The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-23

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/ The following letter from the SEoRErAR,
OF THE NAVY to Captain ERIcssoN demon
s'rates the interest that is entertained in tina
department of the Government with respec
70 captain ERIcssoE's invention:
i UNITED STArEs NAVY DEPARTMENT,
/ "AsHiHaToN. February Ia, 1853.
SIR: having received through Mr.. Stoughton ,wh,
understand was authorized by you to act in tn
matter, proposal from you to build one or NOR
ships of the class of frigate or sIoop of war To-
the naval service of the United States, to be con
structed and equipped with your caoric engine
on the conditions mentioned in the proposal, was
gratified in the opportunity it afforded me to ex
press the great interest felt in the prosperous
issue of that most important undertaking by which
you were striving to perfect this new mechanical
power and present it to the notice and use of the
country.
Although | am well aware that your design
and the plan by which you have sought to execute
it, have been contemplated with more than dstrust
by men whose attainments give authority to their
Judgment, and that many well versed in the theory
and practice OF mechanical science have concurred
In conclusion against the probability of their
successful application, think it my duty never
'eiess 10 assure you of the earnest and favorable
expectation your experiment has excited in this
department. and to express the very strong hopes
entertain OF It's hnal triumph over all dissenting
opinion. Without presumng to set nv own
judgment above that of those whose studies and
pursuits entitle them to more weight, cannot but
perceive that much of the distrust m,p;fes,ad
against your undertaking may be ascribed to tho
unconscious influence of prepossessions in favor of
that mechanism which is familiarized bv use. and
TO the natural repugnance with which men even of
the highest scientific accomplishment regard every
striking innovation claimed by new inventor
within the field of useful art Predictions of fail
ure IN the early experimental essays of great
invention are the usual obstacles il is destined to
encounter, and are apt to supply much of the mo.
i've 10 that persevering opposition to it which
only ceases when the practical demonstration of its
success leaves no further room for doubt.
Inc country and the Government have both so
many inducements to wish for fortunate result
to your great enterprise, that regard it as an OBJ
LEGATION upon this Department to contribute what
ever may be appropriately in my power, to pro-
mote the full development of your invention. and
to aid in the most efectua means to test its vaIue
IL was with this conviction that l requested you
to allow your ship to be brought, at the earliest
practicable day during the present session of Con-
gress, to the neighborhood of the seat of Govern
ment, not only that it might be seen and examin-
ed by the public authorities, but that by the WOW.
age hther trial of its capacity and quality might
be made which should enable this Department to
form the best judgment upon the question of the
adaptation of the principle of its construction to
the uses of the service
gives me pleasure to acknowledge the promp
tltnde with which you have consented to comply
with this request, and to say to you that your
compliance must inspire an increased confidence
in your own conviction of your ability to accom-.
Plush the brilliant end to which you have devoted
your labor.
learn that you have directed the ship to be
despatched in time to reach Norfolk by the goth of
this month would beg leave to suggest to YOU
the propriety of ordering her to proceed either to
the navy yard at this city or as near to it as her
draught may allow. This will place her mere
within the reach of the officers of the
Government and the members of Congress. who
am aware will take great interest in visiting her
1t will also crafty me to be allowed to place ON |
board of her, to accompany her on her passage. |
one or more engineers of the naval service, who
may make report to this Department of her per. |
formance and the incidents of her voyage
have the honor to be, with the highest cousid.
Grafton and respect, your obedient servant,
JOHN P. KENNEDY.
Captain JOHN Ericsson, New York