46 REPORT — lfi53. 



In the rise or commencement of steam navigation, like all other discoveries 

 and inventions which have answered and succeeded in the application, many 

 persons are found to claim the honour of that which may or may not be their 

 due. Now, in reference to the first discovery of propelling vessels by steam- 

 power, we have, amongst others, the following countries as claimants, viz. 

 England, Scotland, America, and Italy. It is not my intention to enter into 

 any lengthened statement of the claims of different places, but briefly so, in 

 order to show that Hull was among the first. 



On the 21st of December, 1736, Jonathan Hulls took out a patent for a 

 steam-boat, which was, without doubt, the very first attempt that was ever 

 made to apply steam for the purpose of navigation ; at least we have nothing 

 older on record. Hulls, as is well known, published his letters-patent, and 

 a description of his invention, illustrated by a drawing, in 1737> which he 

 entitled a " Description and Draught of a new invented Machine for carry- 

 ing vessels or ships out of, or into any Harbour, Port, or River, against wind 

 or tide, or in a calm." 



It appears from a paper of Professor Renwick of New York, published in 

 Weale's edition of " Tredgold on the Steam-Engine," that the first attempt 

 to propel boats by steam in America was made in the year 1783, by Fitch 

 and Rumsey ; but it was not until 1807 that it was made to perform with 

 success by Fulton. In Scotland, about the year 1788, a trial was made at 

 Dalswinton to propel boats by steam, by Mr. Patrick Miller of that place ; 

 and again, an experiment was made on the Forth and Clyde Canal, by the 

 same person, in 1789, and it is said with good results; but from some cause 

 or other, Mr. Miller appears to have abandoned the thing altogether. About 

 this time, a person in Italy, of the name of D. S. Serratti, also proposed the 

 application of steam to the purposes of navigation. 



In 1801 and 1802, Mr. William Symington constructed a steam-boat for 

 towing vessels on the Forth and Clyde Canal, but nothing of importance re- 

 sulted from the experiment. 



To come a little nearer home, it will be gratifying to many to hear that in 

 Hull, about the year 1787, experiments were made on the River Hull by 

 Furnace and Ashton, in the propulsion of vessels by steam-power. Furnace 

 and Ashton built a boat which plyed on the river between Hull and Beverley 

 for some time, and answered exceedingly well. In consequence of the good 

 results of their experiments, they built a much larger vessel and engine, and 

 sent the whole to London to be put together and finished, after which it was 

 subjected to the severest tests, and gave the greatest satisfaction. This ves- 

 sel was bought by the Prince Regent (afterwards George IV.), who had it 

 fitted and furnished as a pleasure yacht ; but it was soon afterwards burnt, 

 having, it is supposed, been set on fire by persons who were afraid that such 

 an invention would be injurious to their calling. 



The Prince was so much pleased with the invention and ingenuity of Fur- 

 nace and Ashton, that he granted them a pension for life of ^70 a year each. 

 Furnace was a native of Beverley, and Mr. Ashton was a medical gentleman, 

 having been articled to the father of the late W. and C. Bolton of this place, 

 but I do not know whence he came. 



The steamer was on the paddle principle, propelled by a steam-engine, to 

 which was attached a copper boiler ; and this, I regret to saj% is all I can 

 give in detail as to the construction, and I also regret to add, that all from 

 whom I obtained information are now no more. My father, himself an en- 

 gineer, who knew the vessel from personal inspection, gave me the best 

 information. The late Mr. Matthew Collyford Banks (whose father, Roger 

 Banks, made the principal part of the machinery), although a boy, witnessed 



