Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-09-10
STEAM Boar BENJAMIN FRANKLiN.--
On Saturday morning last. we received the
following note. which we presume was intend
cd for publication:

SAITH Ppm.s,er In tn. Gale, Of nj. morning, /,
stated thai "he Washington gained her rival 1--WE miles,
Liw-en Gull Light an New.r.r If "her rival" mean.
the ns'y'"" Franklin" the ''''eme" Is ns' u,,xvrp
Pr"ridenes, September 9th, ie2s."
When we receive letters from great men -
men who consider themselves entitled to the
first rank among tho 'ablest commanders ofthe
age we consider that we are bound 10 treat
them with the greatest Difference. and TO reply in
courteous language. Being under this impress
ion,ne i"dst respectfully Inf''rm Captain Eiihn
s. Bunke, commander of the steam boat Ben
ja,nin Franklin that the Steam Boat Ben njamn
Franklin. commanded by Capt. Z. S. Bunker,
was the g rival" to which We referred in our
last, and further. we would inform the said
Captain Elhu S. Bunker that what wc stated
ie TRUE, aud can be proved by gentlemen
of the highest respects ctaby.-we will fur
ther,nore stale for the information Of the said
Captain El;hu S. Bunker, tha, if it had not
been CIR an accident which happened on board
tho Washington which impcded her progross.
in all human probability that boat would
have gained fifteen in'tead of five miles, on
her rirai." the Benjamin franklin. The
names Of gentlemen who will give Captain
BInker ah the information he may ,oish on the
subject shall be furnished him. and we would
also inform his Captainship that the gentlemen
with whom we have converseJ, who were on
board the Washington during the passage. in
form us, that If we had stated that the Wash
ingion had gained seren miles instead Of fee,
We should have come nearer the fact than we
dd in saying five.
This much we say in justification Of ourselves
aad 10 please Captain Eiihu s. Bunker. As
tec .rds The rivalsh,p between the Steam Boats.
we fecl no more interest tianto wish them all
veil, and TO see then. Literally patronzed.- -
They are good Boats, and are commanded by
abss and experienced captains; but We cannot
sse nor can VIC be made to believe that It is
York, Bostop and Providence 10 leave their
ordinary business and visit the Benjamin Frank.
4in, whenever sho arrives at either place, open
their mouths. gasp for breath, and hurrah
through the streets "iong live Captain Bunk
er," merely because the Benjamin Franklin it
good bost. and was'built under the immediate
A'hrection Of this worthy veteran" This
sys'sm nnsy suit soms Of Captain Bankers
partial friends. and among others, the senior
editor OF the Patriot; but il does not come up
to our deae Of proprie,y and decency-we do
not play tho aid-de camp" to any Steam
Boat Captain, nor do we intend 20 do so, either
for their good opinion or bsd-we visit the
boats. almost every day on their arrival, be
cause eur bu'nes, compels US 10 do so we
hayo always been t!oate1 with the greatest
po'iteness b. oil the Captains. For this cv-
;y. however, VIC canno, think Of Publishing 70
The world biography o'those gentlemen, and
make them all or any one Of them Z" grcst
Captains" at the exp,nce Of Others.