59 
More like a peopled city than a ship ; ^ ^ v , 
Nor oars, nor sails this mighty mass equip ?; 
But as the Stygian monster , whence her name. 
Her inward breast confines the furious fame. 
Impelled by this, she scorns the winds and tides. 
And first upon the waves, she swiftly glides. 
Thousands astonish’d, see her as she fiies , 
And with their shouts they rend the air and shies. 
Such was the vessel at length produced by the labors of 
Chancellor Livingston. Such the wonderful structure, the* 
admiration of this country, and the envy of European artists, 
which now glides upon the waves of the Hudson. A new 
sera in the history of internal navigation has arrived. Time- 
and tide and wind have little influence upon our journeys. 
Distant cities and towns approximate to half their former 
distance.* 
It would be doing injustice to the memory of Chancellor 
Livingston, to omit to mention, that he was the principal 
founder, and, from the time of its institution till his death* 
* Honor to whom honor is due. Perhaps I have gone too far in giv» 
ing credit to Chancellor Livingston alone, for the invention of steam 
boats. The world needs much information upon this subject. Mr. 
Robert Fulton, who was with the Chancellor in France and united 
with him in his efforts to build steam boats, comes in for a share of 
what is above given to another. It is impossible to adjust their va¬ 
rious merits or to show how far the world is indebted to either in. 
this important invention. It ought to be mentioned, likewise, that 
other persons claim the honor of this invention. The most prominent 
of them is Mr. John Fitch, a citizen of New-Jersey, who propelled a. 
boat by steam as early as the year 1787. But this boat was soon laid 
aside, whether for want of means to put it in full operation, or the 
failure of the boat to work, I am not able to say. At the time of pub¬ 
lishing this address (March 1814) the subject is ably discussed in the 
legislature of this state, on a question brought up by a petition of 
Gov. Ogden of New-Jersey. The claims of Fitch and the adverse 
claims of Livingston and Fulton have each very strong advocates.— 
But however the question may be determined, the credit due to the 
subject of this address remains in a very great degree unimpaired.— 
It is most evident that had it not been for his patient assiduity, and 
liis study and exertions for a great number of years, notwithstanding 
the ridicule of his countrymen; had it not been for his liberal spirit, 
in making the most expensive experiments, we should not at this day 
have had a steam boat in our country. With whomsoever the credit 
may rest of the original invention of steam boats. Chancellor Living' 
ston is entitled to the equal credit of introducing them into our covut- 
