And though the great utility of such a boat will appear, if ever a fair trial should be given it j and at the time of that exhibition it was fully my intention to complete this boat, yet, in the course of that fall and winter, I made such progress in the improvement of some steam engines^ which I had long conceived would become of the greatest consequence in navigation, that I postponed it till experiments should determine whether the steam engines could be reduced to such Simplicity and Cheapness, as to make them of public benefit, not being certain of this, though perfectly convinced of the power, was my only reason for not mentioning this scheme also to the General, at that exhibition ; and I flattered myself this invention, if it answered my expectation, (the truth whereof experiments have now established) would render my labours more extensively useful, by being equally applicable to small boats or vessels of the largest size, to sliallow and rapid rivers or the deepest and roughest seas, (indeed, in large vessels, compared with the value- of freight, the Expence of the machinery proportionably decreases) I applied myself with unremitted attention to perfect my Steam Engines, and made such progress in that fall and the ensuing spring, that my experiments assured me the perfection of such a machine was within my reach. I therefore wrote to General Washington, the 10th of March, 1785 (No. 19) that I intended applying both powers to a boat built after the Model of the one he saw at Bath ; but as I was under many disadvantages, arising from my remote situation, and could gain truth only by successive experiments, incredible delays were produced ; and though my distresses were greatly increased thereby, I bore the pelting of ignorance and ill-nature with all resignation, until I was informed some dark assassins had endeavoured to wound the reputation of his excellency, and the other gentlemen who saw my exhibition at Bath, for giving me a certificate.