The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-24 00:00:00

EARLIEST STEAM NA LIGATION.

The first laurel, in connexion with steam naviga-
tion, certainly belongs to Robert Fulton, who formed
the most useful and beautiful art of steam navigation,
partly on his own discoveries, partly on the abortive or
unprofitable experiments of others. Fulton was a na-
tive of the state of Pennsylvania, and was born in
the township of Little Britain, and county of Lancaster.
in that great state, in the year 1766. All that his pa-
rents were able to give him was the rudiments of a com-
mon English education; his own inventive genius and
unweared perseverence did the rest. He cane to Eu-
rope soon after he had reached manhood, and spent
several years either in this country or France, lebourieg
amidst every discouragement to carry out a variety
of ingenious projects of his own invention. He com-
menced his experiments in steam navigation as
early as tho year 1793, but laid them aside, for
objects less worthy of his attention, until about the year
1803 ; when Mr. Livingston, the American ambassa-
dor at Paris, and afterwards his most liberal patron
and firtm st friend, strongly urged him to renew
them. After tr 3 ing experiments on a small scale,
on models of his own inventicu, it was understood
that he had developed the true principle on which
steam-boats should be built, and for want of a know-
ledge of which all previous experiments had faded. But
as Le and Mr. Livingston both know that many things
which are apparently perfect when tried on a small
scale, fail when reduced to practice on a large one,
they determined to go to the expense of building an
operating boat upon the Seine. This was done in the
year 1803, at their joint expense, under the direction of
Fulton, and so fully evinced the justice of his prin-
ciples, that it was immediately determined to enrich
their country by their valuable discoveries, as soon as
they should meet there, and, in the meantime, to
order an engine to be made in England. This engine
was accordingly made for them by Bolton and Watt ;
and on their arrival in the United States, in the year
1806, they immediately engaged in building a boat,
of what was then considered very considerable diruen:.
sions. This boat began to navigate the Hudson
river, between New York and Albany, in the year
1807: its progress through the water was at the rate
of five miles an hour. In the course of the ensuing
winter it was enlarged to a boat of 140 feet heel and 16i
feet beam. * * * The death of Fulton happened in
the year 1815. He lived long enough for fame, but not
for fortune. He died before his great discovery had re-
turned him any profit, and at a time when he was in-
volved in a troublesome litigation in defence of his
rights. It was derided before ho perfected his discovery,
and plundered afterwards.
Steam navigation was first introduced on the Missis-
sippi, the great river of the west, in the year 1811, and
into Great Britain, on the river Clyde, by Henry Bell,
in the year 1812. In October, 1813, there were three
vessels of this kind plying on the river Clyde between
Glasgow and Greenock, and they were so much used
that they had driven four of the eight coaches, which
ran before, off the road. The fare was five shillings
in the after cabin, and in the fore cabin half a crown.
In the year 1813 steam navigation was introduced on
the river Yare between Norwich and Yarmouth. The
steamer used on that river was built at Leeds by
Messrs. Fenton, Murray, and Wood, and was launched
in the month of July. In the same month two
other steamers were launched, one at Manchester
and the other at Bristol. In the month of October,
1814, the first steam-boat was introduced on the Hum-
ber, and in December, 1814, on the river Thames. In
May, 1815, it was first announced that a steamer was
about to be introduced on the river Mersey; and in the
month of June the first steamer arrived from the
Clyde. "On Wednesday last," says the Liver-
pool Mercury, of the 30th June, " about noon,
the public curiosity was considerably excited, by the
arrival of the first steam-boat ever seen on our river. She
came from the Clyde, and in the passage called at Ram-
sey, in the Isle of Man, which place she left early in the
same morning. We believe that she is intended to ply
between this port and Runcorn, or even occasionally as
far as Warrington. Her cabin will contain about 100
nassengers."—Baines's .History of Liverpool, Sec. VI.,
just published.

