THE RUMSEIAN SOCIETY, PHILADELPHIA, TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, N. Y.

[N. Y. Assembly Papers, Miscel. Vol. 3.]

September 23d 1788.

James Rumsey an ingenious Gentleman a native of Maryland but lately from Virginia in December last exhibited before a number of respectable characters in Maryland and Virginia the effects of Steam in propelling a boat of considerable Burthen against the Current of the River Powtomack, and models of machines for the Raising Water to a great height and in large Quantities by the force of Steam, in both which a Boiler upon entirely new Construction invented by himself is used with the greatest apparent probability of far Exceeding all others heretofore known, not only in point of Force but in the Smallness of the Quantity of Fuel necessary to generate the Steam.

He came to this City some months ago with Drafts and descriptions of his Several Inventions and communicated them to a number of Gentlemen here who Struck with the Simplicity of his several Contrivances and the great advantages with which they might be applied to many useful purposes agreed to afford him Some Assistance in carrying his schemes into Execution. To this end the persons a list of whose names is herewith sent formed themselves into a Company by the name of the Rumseian Society and appointed us a Committee of Correspondence to further the design in distant places.

As steam Engines are now used in Europe not only for the purpose of raising water from Mines of Great depth but for a variety of other mechanical purposes where a strong force is necessary and where water Falls were formerly applied

We thought it advisable that James Rumsey should immediately go thither to secure himself any advantages which might result from an Invention so extensively useful in that Country and he accordingly sailed in the month of May in a vessel bound for London: before he took his Departure he signed a Petition which will be presented to the honorable the Legislature of your State stating his several Inventions and praying an Act may be passed granting him the exclusive priviledge of making and vending them for a reasonable Term of years-And at the same time a Power of Attorney was Executed and sent by him to Doct James M'c Mechin, Joseph Barnes and Charles Morrow Esq authorising them or either of them to attend in person and Solicit for him the granting the Prayer of his Petition. Joseph Barnes we are informed is a very ingenious mechanic who has been employed by James Rumsey in Constructing his several machines and is perfectly acquainted with all his Inventions and has abilities adequate to the Construction of them in the absence of the Inventor. He is also in possession of the models and Drafts necessary to show the Utility of them and as soon as Exclusive Rights therein for a reasonable Term of Years shall be obtained from the honorable the Legislature of the State of New-York, he will be ordered to attend as well to carry the said machines into Effect as to instruct suitable Persons to Construct them in his absence.

As the promotion of useful Discoveries in the Arts and sciences is an Object worthy the Attention of Enlightened men and accordingly has in all ages and Countries met with Patrons amongst those most distinguished for their knowledge, good sense and Patriotism, we doubt not but that a Scheme, that promises so much improvement will meet with advocates and support in the general Assembly of NewYork, over which you so honorably to yourself and to them preside--And we therefore take the Liberty to request your Countenance to James Rumsey's Petition so far as the prayer thereof shall seem to you Consistant with the public good, and if it should not be Contrary to the Rules of the House, we should

take it a particular favor that this Letter be read from the Chair in order to bespeak the favorable attention of the Honorable members to the Subject,

A Letter from Miers Fisher and others of the Rumseian Society at Philadelphia to the Speaker of the Assembly in New York.

In Assembly Dec 18th 1788.

Read & referred with the Petition of James Rumsey to Mr. Livingston Mr. Havens and Mr. Van Cortlandt.

PREFACE.

A

GREEABLY to a promise made in the Independant Gazetteer, I now present to the Public a reply to the Pamphlet published by Mr. Rumsey, of Virginia,—and as I have no matter to conceal, or disguise, and wish my Readers to have a full and fair view of the whole controversy, I have reprinted and annexed Mr. Rumseys Pamphlet, which will discover, to every impartial person who will take the trouble to examine the subject, that he hath no sort of just pretensions to the claims he hath exhibited. His skill in the mechanism of a Steam Engine, may possibly be greater than mine, and in the article of CONDENSATION I freely acknowledge he is my superior, having acquired the art of condensing (with the dash of his pen) one whole year into the compass of six days.

Philadelphia, 10th. May, 1788.

JOHN FITCH.

It is the duty of every man not only to avoid the commission of a crime, but so to conduct himself through life as to bear the strictest scrutiny.

In a Pamphlet published by Mr. James Rumsey and lately circulated in this City, as well as probably in other States, I am charged as the perpretator of crimes attrocious in their nature, but of which my conscience fully acquits me. It is an exercise of malevolence in the extreme thus publicly to prefer charges against an innocent person without previously knowing or enquiring for the defence of the supposed offender, and shows an inability in the accuser to support his charges. Unfortunately for Mr. Rumsey, I trust we are now before an impartial Public, where Justice, unbiassed by party or undue influence, will decide between us-Conscious of my conduct, in the prosecution of this business, being that of an honest man, it is incumbent on me to recite the circumstances, and facts relative thereto.

I confess the thought of a Steamboat, which struck me by mere accident, about the middle of April 1785,* has hitherto been very unfortunate to me; the perplexities and embarrassments through which it has caused me to wade, far exceed any thing, that the common course of life ever presented to my view. After pondering some days on the thought, I made a rough draught, but not daring to trust my own opinion too far, I consulted Mr. Daniel Longstreth, the Revd. Nathaniel Irvin and sundry other Gentlemen of Bucks county Pennsylvania.

About the beginning of June 1785, I went to Philadelphia and shewed it to Dr. Ewing, Mr. Patterson and other respectable characters in the city, from whom I met with no discouragement. In June and July I formed models and in August laid them before Congress, as will appear on their Files. In September I presented them to the Philosophical Society, as per certificate.

• Vide No. 1 and 2.