To his inventive genius alone, I am indebted for the improvement in our mode oi creating steam; a thought which struck him above two years ago, the drawing having been shewn to several persons ; for we nen)er made a secret of any part of our works ; but a fear of departing from old established plans, made me fearful of adopting it, until I had found by his invention of creating steam, that a condenser might be constructed on the same principles (viz a spiral pipe or worm) only by reversing the agent, for the best way of applying fire to evaporate water into steam, must also be the best way of applying cold water to condense steam, that is the bringing the greatest quantity of fire into action upon the greatest surface of water -- or the contrary -- And we had an additional inducement to study this subject bacause the common way of fixing boilers, required so great a load of brick work, that it over-loaded our boat. Therefore, the first thought that must occur to every man, attempting to raise steam on board a boat, must be to acquire that method which would require the least weight. Since M*". Rumsey has been in town I have been told, that he says I have got his mode of creating steam ; whether that be the case or not (or whether he has got mine) I do not at present know. But

1056 EARLY STEAM

as both Mr. Rumsey and M^. Voight laid their drawings and pjans before the Philosophical Society the same day, it will appear how far they are alike. And M"". Voight made a prior entry of his plans in tlie Prothonotary's ofTirr, in this city. If there should happen to beany similarity between them, it would be nothing surprising ; having the same load on both their minds, they both sought rehef ; and, as sick persons, lacking a doctor, chance might have led them to the same man ; and I had an undoubted right to apply every medicine that suited the disorder -- but I will proceed with the pamphlet. --