for his in- 
 ventions relative to canals, Robert Fulton 
 journeyed from London to Paris. He 
 called immediately on the poet and diplo- 
 mat Joel Barlow, to whom he presented 
 62
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 credentials, and took up his abode in the 
 same hotel where Mr. and Mrs. Barlow 
 were living. Later, when the Barlows 
 opened a home of their own, they invited 
 Fulton to join them. A rare friendship 
 between the two men ensued, and for seven 
 years thereafter, Fulton resided with them. 
 During Fulton's sojourn in France, 
 Barlow was not charged with American 
 public duties; but in French politics he 
 identified himself with the Girondist 
 party, and was not without political in- 
 fluence; Robert Fulton shared his enthu- 
 siasm and interest. 
 
 Fulton's panorama 
 
 Fulton invented the first panorama ever 
 shown in Paris, which was ready to be ex- 
 hibited about the year 1800. A wealthy 
 American had purchased a large tract of 
 63
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 ground in a central position, and had built 
 upon it a row of shops, arranged along 
 two sides of a covered cloister. Upon one 
 section of this property, Fulton suggested 
 the erection of two lofty, circular build- 
 ings, and these were constructed for the 
 exhibition of the panorama. The venture 
 attracted great attention and yielded a 
 substantial profit. It was of sufficient im- 
 portance to suggest the name of the street 
 upon which it was reared, and to this day 
 "Rue des Panorames" serves as a reminder 
 of Fulton's production. 
 
 The subject of the panorama, recently 
 discovered upon record in Paris, was 
 "I'lncendie de Moscow." The scenes 
 depicted were obviously those of one of the 
 early devastations by fire, of which several 
 are recorded in history, and obviously not 
 that later famous tragedy of 1812. It is 
 interesting to consider that many of the 
 survivors of Napoleon's army of invasion 
 
 J
 
 AND THE 'CLERMONT" 
 
 and retreat may have looked upon the can- 
 vases whereon Fulton had portrayed 
 earlier scenes of horror and devastation.^ 
 
 Robert Fulton possessed to a remarka- 
 ble degree the power of concentrated 
 
 ^ M. Henry B. Bayer, Special Commissioner to the United 
 States for the International Maritime Exposition of Bor- 
 deaux, in his address at the Jamestown Exposition, on 
 Robert Fulton Day, said that Fulton's panorama was an 
 exceptional success. The people were so attracted to the 
 new recreation that a song extolling its merits became 
 popular throughout France. 
 
 One verse, with translation, follows : 
 
 Paris pas plus grand que cela, 
 Jouit de succes legitimes. 
 Un savant vous le montrera. 
 Pour un franc cinquante centimes. 
 Et tout le monde donne ou donnera, 
 Dans le pano, pano, panorama ! 
 
 Paris is not too great 
 
 To enjoy a lawful success. 
 
 A wise man will show it to you 
 
 For one franc and fifty centimes (30 cents). 
 
 And everybody is giving or will give 
 
 To the pano — pano — panorama ! 
 
 Later Colonel Jean Charles Langlois, the painter of bat- 
 tle scenes, used Fulton's panorama for the reproduction of 
 victories of the French Army. 
 
 65
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 thought. He studied French, Itahan, and 
 German, and acquired a proficiency in the 
 three languages; higher mathematics, 
 physics, chemistry, and perspective also 
 demanded his attention as he progressed 
 in scientific research. It is known that he 
 painted several portraits while in Paris, 
 and one of these, of Joel Barlow, is here 
 reproduced. He mingled with the promi- 
 nent artists of the day.^ 
 
 But just at that period canal extension 
 was the main topic of his thought. To this 
 end he addressed letters explanatory of his 
 project to men of distinction in America,^ 
 France, and England. Of these, the let- 
 
 1 Houdon, the great French sculptor executed an admir- 
 able bust of Fulton which was shown in the Salon in the year 
 IX, and Robert Le Fevre, painter to the King and a mem- 
 ber of the Legion of Honor, painted a likeness of Fulton. 
 A beautiful French miniature of the same period is also ex- 
 tant, now the property of Mrs. Joseph Drexel, of Philadel- 
 phia. 
 
 2 See Fulton's letter to Washington, Appendix, page 306. 
 
 66
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 ter to Washington offers indisputable 
 proof that Fulton was the first to suggest 
 the Erie Canal. The claim to this priority- 
 has been disputed, but the testimony here 
 recorded seems conclusive. 
 
 In the Lenox Library may be found the 
 French original of the letter which ap- 
 parently was addressed to Bonaparte 
 shortly before his departure for Egypt/ 
 
 Fulton's torpedo 
 
 As early as December, 1797, Fulton, 
 aided by Barlow, experimented upon a 
 machine designed to impart motion under 
 water to "carcasses" of gunpowder. An 
 elongated and oval construction was to be 
 forced to a point below water, and, at a 
 calculated time, discharge its fire. The 
 project contained the initial idea of Ful- 
 
 ^See Appendix, page 313. 
 
 67
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 ton's subsequent invention of the torpedo- 
 boat, but at that time the test failed to be 
 satisfactory. The name "torpedo," chosen 
 by Fulton for his submarine contrivance, 
 has since been given to all similar ma- 
 chines.^ Sir Thomas Herbert, the English 
 traveler and author, had written : 
 
 The Torpaedo or Cramp Fish came also to 
 our hands, but we were amazed (not knowing 
 that fish but by its quality) when a sudden 
 trembling seazed on us ; a device it has to beget 
 liberty, by evaporating a cold breath to stupefie 
 such as either touch or hold a thing that touches 
 it. 
 
 After the first failure, with charac- 
 teristic hopefulness Fulton began imme- 
 diately to formulate a variety of new 
 experiments. There is no doubt that at 
 
 ^Fulton's countryman, David Bushnell, a graduate of 
 Yale, during the Revolution had invented a submarine 
 "magazine" which by means of clockwork would explode 
 a case of gunpowder under water ; but the attempts to use 
 the device resulted in disappointment. 
 
 68
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 this time he vakied the torpedo project 
 with more favor than his ah'eady con- 
 ceived idea of steam navigation. 
 
 On August 28, 1798, Mr. Joshua Gilpin ' 
 of London said in a letter to Lord Stan- 
 hope: "I hear from France that Mr. Ful- 
 ton has not yet gone to America; and 
 probably it may be some time before he 
 gets away, as an embargo rests on our ves- 
 sels ; besides which the Government and he 
 are amusing each other (I think however 
 to little purpose) on his new invention of 
 the submarine boat. I fear this will keep 
 him from more useful pursuits." Many of 
 Fulton's friends were doubtful of the 
 value of his ventures. That the rumor of 
 their disapproval reached him is shown by 
 
 ^Joshua Gilpin, born in Philadelphia 1765, hved in Eng- 
 land 1795-1801. He published " Memoir of a Canal from 
 the Chesapeake to the Delaware," and died 1840. Fulton 
 wrote to Gilpin in 1798 that his (Fulton's) plans had been 
 adopted for the Canal from Paris to Dieppe and Cambrai, 
 the only known record of his engagement in this project. 
 
 71
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 a passage in a letter^ dated "Paris, No- 
 vember the 20th, 1798," to Mr. Gilpin, 
 containing a reference to Mr. Cartwright. 
 Edmund Cartwright, an English clergy- 
 man and graduate of Oxford, had in 1785 
 obtained the first patent for a power-loom 
 for the weaving of cotton cloth. Two 
 years later he invented a wool-carding 
 machine; and, in 1797, a steam-engine in 
 which alcohol was used. It is asserted that 
 he "assisted Robert Fulton in his experi- 
 ments with steamboats." Joel Barlow also 
 mentions him, in a letter to Fulton in 
 1802, when, after an interview with Mr. 
 Livingston, he says that he has heard un- 
 favorable reports about Cartwright's en- 
 gine, and doubts whether it will do for the 
 proposed steamboat. "If you recur to 
 Watts," he adds, "it is probably best to lay 
 it horizontal, his fears with regard to the 
 
 ^See Appendix, page 316. 
 
 72
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 strain on the boat from the up-and-down 
 stroke are not without foundation." 
 
 The letter to Joshua Gilpin, in the Ap- 
 pendix and never before published, gives 
 additional proof of Robert Fulton's con- 
 stancy to his country. Those who have 
 criticized his aim of securing "a lasting 
 peace" by means of a destructive agent, 
 the torpedo-boat, a weapon designed to 
 cause wholesale ruin and devastation, 
 should remember that he was animated by 
 the hope that so powerful an instrument 
 in the hands of a righteous nation would 
 ultimately put an end to all w^arfare. 
 
 Throughout the summer of 1800, Ful- 
 ton was at Havre, busily engaged upon 
 experimental work with his torpedoes. 
 Mrs. Joel Barlow, on medical advice, had 
 gone there for the invigoration of the sea 
 air and baths. Mr. Barlow's affairs de- 
 tained him in Paris, and his letters to his 
 73
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 wife, to whom he was devotedly attached, 
 contain interesting references to Fulton's 
 submarine projects. Fulton made divers 
 tests with his torpedo-boats against the 
 British frigates which hovered along the 
 coast. The situation was filled with sus- 
 pense, and the utilization of a new weapon 
 of warfare seemed soon to be realized. 
 But experiments were costly, and Fulton 
 was frequently in need of money for the 
 furtherance of his schemes. From time to 
 time Barlow forwarded drafts, which ap- 
 parently were the profits from Fulton's 
 panorama, then on exhibition in Paris. 
 These profits were shared by a Mr. 
 Thayer,^ who had secured an extension 
 to fifteen years of the original ten years' 
 patent, on April 26, 1799, granted to Ful- 
 ton. Barlow wrote to his wife, on 29th 
 Thermidor, 1800: 
 
 'James William Thayer, an American. 
 
 74
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Tell Toot he shall have the $1000 In a day 
 or two, but Thayer has not paid according to 
 his promise. The pictures go not well, — 50 or 
 60 livres a day for both, — and at this season ! 
 But the excessive heat prevents everybody from 
 stirring out, especially upon the Boulevard, and 
 in the day time. 
 
 "Toot" was Barlow's pet name for Ful- 
 ton, possibly suggested by the tooting of 
 the steam-engine with which he was al- 
 ready experimenting. 
 
 A few days later Barlow forwarded 
 $500 through a banking house, and prom- 
 ised more in a day or two. 
 
 During that summer Fulton spent his 
 efforts in the development and practical 
 demonstration of submarine navigation. 
 His friends, of whom Barlow was chief, 
 were anxious lest he should overtax his 
 strength. 
 
 The torpedo experiments were attended 
 75
 
 ROBERT FULTO]^ 
 
 with danger and under hostile observa- 
 tion. Barlow wrote to his wife 17th 
 Fructidor : 
 
 And poor Toot, I suppose, is now gone. I 
 have not believed of late there was much dan- i 
 ger in the expedition especially if they don't 
 go over to the enemy's coast. I have certainly 
 seen the day when I would have undertaken it 
 without fear or apprehension of extraordinary 
 risk. I can't say that I am now without un- 
 easiness. I should probably have less if I was 
 in the boat and without bodily pain. But 
 there is really very little to fear. The weather 
 is fine; they are only going along the coast. 
 He is master of all his movements, and it ap- 
 pears to me one of the safest of all hostile enter- 
 prises. 
 
 Throughout his manoeuvers, Fulton rec- 
 ognized the necessity of governmental 
 cooperation. He believed that the project 
 in hand was for the benefit of the nations 
 of the earth, and not for the furtherance 
 70
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 of individual or even of national aggran- 
 dizement. His device for submarine 
 gunnery must, if it should prove practi- 
 cable, be guarded by wise laws for the 
 safety of navies; but first it must be 
 practised and proved of value in warfare 
 by some one nation. To that end he hoped 
 to find the Government of France willing 
 to give the system a fair trial. 
 
 His first appeal to the Directory was 
 encouraged. With the appeal he for- 
 warded a descriptive letter which defined 
 the advantages of his invention. He de- 
 scribed it as a weapon capable of freeing 
 the Republic from all oppressors. The 
 Directory gave him reason to hope that his 
 plan would be received with favor, and day 
 by day he awaited their reply. Barlow 
 added his influence to obtain official sanc- 
 tion for an expedition against the enemy's 
 boats; but there were many rebuffs and 
 
 5 77
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 few encouragements, although Fulton's 
 patience was marked and emphasized at 
 every period of his busy life. 
 
 A commission had been appointed by 
 the Minister of the Marine during the pre- 
 ceding year (1799) , and the reply sent by 
 Fulton, and written in French, is the only 
 Fulton document preserved in the British 
 Museum.^ It conclusively proves that 
 Fulton had received very definite encour- 
 agement from the Government of France, 
 and it emphasizes the inventor's desire, 
 which dominated his enthusiasm through- 
 out all his experiments, that an eternal 
 peace would result from this warlike con- 
 trivance. 
 
 Epistolatory skirmishes between the 
 parties to this transaction were almost as 
 numerous as between the two warring 
 
 ^ A translation of this very interesting document will be 
 found in the Appendix, page 'MH. 
 
 78
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 nations. All of the correspondence is not 
 now to be had, but the part that has been 
 preserved reveals, for the first time, the 
 actual details of the agreement relative to 
 the Nautilus, the first submarine torpedo- 
 boat. The vessel was built during the lat- 
 ter part of 1800, and throughout the 
 succeeding summer Fulton was at Brest, 
 where the superb harbor, the finest on the 
 coast of France, gave him the right oppor- 
 tunity for experiments. 
 
 ATTITUDE OF NAPOLEON 
 
 On the 8th Ventose (February 28, 1801) 
 Fulton received authoritative word from 
 Napoleon, through the Secretary of the 
 Port, to send his torpedo-boat against 
 the English fleet. After considering the 
 matter four days, Fulton accepted the 
 proposition and agreed to the terms of 
 79
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 the contract. The following letter, found 
 among Fulton's family papers, is here 
 published for the first time : 
 
 1st Division 
 Bureau of the Port. 
 
 Paris, 7th Germinal, 
 the 9th year of the One 
 and Indivisible Republic. 
 The Minister of the Marines and Colonies. 
 
 To Monsieur Robert Fulton, 
 
 Rue de Vaugirard No. 50, Paris. 
 
 I announced to you, Sir, on the 8th of Ven- 
 tose, that the First Consul had authorized me 
 to accept your proposition relative to the 
 Nautilus. You will have seen by that letter 
 that you will, as a consequence, be credited 
 with the sum of 10,000 francs to repair this 
 Machine, construct the auxiliaries, and to con- 
 vey, at your own expense, the Nautilus to 
 Brest. 
 
 It has been decreed that you will be allowed 
 for the destruction of the Enemy's boats, ac- 
 cording to their strength, as follows: 
 
 80
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 400,000 francs for those of more than 30 
 cannon. 
 
 200,000 francs for those of more than 20 
 cannon up to 30 cannon. 
 
 150,000 francs for those of from 12 to 20 
 cannon. 
 
 60,000 francs for those of 10 cannon. 
 
 This force is the minimum, below which you 
 will have no power to return claim. 
 
 By your letter of the 12th Ventose, you de- 
 clare your acceptance of these conditions, and 
 I give the order to put to your account the 
 sum of 10,000 francs, by means of which you 
 must put in order the armor, the equipment 
 and the expedition of the Nautilus. 
 
 There exist several means of determining 
 in an authentic manner the destruction of the 
 enemy's boats. The attestations, the declara- 
 tions, and the interrogations put in legal form 
 by competent authorities, will serve you as title 
 to reclaim the payment of the sums which may 
 ultimately be due you. 
 
 The navigation which you are about to 
 undertake being absolutely different from 
 others, also the style of war which the Nautilus 
 is destined to make upon the enemy, it is not 
 
 81
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 possible to indicate in advance a fixed method 
 of affirming the truth of the facts. But it will 
 be supplied by the information of the Com- 
 missary of the Government of England, and to 
 the Maritime Prefects, every time it becomes 
 necessary. (Signed) Forfait. 
 
 The inventor's continued appeal to Na- 
 poleon led to the appointment of a com- 
 mission to examine the plans for submarine 
 navigation, and to provide funds for the 
 furtherance of the work of necessary con- 
 struction. Napoleon desired, at the con- 
 clusion of the experiments, personally to 
 view the plunging boat ; but arrangements 
 at the time being incomplete, a view of the 
 apparatus was not granted. Fulton ex- 
 plains the reason for his refusal to grant 
 an exhibition of his drawings to a com- 
 mittee of engineers, in a letter printed 
 below. The Citizens INIonge, La Place, 
 and Volney were prominent members of 
 82
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 the National Institute, for Napoleon had 
 taken care to select the three men whose 
 judgment could best be relied on. Gas- 
 pard Monge, mathematician, had served 
 as Minister of the Marine during two 
 years, and later founded the Polytechnic 
 School of Paris. Pierre-Simon de La 
 Place, astronomer, had held the position 
 of professor of mathematics in the Ecole 
 Militaire, and was later vice-president of 
 the senate. And Count Volney, a famous 
 French scholar and author, whose travels 
 had brought him to America, was a mem- 
 ber of the constituent assembly. It was 
 these three men who held the power of 
 judgment over the newly devised weapon. 
 Among Fulton's papers were found 
 two letters addressed to this commission. 
 Both are of unique interest, the first be- 
 cause it shows Fulton's personal reasons 
 for guarding his invention with all care, 
 83
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 the second because of its detailed recital 
 of his various experiments, with dates and 
 subsequent consequences.* 
 
 Paris, the 3d Complimentary Day, 
 
 An 9. 
 
 Robert Fulton to the Citizens Monge, La Place, 
 and Volney, Members of the National Insti- 
 tute and Commissionaries appointed by the 
 First Consul to promote the Invention of 
 Submarine Navigation. 
 
 Citizens : This morning I received yours 
 of the 2nd Compl. As to the expense of a 
 plunging Boat, I believe when constructed in 
 the best manner with every improvement which 
 experience has pointed out, She cannot cost 
 more than 80,000 Livers. The Bombs Sub- 
 marine may be estimated at 80 Livers each, on 
 an average independent of the powder. 
 
 I am sorry that I liad not earlier informa- 
 tion of the [first] Counsul's desire to see the 
 Plunging Boat. Wlien I finished my experi- 
 
 1 These letters are here j^iven to the public for 
 the first time. 
 
 84
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 ments, She leaked very much and being but an 
 imperfect engine, I did not think her further 
 useful, — hence I took Her to pieces, Sold Her 
 Iron work lead and cylinders and was ne- 
 cessitated to break the greater part of her 
 movements in taking them to pieces. So 
 that nothing now remains which can give 
 an Idea of her combination; but even had 
 She been complete I do not think She could 
 have been brought round to Paris. You will 
 be so good as to excuse me to the Premier Con- 
 sul, when I refuse to exhibit my drawings to a 
 Committee of Engineers. For this I have two 
 reasons ; the first is not to put it in the power 
 of anyone to explain the principles or move- 
 ments lest they should pass from one to another 
 till the enemy obtained information : the Second 
 is that I consider this Invention as my private 
 property, the perfcctionment of which will give 
 to France incalculable advantages over her 
 most powerful and active enemy ; and which 
 Invention, I conceive, ought to secure to me an 
 ample Independence. That consequently the 
 Government should stipulate certain terms with 
 me Before I proceed to further explanation. 
 The First Consul is too just, and you know 
 
 87
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 me too well, to construe this into an avaricious 
 disposition in me. I have now laboured 3 
 years and at considerable expense to prove 
 my experiments. And I find that a man who 
 wishes to Cultivate the useful Arts, cannot 
 make rapid Progress without sufficient funds to 
 put his succession of Ideas to immediate proof; 
 and which sufficiency I conceive this invention 
 should secure to me. You have intimated that 
 the movements and combination of so interest- 
 ing an engine should be confided to trusty 
 persons, lest any accident should happen to me. 
 This precaution I took previous to my depar- 
 ture from Paris for my last experiments, by 
 placing correct Drawings of the Machine and 
 every Movement with their descriptions, in the 
 hands of a friend ; so that any engineer capable 
 of constructing a Steam engine, could make 
 the plunging Boat and Carcasses or Bombs. 
 
 You will therefore be so good as to beg of 
 the First Consul to permit you to treat with 
 me on the business. And on this point I hope 
 there will not be much difficulty. Health and 
 sincere respect, 
 
 Robert Fulton. 
 
 88
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Paris, the 22d Fructidore, An 9. 
 
 Robert Fulton to the Citizens Monge, La Place, 
 and Volney, Members of the National Insti- 
 tute, and Commissioners appointed by the 
 first Consul to promote the invention of Sub- 
 marine Navigation. 
 
 Citizens: Yesterday on my return from 
 brest I received your note and will with plea- 
 sure communicate to you the result of my ex- 
 periments, during the summer, also the mode 
 which I conceive the most effectual for using 
 my invention against the enemy. Before I left 
 Paris I informed you that my plunging boat 
 had many imperfections, natural to the first 
 machine of so difficult a combination added to 
 this I found she had been much Injured by the 
 rust during the winter in consequence of having 
 in many places used Iron bolts and arbours 
 instead of copper or brass. The reparation of 
 these defects and the difficulty of finding work- 
 men consumed near two months, and although 
 the machine remained still extremely imperfect, 
 yet She has answered to prove every necessary 
 experiment in the most satisfactory manner. 
 
 On the 3rd of thermidor I commenced my 
 
 89
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 experiments by plunging to the depth of 5 
 then 10 then 15 and so on, to 25 feet, but not 
 to a greater depth than 25 feet as I did not 
 conceive the Machine sufficiently strong to bear 
 the pressure of a greater column of water. At 
 this depth I remained one hour with my three 
 companions and two candles burning without 
 experiencing the least inconvenience. 
 
 Previous to my leaving Paris I gave to the 
 C[itize]n Queyton, Member of the Institute, 
 a calculation on the number of cube feet in my 
 boat which is about 212. In such a volume of 
 air he calculated there would be sufficient Oxy- 
 gen to nourish 4 men and two small candles 
 3 hours. Seeing that it would be of great im- 
 provement to dispense with the candles, I con- 
 structed a small window in the upper part of 
 the boat near the bow, which window is only one 
 inch and a half diameter, and of glass nine 
 lines thick. With this prepared, I descended 
 on the 5th of Thermidor, to the depth of be- 
 tween 24 and 25 feet at which depth I had suf- 
 ficient light to count the minutes on the watch. 
 Hence I conclude that 3 or 4 such windows ar- 
 ranged in different parts of the boat, would 
 give sufficient light for any operation during 
 
 90
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 the day. Each window may be guarded by a 
 valve in such a manner that should the glass 
 break, the valve would immediately shut and 
 stop out the water. Finding that I had air 
 and light sufficient, and that I could plunge 
 and Rise perpendicular with facility, on the 
 7th Ther. I commenced the experiments on her 
 movements. At ten in the morning I raised her 
 anchor and hoisted her sails, which are a main 
 sail and Gib, the breeze being light I could not 
 at the utmost make more than about two-thirds 
 of a league per hour. I tacked and re-tacked, 
 tryed her before and by the wind, and in all 
 these operations found her to Answer the helm 
 and act like a common dull sailing boat. After 
 exercising thus about an hour, I lowered the 
 mast and Sails and commenced the operation 
 of Plunging. This required about two Min- 
 utes. I then placed two men at the engine 
 which gives the Rectilinear motion, and one at 
 the helm, while I governed the machine which 
 keeps her balanced two waters. With the 
 bathometer before me and with one hand, I 
 found I could keep her at any depth I thought 
 proper. The men then commenced their move- 
 ment and continued about 7 minutes when, 
 
 91
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 mounting to the surface, I found we had gained 
 400 metres. I again plunged, turned her 
 round under water and returned to near the 
 same Place. I again plunged and tried her 
 movements to the right and left, in all of which 
 the helm answered and the compass acted the 
 same as if on the surface of the water. Having 
 continued these experiments the 8, 9, 10 and 
 12th, until I became familiar with the move- 
 ments and confident in their operation, I turned 
 my thoughts to increasing or preserving the 
 Air. For this purpose the Cn. Queyton ad- 
 vised to precipitate the carbonic acid with lime, 
 or to take with me bottles of Oxygen which 
 might be uncorked as need required: but as 
 any considerable quantity of bottles would take 
 up too much room, and as Oxygen could not 
 be created at sea without a chemical operation 
 which would be very inconvenient, I adopted a 
 mode which occurred to me 18 months ago, 
 which is a simple globe or bomb of copper 
 capable of containing one cube foot to \^the 
 paper is here torn^ a pneumatic pump by 
 means of which pump 200 atmospheres or 200 
 cube feet of common air may be forced into 
 the Bomb, consequently the Bomb or reservoir 
 
 92
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 will contain as much oxygen or vital air as 200 
 cube feet of common respirable Air. Hence if 
 according to the Cn. Queyton's calculation 212 
 feet which is the volume of the boat, will nour- 
 ish 4 men and two small candles 3 hours, this 
 additional reservoir will give sufficient for 6 
 hours. This reservoir is constructed with a 
 measure and two cocks So as to let measures of 
 Air into the Boat as need may require. Pre- 
 vious to my leaving Paris I gave orders for this 
 machine but it did not arrive till the 18th of 
 Thermidor. On the 19th I ordered 2 men to 
 fill it, which was an operation of about one 
 hour. I then put It into the boat, and with my 
 three companions, but without candles, plunged 
 to the depth of about five feet. At the expira- 
 tion of one hour and 40 minutes I began to let 
 off measures of air from the reservoir and so 
 on from time to time for 4 hours 20 minutes, 
 without experiencing any inconvenience. Hav- 
 ing thus succeeded 
 
 To sail like a common boat. 
 
 To obtain air and light. 
 
 To plunge and Rise perpendicular. 
 
 To turn to the right and left at pleasure. 
 
 To steer by the compass under water. 
 
 93
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 To renew the Common Volume of air with 
 facihty. 
 
 And to augment the respirable air by a reser- 
 voir which may be obtained at all times. 
 
 I conceived every experiment of importance 
 to be proved in the most satisfactory manner. 
 Hence I quit the experiments on the Boat to 
 try those of the Bomb Submarine. It is this 
 Bomb which is the Engine of destruction, the 
 plunging boat is only for the purpose of con- 
 veying the Bomb to where it may be used to 
 advantage. They are constructed of Copper 
 and of different sizes to contain from 10 to 200 
 pounds of powder. Each bomb is arranged 
 with a Gun lock in such a manner that if it 
 strikes a vessel or the Vessel runs against it, 
 the explosion will take place and the bottom of 
 the vessel be blown in or so shattered as to ensure 
 her destruction. To prove this experiment, the 
 Prefect Maritime and Admiral Villaret ordered 
 a small Sloop of about 40 feet long to be an- 
 chored in the Road, on the 23rd of Thermidor. 
 With a bomb containing about 20 pounds of 
 powder I advanced to within about 200 Metres, 
 then taking my direction so as to pass near the 
 Sloop, I struck her with the bomb in my pass- 
 
 94
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 age. The explosion took place and the sloop 
 was torn into atoms, in fact, nothing was left 
 but the buye [buoy] and cable. And the con- 
 cussion was so great that a column of Water, 
 Smoke and fibres of the Sloop were cast from 
 80 to 100 feet in Air. This simple Experi- 
 ment at once proved the effect of the Bomb 
 Submarine to the satisfaction of all the Spec- 
 tators. Of this Experiment you will see Ad- 
 miral Villaret's description in a letter to the 
 Minister of Marine.^ 
 
 The demonstration of the destruction of 
 the sloop during the month of August, 
 1801, was attested by numerous specta- 
 tors, and public approval was not lacking. 
 The invention seemed of noteworthy im- 
 portance to the officials and marine com- 
 missioners. It was considered a success, 
 and established without doubt in the minds 
 of the multitude of spectators the facts 
 which Fulton had essayed to prove. Never- 
 
 ^ See Fulton's detailed experiments in Appendix, page 3-20. 
 
 « 95
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 theless, as time went on, the officials of 
 France withheld from Fulton a full 
 knowledge of their satisfaction: perhaps 
 they did not feel well disposed toward the 
 adoption of such destructive weapons; 
 possibly it was difficult to convince the 
 sailors, who would have to man the new 
 boats, that the project was one which 
 justified the apparent danger. Mr. C. 
 Harrison Suplee, Editor of "Cassier's 
 Magazine," in a recent article suggests 
 that it was upon a final requirement that 
 Fulton included in his terms, — although 
 it is not here noted in Forf ait's reply, — 
 that he and his men be officially recog- 
 nized, and might receive protection which 
 would be accorded to Frenchmen, should 
 they chance, in the fulfilment of their war- 
 ring enterprises, to fall into the hands of 
 the enemy. Fulton spent an unsuccessful 
 summer in reconnoitering the coast, and 
 96
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 apparently received no pecuniary reward 
 for his dangerous labor, as he failed to 
 overtake an English ship. 
 
 Fulton continued his experiments with 
 boats, upon and beneath the water, dur- 
 ing the remainder of his stay in France. 
 He openly demonstrated the principles of 
 his inventions, and vainly offered them to 
 the French Government. If Napoleon 
 had been favorable to them, the history 
 of Europe might have been changed. But 
 Napoleon's scientific counselors had pro- 
 nounced Fulton "a visionary" and his 
 invention "a mad scheme" and "simple 
 absurdity." 
 
 ALARM OF THE BRITISH MINISTRY 
 
 English statesmen were not unac- 
 quainted with the development of Fulton's 
 plans, and Lord Stanhope delivered to the 
 97
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 House of Lords a message of warning. 
 Barlow wTote to Fulton to acquaint him 
 of the discussion, which terminated in 
 September, 1803, in an invitation from the 
 British Government to the inventor to 
 display his torpedo contrivance. His note- 
 book contains this entry: 
 
 I agreed on certain conditions and Mr. Smith ^ 
 set off for London to give in my terms. I 
 then met him in Amsterdam in December with 
 the reply, which not being satisfactory, he re- 
 turned to London with other proposals and I 
 went on to Paris. 
 
 Fulton wrote a careful explanation of 
 his negotiations with the British Govern- 
 ment—a folio of many pages which is 
 now in possession of his heirs. He entitled 
 it "Submarine Navigation & Attack" and 
 outlined its purpose as follows: 
 
 ^ A name assumed by Dr. Gregory, of England, emissary 
 from the Government. 
 
 98
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 "Reasons why I directed my attention 
 to such inventions. 
 
 "Negotiations with the British Govern- 
 ment on this subject. 
 
 "Description of the Engines & several 
 modes of using them. 
 
 "Reasoning on the consequences of such 
 Inventions." 
 
 Like all of Fulton's writings it is minute 
 in detail, logical in construction and of 
 convincing argument. He stated that his 
 reason for the invention was "the possi- 
 bility of destroying all military Marines 
 and of giving liberty to the seas." He 
 showed that Henry IV of France and 
 the Abbe St. Pierre, with all their industry 
 and influence, had endeavored in vain to 
 form a congress which might decide on 
 grievances. Therefore he sought for effi- 
 cient means in the arts, where, after two 
 years of study and experiment, he became 
 99
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 convinced of the utility of his torpedo 
 project to accomplish the end of all war- 
 fare. 
 
 He outlined the plan to Lord Stanhope, 
 who sounded the alarm in the House of 
 Lords. In 1803 the Earl formed a com- 
 mittee to learn of Fulton's progress in the 
 invention, which reported to Lord Sid- 
 mouth, then Premier of Parliament. The 
 latter despatched a messenger^ to Fulton, 
 who was then in France, to invite him to 
 return to England to communicate his tor- 
 pedo plans to the British Government. 
 
 Fulton framed proposals, and upon 
 their ultimate acceptance was induced to 
 leave France. This he did on April 29, 
 1804, and reached London on the 19th of 
 May. Lord Sidmouth had retired from 
 office and Mr. Pitt was in power. When 
 he viewed Fulton's sketch of an engine of 
 
 ^Dr. Gregory, alias "Mr. Smith." 
 
 100
 
 AND THE 'CLERMONT'* 
 
 simple construction, easy application and 
 powerful effect, the Prime Minister ob- 
 served that if introduced into practice it 
 would lead to the annihilation of all mili- 
 tary marines. 
 
 It was agreed that His Majesty's Dock 
 Yard and Arsenals were to furnish neces- 
 sary means to give efficacy to Fulton's 
 plans, and a contract signed by Mr. Pitt 
 and Lord Melville was drawn between the 
 inventor and the British Government. 
 
 By the terms of this bond, Fulton was 
 to receive as an equivalent for his proposed 
 mode of Submarine warfare a salary of 
 two hundred pounds a month and one half 
 the value of all vessels which might be 
 destroyed by the new engine within four- 
 teen years, the duration of the patent. It 
 was further agreed that in case the Min- 
 isters decided not to prosecute the plans, 
 yet it should appear that by means of them 
 101
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 the enemy's ships might be destroyed with 
 greater ease than by any other mode of 
 practice, the inventor should receive 
 £40,000. 
 
 Under these conditions Fulton entered 
 upon the work which detained him in Eng- 
 land for two years of test, explanation, 
 and entreaty. Lord Melville retired from 
 office, and the death of Pitt and sub- 
 sequent change of the Ministry gradu- 
 ally extinguished Fulton's hope of success. 
 Finally in the autumn of 1806 the Govern- 
 ment declined to adopt the invention, but 
 fearing its power if turned against Eng- 
 land, made overtures to Fulton to suppress 
 the new mode of warfare. These offers 
 Fulton summarily declined: and con- 
 cluded his reply with these words: 
 
 "At all events, whatever may be your 
 reward, I will never consent to let these 
 inventions lie dormant should my Country 
 102

 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 at any time have need of them. Were you 
 to grant me an annuity of £20,000 a year, 
 I would sacrifice all to the safety & inde- 
 pendence of my Country. But I hope 
 that England and America will under- 
 stand their mutual Interest too well to 
 War with each other And I have no desire 
 to Introduce my Engines into practice 
 for the benefit of any other Nation." 
 
