132 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



English steam-boat), 1812; and the Charlotte Dundas (first successful 

 experimental boat), 1802. 



Standing on a pedestal is a cylinder from the first engine put in the 

 Comet. Mr. Miller, secretary of the Scottish Institute of Engineers and 

 Ship-builders, tells me that this was taken out and replaced by another 

 cylinder, and after having been used for some time by an old lady for a 

 chimney top, was presented by her to the Museum as soon as she learned 

 of its historic value. Upon the pedestal is placed a u Record of Steam 

 Navigation in the Clyde" and upon the walls hang several photographs 

 of the machinery of the Comet, with the inventor, Henry Bell, standing 

 beside it. Mr. James Paton, Superintendent of the Museum, presented 

 me with fac-similes of promissory notes given by Henry Bell to David 

 Napier, 1812, in payment for the boiler of the Comet, the first steamer 

 that carried passengers in Europe. 



Also, a facsimile of certificate from Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, 

 of His Majesty's navy, and the captains of His Majesty's ships Dragon 

 and Superb, dated July 4, 1802, in regard to Mr. Snorter's propeller, by 

 the use of which one ship in a calm " hove away at the rate of 1 & 

 a £ miles per hour, having 8 hands at the capstan." 



The original documents are the property of Napier Brothers, ship- 

 builders on the Clyde, and are loaned by them to the Kelvin Grove Mu- 

 seum, Glasgow, for exhibition. A model of a propeller worked in this 

 manner is also shown. 



Paris and its Museums. — There are three thoughts connected with 

 Paris that are of great interest to the student of the story of steam. 



(1) In one section of the Conservatoire des Artes et Metiers stands a 

 marble statue of Papin, to whose investigations I believe the invention 

 of the steam piston and cylinder is largely due — holding a steam cylin- 

 der over a flame ; the apparatus having been modeled from the draw- 

 ings of the one originally constructed by him. 



(2) Near by it stands Cugnot's steam road locomotive of 1770, the 

 oldest steam-locomotive in the world. 



(3) The historical spot on the banks of the Seine, which I visited, and 

 where Fulton made his experiments, 1801, 1802, and 1803, with steam 

 appliances, both for towing boats and for submarine work against the 

 wooden British sailing ships that were operating against Napoleon in 

 these eventful years. In 1803 or 1804 Napoleon had become much inter- 

 ested in Fulton's experiments with steam. They had an interview, and 

 Fulton's inventions were referred to the French minister of the marine for 

 investigation. The English naval authorities, hearing of this, became 

 greatly alarmed, for Napoleon, who then had a large force of men massed 

 at Bologne, had it so arranged that if he could get the special barges 

 which he had built for the purpose six hours ahead of the British in 

 their journey across the channel he could march his army to London 

 without serious opposition. But thus early in the history of steam nav- 

 igation the value of the marine engine of the future was appreciated by 



