tion of her water-wheels: he had their diameter lessened, so that the buckets took less hold of the water; and when they were again put in motion, it was manifest that the alteration had increased the speed of the boat. It may well be said that the man of genius and knowledge has a sense beyond those which are common to others, or that he sees with different eyes. How many would have gazed on these ill-proportioned wheels without perceiving that they were imperfect!

This boat, which was called the "CLERMONT,' soon after sailed, from a dock near the State Prison, for Albany. It is announced, in the newspapers of that date, that the boat built by Messrs. Livingston and Fulton, with a view to the navigation of the Mississippi river from New Orleans upwards, would depart for Albany in the afternoon. Indeed, this was according to the general impression at the time. For though the performance of this boat had been witnessed in New York harbor, yet it was not conceived that steamboats could be employed as packet-boats between that city and Albany.

The "CLERMONT," was 160 tons. The cylinder was twenty-four inches in diameter and four feet stroke, and on her first voyage, arrived at her destination without any accident. She excited

the astonishment of the inhabitants of the shores of the Hudson, many of whom had not heard of an engine, much less of a steamboat. There were many descriptions of the effects of her appearance upon the people of the banks of the river: some of these were ridiculous, but some of them were of such a character as nothing but an object of real grandeur could have excited. She was described, by some who had indistinctly seen her passing in the night to those who had not had a view of her, as a monster moving on the waters, defying the wind and tide, and breathing flames and smoke.

She had the most terrific appearance, from other vessels which were navigating the river, when she was making her passage. The first steamboats, as others yet do, used dry pine wood for fuel, which sends forth a column of ignited vapour many feet above the flue, and whenever the fire is stirred, a galaxy of sparks flies off, and in the night have a very brilliant and beautiful appearance.

This uncommon light first attracted the attention of the crews of other vessels. Notwithstanding the wind and tide were adverse to its approach, they saw with astonishment that it was rapidly coming towards them; and when it came so near as that the noise of the machinery and paddles were heard, the crews-if what was said in the

newspapers of the time be true-in some instances shrunk beneath their decks from the terrific sight, and left their vessels to go on shore, while others prostrated themselves, and besought Providence to protect them from the approaches of the horrible monster which was marching on the tides, and lighting its path by the fires which it vomited.

Mr. Fulton was himself a passenger on this voyage, and upon his return published an account of it, which deserves to be preserved. It is as follows

To the Editor of the "American Citizen."

"NEW YORK, September 15, 1807.

"SIR:"I arrived this afternoon, at four o'clock, in the steamboat from Albany. As the success of my experiment gives me great hopes that such boats may be rendered of great importance to my country, to prevent erroneous opinions and give some satisfaction to the friends of useful improvements, you will have the goodness to publish the following statement of facts:

"I left New York on Monday at one o'clock, and arrived at Clermont, the seat of Chancellor Livingston, at one o'clock on Tuesday-time, twenty-four hours, distance, one hundred and ten miles. On Wednesday, I departed from the Chancellor's at nine in the morning, and arrived at Albany at five in the afternoon-distance, forty miles, time, eight hours. The sum is one hundred and fifty miles in thirty-two hours, equal to near five miles an hour.

"On Thursday, at nine o'clock in the morning, I left Albany, and arrived at the Chancellor's at six in the evening: I started from thence at seven, and arrived at

New York at four in the afternoon-time, thirty hours, space run through, one hundred and fifty miles, equal to five miles an hour. Throughout my whole way, both going wind was ahead: no advantage could be derived from my sails: the whole has, therefore, been performed by the power of the steam-engine.

and returning, the

"I am, sir, your obedient servant,

"ROBERT FULTON."

He gives the following account of the same voyage in a letter to his friend Mr. Barlow:

"My steamboat voyage to Albany and back has turned out rather more favourable than I had calculated. The distance from New York to Albany is one hundred and fifty miles I ran it up in thirty-two hours, and down in thirty. I had a light breeze against me the whole way, both going and coming, and the voyage has been performed wholly by the power of the steam-engine. I overtook many sloops and schooners beating to windward, and parted with them as if they had been at anchor.

"The power of propelling boats by steam is now fully proved. The morning I left New York, there were not perhaps thirty persons in the city who believed that the boat would ever move one mile an hour, or be of the least utility; and while we were putting off from the wharf, which was crowded with spectators, I heard a number of sarcastic remarks. This is the way in which ignorant men compliment what they call philosophers and projectors.

"Having employed much time, money, and zeal, in accomplishing this work, it gives me, as it will you, great pleasure to see it fully answer my expectations. It will give a cheap and quick conveyance to the merchandise on the Mississippi, Missouri, and other great rivers, which are now laying open their treasures to the enterprise of our countrymen; and although the prospect of personal emolument has been some inducement to me, yet I feel infinitely more pleasure in reflecting on the immense advantage my country will derive from the invention," etc.

The passengers on board the boat, on her first passage as a Packet, thought it but just to publish a statement, over their signatures, that the accommodations and conveniences on board far exceeded their most sanguine expectations.

To J. Franklin Reigart, Esq.

"SOUDERSBURG, LANCASTER COUNTY, January 4th, 1856.

"DEAR SIR: Having been informed that you are about to publish a history of Robert Fulton, Esq., who was distinguished for many noble inventions, allow me to state that the publication of the narrative of facts as they happened, and the description of his productions, would be exceedingly interesting to the admirers of genius and every lover of the arts and sciences. The works of Fulton are now justly appreciated, and the citizens of this matchless county will for ever honor the name and birthplace of his genius.

"It was in the early autumn of the year 1807, that a knot of villagers was gathered on a high bluff just opposite Poughkeepsie, on the west bank of the Hudson, attracted by the appearance of a strange dark-looking craft, which was slowly making its way up the river. Some imagined it to be a sea-monster, whilst others did not hesitate to express their belief that it was a sign of the approaching judgment. What seemed strange in the vessel was the substitution of lofty and straight black smokepipes, rising from the deck, instead of the gracefully tapered masts that commonly stood on the vessels navigating the stream, and, in place of the spars and rigging, the curious play of the working-beam and pistons, and the slow turning and splashing of the huge and naked paddlewheels, met the astonished gaze. The dense clouds of smoke, as they rose wave upon wave, added still more to the wonderment of the rustics.