 In the following words, he reminded 
 the British Ministry of his intent to return 
 to America: 
 
 "As I am bound in honor to Mr. Liv- 
 ingston to put my steamboat in practice 
 and such engine is of more immediate use 
 to my Country than Submarine Naviga- 
 tion, I wish to devote some years to it and 
 should the British Government allow me 
 an annuity I should not only do justice to 
 my friends but it would enable me to carry 
 my steamboat and other plans into effect 
 105
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 for the good of my Country.— It has 
 never been my intention to hide these In- 
 ventions from the world on any considera- 
 tion, on the contrary it has been my 
 intention to make them public as soon as 
 consistent with strict justice to all with 
 whom I am concerned. For myself I have 
 ever considered the interest of Amer- 
 ica [n] free commerce, the interest of man- 
 kind, the magnitude of the object in view 
 and the rational reputation connected with 
 it superior to all calculations of a pecu- 
 niary kind." 
 
 The terms of settlement, which were 
 agreed by arbitration, are defined in Ful- 
 ton's letter to Joel Barlow quoted later. 
 He joyously accepted the release whereby 
 he could take up the "several projects of 
 sublimity" in his own country, and re- 
 turned to his native land, from which he 
 had been absent for twenty years. 
 106
 
 PART III 
 
 THE TRIAL BOAT ON THE 
 SEINE
 
 THE evolution of navigation was al- 
 most as gradual as the evolution of 
 man. To deny the preliminary stages in 
 either case would be equally futile. From 
 the moment when primitive eyes witnessed 
 the voyage of a sun-warped leaf upon a 
 pool, the object-lessons of boating were 
 discernible. Soon the hollow log became 
 the prototype of the jfirst canoe; later in- 
 telligence built larger craft, with skins of 
 slain beasts upheld to catch the propelling 
 winds; after centuries of progress, per- 
 fected sailing ships moved from conti- 
 nental shore to shore. A study of history 
 will reveal in the art of navigation, as in 
 every other science, the clearly formu- 
 lated ideas of successive progress. 
 109
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 In the year 1807 it remained for Robert 
 Fulton to arrive, after years of study and 
 numberless tests, at the definite know- 
 ledge of proper proportions, and to build 
 the steamboat which successfully navi- 
 gated and proved its utility upon the pic- 
 turesque waters of the Hudson River. 
 This happy combination of undaunted 
 perseverance and achievement upon a scene 
 of unrivaled beauty, with a group of his- 
 toric witnesses, and Fulton's subsequent 
 developments in the art of steam naviga- 
 tion, combine to make the occasion worthy 
 of national honor at the close of a century. 
 
 It should be observed that the civilized 
 world awaited the invention. In several 
 countries inceptive attempts to solve the 
 problem were manifest, and these are per- 
 manently recorded in history. In Amer- 
 ica John Fitch, William Henry, James 
 Rumsey, and Edward West had experi- 
 110
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 merited with varying degrees of success; 
 in Scotland, as early as 1781, Symington 
 and Bell had tried an experiment upon 
 the waters of the Forth and Clyde Canal, 
 and in the same year, in France, the 
 Abbe Arnal propounded his theories. 
 In 1795, as already stated, Earl Stanhope 
 of England experimented with a web-foot 
 paddle; in 1801, Hunter and Dickinson, 
 his countrymen, attempted a trip upon the 
 River Thames with a boat which proved 
 a failure. Robert R. Livingston, who 
 later was associated with Fulton as part- 
 ner in the enterprise of the Clennont, had 
 tried his hand at the venture, as had also 
 Nicholas J. Roosevelt, who subsequently 
 (1809) was employed by Livingston and 
 Fulton to study the possibilities of navi- 
 gation by steam upon the Mississippi and 
 other important Western rivers. To this 
 already long, though incomplete, list of 
 111
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 sometime claimants for the honorable title 
 of inventor may be added tlie names of 
 William Longstreet, Samuel Morey, and 
 John Stevens. Truly with Robert Fulton 
 the "psychological moment" of demon- 
 stration had arrived. 
 
 But earlier than any of these essays to- 
 ward the new art should be noted an ex- 
 perimenter, John Allen, M.D., who in 
 1730 mentioned a method of propelling a 
 vessel by steam. He was a scientific Eng- 
 lishman whose fondness for experiment 
 led him to publish a paper entitled "Navi- 
 gation in a Calm." The advance of 
 the becalmed sailing ship could be ef- 
 fected, he averred, "by the propulsion of 
 water through an aperture in the stern of 
 the vessel by pumps actuated by the labor 
 of many men"; and he further suggested 
 that "a fire-engine [evidently Newco- 
 men's atmospheric steam-engine, patented 
 112 
 
 A
 
 RoIJHKT I-TLTON 
 
 From the pencil drawing by John \'anderlyn. Hxccutcd by \'andcrlyn at Joel Barlo^i 
 house in Paris,.5o rue Vaugirard, where I-ulton was living 1797-1804. 
 Owned by Judge Peter T. Uarlow.
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 1705] with its furniture should be put on 
 board a 70-gun ship having on board a 
 'Pneumatick engine' above described, with 
 two 7 foot cylinders and their pistons, — 
 the force, being equivalent to the labor of 
 ninety or one hundred men, would drive a 
 ship of twelve or fourteen tons at the rate 
 of three knots an hour."^ 
 
 These experiments are all links in an 
 interesting chain which successively led to 
 the perfecting of the first steamboat built 
 by Robert Fulton. 
 
 It is important to emphasize the fact 
 that Fulton himself was fully cognizant 
 of those earlier attempts ; indeed, he would 
 have deprecated the inference that he had 
 not duly profited by the prior experiments 
 of other scientists. His generous mind 
 sought for comradeship in the solution of 
 the important problem. In his hitherto 
 
 1 Eliot Hodgkin (F. S. A) in " Rariora." 
 
 ^ 115
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 unpublished "Notes for an Argument on 
 Steam Boats, Should Argument Become 
 Necessary" (in the possession of the estate 
 of his daughter, Cornelia Livingston 
 Crary), he distinctly states: 
 
 It is now about thirty years since experi- 
 ments commenced in Europe and America, with a 
 view to move boats or vessels to advantage by 
 the power of steam engines. All of which failed 
 of any useful result. As a proof of this, there 
 were nowhere, either in Europe or America, any 
 kind of steamboat in actual operation when 
 Messrs. Livingston and Fulton commenced their 
 experiments upon the Seine near Paris in the 
 year 1802. And the repeated failure of men of 
 science, among whom were the ingenious Earl 
 of Stanhope, gave an impression to the public 
 mind both in Europe and America, that it was 
 impracticable to make a useful steamboat, and 
 under this belief those who attempted it were 
 considered as visionaries or mad men. In this 
 state of things Mr. Livingston, while in Paris 
 in 1802, persuaded Mr. Fulton to make the at- 
 tempt, and he, fortunately for our country, has 
 
 116
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 succeeded. America therefore claims the honor 
 of this important invention which may justly 
 be considered an epoch in the useful arts, to 
 the incalculable advantage of these young and 
 rising states.^ 
 
 A legal form of agreement was drawn 
 by the two men, and signed at Paris, Octo- 
 ber 10, 1802. It runs as follows: 
 
 THE FULTON-LIVINGSTON PARTNERSHIpa 
 
 Memorandum of an Agreement entered into 
 this tenth day of October in the Year One 
 Thousand Eight hundred and two, between 
 Robert R. Livingston Esq., of the State of 
 New York, and Robert Fulton of the State of 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 Whereas the said Livingston and Fulton have 
 for several years past separately tried various 
 mechanical Combinations for the purpose of 
 propelling boats and vessels by the power of 
 
 ^ For Chancellor Livingston's account of the partnership, 
 see Appendix, page 326. 
 
 ^The original document is now in the possession of John 
 Henry Livingston, Esq., of Clermont, by whose permission 
 it is here first reproduced. 
 
 117
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Steam Engines, and conceiving that their ex- 
 periments have demonstrated the possibiHty of 
 success, they hereby agree to make an attempt 
 to carry their invention into useful operation. 
 And for that purpose enter into partnership on 
 the following conditions : 
 
 First: That a passage boat moved by the 
 power of a Steam Engine shall be constructed 
 at New York, for the purpose of navigating 
 between New York and Albany, which boat 
 shall not exceed 120 feet in length, 8 feet in 
 width nor draw more than 15 inches water; 
 that such boat shall be calculated on the experi- 
 ments already made, with the view to run 8 
 miles an hour in stagnate water and carry at 
 least 60 passengers allowing 200 pounds weight 
 to each passenger. 
 
 Second: That a patent shall be taken in the 
 United States of America in the name of said 
 Fulton for a new mechanical combination of 
 a boat to navigate by the power of a Steam 
 Engine for which Patent the said Fulton shall 
 deposit every necessary drawing, model, and 
 specification, and when such patent is obtained, 
 the property thereof shall be divided into One 
 hundred shares, fifty of which shares shall be 
 transferred to the said Livingston as his prop- 
 
 118
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 erty, and fifty shares shall be held by the said 
 Fulton as his property, and all emoluments 
 arising from said Patent in America, or from 
 any extension of said Patent, or for any Patent 
 premium or privilege in any other Country 
 shall be equally divided, one half to the said 
 Livingston, and one half to the said Fulton. 
 
 Third: That for the purpose of proving the 
 utility of this invention by a fair experiment, 
 the said Fulton agrees to go immediately to 
 England, and there construct a boat and engine 
 as near the dimensions and powers of the Steam 
 Boat mentioned in Article the First as the 
 Engine he may find will admit, which boat being 
 for the purpose of experiment, it is presumed 
 that a steam engine may be borrowed for that 
 purpose ; it is also estimated that if the experi- 
 ment should not succeed, the loss on the dif- 
 ferent parts of the machinery together with the 
 expenses of the said Fulton will amount to 
 Five Hundred Pounds sterling, which sum the 
 said Livingston agrees to furnish at any time 
 or times which the said Fulton may think 
 proper to draw for the same. And the said 
 Fulton binds himself to pay to the said Liv- 
 ingston, one half of the expense which such 
 experiment may cost, within two years from the 
 
 119
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 abandoning said enterprise, with interest for 
 the same at seven per cent per annum. But 
 should the experiment succeed to the satisfac- 
 tion of the here contracting parties, the first 
 object shall be to obtain a Patent in America 
 and establish a passage boat to run to and 
 from New York and Albany which work the 
 said Fulton agrees to superintend, during 
 which time his reasonable expenses shall be es- 
 timated as part of the general expenses of the 
 establishment. 
 
 Fourth: And when such boat shall be in com- 
 plete activity and the principle of navigating 
 by Steam fully established, each of the here con- 
 tracting parties may dispose of any number of 
 their shares, not exceeding forty shares, that 
 they may think proper ; but the purchasers of 
 shares, or share holders shall have no voice or 
 command in conducting the business of the con- 
 cern ; but the number of boats, offices and agents 
 shall be augmented or diminished as may be 
 thought proper by the said Livingston and 
 Fulton, nevertheless all augmentations and ex- 
 penses shall be made out of the profits of the 
 undertaking and not by a demand for advances 
 on the part of shareholders, and the surplus 
 
 120
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 profits shall be divided twice a year in propor- 
 tion to the shares, for which purpose the share 
 holders or their agents shall be at liberty to 
 examine the books during the first week of May 
 and the first week of October in each year : 
 
 Fifth: And Whereas the duration of a Patent 
 in the United States of America is for fourteen 
 years, this partnership is made for fourteen 
 years, or for any greater period to which the 
 privilege in any of the American States can be 
 extended, But at any period over fourteen 
 years at xchich the Patent expires in America, 
 the partnership shall cease also, And the whole 
 stock of boats, warehouses or other property 
 shall be considered the property of the share 
 holders, who as a Company of proprietors will 
 make such regulations as they think proper 
 to govern their affairs, each share being a voice 
 in such arrangement : 
 
 Sixth: And it is further agreed that in case 
 of the death of the said Livingston or Fulton 
 within fourteen years, or before the termination 
 of the period specified for the duration of the 
 partnership, each heir or assign who holds at 
 least twenty shares shall be considered as an 
 active partner, with full power to act in place 
 
 121
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 of the deceased, but as this arrangement may 
 introduce two partners, Should two partners 
 be introduced, the surviving primitive partner 
 shall be considered equal to two voices, what- 
 ever may be the number of shares which he at 
 such time may possess : 
 
 Seventh: And it is hereby agreed that the 
 said Livingston may withdraw from this enter- 
 prise at any period he thinks proper, after the 
 Five Hundred Pounds before mentioned shall 
 be expended in the first experiment, but until 
 he signifies to the said Fulton in writing, his 
 determination to decline any further pursuit of 
 the experiment he shall be considered as a part- 
 ner in the undertaking. 
 
 {Signed) \ 
 
 RoBKRT R. Livingston (LS) 
 Robert Fulton. (LS) 
 
 Witnessed by 
 {Signed) Robert L. Livingston. 
 
 The same terms were accepted in the 
 letter written, in 1814, by the chancellor's 
 heirs, wherein they affirm that "they will 
 122
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 always be ready and willing to comply 
 with the Articles of Agreement entered 
 into and executed by you [Robert Ful- 
 ton] and the Honble. Robert R. Living- 
 ston." The chancellor left no son, and the 
 paper is signed, "Robert L. Livingston 
 and Edward P. Livingston." 
 
 A complete description of Fulton's trial 
 boat on the Seine is contained in an inter- 
 esting paper in present possession of the 
 Hon. Peter Barlow, of New York, who 
 inherited the family papers of his famous 
 kinsman, Joel Barlow, former minister to 
 France. The paper was prepared for Bar- 
 low's signature by Fulton himself, in the 
 year 1811. When rival companies threat- 
 ened to invade the patent rights of Fulton 
 and Livingston, Fulton writes to Barlow: 
 
 I want your deposition as follows : 
 
 Joel Barlow of the City of Washington, dis- 
 trict of Columbia, being duly sworn on the Holy 
 
 123
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and 
 saith: That in the year of our Lord, 1802, 
 Robert Fulton at that time residing in said 
 Barlow's house in Paris, did commence experi- 
 ments with a view to discover the principles on 
 which boats or vessels should be propelled 
 through the water by the power of Steam en- 
 gines, — that having made various experiments 
 on a model about 4 feet long and 12 inches 
 wide, which was worked by two Strong clock 
 springs to ascertain the best mode of taking the 
 purchase, whether by paddles, skulls, endless 
 chains, or water wheels, he about Christmass 
 1802 gave the preference to a wheel on each 
 side of the model, — and in the spring of 1803, 
 in partnership with Robert R. Livingston, our 
 then resident minister in France, did build a 
 boat 70 French feet long, 8 French feet wide, 
 3 French feet deep, in which he placed a Steam 
 engine of about 8 horses power, which was 
 hired of Mr. Perrier for the experiment on this 
 large scale, with the engine in the boat and one 
 water wheel of about 12 feet diameter on each 
 side of the boat, the power from the engine 
 being communicated to the wheels by mechan- 
 ical combinations which I do not recollect. In 
 
 124
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 July 1803 an experiment was made by the said 
 Robert Fulton on the River Seine between the 
 Pont Revolution and the Barrier de Chaleot 
 [^ic] in presence of a great number of people, 
 and particularly Messrs. Volney, Carnot, 
 Bossu and Proney, who were members of the 
 National Institute appointed to examine the 
 machinery. The speed of said boat on Still 
 water was three miles and a quarter an hour, 
 and on this velocity and the power of the engine 
 I recollect that the said Robert Fulton, formed 
 tables of resistances, powers and proportions, 
 which he then shewed me and which he said 
 should govern the construction of steamboats 
 designed to run from 2 to 51/) or 6 miles an 
 hour. I well recollect having mentioned to 
 him that previous to the experiment on the large 
 boat he had estimated a boat to be driven 16 
 or 24 miles an hour by the power of steam and 
 his answer was that by the experiments he 
 found so much power was lost in taking the 
 purchase on the water that he was of opinion 
 5 or 5^2 to 6 miles an hour in still water was 
 as much as a boat could be propelled by any 
 steam engine now known. In April 1804 the 
 said Robert Fulton left my house for London : 
 
 125
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 while in England he purchased an engine of 
 Messrs. Boulton and Watt which was shipped 
 for New York while I was in London, and which 
 as he has informed me is in the first boat that he 
 built on Hudson's River, and which as he says 
 drove the boat with the velocity which he had 
 previously calculated it had the power of 
 doing. 
 
 During my residence in Paris from the year 
 [date not given] to 1804, I never heard of any 
 other experiments on the Seine, to move boats 
 by steam except the one made by the said R. 
 Fulton. Previous to the year [ ] there 
 
 was a project by Mr. Rumsey & one by fitch to 
 establish steamboats on the Seine, but they were 
 only projects which were never executed. A 
 Frenchman of the name of Le Blanc, as I have 
 been informed, made in 1803 some experiments 
 on the Rhoan to navigate boats by steam which 
 failed. 
 
 This document, in Fulton's own pen- 
 manship, is particularly important because 
 it outlines his two experiments and gives 
 some details never before known — first, 
 that the engine for the experimental boat 
 126
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 on the Seine was hired from M. Perrier, 
 who in 1774 built a vessel, and made an 
 unsuccessful trial with steam-power on the 
 Seine. He was probably the same man to 
 whom Barlow refers in a letter, dated 
 1802, where he suggests that Fulton can 
 try "relative velocities in Perrier's pond on 
 the hill." In the same letter Barlow says: 
 
 If your mind is satisfied perhaps it is not 
 worth while, as Livingston seems to be satisfied 
 with this part of the business. . . . He talked 
 of forming a company etc. I wish that Parker 
 or I had the money instead of him, tho' his in- 
 fluence in the State of New York would be 
 energetic. 
 
 Other important facts set down in Bar- 
 low's deposition are Fulton's doubt about 
 a possible attainment of speed, after his 
 jfirst disappointment, and the exact dimen- 
 sions of the trial boat on the Seine. 
 
 In 1802, Fulton viewed the patent of 
 M. Des Blanc, to which he refers in the 
 127
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 foregoing statement, and described his un- 
 satisfactory impressions in his note-book, 
 hitherto unpubhshed and now in posses- 
 sion of the estate of Corneha Livingston 
 Crary. He concluded, after he had in- 
 scribed a series of drawings and descrip- 
 tive text, that two thirds of the steam- 
 power which the Frenchman sought to 
 apply to propulsion would be lost.^ 
 
 Fulton also dismissed the possibility of 
 Rumsey's device, and all others which had 
 preceded his own. His biographer, Col- 
 den, writes that Rumsey had seen the fail- 
 ure of Fitch's enterprise, but Fulton 
 "after a variety of calculations came to an 
 opinion that this [Rumsey's] was the 
 worst of all the methods which had been 
 proposed."^ 
 
 ^ See Appendix, page 328. 
 
 2 Fitch drew water in through the bow, and forced it out 
 through the stern. His boat, the prototype of Rumsey's, 
 was ridiculed — his shareholders withdrew, one by one, from 
 
 128
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 As early as 1793, in a letter to Earl 
 Stanhope, previously mentioned, Fulton 
 defined his project to invent a new process 
 of steam navigation. This highly impor- 
 tant letter, never before published, is here 
 presented through the personal courtesy 
 of the present Earl of Stanhope, owner of 
 the Fulton- Stanhope correspondence; two 
 drawings are included, from Fulton's 
 originals. 
 
 My Lord: 
 
 I extremely regret not having received your 
 Lordship's letter in time to have the pleasure 
 of an interview at Exeter as a Mechanical con- 
 versation with your Lordship would have been 
 infinitely interesting to a young man. To atone 
 for such loss and conform with your Lordship's 
 
 the Company, and Fitch in disappointment laid aside his 
 boat in 1792. Rumsey's idea of propulsion was by means 
 of a water pump, worked by a steam engine, which forced 
 water through a channel from the bow and out at the stern, 
 beneath the rudder. The impetus of the water, as it was 
 forced through a square pipe, acted as an impelling power. 
 
 129
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 wish I have made some slight drawings descrip- 
 tive of my Ideas on the Subject of the steam- 
 ship which I submit with diffidence to your 
 Lordship. In June '93 I begun the experiments 
 on the steam ship : my first design was to imi- 
 tate the spring in the tail of a Salmon, — for 
 this purpose I supposed a large bow to be 
 wound up by the steam engine and the collected 
 force attached to the end of a paddle as in No. 
 1 to be let off which would urge the Vessel for- 
 ward. This model I have had made of which 
 No. 1 is the exact representation and I found 
 it to spring forward in proportion to the 
 strength of the bow, About 20 yards, but by the 
 return of the paddle the continuity of the 
 motion would be stoped. I then endeavoured 
 to give it a circular motion which I effected 
 by applying two paddles on an axis : then the 
 boat moved by jerks. There was too great a 
 space between the strokes ; I then applied three 
 paddles forming an equilateral triangle to which 
 I gave a circular motion by winding up the bow. 
 I then found it to move in a gradual and even 
 motion 100 yards with the same bow which be- 
 fore drove it but 20 yards. 
 
 No. 2 is the figure of my present model, on 
 
 130
 
 FULTON'S FIRST PLAN FOR STEAM NANIGATION 
 
 Made in 1793,* fourteen years before the launching of the Clermont, Now first published. 
 
 These drawings were sent by Fulton to the Right Honorable the Earl of Stanhope in 
 
 November. 1793. This reproduction is from a copy in water-color sent to the 
 
 author by the present earl. (See Fulton's letter, pages 129-134)
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 which there are two equilateral triangles, one 
 on each side of the boat acting on the same 
 shaft which crosses the Boat or Ship and turns 
 with the triangles. This, ray Lord, is the line 
 of experiment which led me to the triangular 
 paddles which at first sight will convey the Idea 
 of a wheel or perpendicular oars which are no 
 longer in the water than they are doing execu- 
 tion. I have found by repeated experiment 
 that three or six answer better than any other 
 number as they do not counteract each other. 
 By being hung a little above the water it allows 
 a short space from the delivery of one to the 
 entrance of the other, it likewise enters the 
 water more on a perpendicular as the dotted 
 lines will shew its situation when it enters and 
 when it is covered the circular dots exhibit its 
 passage through the water. Your Lordship 
 will please to observe in the small wheel with a 
 number of paddles A. B. C. and D. strike almost 
 flat in the water and rise in the same situation 
 whilst E. is the only one that pulls, the others 
 act against it which renders the purchase fruit- 
 less ; while E. is urging the Ship forwards B. A. 
 is pressing her into the water and C. D. is pull- 
 ing her out, but remove all the paddles except 
 
 * 133
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 E and she moves on in a direct line. The per- 
 pendicular triangular Paddles are supposed to 
 be placed in a cast Iron wheel which should 
 ever hang above the water, it will answer as 
 a fly and brace to the perpendicular oars. This 
 boat I have repeatedly let go and ever found 
 her to move in a steady direction in proportion 
 to the original purchase. With regard to the 
 formation of ships moved by steam I have been 
 of opinion that they should be long, narrow 
 and flat at bottom, with a broad keel as a flat 
 Vessel will not occupy so much space in the 
 water ; it consequently has not so much resis- 
 tance. A letter containing your Lordship's 
 opinion of this mode of gaining a purchase on 
 the water and directed for me at the postoffice, 
 Exeter, will much oblige your Lordship's most 
 
 obedient and 
 
 Very humble servant, 
 
 RoBprnx Fulton. 
 
 Torquay, November 4th, 
 1793. 
 
 The Right Honorable 
 
 The Earl of Stanhope. 
 
 134
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 The foregoing letter provides valuable 
 historical proof of Fulton's early thought 
 upon the problem which, fourteen years 
 later, he carried to perfection, and of his 
 individual conception of the theory of 
 steam navigation; for he proposes an 
 original method, unlike those preliminary 
 experiments which he subsequently noted 
 as inadequate. It is therefore evident that 
 Fulton did not stumble by mere chance 
 upon his formula of success. Numerous 
 experiments preceded his ultimate discov- 
 ery of proper proportions, which he tabu- 
 lated in his "Tables of Resistance," the 
 formula mentioned in Barlow's deposition. 
 
 One manuscript in possession of the 
 Rev. Robert Fulton Crary, D.D., Ful- 
 ton's grandson, to whom it was presented 
 by his friend Philip Hamilton, Esq., son 
 of Alexander Hamilton, describes with 
 painstaking accuracy, in Fulton's own 
 135
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 writing, no fewer than six experiments in 
 which Fulton tested his discovery with 
 varying degrees of success. The paper 
 is dated "Paris, the 19 Nevose, Anno 
 II. January the 9th, 1803 [^ic]," and is 
 entitled "Experiments on the model of a 
 boat to be moved by a steam engine." 
 
 A boat 3 feet long and 8 inches wide 
 served as model. It was propelled by two 
 strong clock springs, and Fulton made a 
 comparative table to denote gradations 
 in power, and the progressive distance 
 gained in each test. He concluded that 
 "large paddles would be unwieldy and in- 
 convenient, hence for the large experi- 
 ment it will be best to commence with 
 paddles which present about twice the sur- 
 face of the boat's bow reduced to flat re- 
 sistance. . . . The power of the steam 
 engine is 1500 pounds running two miles 
 an hour, or equal to 3000 lb. running 1 
 136
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 mile an hour. Thus the 3000 pounds 
 ought to draw her 12 miles an hour." 
 
 It will be noted that at this point Ful- 
 ton felt himself master of the situation, 
 and that, throughout all his manoeuvers, 
 he contemplated the introduction of his 
 patent in his native land is indisputably 
 shown by many references. A sketch of a 
 steamboat with two side paddles was 
 made on June 5, 1802, while Fulton at 
 Plombieres was experimenting with his 
 submarine contrivances for the French 
 government. It is entitled, "The Steam- 
 boat from New York to Albany in 12 
 hours," and is in the estate of Fulton's 
 daughter, Cornelia Livingston Crary. As 
 a preface to the detailed experiments which 
 follow, Fulton asserted: 
 
 Propelling a boat through water is the act 
 of separating two bodies — the boat from its 
 oars or paddles, or whatever else is applied — 
 
 137
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 and this is governed by laws reducible to simple 
 calculations. 
 
 A number of pictured tests demonstrate 
 his mode of application. Then he includes 
 a description of the trial trip at Plom- 
 bieres : 
 
 The model being arranged a small rivulet 
 was stopped so as to form a stagnant pond 66 
 feet long, 9 or 10 feet wide and from 3 to 2 
 feet deep at the upper end ; thus prepared and 
 with a good watch which beat the seconds, the 
 experiments were commenced. 
 
 Five detailed demonstrations follow, 
 and Fulton says: 
 
 As there is much space in this boat I will 
 add to her velocity by making her go 12 miles 
 an liour instead of 8 — the additional weight of 
 this engine will be about 3 tons making in total 
 21 tons, having 23 tons for passengers equal 
 to 230 at 200 lbs for each this boat would make 
 the voyage [from New York to Albany] in 14 
 
 138
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 hours instead of 20 as there would be 6 hours 
 saved in time it would merit a dollar extraor- 
 dinary in the price. The expense of such a 
 boat in coals and men would not be 25 dollars a 
 day. Suppose then that the commerce between 
 New York and Albany can give to such a boat 
 150 passengers per day at 3 dollars each, the 
 amount would be 450 dollars. Hence it seems 
 advisible to go quick, carry cheap, and thus 
 avoid the competition of boats with sails or 
 carriages. 
 
 These hitherto unpublished words con- 
 tain the first recorded prophecy of the 
 great Hudson River Day Line. 
 
 Fulton's foresight extended farther 
 even in that day of unrealized possibilities. 
 His next record is a "Note on running 16 
 miles an hour." This speed cannot be ac- 
 complished in small boats, he decides : 
 
 For great speed requires great power and a 
 large and heavy engine. But suppose a boat 
 12 feet wide and 200 feet long, drawing one 
 
 139
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 foot of water. She would displace 2000 cube 
 feet or 68 tons to drive such a boat 16 miles 
 an hour will require 9216 lbs purchase. . . . 
 Suppose 200 (passengers) at 3 dollars each or 
 600 dollars — Such a boat would make the voy- 
 age in 10 or 12 hours. In which time the 
 Engine would not burn more than 3 tons of 
 coals worth perhaps 15 dollars, expense of men 
 perhaps 5 dollars, total 20. To go 16 miles 
 the chains must run 24< miles or 36 feet a sec- 
 ond. The engine makes 3 — the multiple then is 
 12 to one. Here it is worthy of observation 
 that as the boat and engine increases in size, the 
 expense in proportion to their passengers is 
 diminished in the first and small boat which 
 carries only 50 persons their expense is 10 dol- 
 lars. This is twenty cents each and the time 
 20 hours. 
 
 Second boat — 230 persons — the Voyage 14 
 hours — the expense 25 dollars — this is about 
 
 11 cents per person. 
 
 In the third boat which goes the Voyage in 
 
 12 hours and carries 380 persons, the expense, 
 say 30 dollars, or 8 cents per person. The 
 reason of this is the difference in the squares 
 of the boats. A boat 6 feet wide and 90 feet 
 
 140
 
 l^/i/n^^i-'U'f^--'^ (ct'i-''^ fc7/2-£tt^/c^!*^ 
 
 
 ^ ^--ec*!-'^'^. 
 
 f'^/e^utM^'^S'^J.c^ /S0£ 
 
 ^LJtX-cI^'^ 
 
 
 l-UI. TON'S I-IkST PRUPHIXV Ol- STEAM NA\ir.AT10N ON TH1-: HIIJSON 
 
 This sheet is the title-paye of tlic inventor's note-hook of liis experiments. It is in the possession of the 
 est..ie"f I- niton's (l,ui^;hier. Cornelia Livingston Crary, and has never before been published.
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 long is only 14 tons whereas a boat 12 feet wide 
 only twice the resistance of the first, will carry 
 near 5 times the burden or 68 tons and instead 
 of 50 will carry 380 persons which is 7 times 
 the number and this enables one to add to the 
 power and velocity of the engine yet carry 
 cheaper than in the first case. 
 
 Rob"^. Fulton. 
 
 It should be observed that these proph- 
 ecies antedated the experiment which 
 Fulton made, at a joint expense with 
 Livingston, on the Seine in 1803.^ Their 
 trial boat was seventy feet long, eight 
 feet wide, and of light draft. The hull 
 proved too weak to bear the weight of the 
 machinery, and the boat snapped in two 
 and deposited the engine in the river-bed. 
 The enterprise, because of this strange 
 mishap, was viewed with public disfavor, 
 
 ^A receipt, signed by Fulton on 17 Ventose, An 11, 
 shows that he had received from the Chancellor in nine 
 payments, a total of 11,000 francs — the Chancellor's half- 
 share of the expense. — In " The Livingstons of Callendar."'' 
 
 143
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 and probably influenced the adverse de- 
 cision of Napoleon's savants, who con- 
 demned its utility. 
 
 The preceding January, 1803, Fulton 
 had formally offered his steamboat to the 
 consideration of a Government commis- 
 sion, and the First Consul appointed three 
 members of the Institute to study its mer- 
 its. Fulton's original letter, in French, is 
 on file in the Conservatoire des Arts et 
 Metiers in Paris, together with his accom- 
 panying drawing.^ 
 
 The unfortunate accident which post- 
 poned the official trial trip from the 
 early spring of 1803 to midsummer, 
 brought to Fulton, according to his own 
 confession, a despondency which he never 
 felt on any other occasion of his life. 
 After a restless night, he was precipitately 
 visited by a messenger, who exclaimed : 
 
 ^ See Appendix, page 333. 
 
 144
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 "Oh, sir, the boat has broken in pieces 
 and gone to the bottom!'* 
 
 This disturbing news was literally true. 
 Fulton rushed to the spot, and labored for 
 twenty-four consecutive hours, without 
 rest or refreshment, to raise the boat to 
 the surface. The machinery was compar- 
 atively uninjured, but the boat was so 
 wrecked that it had to be virtually rebuilt. 
 The imprudent exposure and the labors 
 incident to the struggle for the recovery of 
 the invention produced a permanent con- 
 stitutional weakness of the lungs which 
 resulted in Fulton's subsequent delicacy to 
 the close of his life. The vivid description 
 of the accident which Colden, Fulton's 
 biographer, has given, is corroborated 
 by Dr. Edward Everett Hale in his 
 "Memories of a Hundred Years" through 
 an interview with Edward Church, an 
 American, who was with Fulton in 
 145
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 France, and an eye-witness of the event. 
 These records amply refute a rumor, cur- 
 rent through Paris at the time, that Ful- 
 ton himself had purposely sunk the boat 
 because chagrined and disappointed by the 
 continued inactivity and lack of apprecia- 
 tion of the Napoleonic commission. 
 
 The reconstruction of the boat occupied 
 several months, and not until July was it 
 again in readiness for the official demon- 
 stration. Joel Barlow and Robert Fulton 
 had a friend, Fulner Skipwith by name, 
 who, during the preceding year of 1802, 
 had written to Fulton asking the details of 
 patent laws in France. Fulton wrote his 
 reply from Paris, which is given in the 
 Appendix. 
 
