Rumsey's own writings and from his own testimonies, that the steam machinery, sworn to have been board in December^ 1785, could not have been ready until December 1786 ; and here I might safely rest my defence, and very properly quote Mr. Rumsey's own words (annexed to the certificate No. 18.) viz "Should he incline to a^^er^ hereafter, what credit he will deserve, has been so clearly proved, that future impositions may be avoided, and those who spread a slander they do not helwe, deserve the contempt of all honest men "

1060 EARLY STEAM

But I will proceed and must not omit remarking, that this thini page of his work is very fatal to him. He says " I should certainly have quitted my steam engines {engines only in idea) though in great forwardness, and have produced the boat for vMch 1 had obtained the certificate, &c. had not a M^, Fitch come out at this critical minute with his steam-boat, &c." And further adds " Had I exhibited my first boat it would have been construed into an acknowledgement of Mr. Fitch's assertion, by producing a boat with which steam had nothing to do ; these considerations compelled me to pursue the perfecting my steam engines willi increased ardor." Thus I have a proof from himself, that the certificates from General Washington, &c. (which procured his laws in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania) had 710 reference to steam consequently my laws for the exclusive use of steam applied to boats, cannot interfere either with his laws, or his expectations at the time of asking for them. I applied to the several legislatures openly and unguardedly without friends and without patrons ; and from the pure merit of my pretensions, met with success, without a whisper being breathed, that I was interfering with M''.