Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-11-25
CHARLESTON STEAM DoAr.

CHARLESTON STEAM BOAT.
We feel justified in calling with confidence
upon our spirited and enterprising citizens who
have the means, to Join in an undertaking which
promises so much public benefit and individual
emolument, as the proposed Steam Boat to pv
between New-York and Charleston How would
the summer excursions of the inhabitants to the
South of New-York be Increased, when it was
found they could come in four days and in per-
feet safety And on the score of trade such
would be the manifest advantage to this city that
u the chance Of success were diminished one
halt, IT would be well worth the experiment.
The names which are annexed to the following
letter, will, wherever the signers are known, re-
move the doubts of the most incredible and les
sen the fears of the timid where they are not,
suffice 1t TO say, hstthey are gentlemen ofhigh
and respectable standing in the community, and,
every one of them as competent by long course
OF nautical experience to spe2S on this subject,
as can be found any where. Finally the reader
Will see, IN the extract we have given from
London paper, that the project has already the
test OF experiment.-rhe sum wanted is 100000
AMI which is divided into shares of s 100; up
wards of 81, 900 is already taken up But it is
important that the occasion should be siezed with
promptness, as materials of superior quality
can be now purchased to great advantage
Editors OF Southern papers would promote the
success ofthis undertaking by giving this article
a place in their papers or something similar.
ny. Herald.
T. bronson, Esq.
Strive have given to your inquiries, on the
SUBJECT OF steam vessels for sea navigation, ali
the consideration in our power. We are inclined
20 oeheve 1t practicable to construct vessel of
400 tons, (tIe size you menton,) intended for
passengers only, and with her ballast so placed
md secured, that she cannot be upset BY wind
ana sea- That her hull may be so strengthened
by diagonal frames within presenting lonEitudi-
nai beams 10 the pressure in every point, as to
render her, in all situations at sea, insubmersble
whatever sea may break over her deck. That
nasmuch as the wind viii have less power on this
IMAM on common ships, we believe her engine
VIII mold her in any gale, with the aid of storm
saiis, rom going on lee shore; and that iron
or wood frames, can be erected over her shafts
and SO hrmly liked that the sea will not iniure her
wheels Upon the whole we are of opinion
tnat steam vessels may beso constructed as to be
perfectly safe for the business contemplated and
possessing important advantages as packets
which other vessels do not
GABRIEL HAvENS,
RICH. LAW,
JAMES LoYETT,
JOHN KEMP
WM LOyETT.
JOHN WHETTEN.
The following extract ola letter from an English
gentleman in London, TO his correspondent in
Philadepha, furnishes .alditioal evidence of
the ,practicability of navigating these vessels
in the open sea -
We came here from Eublinin Steam Boat
the first that ever doubled the Lands End She
was Quilt in the Clyde--ran there for a year and
was bought up for the Thames. The Young man
VINO undertook to bring her round, touched at
Dublin to exhibit the powers of the vessel, when
| was SO much pleased with her that / took INV
passage. We had the whole vessel TO ourselves,
most elegantly fitted up for passengers, and
knew it would be coasting voyage We never
staid out more than "a hours we had three
SAILS IN use upon occasion, and our average rate
OF gong always laying our course, was z 18th
miles per hour We ran past every thug of
the Lands End, We encountered heavy swell
from Southwest, which meeting the ebb-tide
down the channel made very broken sea- The
boat went through it most gallantly without ship
1 ping abucket of water. The motion was very
easy and occasioned no sea-sickness We stop
ped at various places on the English coast, this
beng a voyage of experiment At Plymouth
and Portsmouth, uncommon interest was excited
The wheels or paddles, are constructed some
whas differently, believe from those of the A.
mes can boats. being completely covered. SO as
not to be visible, unless you are near the vessel
standing in her direct course"
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