 When the postponed trial trip was 
 
 about to take place, Fulton wrote again to 
 
 Mr. Skipwith, with whom his friendship 
 
 had increased. Mr. Skipwith had been 
 
 146
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 married in Paris, while Fulton was experi- 
 menting upon the French coast, and in 
 1802 his first child was born. Fulton's 
 merry letter of invitation should be read 
 in the light of this recent happy experi- 
 ence to be fully understood:^ 
 
 Paris, the 5th Thermidor, Anno 11 
 (24 July, 1803) 
 Mr. Skipwith, 
 
 Mi/ dear friend. You have experienced all the 
 anxiety of a fond father, on a child's coming 
 into the world. So have I. The little cherub, 
 now plump as a partridge, advances to the per- 
 fection of her nature and each day presents 
 some new charm. I wish mine may do the same. 
 Some weeks hence, when you will be sitting in 
 one corner of the room and Mrs. Skipwith in 
 the other, learning the little creature to walk, 
 the first unsteady step will scarcely balance the 
 tottering frame ; but you will have the pleasing 
 perspective of seeing it grow to a steady walk 
 and then to dancing. I wish mine may do the 
 
 1 Original in possession of C. H. Hart, of Philadelphia. 
 
 147
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 same. My boy, who is all bones and corners, 
 just like his daddy and whose birth has given 
 me much uneasiness, or rather, anxiety, — is just 
 learning to walk, and I hope in time he will be 
 an active runner. I therefore have the honour 
 to invite you and the ladies to see his first move- 
 ments on Monday next from 6 till 9 in the eve- 
 ning between the Barriere des Bons Hommes 
 and the steam engine. May our children, my 
 friend, be an honour to their country and a 
 comfort to the gray hairs of their doting 
 
 parents. 
 
 Yours 
 
 R. Fulton. 
 
 The trial of the boat followed, and was 
 accounted a success, although the desired 
 speed was not attained. 
 
 A contemporaneous account published 
 in the "Recueil Polytechnique des Fonts 
 et Chaussees": Paris, 1803, was reprinted 
 in "Cassier's Magazine," and may well 
 be accorded prominence, as the best ac- 
 count to be obtained : 
 148
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 On the 21st Thermidor^ a trial was made of 
 a new invention of which the complete and bril- 
 liant success should have important conse- 
 quences for the commerce and internal naviga- 
 tion of France. During the past two or three 
 months there has been seen at the end of 
 quay Chaillot, a boat of curious appearance, 
 equipped with two large wheels, mounted on an 
 axle like a chariot, while behind these wheels 
 was a kind of large stove with a pipe, as if there 
 were some kind of a small fire engine (pompe a 
 feu) intended to operate the wheels of the boat. 
 Several weeks ago some evil-minded persons 
 threw this structure down. The builder, hav- 
 ing repaired this damage, received, the day be- 
 fore yesterday, a most flattering reward for 
 his labour and talent. 
 
 At six o'clock in the evening, aided by only 
 three persons, he put his boat in motion with 
 two other boats attached behind it, and for an 
 hour and a half he produced the curious spec- 
 tacle of a boat moved by wheels, like a chariot, 
 these wheels being provided with paddles or 
 flat plates, and being moved by a fire-engine. 
 
 In following it along the quay, the speed 
 1 August 9, 1803. 
 
 149
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 against the current of the Seine appeared to us 
 about that of a rapid pedestrian, that is, about 
 2,400 toises ^ an hour ; while in going down- 
 stream it was more rapid. It ascended and de- 
 scended four times from Les Bons-Hommes as 
 far as the pump of Chaillot ; it was manoeuvered 
 with facihty, turning to the right and left, came 
 to anchor, started again, and passed by the 
 swimming school. 
 
 One of the boats took to the quay a number 
 of savants and representatives of the Institute, 
 among whom were Citizens Bossut, Carnot, 
 Prony, Perrier, Volney, etc. Doubtless they 
 will make a report which will give to this dis- 
 covery all the eclat which it merits ; for this 
 mechanism, applied to our rivers, the Seine, 
 the Loire, and the Rhone, will have most ad- 
 vantageous consequences upon our internal 
 navigation. The tows or barges which now re- 
 quire four months to come from Nantes to 
 Paris, would arrive promptly in ten to fifteen 
 days. The author of this brilliant invention is 
 M. Fulton, an American and a celebrated me- 
 chanic. 
 
 ^The toise was an old French measurement =6. 395 Eng- 
 lish feet. 
 
 150
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 In this first success, Fulton was mindful 
 of the needs and opportunities for steam 
 navigation in America. To this end he 
 wrote, during the same month, August, 
 1803, to Boulton & Watt of England to 
 order a steam-engine for a boat to be 
 launched in America:^ 
 
 Paris, 6th August, 1803. 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 If there is not a law which prohibits the ex- 
 portation of steam engines to the United States 
 of America, or if you can get a permit to ex- 
 port parts of an engine, will you be so good 
 as to make me a cylinder of 24 horse power 
 double effect, the piston making a four foot 
 stroke; also the piston and piston rod. 
 
 The valves and movements for opening and 
 shutting them. 
 
 The air pump piston and rod. 
 
 ^The letter, now in possession of George Tangj'e, Esq., 
 of Birmingham, England, was recently appended to the 
 presidential address of Mr. John Ward at the Session of the 
 Institution of Engineers and Ship-Builders in Scotland. 
 
 9 151
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 The condenser with its communications to 
 the cylinder and air-pump. . . . etc. 
 
 Tlie other parts can be made in New York, 
 and as it will save the expense of transport, 
 and they require a particular arrangement 
 which must be done while I am present, I prefer 
 to have them done there. Therefore if it is 
 permitted to export the above parts you will 
 confer on me a great obligation by favoring 
 me with them, and placing me the next on your 
 list. . . . 
 
 When finished please to pack them in such 
 a manner as not to receive injury, and send them 
 to the nearest port, which I suppose is Liver- 
 pool, to be shipped to New York to the address 
 of Brockhurst Livingston, Esq. The amount 
 of the expenses will be placed to your order 
 in the hands of George William Erving, Amer- 
 ican Consul, Nicholas Lane, Lombard Street, 
 No. 10, London. The situation for which this 
 engine is designed, and the machinery which is 
 to be combined with it, will not admit of placing 
 the condenser under the cylinder as usual, but 
 I hope the communicating tube to the condenser 
 will not render the condensation less perfect 
 or injure the making of the engine. 
 
 152
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Should you find a difficulty in getting a permit 
 to export the parts above mentioned, I hope 
 to be able to obtain it through our Minister, 
 Mr. Monroe. And as there is some difficulty 
 in passing letters to and from Paris and Bir- 
 mingham, which may lose much time, you will be 
 so good as to furnish me the above parts as 
 soon as possible without waiting to hear fur- 
 ther from me. 
 
 Please to write as soon as possible under 
 cover to Mr. Erving as before mentioned. In 
 which I beg you to answer the following ques- 
 tions : 
 
 What must be the size of the boiler for such 
 an engine.'' 
 
 How much space for the water and how much 
 for the steam.'' What is the most improved 
 method of making the boiler and economic mode 
 of setting it.^* How many pounds of coal will 
 such an engine require per hour, and what is 
 the expense at Birmingham ? 
 
 Can you inform me what is the difference in 
 heating with coals or wood, as in most cases 
 wood must be used in America; and must not 
 the furnace be made different when wood is to 
 be used.f* 
 
 153
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 What will be the consequences of condensing 
 with water salt, as in places where the engine 
 is to work the water is brackish? 
 
 What will be the interior and exterior diame- 
 ter of the cylinder and its length, and what 
 will be the velocity of the piston per second? 
 This information will enable me to combine the 
 other parts of the machinery. 
 
 When can the engine be finished, and how 
 much will be the expense? Your favoring me 
 with the execution of this order, and answering 
 the above questions will much oblige 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 Robert Fulton. 
 Rue Vaugirard, No. 50 Paris. 
 
 Can the position and arrangement of the 
 cylinder condenser and air-pump be adhered 
 to as in the drawing, without injuring the work- 
 ing of the engine? 
 
 This is the first authentic order of the 
 engine for the Clermont, but it was not 
 the last, for the opposition which Fulton 
 154
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 expected in gaining permission of trans- 
 port was duly encountered. Boulton & 
 Watt declined the order on October 4, 
 1803, as they had been unable to obtain 
 permission to forward the engine to 
 America. The following month, Fulton's 
 hope revived, and he wrote, as he had 
 planned, to the Honorable James Monroe, 
 who was at that time American minister 
 at the Court of St. James. The letter is 
 preserved at the Lenox Library, New 
 York. 
 
 Amsterdam, November 3rd, 1803. 
 
 His Excellency James Monroe: 
 
 Sir: You have perhaps heard of the suc- 
 cess of my experiment for navigating boats by 
 Steam Engines ; and you will feel the impor- 
 tance of establishing such boats on the Missis- 
 sippi and other rivers of the United States as 
 soon as possible. With this view I have written 
 to Messrs. Boulton & Watt of Birmingham, to 
 forward me a steam engine to America. They 
 
 155
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 answer that they cannot export the engine with- 
 out the permission of Government, I therefore 
 beg of you to apply to Government for permis- 
 sion for you to ship a Steam Engine of a 24) 
 horse power to New York. It will be well to 
 ask this permission for yourself without men- 
 tioning my name, as I have reason to believe 
 Government will not be much disposed to favour 
 any wish of mine.^ Messrs. Boulton has a 
 House of Agency [in] London Street in the 
 City, who will inform you what office to apply 
 to. And Mr. Huntingdon, a young gentleman 
 who left this [place] some days ago will call 
 on you, or may be heard of at Mr. Erving's 
 [American Consul] will go to the offices with 
 your request and transact the business for me, 
 but perhaps your best and shortest mode will 
 be to apply direct to Lord Hawksbury. Your 
 desire to see useful arts introduced or created 
 in our country is the strongest reason for your 
 urging the permission and accepting no refusal ; 
 — the fact is I cannot establish the Boat with- 
 out the engine. The question is then, — shall 
 
 1 The British ministry were watchinff Fulton's ofFer to 
 the French Government of the submarine vessel Nautilus 
 (see page 79). 
 
 156
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 we or shall we not have such boats? Please to 
 write me under cover to Mr. Livingston as soon 
 as possible the result of your application. . . . 
 
 ROBEET FuiiTON. 
 
 P. S. For greater safety I take the liberty to 
 inclose in your letter one for Boulton & Watt, 
 which you will be so good as to order into the 
 Post Office, and when you obtain the permission 
 send it directly to them. I should apologize 
 for this trouble, but that I have no hope of 
 success but through your goodness. 
 
 The letter to Boulton & Watt was in- 
 closed, but bears no mark of post. Per- 
 haps Mr. Monroe decided that America 
 did not want such boats, perhaps he hesi- 
 tated to interfere in a matter where per- 
 mission had already been refused to a 
 young enthusiast. The letter to the en- 
 gine-builders (which is in the Lenox Li- 
 brary) briefly reiterated the former order. 
 
 There is a strange pathos in the inex- 
 157
 
 ROBERT FULTON. 
 
 plicable delays which postponed the im- 
 portant invention. Presumably Fulton 
 had no reply from Mr. Monroe, for he 
 wrote to him again, from Paris, Novem- 
 ber 17 [1803], renewing his request. He 
 says in part : 
 
 I wrote you on the 3rd inst from Amsterdam, 
 and two letters afterwards from Rotterdam on 
 a subject which a good conveyance gives me an 
 opportunity to repeat. Having succeeded in 
 my experiment for navigating boats by steam, I 
 wrote to Messrs Boulton, Watt & Company of 
 Birmingham to forward me a steam engine to 
 America. They write me in answer they can- 
 not export the engine without the permission 
 of Government, etc. 
 
 No action followed, and Fulton, who 
 had returned to FiUgland in May, 1804, 
 made a personal attempt to gain the gov- 
 ernmental permission of export. At the 
 same time he was busy urging his torpedo 
 158
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 project upon the British ministry; he 
 tarried in London and spent his days in 
 eager anticipation of the great decision. 
 Barlow and his wife were en route to 
 America after their long sojourn in 
 France, where Fulton had for seven years 
 shared their home. Fulton wrote for their 
 passport through London, and took this, 
 and every opportunity, to get the engine 
 for the first steamboat in America : ^ 
 
 London, Story Gate Coffee House, 
 the 30th of May, 180 4. 
 
 Mr. Hammond will have the goodness to 
 obtain from Government permission that Mr 
 & Mrs Barlow may pass through London on 
 their way to America, to which they purpose 
 to sail in August, the object is to consult the 
 London physicians on Mr. Barlow's health. 
 
 1 His letter, which is in possession of the estate of Cornelia 
 Livingston Crary, Robert Fulton's daughter, has never 
 before been published. 
 
 159
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Whatever reasons Government might have to 
 be displeased with Mr. Barlow, I am convinced 
 that they will find no umbrage in his present 
 sentiments and tranquil disposition. His late 
 writings to prove the happy effects of British, 
 in preference to French, colonization by ex- 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION ON FACING PAGE 
 
 Below the title is printed the following: "Robert Fulton, 
 Inventor of Steam Navigation, exhibiting his plans to Na- 
 poleon Bonaparte, 'Great Man,' says Fulton, 'if you will 
 give me your support to put these plans into execution, you 
 can have the largest and most powerful Navy in the World.* 
 This invention, however, appeared so extraordinary to Na- 
 poleon at the time that he could not conceive it practicable; 
 yet, from the forcible impression it made upon his mind, he 
 deemed it expedient to lay the particulars before the Acad- 
 emy of Sciences in Paris for their serious consideration. 
 The following was the reply of the Academy of Sciences to 
 Napoleon, ' Sire, we have effectively found a motive power 
 in steam, but of a nature comparatively so feeble that a 
 child's toy could hardly be put in motion by it.' Such was 
 the reply of these sapient Academicians. Nor was it again 
 until Napoleon beheld from St. Helena a steamship that he 
 remembered the words of Fulton, and perceived how grossly 
 the Academy of Sciences had been mistaken." 
 
 The above indicates that the lithograj)h (made in Phila- 
 delphia) was executed after the death of Napoleon in 18-21. 
 Fulton died four months before the battle of Waterloo. 
 This picture, from the only copy known, is owned by Mrs. 
 Hermann H. Cammann. 
 
 160
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 tending the arts, civilization and liberal ideas, 
 are worthy your admiration. 
 
 I also beg permission to ship one of Mr. 
 Watt's Steam engines to New York for the pur- 
 pose of carrying into effect an experiment in 
 which I have fortunately succeeded, — that of 
 navigating boats against currents of not more 
 than 4 miles an hour, hence calculated for most 
 of our rivers. Your Government must be sensi- 
 ble that every improvement which may tend to 
 augment the produce of industry in America, 
 creates the means of paying for British manu- 
 factures, increases the demand and adds to the 
 wealth of England. The time will come when 
 America alone will take more of your manufac- 
 tures than you now diffuse over the whole globe, 
 and is to give you a perspective of immense 
 wealth, which it is your interest to nourish. 
 
 I hope Government will see nothing impudent 
 in these two requests. I shall esteem it a favor 
 if they are granted. 
 
 The letter to Mr. Erving, American 
 Consul, is also on record. It was indorsed 
 163
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 by Mr. Barlow, who aided Fulton at 
 every turn. In February of 1804 he 
 traveled to Birmingham to personally or- 
 der the engine, and in January, 1805, 
 made a payment of £548, English money, 
 for it. But not until March was the ac- 
 tual permission granted, when Fulton 
 paid his treasury fee, £2, 14, 6, on receiv- 
 ing permission to ship the engine to 
 America. 
 
 There is no doubt that Fulton contem- 
 plated an early return to America, when 
 he left France in 1804, but he was de- 
 tained by the negotiations with the British 
 Government which repeatedlj'^ buoyed him 
 to expect an acceptance of his torpedo 
 project. Four days after his arrival in 
 England he wrote to Thomas Jefferson, 
 then President of the United States, as 
 follows : 
 
 164
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 London, May the 23rd, 1804.1 
 His Excellency Thomas Jefferson : 
 
 Sir: On arriving in England I find I shall be 
 detained some weeks longer than I first calcu- 
 lated. I therefore forward your letters com- 
 mitted to my care in Paris. I am, Sir, with 
 profound respect, 
 
 Your most obedient, 
 
 Robert Fulton. 
 
 Successive disappointments ensued. 
 Fulton, in touch with the English states- 
 men of the day, continued as a neutral 
 observer to study international conditions. 
 Determined to return to America as soon 
 as possible to establish his project of steam 
 navigation, he was equally determined, if 
 persuasion and demonstration would make 
 it possible, to interest and engage the 
 British navy in his torpedo proposition. 
 
 1 From JeiFerson Papers, Series 6, Vol. IX, No. 211. 
 Library of Congress. 
 
 165
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 I^etters to many contemporary men of 
 state show that the chief impulse of his 
 mind was to establish his plan for univer- 
 sal peace. 
 
 Finally, in 1806, the British ministry 
 rejected his project of the submarine tor- 
 pedo. Fulton immediately set about to 
 arrange his affairs for the return to Amer- 
 ica. He wrote to Mr. Parker, a friend, 
 during September, 1806: 
 
 My dear Parker, 
 
 On the 29th I sail for New York. Some 
 time ago I begged of you to purchase any kind 
 of American funds with the 1927£ in your 
 hands, and to forward them to Gen'l Mason to 
 be transferred into my name. You will have 
 the goodness to do this as soon as possible, as 
 I and my friend [Barlow] will need all our 
 means to settle down comfortable. Believe me, 
 my dear friend, how sincerely I love and esteem 
 you and how much it would add to the pleasure 
 
 166
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 of our Athenian Garden in America, to have 
 you living on the margin of it. 
 
 Truly 
 
 R. F. 
 
 Fulton's perplexities with the British 
 ministry, great as they proved, were not 
 the only affairs which engrossed his mind 
 and delayed his return to America. Evi- 
 dence is given in a letter from Joel Bar- 
 low, who has been termed "an adopted 
 father" in devotion to Fulton, that Fulton 
 then contemplated marriage with an Eng- 
 lish widow of large fortune. The letter, 
 intimate and confidential, is a perfect ex- 
 ample on Barlow's part of loyal friend- 
 ship and affectionate counsel. It has never 
 before been published, and extracts which 
 seem to be of public interest are here 
 given : 
 
 167
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Washington 3, March 1806. 
 My very dear and excellent friend 
 
 I write 3'ou with a heavy heart. Your letter 
 of the 12th January came upon us hke a ship- 
 wreck. We sec in it at least the wreck of our 
 most brilliant projects of domestic happiness, 
 if not of public usefulness. . . . We can say 
 nothing to your proposal except that you ought 
 by all means to pursue your own ideas of your 
 own happiness, well weighed and well consid- 
 ered. On this last clause I must offer a word, 
 tho' it may probably come too late to be of any 
 use, if indeed advice in such cases can in its 
 nature, be of use. My friendship is unlimited 
 and unabated, and I have no reason to doubt 
 of the variety of excellence you find in the per- 
 son you describe. But her education, habits, 
 feelings, character and cast of mind are Eng- 
 lish and London. And what is perhaps more 
 unfortunate for you, she has a fortune. These 
 things render it extremely improbable that she 
 can be happy in this country. I should think 
 it equally impossible that you can be very 
 happy in that country. Your mind is Amer- 
 ican, your services arc wanted here. Your 
 
 168
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 patriotism, your philanthropy, your ideas of 
 public improvement, your wishes to be a com- 
 fort to me and my wife in our declining years 
 (if we should unluckily have many of them) 
 would tend to make you uneasy at such a dis- 
 tance from the theatre of so much good. . . . 
 
 Oh, my estimable friend, my younger self, my 
 expansion and prolongation of existence ! You 
 cannot conceive the pain it gives me to com- 
 municate these ideas. I was contemplating the 
 pleasure I should have, among the other things, 
 in getting forward and finishing the fine Scien- 
 tific Poem of the Canal, of which you were to 
 write the Geological and I the historical and 
 mythological notes, — of which you were to fur- 
 nish the philosophy and I the poetry, — you the 
 ideas, and I the versification, — all of which we 
 could only do together. Is the mighty fabric 
 vanished? It seems forever gone. You have 
 a more substantial happiness in view, at least, 
 you think so, and who shall say the contrary. 
 I cannot in friendship and conscience, advise 
 you to give it up. 
 
 As to fortune ; I would rather take you with 
 only what you now have, than with the largest 
 in the world. Great expenses are great vexa- 
 
 10 169
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 tions. My taste is so decided for simplicity 
 and moderation, that it would spoil me, what- 
 ever it did you, to be the slave of a splendid 
 income. I hope the Fox Administration [then 
 in consideration of Fulton's Torpedo Project] 
 will settle with you liberally and let you off. 
 And in your case, I would not demand a great 
 sum, neither would I have it by way of annuity. 
 But this affair must depend on your taste, and 
 is perhaps an improper subject of advice. 
 
 My heart is so full of these subjects that I 
 cannot write upon any other by this occasion 
 which is probably by the April packet from 
 New York. 
 
 Adieu, my excellent friend. 
 
 [JoEi. Barlow.]^ 
 
 It is not known how far the attachment 
 had progressed. We only know that Ful- 
 ton, unmarried, returned to America six 
 months later and immediately engaged in 
 great activity toward the development of 
 his two inventions. 
 
 ^ Letter in possession of Judjfc Peter T. Barlow. 
 
 170
 
 JOIil, BARLOW 
 
 Kxccutcd at the same time as the portrait o( I-iilton. Owiiuil by liidyc I'cler T. Barlow. 
 
 I'rom the pencil drawing by Juhii \'aiidcrlyii
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 In September, 1806, Fulton had writ- 
 ten to Mr. Barlow, who was then enjoy- 
 ing the delights of his new country-place 
 "Kalorama," near Washington, to which 
 Fulton had previously alluded as "the 
 Athenian Garden in America": 
 
 My arbitration [with the British ministry] 
 is finished, and I have been allowed the £10,000 
 which I had received, with £5000 salary, total 
 £15,000, though £1600 which I have received 
 on settling accounts will just square all old 
 debts and expenses in London and leave me 
 about £200. My situation now is, my hands 
 are free to burn, sink, and destroy whom I 
 please, and I shall now seriously set about giv- 
 ing liberty to the seas by publishing my system 
 of attack. I have, or will have, when Mr. 
 Parker sends my two thousand pounds, 500 
 sterling a year, with a steam engine and pic- 
 tures worth two thousand pounds. Therefore 
 I am not in a state to be pitied. I am now busy 
 winding up everything and will leave London 
 about the 23rd inst. for Falmouth, from whence 
 
 171
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 I shall sail in the packet the first week in Octo- 
 ber, and be with you, I hope, in November, per- 
 haps about the 14th, my birthday, so you must 
 have a roast goose ready. Do not write me 
 again after receiving this. The packet, being 
 well manned and provided, will be more commo- 
 dious and safe for an autumn passage, and I 
 think that there will be little or no risk, yet 
 accidents may happen, and that the produce of 
 my studies and experience may not be lost to 
 my country, I have made out a complete set of 
 drawings and descriptions of my whole system 
 of submarine attack, and another set of draw- 
 ings with description of the steamboat. These, 
 with my will, I shall put in a tin cylinder, 
 sealed, and leave them in the care of General 
 L^'man, not to be opened unless I am lost. 
 Should such an event happen, I have left you 
 the means to publish these works, with engrav- 
 ings, in a handsome manner, and to which you 
 will add your own ideas — showing how the 
 liberty of the seas may be gained by such 
 means, and, with such liberty, the immense ad- 
 vantages to America and civilization : you will 
 also show the necessity of perfecting and estab- 
 lishing the steamboat and canals on the inclined 
 
 172 
 
 1
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 plane principle, I have sent, j'ou three hundred 
 complete sets of prints for the "Columbiad" 
 by the Orb, directed to Mr. Tolman, New York, 
 value £30. As the transport by land to Phila- 
 delphia will not be much, I have sent them by 
 this opportunity, that they may arrive before 
 the law for prohibiting such things is in force, 
 and that the shipment and risk may not ap- 
 proach too near to winter. All my pictures, 
 prints, and other things I mean to leave here, 
 to be shipped in spring vessels, about April 
 next, when the risk will be inconsiderable. How 
 shall we manage this winter, as you must be in 
 Philadelphia for the printing, and I want to be 
 at New York to build my boat.^* I am in excel- 
 lent health, never better, and good spirits. 
 You know I cannot exist without a project or 
 projects, and I have two or three of the first 
 order of sublimity. As all your prints are 
 soldered up I do not see how I can leave the 
 number you desire with Phillips, [the London 
 publisher] but as I leave the plates with Mr. 
 West the necessary number can be struck off 
 when the sheets arrive. We will talk of this 
 in America. Mr. West has been retouching my 
 pictures : they are charming. 
 
 173
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Fulton, upon his arrival in America, 
 speedily joined Barlow in Kalorama, this 
 delightful retreat which was termed the 
 "Holland House of America"; Charles 
 Burr Todd, Barlow's biographer, states 
 that "Fulton lent his genius to the task of 
 embellishing the house and grounds, there 
 being in one of his letters of the period a 
 drawing for a summer-house which he in- 
 tends 'for the grounds of our mansion,' " 
 as he called it. It is said that Fulton con- 
 structed a model of the Clermont at Kalo- 
 rama and tested its powers on the waters 
 of Rock Creek. Be that as it may, we 
 know that he contrived to gain inspiration 
 from the bonds of closest affection with 
 Barlow, who was a man of rare liberality 
 of mind. 
 
 Fulton's characteristic optimism was 
 again speedily illustrated. With a sublime 
 disregard for the fact that his torpedo 
 174
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 project had been dismissed by two impor- 
 tant governments, France and England, 
 he iramediately offered to America his 
 plan for this destructive machine, designed 
 to provide a weapon sufficiently strong, in 
 the hands of a righteous nation, to main- 
 tain universal peace. 
 
 His offer was favorably considered by 
 President Jefferson, and in the presence 
 of Naval experts, Fulton publicly demon- 
 strated its power by blowing up a brig in 
 the harbor of New York, July 20, 1807, 
 less than a month before the successful 
 voyage of the Clermont. Subsequently 
 (1814) Fulton was authorized by Con- 
 gress to build the first steam war vessel of 
 the world, the Demologus, also known as 
 Fulton the First. 
 
 Truly could Robert Fulton say that he 
 had "two or three projects of the first 
 order of sublimity." His area of useful- 
 175
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 ness was as wide as the world; his theory 
 of peace included all nations; and with 
 true American spirit he illustrated,— by 
 his advocacy and improvement of Canal 
 Navigation, and by his inventions of the 
 Submarine Torpedo and the Steamboat, — 
 his great original motto, "The Liberty of 
 the Seas will be the Happiness of the 
 Earth." 
 
 176
 
 PART IV 
 THE "CLERMONT'
 
 AN adequate recital of Robert Fulton's 
 -^x. achievements has never been written, 
 nor can it be until some fellow-craftsman, 
 having access to Fulton's papers, sets 
 forth the technical progress of his inven- 
 tive power, which successively produced a 
 machine for cutting marble, a machine for 
 spinning flax, the double inclined plane 
 for canal navigation, a machine for twist- 
 ing rope, an earth-scoop for canal and ir- 
 rigation purposes, a cable-cutter, the first 
 French panorama, the submarine torpedo 
 boat, and several minor canal improve- 
 ments, — all predecessors of his greatest 
 invention, the steamboat. 
 
 When to this creditable list is added a 
 179
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 record of his numerous paintings^ and 
 miniatures, and his far-sighted writings, 
 "A Treatise on Canal Navigation," "Tor- 
 pedo Warfare," his "Essay to the Friends 
 of Mankind," and his "Submarine Navi- 
 gation," and another essay entitled 
 "Thoughts on Free Trade," a cause for 
 which he was an ardent advocate, and 
 when it is remembered that he died at the 
 age of fifty, there comes a sense of wonder 
 that so short a working span could yield 
 products so manj-^ and so diverse. 
 
 Washington Irving, in the zenith of his 
 fame, was asked by members of Fulton's 
 family to write a biography of the in- 
 ventor. After a tentative endeavor Mr. 
 Irving gave up the undertaking. In 1878 
 a subsequent biographer, J. F. Reigart, 
 in a hitherto unjiublished letter to Fulton's 
 grandson, the late Robert Fulton Blight, 
 
 ^ See Appendix, pages 354-356. 
 
 180
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 recorded Irving as having said that "Ful- 
 ton's works were ah'eady immortal monu- 
 ments upon the waters of the globe, and 
 ornamented every city and public road 
 of the land. He could not possibly pro- 
 cure correct drawings or illustrations of 
 Fulton's mechanical inventions, and if he 
 did, he had not the ability to specify or 
 describe them; and to write a grand 
 eulogy or literary essay would not be a 
 correct biography of the greatest of in- 
 ventors." 
 
 A similar deterrent prevented his 
 daughter from accomplishing a like desire. 
 Cadwallader Colden, who wrote a life of 
 Fulton, stated that the inventor had in- 
 tended to. write an autobiography but was 
 too occupied with scientific work. It has 
 remained, therefore, at the close of a 
 century, for his great-granddaughter, al- 
 though less qualified than her predeces- 
 181
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 sors, to take up the delayed work of 
 transcribing his family papers and to ful- 
 fil Barlow's prophecy made in 1800 that 
 he "would take care that it [Fulton's 
 patience] shall not be forgotten by the 
 writer of your life, who I hope is not born 
 yet." 
 
 Upon his arrival in America from Eng- 
 land in December, 180G, after a voyage of 
 two months from Falmouth, Fulton im- 
 mediately devoted himself to his several 
 projects. The winter was passed in the 
 construction of the American boat, which 
 he called the Clermont in gracious recog- 
 nition of the hospitality which he had 
 enjoyed at Chancellor Livingston's coun- 
 try-place of that name on the Hudson. 
 He engaged Charles Brownne, a ship- 
 builder of note, whose yards were at 
 Corlear's Hook on tlie East River, to con- 
 struct the hull. Already Fulton had ex- 
 182
 
 Cn.WCI I.T.OR ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON 
 
 From tlie painting by Gilbert Stuart, dated i795- Owned by John H. Livingston, " Clermont," 
 Tivoli. New York
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 pended a considerable sum of money 
 upon the project, for we find in his note- 
 book^ the following items: 
 
 February 5, 1804 
 
 Travelling from London to 
 Birmingham and back again to 
 order the steam engine . . . £8 — — 
 
 Jan. 21, 1805 
 
 To Messrs. Boulton Watt & 
 Co. for cylinder and parts of 
 the engine £548-0-0 
 
 March 18, 1805 
 
 To Messrs. Cave & Son, for 
 Copper Boiler weighing 4,399 
 lbs at 2s. 2d. the lb. ... £476 - 11 - 2 
 
 March, 1805 
 
 Fee at the Treasury on receiv- 
 ing permission to ship the En- 
 gine for America . . . . £2 — 14 — 6 
 
 ^ In possession of Robert Fulton Ludlow. 
 
 185
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 The entry relative to the copper for the 
 boiler refutes the legend, once current, 
 that the boiler of the Clermont was made 
 from copper pennies melted down. Early- 
 coins were worth their face value as metal, 
 and collectors suppose that the rarity of 
 certain issues of currency is due to the fact 
 that the easiest and least costly way to 
 procure copper, when the metal was 
 needed for useful devices, was to melt 
 coins. The story apparently arose from 
 the extreme rarity of copper cents of the 
 coinages of 1799-1804. 
 
 It has been asserted that the engine, 
 after its arrival from Birmingham, lay for 
 six months in charge of the New York 
 Custom House before Fulton could raise 
 the money to pay the duties, but the cause 
 of delay may have arisen from the fact 
 that the boat was not ready to receive the 
 machinery. Finally it was stored at a 
 180
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Mr. Barker's warehouse, for we find an 
 entry in Fulton's account book, on April 
 23, 1807, of £5 "to the carriage of the en- 
 gine from Mr. Barker's to the Boat." It 
 is not known at what date the engine ar- 
 rived in America, but it was in Mr. Bar- 
 ker's warehouse on South Street for several 
 months prior to its erection in the boat. 
 From the grandchildren of Mr. Barker's 
 daughter, Mrs. Hunt of New Orleans, it 
 is learned that Fulton invited Mr. Barker 
 to accompany him on the first trip of the 
 Clermont, and that Mr. Barker not only 
 enjoyed the novel sensation but secured 
 permission to take with him his little 
 daughter Sarah, who ever after remem- 
 bered her delight over the strange adven- 
 ture. It is said that she was so tiny that 
 she sat upon a plank stretched across the 
 stern of the boat. 
 
 11 187
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 "fulton's folly" 
 
 Prior to the completion of the Clermont, 
 a throng of idle-minded men congregated 
 in the vicinity, called it "Fulton's Folly" 
 and scoffed at its possibilities. The actual 
 safety of the invention was seriously 
 menaced by this lawless throng and by the 
 careless piloting of sloops in the slip. 
 After one threatened mishap, Fulton 
 found it necessary to guard the boat. On 
 June 7, he paid "$4.00 to the men for 
 guarding the boat two nights and a day 
 after the vessel ran against her," and six 
 days later "$20.00 Pay to the men who 
 guard the boat." 
 
