Soon after (he thinks in September) he went, by the request of Mr. Rumsey, to Baltimore, to get some machinery cast for the boat • and in October and November in Frederick-town, he got all the other machinery made for an experiment by Steam. In December it was put on the Boat, at Shanandoah Falls, but before it could' be got ready for trial, the ice began to drive, which prevented it : Also, that M^ Rumsey, during the Winter invented his new

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constructed boiler, and had it made ready to put together before the Spring, but it was so badly executed, that he declined making the experiment uith it, but proposed to try his old boiler; accordingly in April 1786, the experiment was made, and the boat went against the current of Potowmack, but many parts of the machine being imperfect, and some parts rendered useless by the heat of the steam, he was obliged to have it repaired, which was done at the Great Falls, and she was again tried, but failed in the repaired work though it made many powerful strokes before it failed, and sent the boat forward with such power, that one man was not able to hold her. The next experiment was attempted in December, with the new constructed boiler, but the violence of the heat was so great, from the steam, that it melted the soft solder that great part of the machine was put together wuth, and rendered it entirely useless, until repaired with hard solder ; about this time the ice drifting, carried off the boat which the machinery was made ibr, and destroyed her in such a manner, that the repairing her was equal to one half of the expense of building a new one : That the boat was, in the spring, 1787 repaired, the machine also, and was ready for trial in September, when the boat moved up the river, against the current, with about two tons on board, besides the machinery, at the rate of two miles per hour ; but the new boiler was so badly made, that it opened at several of its ioints, which let gi-eat quantities of the steam escape : and the said Barns further saith, that to his Knowledge, the machine at the last trial, on December 3, 1787, was very imperfect in many parts, as the same boiler was then made use of, after receiving some repairs : It is his opinion it may be brought to answer very valuable purposes, as it will be simple, cheap, light and durable, and may be applied to a ship of the largest size to advantage, having no external application whatever.