Fitch's boat so loaded with machinery, complexity and expense, (granting his machine all the properties he ascribed to it in his publication) can never be useful; as his machine, by his own publications, allowing for frictions and the necessary slipping of his paddles through the water, will not propel his boat, at the rate of more than three miles in an hour, where no current opposes.

If Mr. Fitch did not get his first idea of a steamboat from what Capt. Bedinger said respecting mine, at Kentucky (which circumstances leave little room to doubt) and thought himself justified in making an application of it to his own advantage, as it was not delivered to him in confidence, yet surely nothing can be said in his defence, for endeavouring to rob the first inventor of his right, and by

1018 EAllLY STEAM

changing^ persons, with him, attompling thereby to transfer the odium of plagiarism from himself to the real proprietor.

EXPLANATION

OF THE

STEAM-BOAT.

The following explanation will give a general idea of the principles by which steam acts on my boat ; accurate calculations of the particular powers, seem not necessary here to be given.

IN the bottom of the boat, on the Kelson, there is a trunk, the after end of which is open, and terminates at the stern post ; the other end is closed, and the whole trunk, according to its dimensions, occupies about three fourth parts of the length of the boat. On the closed end of the trunk stands a cylinder two and a half feet long, from this cylinder, there is a communication by a tube to the river or water under the boat, on the top of this tube and within the cylinder there is an-aive to admit the water from the river into the cylinder, and it likewise prevents it from returning again the same way.