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.

The Committee having fully heard the petitioners and afterwards viewed M*" Fitch's model of an invention for moving a boat by means of a Steam Engine, agreed to make a report to the House ill his favour.

James Irvine. Philadelphia Aug* 7'h 1788

No. 5.

M' Fitch in his explanation of this draft, to me, before he presented it to the Philosophical Society, mentioned that his intention of conveying the waters from his forcing pump in a Tube that passed thro' the fire, was that it might thereby be set a boiling before it entered in the receiver, lest the cold water mixing with the boiling water in the receiver should impede the generation of the Steam --

Indorsed . John Ewing.

Presented to the Society Sept. 27th 1785

R. Patterson Sec'y

No. 6.

I William Cavenagh notary and Tabellion public in and for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by Lawful Authority duly admitted

NAVIGATION 1081

imd sworn dwelling in the City of Philladelphla in the said Commonwealth Do hereby Certify and attest unto all whom it floth or may Concern That the aforegoing wTitings from N° 1, to 6 Do Contain just and true Copies of Original Certificates to me the said notary bona fide produced by John Fitch in the said Certificates named, and that I have Carefully Compared the said Copies with their respective Originals and do find them exactly to agree wdth each other.