This may Certify that on the twelfth instant we the Subscribers Went in Mr John Fitch's Steam Boat, from this city to the city of Burlington twenty miles in the space of three hours and ten minutes, there being upwards of thirty passengers on Board, and that said Boat was propelled thro' the water entirely by the force of Stearn; and from our own observations we are of opinion that the discovery which Mr Fitch has mad-e may be of much service to inland Xa\ngation.

John Poor

Philadelphia Octr. 18'^. 1788 John Ely.

No. 3.

On the 16^^. Inst*, I was on board M^. Fitch's Steam Boat m 'he River Delawar saw it perform, and I do Certify that it was impelled by the force of steam at the rate of at least four miles coi hour against the strength of tide and am fully convinced the force applied to that boat, would be sufficient to carry it against he most rapid waters, between the mouth of French Creek on the .4].legany & the Mouth of Muskingum on the Ohio, and that on an

1080 EARLY STEAM

averap;e it would carry it between Three and four miles an hour on any of the Western Waters.

Jon!!. Heart Cap*, . Philadelphia 18*^. Oct^ 1788. 1 U. S. Reg*.

No. 4.

This may certify that I the Subscriber was one of the Committee appointed in March 1786 by the General Assembly of this state, on the petitions of John Fitch and Arthur Donaldson respecting Iheir several schemes for the Improvement of navigation by means of Steam Engines, When M^. Donaldson produced his plan to the Committee for drawing Water in at, or near the Bottom and forcing it out abaft as a means of propelling a Vessel forward.