34 Book of Steamships 



would be the driving force on land and 

 sea. With the latter he was greatly con- 

 cerned, but few men had to put up with 

 so many cold douches as Bell. Circum- 

 stances did not at first allow him to 

 experiment in a practical manner, so he 

 tried to do what many men do nowa- 

 days, i.e., to get the people who really 

 matter interested in the subject. This he 

 attempted by correspondence and by 

 writing to the Press. 



He was one of the first to approach 

 Watt, whose name was now well before 

 the public as responsible for many great 

 improvements in the stationary engine. 

 Watt could not be bothered nor could 

 the British Admiralty be moved to listen 

 to what Bell had to say. Still, not to be 

 turned from his purpose, Bell had another 

 shot at the Admiralty, and this time the 

 great Lord Nelson took up the running, 

 pointing out that if we did not apply 

 ourselves to the problem of steam navi- 

 gation other nations would and we might 



