38 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



It is needless to remark here on the vast importance of this sub- 

 ject. It is a matter of life and death ! and hmnanity at large is in- 

 terested in it. In view, therefore, of the great merits and useful- 

 ness of this important invention, we unanimously recommend that 

 Mr, Thompson be awarded a gold medal. 

 All of which is respectfully submitted. 



HENRY B. RENWICK, 

 WM. EBBITT, 

 PETER B. MEAD, 

 I. W. AYRES, 

 W. H. DIKEMAN, 

 October, 1855. Committee. 



REPORT ON THE STEAMER NEW WORLD. 



The special committee, to whom was referred the communi- 

 cation of Isaac Newton, Esq., requesting an examination of the 

 steamer New World, respectfully report : 



That on the day appointed, Mr. Joseph Torrey, Vice-President 

 of the Institute, and Messrs. Edwin Smith, Joseph Cowdin, John 

 Gray, B. Lewis, jr., A. D. Frye, B. J. Plathaway, Paul Stillman, 

 Chas. Turner, and S. J). Backus, of the managers, visited the 

 New World, and were received by Mr. Newton and the officers 

 of the boat. After an inspection of the arrangements and ap- 

 pointments of the vessel, an elegant and sumptuous collation was 

 provided for their refreshment. The cursory examination which 

 the members of the committee were enabled to make, would not 

 qualify them to enter into a description of this great and magnifi- 

 cent structure, nor to point out in detail those qualities in which 

 its merits particularly consist, were such a course either necessary 

 or expedient. They can only say, that so far as they can judge, 

 the provisions for the safety, convenience, and pleasure of those 

 who throng the route of travel on which she is placed, are such as 

 the necessities of the public demand, and a sagacious anticipation 

 of popular wishes would suggest. It may be truly said that she 

 is precisely the boat needed on the North river at tlie present 

 time, and that river is precisely the place for such a boat. Upon 

 no other route, and among no other people than those for which 

 she is designed, would her size, peculiar form and arrangements 

 be needed or appropriate; and the expedients demanded by the 

 exigencies of a different navigation would be equally out of place 

 upon our own great inland aquatic highway. 