 These are some of the other disburse- 
 ments copied from the inventor's note- 
 book: 
 
 April 23, 1807, To John Cunningham, 
 for planks for fly and 
 wheel spokes . . . $23.43 
 
 188
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 May the 7, To Mr. Jackson for sheet 
 
 iron for the chimney . . $26.25 
 
 May 15, To Mr. Brownne .... 400.00 
 
 June 3, To Mr. Maxwell, for work 
 
 done to Boiler 200.00 
 
 June 8, To a wooden pump, Thomas 
 
 Smith 7.71 
 
 June 16, To plank for the bottom of 
 
 the boat 15.00 
 
 June 18, To Mr. Martin, Brass Founder 50.00 
 
 Pair of Sweeps 4.00 
 
 To Peter Coruth, for iron 
 braces for the boiler . . . 22.00 
 
 June 8, Chaldron of Coal .... 100.00 
 
 June 26, To Mr. Brownne, for work- 
 men's wages 30.00 
 
 Aug. 1, To a stone float in the boiler 1.75 
 
 Aug. 10, Mr. Cunningham, for hickory 
 
 plank 8.38 
 
 James Trie, final settlement 10,00 
 
 Other interesting expenditures for the 
 fittings of the Clermont follow : 
 
 Aug. 10, To a North River man for 
 
 the loan of an anchor . . 2.00 
 Iron monger's bill .... 10.60 
 
 189
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Dishes and plates .... $4;. 00 
 
 Aug. 12, Water Casks 3.00 
 
 Aug. 15, Wine, sugar, brandy . . . 3.00 
 
 Mr. Johnson, the Mason . . 40.00 
 Mr. Brownne, (the Ship 
 
 Builder) 50.00 
 
 FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES 
 
 Only a few weeks before the completion 
 of the boat the funds provided by Living- 
 ston and Fulton threatened to become 
 exhausted and they invited a third party 
 to join the enterprise but no one was 
 found who was sufficiently convinced of 
 the utility of the plan, and they remained 
 alone in the proprietorship. Fulton has 
 left a record of a previous attempt to ob- 
 tain cooperation. He says: "In 1806 
 Messrs. Livingston and Fulton offered to 
 take Mr. Stevens in as a partner. He re- 
 fused, asserting that Mr. Fulton's plan 
 190
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 could not succeed." This was Mr. John 
 Stevens, brother-in-law of Chancellor 
 Livingston, who afterward built the Phe- 
 nix^ a steamboat for the Delaware River. 
 
 At a special crisis when $1000 was im- 
 peratively needed Fulton spent an eve- 
 ning in a vain attempt to convince an 
 intimate friend of the practicability of his 
 invention. The next morning he repeated 
 his persuasions and the friend agreed to 
 advance one hundred dollars with the 
 proviso that Fulton should induce others 
 of his friends to subscribe the remaining 
 nine hundred. After great difficulty 
 the inventor succeeded in obtaining the 
 amount but only on the promise that the 
 names of the subscribers should be kept 
 secret, as they feared that their folly 
 would become a matter of public ridi- 
 cule. 
 
 Fulton's own description of the Cler- 
 191
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 mont is contained in a paper in possession 
 of one of his heirs : 
 
 FXJLTON S OWN DESCRIPTION OF THE 
 CLERMONT 
 
 "]My first steamboat on the Hudson's 
 River was 150 feet long, 13 feet wide, 
 drawing 2 ft. of water, bow and stern 60 
 degrees: she displaced 36.40 cubic feet, 
 equal 100 tons of water; her bow pre- 
 sented 26 ft. to the water, plus and minus 
 the resistance of 1 ft. running 4 miles an 
 hour." ' 
 
 ^ In the "Nautical Gazette" the editor, Mr. Samuel 
 Ward Stanton, gives the following additional details : 
 
 * ' The bottom of the boat was formed of jellow pine plank 
 1.5 in. thick, toiigucd and g'rooved, and set together with 
 white lead. This bottom or platform was laid in a trans- 
 verse platform and molded out with batten and nails. The 
 shape of the bottom being thus formed, the floors of oak 
 and spruce were placed across the bottom ; the spruce floors 
 being 4x8 inches and 2 feet apart. The oak floors were 
 reserved for the ends, and were both sided and molded 
 8 inches. Her top timbers (which were of spruce and ex- 
 
 192
 
 $ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ I ft v^ i 
 
 hi I^H^ 
 
 -; 
 
 '\imlx i 
 
 .^^ 
 
 
 +
 
 I
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Fulton did not take out a patent for his 
 steamboat until February, 1809, and his 
 second patent was secured October 2, 
 1810/ 
 
 COMMERCIAL SUCCESS OF THE CLERMONT 
 
 The commercial success which the Cler- 
 mont attained led, within a few months, to 
 the necessity of its enlargement and devel- 
 opment, and this reconstruction obscured 
 the knowledge of the initial plans for the 
 first American boat, which until recently 
 have been considered lost. A highly 
 important discovery of four folios of Ful- 
 ton's original drawings, at the New Jer- 
 sey Historical Society, presented about 
 thirty years ago by the late Solomon 
 
 tended from a log that formed the bridge to the deck) were 
 sided 6 inches and molded at heel, and both sided and 
 molded 4 inches at the head. She had no guards when 
 first built and was steered by a tiller. Her draft of water 
 was 28 inches." 
 
 ^See Appendix, pages 338, 339. 
 
 195
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Alossen, a Hollander, who had a fondness 
 for collecting historical data, has brought 
 to light two of Fulton's original drawings 
 of 1806, and his plans which shortly fol- 
 lowed, which are here reproduced for the 
 first time by permission of the New Jer- 
 sey Historical Society. 
 
 The six plans here published have been 
 submitted to Mr. Frank E. Kirby, the 
 well-known naval architect, who drew the 
 plans for the Hudson-Fulton Commis- 
 sion's facsimile of the Clermont, and also 
 designed the Hendrick Hudson, and 
 many other large vessels. Mr. Kirby has 
 identified these plans and given them the 
 titles used herewith. He says: "The dis- 
 covery of these plans of Robert Fulton's 
 is the most important addition to the 
 authentic history of early steam naviga- 
 tion." 
 
 Upon Sunday, the 9th of August, 
 196
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 1807, Fulton primarily tested the capa- 
 bilities of his new boat upon the East 
 River, — a fact not generally known. He 
 wrote an account of this experimental 
 trip in a letter to the Chancellor; the fol- 
 lowing important extracts are quoted 
 from "The Livingstons of Callendar," 
 privately printed by Clermont and E. 
 Brockholst Livingston: 
 
 "Yesterday about 12 o'clock I put the 
 steamboat in motion first with a paddle 8 
 inches broad 3 feet long, with which I ran 
 about one mile up the East River against 
 a tide of about one mile an hour, it being 
 nearly high water. I then anchored and 
 put on another paddle 8 inches wide 3 feet 
 long, started again and then, according 
 to my best observations, I went 3 miles an 
 hour, that is two against a tide of one: 
 another board of 8 inches was wanting, 
 which had not been prepared, I therefore 
 197
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 turned the boat and ran down with the 
 tide — and turned her round neatly into 
 the berth from which I parted. She an- 
 swers the helm equal to any thing that 
 ever was built, and I turned her twice 
 in three times her own length. Much 
 has been proved by this experiment. 
 First that she will, when in complete or- 
 der, run up to my full calculations. Sec- 
 ond, that my axles, I believe, will be 
 sufficiently strong to run the engine to her 
 full power. Third, that she steers well, 
 and can be turned with ease." And he 
 jubilantly continues, after giving some 
 further particulars concerning the work- 
 ing of the engine, and some contemplated 
 alterations to the paddles, "yesterday I 
 beat all the sloops that were endeavoring 
 to stem tide with the slight breeze which 
 they had; had I hoisted my sails I conse- 
 quently should have had all their means 
 added to my own. Whatever may be the 
 198
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 fate of steamboats for the Hudson, every- 
 thing is completely proved for the Mis- 
 sissippi, and the object is immense." In 
 this letter he also mentions that he expects 
 his contemplated "corrections, with the 
 finishing of the cabins, will take me the 
 whole week, and I shall start on Monday 
 next at 4 miles an hour."^ 
 
 There is an interesting chronological 
 coincidence in the hitherto unnoted fact 
 that Fulton had first tested his trial boat 
 upon the Seine on the ninth day of Au- 
 gust, 1803, exactly four years previous to 
 his preliminary test of the Clermont upon 
 the East River on the ninth day of 
 August, 1807. It is to be wondered 
 whether Fulton consciously kept this anni- 
 versary, or did history, with its strange 
 accuracy, again repeat itself ? 
 
 1 The above letter, Robert Fulton to Robert R. Livingston, 
 isdated New York, Monday the lOthof August, 1807. Origi- 
 nal letter in the possession of Clermont Livingston, Esq. 
 This letter bears the New York postmark of same date. 
 
 201
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 HISTORIC FIRST VOYAGE OF THE 
 CLERMONT 
 
 On August 17, 1807, the Clermont made 
 its memorable first voyage up the Hud- 
 son. At one o'clock the boat was loosed 
 from its moorings at a dock on the 
 North River near the State's Prison, 
 Greenwich Village. 
 
 Fulton's feelings at this crisis are set 
 down in a letter to an unknown friend, 
 quoted as part of a reminiscence by the 
 lat6 .Judge Story in Sanders' early " His- 
 tory of Schenectady," and secured by 
 Mrs. Robert Fulton Blight from alleged 
 original. 
 
 My dear sir: 
 
 The moincnt arrived in whicli the word was to 
 be given for the boat to move. My friends 
 were in groups on the deck. There was anxiety 
 mixed witli fear among them. They were 
 silent, sad and weary. I read in their looks 
 202
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 nothing but disaster, and almost repented of 
 my efforts. The signal was given and the boat 
 moved on a short distance and then stopped and 
 became immovable. To the silence of the pre- 
 ceding moment, now succeeded murmurs of 
 discontent, and agitations, and whispers and 
 shrugs. I could hear distinctly repeated — "I 
 told you it was so ; it is a foolish scheme : I 
 wish we were well out of it." 
 
 I elevated myself upon a platform and ad- 
 dressed the assembly. I stated that I knew not 
 what was the matter, but if they would be quiet 
 and indulge me for half an hour, I would either 
 go on or abandon the voyage for that time. 
 This short respite was conceded without objec- 
 tion. I went below and examined the ma- 
 chinery, and discovered that the cause was a 
 slight maladjustment of some of the work. In 
 a short time it was obviated. The boat was 
 again put in motion. She continued to move 
 on. All were still incredulous. None seemed 
 willing to trust the evidence of their own senses. 
 We left the fair city of New York; we passed 
 through the romantic and ever-varying scenery 
 of the Highlands ; we descried the clustering 
 houses of Albany; we reached its shores, — and 
 
 203
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 then, even tlien, when all seemed achieved, I was 
 the victim of disappointment. 
 
 Imagination superseded the influence of fact. 
 It was then doubted if it could be done again, 
 or if done, it was doubted if it could be made 
 of any great value. Yours, 
 
 R. Fulton. 
 
 The Clermont was an odd craft. The 
 machinery, placed in the center, was ex- 
 posed to view and creaked ominously. Only 
 the bow and stern were covered to form 
 the cabins. The unprotected paddle-wheels 
 swung ponderously at each side and 
 splashed the water as they revolved. 
 There were two masts, but no bowsprit, 
 as sometimes pictured. The compass was 
 rather rude but answered the purpose 
 well, though the man at the tiller in the 
 stern had difficulty in defining the course. 
 
 After the first voyage Fulton recog- 
 nized the misplacement of the tiller and 
 204
 
 ^J^' 
 
 at 
 
 I-ULTON'S IMKSTAND 
 In possession of Alice Crary Sutcliffe 
 
 COMPASS rsi-.l) i)Y HII.iiT ACKIK 1 1\ THl'. i I IKMO.WT 
 Ju possessiiin of Mr. Rc^hen 1-ultoii Ludlow
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 proposed an adjustment of guiding ropes 
 from each side of the tiller to a forward 
 wheel near the mainmast, and this altera- 
 tion was made before the vessel passed 
 into commercial service. There was no 
 steam whistle, and upon the arrival of the 
 boat at a wharf a horn was blown, and 
 some of the crew set to work to carry 
 enough wood on board to supply fuel to 
 last until the next landing. 
 
 Like the vessel itself the impression it 
 made was unique. It was described as an 
 "ungainly craft looking precisely like a 
 backwoods saw-mill mounted on a scow 
 and set on fire." It is easy to fancy the 
 astonishment and alarm of the crews of 
 the ordinary sailing boats of the river and 
 of the dwellers in the towns along the 
 shores. Some of the sailors, it is asserted, 
 when they saw "this queer-looking sail- 
 less thing" gaining upon them in spite of 
 207
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 contrary wind and tide, actually aban- 
 doned their vessels and took to the woods 
 in fright. 
 
 Others who saw the boat in the night 
 described her as a "monster moving on the 
 waters defying the winds and tide, and 
 breathing flames and smoke." Some 
 prostrated themselves and prayed a kind 
 Providence for protection from the ap- 
 proaches of the monster, which was march- 
 ing on the waters and lighting its path- 
 way with fire. 
 
 It is easy in this day of full understand- 
 ing to find amusement in their overwhelm- 
 ing consternation, but the appearance of 
 the boat must- indeed have been terrific. 
 The fuel used was pine wood, and when 
 the fire was stirred by the engineer a 
 galaxy of sparks ascended. No wonder 
 that the quiet dwellers in the valley were 
 frightened by the novel sight. 
 208
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Miss Helen Livingston, daughter of 
 Gilbert R. Livingston, who with her sister 
 Kate had been visiting "Liberty Hall" at 
 Elizabethtown, New Jersey, the home of 
 their cousin William Livingston, Gov- 
 ernor of the State, had written at the con- 
 clusion of her visit : 
 
 "My dear mother will be glad to know 
 that we are soon to return home. Cousin 
 Chancellor has a wonderful new boat 
 which is to make the voyage up the Hud- 
 son some day soon. It will hold a good 
 many passengers and he has, with his 
 usual kindness, invited us to be of the 
 party. He says it will be something to 
 remember all our lives. He says we need 
 not trouble ourselves about provisions, as 
 his men will see to all that. In the mean 
 time we are enjoying ourselves very much; 
 everybody is so kind and cordial." 
 
 Her recollections of the voyage were 
 
 ^2 209
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 personally narrated to her granddaugh- 
 ter, Helen Evertson Smith, who included 
 them in an interesting article published in 
 "The Century" for December, 1896. The 
 guests of the occasion, who numbered 
 about forty, included but few ladies. 
 Among these were the two young sisters, 
 Helen and Kate Livingston; their aunt, 
 Mrs. Thomas Morris, daughter-in-law of 
 Robert INIorris, the financier of the Revo- 
 lution ; one of the Chancellor's two daugh- 
 ters; four of the many daughters of his 
 brothers John R. and Colonel Harry Liv- 
 ingston; and JNIiss Harriet Livingston, 
 daughter of Mr. Walter Livingston, first 
 custodian of the United States Treasury. 
 Other passengers, besides Livingston 
 and Fulton, were John R. Livingston and 
 John Swift Livingston, and Doctor Mit- 
 chell and Doctor McNeven, to whom 
 Cadwallader Colden, who wrote a Life of 
 210
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Fulton, acknowledges his description of 
 the voyage; the Dean of Ripon Cathedral, 
 England, who was en route to visit the 
 Chancellor, and Mr. Barker with his little 
 daughter. 
 
 Helen Livingston, whose girlish letter 
 of invitation has been quoted and who 
 later married William Mather Smith, con- 
 fided to her granddaughter an intensely 
 interesting fact which occurred on the sec- 
 ond day of the progress up the river. Just 
 before the boat was about to cast anchor 
 off Clermont, the Chancellor announced 
 the betrothal of Robert Fulton to his young 
 kinswoman, Harriet Livingston, and 
 made the prophecy that the "name of the 
 inventor would descend to posterity as a 
 benefactor to the world," and that it was 
 not impossible that before the close of the 
 present century, vessels might even be able 
 to make the voyage to Europe without 
 211
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 other motive power than steam. This 
 hardy prediction was received with but 
 moderate approval by any ; while smiles of 
 incredulity were exchanged between those 
 who were so placed that they could not be 
 seen by the speechmaker or the inventor. 
 John R. Livingston was heard to say, in 
 an aside to his cousin John Swift Living- 
 ston, that "Bob has had many a bee in his 
 bonnet before now, but this steam folly 
 will prove the worst yet !'* 
 
 An early newspaper clipping is author- 
 ity for the statement that Fulton had 
 previously asked the Chancellor, "Is it 
 presumptuous in me to aspire to the hand 
 of Miss Harriet Livingston?" "By no 
 means," the distinguished Chancellor is 
 said to have replied, "her father may 
 object because you are a humble and 
 poor inventor, and the family may object 
 — but if Harriet does not object, — and she 
 seems to have a world of good sense,— go 
 212
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 ahead, and my best wishes and blessings 
 go with you." 
 
 Certainly that day was one of crowning 
 glory in Fulton's life. He was now forty- 
 two years old, and a prominent man upon 
 both sides of the Atlantic, vouched for 
 by Chancellor Livingston, who recognized 
 the fine manhood and superior talents of 
 the inventor, and who had in France 
 known his prestige and popularity with 
 Barlow and other men of distinction. It 
 was natural that Harriet Livingston 
 should return Fulton's regard by an 
 estimate of his genius amounting to en- 
 thusiasm. A contemporaneous writer de- 
 scribed him thus : 
 
 "Among a thousand individuals you 
 might readily point out Robert Fulton. 
 He was conspicuous for his gentle, manly 
 bearing and freedom from embarrassment, 
 for his extreme activity, his height, some- 
 what over six feet, — his slender yet ener- 
 213
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 getic form and well accommodated dress, 
 for his full and curly dark brown hair, 
 carelessly scattered over his forehead and 
 falling around his neck. His complexion 
 was fair, his forehead high, his eyes dark 
 and penetrating and revolving in a capa- 
 cious orbit of cavernous depths; his brow 
 was thick and evinced strength and deter- 
 mination; his nose was long and promi- 
 nent, his mouth and lips were beautifully 
 proportioned, giving the impress of 
 eloquent utterance. Trifles were not cal- 
 culated to impede him or damp his per- 
 severance." 
 
 Helen Livingston's estimate was no less 
 complimentary : 
 
 "There were many distinguished and 
 fine-looking men on board the Clermont^ 
 but my grand-mother always described 
 Robert Fulton as surpassing them all. 
 'That son of a Pennsylvania farmer,' she 
 was wont to say, 'was really a prince 
 214
 
 MRS. WAl.TtR I n INGSTON (COKMI I A S( III NI.FRi, MOTHER ol- MRS ROBrRT l-I'LTON 
 
 Original owned by Mrs. Hermann H. Caniniann, graiidclaugliter of Robert Fulton This portrait. 
 
 painted by Robert Fulton on a panel, bears on' the reverse his nntinished portrait 
 
 of his only son, Barlow Fulton. Now first published.
 
 I
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 among men. He was as modest as he was 
 great, and as handsome as he was modest. 
 His eyes were glorious with love and 
 
 • > 55 1 
 
 genius. 
 
 Fulton himself, the central figure of con- 
 gratulation, was happy beyond utterance. 
 
 iln 1857, Paul A. Sabbaton, Fulton's later Chief Engi- 
 neer, wrote to J. F. Reigart, biographer of Fulton : 
 
 "I was so constantly with Mr. Fulton, saw him at his 
 occupation, at his family fire-side, and in almost every situ- 
 ation, that I have to this day a most distinct and strongly 
 impressed likeness on my mind. — He had ail the traits of 
 a man with the gentleness of a child. I never heard him 
 use ill words to any one of those employed under him no 
 matter how strong the provocation might be, — and I do know 
 there was enough of that at times ; and ever and anon my 
 mind recurs to the times when his labours were so severe. 
 His habit was, cane in hand, to walk up and down for 
 hours. I see him now in my mind's eye, with his white, 
 loosely-tied cravat, his waistcoat unbuttoned, his ruffles 
 waving from side to side as his movements caused their 
 movements ; he, all the while in deep thought, scarcely 
 noticing anything passing him." 
 
 The late J. B. Calhoun of Brooklyn, who was in Fulton's 
 employ at the time of the latter's death in 1815, described 
 Fulton as a tail, somewhat slender man, of fair, delicate 
 complexion, of graceful, dignified bearing, and mild and 
 gentle in his temper. He said : " His workmen were al- 
 ways pleased to see him about his shops. With his rattan 
 cane in hand, he always appeared to me a counterpart of 
 an English nobleman." 
 
 217
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 It was the supreme moment of his life. 
 His bride-elect, Harriet Livingston, a 
 beauty of the day, daughter of Walter 
 Livingston and his wife, Cornelia Schuy- 
 ler, was an accomplished harpist and 
 sketched and painted with more than ordi- 
 nary skill. Her father, by the will of his 
 father, the last Lord of the Manor, had 
 received as his portion of the famous estate, 
 about 28,000 acres of ground, lying east 
 of the Post Road. Upon a commanding 
 elevation, between the "Klein" and "Roe- 
 loff Jansen" Kills, Walter Livingston 
 had built a massive and imposing mansion 
 which he called "Teviotdale." This be- 
 came the country-home of Fulton and his 
 wife and frequent mention is made of it 
 in family letters. 
 
 It is impossible to overestimate the in- 
 tensity of the suspense and interest of 
 Fulton and his friends as the Clermont 
 218
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 proceeded upon her voyage. The appre- 
 hension of the incredulous was turned to 
 joyous approval and wondering satisfac- 
 tion. When the guests realized the safety 
 and success of the invention, they were 
 moved to merriment and broke into song. 
 In the stern sat a throng of gaily dressed 
 gentlemen and ladies, and as the boat 
 moved through the glorious scenery of 
 the Highlands some one struck up "Ye 
 Banks and Braes o' Bonny Doon," said to 
 have been Fulton's favorite song, appro- 
 priate enough from the lips of the mem- 
 bers of the Scottish Fulton and Livingston 
 families upon America's most bonny river. 
 
 Ye banks and braes o' bonny Doon 
 How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair ; 
 
 How can ye chant, ye little birds, 
 And I sae weary fu' of care ? ^ 
 
 ^On the one-hundredth anniversary of steam naviga- 
 tion, the same song was sung upon the decks of the great 
 
 219
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 The invitations for the first voyage had 
 been so quietly issued by Fulton and the 
 Chancellor that the newspapers of the city, 
 with but one exception, failed to refer to 
 it. The "American Citizen" contained 
 this brief notice : 
 
 Mr. Fulton's Ingenious Steam Boat, invented 
 with a view to the navigation of the Mississippi 
 from New Orleans upward, sails today from 
 the North River, near State's Prison, to Albany. 
 The velocity of the Steamboat is calculated at 
 four miles an hour. It is said it will make a 
 progress of two against the current of the Mis- 
 sissippi, and if so it will certainly be a very 
 valuable acquisition to the commerce of West- 
 ern States. 
 
 The general impression of utility for the 
 new invention was that the boat would 
 prove an important factor upon the Mis- 
 boats of the Hudson River Day Line, where several of Ful- 
 ton's descendants, including the writer, were guests of 
 honor. 
 
 220
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 sissippi^ and other western rivers, rather 
 than upon the waters of the East. This is 
 easily explained by the fact that the recent 
 acquisition of Louisiana had turned public 
 attention toward the necessity of exploit- 
 ing and speedily improving the new terri- 
 tory. Probably most of the citizens of 
 New York thought themselves fortunately 
 supplied by the hosts of Hudson River 
 sloops for any needs of commerce or 
 travel which might arise. But that Liv- 
 ingston and Fulton, the proprietors of the 
 new enterprise, realized a wider purpose 
 for their new invention is shown by Ful- 
 ton's letter to Barlow announcing his suc- 
 
 ^ Extract from a letter of Fulton to Barlow, April 19, 1812: 
 "The Mississippi, as I before wrote you, is conquered; 
 the steara boat which I have sent to trade between New 
 Orleans and Natchez carried 1.500 barrels = 150 tons from 
 New Orleans to Natchez, against the current 313 miles in 
 7 days, working in that time 84 hours. These are con- 
 quests perhaps as valuable as those at Jena." [Napoleon's 
 then recent victory.] 
 
 221
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 cessful voyage (quoted later) and by 
 his prompt formation of schemes of navi- 
 gation upon far distant waters. 
 
 Fulton himself, sensible of the recogni- 
 tion of the one newspaper which had 
 chronicled his departure, wrote a letter to 
 the "American Citizen," which practically 
 contains "a sailor's log" of the first trip of 
 the Clermont. 
 
 New York, August 20. 
 
 To THE Editor of The American Citizen, 
 
 Sir: 
 
 I arrived this afternoon at 4 o'clock, [on] 
 the steam boat from Albany. As the success 
 of my experiment gives me great hope that such 
 boats may be rendered of much importance to 
 my country, to prevent erroneous opinions, and 
 to give some satisfaction to the friends of use- 
 ful improvements, you will have the goodness to 
 publish the following statement of facts: 
 
 I left New York on Monday at 1 o'clock, and 
 
 222
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 arrived at Clermont, the seat of Chancellor 
 Livingston, at 1 o'clock on Tuesday, time 24 
 hours, distance 110 miles: On Wednesday I 
 departed from the Chancellor's at 9 in the morn- 
 ing, and arrived at Albany at 5 in the after- 
 noon, distance 40 miles, time 8 hours ; the sum 
 of this is 150 miles in 32 hours, equal near 5 
 miles an hour. 
 
 On Thursday at 9 o'clock in the morning I 
 left Albany and arrived at the Chancellor's at 
 6 in the evening; I started from thence at 7, 
 and arrived at New York on Friday at 4 in the 
 afternoon ; time 30 hours, space run through 
 150 miles, equal 5 miles an hour. Through- 
 out the whole way my going and returning the 
 wind was ahead ; no advantage could be drawn 
 from my sails — the whole has therefore been 
 performed by the power of the steam engine. 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient, 
 
 Robert Fulton. 
 
 The Clermont continued all night upon 
 the journey, for it will be noted that there 
 223
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 was no deduction in time allowed in Ful- 
 ton's calculation of the voyage between 
 New York and Albany, except the one 
 anchorage at Clermont where Chancellor 
 Livingston and his guests, including Rob- 
 ert Fulton, went on shore for the second 
 night. The night of August 17th was 
 spent by the company within such shelter 
 as the boat could afford. Flickering can- 
 dles gave scant illumination in the cabin. 
 Probably there were improvised couches for 
 the ladies of the party, but we know from 
 Fulton's family note-book that the bedding 
 for the boat was not purchased until the 
 month of September, when it appears 
 that he paid for it $80.75 to a Mr. Lym, 
 and about the same time bought "knives 
 and forks" for $5 from James Wood. 
 
 The first captain of the Clermont, An- 
 drew Brink by name, on the night of 
 August 18th, after he had successfully 
 224
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 landed the Chancellor's party upon the 
 east bank, rowed across the river to his 
 home, and brought back his wife that he 
 might fulfil his promise to "take her to 
 Albany on a boat driven by a tea-kettle." 
 
 It is said that Fulton and Livingston 
 first met Captain Brink during a voyage 
 up the Hudson upon the North River 
 sloop Maria, of which he was then in 
 command. In the little cabin of this boat 
 they discussed their plans for the Clermont 
 and at the time promised to install this 
 interested captain in their own new boat 
 when the long-planned invention should be 
 accomplished. 
 
 The exact number of men employed on 
 the Clermont is not actually known. In 
 Fulton's account-book, under date of Sep- 
 tember 20, 1807, we find a partial pay- 
 roll: 
 
 225
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 To Captain Brink 30 Dollars 
 
 George, the Steward 10 " 
 
 Paid Griffin, the Black Steward . 12 " 
 Paid Richard Wilson, the Black 
 
 Cook 10 « 
 
 These sums undoubtedly represented 
 the wages for the month which had elapsed 
 since the first trip. There was also a white 
 stewardess at this time, or at a later date, 
 for a woman who lived at Highland Falls, 
 New York, once sent an engraving of 
 Robert Fulton to his grandson, Rev. Dr. 
 Crary, with the message that her mother, 
 who was stewardess on the Clermont, had 
 cherished the picture of her employer for 
 many years. 
 
 The chief engineer on the first voyage 
 was a Scotchman whose name is unknown. 
 On the arrival of the boat in Albany it is 
 said that he celebrated the event by a rous- 
 ing "spree," so paralyzing his activities 
 226
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 that Mr. Fulton was obliged to discharge 
 him and to promote a Mr. Dyke, assistant 
 engineer, to the chief position. This Mr. 
 Dyke, Charles by name, continued in Ful- 
 ton's employ for many years, and when 
 the Fulton Ferry to Brooklyn was estab- 
 lished, Dyke was appointed by Fulton en- 
 gineer of the first boat. 
 
 FROM NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, VOL. III. 
 
 "I vividly remember the starting of [the second ferry 
 boat] and a painful incident therewith connected. — The 
 boat had made one or two trips — and was lying at the 
 wharf at the foot of Beekman slip. Some derangement had 
 taken place in the machinery, which the chief engineer was 
 engaged in rectifying. When the machinery was set in 
 motion it came in contact with the engineer, and mangled 
 him in a manner that produced hiiS death the next day. He 
 was removed to the house adjacent to that of the writer, 
 and well does he recall the conversation between Mr. Ful- 
 ton and the attending surgeon in reference to the unfor- 
 tunate man. — Mr. Fulton, much affected, remarked— 
 
 " ' Sir, I will give all I am worth to save the life of that 
 man.' 
 
 " When told that his recovery was hopeless, he was per- 
 fectly unmanned and wept like a child. It is here intro- 
 duced as showing that while his own misfortunes never for a 
 single moment disturbed his equanimity, the finer feelings of 
 his nature were sensitively alive to the distresses of others." 
 
 (Signed) N. B. B. 
 
 18 227
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 An interesting contemporaneous ac- 
 count was written by a Frenchman of note 
 — M. Michaux, a distinguished botanist — 
 who accompanied Fulton and Livingston 
 upon the return trip from Albany. He 
 arrived at Burlington on Lake Cham- 
 plain, with his companion M. Parmentier, 
 and thence went to Albany. M. Michaux 
 writes : ^ 
 
 The relations, commercial and other, of all 
 bonds between these cities are many and fre- 
 quent. At this time decked sailing vessels ar- 
 rived and departed every day with twenty-five 
 or thirty passengers. The passage generally 
 took 36 or 48 hours, according as the wind or 
 tide were more or less favorable. 
 
 We had been three days at Albany when the 
 arrival from New York of a vessel propelled 
 by steam was announced. This boat, which 
 was decked, was about 25 metres (82 feet)^ long 
 
 'Translated for the Journal of the Franklin Institute, 
 Philadelphia. 
 2 An evident error; the length of the vessel was 150 feet. 
 
 228
 
 RciHI{RT l-ll.Tt)X 
 Irom tlie painting liy Benjamin West. Owned by R. I'. I.udlow, Claverack, New York
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 and was commanded by the inventor, Mr. 
 Robert Fulton. Many of the inhabitants of the 
 city and strangers who were there at the time 
 went to visit it. Every one made his remarks 
 upon the advantages consequent upon the new 
 means of navigation, but also upon the serious 
 accidents which might result from the explosion 
 of the boiler. The vessel was lying alongside 
 the wharf: a placard announced its return to 
 New York for the next day but one, the 20th of 
 August, and that it would take passengers at 
 the same price as the sailing vessels — three 
 dollars. 
 
 So great was the fear of the explosion of the 
 boiler that no one, except my companion and 
 myself, dared to take passage in it for New 
 York. We quitted Albany on the 20th of Au- 
 gust in the presence of a great number of spec- 
 tators. Chancellor Livingston, whom we sup- 
 posed to be one of the promoters of this new 
 way of navigating rivers, was the only stranger 
 with us : he quitted the boat in the afternoon to 
 go to his country residence which was upon the 
 left bank of the river. From every point on the 
 river whence the boat, announced by the smoke 
 of its chimney, could be seen, we saw the in- 
 
 231
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 habitants collect; thej waved their handker- 
 cliicfs and hurrahed for Fulton, whose passage 
 tliey had probably noticed as he ascended the 
 river. 
 
 We arrived the next day between one and two 
 o'clock at New York. We separated from Mr. 
 Fulton after paying him the price of our pas- 
 sage. The day after our departure from Al- 
 bany, and a few minutes after Chancellor Liv- 
 ingston had quitted us, Mr. Fulton expressed 
 his surprise that notwithstanding the number of 
 persons who were going to New York, only two 
 Frenchmen had the courage to embark with 
 him. In the course of the conversation I in- 
 formed him that M. Chaptal, then Minister of 
 the Interior, had instructed me to examine the 
 forests of America. ... It appears that, at 
 this time, Mr. Fulton did not suspect that steam 
 navigation might one day be applied to the 
 sea. 
 
 The following record of the passengers 
 and their respective payments for convey- 
 ance from Albany to New Y^ork was 
 copied from the originar'Captain'sbook," 
 232
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 formerly in possession of Mr. Clermont 
 Livingston. It is quoted in "The Living- 
 stons of Callendar." 
 
 List of passengers on board the North River 
 Steamboat from Albany to New York, August 
 21, 1807: 
 
 Dollars 
 
 Captain Thomas Hunt 7 
 
 Monsieur Parmentoo ) 
 Monsieur Mishaud C 
 
 Mr. D. E. Tyle 6 ' 
 
 Captain Davies 1 
 
 27 
 Mr. Fulton 
 
 Joel Barlow, then resident at Kalorama, 
 his country-seat near Washington, re- 
 ceived about this time the following inter- 
 esting letter ^ from Fulton which elaborates 
 the main points of his account forwarded 
 to "The American Citizen." Fulton's 
 
 i"Life and Letters of Joel Barlow," by C. B. Todd. 
 
