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.

Cato Moore. John Kearsley. vol. u- ^^

1026 . EARLY STEAM

Berkdy Cuuniij, Virginia.

We, the subscribers, have long been acquainted with the within mentioned Captain Henry Bedinger, and have ever found him a worthy gentleman.

Horatio Gates, Charles Morrow,

Thomas White, John Mark,

John Morrow, Robert Stubbs,

Benoni Swearingen, Jos, Swearingen,

Abraham Shepherd, John Kearsley.

December, 14, 1787. Berkeley County, Virginia, ss.

The above gentlemen, who are all of good fame, subscribed the above certificate in my presence. Given under my hand this 14th December, 1787. Cato Moore.

Berkeley County, Virginia, ss. (JVb. 8)

This day came George Rootes, before me, one of the Justices of the peace for the county aforesaid, and made Oath, that Mr. James Rumsey informed him, in the year 1784 that he was projecting a boat to work with steam, and the said George has heard, and verily believes that the said Mr. Rumsey, from the time of his leaving the agency of the Potomack Company, has pursued his intention of perfecting his Steam Engine for that purpose with unremitted attention, which the said George is informed is now in great forwardness. Given under my hand, this 24th day of November, 1787.