Henry, of Lancaster, to ta e his opinion of my drafts, who informed me, that I was not the first person who had thought of applying Steam to vessels; that he had conversed with M"" Andrew Ellicott as early as the year 1775, and that M^ Paine, author of Common Sense, had suggested the same thing to him in the winter of 1778 ; that some time after, he (M'" Henry) thinking more seriously of the matter, was of opinion it might be easily perfected and accordingly made some drafts might be proposed to lay before the Philosophical Society and which he then showed me, but added as he had neglected to bring

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them to public view, and as I had first published the plan to the world, he would lay no claim to the invention. The following I have been favored with from M^' Ellicott:

BaUimore, AprU 26th 1788.

I do hereby certify, that early in the year one thousand, seven hundred and seventy five, M'" William Henry, of Lancaster, conversed with me on the subject of steam and intimated that he thought it might be advantageously applied to the Navigation of Boats. (Signed)

ANDREW ELLICOTT.

From Lancaster I went to the Assembly of Virginia, first waiting on Governor Johnson, of Maryland, who, notwithstanding the letters he has since written in favour of M^' Rumsey, ackno^^ 1- edged a merit in my invention, and that it ought to be encouraged, as will presently appear. During my journey through Maryland, m October, I passed through Frederick Town, and every wheje published my Plan. In Virginia I v;aited on his Excellfncy General Washington, who, in the course of conversation, inforsned m'fe, that the thought of applying steam was not original, that ?,['' Rumsey had mentioned Steam to him; but nothing tiiat passed in the conversation with General Washington had the least tendency to convey the idea of M'^' Rumsey's relying on Steam, and Genf lal Washington's letter, page 10, in M^^ Rumsey's Pamphlet, clears up the matter -- for the General himself did not conceive any sueli thing.