The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-10-29
Fulton's first Voyage and Passage
IIcney.

Loney.
Some twenty years since, l formed a
travelling acquaintance upon steamN
boat on the Hudson river, with gem
lleman, who, on that occasion, related
to ne some incidents Of the first voyage
of Fulton, to Albany, in his steamboat,
the Clermont, which have never met
with elsewhere. The gentleman's name
| have lost; but | urged him; {. the
time, to publish what he related which,
however. so far as | know, he has never
done.
] CHANGED, said my narr a.or, 10 be at
Albany, on business, when Fulton ar
rived there in his un-heard-of craft, which
every body felt so much interest in see
ing. Being ready to leave, and hearing
that this craft was to return to New
York, repaired on board, and enquired
for Mr.. Fulton. was referred to the
cabin, and there found a plain, gentle
manly 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.
enquired the amount to be paid, and
after moments hesitation, a SUN.
think six dollars, was named. The a
mount in coin, laid in his open hand
and with an eye fixed upon it he remain
ed so long molionless that | supposed
there might he miscouut, aud said to
him, Is that right, sir This reused lin
as from kind of reverie, and as he
looked up at me, the big tear was brim>
ming in his eye, and his voice faltered as
he said, Exc use me, sir but memory
was busy as | contemplated this, the first
pecuniary reward | have ever received
for all my exertions in adapting steam
to navigation. | would gladly COM
memvrate the occasion over bottle OF
wine with you, bu, really ] am too poor,
even for that, just now yet | trust we
may meet again, when this will not be so.
Some four years after this, when the
Clermont had been greatly improved anG
two new boats made, making Fulton
fleet three boats regularly plying between
| New York and Albany, took passage
in one of these for the latter city.
The cabin, in that day, was below
and as walked its length, to and fro,
saw was very closely obserged by one
supposed stranger. Soon, however,
recalled the features of Mr. Fulton ;
but without disclosing this, ! continued
my wall, aud waited the result. At
length, in passing his seat our eyes met,
when he sprung to his feet, and eagerly
seizing my hand, exclaimed, | knew it
must be you, for your features have new
or escaped me; and although | am sill
far from rich. yet | may venture that
bottle, now. 1t was ordered and during
its discussion Mr.. +. ran rapidly but
wildly over his experience of the worlds S
coldness and sneers, and Of the hopes,
fears, disappointments and difficulties,
that were scattered through his whole
career of discovery, up to the very point
of his final, crowning triumph, at which
he so fully felt he had at last arrived.
And in reviewing all these, said he, |
have again and again recalled the occa-
sion and the incident of our first inter-
view, at Albany and never have done
So without its renewing in my mind the
vivid emotion it originally caused. That
seemed, and still does seem, TO ME, the
turning point in my destiny-the drid>
ing line between light and darkness, in
my career ON earth for it was the ac-
lua recognition of my usefulness to my
fellow men.
Such then were the events coupled
with the very dawn OF steam navigation
"A dawn so recent as 10 be recullected
by man}-and such as Fulton there re-
lated them were the early apprecia-
tions, by the world, of discovery which
has invaded all waters, causing a revo-
luton in navigation which has ainos; lit
orally brought the very ends Of the earth
in contact.
Hints for Transplanting.