3 1 o Literary and Philosophical Society. 



English engineers, of the practical utility of steam navi- 

 gation in English waters. In that year (1814) I lent Mr. 

 Ewart Fulton's specifications and drawings, which were 

 sent by him to Boulton and Watt, and returned to me 

 about six months after. I have reason to believe that 

 that eminent house was led thereby to make further and 

 more exact inquiries concerning the progress of steam 

 navigation in America ; for they, as well as several other 

 engineers, commenced building steamboats in 181 5 and 

 1 8 16, since which time the progress of steam navigation 

 has been marvellous for the perfection and the extension 

 of British-built steamers both for inland navigation and, 

 finally, for traversing alike the narrow seas and " the broad 

 oceans that belt the globe." 



* The engineering talent, the mechanical skill, and the 

 active enterprise that abounded in England had created 

 a self-reliance which seemed to forbid the direction of 

 either into other channels than those marked out at home. 

 Her most gifted men were satisfied with the progress of 

 knowledge within the realm. National intercourse was 

 then both irregular and sluggish ; so that peoples were to 

 each other real strangers, and much given to mutual jea- 

 lousies. These recollections serve to explain the fact that 

 eight years had passed away from the time when the 

 waters of the Hudson were first agitated by the paddles 

 of the " Claremont," and when over 5,000 tons had been 

 launched upon her bosom, before those of the Thames 

 welcomed those of the '' Margery " steamer. The desire 

 for instruction ever lags far behind the means of imparting 

 it ; hence the slow pace of nations in gaining knowledge 

 through reports of its spread in other lands. This dislike 

 to the " search for teachers " is alike found among men 



