. A sketch of the origin and progress of steam navigation from authentic documents. of which is thus circum-stantially related. It happened one day during tJie-month of July,1801, while Mr. Symington was conducting his experiments underthe patronage of Lord Dundas, a stranger came to the banks of thecanal, and requested an interview: he announced himself as , a native of North America, to wliich country he intended toreturn in a few weeks; but having heard of the steam boat experi-ments, he could not think of leaving Scotland without waiting uponMr. Symington, in the liope of seeing t
. A sketch of the origin and progress of steam navigation from authentic documents. of which is thus circum-stantially related. It happened one day during tJie-month of July,1801, while Mr. Symington was conducting his experiments underthe patronage of Lord Dundas, a stranger came to the banks of thecanal, and requested an interview: he announced himself as , a native of North America, to wliich country he intended toreturn in a few weeks; but having heard of the steam boat experi-ments, he could not think of leaving Scotland without waiting uponMr. Symington, in the liope of seeing the boat and machinery, andprocuring some information as to the principles upon which it wasmoved. He remarked, tliat however beneficial the invention mightbe to Great Britain, it would certainly be of more importance toNorth America, considering her many navigable rivers and lakes,and the ease with which timber could be procured for building suchvessels and supplying them with fuel. He thought fit further to say,that the usefulness of steam vessels in a mercantile point of view. o o Eulat Ul -«o 1^ 1-3 rrl OC o ? E cc UlQ. STEAM NAVIGATION. 65 could not fail to attract the attention of every observer; and that if was allowed to carry the plan to North America, it could not butturn out to Mr. Symingtons advantage, as if inclined for it, or hisother engagements would permit, the constructing, or at least thesuperintending the construction of such vessels, would naturally de-volve upon him. Mr. Symington, in compliance with the strangersearnest request, caused the engine fire to be lighted up, and themachinery put in motion. Several persons entered the boat, and,along with Mr. Fulton, were carried from Lock No. 16, where shethen lay, about four miles west; and returned to the place fromwhence they had started in one hour and twenty minutes (being atthe rate of six miles an hour), to the astonishment of Mr. Fulton andthe other gentlemen present. Mr. Fulton asked and obtain
Size: 1140px × 2193px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, bookidcu3192403090, bookyear1848
