Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-10
rorHH EDITORS OF .nn NATIONAL lsrr11rorxcrn

tn THE EDITORS OF .HE NATIONAL ISTptttcrScp,
srRs, S"''' '''' i'' 1910.
In your paper of the 9TH of this mouth Tread with
pleasure the account OF the unfortunate i,aes RUus,y
whose nntney death probably prevented the world
Ioin receiving the bsaciis Of his invention ut much
earlier period than fhr present. few notices of hin,
are III thar am aiset give YOU for never saw him
nor heard OF him. until after his application the Gene
raj Assembly OF virginia. for exclusive right to con-
sfuct and navigate certain boats limited time Til.
preamble Of the act which passed in October I7s7. G.
20 tectes fhat Is represented IL the present Gene
raj Assembly that James Rumsey hath iauenfed baats
winch are constructed upon model that will greatly
facilitate navigation against the current of ra rivers
7, wneIepy PTsdt advantages may be derived" &C
II is yjusty observed by the Editor OF the Richnomd
-np,e tns O. h"es uot develope his scheme. Butthe
saot rom "arvilss travels. and the letter. partly
Ntitten by Rumsey, aud concluded BY Mr. r. c. Wake.
NV, ana directed to MT Geo w. West which you have
sven us III tue 80 page OF Your paper, appear me to
s"ppl he want of such devslopernent The late Re-
veri.y Randolph, Esq who atthattime member Of
vac pfsy council, and afterwards Governor OF Virsini,
ihiorined me after the passage of this ACT tim,
pr. knm'ey invited himself and General Washington
who was NJ the Berkeley Springs in Virginia the niece
aig summer to be present experiment which bc
INTENDED 10 make with amode ofhi boat which he had
prepared TO ascend small stream At ar n.ar ,bn.a
snr'nss They both attended and both were perfectly
patisneh OF The probable OF Mr. Ruurxs iIy.r,
en- MT Randolph did not think hmselfat liberty to rive
IRE any explanation OF the prncines rs far a. now re
collect but think hc mentioned fire. as PRINCIPAL
gent IN the year 7as 1929, returning from visit
20 the Sreet SpriHgS, in Bot;eanrt county VIRGINIA
s.opped AZ tue house of Doctor Rumsey brother OF
Mr. James Rninsey who had then lately erected some
Ma
e1ge" IN preparing the works for Steam Boat i'm which
ncproposea sending his iron, &c. down To Richuond
PAW several parts ofihe engine he preparing and di.
.et understood from him, that he abOnt to purr
the original plan OF his BrOsh6rs Boat What pr.v,nt
cd The uiai execution Ut the scheme know not hut
2nprehend the difficulties in which Doctor :nmnd
hscii involved, Ia consequence OF which ne rcrnnvad
stNe OF tennessee or some other part of il,e we,
yer" COUNTY,, soon after may have compelled him 10
nlnhon hts scheme II was not till November Izsy tb@,
Nc ohn Fitch annlied for aud obtained from The GENE
RAJ Assembly Of Virginia similar in his favor Tine
ptanb OF this act &C. H. of the Ofthi. session.
cc' That John Fitch. ofte of Pennsyiyania hal
. tehtesrnted Ia the present General Assembly th. he
had coHSfrHcfed an easy and expeditions Ir.ttod nj
hpeins boats through water. by force of 6ys or
" Wf1s, aud had ma lie apple cation for The sole and ~,
- elusive night otInakBg and navigating all boats i'm
Ieiicn by The force of Hre steam within the .tate
.1I aiimted ti'i~ His privilege To last fourteen
!ef nut there pr0viso, that the should he voJ
81 he Gnu oil years, unless he sond then have in se
~ some river of this Commonwealth boats OF craft M
I's ~ 'ons buiten each Constructed and nayiraied
above 1rscIihesi. 7 90
II may he observed by the way that this act doe. not
'e MAJ Mf fitsh represented himscfa as the f,y>1fo
ont nrrry as hsvine constructed easy method of
imp,l,ng boats by fTe OF steam "
A FRIEND TO THE ARTa