EARLY PADDLE-WHEEL BOATS. 79 



turning 1 the wheeles by some provision, and so the wheeles shall make the boate goe." 

 Bessoni, in 1582, describes a vessel consisting of two hulls decked above, like the 

 Castalia or Calais-Donvres and a wheel worked by ropes and a windlass in the interval 

 between them. Ramelli, in 1588, designed a paddle-wheel flat-bottomed boat, worked by 

 men turning a winch-handle. Indeed, Roger Bacon had, three centuries and a half 

 before, spoken of a "vessel which, being- almost wholly submerged, would run through 

 the water against waves and winds with a speed greater than that attained by the 

 fastest London pinnaces." 



The power of steam was rapidly becoming understood. In 1601, Baptista Porta (the 

 inventor of the magic-lantern) made many experiments on steam and its condensation, 

 and its relative bulk to water. Rivault shortly after describes the power of steam in 

 bursting a strong bomb-shell, partly filled by water, tightly plugged, and then heated. 

 In 1615, we find Solomon de Caus proving that "water will mount by the help of fire 

 higher than its level;" and Branca, in 1629, applying steam to the vanes of a wheel to 

 make it revolve, as in some toys to-day. In our own country we find David Ramsey, one 

 of the Pages of the King's Bedchamber, obtaining, with a partner, a patent in 1618, 

 " To exercise and put in use divers newe apt formes or kinds of Engines, and other 

 pfitable Invenc'ons, as well to plough grounds without horse or oxen, and to make fertile 

 as well as barren peats, salts and sea lands, as inland and upland grounds within the 

 Realmes of England, &c. As, also, to raise waters, and to make boats for carnages 

 rnnnin upon the water as swift in calmes, and more safe in storms, than boats full sayled 

 in great windes." Twelve years later we find Ramsey applying alone for a patent of 

 most comprehensive character. It was designed " To raise water from lowe pitts by fire 

 [the steam-engine]. To make any sort of Milles to go on standing Waters by continual 

 moc'on without the helpe of Windes, Weight, or Horse. To make all sortes of Tapestry 

 without any weaving loome or way even yet in use in this kingdom. To make Boats, 

 Ships, and Barges to goe against the Wind and Tyde, &c." And so on through the 

 century. Woodcroft, in his standard work,* enumerates over a dozen more patents having 

 for their object the propulsion of boats and vessels, which were granted before 1700, 

 including one to the celebrated Marquis of Worcester, which, however, did not contemplate 

 the use of steam. In the "Century of Invencions " Lord Worcester says: "By it, I 

 can make a vessel, of as great burden as the river can bsar, to go against stream, which the 

 more rapid it is, the faster it shall advance, and the moveable part that works it, may be 

 by one man still guided to take advantage of the stream, and yet to steer the boat to any 

 point ; and this engin3 is applicable to any vessel or boat whatsoever, without being, 

 therefore, made on purpose, and worketh these effects : it rowelh, it draweth, it driveth, 

 (if needs be) to pass London Bridge against the stream at low wator ; and a boat laying 

 at anchor, the engine may be used for loading or unloading." Woodcroft explains this as 

 follows : " It is obvious that the Marquis did not, by this, mean a steam-propelled paddle- 

 wheel boat, the action of which would not have been such as he describes ; but a rope 

 fastened at one end up the stream, and at the other to the axis of water-wheels laying 



* "A Sketch of the Origin and Progress of Steam Navigation," by Bennet Woodcroft. 



