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Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. II

O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. II. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849. 335 words

On these principles he who first invented and published the idea of a steam-boat, invests himself with a fair and just title to all steam-boats for a certain time, which in justice and policy government is bound to support. -- The state of Pensylvania hath given her sentiments on this head, and hath declared such to have been her explanation of the title to inventions by rejecting M^ Arthur Donaldson's petition to have me confined to a certain mode of applying my power. It was not the mode of using the force of steam which had any merit in this invention; but it was the idea of connecting steam with navigation^ i\\-d.i ixxsily claimed the public patronage as soon as that idea was made public, and the benefit of it applied for.

I shall now introduce the proofs I have promised, and show to the world what degree of credit and countenance ought to be given to a man, who in order to deprive me of my just rights, has brought forward evidences to swear to facts which are totally false-You will see that transactions are ante dated and a deception intended, with a view^ both of disgracing and robbing me -- Confident that gross misrepresentations had been made use of, I was at the expense and trouble of two journeys to Frederick-town in Maryland, the

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scene of his operations, and there I was soon confirmed in my suspicions that this plausible pamphlet was built on a falsehood, and that the patrons whom M^' Rumsey's address has procured him in this city, have committed themselves too unreservedly to a stranger. I now find the reason of his so long delaying to put in his claim -- it was that a period might elapse sufficient for memory to be uncertain, and for facts to be transposed in the order of time; the death of one of his principal workmen also rendered it probable that some of his pretended proofs might be difficult to detect.