PLYMOUTH, JULY 22.—Yesterday afternoon a man
named Robert Hodge, the driver of a fly, entered the house
occupied by his sister in Claremont-street, in this town, and
after being there a few minutes asked his sister to give him
some hot water for him to mix some Epsom salts in. This
she did, and the man opened a small paper parcel and
mixed what appeared to be about two ounces of salts in the
water, and drank off the contents. He then got up and bid
his sisters good by, and kissed them. He was about to do
the same to his sister- in-law, when she seemed to be
struck by the act, and said, " Nonsense ! you are not going
out !" She then closed the door, and asked him what it was
that he had drunk. , He said it was salts; but on her telling
him that she did not believe it, he said, " Well, it's no use
now, it is oxalic acid." Upon hearing that, the sisters sent
off for a medical man. Meantime Hodge lay down on the
floor in great pain, and before the doctor could arrive he ex-
pired. While he was lying on the floor he said "it was all
through her," alludin,, to his wife, who had lefc, him, and is
said to be living witlfanother man in Kent. The poor fel-
low also added, that the world was nothing to him now. He
was about thirty-two years of age, and was a healthy, good-
looking man.

THE MAN WllO STAYED OUT AT NIGHT I.—A recent
solely,
number of Chanzbers's Journal has an amusing sketch illus-
trative of the groundless imputations so often thrown upon
individuals by those who judge of the characters of others
by appearances. It is the case of a gentleman named
touchingly Thereuponpbai
Wiliiams
home only ? stays out every night till late hours, coming
e and haggard, when " daylight doth appear."
wife, condemned to
her brute of a husband is opposite neighbour, Mrs. Pry, or Mrs. Bray-
brooke,laments the condition of " his dear little
or passing his time so many tedious hours alone, whilst
inand is drinking at the tavern, gambling,
be ; breakfasting at any
company. but that where he should
nation, however, it noon,turns out and dining at night " On expla-
oaunt.hat the offender's late hours
are more his misfortue
ath word--he
fault—his work begins when
other people' sends—inar t
withi cu ltahre
is the Editor of a Morning
Paper !
A young lieutenant of
-Vendee, was accustomed
TRAGICAL
stationedALCißcuaAtlS.NTaApNoCkEo.n
sei::ent of the persons
a regiment .
daughterand he established
tao
sentimentaltak e his ci
who keep the shop, a pretty gill of A few days
ago, he found the girl alone, and, after some conversation,
gcaorn at
connexion np
gave her a kiss. The mother came in at the moment, and,
thinking that the matter had gone further,cried that he
had dishonoured her daughter, and that he i ust marry
her.
w
Fie assured her she as mistaken, and she at last consented
to allow him to continue to see her daughter, but only her
presence. Next morning the two brothers of the Li' )
of whom is a sergeant in an infantry regiment, went to tne
him
before he was out of bed, and declared that as he had dis-
honoured their sister, he should sign a promise to marry
her. He refused to take such an engagement under con-
straint; whereupon they both discharged their pistols at
him. The hall of one smashed a finger—that of the other
entered the breast. The two young men then hurried to
their mother, and said, " 'We have killed him, They then
gave themselves into custody. The wonnds of the officer
are not serious.— Galignani's Messenger.
SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 23.—Her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent arrived here this after-
noon by the South-Western Railway, and embarked on board
the Fairy for Osborne, on a visit to her Majesty. Her Royal
Highness was received by Captain Peacock and Mr. John
Levy, the principal officers of the docks, and these gentle
men bad the honour of being presented to the Duchess,
who was attended by Sir George Cooper and Lady Augusta
Bruce.

MANKS' WALKING EXPLOlT.—Richard Minks still
perseveres in his arduous task. He is cheerful and confident.
During the past week his appetite is improved. His weight
is said to be now about nine stones. During the day his
half-mile is often accomplished in 5 min. 12 sec., but in the
night he commonly occupies eight to nine minutes. The
1,000 half-miles will be completed on the morning of Friday,
the 25th July, when Minks enters upon the third part of his
task-1,00,) miles in 1,000 hours. He has even issued a pro-
posal to make the distance for the last 1,000 hours 2,000 in-
stead of 1,000 miles.— Sheffield Independent.

From communications appearing in the Arbroath
Guide, it appe,rs that the Kirk Sessions there are inflicting
" discipline " on persons found guilty of walking on Sun-
day !-6'cotsman.