 233
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 enthusiasm in the success of his project is 
 strongly manifested and it will be noted 
 that he was already confident that great 
 future advantages to America would re- 
 sult from the new invention : 
 
 My steamboat voyage to Albany and back 
 has turned out rather more favorably than I 
 had calculated. The distance from New York 
 to Albany is one hundred and fifty miles. I ran 
 it up in thirty-two hours, and down in thirty. 
 I had a light breeze against me the whole way, 
 both going and coming, and the voyage has been 
 performed wholly by the power of the steam 
 engine, I overtook many sloops and schooners, 
 beating to the windward, and parted with them 
 as if they had been at anchor. The power of 
 propelling boats by steam is now fully proved. 
 The morning I left New York, there were not 
 perhaps thirty persons in the city who believed 
 that the boat would ever move one mile an hour, 
 or be of the least utility, and while we were put- 
 ting off from the wharf, which was crowded with 
 spectators, I heard a number of sarcastic re- 
 marks. This is the way in which ignorant men 
 
 234
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 compliment what they call philosophers and 
 projectors. Having employed much time, money 
 and zeal in accomphshing this work, it gives 
 me, as it will you, great pleasure to see it fully 
 answer my expectations. It will give a cheap 
 and quick conveyance to the merchandise on the 
 Mississippi, Missouri, and other great rivers, 
 which are now laying open their treasures to 
 the enterprise of our countrymen ; and although 
 the prospect of personal emolument has been 
 some inducement to me, yet I feel infinitely more 
 pleasure in reflecting on the immense advantage 
 that my country will derive from the invention. 
 
 Barlow in a letter^ to Chancellor Liv- 
 ingston, written the 18th of September, 
 1807, says: 
 
 I sincerely rejoice with you at the success of 
 our mutual and good friend Fulton with the 
 Steam Boat, and hope and trust it will answer 
 your highest expectations. Next year we in- 
 tend to make an excursion to the North, we 
 hope with Fulton, when we will try the new 
 
 ^ In the library of Haverford College. 
 
 235
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Balloon up the river, and make you the visit 
 on which our hearts are much fixt. 
 
 After her return from the first voyage 
 up the Hudson, the Clermont was left at 
 the New York dock for more than two 
 weeks. This time was considered neces- 
 sary by Fulton and Livingston to fit the 
 boat for regular traffic and to make certain 
 improvements which Fulton notes in the 
 following letter to the Chancellor, who 
 had remained at his country place. 
 
 New York, 
 Saturday, the 28 [29th] of August, 1807 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 On Saturday I wrote you that I arrived here 
 on Friday at four o'clock, which made my 
 voyage from Albany exactly thirty hours. We 
 had a little wind on Friday morning, but no 
 waves which produced any effect. I have been 
 making every exertion to get off on Monday 
 morning, but there has been much work to do — 
 
 236
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 boarding all the sides, decking over the boiler 
 and works, finishing each cabin with twelve 
 berths to make them comfortable, and strength- 
 ening many parts of the iron work. So much 
 to do, and the rain, which delays the caulkers, 
 will, I fear, not let me off till Wednesday morn- 
 ing. Then, however, the boat will be as com- 
 plete as she can be made — all strong and in 
 good order and the men well organized, and I 
 hope, nothing to do but to run her for six weeks 
 or two months. The first week, that is if she 
 starts on Wednesday, she will make one trip to 
 Albany and back. Every succeeding week she 
 will run three trips — that is, two to Albany 
 and one to New York, or two to New York 
 and one to Albany, always having Sunday and 
 four nights for rest to the crew. By carrying 
 for the usual price there can be no doubt but 
 the steamboat will have the preference because 
 of the certainty and agreeable movements. I 
 have seen the captain of the fine sloop from 
 Hudson. He says the average of his passages 
 have been forty-eight hours. For the steam- 
 boat it would have been thirty certain. The 
 persons who came down with me were so much 
 pleased that they said were she established to 
 
 237
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 run periodically they would never go in any 
 thing else. I will ha^'^ her registered and 
 every thing done which I can recollect. Every 
 thing looks well and I have no doubt will be 
 very productive. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Robert Fulton. 
 
 The following postscript ends the letter 
 of August 29th: ^ 
 
 You may look for me Thursday morning 
 about seven o'clock. I think it would be well 
 to write to your brother Edward to get infor- 
 mation on the velocity of the Mississippi, the 
 size and form of the boats used, the number of 
 hands and quantity of tons in each boat, the 
 number of miles they make against the current 
 in twelve hours, and the quantity of tons which 
 go up the river in a year. On this point beg 
 of him to be accurate. 
 
 1 Robert Fulton to Robert R. Livingston, Saturday, 
 28 [29th] August, 1807. Original formerly in possession 
 of Mr. Clermont Livingston. 
 
 238
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 On the 2d of September, the necessary 
 equipment and alterations having been 
 completed, Fulton inserted his first adver- 
 tisement in "The Albany Gazette," and 
 the "Evening Post" of New York. It 
 read: 
 
 THE NORTH RIVER STEAM BOAT 
 
 Will leave Pauler's Hook Ferry on Fri- 
 day the 4^^ of September, at 6 in the 
 morning, and arrive at Albany, on Sat- 
 urday, at 6 in the afternoon. 
 
 Provisions, good berths and accommo- 
 dations are provided. 
 
 The charge to each passenger is as 
 follows : 
 
 To Newburgh $3 time 14 hours 
 To Poughkeepsie 4 17 
 
 To Esopus 4j/^ 20 
 
 To Hudson 5 30 
 
 To Albany 7 36 
 
 239
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 For places, apply to Wm.Vandervoort, 
 N°- 48 Courtlandt-street, on the corner 
 of Greenwich-street. 
 
 Way passengers to Tarry Town, etc., 
 etc., will apply to the captain on board. 
 
 The Steam Boat will leave Albany on 
 Monday the 7'^ of September at 6 in the 
 morning and arrive at New-York on 
 Tuesday at 6 in the evening. 
 
 She will leave New- York on Wed- 
 nesday morning at 6, and arrive at 
 Albany on Thursday evening at 6 in 
 the evening. 
 
 She will leave Albany on Friday 
 morning at 6, and arrive at New -York 
 on Saturday evening at 6. — Thus per- 
 forming two voyages from Albany and 
 one from New-York within the week. 
 On Monday the 14''', and Friday the 
 1 8^*", she will leave New-York at 6 in the 
 morning, and Albany on the 16'^, at 6 
 240
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 in the morning, after which the arrange- 
 ments for her departure will be an- 
 nounced. 
 
 On the same day Fulton paid $4.50 for 
 the advertisement and also bought some 
 furnishings, previously noted, for the 
 Clermont. 
 
 For three weeks this advertisement con- 
 tinued to appear, but on September 23d a 
 new announcement was issued : 
 
 The Steam Boat being thoroughly 
 repaired, and precaution taken that in- 
 jury shall not be done to her wheels in 
 future, it is intended to run her as a 
 PACKET for the remainder of the sea- 
 son. She will take her departure from 
 New -York and Albany at 9 o'clock in 
 the morning, and always perform her 
 voyage in from 30 to 36 hours. 
 241
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 The time of her departure for the 
 first nine voyages will be as follows : 
 Fro7n Albany, Friday the 25'^ September. 
 From New -York, Monday 28'^ do. 
 From Albany, Wednesday 30'^ do. 
 From New -York, Friday 2} October. 
 Fro77i Albany, Monday 5^'' " 
 
 From New -York Wednesday 7'^ do. 
 From Albany, Friday 9'** do. 
 
 For passage, apply to Mr. William 
 Vandervoort, N"- 48 Courtlandt-Street, 
 corner of Greenwich-street. 
 
 Several minor mishaps occurred during 
 the first months of the new manner of 
 voyaging. INIaladjustments were to be 
 expected, hut it also appears that tlie 
 sloops of the Hudson, either purposely or 
 by the strange attraction which one mov- 
 ing body feels for another, especially in 
 the moment of a helmsman's fear, had 
 242
 
 STATlIi or KDlilKl Ml MS Al Mil- lllHiN I I- KK V-IIOI'SI:, 
 lIKiioKI V\. M\\ VDKK 
 
 Miidulcd .iftcr the J.irvis portrait no« in possevsioii of tlie Misses Vinton
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 several serious collisions with the Cler- 
 mont. 
 
 It is recorded that chief among the 
 troubles encountered were the erratic 
 movements of the river sloops which ran 
 afoul of the steamboat whenever oppor- 
 tunity offered. On October 2d the Cler- 
 mont lost one paddle-wheel from such a 
 collision, and had to be withdrawn from 
 service. This damage was speedily re- 
 paired and she was soon able to resume the 
 regular trips. Each day the passengers 
 became more numerous. Twenty-four 
 made the trip on September 4th, but by 
 October 1st the number had increased to 
 sixty, and by November her cabins were 
 overcrowded with more than a hundred. 
 
 The "Evening Post" of October 2, 
 1807, contained this item of news: 
 
 Steam Boat. Mr. Fulton's new invented 
 Steam Boat which is fitted up in a neat stile 
 
 245
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 for passengers, and is intended to run from 
 New York to Albany as a Packet, left here 
 this morning with Ninety passengers, against a 
 strong head wind. Notwithstanding which, it 
 was judged she moved through the water at the 
 rate of six miles an hour. Yesterday she came 
 in from Albany in 28 hours with 60 passengers. 
 Quere, [^ic] would it not be well if she could 
 contract with the Post Master General to carry 
 the mail from this city to Albany.'^ 
 
 The popularity and success of Fulton's 
 venture were now assured. Enthusiastic 
 passengers began to write letters to the 
 press, and from that time on records are 
 less meager. One of the earliest descrip- 
 tions is that of Judge Jolin Q. Wilson, of 
 Albany, who in 185G, at the request of 
 friends, wrote an account of his memo- 
 rable voyage upon the Clermont, when she 
 was first put into use as a packet. 
 
 It may be of some interest to the present 
 generation to have a correct account of the 
 
 24)6
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 first boat built by Fulton and Livingston, on 
 her first trip as a passage vessel, by one who 
 was then a passenger. The writer of this ar- 
 ticle resided in New York, and was often in 
 the shipyard when Mr. Fulton was building his 
 first boat. She was a queer looking craft; and, 
 like every thing new, excited much attention, 
 and not a little ridicule. When she was 
 launched, and the steam engine placed in her 
 that also was looked upon as a piece [of folly] 
 with the boat built to float it. In those days 
 the operations of the steam engine were but 
 little known. A few had seen the one for rais- 
 ing the Manhattan water, but to the people 
 at large the thing was a hidden mystery. 
 Curiosity was now greatly excited. When it 
 was announced in New York that the boat 
 would start from the foot of Courtlandt street 
 at 6^2 o'clock on Friday morning, the 4th of 
 September, and take passengers to Albany, 
 there was a broad smile on ever.y face as the 
 inquiry was made if anybody would be fool- 
 hardy enough to go. A friend of the writer of 
 this article, hearing he intended to venture, 
 accosted him in the street : "John, will thee risk 
 thy life in such a concern? I tell thee she is 
 
 " 247
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 the most fearful wild fowl living, and thy father 
 ought to restrain thee." 
 
 When Friday morning came the wharves, 
 piers, housetops, and every spot from which 
 a sight could be obtained, were filled with spec- 
 tators. Tliere were twelve berths, and every 
 one was taken. The fare was $7. All the ma- 
 chinery of the boat was fully exposed to view; 
 the water and balance wheels were entirely un- 
 covered.^ The peripheries were of cast-iron, 
 some four inches or more square, and ran just 
 clear of the water. The weight of both the 
 water and balance-wheels was sustained by the 
 shafts, which projected over the sides of the 
 vessel. There were no outside guards. The 
 forward part of the boat was covered by a 
 deck, which afforded shelter for the men em- 
 ployed in navigating the boat. The after part 
 was fitted up in a rough manner for passengers ; 
 the entrance into the cabin was from the stern, 
 in front of the steersman, who worked a tiller, the 
 same as in an ordinary sloop. Thick, black smoke 
 issued from the chimney — steam hissed from 
 every ill-fated valve and crevice of the engine. 
 
 ^ The covering: was placed upon the remodeled boat and 
 was not upon the Clermont, 
 
 248
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Fulton himself was there, his remarkably clear 
 and sharp voice was heard above the hum of the 
 multitude and noise of the engine. All his actions 
 were confident and decided, unheeding the fear- 
 fulness of some and the doubts and sarcasms 
 of others. In the whole scene combined there 
 was an individuality and an interest which, like 
 "love's young dream," comes but once, and is 
 remembered forever. The time for the depar- 
 ture of the boat arrived ; some of the machinery 
 still required to be adjusted; there was a delay. 
 Some of the passengers said, in Fulton's hear- 
 ing, they feared the voyage would prove a fail- 
 ure. He repHed: 
 
 "Gentlemen, you need not be uneasy ; you 
 shall be in Albany before twelve o'clock to- 
 morrow." 
 
 When everything was ready, the engine was 
 started, and the boat moved steadily but slowly 
 from the wharf. As she turned up the river 
 and was fairly under way there arose such a 
 huzza as ten thousand throats never gave be- 
 fore. The passengers returned the cheer, but 
 Fulton stood erect upon the deck, his eye flash- 
 ing with an unearthly brilliancy as he surveyed 
 the crowd. He felt that the magic wand of suc- 
 
 249
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 cess was waving over him, and he was silent. 
 It was agreed that a kind of log-book should 
 be kept. Gerrit H. Van Wagencn was desig- 
 nated to give the time, and the writer of this 
 article to set it down. At the termination of 
 the voyage, the following paper was drawn up 
 and signed by all the passengers and published 
 in the Albany "Register" of Tuesday, September 
 8, 1807: 
 
 "On Friday morning, at eighteen minutes 
 before 7 o'clock, the North River steamboat 
 left New York, landed one passenger at Tarry- 
 town (twenty-five miles) and arrived at New- 
 burgh (sixty-three miles) at 4 o'clock in the 
 afternoon ; landed one passenger there, and ar- 
 rived at Clermont (one hundred miles), where 
 two passengers, one of whom was Mr. Fulton, 
 were landed at fifteen minutes before 2 o'clock 
 in the morning, and arrived at Albany at twen- 
 ty-seven minutes past 11 o'clock, making the 
 whole time twenty-eight hours and forty-five 
 minutes; distance, one hundred and fifty miles. 
 The wind was favorable, but light from Ver- 
 planck's Point to Wappinger's Creek (forty 
 miles). The remainder of the way it was 
 ahead, or there was a dead calm. The sub- 
 
 250
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 scribers, passengers on board of this boat on 
 her first passage as a packet, think it but jus- 
 tice to state that the accommodations and con- 
 veniences on board exceeded their most san- 
 guine expectations: 
 
 Selah Strong, G. H. Van Wagenen, 
 
 Thomas Wallace, John Q. Wilson, 
 
 John P. Anthony, Dennis H. Doyle, 
 
 George Wetmore, William S. Hicks, 
 
 J. Bowman, J. Crane, 
 
 James Braden, Stephen N. Rowan. 
 Albany, September 5, 1807." 
 
 When coming up Haverstraw Bay a man in 
 a skiff lay waiting for us. His appearance in- 
 dicated a miller; the paddle-wheels had very 
 naturally attracted his attention ; he asked per- 
 mission to come on board. Fulton ordered a 
 line to be thrown to him, and he was drawn 
 alongside. He said he "did not know about a 
 mill going upstream, and came to inquire about 
 it." One of the passengers, an Irishman, seeing 
 through the simple-minded miller man at a glance, 
 became his cicerone ; showed him all the machin- 
 ery and contrivances by which one wheel could 
 
 251
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 be thrown out of gear when the mill was required 
 to come about. After finishing the examina- 
 tion, said he, "that will do ; now show me the 
 mill-stones." "Oh," said the other, "that is a 
 secret which the master," pointing to Fulton, 
 "has never told us ; but when we come back 
 from Albany with a load of corn, then if you 
 come on board you will see the meal fly." Den- 
 nis kept his countenance and the miller left. As 
 we passed West Point the whole garrison was 
 out and cheered us. At Newburgh it seemed 
 as if all Orange County had collected there ; the 
 whole side-hill city seemed animated with life. 
 Every sail-boat and water craft was out ; the 
 ferry-boat from Fishkill was filled with ladies. 
 Fulton was engaged in seeing a passenger 
 landed, and did not observe the boat until she 
 bore up alongside. The flapping of the sail 
 arrested his attention, and as he turned, the 
 M'aving of so many handkerchiefs and the smiles 
 of bright and happy faces, struck him with sur- 
 prise. He raised his hat and exclaimed, "That 
 is the finest sight we have seen yet." 
 
 252
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 FULTON 'S LETTER TO THE CAPTAIN 
 
 By October the Clermont was fully estab- 
 lished as a packet for the public. Captain 
 Brink remained in charge throughout the 
 year 1807 and was succeeded the following 
 spring by Captain Samuel Wiswall, who 
 remained for many years thereafter in 
 Fulton's employ. That Fulton realized 
 the responsibilities of leadership and ex- 
 pected each man whom he placed in au- 
 thority to prove his fitness for the task, is 
 shown in the following masterly letter now 
 in possession of a grandson of Captain 
 Brink : 
 
 New York, Oct. 9, 1807. 
 Capt Brink: — 
 Sir — 
 
 Inclosed is the number of voyages which 
 it is intended the Boat should run this season. 
 
 253
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 You may have them published in the Albany 
 papers. 
 
 As she is strongly man'd and every one ex- 
 cept Jackson under your command, you must 
 insist on each one doing his duty or turn him 
 on shore and put another in his place. Every- 
 thing must be kept in order, everything in its 
 place, and all parts of the Boat scoured and 
 clean. It is not sufficient to tell men to do a 
 thing, but stand over them and make them do it. 
 One pair of Quick and good eyes is worth six 
 pair of hands in a commander. If the Boat 
 is dirty and out of order the fault shall be 
 yours. Let no man be Idle when there is the 
 least thing to do, and make them move quick. 
 
 Run no risques of any kind when you meet 
 or overtake vessels beating or crossing your 
 way. Always run under their stern if there be 
 the least doubt that you cannot clear their 
 head by 50 yards or more. Give in the ac- 
 counts of Receipts and expenses every week to 
 the Chancellor. 
 
 Your most Obodient 
 
 RoBT. Fulton. 
 254
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 In his Life of Robert Fulton, James 
 Renwick, LL.D., includes the following 
 valuable description of the inventor's 
 charm of personality: 
 
 "Fulton was in person considerably 
 above the middle height; his countenance 
 bore marks of intelligence and talent. 
 Natural refinement, and long intercourse 
 with the most polished societies both of 
 Europe and America, had given him 
 grace and elegance of manners. His 
 great success, and the belief that his in- 
 vention had secured the certainty of great 
 wealth, however unfounded this belief 
 was proved to be after his death, never 
 for a moment rendered him arrogant or 
 assuming. Fond of society, he was the 
 soul of the intelligent circle in which he 
 moved, and of which his hospitable man- 
 sion was the center. The fine arts, once 
 his chosen profession, were his recreation 
 255
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 and delight in after life; and he not only 
 practised them himself, but bomitifully 
 encouraged the efforts of others." 
 
 On the 13th of November, another mis- 
 hap occurred to the Clermont^ which 
 necessitated a delay of one day in the ful- 
 filment of her schedule. The "Evening 
 Post" chronicled the slight accident on the 
 following day, November 14th, which, it 
 may be observed, was Fulton's forty- 
 second birthday: 
 
 Steam Boat — Yesterday morning the Steam 
 Boat left Courtlandt-street dock for Albany, 
 with between 40 and 50 passengers. She had 
 not proceeded further than opposite the State 
 Prison, before one of the axelctrecs [^sic^ broke 
 off short, and she was obliged to return. We 
 understand she will be repaired in the course 
 of the day, and start again to-morrow morning 
 at 10 o'clock. 
 
 Fulton contrived to run the vessel upon 
 scheduled trips, until the ice in tlie river 
 made navigation impossible. She was 
 256
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 crowded with passengers and the commer- 
 cial success of the experiment was fully 
 guaranteed. The "Post" stated on the 
 19th of November: 
 
 We learn by the passengers who arrived 
 last evening from Albany in the Steam Boat, 
 that on Monday last the river from Albany 
 down as far as Coxsackie froze entirely across. 
 
 But the passengers themselves felt no 
 
 inconvenience or impatience from the ice 
 
 impact, as is evidenced in their letter to 
 
 the "Post." 
 
 New York, November 19, 1807 
 
 The subscribers, passengers in the North 
 River Steam Boat, state that the Boat left the 
 dock at Albany, at half past 4 o'clock on Tues- 
 day afternoon, the 17th instant — that they took 
 in some passengers at the Overslaugh — came 
 too [*ic] at Hudson, and owing to the violence of 
 the wind, was obliged to cast anchor near Stony 
 Point. That they arrived at the Hoboken 
 ferry, on the Jersey shore, last evening, the 
 18th inst. at half past 10 o'clock. The time 
 then will be as follows : 
 
 257
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 From Tuesday half past 4 P. M. to 
 
 Wednesday half past 2 P. M. . .30 hours 
 
 Deduct time the Boat was at anchor 
 during the passage, at and near 
 Stony Point 7 hours 
 
 23 hours 
 
 The subscribers cannot but express their 
 most unequivocal approbation of the treatment 
 they received during the passage, and that no 
 accident of any kind occurred, although during 
 the whole passage the wind was extremely vio- 
 lent, particularly when the Boat came too [sec] 
 at Stony Point. 
 
 J. V. N. Yates, J. Warner, Junr., 
 
 James McVarncr, William W. Russell, 
 
 Sidney Berry, Junr., J. Nathan Perkins, 
 
 W. V. Yates, Pliny Adams, 
 
 T. Stitson, Daniel Geer. 
 Peter Morte, 
 
 The Steam Boat will start from here again 
 next Sunday morning precisely at 10 o'clock. 
 
 During the succeeding months, the 
 Clermont was kept in winter quarters, and 
 258
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 underwent important alterations and im- 
 provements. The following letter from 
 Fulton, who was then in Washington, to 
 Chancellor Livingston in New York fully 
 notes the plans for the enlargement of the 
 boat and gives the specifications for her 
 future financial and structural develop- 
 ment. 
 
 The important letter is in possession of 
 the New York Historical Society: 
 
 To Robert R. Livingston 
 
 Washington November the 20th 1807 
 Dear Sir 
 
 I have received your letter of the 12th inst. 
 after all accidents and delays our boat has 
 cleared 5 per cent on the capital expended and 
 as the people are not discouraged but continue 
 to go in her at all risques, and even increase 
 in numbers I think with you that one which 
 should be complete would produce us from 8 
 to 10,000 dollars a year or perhaps more and 
 that another boat which will cost 15,000 dol- 
 
 259
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 lars will also produce us 10,000 dollars a year 
 therefore as this is the only method which I 
 know of gaining 50 or 75 per cent I am on my 
 part determined not to dispose of any portion 
 of my interest on the North river but I will sell 
 so much of my funds as will pay my part of 
 rendering this boat complete and for establish- 
 ing another so that one will depart from Albany 
 and one from New York every other day and 
 carry all the passengers. It is now necessary 
 to consider how to put our first boat in a com- 
 plete state for 8 or 10 years — and when I re- 
 flect tliat the present one is so weak that she 
 must have additional knees and timbers, new 
 side timbers deck beams and deck, new windows 
 and cabins altered, that she perhaps must be 
 sheathed, her boiler taken out and a new one 
 put in her axels forged and Iron work strength- 
 ened with all this work the saving of the present 
 hull is of little consequence particularly as 
 many of her Knees Bolts timbers and planks 
 could enter into the construction of a new boat, 
 my present opinion therefore is that we should 
 build a new hull her knees and floor timbers to 
 be of oak her bottom planks of 2 Inch oak her 
 side planks two Inch oak for 3 feet high 
 She to be 16 feet wide 150 feet long this will make 
 
 260
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 her near twice as Stiff as at present and enable 
 us to carry a much greater quantity of sail, the 
 4 feet additional width will require 1146 lbs ad- 
 ditional purchase at the engine moving 2 feet 
 a second or 15 double strokes a minute this 
 will be gained by raising the steam 5 lb to the 
 Inch as 24 Inches the diameter of the cylinder 
 gives 570 round Inches at 3 lb to the inch = 
 1710 lb purchase gained to accomplish this 
 with a good boiler and a commodious boat run- 
 ning our present speed, of a voyage in 30 hours 
 I think better and more productive to us than 
 to gain one mile on the present boat. 
 
 The new boat Cabins and all com- 
 plete including our materials will cost 
 
 perhaps 2000$ 
 
 Boiler 800 
 
 Iron work in the best manner and mens 
 
 wages during the winter .... 1200 
 
 4000 
 To meet this I find that our copper boiler 
 weighs 3930 lb which at 40 cents all 
 the price paid by government will 
 
 produce 1570$ 
 
 Profits of this year 1000 
 
 2570 
 263
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 So that we shall have to provide about 1,500$ 
 added to 3,000 Bills against us in the Bank, 
 with this arrangement we shall have one Boat 
 in complete play producing about 10,000 dol- 
 lars a year to enable us to proceed with the 
 second to come out in the spring of 1809, and 
 then our receipts will be about 20,000 dollars 
 a year. 
 
 Please to think of this and if you like it to 
 try to contract with the carpenter at Hudson 
 for the hull and let him immediately prepare his 
 timbers, knees and planks — 
 
 She should be almost wall sided if 16 feet 
 at bottom she need not be more than 18 on deck 
 Streight Sides will be strong it fits the mill work 
 and prevents motion in the waves — thus 
 [drawing omitted] 
 
 It is now time to lay her up for the winter. 
 Nothing should be risqued from bad weather — 
 the gain will be triffling the risque great. 
 
 I cannot be with you before the first week 
 of January 
 
 "Compliments to all friends write me again 
 
 Yours truly 
 
 R Fulton 
 
 264,
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Do not risque the engine in the winds and 
 waves of this season. 
 
 It should be noted that Fulton realized 
 the revolutionizing possibilities of steam- 
 navigation, and in this connection, at the 
 close of the record of the Clermont's suc- 
 cess, it may not be inappropriate to tell of 
 an incident which indicates that Fulton 
 also contemplated the possibility of steam- 
 railways. On one occasion, about a year 
 1810-11, Fulton was journeying to 
 Washington by stage coach with a party 
 of fellow passengers. A long delay in 
 changing horses at one of the wayside tav- 
 erns, en route, prompted a lady in the 
 party to say to the inventor : 
 
 "Oh, Mr. Fulton, you have invented a 
 way to travel quickly over the water — 
 why can you not invent a way to carry us 
 quickly over the land?" 
 ^ 265
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Fulton bowed low, and said, "Madam, 
 it will come." 
 
 It seems to have been about this time 
 that he wrote to Chancellor Livingston 
 outlining a project for steam-railways. 
 The Chancellor's reply has been pre- 
 served, and is herewith given. He thought 
 the plan impracticable and Fulton, in the 
 evident impossibility of interesting his 
 partner for the steamboat enterprise in 
 this new undertaking, temporarily gave 
 up the plan. 
 
 Albany, N. Y. March 1, 1811 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 I did not till yesterday receive yours of the 
 25tli of February, where it has loitered on the 
 road I am at a loss to say. I had before read 
 of your very ingenious proposition as to the 
 railway communication. I fear however, on 
 mature reflection, that they will be liable to 
 serious objections, and ultimately more expen- 
 
 266
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 sive than a canal. They must be double, so as 
 to prevent the danger of two such bodies meet- 
 ing. 
 
 The walls on which they are placed must 
 be at least four feet below the surface, and three 
 above, and must be clamped with iron, and even 
 then would hardly sustain so heavy a weight 
 as you propose moving at the rate of four 
 miles an hour on wheels. As to wood it would 
 not last a week. They must be covered with 
 iron and that too, very thick and strong. 
 
 The means of stopping these heavy car- 
 riages without a great shock and of preventing 
 them from running on each other — for they 
 would be many on the road at once, would be 
 very difficult. In case of accidental stops, or 
 necessary stops to take on wood and water, etc. 
 many accidents would happen. 
 
 The carriage of condensing water would be 
 very troublesome. Upon the whole, I fear the 
 expense would be much greater than that of 
 canals, without being so convenient. 
 
 R. R. Livingston. 
 To Robert Fulton, Esq. 
 
 267
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Mr. Paul A. Sabbaton, in the letter 
 already quoted from (p. 217) , relates that 
 Fulton and Golden had agreed to go to 
 Richmond, Virginia, to build a railway to 
 transport coal from Captain Heath's 
 mines, twelve miles distant, but that Ful- 
 ton's death put an end to the project. He 
 added, "Had it been otherwise, he would 
 have been the first to put railways in use 
 here." 
 
 ENLARGEMENT OF THE CLERMONT 
 
 During the winter of 1807, as we have 
 seen, the Clermont was virtually rebuilt 
 and enlarged to accommodate the in- 
 creased number of patrons. As the North 
 River she made regular trips on the Hud- 
 son for several years. 
 
 An interesting letter from Robert Ful- 
 ton to Charles Wilson Peale refers in 
 1808 to the enlarged boat. 
 268
 
 n 
 
 
 ► 
 
 (a 
 I 
 
 
 '^
 
 PC* R.u,^ Sii-i-mAai^. 
 
 THE STEAM-BOAT, 
 
 For the Information of the J^ublic^ 
 
 T4" STEAM-BOAT will leave New- 
 YoBE Tor Albant every Saturday af« 
 ternj'in, exactly 3t 5 o*ctock — and will pais 
 Wcsi Poinl about 2 o'clock on Sunday 
 Newbiirph, 6 do. [morning, 
 
 Poughltcepaie, 10 do. 
 Xsopus, 1 in the afternoon, 
 
 Rcdhnok, S do. 
 
 Catskil), 6 do. 
 
 Hudson, 8 in the evening. 
 
 She will leave Aldavy for Nhw-York, every 
 Wednesday morninp, exactly at 8 o'clock, and 
 pass Hudson about 3 in the aflcmoon, 
 Esopiis. 8 in the evening, 
 
 Pnuchkeepsie, 12 at uight, 
 Newburgh, 4 Thursday morning, 
 
 AVest Point, 7 do. 
 
 As the time at which the Boat mtiy arrive 
 at the different places above-mentioned may 
 Vary an hour more or less according to the ad- 
 vantage or disadvantage of wind and tide, 
 those who wish to come on board will see the 
 necessity of being on the spot an hour before 
 the lime. Persons wishing to come on board 
 from any other landing than here specified, 
 can calculate the time the Boat will pass, and 
 be ready on their arrival. Inn-keepersor boat- 
 men, who bring passengers on board, or take 
 them ashore, from any part of the river, wlU 
 be allowed one shilling for each person. 
 Price* of fiassase—from Uevt- York, 
 To West Point, S3 
 
 Newbur(»h. 3 25 
 
 PouKlikeepsie, 4 
 
 Esnpns, 4 25 
 
 "Bedhoofc, 4 50 
 
 Hudson, 5 
 
 Albany, 7 
 
 From jilbaniff 
 To Hudson, 2 
 
 Redhnok, 3 
 
 Esnpus, 3 SO- 
 
 PouRhkeepsie, 4 
 
 Newburgh and West Point, 4 50 
 New-Yoik. 7 
 
 All other way passengers are to pay at the 
 rate of one dollar for every twenty miles, and 
 iialf a dollar for every meal they think proper 
 to have. 
 
 No one can be taken on board and put on 
 .«hore, however short the distance, fur less 
 thnn 2 dollars. 
 
 Young persons from 2 to 10 years of age to 
 ■pfcy half price, or two thirds, if he or she sit at 
 table with the company. - 
 
 Children under the a^e of 2 y«an to pay 
 ene fourth price. 
 
 Servants who pay two thirds price are en- 
 titled to a birth ; they pay half price if no birth. 
 Every person paying full price is a1k>wed 
 SO lbs. of batjgage ; if less than whole price 
 40 lbs. They are to pay at the rate of three 
 cents a ponnd for all surplus baggage. 
 
 Any pcratin taking a birth, shall have no 
 light to change it without permission of the 
 
 A person entering their name in the book 
 ■for a passage, shall pay half price although 
 
 thcT ahall decline. Half the price of t 
 sace to be paid at the time of entering, or the 
 -birth will be conaidered free Tor any other tub- 
 scribe r. 
 
 PaMengera will biMWwt >dbt« they comn 
 
 on board; 'dinner will be aerred op eraclly« 
 2 o'clock; tea.'with^eaw, which is also sup. 
 per, at 8 in the evening ; and'brcakfist at 9 in 
 the morning : no one baa a claim on the atcw- 
 ard for victuals at any other boor. 
 
 REGULATIONS, 
 
 rOR THE NOETB niTZR STEAai-l«A,T. 
 The Tukt which are made for order tad fleiineri. in if« 
 mf-d Judgment Oitll b« te- 
 
 e the 
 
 propiicty 
 
 pruprirty of ftllfljufticr, ind 
 
 .fenyipdiv 
 
 ipofilion on the puiicor fee). 
 
 The Back Cabin, of »2 births, but which 
 win accommodate le persons, i» cxclusivtiy 
 for the Ladies an5 their children. They who 
 first apply and- enter their names on the book, 
 and at the same time pay their passage-mo- 
 ney, shall have the choice of ISbirlhs, Any 
 greater number of persona will be accommo- 
 dated ivith sophos or cross lofckcra. 
 
