446 THE APPLICATIONS OF PHYSICAL FORCES. [BOOK iv. 



In 1737, an Englishman, J. Hull, proposed to replace the oars by 

 two paddle-wheels behind the vessel, and to turn their common axis 

 by a Newcomen's engine. This project was never put into execution. 



The first experiment of steam navigation, after Papin's, was made 

 at Paris, on the Seine, opposite the Champ de Mars. The boat had 

 been built by the Count of Auxiron. A year afterwards, 1775, 

 Perier, who was made . a member of the Academy, made similar 

 experiments with no better success. 



Fresh attempts, Math increasing success, followed one another to 

 the end of the century. In 1778, the Marquis of Jouffroy tried a 

 steamboat at Baume les Dames, on the Doubs, and, three years later, 

 at Lyons, on the Saone. In this last attempt, which was reported very 

 favourably, he used a boat forty-six metres long and four and a half 

 metres broad. An atmospheric steam-engine at first communicated 

 motion to two things like shutters, which opened and closed alter- 

 nately, but which were afterwards replaced by two paddle-wheels. 



We must further mention, among those who have contributed to 

 realize Papin's idea and invention, Patrick Miller of Dalswinton, 

 Scotland, who published at Edinburgh (1787) a work on the substitu- 

 tion of paddle-wheels for oars, and on the possibility of employing 

 the steam-engine to move them. 



For some years prior to 1787 he had been engaged in a series 

 of experiments with double and triple vessels propelled by paddle- 

 wheels, worked by manual labour. In the experimental trips of 1786 

 and 1787 he was assisted by Mr. James Taylor, and at the suggestion 

 of the latter it was determined to substitute steam power for manual 

 labour. For this purpose, in the early part of 1788, Taylor introduced 

 William Symington, an engineer at Wanlockhead Lead Mines, who 

 had previously obtained letters patent (June 5, 1787, No. 1,610) for 

 " his new invented steam-engine on principles ' entirely new.' " 



An arrangement was made with Symington to apply an engine, 

 constructed according to his invention, to one of Mr. Miller's vessels, 

 and the engine was made, the castings being executed in brass by 

 George Watt, founder, of Low Calton, Edinburgh, in 1788. At the 

 beginning of October in that year the engine, mounted in a frame, 

 was placed upon the deck of a double pleasure boat, 25ft. long by 

 7ft., and connected with two paddle-wheels, one forward and the 

 other abaft the engine, in the space between the two hulls of the 



