The report read September 6 on the petition of John Fitch was read the second time as follows, viz.

The committee on the petition of John Fitch, report That they have received his model of an invention for moving a boat by means of a steam-engine, of which they entertain a favorable opinion.

That the said Fitch represents to the committee, that he has begun a boat for navigating on the river Delaware ; but which from the narrowness of his funds he shall not be able to compleat without some public assistance.

The committee conceiving the design, if executed wnll be of considerable public utility recommend the following resolution :

Resolved that a committee be appointed to bring in a Bill to authorise the supreme executive council to direct payment of John Fitch's drafts to any amount not exceeding in the whole the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, on proof made to them that the money so drawn for has been applied to the purpose of compleating his steam-boat, they taking his security for repayment thereof in twelve months.

And on the question will the house adopt the same report 1

It was carried in the negative

Extract from the minutes J. Shallus Ass* Clerk.

Your Committee on the Petition of John Fitch report.

That they have viewed his boat, which he proposes to propel against the Stream by the agency of Steam, and altho' the apparatus necessary to the same is not yet so compleat as to afford demonstration, yet your committee entertain no doubt of a full and effectual Completion thereof.