 The Great Cabin, of 24 births, ^vbich will 
 accommodate 35 pefaons, ia for Gentlemen. 
 The first who apply and enter their narties in 
 the book, at the same time paying their pas- 
 aagc-moncy, wjll have thdr choice of the 24 
 births. Any greater number of persona wiH 
 be accommodated with sophaa. 
 
 The Fore Cabio.of 16 bJrttw, will ascom- 
 niodate 24 persons. The first who apply, on 
 entering^heir namesand payingtneir passage- 
 money, will have the choice of the births. A- 
 ny greater number Of persons vrill be accom- 
 modated with aophas. 
 
 Way-PaEsengers, who are not out for rnore 
 than half the nighi, are not entitled to lie dowa 
 in s birth. 
 
 A» the comfort t^all persons must be coO- 
 sidet«d, cleanlinebi, neatness, and order- ara 
 neceaaary ; it ia ihcrefi.rc not permitted that 
 any person shall snnoke in the J«.ll«* cabio^ 
 or in the great cabin, under a penalty, firatof 
 one dollar and an hal/, and haHTadoIfer for 
 each hair hRUT the^- offend again*! thi« rule j 
 the money to be spent in wJoc for Iho cCtb- 
 pany. 
 
 It is net permitted for anyperaon to lie 
 down ih a birth with their boots or shoes on, 
 under a penalty of one dnMar and a half, and 
 half a dollar for ever;- hidf hour they may of- 
 tcndagainsi this rule. 
 
 A shelf has bptro added to each bitt^'on 
 which gentlemen will please to pwt their boots^ 
 shoes, and dothee, that the cabin may t)ot be 
 incumbered. 
 
 On deck and in the fore «3bin iris allowed 
 
 In the ladies' cabin -and in the great cabitiv 
 cards and all games are to cease at tO o'clock 
 in the evening, tlvat those persons who wiali 
 to sleep might not be disturbed. 
 
 As the Steam-Boat has been Bttcd up in iik 
 elegant style, order ia necessary.tokecp it to; 
 gonilemcn will therefore please to observe 
 cleanliness, and a reasonable attention not to 
 injure the furniture; for this purpose no one 
 must sit on a table under thepenaliy of half* 
 dollar for each time, and every breakage of 
 tables, chairs, sophas. or windows, tcat»ogo £ 
 curtains, or injury of any kind, muu be paid 
 for before leaving the Boat.
 
 A:N^D the "CLERMONT" 
 
 ^'Clermont, State of New York, 
 
 June the 11, 1808. 
 "My steam boat is now in complete 
 operation and works much to my satisfac- 
 tion, making the voyages from or to New 
 York or Albany, 160 miles, on an average 
 in 35 hours. She has three excellent 
 Cabins, or rather rooms, containing 54 
 births, with kitchen, larder, pantry. Bar, 
 and steward's room. Passengers have 
 been encourageing. Last Saturday she 
 started from New York with 70, which is 
 doing very well for these times when trade 
 has not its usual activity."* 
 
 PASSENGER REGULATIONS ON THE 
 NORTH RIVER (THE REMODELED CLERMONT) 
 
 The following time-schedule and list of 
 regulations for passengers is taken from 
 Captain Samuel Wiswall's book, in pos- 
 session of John Henry Livingston, Esq., 
 of Clermont. 
 
 ^Letter in possession of C. H. Hart, Esq., of Philadelphia. 
 
 269
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 THE STEAM BOAT. 
 
 For the Inforination of the Public. 
 
 THE STEAM BOAT will leave New 
 York for Albany every Saturday after. 
 noon exactly at 5 o'clock — and will pass 
 West Point about 3 o'clock on Sunday 
 Newburgh ** 6 do [morning. 
 
 Poughkeepsie ** 10 do 
 Esopus " I in the afternoon. 
 
 Redhook 3 do 
 
 Catskill 6 do 
 
 Hudson 8 in the evening. 
 
 She will leave Albany for New York 
 every Wednesday morning exactly at 8 
 o'clock, and pass Hudson about 3 in 
 the afternoon. 
 
 Esopus 8 in the evening. 
 
 Poughkeepsie i 2 at night. 
 Newburgh 4 Thursday morning. 
 
 West Point 7 do 
 270
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 As the time at which the Boat may- 
 arrive at the different places above-men- 
 tioned may vary an hour more or less 
 according to the advantage or disadvan- 
 tage of wind and tide, those who wish 
 to come on board will see the necessity 
 of being on the spot an hour before the 
 time. Persons wishing to come on 
 board from any other landing than here 
 specified, can calculate the time the 
 Boat will pass, and be ready on their 
 arrival. Inn-keepers or boatmen, who 
 bring passengers on board, or take them 
 ashore, from any part of the river, will 
 be allowed one shilling for each person. 
 
 Prices of passage — -from New York. 
 
 To West Point $3 
 
 Newburgh 3.25 
 
 Poughkeepsie 4 
 
 Esopus 4-2 5 
 271
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 
 Redhook 
 
 4.50 
 
 Hudson 
 
 5.00 
 
 Albany 
 
 7.00 
 
 From Albany. 
 
 
 To Hudson 
 
 2 
 
 Redhook 
 
 3 
 
 Esopus 
 
 Poughkeepsie 
 
 Newburgh and West Point 
 
 New York 
 
 3-50 
 
 4 
 4.50 
 
 7 
 
 All other passengers are to pay at the 
 rate of one dollar for every twenty 
 miles, and half a dollar for every meal 
 they think proper to have. 
 
 No one can be taken on board, and 
 put on shore, however short the dis- 
 tance, for less than 2 dollars. 
 
 Young persons from 2 to i o years of 
 age to pay half price, or two-thirds, if 
 he or she sit at table with the company. 
 272
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Children under the age of 2 years to 
 pay one fourth price. 
 
 Servants who pay two thirds price 
 are entitled to a birth; they pay half 
 price if no birth. 
 
 Every person paying full price is al- 
 lowed 60 lbs. of baggage ; if less than 
 whole price 40 lbs. They are to pay at 
 the rate of three cents a pound for all 
 surplus baggage. 
 
 Any person taking a birth, shall have 
 no right to change it without permis- 
 sion of the captain. 
 
 A person entering their name in the 
 book for a passage, shall pay half price 
 although they shall decline. Half the 
 price of the passage to be paid at the 
 time of entering, or the birth will be 
 considered free for any other subscriber. 
 
 Passengers will breakfast before they 
 come on board; dinner will be served up 
 273
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 exactly at 2 o'clock ; tea, with meats, 
 which is also supper, at 8 in the eve- 
 ning ; and breakfast at 9 in the morning: 
 no one has a claim on the steward for 
 victuals at any other hour. 
 
 REGULATIONS/ 
 
 FOR THE NORTH RIVER STEAM BOAT. 
 
 The rules which are made for order and neat- 
 ness in the boat, are not to be abused. 
 Judgment shall be according to the letter 
 of the law. Gentlemen wishing well to so 
 public and useful an establishment, will 
 see the propriety of strict justice, and the 
 impropriety of the least imposition on the 
 purse or feelings of any individual. 
 
 The Back Cabin, of 1 2 births, but 
 which will accommodate i 8 persons, is 
 exclusively for the Ladies and their 
 children. They who iirst apply and 
 
 ^ Here for the first time published. 
 
 274
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 enter their names on the book, and at 
 the same time pay their passage-money, 
 shall have the choice of i 2 births. Any 
 greater number of persons will be ac- 
 commodated with sophas or cross 
 lockers. 
 
 The Great Cabin of 24 births, which 
 will accommodate 36 persons, is for 
 Gentlemen. The first who apply and 
 enter their names in the book, at the 
 same time paying their passage-money, 
 will have their choice of the 24 births. 
 Any greater number of persons will be 
 accommodated with sophas. 
 
 The Fore Cabin, of 16 births, will 
 accommodate 24 persons. The first 
 who apply, on entering their names and 
 paying their passage-money, will have 
 the choice of the births. Any greater 
 number of persons will be accommo- 
 dated with sophas. 
 
 275
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Way-Passengers, who are not out for 
 more than half the night, are not en- 
 titled to lie down in a birth. 
 
 As the comfort of all persons must be 
 considered, cleanliness, neatness, and 
 order are necessary ; it is therefore not 
 permitted that any person shall smoke in 
 the ladies' cabin, or in the great cabin, 
 under a penalty, first of one dollar and 
 a half, and half a dollar for each half 
 hour they offend against this rule ; the 
 money to be spent in wine for the com- 
 pany. 
 
 It is not permitted for any person to 
 lie down in a birth with their boots or 
 shoes on, under a penalty of one dollar 
 and a half, and half a dollar for every 
 half hour they may offend against this 
 rule. 
 
 A shelf has been added to each birth, 
 on which gentlemen will please to put 
 276
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 their boots, shoes, and clothes, that the 
 cabin may not be incumbered. 
 
 On deck and in the fore cabin it is 
 allowed to smoke. 
 
 In the ladies' cabin and in the great 
 cabin, cards and all games are to cease 
 at lo o'clock in the evening, that those 
 persons who wish to sleep might not be 
 disturbed. 
 
 As the Steam-Boat has been fitted up 
 in an elegant style, order is necessary to 
 keep it so: gentlemen will therefore 
 please to observe cleanliness, and a rea- 
 sonable attention not to injure the fur- 
 niture ; for this purpose no one must 
 sit on a table under the penalty of half 
 a dollar for each time, and every break- 
 age of tables, chairs, sophas, or win- 
 dows, tearing of curtains, or injury of 
 any kind, must be paid for before leav- 
 ing the Boat. 
 
 277
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 SOME PASSENGERS ON THE EARLY TRIPS 
 
 The captain's passenger list^ for the North 
 River Steamboat showing the individual 
 bookings for the 48th trip of the boat, 
 September 20th, 1809, to May 5th, 1810, 
 inclusive, presents the complete record for 
 eighty-four trips. The names seem an old- 
 time roll-call of the prominent families of 
 the Hudson River. A partial list of the 
 passengers will be of interest; 
 
 H. W. Livingston, Lady & Daughter 
 
 Mrs. Lawrence 
 
 Mr. Moncll 
 
 Gov. Lewis & Lady & blk. girl 
 
 Mr. Tillotson 
 
 C. D. Colden & Lady 
 
 Mr, Jay 
 
 Mr. PV. Ronsalaer & Lady 
 
 Judge RadclifFe 
 
 Mrs. Mynderse & Miss Teller 
 
 ^n possession of John Henry Livingston, Esq., of Cler- 
 mont. 
 
 278
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Miss Cruger 
 
 Mr. Schenck 
 
 Mr. V. Schoonhoven & Lady 
 
 Captain Bogert & Daughter 
 
 Mrs. Van Kleeck & Son 
 
 Miss Ludlow & Girl 
 
 Montgomery Livingston 
 
 J. J. Coddington 
 
 Miss Duane & Miss Van Kleeck 
 
 Mrs. Yates [who carried 461 lbs. of baggage] 
 
 Nicholas Roosevelt 
 
 Mr. Peter Schuyler 
 
 General Gansevoort & Daughter & Lady & 
 
 Servant 
 Capt'n Fipher & Lady 
 J. Alden 
 
 Mr. Cuyler, Lady & Ser't 
 Thos. Ludlow 
 Walter Livingston 
 Alden Danforth 
 Mrs. Pendleton 
 Mr. Van Tassell 
 Miss Stats 
 Mr. Ten Eyck 
 D. Romeyn Beach 
 Guy Catlin 
 
 279
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Mr. McVicker 
 
 Mr. Averill 
 
 E. P. Livingston 8i Family 
 
 Mr. Lee Avery 
 
 Mr. Buel 
 
 Mr. Daniel Potter 
 
 Mr. Van Ness 
 
 Doct. Bard 
 
 Mrs. Schenck & Child 
 
 Mrs. Varrick 
 
 D. McComb 
 
 Mr. Morris 
 
 John Stevens 
 
 D. Hossack 
 
 Mr. Emmet 
 
 John Pintard 
 
 T. P. Grosvenor 
 
 Mr. Ruggles 
 
 G. E. Verplanck 
 
 Mr. Proudfoot, Lady & Child 
 
 Mr. Pawlding & 
 
 Mr. Irving 
 
 P. V. HofFman 
 
 Doctor Forsyth 
 
 Mr. Boyd 
 
 Martin Radcliffe 
 
 280
 
 16 
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Mr. Burr 
 
 Mr. Duer & Family 
 
 Mr. Huntington 
 
 Alanson Gary 
 
 Mr. Bayard 
 
 Mr. Beekman & Lady 
 
 Mr. Cutting 
 
 Mr. Van Wyck 
 
 Mr. Pomeroy 
 
 Mrs. Livingston & 
 
 Mrs. Van Kleeck 
 
 N. Bleecker 
 
 S. Van Rensalaer & Ser't 
 
 Matthew Vassar 
 
 Mrs. Content Ferguson 
 
 William Hudson 
 
 Mr. Kissam & Lady 
 
 W. Edgar Jr. & 
 
 T. Leroy 
 
 J. C. Goldbag 
 
 Charles Joy 
 
 Mr. Newbould &; Lady 
 
 Wm. Fish 
 
 Mr. Brevort & Ser't 
 
 Mr. Beekman 
 
 L. Stundish 
 
 281
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Mr. Satterlee 
 Mr. Delavan 
 Mr. Bjam 
 Mr. Sanford 
 Capt. Chancy 
 H. R. Teller 
 Col. Troop 
 Mr. Pell 
 C. Guernsey 
 Isaac Montague 
 
 More light on the financial side of the 
 enterprise is furnished by the following 
 page in Fulton's handwriting, now in pos- 
 session of J. R. Leamont, Esq., of Mont- 
 real, here published for the first time. By 
 "the new boat" is probably meant the 
 Rariton, Fulton's second American steam- 
 boat, which ran from New York to New 
 Brunswick, New Jersey; or The Car of 
 Neptune for additional service on the 
 Hudson River, a companion for the North 
 River. Both boats were built in 1808. 
 282
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 1808 DISBURSEMENTS BY ROBT FULTON D C 
 
 June 25 To Mr. Cheetham for 
 
 printing 25 75 
 
 Dec. 22 For copying the writing of 
 
 the patent 15 00 
 
 1809 
 
 Jan. 22 For the patent 30 00 
 
 Feb. 1 To Mr. MiUigan for binding 
 
 the patent 8 00 
 
 " 4 A Mahogany box to contain 
 
 the patent 3 00 
 
 Mch. 4 To Mandivil the pilot of the 
 
 N. R. boat 7 00 
 
 " 13 To Capt. WisneU a Cheque . 150 00 
 " 23 Mr. Stowdenger a Cheque . 120 00 
 Apr. 8 Mr. Cheetham for printing . 14 56 
 " 22 To Bachelar the Blacksmith 50 00 
 " 20 To Mr. Clogson Attorney at 
 
 law 20 00 
 
 " 24 Mr. Jenkel for insurance 
 
 against fire — one year . . 150 00 
 
 598 31 
 283
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Carried forward .... 598 31 
 
 FOR THE NEW BOAT 
 
 June 9 To Mr. Revere for Copper . 4259 00 
 To Do " Copper 
 
 Rivets 195 40 
 
 To Mr. Smallman for the 
 
 steam engine .... 2450 00 
 To Mr. Brownne for the Boat 5000 00 
 To Bennct the Coppersmith 
 
 making boiler .... 200 00 
 To Capt. Roorback . . . 60 00 
 To Mess. Ogden and Hoffman 
 
 for Writings .... 25 00 
 28 Mr. Rooseveld on Mississippi 
 
 expedition 600 00 
 
 dollars 13377 81 
 
 6688 90 
 
 1809 CASH RECEIVED OF R. R. LIVINGSTON, ESQ. 
 
 March 19 2000 
 
 April 20 1000 
 
 June 1 2000 
 
 5000 
 Paid for Wood at Albany . . . 300 
 
 5300 
 
 284
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 TO PAY TO THE NEW BOAT 
 
 To Mr. Smallman 900 
 
 To Mr. Brownne 3000 
 
 To Bennet the Coppersmith .... 1000 
 
 To McQueen for Contract and Labor . 3000 
 
 for Sails, furniture and Sundries . . 3000 
 
 10900 
 paid— 12779 51 
 
 23679 51 
 
 The final whereabouts of the pioneer 
 vessel remains a mystery. It has been as- 
 serted that she was finally transported as 
 The Henrietta to the Cape Fear River, 
 North Carolina, where Fulton himself as 
 early as 1813 had suggested the formation 
 of a steam-navigation company. An- 
 other authority, INTr. J. Seymour Bullock, 
 states that the boat was broken up, when 
 further important improvements rendered 
 her antiquated shape and construction un- 
 equal to the increased traffic upon the 
 285
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 river, and that the "ribs" of the hull were 
 used under the wharf in Jersey City 
 where the Secor Foundry built monitors 
 during the Civil War. 
 
 A third statement that the boat was sunk 
 off Poughkeepsie, is of doubtful authen- 
 ticity. Fulton, with his usual thrift, prob- 
 ably incorporated the useful parts of the 
 Clermont in a boat of later construction. 
 
 Fulton's own definition of his priority 
 in the invention of the steamboat is con- 
 tained in an interesting paper, now in pos- 
 session of Judge Peter T. Barlow. In a 
 letter to Joel Barlow the inventor asks 
 him to obtain the signature of William 
 Thornton, Clerk of the Patent Office, to a 
 deposition, and writes in part : 
 
 New York, June 28th, 1811. 
 Dear Barlow: 
 
 "My whole time is now occupied in building 
 North River and Steam ferry boats, and in an 
 interesting lawsuit to crush 22 Pirates who have 
 
 286
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 clubbed their purses and copied my boats and 
 have actually started my own Invention in op- 
 position to me by running one trip to Albany: 
 her machinery however gave way in the first 
 voyage and she is now repairing, which will 
 detain her I presume until we obtain an Injunc- 
 tion^ to stop her. A more infamous and out- 
 rageous attack upon mental property has not 
 disgraced America. Thornton has been one of 
 the great causes of it. In this interesting suit 
 which places a great fortune at stake I want 
 you to do two things for me immediately. 
 First go or send Lee to Thornton's office and 
 demand a certified copy of my transfer of one 
 half of my United States patents to Robert 
 R. Livingston and let the certificate state that 
 such transfer is legally registered in the patent 
 office, — it may be certified by a Notary Public.^ 
 
 The absorbing demands of the Cler- 
 mont deterred Fulton from undertaking 
 other important projects. President 
 
 1 This injunction was obtained, and the Albany boats 
 were confiscated. 
 
 - For the full text of this highly interesting document, 
 see Appendix, pages 350-353. 
 
 287
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Jefferson, who had been interested in 
 Fulton's treatise on Canal Navigation, and 
 who had enjoyed a correspondence with 
 him on this and kindred subjects, pro- 
 posed at this time that he should examine 
 the ground and report on a canal to unite 
 the Mississippi River with Lake Pont- 
 chartrain. In his reply to the Secretary 
 of War, Fulton speaks specifically not 
 only of the building of the Clermont but 
 also of the Torpedo project which he had 
 already offered to the American nation. 
 This letter, in possession of the estate of 
 Cornelia Livingston Crary, Fulton's 
 daughter, has never before been published. 
 An extract is here given : 
 
 Philadelphia, March 20th, 1807. 
 
 To General Dearborn, Secretary of War, — 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 I am infinitely obliged by the proposal of 
 the President that I should examine the ground 
 
 288
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 and report on a canal to unite the waters of the 
 Mississippi and Lake Pontchartrain, And am 
 sorry I cannot undertake a work so interesting 
 and honourable. The reason is I have now Ship 
 Builders, Blacksmiths and Carpenters occupied 
 at New York in building and executing the ma- 
 chinery of my Steam Boat, And I must return 
 to that City in ten days to direct the work till 
 finished, which probably will require 4 months. 
 This enterprise is of much Importance to me 
 individually and I hope will be of great use in 
 facilitating the navigation of some of our long 
 rivers. Like every enthusiast I have no doubt 
 of success. I therefore work with ardor, and 
 when adjusting the parts of the machine, I 
 cannot leave the men for a day. I am also pre- 
 paring the engines for the experiment of blow- 
 ing up a Vessel in the harbour of New York 
 this Spring. The machines for this purpose 
 are in great forwardness and I hope to convince 
 the rational part of the inhabitants of our 
 cities, that vessels of War shall never enter 
 our harbours or approach our Coasts but by 
 our consent. Thus I hope I am usefully em- 
 ployed for 6 or 9 months — 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 RoBT. Fulton. 
 
 289
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Three days earlier, Joel Barlow, who 
 was always in Fulton's confidence, wrote 
 to his wife : 
 
 The President wants Toot [Fulton] to go 
 immediately to New Orleans to survey the 
 ground for a great canal there. Mrs. Dear- 
 born says her home is high, airy and healthy, 
 that you must come on with Fulton as far as 
 here in the little phaeton & pass the summer 
 with her, either here or jaunting a little about 
 in these regions. Fulton, they say, is to be 
 back in July, and then if it is thought best to 
 go north, it can be done, as he may then be 
 going to operate in N. York. All this is only 
 thrown out to think on. 
 
 He adds this postscript to Fulton : 
 
 Toot, don't give an answer to Gen'l. Dear- 
 born's letter of yesterday till I come. He does 
 not expect it till then. 
 
 One hundred years has but served 
 to emphasize the wisdom of "Fulton's 
 290
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 Folly." Before the death of the inventor 
 in 1815, eight years after the Clermont 
 steamed up the Hudson, he had built no 
 fewer than seventeen boats, which list in- 
 cludes the first steam war frigate, the 
 torpedo boat, and the first steam ferry- 
 boats, the latter equipped with rounded 
 ends for approach at either shore and 
 floating docks to receive them. 
 
 FULTON S PLANS FOR STEAM NAVIGATION 
 UPON FOREIGN WATERS 
 
 Energetic to the last degree of activity, 
 Fulton not only introduced steam naviga- 
 tion upon the chief rivers of America but 
 also contemplated its introduction upon 
 foreign rivers. 
 
 A letter at the Lenox Library, in the 
 Thomas Addis Emmet collection, shows 
 that in 1812 Fulton signed a joint con- 
 293
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 tract with a certain Thomas Lane to in- 
 troduce steamboats in India. He writes: 
 
 I agree to make the Ganges a joint con- 
 cern — the work is so honorable and impor- 
 tant. It is so grand an Idea that America 
 should establish steam vessels to work in India 
 that it requires vigor activity, exertion, indus- 
 try, attention and no time should be lost. My 
 Paragon^ beats everything on this globe, for 
 made as you and I are, we cannot tell what 
 is in the moon — this Day she came on from 
 Albany 160 miles in 26 hours, wind ahead. 
 
 Four days earlier, Fulton wrote another 
 letter to Chevalier Svinie (Swinine), a 
 Russian gentleman, then staying in Wey- 
 mouth Street, London. The letter for- 
 warded by J. Eliot Hodgkin of London, 
 in response to the author's inquiry in 
 "Notes and Queries," is here printed for 
 the first time. 
 
 ^Fulton's boat built in 1811 for service on the Hudson. 
 
 294
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 New York, April 12, 1812. 
 Chevalier Svinie, 
 Sir; 
 
 Being inventor of the Steam Boats having a 
 claim on every Government for the use of my in- 
 vention much superior to that of any other in- 
 dividual, and relying on the respect which the 
 Government of Russia have for the arts, I wrote 
 to Mr. Adams ^ in November last to obtain for 
 me an exclusive right for 20 years on condition 
 that I should cause a steam-boat to be estab- 
 lished from Petersburgh to Cronstadt in three 
 years after obtaining 'the Grant, the considera- 
 tions proposed to Mr. Adams render it neces- 
 sary for me to wait his answer; But should he 
 neglect or not obtain the grant, and it should 
 be given to another. It will then be time enough 
 to talk of the terms on which I would go into the 
 enterprise, on which it is impossible for me at 
 present to make up my mind. I am 
 
 Sir Respectfully your most obedient, 
 
 Robert Fulton. 
 
 ^ John Quincy Adams, American Ambassador to Russia, 
 1809-1814. 
 
 295
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 A second letter upon this proposition is 
 extant from the Chevaher. It is among 
 Fulton's family papers in possession 
 of the estate of his daughter, Cornelia 
 Livingston Crary. M. Swinine says in 
 part: 
 
 "Doubtless Sir, it is known to you, that 
 for several months past I have been taken 
 up with your admirable invention of the 
 steam boat, dedicating all my knowledge 
 for its introduction in Russia. As you 
 have received the Imperial permission for 
 this introduction, I offer you. Sir, my ser- 
 vices, which I flatter myself may be of 
 great utility. Certainly it will be neces- 
 sary for you to have the plan of the River 
 Neva and of the channel from St. Peters- 
 bourg to Cronstadt, to have the clearest 
 information of the value of materials nec- 
 essary for the construction of the steam 
 296
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 boat, the description of other communica- 
 tions by water in Russia etc. I hope to 
 give you all that and whatever else may 
 be requisite for you in the most agreeable 
 way, as none but myself can satisfy you. 
 
 "My demands are limited to the two 
 following agreements : 
 
 1st That your Company honour me 
 with the title of Superintendent of the 
 Steamboats of Russia. 
 
 2nd: That it will grant me on my ar- 
 rival in Russia an annual salary as may 
 seem most just." [etc.] 
 
 At the time of Fulton's death the steam- 
 boat The Emperor of Russia was in pro- 
 cess of building, and in accordance with 
 contract was to be transferred to Russian 
 waters before December 1st. The enter- 
 prise was postponed, and was subse- 
 quently taken up by other contractors. 
 297
 
 ROBERT FULTON 
 
 "Robert Fulton is going to be a great 
 man this year!" observed a casual ap- 
 praiser. 
 
 "Sir," he was answered, "Robert Ful- 
 ton was a great man one hundred years 
 ago, or the justice of an American nation 
 would not, at the end of a century, recall 
 his life with gratitude." 
 
 With the recognition of Robert Ful- 
 ton's chief invention, it should be kept in 
 mind that he was deeply interested in the 
 largest problems of humanity. He was not 
 only an inventor, he was also a reformer, a 
 statesman, and a patriot. With splendid 
 courage born of conviction, he enriched 
 the world by original products which he 
 was pleased to term "useful arts" and 
 sometimes "mental property." To for- 
 ward his plans he gave in unstinted meas- 
 ure,— his time, his talents, his wealth. It 
 is characteristic that in his writings he 
 298
 
 AND THE "CLERMONT" 
 
 capitalized the word "Ideas" and spelled 
 "money" with small initial. Thus as the 
 world gauges success, — he died poor: 
 yet, as a century translates that poverty it 
 becomes golden with the wealth of honor. 
 
 17 299
 
 APPENDIX
 
 1
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Fulton's letter to watt* 
 (Page 42) 
 
 Manchester, Nov. 4, 1794. 
 Messrs. Boulton & Watt, 
 Gentlemen: 
 
 I shall esteem it a favour to be informed of 
 the Expences of a Steam Engine with a Rota- 
 tive movement of the purchase of 3 or 4 horses, 
 which is designed to be placed in a Boat. You 
 Will be so good as to mention what' sized boat 
 it would occupy, as I wish to have it in as little 
 space as Possible, and what you consive will be 
 the Expence when finished Compleat in the Boat. 
 Whether you have one ready of the dimentions 
 specified or how soon one might be finished. 
 
 ^In possession of George Tange, Esq., of Birmingham. 
 
 303
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 With Weight of Coals which It will consume in 
 12 hours, and what Quantity of purchase you 
 allow to each horse, as I am anxious to supply 
 some Engines of the above dimentions as soon 
 as Possible. Your Emediate Answer will much 
 oblige 
 
 Your Most obedient and very humble Servant, 
 
 RoBT. Fulton. 
 Bridgewater Arms, Manchester. 
 
 rULTON S TREATISE ON CANAL NAVIGATION 
 (Page 48) 
 
 A copy of the "Treatise" in the Lenox Li- 
 brary contains a four-page letter to General 
 Bonaparte from the author. In. his preface 
 Fulton says : 
 
 The fear of meeting the opposition of envy, 
 or the illiberality of ignorance is, no doubt, the 
 frequent cause of preventing many ingenious 
 men from ushering opinions into the world which 
 deviate from common practice. Hence for want 
 of energy, the young idea is shackled with timid- 
 ity and a useful thought is buried in the im- 
 
 304)
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 penetrable gloom of eternal oblivion. But if 
 we consider for a moment, how much men are 
 the sons of habit, we shall find that almost the 
 whole operations of society are the produce of 
 accident and a combination of events, rendered 
 familiar by custom, and interwoven into the 
 senses by time: insomuch that it is a mere 
 chance if the Ideas are awakened to a sense of 
 particular errors. But in such case, it is for- 
 tunate when they arise in a mind active to in- 
 vestigate and which feels only contented to rest 
 on the basis of reason : for without this, man 
 must ever remain in a fixed point and improve- 
 ment will be at an end: the adventurer must, 
 therefore, arm himself with fortitude to meet the 
 attacks of illiberality and prejudice, determined 
 to yield to nothing but superior reason ; rest- 
 ing assured that every virtuous mind will com- 
 mend an exertion to remove the rubbish from 
 around the Temple of Truth, even should the 
 undertaking fail. . . . The mechanic should 
 sit down among levers, screws, wedges, wheels, 
 etc., like a poet among the letters of the alpha- 
 bet, considering them as the exhibition of his 
 thoughts; in which a new arrangement trans- 
 mits a new idea to the world. It is for want 
 
 305
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 of this discrimination that many a worthy man 
 of easy demeanor is tormented by the criticism 
 of ignorant insignificance; for men of the least 
 genius are ever the first to deprecate and the 
 last to commend: and for an obvious reason, 
 they have not sense to know the produce of 
 genius when they see it. 
 
 THE WASHINGTON LETTER 
 (Page 50) 
 
 The letter to President Washington, now in 
 the possession of the Historical Society of 
 Pennsylvania, is reproduced here for the first 
 time. 
 
 London, Sept. 12*^, 1796. 
 
 To His Excellency, George Washington, 
 President of the United States : 
 Sir : By my friend Dr. Edwards I beg leave 
 to present you with this publication ; which I 
 hope will be honoured with your Perusal at a 
 liesure hour : The object of which is to Exhibit 
 the Certain mode of Giving Agriculture to every 
 Acre of the immense Continent of America ; By 
 means of a Creative System of Canals. 
 
 306
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 When this Subject first entered my thoughts, 
 I had no Idea of its Consequence. But the 
 scene gradually opened and at Length exhibited 
 the most extensive and pleasing prospect of 
 Improvements : hence, I now consider it of much 
 national Importance; And View it like the ap- 
 plication of those particular principles which 
 produce certain effects. 
 
 Thus the discovery of the Mariner's Com- 
 pass Gave Commerce to the World. 
 
 The Invention of printing is dissipating dark- 
 ness and giving a Polish to the Mass of Men. 
 
 And the Introduction of the Creative Sys- 
 tem of Canals as certain in their Effects will 
 give an Agricultural Polish to every Acre of 
 America. I therefore Beg Leave to Submit to 
 your Contemplation the Last Chapter with the 
 Supplement; which exhibits the Specific System 
 for America: And hoping that your Excel- 
 lencie's Sanction will awaken the Public atten- 
 tion to the Subject: 
 
 I Remain with all possible Respect, your 
 
 Excellencie's Most Obedient & Very Humble 
 
 Servant „ -r, 
 
 Robert julton. 
 
 307
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Among the Washington papers in the Li- 
 brary of Congress is this reply : 
 
 PJiilad. 14th Deer 1796. 
 Robert Fulton Esqr. 
 Sir, 
 
 By the hands of Doct. Edwards I was 
 favored with your Treatise on the improvement 
 of Canal Navigation. For your goodness in 
 sending it to me I pray you to accept my best 
 thanks. 
 
 The subject is interesting and I dare presume 
 is well treated, but as the Book came to me in 
 the midst of busy preparatory scenes for Con- 
 gress I have not had liesure yet to give it the 
 perusal which the importance of such a work 
 would merit. I shall do it with pleasure I am 
 persuaded when I have. 
 
 With Esteem I am Sir 
 Your obt & Obliged 
 & Hblc Servt 
 
 G^: Washington. 
 
 308
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Fulton's exposition of his canal scheme set 
 
 FORTH in his LETTER TO WASHINGTON 
 (Page 66) 
 
 The following letter to President Washing- 
 ton, written early in the year Fulton went to 
 Paris, is in the archives of the Congressional 
 Library : 
 
 London, Feby. 5th, 1797. 
 
 Sir: Last evening Mr. King presented me with 
 your Letter acquainting me of the Receipt of 
 my publication on Small Canals, which I hope 
 you will Soon have time to Peruse in a tranquil 
 Retirement from the Buisy operations of a Pub- 
 lic Life: Therefore Looking forward to that 
 period when the whole force of your Mind will 
 Act upon the Internal improvement of our 
 Country, by Promoting Agriculture and Manu- 
 factures : I have little doubt but easy Convey- 
 ance, the Great agent to other improvements 
 will have its due Weight And meet Your patron- 
 age. 
 
 For the mode of Giving easy Communication 
 to every part of the American States, I beg 
 Leave to draw your Particular attention to the 
 
 809
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Last Chapter on Creative Canals; And the ex- 
 panded mind will trace down the time when they 
 will penetrate into every district Carrying with 
 them the means of facilitating Manuel Labour 
 and Rendering it productive. But how to Raise 
 a Sum in the different States, has been my 
 Greatest difficulty. I first Considered them as 
 national Works. But perhaps An Incorporated 
 Company of Subscribers, who Should be Bound 
 to apply half or a part of their profits to ex- 
 tension would be the best mode. As it would 
 then be their Interest to Promote the work: 
 And Guard their emoluments. 
 
