Litchfield enquirer., 1831-12-01


 breaches. AtlengtISthe day arrived when the long looked for experiment was to De put into operation. To me tt was a most trying and interesting occasion. invited many friends to go on board to witness tho first successful trip. Many of them did me the favor to attend as matter of personal respect but it was manifest that they did it with reluctance, fearing to be the parg-5 ners ofmy modification and not of my tri- umph. was,welI aware, that in my case there were many Sreasons to doubt of my own success. The machinery was new and ill made; many paris of it were con- structod by mechanics unaccustomed 10 such work and unexpected difficulties might reasonably be presumed to present themselves from ether causes. The mos given for tho yesselto move. My friends were in groups on deck. There was anxi- fety mixed with fear, among them. They were silent, and sad, and weary. read in their looks nothing iut disaster, and all most repented of myefor,s. The signal was given, and the boat moved on but n short distance, and then stopped and be- came immovable. To the silence of the preceding moment now succeeded m0r- murs of discontent, aud agitations, and whispers, and shrugs. I could hear slis- tinctly repeated. [" told you it would be' soft is foolish scheme-I wish we were we'll out fit" l. elevated myself upon Il platform aud addressed the assembly, sta- ted that I knew not what was the mattcr 1; but u they would be quiet, and indulge me for ha!f aa hour, would either go on. or abandon the voyage for that time. This short resp;sc was conceded without objec- ton. went below and examined the ma chinery, and discovered that the cause was slight mal-adjustment If some of the work. In a short period it was adjusted. The boat was again put in motion. She continued 10 move on. All were still in- credulous. None seemed willingto trust the evidence of their own senses. We left the fair city of New ork we passed through tho romantic and ever varying scenery of the highlands; we descryed the clustering houses of Albany; we reached it's shores; and then, even then, when all Iseemcd achieved, was tho victim of dis- appointment. Imagination superseded the influence of fact. It was then doubted ifil could be done again; or if done, it was doubted if it could be made Of any great value."
 Such was the history of the first experi- ment, as it fell, not in the very language which I have used, but in substance, from the lips of the inventor. He did not live indeed to enjoy the full glory of his inven- tion. It is mournfll to say that attempts were made to rob hin, in the first place of the merits of his invention, and next of his 1 fruits. He fell a victim to his efforts t0 sustain a title to both. When already his invention had covered the waters of the Hudson, he seemed little satisfied with tho results, aud looked forward to far moro OK tensive operations. My ultimate triumph. he used to say, my ultimate triumph will be on the Mississippi. Iknow, indeed. that even now it is deemed impossible by ma- ny, that the difficulties of it's navigation can be overcome. But am confident oi success. l may not live 10 seeit; but the Mississippi will yet be covered with Steam Boats; and thus an entire change be 1 wrought in the course of the internal com. merce and navigation of our country. And 1t has been wrought. And thu
 Steam Boat, looking 10 it's effects upoI commerce and navigation; to the conibin ed influences of facilities of travelling m. facility of trade, or rapid circulation Q news, and still more rapid circulation Q pleasures and products, seems destined {. be numbered among the noble beuefac' lions of the human raco.
 s,.sss From khs Ness-E -Engiand Farmer.
 I'OtGtOes.--Judge Buel, of Albany, whc is practical as well as scientific cultiya- tor, says it were better that the sun should never shine upon potatoes--iley should De housed with all the dirt that adhercs to them. It is even beneficial to add moro dirt to potatoes in the bin or cssk, to OK. cluds external air as much as possible ;--- their surface should be kept moist, and tic atmosphere which surrounds them as little above the freezing point as possible.
 LsGUes fOr nsGnuve .----l D lnany situation. it will be an excellent practice to rake to. getlicr all the leaves of the trees, ant mould which has been produced by theil decay, which can be procured at . reason. able expense, and cast them into your barn yard as a layer to absorb the liquid snia- nure from your cattlc. Likewise it would not be amiss to place quantities Of fIical under cover, in situations where yon can obtain them in winter, to use q little for your stables. &c. They do not rot easily.