Rumsev's Steam Boat, agreeable to the present different plans of working each boat, would be of the greatest public utility ; I have, at their importunities, conseni?ed, (as far as ray knowledge of the maiter will admit) to give my opinion, vdthout reserve, to the best of m.y judgment ; and as I have seen both Mr. Fitch's and Mr. Rumsey's steam boats, with the machinery, or at least so much thereof as could be observed, by a common examination, I presume that Mr. Rumsey's plan is much more eligible, simple and practicable. Mr. Fitch's machinery appears bulky, w'eighty, and complicated, leaving little room in the boat in which I saw it for loading. The Weight of the whole apparatus I suppose to be five tons -- whereas the whole of Mr. Rumsey's machinery, at the time of exhibition publicly, wdth every aparatus complete, could not weigh more than five hundred pounds.
It is obvious therefore that a machine weighing one twentieth only, and of small size, comparative with the other, and by many degress less complicated, must prove of the greatest jmblic utility, and w^ll be practised in preference to the other.
I do therefore give it as my opinion, that Mr. Rumsey's plan is Jto be preferred to Mr. Fitch's. Given under my hand at Shejierd's- Town, this 6th day of December, 1787.
Henry Bedinger.
Berkeley County^ Virginia, ss.
Captain Henry Bedinger, acknowledged before us. Magistrates for the said county, that he subscribed the above writing. Given under our hands, this 14th day of December 1787.