The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-11-12
Spe .ay. that when he presented Fqlton's



800 10y ~ tDiI 5ut y tisiOnist5 - 1IEs,
I Consul would give Fulton no aid or support
whatever. Through the aid which he received
from Chancellor Livingston, who was then
Our Minister in France, he was furnished with
means to make a contract with Bolton &
| Watt, of Birmingham, for Steam Engine
which was built under Fulton 8 direction; ant
| hipped to New York. Upon Fulton's arri-
| sal In New York, in 1906, he made contrac
With Charles Brown, to build steamboat
which was launched in the spring Of 1907; ant
we Engine from England, was put on board
th in Augustof that year. .-.-. .
Mr.. Livingston had a Joint Interest Will
Fulton in this boat. All things being in read
mess, they invited their friends to witness hel
first movement.
It may be proper here to state, that whilst
this boat was In progress OF construction, Full
ton was the constant subject Of jeers and ridi-
cule. Frequently he heard the scoffs Of
yisiters at the ship.yard, who, not knowing
him, often expressed their opinions in man
ner not very complimentary to his understand
ing. Nor was this surprising, when we reflet
that the grave American Philosophical Soci-
ETY., at Philadelphia, only four years previous
to Fulton's complate success, placed upon re-
cord, their deliberate opinion, that no practi-
cal benefits could ever Be derived from steam
boat navigation.
Fulton says that the day he left New York,
there were not thirty persons in the city, who
believed that the boat would ever move one
mile an hour, or ever be Of the least utility.
But to return to our narrative. Everything
being in readiness, the boat moved from the
wharf, and proceeded at the rate OF about five
miles an hour to the no small astonlshment OF
the multitude, who, though they saw all their
-. Il al oh n
plause. She reached Albany, distance OF
one hundred and fifty miles, in 80 hours, al
though there was light breeze against her,
both going and returning.
The trip of this boat, which was called the
Clermont, forever put to rest the great ques-
tionof steam navigation.
AT the epsuing session Of the Legislature Of
New York in 1903, Fulton and Livingston got
the exclusive right to navigate the waters OF
that State, BY steam, extended to thirty years.
As their business increased, rivalries grew
up. Invasions Of their rights ensued; and law
suits followed as necessary consequence. In
addition to the boats built at New York, Full
ton built steamboat at PittNbnrgh, in 1873.
This boat piled between New Orleans and
louisville, Kentucky. In 1914, Congress
passed law authorizing the construction Of a
floating battery, after the model Of one for
which Fulton had taken out patent,
Commissioners we're appointed by the Presi-
dent to superintehd her construction. The
commissioners appointed Fulton engineer, to
carry into effect his own model To this OBJ
ieCt he devoted his undivided attention. She
W as launched in October, but alas before her
machinery was all completed, his immortal
spirit was summoned to quit the frail tene-
ment it inhabited, and to return to God who
gave it. On his way home from Trenton,
where he had been yindicating his invaded
rights, he was exposed, crossing the lce' winch
brought on a serious indispositiOn.
Anxious about his steam battery. he went
out to attend to the concern before his health
would Justify it, which brought on relapse,
which brought him to aprematgre grave.
The Legislature of New York, which was
then in session, unanimously passed resolu-
tions expressive of their high sense OF his i'm
portant public services, and the heavy. loss
which the whole nation, but more particularly
that State, had sustained by his death, and as
a further sribute to his memory, resolved to
wear badge of fmourning for the remainder OF
the session.
Afew years after ms decease, the Supreme
Court Of the United States decided that the
law Of the State Of New York, granting to
Fulton and Livingston the eTctRSiUe right to
navigate the waters Of the State Of New York,
was unconstitutional, and Of course null and
void.
Fulton and Livingston had constructed no
BILE and expensive boats, but as coon as the
trade was thrown open, they were opposed by
boats Of little comparative value, so that Their
prospects were ruined.
We omitted to state, that the Steam Battery
was completed some months after Fulton
DEATH and in the opinion OF the Commission
all "a mn
which its great protector ever predicted. But
peace was concluded before she was finished
and therewas no opportunity OF testing heI
merits.
She Vas a Floating rtHficatioA. Her steam
machinery was in the middle, protected By
sides Of timber Of nine feet in thickness, com
pletely impervious to cannon ball. Any at
tempt to board her by an enemy, would hayl
been prevented by scalding water.
She made two trips TO the Ocean, moving
with her whole armament on board, at the rat
Of 81 miles per hour.
As great opposition, however, was made K
her, as to his first steamboat, but what human
Improvement has ever been devised by man
which has not been opposed2
We must here do Fulton the justice to say
that be never laid claim TO the original l1Ven-
tion Of steamboats,. But what he did claim
was the lmpr0FGmenB Wnlch nc naao uPoil ~
invention Of others, aud having given practl-
cal effect to the whole. The important inye1-
tion Of Oliver Evan Evans, and John fitchl
are matters Of public notoriety, and II they
had possessed the means they probably mlghI
have accomplished the same object.
Fulton left q widow and four children, one
son and three daughters. -
His surviving children presented claim
to congress, under the following clocumstaln- :
ees: -.
The steamboat Of the deceased father. PIyin-
hetween New Orleans and Louisville, IN hen /
4ncky, whilst pursuing most profitable busi-
ness. (being the only steamboat then upon the
Mississippi,) was foFcibly seized BY General
Jackson, during the war, and taken INTO the
public service for the defence Of New Orleans
IN the public service shelves run agroundi
and remained aground for several months, Iol
which no compensation has been made. MOI
had Fulton ever received any compensation
for the use Of his patent for the Floating Bet.
terF, or his services in the construction Of her
Congress passed joint resolution reterrinnt
the subject TO the Secretary Of the Navy, VIII
made report, allowing the heirs hbera