 That Such a Work would answer to Sub- 
 scribers appears from Such Information as I 
 have Collected ; Reletive to the Carriage from 
 the Neighborhood of Lancaster, to Phila- 
 delphia. To me it appears that a Canal on 
 the Small Scale might have been made to Lan- 
 caster for 120 thousand £ and that the Car- 
 riage at 20 Shillings per ton would pay 14 
 thousand per Annum, of which, 7,000 to Sub- 
 scribers and 7,000 to extension. By this 
 means in about 10 years they would touch 
 the Susquehanna, and the trade would then 
 so much increase as to produce 30,000 per 
 
 310
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Annum, of Which 15,000 to Subscribers, the 
 Remainder to extension ; Continuing thus till 
 in About 20 Years the Canal would Run into 
 Lake Erie, Yielding a produce of 100,000 per 
 annum or 50 thousand f to Subscribers, which 
 is 40 per Cent; hence the Inducement to Sub- 
 scribe to such undertakings. 
 
 Proceeding in this manner I find that in 
 about 60 or 70 years Penselvania would have 
 9360 Miles of Canal, equal to Bringing Water 
 Carriage within the easy Reach of every house, 
 nor would any house be more than 10 or 14 
 Miles from a Canal: By this time the whole 
 Carriage of the country would Come on Water 
 even to Passengers — and following the present 
 Rate of Carriage on the Lancaster Road, it 
 appears that the tolls would amount to 4,000,- 
 000 per year. Yet no one would pay more 
 than 21 shillings and 8d. per ton, whatever 
 might be the distance Conveyed, the whole 
 would also be pond Canal, on which there is an 
 equal facility of conveyance each way. Hav- 
 ing made this Calculation to Show that the 
 Creative System, would be productive of Great 
 emolument, to Subscribers, It is only further 
 to be observed that if each State was to Com- 
 
 311
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 mence a Creative System, It would fill the whole 
 Country, and in Less than a Century bring 
 Water Carriage within the easy Cartage of 
 every Acre of the American States, — Conveying 
 the Surplus Labours of one hundred Millions 
 of Men. 
 
 Hence Seeing that by System this must be 
 the Result, I feel anxious that the Public mind 
 may be awakened to their true Interest: And 
 Instead of directing Turnpike Roads towards 
 the Interior Country, or expending Large 
 Sums in River navigations — Which must ever 
 be precarious and lead [ — — ] I Could wish 
 to See the Labour, and funds applied to Such 
 a System As would penetrate the Interior 
 Country And bind the whole In the Bonds of 
 social Intercourse. 
 
 The Importance of this Subject I hope will 
 plead my excuse for troubeling you with So 
 Long a Letter, And in expectation of being 
 Favoured with your thoughts on the System 
 and mode of Carrying it into effect, I Remain 
 with the utmost 
 
 Esteem and Sincere Respect 
 Your Most Obedient Servant 
 
 RoBT. Fulton. 
 
 His Excellency Geoiige Washington. 
 
 312
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 TRANSLATION : 
 
 ROBERT FULTON TO GENERAL BONAPARTE. 
 
 ORIGINAL IN LENOX LIBRARY, NEW YORK 
 
 (Page 67) 
 
 To General Bonaparte. 
 
 Citizen General: Citizen Perier having in- 
 formed me that you would like to have acquain- 
 tance with my Work on the System of Small 
 Canals, I take the liberty of presenting you 
 with a copy and shall be happy if you find 
 therein some means of improving the industries 
 of the French Republic. 
 
 To this copy I have added two memoirs 
 which I purpose putting before the eyes of the 
 Directory. One relates to the absolutely new 
 system of Small Canals which if it is adopted, 
 will produce the most considerable portion of 
 the public revenue. In the other I try to show 
 the favorable results of this system and at the 
 same time, the necessity of an entire liberty of 
 Commerce. 
 
 These plans of improvement and my reflec- 
 tions upon Commerce, are elaborations of the 
 following ideas which I regard as the base of 
 political welfare, and wliich seem to me worthy 
 of the consideration of all republicans, of all 
 
 313
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 friends of humanity: Labor is the source of 
 riches of all kinds ; it follows that the more 
 numerous the industrious and useful class, the 
 more a country should gain in riches and com- 
 fort. It is then to the interest of each Nation 
 to draw from its natural advantages every fea- 
 ture possible. To that end Governments must 
 apply themselves above all to domestic improve- 
 ments and search continually to increase the 
 number of useful individuals ; and only by 
 eliminating as far as possible the causes of war, 
 will men be enabled to devote themselves to in- 
 dustrious works, and reduce beggary. 
 
 Among all the causes of wars, it is true, 
 each day sees disappear that which relates to 
 Kings, Priests, and the things which accom- 
 pany them. But nevertheless Republics them- 
 selves will not be exempt from melancholy 
 quarrels, in as much as they do not separate 
 themselves from the erroneous systems of ex- 
 clusive commerce and distant possessions. 
 Therefore, all who love their fellow men should 
 try to search to destroy these errors. Ambi- 
 tion itself should not search for glory further 
 than to show to men the way of truth, and to 
 set aside the obstacles which hinder nations 
 
 314
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 from arriving at a lasting peace, — for what 
 glory can survive that does not receive the 
 sanction of Philosophy? 
 
 To liberate the nations, Citizen General, you 
 have executed vast enterprises, and the glory 
 you have achieved should be as durable as time. 
 Who then could render a more efficacious ap- 
 proval of the projects which can contribute to 
 the general welfare? It is with this idea that 
 I submit my work to you, hoping that if you 
 find there some useful truths you will vouch- 
 safe the support of your powerful influence, 
 and in fact, favor projects the execution of 
 which should render more happy millions of 
 men. Could virtuous genius find a more de- 
 lightful satisfaction? It is from this point of 
 view that interior improvements and liberty of 
 commerce become of the highest importance. 
 
 If success crowns the efforts of France 
 against England, it will only remain for her 
 to terminate gloriously this long war by ac- 
 cording liberty to commerce and by compelling 
 other powers to adopt this system. Political 
 liberty would thus acquire that degree of per- 
 fection and of extent of which it is susceptible, 
 and Philosophy would see with joy the Olive 
 
 ^« 315
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Branch of Eternal Peace Sheltering Science 
 and Industry. With salutation and respect, 
 
 Robert Fulton. 
 Paris, 12 Floreal, An 6 
 
 LETTER FROM ROBERT FULTOX TO JOSHUA GIL- 
 PIN, DATED PARIS, NOVEMBER THE 20tH, 1798 
 (Page 72) 
 
 I thank you for . . . Mr. Chapman's ob- 
 servations on my system of small canals — 
 which observations I expect will tend to bring 
 the subject to discussion and Render its im- 
 portance understood. . . . But for the plea- 
 sure of Seeing my Canal system stand in its 
 true Light I look to America, and to America I 
 look for the perfecting of all my plans — which 
 plans are not numerous but their Consequences 
 perhaps may be immense on the future im- 
 provement and happiness of America. The 
 plan of my Nautilus [Fulton's plunging boat] 
 you say is not liked, this must be because its 
 Consequences are not understood. The Idea 
 is yet an Infant, but I think I see in it all the 
 nerve and muscle of an Infant hercules which 
 
 316
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 at one grasp will Strangle the Serpents which 
 poison and Convulse the American Constitu- 
 tion. 
 
 Every man who has the least pretension to 
 expanded Reflection and a Knowledge of the 
 interest of nations must admit that a perfect 
 free trade is of the utmost importance, but a 
 free trade or in other words a free Ocean, is 
 particularly Important to America. I would 
 ask anyone if all the American difficulties dur- 
 ing this war is not owing to the Naval systems 
 of Europe and a Licensed Robbery on the 
 ocean? how then is America to prevent this? 
 Certainly not by attempting to build a fleet to 
 cope with the fleets of Europe, but if possible 
 by Rendering the European fleets useless. A 
 letter has not Room for much on this head, my 
 Reasons on the Subject shall make their ap- 
 pearance in time, and I hope in manner which 
 will Carry Conviction — From what I have 
 heard, some of my friends fear that I may 
 become an instrument in the hands of party — 
 but of this I believe there is not the least dan- 
 ger. If I know myself I believe I am much 
 governed by my own Contemplations which 
 Contemplations I believe always tend to pro- 
 
 317
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 mote the Interests of Mankind — at least Such 
 is my wish and I Cannot unite with any party 
 or poHty nor will I aid them unless I Clearly 
 see that an obstacle beftween Society and a 
 Lasting peace or improvement Can be Re- 
 moved. 
 
 Remember me with the utmost affection to 
 Mr and Mrs West tell them how much I love 
 them, and wish to imitate their Social Virtues. 
 I am happy Ralph has gone to America where 
 I hope to return early in the Spring. 
 
 Remember me also to Mr Cartwright's fam- 
 ily, with Regard to his engines I will write him. 
 
 FULTON S LETTER TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE 
 COMMISSION. FRENCH ORIGINAL IN THE 
 
 BRITISH MUSEUM. [TRANSLATION] 
 
 (Page 78) 
 
 Citizen Director: From the report of the 
 Commissioner named by the Minister of the 
 Marine, it would seem that the machine and 
 the means by which I have proposed to destroy 
 the English Fleet, are pronounced to be prac- 
 ticable, — Permit me then to recall to your con- 
 
 318
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 sideration the consequences which should result 
 from the success of this enterprise. The enor- 
 mous commerce of England, no less than its 
 monstrous government, depends upon its mili- 
 tary marine. However if their vessels of war 
 are destroyed by means so novel, so hidden and 
 so incalculable, the confidence of the sailors 
 will be destroyed, and the fleet rendered useless 
 in the first moment of its terror. In such a 
 state of aff'airs the Republicans in England 
 would rise to facilitate a descent of the French, 
 or would change their government of themselves 
 without shedding much blood and without any 
 expense to France. With England Repub- 
 licanized, the seas will be free. The liberty of 
 the seas would become a guarantee of perpetual 
 peace to all maritime nations. 
 
 By such a peace France will gain more than 
 any other nation, because of her great popula- 
 tion and the immensity of her resources. Only 
 then will humanity perceive, how priceless are 
 the principles for which the French have ex- 
 pended prodigies of their blood, in all their 
 miracles of bravery. 
 
 If at first glance, the means I propose seem 
 revolting, it is only because they are extraor- 
 
 319
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 dinary. They are an3^tliing but inhuman ; it 
 is certainly the most peaceful and least bloody 
 mode that the philosopher could imagine to 
 overturn the system of plunder and of per- 
 petual war, which has always vexed the maritime 
 nations : To give, at last, peace to the earth, 
 and to restore men to their natural industries, 
 and to a happiness, until now, unknown. I 
 salute you with respect, 
 
 Robert Fulton. 
 6 Brumaire, An 7. 
 
 FULTON S SUGGESTIONS TO THE FRENCH COMMIS- 
 SION APPOINTED BY NAPOLEON, FOR THE USE 
 
 OF HIS TORPEDO INVENTION 
 (Page 95) 
 
 Having given you a sliort Sketch of the Suc- 
 cession of my Experiments, the mode of using 
 these inventions against the enemy is now to be 
 considered. On this Point, time and experience 
 will make numerous improvements. As in all 
 other new inventions and discover modes of 
 operation which could not possibly occur to 
 me. When powder was invented, its infinite 
 
 820
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 applications were not thought of, nor did the 
 Inventors of the Steam Engine conceive the 
 numerous purposes to which I[t] could be ap- 
 plied. In like manner it is impossible at pres- 
 ent to see the various modes, or the best method 
 of using a plunging boat or the Bomb Sub- 
 marine. But as far as I have reflected on this 
 point, I conceive the best operation to be as 
 follows : 
 
 First. 
 
 To construct one or two good plunging boats 
 each 36 feet long and 12 feet wide. Boats of 
 this capacity would be sufficient to contain 6 
 men and air for 8 hours. With provisions for 
 Inhere the paper is torn]^ days and transport 
 from 25 to 30 Bombs at a time. Their cylin- 
 ders should be Brass and of a strength to admit 
 of descending 60 or 80 feet under water in case 
 of need. And they may be constructed to sail 
 from 5 to 7 miles an hour ; Hence it may be 
 well to observe that; Quick sailing is not one of 
 the most important considerations in this in- 
 vention. If such a boat is pursued, she plunges 
 under water, and as She can remain under 
 Water from 4 to 8 hours and make at least 
 321
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 one Mile per hour, She could rise Several miles 
 from the place where she plunged to renew her 
 air. Thus the enemies ports could be ap- 
 proached And particularly under the cover of 
 the Night. Nor do I at present see that any 
 possible vigilance could prevent these invisible 
 engines entering their ports and returning at 
 pleasure. 
 
 Second. 
 
 Let there be also some hundreds of Bombs 
 Submarine constructed of which there are two 
 sorts, — one arranged with clockwork in such a 
 manner as to go off at any given period, from 4 
 minutes to 4 hours. The other with a Gun lock 
 as before mentioned, so as to go off when it 
 strikes against a vessel or when a vessel runs 
 against it. Each of these carcasses is arranged 
 so as to float from 4 to 15 feet under water in 
 proportion to the water which the Vessels to be 
 attacked, draws. And in this there are two ad- 
 vantages, the first is that the bomb is invisible, 
 — the second is that when the explosion takes 
 place under water, the pressure of tlie column of 
 water to be removed forces the whole action 
 of the powder against the vessel ; It was the re- 
 
 322
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 sistance of the water which caused the sloop on 
 which I proved the experiment, to be reduced 
 to atoms : for water, when struck quick, such 
 as the stroke of a cannon ball or the expansion 
 of powder, acts like a Solid; and hence the 
 whole force was spent on the Sloop, or rather 
 passed through the sloop in finding its pas- 
 sage to the air by the perpendicular and shortest 
 line of resistance. The same effect would no 
 doubt be produced on a vessel of any dimen- 
 sions by applying a proportionate quantity of 
 powder, such as 2, 3 or 4 hundred weight. 
 
 Therefore being prepared with plunging 
 boats and Bombs Submarine, let the business of 
 the boats be to go with cargos of bombs and let 
 them loose with the current into the harbours 
 of Portsmouth, Plymouth, Torquay or else 
 where. Those with their graplings floating 
 under water could not be perceived. Some 
 would hook in the cables, bow or stern, or touch 
 in their passage: many, no doubt, would miss 
 but some would hit, go off and destroy the 
 vessels they touched. One or more vessels de- 
 stroyed in a Port by such invisible agents would 
 render it too dangerous to admit of any vessel 
 remaining. And thus the enemy may at all 
 
 323
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 times be attacked in their OAvn Ports, and by a 
 means at once cheap, simple, and I conceive, 
 certain in its operation. 
 
 Another mode would be to go with cargoes 
 of bombs and anchor them in the entrance of 
 rivers so as to cut off or blockade the com- 
 merce. 2 or 3 hundred, for example, anchored 
 in the Thames or the Channels leading to the 
 Thames would completely destroy the commerce 
 of that river and reduce London and the Cabi- 
 net of St James to any terms. No pilot could 
 steer clear of such hidden dangers, — no one 
 dare to raise them even if hooked by grapp- 
 lings, as they could not tell the moment they 
 might touch the Secret Spring which would 
 cause the explosion and destruction of every- 
 thing around them. No vessel could pass with- 
 out the utmost danger of running on one of 
 them and Her instant destruction. If this mea- 
 sure should ever become necessary some Vessels 
 will most certainly be destroyed and their de- 
 struction alarm the whole commerce of the 
 Thames. By this means the Thames may be 
 blockaded and the trade of London completely 
 stopped, — nor can the combined fleets of Eng- 
 land prevent this kind of attack. And this is 
 
 324
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 perhaps the most simple and certain means of 
 convincing England that Science can put her 
 in the power of France and of compelling Her 
 to become a humble pleader for the liberty of 
 the seas, which She now denies to her neighbors. 
 I therefore conceive that it will be good 
 policy to commence as soon as possible the con- 
 struction of the boats and bombs. If they can 
 be finished before the arrival of Peace their 
 effects may be proved during this War. Should 
 Peace be concluded before they are finished the 
 experiments can be continued. Men can be 
 exercised in the use of the engines. And it is 
 possible in a few years England will see it Her 
 best policy never to give France reason to exer- 
 cise this invention against her. If England 
 cannot prevent the blockade of the Thames by 
 the means of plunging boats and Bombs Sub- 
 marine, of what use will be to her her boasted 
 Navy.? The free navigation of the Thames 
 noui'ishes the immense commerce of London, 
 and the commerce of London is the Nerve and 
 Vitals of the Cabinet of St James. Convince 
 England that you have the means of stopping 
 that source of riches, and she must submit to 
 your terms. Thus, Citizens, I have presented 
 
 325
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 you with a short account of my experiments 
 and Plan for using this invention against the 
 Enemy, hoping that under your protection it 
 will be carried to perfection and practised to 
 promote the Liberty of the Seas. Health and 
 Sincere Respect. ^^ -r^ 
 
 ^ KOBERT jtULTON. 
 
 ACCOUNT OF FULTON-LIVINGSTON PARTNERSHIP 
 (Page 117) 
 
 Chancellor Livingston's account of the Ful- 
 ton-Livingston partnership, which he drew up 
 for the "American and Philosophical Register," 
 is in part as follows : 
 
 Robert R. Livingston, when minister in 
 France, met with Mr. Fulton and they formed 
 that friendship and connexion with each other, 
 to which a similarity of pursuits generally gives 
 birth. He connnunicated to Mr. Fulton the 
 importance of steamboats to their common 
 country; informed him of what had been at- 
 tempted in America, and of his resolution to 
 resume the pursuit on his return, and advised 
 him to turn his attention to the subject. It was 
 
 326
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 agreed between them to embark in the enter- 
 prise, and immediately to make such experi- 
 ments as would enable them to determine how 
 far, in spite of former failures, the object was 
 attainable. The principal direction of these 
 experiments was left to Mr. Fulton, who united 
 in a very considerable degree, practical, to a 
 theoretical knowledge of mechanics. After try- 
 ing a variety of experiments on a small scale, 
 on models of his own invention, it was under- 
 stood that he [Mr. Fulton] had developed the 
 true principles upon which steamboats should 
 be built, and for the want of knowing which all 
 previous experiments had failed. But as these 
 two gentlemen both knew that many things 
 which were apparently perfect when tried on 
 a small scale, failed when reduced to practice 
 upon a large one, they determined to go to the 
 expense of building an operating boat upon 
 the Seine. This was done in the year 1803, 
 at their joint expense, under the direction of 
 Mr. Fulton; and so fully evinced the justice 
 of his principles, that it was immediately deter- 
 mined to cnricli tlieir country by the valuable 
 discovery, as soon as they should meet there, 
 and in the meantime to order an engine to be 
 
 327
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 made in England. On the arrival at New York 
 of Mr. Fulton, which was not until 1806, they 
 immediately engaged in building a boat of, what 
 was then considered, very considerable dimen- 
 sions. 
 
 Fulton's notes on m. des blanc's patent 
 
 (1802) 
 
 (Page 128) 
 
 This imperfection makes me believe that M. 
 Des Blanc has not found the proportion which 
 his paddles should bear to the bow of the boat, 
 or the velocity which they should run in pro- 
 portion to the velocity which the boat is in- 
 tended to go. — Consequently if he has not 
 known the proportions and velocities he has not 
 mounted or deposited a description by which 
 an artist could construct a Boat to go any 
 given number of miles an hour nor in fact has 
 he shown the means of constructing a boat 
 which can be of use. He has left the propor- 
 tions and velocities to be discovered. He has 
 not given any rule to make a boat of any given 
 dimensions, go any given distance in a given 
 time, and hence he has not as yet mounted a 
 
 328
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 boat to navigate by steam in such a manner 
 as to be of use to society ; for this invention to 
 be rendered useful does not consist in putting 
 oars, paddles, wheels or resisting chains in 
 motion by a steam engine — but it consists in 
 showing in a clear and distinct manner that it 
 is desired to drive a boat precisely any given 
 number of miles an hour — what must be the 
 size of the cylinder and velocity of the piston? 
 What must be the size and velocity of the 
 resisting chains? All these tilings being gov- 
 erned by the laws of Nature, the real Invention 
 is to find them. — Till the artist knows the nec- 
 essary proportions to this and all other sized 
 boats he must work in the dark and to great 
 uncertainty, and can not be said to have made 
 any clear and distinct discovery or useful in- 
 vention. 
 
 In a paper entitled, "Observations on Mov- 
 ing Boats by Machinery," after a technical 
 review of several experiments, Fulton summed 
 his conclusions thus: 
 
 I am inclined to think that if each of the 
 here mentioned methods are minutely examined 
 
 329
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 it will be found impossible to drive a boat 8 
 miles, and perhaps not 6 miles an hour, by such 
 application of the power — and it appears to me 
 that it has been owing [to] such defective ap- 
 plications of the power and not to any defect 
 in the steam engine, that the experiments hith- 
 erto made have failed.^ 
 
 He defined specific errors in Rumsey's at- 
 tempt in a section of his note-book entitled, 
 "Messrs. Parker & Rumsies experiment for 
 moving boats." After a consideration of their 
 several points, in the form of question and 
 answer, he avers: 
 
 It therefore appears that the Engine was not 
 loaded to its full power, that the water was 
 lifted four times too high and that the tube by 
 which the water escaped was more than five 
 times too small. 
 
 Reviewing the inconvenience and ihadequacy 
 of their proposed method of steam application, 
 Fulton continued : 
 
 'Vo see clearly the error of this mode of mov- 
 
 ^ Unpublished paper in the estate of Fulton's daughter, 
 Cornelia Livingston Crary. 
 
 330
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 ing boats, it is necessary first to know exactly 
 how much power is lost by forcing a large col- 
 umn of water through a small aperture. And 
 for this purpose perhaps some eifperiments 
 must be made. However it is clear that to the 
 less height the Water is raised the more of the 
 power of the Engine must be lost in raising the 
 water above its natural level, and to say noth- 
 ing of loading the Vessel with Water. In my 
 opinion the power of the Engine cannot be ap- 
 plied to advantage by this means. 
 
 LETTER TO SKIPWITH 
 
 Extract from a letter of Robert Fulton to 
 Fulner Skipwith, dated Paris, September 20, 
 1802. In possession of Charles Henry Hart, 
 of Philadelphia. 
 
 (Page 146) 
 
 "The expense of a patent in France is 300 
 livres for three years, 800 ditto for ten j^ears, 
 and 1500 ditto for fifteen years. There can be 
 no difl^culty in obtaining a patent for the mode 
 of propelling a boat which you have shown me ; 
 but if the author of the model wishes to be as- 
 
 i« 331
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 sured of the merits of his invention before he 
 goes to the expense of a patent, I advise him to 
 make a model of a boat in which he can place a 
 clock spring, which will give about eight revolu- 
 tions. He can then combine the movements so 
 as to try oars, paddles, and the leaves which he 
 proposes. If he finds that the leaves drive the 
 boat a greater distance in the same time than 
 either oars or paddles, they consequently are a 
 better application of power. About eight years 
 ago, the Earl of Stanhope tried an experiment 
 on similar leaves, oars and paddles, and found 
 oars to be the best. The velocity with which 
 a boat moves is in proportion as the sum of the 
 surfaces of the oars, paddles, leaves or other 
 machine is to the bow of the boat presented to 
 the water, and in proportion to the power with 
 which such machinery is put in motion. ... If 
 the author of the model is fond of mechanics, he 
 will be much amused and not lose his time by 
 trying the experiment in the manner I propose, 
 and this perhaps is the most prudent measure 
 before a patent is taken. I am. Sir, with much 
 
 respect, ,,. 
 
 ^ Yours, 
 
 Robert Fulton. 
 332
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 pulton's letter to the FRENCH COMMISSION 
 (Page 144) 
 
 A translation of this letter which has ap- 
 peared in "Cassier's Magazine" is here given by 
 the courtesy of the Editor. 
 
 Paris, Jf. Pluvoise, Year XI 
 (25th January, 1803) 
 
 Robert Fulton to Citizens Molar, Bandell, and 
 Montgolfier, Friends of the Arts: 
 I send you herewith sketch designs of a ma- 
 chine which I am about to construct with which 
 I propose soon to make experiments upon the 
 towing of boats upon rivers by the aid of fire- 
 engines. My original object in attempting this 
 was to put it in practice upon the great rivers 
 of America where there are no roads suitable 
 for hauling nor indeed are any hardly prac- 
 ticable, and where in consequence the cost of 
 navigation by the aid of steam would be put in 
 comparison with the labour of men and not 
 with that of horses as in France. 
 
 You can see that such a discovery if success- 
 ful, would be infinitely more important in Amer- 
 ica than in France where there exist everywhere 
 
 333
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 roads suitable for hauling, and companies es- 
 tablished for the transport of merchandise at 
 such moderate charges that I doubt very much 
 if a steamboat, however perfect it might be, 
 could be able to gain anything over horses for 
 merchandise. But for passengers it is possible 
 to gain something because of the speed. 
 
 In these plans you will find nothing new, since 
 this is not the case with paddle wheels, an ap- 
 pliance which has often been tried and always 
 abandoned because it was believed that it had 
 a disadvantageous action in the water. But 
 after the experiments which I have made al- 
 ready I am convinced that the fault is not in the 
 wheel, but in the ignorance concerning its pro- 
 portions, its speed, the power required and 
 probably in the mechanical combination. 
 
 I have proved by very accurate experiment 
 that paddle wheels are much to be preferred 
 to bands of paddles, and in consequence, al- 
 though the wheels are not a new application, yet 
 nevertheless I have combined them in such a 
 manner that a large portion of the power of the 
 engine acts to propel the boat in the same way 
 as if they rolled upon the ground ; the combina- 
 
 334
 
 
 
 
 i- -g 
 
 ■ c 1 . 
 
 in ^ 
 5l
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 tion is infinitely better than anything which 
 has yet been done up to the present time, and it 
 is, in fact, a new discovery. 
 
 For the transport of merchandise I pro- 
 pose to use a boat with an engine arranged 
 to draw one or* several loaded barges, each one 
 so close to the preceding one that the water can 
 not flow between to make resistance. I have 
 already done this in my patent for small canals 
 and this is indispensable for boats moved by 
 fire-engines. (See second illustration on p. 336.) 
 
 Suppose the boat A with the engine, presents 
 to the water a face of 20 feet, but inclined at 
 an angle of 50 degrees, it will be necessary* to 
 have a machine of 420 pounds power making 
 3 feet per second to move one league per hour 
 in still water. If the boats B and C have their 
 faces parallel to that of A they will each also 
 require a force of 420 pounds that is to say 
 1200 pounds for the three, which if they are 
 connected in the manner in which I have in- 
 dicated, the force of 420 will suffice for all, and 
 this great economy of power is too important 
 to be neglected in such an undertaking. 
 
 19* 
 
 337
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Citizens : 
 
 When my experiments are ready I shall have 
 the pleasure to invite you to see them, and if 
 they are successful I reserve the privilege of 
 presenting my labours to the Republic or of 
 taking for them such advantages as the law 
 may authorize. At the present time I place 
 these notes in your hands in order that if any 
 similar project comes before you before my ex- 
 periments are completed, they shall not have the 
 preference over mine. 
 
 With respectful salutations, 
 
 RoBEET Fulton. 
 No. 50 Rue Vaugirard. 
 
 THE FULTON PATENTS 
 (Page 195) 
 
 The United States Patent Office has recently 
 stated that while the Index of Patents says 
 that on February 9, 1811, a patent was issued 
 to Robert Fulton, the office is imablc to furnish 
 a copy of it, as tlic records of this and other 
 early patents were destroyed in the Patent 
 
 338
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Office fire of 1836. It is well established, how- 
 ever, that Fulton's first United States patent 
 was obtained February 11, 1809, and a supple- 
 mentary patent February 9, 1811. 
 
 In his Notes on the Patent of 1809, in pos- 
 session of one of his heirs, Fulton claimed that 
 the essential parts of his invention of the steam- 
 boat were fourteen in number: 
 
 "First: The mode of communicating the 
 power from the piston rod of the engine to the 
 water wheels without the common beam and in 
 such a manner as not to strain or impair the 
 boat. 
 
 Second: I am the first who discovered the 
 superiority of water wheels over other modes 
 •for gaining a purchase on the water, and I am 
 the first who applied water wheels to a steam 
 boat. They are described in the specification, 
 one on each side of the boat and their number 
 of arms, diameter, and size of propelling boards 
 minutely detailed. 
 
 Third : The wheel guards around them are 
 also detailed. 
 
 Fourth : I have shown that steamboats must 
 be built four or more times the length of their 
 
 339
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 breadth of beam; all sloops and river craft are 
 three times the length of their breadth of beam. 
 
 Fifth: The bow and stern should be sharp 
 to angles of at least 60 degrees. The bow 
 should not be full like sloops, for two reasons ; 
 that being long they cannot rise on the waves 
 like sloops but must cut through them, and 
 being sharp the resistance is less. 
 
 Sixth : After mentioning the combinations the 
 success in building a steamboat depends upon 
 knowing how to calculate the resistances, the 
 proportions, and velocities of the parts and for 
 this purpose the rules are laid down exact, in 
 
 Seventh: A table of the resistance of the 
 water and how to calculate the total resistance 
 of the boat while running from one to six miles 
 an hour, unless this be first ascertained it would 
 be impossible to tell what strength of steam 
 engine would be required. 
 
 Eighth : The specifications show the power 
 necessary to drive the boat and the power con- 
 sumed by taking the purchase on the water and 
 thus arriving at the whole power required the 
 power of the steam engine may be calculated. 
 
 Ninth : Shows the size of the cylinder, the pis- 
 ton running two feet a second. 
 
 340
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Tenth: Shows the diameter and velocity of 
 the water-wheels. 
 
 Eleventh: Shows the size of the propelling 
 boards. 
 
 Twelfth: I am the first who combined sails 
 with steam to drive a boat. 
 
 Thirteenth: Shows the steering wheel and 
 pilot near the middle of the boat and over the 
 station of the engineer. 
 
 Fourteenth: How to get the merchandise in 
 steamboats up rapids." 
 
 DE Witt's description of first steamboat 
 (Pages 342-345) 
 
 A detailed description of the first steamboat 
 was deposited in 1858, at the New York His- 
 torical Society by Richard Varick De Witt, of 
 Albany, whose familiarity with the boat dated 
 from earliest boyhood when each week he had 
 seen it tied at the wharf opposite his home. 
 This account coincides with the main points, 
 as set forth by Mr. Fulton himself in his brief 
 description, already quoted, and is indorsed 
 as authentic by Mr. Riley Bartholomew, an 
 officer of the boat. 
 
 341
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Description of the Steam Boat 
 North River of Clermont 
 
 The old North River, as it was familiarly 
 called, was an enlargment and reconstruction 
 of the Clermont, the experimental vessel first 
 built by Mr. Fulton. 
 
 The hull must have been about 150 feet 
 long and 18 wide and about 8 feet deep from 
 the bow for 126 feet. Thence for 24 feet the 
 stern was elevated above the main deck about 
 three feet forming a quarter deck which cov- 
 ered the Ladies Cabin and the lobby between 
 that cabin and the main or dining cabin. The 
 descent into this lobby was by 3 or 4 steps in 
 the centre of the vessel. The star board cor- 
 ner of the lobby formed the captain's office, 
 the larboard corner the passage into the dining 
 cabin. In front of the Engine Room which oc- 
 cupied the waist of the vessel, was a small front 
 cabin, and between that and the bow a fore- 
 castle for the crew. The engine occupied the 
 centre of the room leaving space on one side 
 for a kitchen and on the other for a pantry 
 and bar. 
 
 The Ladies Cabin contained 6 upper and 4 lower berths. 
 The Main Cabin " 14 " " 14 " 
 
 The foreward Cabin " 8 " "8 " " 
 
 342
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 The boat was rigged with a small mast pass- 
 ing up through the quarter deck carrying a 
 boom and gafF main sail and a larger mast and 
 top mast forward of the engine, carrying a 
 foreguard and square sail, over which was set a 
 flying top sail. On a fore stay extending to 
 a short bow-sprit, was a jib, and studding sails 
 were at times carried from the yard, having 
 booms projecting from the gunwale of the boat. 
 The foremast was fitted between upright stan- 
 dards which rose from the keel to 6 feet above 
 the deck, and tlie mast was pivoted between 
 them so as to be lowered down upon the bow- 
 sprit during head winds. 
 
 A pair of yawls, for the landing of pas- 
 sengers were hung on iron cranes on each side 
 of the main deck aft, and the space where the 
 wheel guards finish aft into the hull were shaped 
 into steps, to facilitate the passage into and 
 from the boats when in the water. 
 
