Fulton's boat was built in the spring of 1807 and named the Clermont after the estate of Chancellor Livingston on the Hudson. She was 150 feet long, 13 feet wide and 7 feet deep, and measured 160 tons. The engine was 24 inches diameter of cylinder with 3 feet stroke. The boiler was of the low pressure pattern, 20 feet long, 7 feet deep and 8 feet broad. Her side wheels were 15 feet in diameter with buckets 4 feet wide dipping 2 feet into the water. She started on her first trip from New York to Albany on the 11th of August 1807 at 1 o'clock p. m. with Fulton, a few friends and mechanics, and six passengers on board, and with an incredulous and jeering crowd witnessing her departure. She was met by wondering spectators on the shores and on the crafts of the river throughout her passage, to many of whom she appeared as a monster breathing flames and smoke, for using only pine wood for fuel she sent high a column of ignited vapor, and sparks flew thick and fast. The trip is best described by Fulton himself in a letter to the "American Citizen," as follows:

To the Editor of the "American Citizen":

Sir I arrived this afternoon, at four o'clock, in the steamboat from Albany. As the success of my experiment gives me great hopes that such boats may be rendered of great importance to my country, to prevent erroneous opinions and give some satisfaction to the friends of useful improvements, you will have the goodness to publish the following statement of facts:

I left New York on Monday at one o'clock and arrived at Clermont, the seat of Chancellor Livingston, at one o'clock; time, 24 hours, distance, 110 miles. On Wednesday I departed from the Chancellor's at nine in the morning, and arrived at Albany at five in the afternoon; distance, 40 miles, time, 8 hours. The sum is 150 miles in 32 hours, equal to near five miles an hour.

On Thursday, at nine o'clock in the morning, I left Albany, and arrived at the Chancellor's at six o'clock in the evening. I started from thence at seven and arrived at New York at four in the afternoon; time, 30 hours, space run through, 150 miles, equal to five miles an hour. Throughout my whole way, both going and returning, the wind was ahead; no advantage could be derived from my sails: the whole has, therefore, been performed by the power of the steam-engine. obedient servant,

I am, Sir, your

ROBERT FULTON

Thus modestly does its author announce one of the most stupendous events in human history. His words are golden now. In a subsequent letter to his friend, Barlow, he as modestly, as confidently, predicts some of the results of his undertaking. He says:

Having employed much time, money and zeal in accomplishing this work, it gives me, as it will you, great pleasure to see it fully answered my expectations. It will give a quick and cheap conveyance to the merchandise on the Mississippi, Missouri, and other great rivers, which are now laying open their treasures to the enterprise of our countrymen; and, although the prospect of personal emolument has been some inducement to me, yet I feel infinitely more pleasure in reflecting on the immense advantage my country will derive from the invention.

Eight years of life remained to Robert Fulton after his crowning triumph. They were years of incessant activity-of improving his great invention and conceiving new ones; of the building of many boats for the Hudson and of ferry boats for the East river; of infringements of his patent, which he was obliged to protect in the courts; of constant attacks upon his franchises; of unlawful competition and ceaseless vexation. He failed to secure due pecuniary returns for his enterprise, was harassed by litigation, and at the end he was insolvent. In his last year, when the United States was at war with Great Britain and New York was threatened by a hostile fleet, he built by direction of the government a steam war vessel-the first of its kind. It was named Fulton the First, and was launched on the East river October 29, 1814. Fulton died on the 23d of February 1815 at the age of 49 years. His death was attended by extraordinary demonstrations of public esteem. There were glowing eulogies and symbols of sorrow in the press; sermons and orations were pronounced in his honor; the corporation of the city, literary institutions and scientific societies paid tribute to his worth; the Legislature of the State wore mourning badges for one who, although never holding public office, had done more than any other citizen for the economic welfare of the State. And the funeral procession was remarkable for its numbers, its quality and its dignity, including representatives of the national, state and municipal governments, and of learned and civic associations. He was buried from Trinity Church on the 25th of February, and his body rests in its historic ground, in the vault of the Livingston family into which family he married. On the south wall of the church is the tablet to his memory placed there by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1901. By it rushes the mighty, never-ebbing tide of the activities of Broadway, and not far distant is the majestic flow of the river upon which he ordained a revolution in navigation.

T

EXTRACT FROM ROBERT JUET'S LOG-BOOK 1

す

1

'HE fifteenth, in the morning was misty, untill the sunne arose: then it cleered. So wee weighed with the wind at south, and ran up into the river twentie leagues, passing by high mountaines. Wee had a very good depth, as sixe, seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve, and thirteene fathomes, and great store of salmons in the river. This morning our two savages got out of a port and swam away. After wee were under sayle, they called to us in scorne. At night we came to other mountaines, which lie from the rivers side..

The sixteenth, faire and very hot weather. In the morning our boat went againe to fishing, but could catch but few, by reason their canoes had beene there all night. This morning the people came aboord, and brought us eares of Indian corne, and pompions, and tabacco: which wee bought for trifles. Wee rode still all day, and filled fresh water; at night wee weighed and went two leagues higher, and had shoald water: so wee anchored till day.

The seventeenth, faire sun-shining weather, and very hot. In the morning, as soone as the sun was up, we set sayle, and ran up sixe leagues higher, and found shoalds in the middle of the channell, and small ilands, but seven fathoms water on both sides.

The eighteenth, in the morning, was faire weather, and we rode still. In the after-noone our masters mate went on land with an old savage, a governor of the countrey, who carried him to his house, and made him good cheere. The nineteenth was faire and hot weather: at the floud, being neere eleven of the clocke, wee weighed, and ran higher up two leagues above the shoalds, and had no lesse water than five fathoms; wee anchored, and rode in eight fathomes.

The twentieth, in the morning was faire weather. Our masters mate with foure men more went up with our boat to sound the river, and found two leagues above us but two fathomes water, and the channell very narrow; and above that place, seven or eight fathomes. Toward night they returned: and we rode still all night. The one and twentieth was faire weather, and the wind all southerly: we determined yet once more to go farther up into the river, to trie what depth and breadth it did beare; but much people resorted aboord.

The two and twentieth was faire weather: in the morning our masters mate and foure more of the companie went up with our boat to sound the river higher up. This night, at ten of the clocke, our boat returned in a showre of raine from sounding of the river; and found it to bee at an end for shipping to goe in.

1 Juet was a companion of Hudson on the Half Moon and kept his journal.

2 September 15, 1609. It is supposed that the Half Moon came about as far north as the site of Albany and that the small boats reached the place where Waterford now stands.

The guards shall bow, the gates shall close
Upon the obedient river,

And then no more the Hudson flows,

Forever and forever.

over ther and make them dost. One pairs

This Fulton letter in the possession of Mr Benj. Myer Brink, Kingston, N. Y. is reproduced through his courtesy.

Captain Brink,

Sir:

New York, Oct. 9th, 1807.

Inclosed is the number of voyages which is intended the Boat should run this season. You may have them published in the Albany papers.

As she is strongly manned and every one except Jackson under your command, you must insist on each one doing his duty or turn him on shore and put another in his place. Everything must be kept in order, everything in its place, and all parts of the Boat scoured and clean. It is not