1698,

1699.

1724.Feb. 26.

1729.Aug. 7.

10 STEAM NAVIGATION.

may be thought probably useful, I question not but we may find con-veniences enough for fixing them.”*

Savery would, I think, have stated in plain terms that he meantto drive a vessel by a steam engine, if such had been his intention;and so able a mechanician would have shown in what manner andby what instruments he meant to apply his steam engine for that pur“pose. It appears to be a proof of his sound mechanical views that heknew his engine, although doubtless the most effective of its kind atthat period, to be incapable of propelling a boat advantageously.

In the year 1699, M. Duquet appears to have tried revolving oars,and experiments were made with them on a large scale, both at Mar-seilles and at Havre: this mode, however, of impelling vessels, wassoon given up as impracticable.|

In the year 1724, John Dickens obtained a patent for his““ newinvented machine by Floats, for raising great quantities of Water tosupply Cities and Towns, to water Lands and Gardens, for drainingMines and Fenny Lands, for moving several sorts of Mill Work, formoving Ships and other Vessels, and. for several other useful pur-poses.”

In the year 1729, John Allen, Doctor of Physic, obtained a patent« for his new Invention of Heating and Boiling Water and otherLiquids with far less expence than by any other method now in use,which will be of great service in working of Kngines for raising ofwater by Fire; and, also, in Brewing, Distilling, and all other useswhere great fires are required. And also, of his new Invention forthe application of certain powers to give motion to Engineswhereby a Ship may be navigated in a calm, from whence innu-merable advantages will acerue in Sayling, and be a great preser-vation in Engagements at Sea; and will, also, be of great use indraining of mines, and for performing of other great works where

*« Miner’s Friend,” pp. 32 and 47.+“ Recueil de Machines Approuvees par l’Academie Royal de Sciences,” i. p. 173.