 The boiler was between the engine and main 
 cabin, its top being covered with a slightly 
 elevated deck. The Engine (one of Watt and 
 Boultons, double acting condensing) consisted 
 of a cylinder with a piston 2 feet in diameter, 
 having a stroke of 4 feet, standing upon an iron 
 condenser. In front of the cylinder stood the 
 
 343
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 air pump [drawing]. On the top of the piston 
 rod was an iron cross head sliding between 
 guides on the gallows frame, which reached from 
 the bottom framing of the vessel to some 12 feet 
 above its deck. From the cross head down on 
 each side of the cylinder depended a rod the 
 lower end of which was pivoted to the end 
 of a bell crank lever. The fulcrum and axis of 
 the levers lying in front of the cylinder [draw- 
 ing]. The other arms of these levers, being 
 bent upward and at right angles to the first lev- 
 ers, the pitmans or shackle bars, were pivoted to 
 their upper ends. The shackle bars extended 
 forwards and their front ends were pivoted to 
 the peripheries of crank wheels attached to the 
 inboard ends of the water wheel shafts. These 
 wheels were toothed and cogged into the teeth 
 of pinion wheels affixed to the axis of a fly 
 wheel, which revolved in the centre of the en- 
 gine. The valves of the cylinder were poppet 
 valves operated by the clack gearing, then in use. 
 The steering was done by a wheel placed be- 
 tween the gallows frame and the smoke pipe 
 the wheel ropes passing along the sides of the 
 vessel, to a standard attached to the tail of the 
 rudder blade which was a flat board of about 
 
 3U
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 8 feet long and four \\u\v. To enable the boat 
 to be turned more promptly than the rudder 
 could do it, the water wheel shafts were divided 
 at the gunwale of the boat, and there connected 
 with couplings so that the wheel shaft proper 
 could be detached from the crank shaft, and 
 thus either wheel be kept in motion by the 
 engine wliilst the other was inoperative. 
 
 In the Clermont the fly wheels were hung 
 outside of the hull and just in front of the water 
 wheels. Upon one occasion, when by accident 
 both the water wheels had been destroyed, the 
 engineer had recourse to the expedient of at- 
 taching small paddle boards to the rim of the 
 fly wheels by whicli means the voyage was com- 
 pleted without any great loss of time. This 
 fact I had from a passenger then on board tlie 
 steam boat. 
 
 ColdiMTs Life of Fulton together with The 
 Annals of Albany by J. Munsell Vol. \\. pub- 
 lished in 1855, furnish a very full account of 
 the facts and incidents of this first successful 
 effort at Steam Navigation. 
 
 Rich Varick l)e Witt 
 Albany, Oct. Ji8th 18.58. 
 
 20 
 
 \un
 
 itammmiiimiimtmm 
 
 m 
 
 2 I 
 
 
 11 Jl
 
 i I I I I II n mmmmmv'
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 'riroKXTox s dk position 
 
 The deposition which Fulton asked Thorn- 
 ton to sign was as follows: it is friven in full 
 because it so thoroughly defines FultoiTs several 
 points of origin.ality : 
 
 ""William Thornton, Director of the Patent 
 Office of the Ignited States at the City of Wash- 
 ington, in the district of Columbia, being first 
 duly sworn deposeth and saith. That in all es- 
 says to navigate boats with steam he has never 
 known a steam boat to be more than 50 tons 
 burthen, until the one built on the Hudson's 
 River by Robert Fulton : That to the best of 
 his knowledge the said Robert Fulton is the 
 first who ever applied a Avater wheel on each side 
 of (I hodt to be navigatt'd by the power of sieam 
 and so arranged the water wheels that he can 
 use them in and out of gear so as to try tlie 
 movements of the engine without working the 
 Avheels; or work one wheel at a time: l^hat he, 
 the said I^'nlton, is the first who ])ut guards 
 round the outside of water wheels applied 
 to a boat, so as to support the outer ends of 
 
 1 In possession of JiidfiC Peter T. Barlow.
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 the axels of said wheels and guard them from 
 injury by vessels Wharves & having; formed the 
 guards he consequently is the inventor of every 
 convenience which the guards afford, such as 
 Steps from the stern end of the guards to enter 
 the row boats, Space in and on guards for 
 carrying fuel, bins in the guards for various 
 materials. Coverings to the Water wheels to pre- 
 vent their entangling in ropes or throwing water 
 on deck to the aiuioyance of passengers ; Con- 
 veniences such as water closets on the fore part 
 of said wheel guards for passengers — That 
 the said Fulton is the first who has so 
 arranged the rudder of his Steamboat as that 
 the pilot may stand near the centre of the boat 
 and near the engineer to give him orders when 
 to sto}) or put the engine in motion. That the 
 said Fulton is the first who has combined a 
 (lib fore sail fop Sail studden Sails and Square 
 sail with a steam engine to drive a boat^ and 
 ])laced his Masts one before the machinery and 
 
 ^ [ h'ulton's not*'. ] Thornton says he had or intended to put 
 sails to a steam boat which was to go round from Phila. to 
 New Orleans; it was however never done and is one of his 
 embrio and useless Ideas. Insist on this. Tlie boat was 
 20 tons.
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 tlie otlit'i' so far ;ift ;is to leave a convenient 
 Space between tlie two for spreading an awn- 
 ing for tlie comfort of tlie passengers and wliicli 
 space is not interrupted by booms or ropes such 
 as aiuiov })assengers in tlie usual boats which 
 navigate by wind oidy. The said Robert Ful- 
 ton is also the first who has, to his knowledge, 
 used triangular beams in the body of his boat 
 to connnunicate the power from the piston rod 
 to the Water wheels and work his air pump. 
 And John Stevens, Ksq. of Broadway in the 
 City of New York, is the first to the l)est of his 
 knowledge, who has communicated the power 
 from the piston rod to the water wheels by 
 means of crank wheels and shackle bars which 
 work on each side of tin- Cy lender. 
 
 '^rhe said Wilhain '^rhoruton also deposeth 
 and saith that to the best of his knowledge 
 there is no steam boat now in actual and per- 
 manent operation anywhere in Kuropc, nor ever 
 has belli ; all attempts of the kind in Kurope 
 have been merely experiments which, failing of 
 aiiv' iisi'ful result, have been abandoned as use- 
 loss. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 352
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Now, my friend, [Barlow] all this is fact 
 which you will insist on with Thornton and tell 
 him if pirates can thus copy me he has no chance 
 at any time."*' 
 
 Apparently the deposition was not signed, for 
 Barlow wrote to Fulton the following month, 
 apropos of Thornton : 
 
 "The poor fellow can depose nothing" now 
 unless it be his bones. He has not recovered 
 from his fever & it is thought by some that he 
 never will. He has not been out of the house 
 since the day he made the other deposition. I 
 called and took him out that morning in my 
 carriage before breakfast and kept him at the 
 judge's till eleven o'clock when I sent him home. — 
 It seems he was sick with the fever when I took 
 him out, tho' I did not know it. I leave your 
 papers for him with Cutting who promises to 
 make him attend to it as soon as possible. 
 Latrobe, as I told you, is very anxious to aid 
 you in establishing the originality and high im- 
 portance of your invention." 
 
 21 
 
 353
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 PAINTINGS BY ROBERT FULTON 
 
 Compiled by Alice Crary Sutcliffe for the Oflficial Art Catalogue 
 
 of the Hudson-Fulton Commission Celebration, 
 
 Metropolitan Museum of Art 
 
 Samuel Beach (miniature) ; owned by H. A. 
 Boardman, St. Paul, Minnesota. 
 
 John Wilkes Kittera (miniature) ; owned by 
 Pennsylvania Historical Society. 
 
 Mrs. John Wilkes Kittera (miniature) ; owned 
 by Pennsylvania Historical Society. 
 
 Clementina Ross (miniature) ; owned by Penn- 
 sylvania Academy of Fine Arts. 
 
 Margaret Ross (pastel, 1787) ; owned by Mrs. 
 C. S. Bradford, Philadelphia. 
 
 Benjamin Franklin (oil, 1787) ; bought in 1891 
 by C. F. Gunther, of Chicago. 
 
 Portrait of a Young Gentleman ; mentioned in 
 Royal Academy Catalogue, 1791. 
 
 Portrait of Two Young Gentlemen ; mentioned 
 in Royal Academy Catalogue, 1791. 
 
 354
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Portrait of a Lady (Mrs. Murray) ; mentioned 
 in Royal Academy Catalogue, 1793. 
 
 Lady Jane Grey (fancy picture) ; mentioned in 
 Smith's "Catalogue of Portraits" as having 
 been painted about 1793. 
 
 Louis XVI in Prison taking Leave of his Fam- 
 ily ; known through Sherwin's engraving, of 
 which only three prints are known to exist. 
 
 Family of Benjamin West; mentioned in Col- 
 den's "Life of Robert Fulton," but present 
 whereabouts unknown. 
 
 Illustrations for Barlow's "Columbiad" ; repro- 
 duced in Reigart's "Life of Fulton." 
 
 "Incendie de Moscow" (panorama). 
 
 Joel Barlow (oil) ; owned by Judge Peter T. 
 Barlow, New York City. 
 
 Joel Barlow (oil) ; owned by Robert Fulton 
 Ludlow, Claverack, New York. 
 
 Robert Fulton (oil, 1795) ; owned by Mrs. 
 Robert Fulton Blight, New York. 
 
 Portrait of Charlotte Villette (1802); men- 
 tioned in "Life and Letters of Joel Barlow," 
 by C. B. Todd. 
 
 355
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Colonel Michael McCurdy (miniature) ; owned 
 by Mrs. George McHenry, Philadelphia. 
 
 Joseph Bringhurst (oil, 1786) ; owned by Ed- 
 ward Bringhurst, Wilmington, Del. 
 
 Mrs. Joel Barlow ; mentioned in letter of Barlow 
 to Fulton (1800). 
 
 Abraham Baldwin, U. S. Senator ; a drawing of 
 this portrait appears in the Centennial vol- 
 ume of Washington's Inauguration. It was 
 made by Emanuel Leutze, after the original. 
 
 Earl Stanhope (oil) ; owned by Herman Liv- 
 ingston, Catskill Station, New York. 
 
 John Livingston (oil) ; owned by Robert Fulton 
 Ludlow, Claverack, New York. 
 
 Miniature of Cunningham ; owned by Mrs. 
 
 Stevens, widow of Bishop Stevens of Penn- 
 sylvania. 
 
 Mrs. Walter Livingston (oil), mother of Mrs. 
 Robert Fulton ; owned by Mrs. Hermann H. 
 Cammann, New York. The portrait is 
 painted on wood, and upon the back is an un- 
 finished portrait of Barlow Fulton, only son 
 of Robert Fulton. 
 
 356
 
 INDEX
 
 INDEX 
 
 AbW St, Pierre, 99 writes of proposed canal, 
 
 Adams, John Quincy, 295 290; writes to Fulton, 353 
 
 Allen, John, M.D., 112 Barlow, Mrs. Joel, 73 
 
 Alossen, Solomon, 195 Barton, Benjamin T., 19 
 
 America, United Colonies of. Bell, Henrv, 111 
 
 18; friend of, 55; ship the Blight, Robert Fulton, 180 
 
 engine for, 164, 185 Bonaparte, General, Fulton's 
 Andre, Major John, parole letter to, 304 ; Fulton writes 
 of, 18; tut'or, 19; talent for to, 313 
 
 art, 19 Bossu[t], M., witnesses Ful- 
 Arnal, Abbe, 111 ton's experiment, 125, 150 
 
 Boulton and Watt, engine 
 Barker, Mr, Jacob, 187 of, 126; Fulton's letter to. 
 
 Barker, Sarah, 187 151, 157, 158; payment of 
 
 Barlow, Joel, letter from, engine, 185; Fulton's first 
 42; in Paris, 62; Fulton letter to, 303 
 
 resides with, 63; Fulton's Bramwell, Sir Frederick, 42 
 
 portrait of, 66; aids Fulton Bridgewater, Duke of, 38; 
 in experiments, 67; men- canal-building, 41 
 
 tions Cartwright's engine, Brindley, engineer, 38 
 
 72; forwards drafts to Ful- Brink, Captain Andrew, 224; 
 ton, 74; letter to his wife, Fulton's first meeting with, 
 75, 76; informs Fulton of 225; Fulton's payment to, 
 British scrutiny, 98; Ful- 226; Fulton's letter to, 253 
 
 ton's letter to, 106; deposi- Brownne, Charles, 182; pay- 
 tion of, 123; passport for, ment to, 189, 190 
 
 159; letter of, 167; letter Burd, Edward, letter from, 
 of 1806 from Fulton, 171; 12 
 
 prophecy of, 182; letter Bushnell, David, 68 
 from Fulton (Clermont), 
 
 233; writes to Cliancellor Calhoun, J. B., 217 
 
 Li%'ingston, 235; receives Cammann, Mrs. Hermann 
 Thornton's deposition, 286; H., 160 
 
 359
 
 INDEX 
 
 Canal navigation, 39; sys- 
 tem, develoi>ment of, 45; 
 treatise on, 47; construc- 
 tive system of, 61 ; exten- 
 sion, letters on, 66; Erie, 
 67; Fulton's, from Paris to 
 Dieppe, 71 ; P'ulton's expo- 
 sition of, 309 
 
 Carnot, French statesman, 62 
 
 Cartwright, Edmund, pat- 
 ents of, 73; engines of, 318 
 
 Cave, Messrs., & Son, 185 
 
 Church, Edward, 145 
 
 Clermont, the, 154; first 
 orders engine for, 151 ; 
 named, 18:;?; engine for, 
 185; boiler of, 185; comple- 
 tion of, 190; expenditures 
 for, 189; Fulton's descrip- 
 tion of, 191 ; facsimile of, 
 196; preliminary test of, 
 197; voyage up Hudson, 
 202, 2i9; further de- 
 scription of, 204; newspa- 
 per notice of, 220; Fulton 
 writes to "American Citi- 
 zen" of, 222; country-seat 
 of Robert R. Livingston, 
 223; men employed on, 225; 
 stewardess of, 226; M. Ml- 
 chaux's account of, 228; Is 
 fitted for traffic, 236; first 
 advertisement for, 239; new 
 announcement of, 241 ; lost 
 paddle-wheel, 245; news 
 item, 245; Judge John Q. 
 Wilson's account of, 246; 
 established as a packet, 
 253; mishap to, 256; appre- 
 ciation of passengers of, 
 257; enlargement of, 259; 
 final disposition of, 285 
 
 Colden, Cadwallader D., 40, 
 42; writes of Rumsey and 
 Fitch, 128; statement of, 
 181; describes voyage, 211; 
 agreement for railways 
 with, 268 
 
 Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 46 
 
 Commission, French, Ful- 
 ton's letter of 1799, 318 
 
 Commission, French, Ful- 
 ton's letter of 1803, 333 
 
 Cook, Mrs. Isabella, 30 
 
 Cope, Mr. John, 19 
 
 Coruth, Peter, payment to, 
 189 
 
 Crary, estate of Cornelia L., 
 
 ■ 116, 159 
 
 Crary, Rev. Robert Fulton, 
 manuscript owned by, 135; 
 engraving sent to, 226 
 
 Cunningham, John, 188 
 
 Dearborn, General, 288 
 Delaplaine's "Repository," 
 
 12 
 Demologus, the, 175 
 Dcs Blanc, M., Fulton views 
 
 patent of, 127; description 
 
 of ])atent of, 328 
 De Witt, Richard Varick, 
 
 341 
 Directory, French, 61, 77 
 Dyke, Charles, 227 
 
 England, William Henry in, 
 31 ; Robert Fulton visits, 
 34; Robert Fulton's coun- 
 try to\ir in, 35; waterways 
 of, 39; united efforts of, 
 51; attitude of, 57; terms 
 of peace with France, 61 
 
 English fleet, 79 
 
 360
 
 INDEX 
 
 English patents, 45 
 
 Erie Canal, Fulton's first 
 
 mention of, 67 
 Erving, George William, 
 
 153; American Consul, 156; 
 
 Fulton's letter to, 163 
 "Essay to the Friends of 
 
 Mankind," 180 
 
 Fitch, John, visits William 
 Henry, 33; Dr. Thurston's 
 estimate of, 34; experi- 
 ments, 110; project of, 136; 
 Colden writes of, 138; 
 abandonment of plan by, 
 129 
 
 Forfait, M., Secretary of the 
 Marines, 83; reply of, 96 
 
 Fox, administration of, 170 
 
 France, terms of peace with 
 England, 61 ; patents in, 
 63; government of, 77; 
 officials of, 96 
 
 Franklin, Benjamin, friend- 
 ship with, 26; letter from, 
 30 
 
 Free trade, universal, 50; 
 "Thoughts on," 51 
 
 French, Fulton's study of, 66 
 
 French army, victories of, 
 65 
 
 French democracy, 56 
 
 French Directory, 61 ; Ful- 
 ton addresses paper to, 51 
 
 French nation, 52 
 
 French Revolution, 52 
 
 Fulton, origin of family, 3 
 
 Fulton, Aunt, 9 
 
 Fulton, Mr. and Mrs., por- 
 traits of, 9 
 
 Fulton, Robert, Iiirth of, 3, 
 7; mother of, 4, 17; Dela- 
 
 plaine's estimate of, 13; 
 early interest in mechanics, 
 13; school anecdotes of, 
 14; artistic talent of, 30, 
 31 ; designs firearms, etc., 
 31 ; makes paddles for fish- 
 ing-boat, 33; goes to Phila- 
 delphia, 25; in Directory, 
 36; ill health of, 39; buys 
 farm, 39; buys lots in 
 Washington, 30 ; conveys 
 lots, 30; goes to England, 
 30; Dr. Thurston's tribute, 
 34; residence at Powder- 
 ham Castle, 36; sojourn in 
 Devonshire, 37; abandon- 
 ment of art, 39; goes to 
 Birmingham, 41 ; correspon- 
 dence with Watt, 42; first 
 inception of steam naviga- 
 tion, 43 ; patent for inclined 
 plane, 45; secures English 
 patents, 45; invention for 
 spinning flax, 45; invention 
 for twisting hemp rope, 
 45; invention of dredging- 
 machine, 46; patents "The 
 Market or Passage Boat," 
 46; patents a "Dispatch 
 Boat," 46; partnership with 
 John Owen, 46; meets 
 Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 
 46 ; publishes "Treatise," 
 47; as civil engineer, 48; 
 advocacy of free trade, 50; 
 letter to David Morris, 51; 
 his political views, 56; goes 
 to Paris, 62; resides with 
 Barlow, 63; invents first 
 French panorama, 63; ad- 
 vanced studies, 66; paints 
 portraits in Paris, 66; ex- 
 
 361
 
 INDEX 
 
 periments with submarine 
 explosives, 67; his friends 
 doubtful of his experi- 
 ments, 71 ; assisted by 
 Cartwright, 73 ; constancy 
 to his country, 73; at 
 Havre, 73; builds the Xnu- 
 tilus, 79; at Brest, 79; 
 word from Napoleon, 79; 
 contract with Napoleon, 80; 
 explains his refusal to Na- 
 poleon, S3; letter of, to 
 Napoleon's commission, 84; 
 second letter of, to Napo- 
 leon's commission, 89 ; 
 demonstration of his sub- 
 marine boats, 95; terms 
 with British Government, 
 101 ; terms of arbitration 
 with England, 102, 106; 
 declines offer to suppress 
 torpedo, 10:3; agreement 
 with Livingston, 105, 336; 
 knowledge of early at- 
 tempts, 115; partnership 
 with Livingston, 117; trial 
 boat on the Seine, 124, 145; 
 estimates values of Rum- 
 sey and Fitcli's devices, 
 128; notes on speed, 139; 
 joint expense with Living- 
 ston, 143; offers steamboat 
 to French Governniont, 114; 
 letter to Fulner Skipwith, 
 147; account of French 
 boat of, 150; writes to 
 Boulton and Watt, 151; 
 reply of Napoleon, 160; 
 plans return to America, 
 166; letter from Barlow, 
 167; arbitration with Brit- 
 ish Government, 171; re- 
 
 turns to America, 182; 
 expenses of, 185; secures 
 additional funds, 191; de- 
 scription of Clermont, 192; 
 plans of the Clermont, 196; 
 describes trial on East 
 River, 197; account of first 
 voyage up tlie Hudson, 202; 
 betrotiial of, 211; personal 
 descri])tions of, 213, 214, 
 217, 255; writes to Barlow 
 of Mississippi navigation, 
 221; letter of, to the 
 "American Citizen," 22-2 ; 
 announces success of Cler- 
 mont, 233; letter to Chan- 
 cellor Livingston, 236 ; 
 advertises the Clermont, 
 239; describes enlargement 
 of Clermont, 259; contem- 
 plates steam for railways, 
 265; letter from Chancellor 
 Livingston to, 266; agrees 
 to build a railway, 268; de- 
 fines priority of invention, 
 286; plans for foreign riv- 
 ers, 293; letter to Wash- 
 ington, 306 ; "Observations 
 on ISIoving Boats," 329; 
 jiaintings by, 354 
 
 Fulton, Robert, Senior, 3, 4, 
 8, 9, 13 
 
 Fulton Ferry to Brooklyn, 237 
 
 F niton the First, 175 
 
 "Fulton's Folly," 188, 290 
 
 Germany, 51 ; Carnot flees 
 
 to, 63 
 Gilpin, Joshua, 71 ; letter 
 
 from l''nIton to, 316 
 Gregoi-y, Hr., emissary from 
 
 British Government, 98 
 
 362
 
 INDEX 
 
 Gumpf, Christopher, 22; Johnson, Mr., payment to, 
 Gumpf, Deter, 23; fishing- 190 
 boat of, 24i Juliana Library, 4 
 
 Hale, Dr. Edward Everett, 
 
 145 
 Hammond, Mr., 159 
 Havre, Fulton at, 73 
 Hawksburr, Lord, 156 
 Heath, Captain, 2()8 
 Henry IV of France, 99 
 Henry, AVilliain, of Lan- 
 caster, 31 ; meets Herr 
 Shoepff, 32; meets John 
 Fitch, 33; Dr. Thurston's 
 estimate of, 34; experi- 
 ments of, 110 
 Herbert, Sir Thomas, 68 
 Hodgkin, Eliot, 115; letter 
 
 forwarded by, 294 
 Hogl, Mr., 30 
 
 Houdon, Jean Antoine, bust 
 of Fulton, 66 
 Hudson-Fulton Commis- 
 sion, 196 
 
 Hudson River, 41, 110 
 Hudson River Day Line, 139 
 Hunt, Mrs., 18T 
 Huntingdon, Mr., 156 
 
 India, .steamboats for, 294 
 Irving, Washington, 180 
 Isch & Messersmith, 23 
 
 Jackson, Mr., payment to, 
 189; Fulton's mention of, 
 254 
 
 Jefferson, Thomas, 164; let- 
 ter to, 165; President, 175; 
 canal proposition of, 288 
 
 Johnson, Caleb, schoolmas- 
 ter, 13 
 
 Kalorama, 171 
 Kilkenny, Ireland, 3 
 Kirby, Mr. Frank E., 196 
 
 Lancaster, town of, 4, 8, 12; 
 Presbyterian church, 4, 12; 
 Union Fire Company, 4; 
 Center Square, 4; Penn 
 Square, 4 ; Ben j amin West's 
 art in, 10; Court House, 12, 
 17; Andre in, 18; school- 
 house, 20; prisoners at, 24; 
 Fulton's mother at, 25 ; 
 townsman, William Henrv, 
 31; Herr Shoepif in, 32 
 
 Lancaster County, Little 
 Britain, 3, 7 
 
 Lane, Thomas, 294 
 
 Langlois, Colonel Jean 
 Charles, 65 
 
 La Place, Pierre-Simon, 83, 
 84, 89 
 
 Leamont, J. R., Esq., 282 
 
 lyC Blanc, experiments of, 126 
 
 Le Fevre, Robert, portrait 
 of Fulton, 66 
 
 Little Britain, birthplace of 
 Fulton, 3; township re- 
 named, 7; Robert Fulton 
 visits, 23 
 
 Livingston, Brockhurst, 
 Esq., 152 
 
 IJvingston, Clermont, 197, 
 201, 238 
 
 Livingston, E. Brockholst, 
 197 
 
 Livingston, Edward, 238 
 
 Livingston, Edward P., 123 
 
 363
 
 INDEX 
 
 Livingston, Gilbert R., '209 Lym, Mr., Clermont bedding 
 
 Livingston, Miss Harriet, bouglit from, 2:24 
 
 210, 211, 212, 218 Lyman, General, 172 
 
 Livingston, Colonel ILirry, 
 
 210 ' Malmesbury, Earl of, 61 
 
 Livingston, Miss Helen, 209; Martin, Mr., payment to, 189 
 
 describes Fulton, 214 Mason, General, 166 
 
 Livingston, John Henry, Maxwell, Mr., payment to, 
 document in possession of, 189 
 
 117; captain's book owned McXeven, Dr., 210 
 
 by, 269 Melville, Lord, 101, 102 
 
 Livingston, John R., 210, Messersmith, Isch &, 22 
 
 212 Michaux, M., account of 
 
 Livingston, John Swift, 210, steamboat, 228; on passen- 
 212 ger list, 233 
 
 Livingston, Kate, 210 Mifflin, Governor of Penn- 
 
 Livingston, Robert L., wit- sylvania, 50 
 
 nessed contract, 122; re- Miller, Nicholas, 14 
 
 newed contract, 123 Minister of the Marine, 78; 
 
 Livingston, Chancellor Rob- letter from the, 80; letter 
 ert R., interview with Joel to the, 95 
 Barlow, 72; agreement Mississippi River, 33; steam 
 with, 105; experiments of, navigation upon. 111; 
 111; partnership with Ful- everything proved for, 201; 
 ton, 117; renewal by heirs utility for, 220; merchan- 
 of contract, 123; then resi- dise on, 235; velocity of, 
 dent in France, 124; sug- 238; canal from, 288 
 gests a company, 127; Missouri River, merchandise 
 country place of, 182; "new on, 235 
 boat" of, 209; announces Mitchell, Dr., 210 
 betrothal of Fulton, 211; Monge, Gaspard, 83, 84, 89 
 reply of, 212; letter from Monroe, Hon. James, 153; 
 Fulton, 236, 259; letter to Fulton's letter to, 155; de- 
 Fulton, 266; account of cision of, 157 
 ]iartnershi]i, 326 Montgomery, General, 18 
 
 Livingston, Mr. Walter, 210; Morey, Samuel, 112 
 
 estate of, 218 Morris, David, .30; nephew 
 
 Livingston, William, Gover- of Benjamin West, .30; let- 
 
 nor of New Jcrscv, 209 ter to, 30; Fulton writes to, 
 
 Longstreet, William, 112 51 
 
 Louisiana, acquisition of, Morris, Mrs. Mary, 30 
 
 221 Morris, Robert, 210 
 
 364
 
 INDEX 
 
 Morris, Mrs. Thomas, 210 
 "Moscow, rincendie de," 64 
 Murray, Mrs., portrait of, 
 35 
 
 Napoleon, army of, 64; 
 sends word to Fulton, 79; 
 appoints commission, S-2 ; 
 counselors of, 97; Fulton 
 and, 160; General Bona- 
 parte, 304; Fulton's letter 
 to, 313; Fulton's suggestion 
 to commission of, 320 
 National Institute, 125 
 Nautilus, Fulton's subma- 
 rine torpedo-boat, 79; official 
 acceptance of the, 80; ol)- 
 servation of, by British 
 ministry, 156; disapproval 
 of, 316' 
 
 Newcomen, engine of, 113 
 North River steamboat, 250; 
 regular trips of, 268; pas- 
 senger regulations on, 269, 
 274; list of passengers on, 
 278; companion for, 282; 
 description of, 342 
 
 Ohio River, 33 
 
 Owen, John, one-time part- 
 ner of Fulton, 46; auto- 
 biography of, 46 
 
 Oxford, Edmund Cartwright, 
 graduate of, 72 
 
 Panorama, Fulton invents, 
 63; subject of, 64; song ex- 
 tolling the, 65 ; profits from, 
 74 
 
 Paris, canal treatise pub- 
 lished in, 50; Joel Barlow 
 in, 62; Fulton goes to, 62; 
 
 panorama in, 63; Joel Bar- 
 low's letters from, 74; 
 partnership formed at, 117 
 Parker, Mr., 166 
 Parmentier, M., 228, 233 
 Patent of 1809, notes on 
 the, 339 
 
 Patents, Fulton's, for boats, 
 338 
 Peace, universal, 61 
 Peale, Charles Wilson, 268 
 Pennsylvania, 3; Chester 
 County, 4, 9 ; Oxford Town- 
 ship, 4; Fulton Township, 
 7; Committee of Safety of, 
 18; Hopewell, 29; Washing- 
 ton County, 29; Bowen's 
 "Sketches of," 31; Gov- 
 ernor Mifflin of, 50; Robert 
 Fulton of, 117 
 Perrier, M., 124; unsuccess- 
 ful trial of, 127 
 Philadelphia, Benjamin West 
 at, 11; Fulton goes to, 25; 
 Directory of 1785, 26; Ful- 
 ton's residence in, 26 
 Pitt, Mr., 100 
 
 Plombieres, Fulton at, 137 
 Powderham, Baron of, 36; 
 a refugee, 37 
 Powderham Castle, 36 
 Proney, M., Fulton's experi- 
 ment in presence of, 125 
 
 Quaker, Caleb Johnson a, 
 
 13; teacher, 14 
 Quevton, Citizen, 90; advice 
 
 of, "92; calculation of, 93 
 Quicksilver Bob, 21 
 
 Rariton, 282 
 
 Rawle, William, letter to, 12 
 
 365
 
 INDEX 
 
 Reigart, J. F., 180; letter to, 
 
 Renwick, James, "Biog- 
 raphy of Rol)ert Fulton," 
 35; quotation from, 36; 
 statement of, 40; descrip- 
 tion of Fulton, 255 
 
 Revolution, War of the, 20; 
 the French, 51, 56 
 
 Roosevelt, Nicholas J., Ill; 
 payment to, 284 
 
 Royal Academy, President 
 of, 9; West presides at, 
 30; catalogue of, 35 
 
 Rumsey, James, 110; proj- 
 ect by, 126; Colden writes 
 of, 128; errors in attempts 
 of, 330 
 
 Russia, united efforts of, 
 51; Empress of, 55; intro- 
 duction of steamboats in, 
 295 
 
 Sabbaton, Paul A., descrip- 
 tion of Fulton, 217; letter 
 of, 268 
 
 Schuyler, Cornelia, 218 
 
 Scott, Mrs. Pegg)', 30 
 
 ShoepflF, Herr, 32 
 
 Sidmouth, .Lord, 100 
 
 Skipwith, Fulner, 146; Ful- 
 ton's letter to, 331 
 
 Smith, Helen .Evertson, 210 
 
 Smith, Joseph, 4 
 
 Smith, Miss Mary, 4 
 
 Smith, Colonel Robert, 4 
 
 Smith, Thomas, payment to, 
 189 
 
 Smith, William Mather, 211 
 
 Smitli, Mr., 98, 100 
 
 Stanhope, Earl of, 38; Ful- 
 ton's correspondence with. 
 
 40; discoveries of, 40; ex- 
 periments of, 41, 111, 116; 
 friendship with Fulton, 41 ; 
 Fulton's acknowledgment 
 to, 48; letter from Joslma 
 Gilpin, 71; his warning to 
 British ministry, 97, 100; 
 letter from Fulton to, 129 
 
 Stanton, Mr. Samuel Ward, 
 192 
 
 Stevens, Mr. John, 191 
 
 "Submarine Navigation & 
 Attack," 98 
 
 Suplee, ilr. C. Harrison, 
 96 
 
 Svinie, Chevalier, 294; Ful- 
 ton's letter to, 295 
 
 Swift, Joseph, 8 
 
 Symington, William, 111 
 
 Teviotdale, 218 
 
 Thames River, 111 
 
 Thayer, James William, 74 
 
 Thornton, William, 286; de- 
 position of, 350 
 
 "Thoughts on Free Trade," 
 180 
 
 Thurston, Robert H., .33 
 
 Todd,^ Charles Burr, 174 
 
 Torpedoes, destructive sy.s- 
 tem of, 61 ; initial idea of, 
 67; Fulton's name of, 68; 
 definition of "Torpaedo," 
 68; declined by British 
 Government, 102; Fulton's 
 suggestions to French Com- 
 mission on, 320 
 
 Torpedo-boats, Fulton's tests 
 with, 74; experiments, 75; 
 consideration of project, 
 170 
 
 "Torpedo Warfare," 180 
 
 366
 
 INDEX 
 
 "Treatise on Canal Naviga- 
 tion," 47, 50, 180, 304 
 Trie, James, payment to, 189 
 
 United States, 57 
 
 Vanderlyn, John, portrait 
 
 by, 113, 171 
 Vandervoort, William, 242 
 Van Wagenen, Gerrit H., 
 
 250 
 Villaret, Admiral, 94 
 Virginia, springs of, 29 
 Volney, Count, 83, 84, 89; 
 
 Fulton's experiment in 
 
 presence of, 125 
 
 "Washington, George, Fulton 
 sends treatise to, 50; writes 
 to Fulton. 50, 308; Fulton's 
 letter to, 306; Fulton's let- 
 ter of 1797 to, 309 
 Washington, town of, 29 
 Washington County, 29 
 Watt, James, his engine, 31, 
 
 72, 163; meeting of Robert 
 Fulton and, 42; Boulton &, 
 126 
 
 Wayne, General, 18 
 
 West, Benjamin, 9; Presi- 
 dent of Royal Academy, 9, 
 30; early art, 10; mother 
 of, 11; paints tavern signs, 
 22; uncle of David Morris, 
 30; letter to, 31; considera- 
 tion of artists, 34; friend- 
 ship with Fulton, 34; Ful- 
 ton leaves plates with, 173 
 
 West, Edward, experiments 
 of, 110 
 
 White's Directory of Phila- 
 delphia, 26 
 
 Wilson, Judge John Q., 246 
 
 Wilson, Richard, 226 
 
 Wiswall, Captain Samuel, 
 253; book of, 269 
 
 Wood, James, Fulton bought 
 knives and forks from, 224 
 
 Zantzinger, Paul, 18 
 
 367
 
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 ^^ftobk^s dOe on the last date stamped below. 
 
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