STEAM NAVIGATION. 65

could not fail to attract the attention of every observer; and that ifhe was allowed to carry the plan to North America, it could not butturn out to Mr. Symington’s advantage, as if inclined for it, or hisother engagements would permit, the constructing, or at least thesuperintending the construction of such vessels, would naturally de-volve upon him. Mr. Symington, in compliance with the stranger’searnest request, caused the engine fire to be lighted up, and themachinery put in motion. Several persons entered the boat, and,along with Mr. Fulton, were carried from Lock No. 16, where shethen lay, about four miles west; and returned to the place fromwhence they had started in one hour and twenty minutes(being atthe rate of six miles an hour), to the astonishment of Mr. Fulton andthe other gentlemen present.

« Mr. Fulton asked and obtained leave to take notes and sketchesof the form, size, and construction of the boat and apparatus; buthe never afterwards communicated with Mr. Symington.””*

Further and more ample testimony to the truth of Fulton havingthus ascertained, by personal investigation, a knowledge of the meansby which Symington propelled his boat, might be readıly given; butthe following extracts, which fully corroborate the preceding state-ment, will suffice to establish the fact.

The first in an affidavit.“ Robert Weir, residing at Kincardine,in the county of Perth, in that part of the united kingdom calledScotland, maketh oath, and sayeth, That he is acquainted with Wil-liam Symington, engineer, at Falkirk."That he was employed byhim for several years."That in the year 1801, he remembers of Mr.Symington erecting a boat and fitting a steam engine into it, anddragging two vessels along the Forth and Clyde Canal, by means ofthe said steam boat. That the deponent was employed as enginefireman on board of the said boat. That during the experiment, thenow deceased Thomas Lord Dundas and several gentlemen were on

* Bowie on Steam Navigation, p. 14.

1807.

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