James Rumsey an ingenious Gentleman a native of Maryland but lately from Virginia in December last exhibited before a number of respectable characters in Maryland and Virginia the effects of Steam in propelling a boat of considerable Burthen against the Current of the River Powtomack, and models of machines for the Raising Water to a great height and in large Quantities by the force of Steam, in both which a Boiler upon entirely new Construction invented by himself is used with the greatest apparent probability of far Exceeding all others heretofore known, not only in point of Force but in the Smallness of the Quantity of Fuel necessary to generate the Steam.

He came to this City some months ago with Drafts and descriptions of his Several Inventions and communicated them to a number of Gentlemen here who Struck with the Simplicity of his several Contrivances and the great advantages with which they might be applied to many useful purposes agreed to afford him Some Assistance in carrying his schemes into Execution. To this end the persons a list of whose names is herewith sent formed themselves into a Company by the name of the Rumseian Society ?^x\A appointed us a Committee of Correspondence to further the design in distant places.

As steam Engines are now used in Europe not only for the purpose of raising water from Mines of Great depth but for a variety of other mechanical purposes where a strong force is necessary and where M^ater Falls were formerly applied --