Endorsed, James Rumsey' s Petition to the State of JVew York

NAVIGATION. 1089

GEN^. WASHINGTON'S OPINION OF M^. RUMSEY'S

I'MVENTION. I have seen the model of M^" Rumsey's Boats, Constructed to work against Stream examined the powers, upon which it acts ; been eye witness to an actual experiment in Running water of some rapidity ; and give it as my opinion (altho I had little faith before) that he has discovered the art of working Boats by mechanism and small manual assistance against Rapid Currents; that the Discovery is of vast Importance ; may be of the greatest usefulness in our Inland navigation ; and if it succeeds of which I have no doubt that the value of it is greatly enhanced by the simplicity of the works ; which when seen and explained to may be executed by the most Common mechanic.

Given under my hand at the Town of Bath, County of Berkely in the State of Virginia this V*** of Sepf 1784 Go. Washington.

A true Coppy Compared with the org'

New York Dec^ 3, 17S4 -- I do certify that I have seen the original, of which the within is a copy, and believe the whole to have been writen by General Washington with whose handwriting I am perfectly acquainted- Ben Walker formerly aid De Endorsed Camp to his ExcelPy

A copy of Gen Washington's Gen^ Washington

voucher.

Philad^ Dec/ 9* 1788 Sir

I think it proper to inform you that I am about to set off for Albany where I propose to be on the 15*^ ins* in Order to present a Petition to the Legislature of the State of New York in Behalf of M"" James Rumsey praying a grant of the exclusive Privilege of constructing and using within that state his model of propelling Vessels by the Force of Steam & the Boilers by him invented for generating Steam, m Order that you may be heard if you think proper to attend -- yours &c Joseph Barnes