CHAPTER XLVIII. 



APPLICATION OF STEAM TO NAVIGATION — ROBERT FULTON — CHANCELLOR LIVING- 

 STON LAUNCH OF THE CLERMONT — SHE CROSSES THE HUDSON RIVER — HER 



VOYAGE TO ALBANY DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENE FULTON'S OWN ACCOUNT — 



LEGISLATIVE PROTECTION GRANTED TO FULTON THE PENDULUM-ENGINE 



CONSTRUCTION OF OTHER STEAMBOATS THE STEAM - FRIGATE FULTON THE 



FIRST THE FIRST OCEAN-STEAMER, THE SAVANNAH ACCOUNT OF HER VOYAGE 



MISAPPREHENSIONS UPON THE SUBJECT. 



In the year 1807, a new agent was introduced into the science 

 of navigation, — one which was destined to effect as great a 

 change in the duration of a voyage at sea as the compass had 

 effected in its practicability. Steam was applied to a boat upon 

 the Hudson, and the Clermont, propelled by wheels, steamed 

 from Jersey City to Albany. Though this was an event that 

 immediately concerned river-navigation, and though twelve 

 years were to elapse before the accomplishment of the first 

 ocean steam-voyage, we cannot with propriety omit an account 

 of the conception, construction, and success of the first river- 

 steamboat. 



THE CLERMONT: THE FIRST STEAMBOAT. 



Robert Fulton was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, 

 in the year 1765. He manifested a genius for mechanics at an 

 early age, though portrait-painting was his first profession. He 

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