The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-12-30
-LAMBERTvILLE d. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30
ON THE CLERMONT.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRST VOYAGE OF
FULTON'S STEAMBOAT.

a Group OF Women Who Made the His.
Voric Trip-How the Engagement of the
Inventor Was Announced Predictions
Made by Chancellor Livingston.
Helen Evertson Smith. in The Cen
tury, has paper ON "A Group of Amer
lean Girls Early In the Century" which
gives pleasant glimpses of Chancellor
Livingston and Robert Fulton. The
chancellor invited several of his fair
cousins to make a trip from New York
TO his home at Clermont in new boat
Miss Smith says:
The new boat" of the letter was the
now celebrated Clermont, the steam boat
of Robert Fulton. which in August.
1907, made the first successful steam
voyage up the astonished Hudson and
demonstrated to the world that a new
force had been discovered by which old
methods in nearly all lines were to be
revolutionized.
Very likely, with all their loving
confidence in the wisdom of the chan
cellor, the sisters embarked with some
distrust of his new boats making good
than three days, even il both wind and
tide should prove unfavorable, but they
were not afraid of anything worse than
delay, though most of their friends
feared for them. During the nine years
that had passed since Robert r. Liv-
ingston and Robert Fulton had first Sc
cured the concession to navigate the
waters i'll New York state for 20 years,
providing they should build boat of
not less than 90 tons. that would go not
less than four miles an hour against
wind and tide" the subject had been sc
often talked over in their presence that
the sisters were already quite intelligent
upon it and laughed at the fears of their
timorous friends.
The embarkation was from dock
''near the state prison. (Which was i'll
Greenwich village" on the North
river) and was witnessed by a crowd of
mot less than 900 persons. Many were
friends of the passengers, who bade
them farewell with as much solicitudo
as if they were going to Madagascar,
especially trembling with apprehension
at the terrible risk run by sailing in n
boat full of fire -
The adventurous voyagers, who were
the guests of Robert Fulton and Chan
cellor Livingston, were about 40 in num-
Der, including but few ladies. Among
the latter, besides our two young sisters
and their aunt, Mrs. Thomas Morris
(daughter-i in law of Robert Morris, tho
financier Of the Revolution), were at
least one Ct the chancellor S two daugh-
ters, four cf the many daughters Of his
brothers, John II. and Colonel Harry land
young lady who was more interested
in the result of this memorable expert
ment than any one save the inventor
himself. III all the biographies Of Full
ton Miss Harriet Livingston is called
the chancellor's niece, but she was real
ly his cousin. She was a beautiful,
graceful and accomplished woman anu
had long given her heart to Robert Full
ton. The fair Harriet was at this time
about two and twenty and deeply in
love with her handsome, gifted lover as
any girl well could be. - There were
many distinguished and fine looking
men on board the Olermont, but my
grandmother always described Robert
Fulton as surprising them all That
son of Pennsylvania farmer" she was
won't to say. twas really u prince
among men. He was as modest as he
was great and as handsome as he was
modest. His eyes were glorious with
love and genius"
A little before reaching Clermont,
when the success CT the voyage was we'll
assured, the betrothal was announced
by the chancellor in graceful speech,
in the course Of which he prophesied
that the 'name Of the inventor would
descend to posterity as that Of bene-
factor to the world, and that it was not
impossible that before the close of the
present century vessels might even be
able to make the voyage to Europe with
out other motive power than steam.
This hardy prediction was received
with but moderate approval by any,
while smiles of incredulity were ex-
changed between those who were 80
placed that they could not be seen by the
speechmaker or the inventor. John r.
was heard to say in an aside 70. his cous-
in, John Swift Livingston, that Bob
had many a bee in his bonnet before
now, but this steam folly would prove
the worst one yet. y But the chancellor's
brothers lived 90 see the ocean regular
ly traversed by. steam vessels, but the
prophet himself and the inventor both
passed away before the realization of
their, dreams.