navigating the Hudson River, 3 



hence had arisen a continual trial of skill in the increase of the 

 speed of steam-boats. This vessel, on trial, was found to be 

 superior to any that had been before constructed. Placed 

 upon the Hudson, the passage to Albany was readily made by 

 her in the average space of fourteen hours. Leaving either 

 place at sunrise, the distance was therefore performed during 

 the summer season, before the daylight ended. 



The introduction of this boat caused a complete change in 

 the plan of travelling, which, instead of being principally per- 

 formed during the night, was now rendered practicable during 

 the day ; a change extremely agreeable to voyagers in pursuit 

 of pleasure, and convenient to men of business from its rapidity. 



Some of the improvements in this boat I shall particularize 

 when I speak of the last and most perfect boat of the same 

 proprietors. 



Contemporaneous with the introduction of this vessel upon 

 the Hudson, the same gentlemen commenced the construction 

 of another, upon nearly the same model, but with an engine of 

 greater proportionate power. A faulty casting, however, ren- 

 dered the engine incapable of working as well as it ought to 

 have done, and no increase of speed was at first obtained. 



For. my own part, I must confess that I had come to the 

 conclusion, that the speed now obtained was probably the 

 maximum. I founded this opinion on the fact, that a wave 

 unexampled in any former case was raised in front of these 

 rapidly moving boats. The theory of Juan, showing that this 

 cause of resistance, although insensible at slow velocities, in- 

 creases with their fourth power, pointed out a final limit to the 

 attainable speed. That the maximum was reached, I inferred 

 from the fact that the second boat, although propelled by a 

 more powerful engine, was not more rapid in her motion than 

 the first. I was unaware at the time of the faulty part of the 

 engine ; but that I was in some measure correct is shown from 

 the fact, that although the engine has been since put in perfect 

 order, the acceleration bears but a small proportion to the 

 difference of power. 



Mr. Robert L. Stevens, however, viewed the subject in 

 another light. Aware of the resistance growing out of the 



B 2 



