Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-28
"Reminiscences Of Nlton's First Steam Hoyage
and the reception Of his First Passage Money.

Communicated By r. w. Haskins for the Buffalo Com
nsercial Advertiser.
Some twenty years since formed travelling acquaintance,
upon steamboat upon the Hudson river with gentleman
who that occasion, related me some incidents Of the
first voyage Of FULros Albany, in his steamboat the
Clensont. which have met with elsewhere. The
gentlemans name have lost but urged him, at the time,
publish what he related, which, however, far know,
he has DONE
CHANGED said my nanato be at Albany business,
when Fulton arrived there in his unheard craft which
body felt so much interest in seeing Being ready leave,
and hearing that this craft return New York,
paired board and inquired for Mr. Fulton was referred
to the cabin and there found plain, gentemanly man,
wholly alone, and engaged in writing.
Mr.. Fulton, presume.
Yes, sir.
Do you return to New York with this boat
We shall try to get back, sir.
Can have passage down
You can take your chance with us, sir.
inquired the amount to be paid, and, after moments
hesitation, sum, think six dollars was named The
amount in coin laid in his open hand and with eye
fixed upon he remained long motoness that supposed
there might be miscoun and said to him, Is that right SIR
This reused him from kind of evey and he looked
at the big tear trimming in bis eye, and his voice
fateed he said Excuse me, but memory busy
contemplated this, the first pecuniary reward have
received for all my exerons in adapting steam to navigation
would gladly commemorate the occasion over bottle OF
wine with you, but really too poor even for that just
now yet trust may again when this will not be
Some four years after this, when the Crmont had been
greatly improved and two boats made, making Fultons
feet three boats regularly plying between New York and
Albany took passage in of these for the latter city,
The cabin, in that day, below and as walked its
length and ro saw very closely observed by
supposed stranger Soon, however, recalled the features
Of Mr. Fulton; but without disclosing this, continued my
walk and waited the result At length, in passing bis seat
our eyes met when he sprung his feet and eagerly szng
my hand exclaimed knew must be YOU for your features
have escaped and although still far from rich,
yet may venture that bottle 1t ordered, and
during its discussion, Mr. F. rapidly but wildly bis
experience Of the worlds coldnes and sneer and of the
hopes fears dsappointmens and difficulties that scat
tered through his whole Of discovery up to the very
point Of his final crowning triumph at which he fully
felt he had at last arrived And in reviewing all these, said
be- have again and again recalled the occasion and the Incl
dent of our first interview Albany and have done
without its renewing in my mind the vivid emotion it og
naly caused That seemed, and still does to me- the
turning point my destiny, the dividing lines between light
and darkness in my upon earth for it was the first
actual recognition of my usefulness to my fellow men,
Such them the events coupled with the very dawn
of navgaon-a dawn recent to be still recoected
by maryland such Fulton there related them, the
early expectations by the world Of discovery which has
vaded all waters causing revolution in navigation which has
almost literally brought the very ends Of the earth in contact