ས and of 3,600 tons burden), at Glasgow, who could feel all the greatness of this triumph. That man was the Dean of Ripon, England, who, being toasted, stated that forty-eight years ago he accompanied Robert Fulton on his first steamer trial trip on the Hudson river-that being the first successful trial ever made. He thanked God that he had been spared to witness this perfected steamer, the Persia, the most magnificent vessel afloat; and that, coupled with the long succession of triumphs of steam, which he had carefully observed, whether on the sea or on the land, the triumphs of peace, intelligence, and a broader brotherhood, had gone hand in hand. He trusted and prayed that this would continue to be the history of steam-the most potent of all the agencies of enterprise and civilization."-N. Y. Mirror. In preparing this work for publication, it seems proper to state, what the reader perhaps will readily conceive, the difficulties that we had to encounter. As an ardent admirer of the genius of Fulton, we imagined that a history of his life would be considered interesting and instructive. We commenced the task, and soon found that it was possible to write and compile a volume of this character. But to succeed in the enterprise of writing a history of all Fulton's acts, and the events of his life, and all his discoveries and inventions, we felt was far beyond our capacity. We searched for months through the portraits of biographies, carefully read the pages of cyclopædias, the histories of statesmen, of warriors, of inventors, and though we would not exalt the character of one inventor at the expense of another, yet we must say, that the more we searched were we forced to conclude that Robert Fulton was the most distinguished inventor the world has ever produced. All the written laudations that mortal man can bestow, cannot convey a more correct and complete idea of Fulton's life than the plain narration of facts, showing his acts as they are already inscribed upon the scroll of fame. "Worlds beyond worlds shall bring to light their stores, Time, nature, science, blend their utmost powers, To show, concentred in one blaze of fame, The ungather'd glories that await his name." Robert Fulton was a man at fifteen years of age, and his whole life exhibited the boldest statesmanship-evincing a mature knowledge of the arts of government. In his minority he was the most industrious and skilful miniature painter, numerical calculator, mechanical draughtsman, original and practical artist, and remarkable caricaturist, exhibiting a perfect knowledge of human nature. He was the most obedient and noblest son a virtuous mother ever bore, the most affectionate brother that sisters ever owned; and the records of history do not describe a youth of such unblemished character, or of equal talents. During his later years, his acts and inventions were of such an extraordinary character, that the eminent philosopher, Benjamin Franklin, who had tamed the thunders of the cloud-capped skies, the world-renowned Emperor Napoleon, who had crossed the Alpine rocks and blown up the magazines of nations, and the wise directors of scientific and philosophical societies, who had collected the arts and sciences of the world, could not comprehend them, and publicly rejected and repudiated them as visionary and impracticable. To some this may appear exaggeration; but the generous inventor, who has ever recognized Fulton as the HERO of inventors, will cheerfully acknowledge that, though others may have been conducted in the paths of science by superior learning, and may have had a more dazzling career, the labours of no individual have manifested the same originality, have been more honourable, meritorious, or practically useful. He put the first machine into practice, and became the real inventor. He was a director of the American Academy of Fine Arts, a member of the New York Historical and Philosophical Society, of the United States Military and Philosophical Society, and of the Literary and Philosophical Society of New York. To confirm our ideas of the greatness of Fulton, great in all his inventions, and to show that none knew him but to admire and love him, we refer our readers to the following generous sentiments, expressed by learned and prominent Americans shortly after his decease: Extract from the Address-a Memoir of Robert Fulton, Esq.-delivered before the Literary and Philosophical Society of New York, March 12, 1817, by C. D. Colden, Esq. "GENTLEMEN : "In compliance with the practice of institutions similar to our own, this Society has resolved to preserve on its records memorials of the lives of those who have been its distinguished associates -who have contributed to its reputation and honour by their virtues, their genius, and by the employment of their talents. "It is greatly to be lamented that the first subject for a record of this kind should be an associate taken from us in the prime of his life, and in the midst of his usefulness; whose virtues and manners endeared him to all who knew him, and whose loss has been lamented as a public calamity. "We cannot think that it will be imputed to an undue partiality for our regretted associate, if we say that there cannot be found, on the records of departed worth, the name of a person to whose indi vidual exertions mankind are more indebted than they are to the late Robert Fulton. The combined efforts of philosophers and statesmen have improved the condition of man, but no individual has conferred more important benefits on his species than he whose memory now engages our attention." Extract from a Discourse delivered before the American Academy of the Arts, by his Excellency De Witt Clinton, Governor of New York. "Fortunately for the interests of mankind, Mr. Livingston became acquainted with ROBERT FULTON, a self-created man, who has risen into distinguished usefulness, and into exalted eminence, by the energies of his own genius, unsupported by extrinsic advantages. "Mr. Fulton had directed the whole force of his mind to mathematical learning and mechanical philosophy. Plans of defence against maritime invasion, and of subaquatic navigation, had occupied his reflections. During the late war, he was the ARCHIMEDES of his country. "The poet was considered under the influence of a disordered imagination when he exclaimed: "Soon shall thy arm, unconquer'd steam, afar "The connexion between Livingston and Fulton realized, to a great degree, the vision of the poet. All former experiments had failed, and the genius of Fulton, aided and fostered by the public spirit |