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ess in 1785 opened： 〃The subscriber begs leave to lay at the feet of Congress； an attempt he has made to facilitate the internal Navigation of the United States； adapted especially to the Waters of the Mississippi。〃 At another time with prophetic vision he wrote： 〃The Grand and Principle object must be on the Atlantick； which would soon overspread the wild forests of America with people； and make us the most oppulent Empire on Earth。 Pardon me； generous public； for suggesting ideas that cannot be dijested at this day。〃
Foremost in exhibiting high civic and patriotic motives； Fitch was also foremost in appreciating the importance of the steamboat in the expansion of American trade。 This significance was also clearly perceived by his brilliant successor； Robert Fulton。 That the West and its commerce were always predominant in Fulton's great schemes is proved by words which he addressed in 1803 to James Monroe； American Ambassador to Great Britain： 〃You have perhaps heard of the success of my experiments for navigating boats by steam engines and you will feel the importance of establishing such boats on the Mississippi and other rivers of the United States as soon as possible。〃 Robert Fulton had been interested in steamboats for a period not definitely known； possibly since his sojourn in Philadelphia in the days of Fitch's early efforts。 That he profited by the other inventor's efforts at the time； however； is not suggested by any of his biographers。 He subsequently went to London and gave himself up to the study and practice of engineering。 There he later met James Rumsey； who came to England in 1788； and by him no doubt was informed； if he was not already aware； of the experiments and models of Rumsey and Fitch。 He obtained the loan of Fitch's plans and drawings and made his own trial of various existing devices； such as oars； paddles； duck's feet； and Fitch's endless chain with 〃resisting…boards〃 attached。 Meanwhile Fulton was also devoting his attention to problems of canal construction and to the development of submarine boats and submarine explosives。 He was engaged in these researches in France in 1801 when the new American minister； Robert R。 Livingston； arrived； and the two men soon formed a friendship destined to have a vital and enduring influence upon the development of steam navigation on the inland waterways of America。
Livingston already had no little experience in the same field of invention as Fulton。 In 1798 he had obtained； for a period of twenty years； the right to operate steamboats on all the waters of the State of New York； a monopoly which had just lapsed owing to the death of Fitch。 In the same year Livingston had built a steamboat which had made three miles an hour on the Hudson。 He had experimented with most of the models then in existence upright paddles at the side； endless…chain paddles； and stern paddle wheels。 Fulton was soon inspired to resume his efforts by Livingston's account of his own experiments and of recent advances in England； where a steamboat had navigated the Thames in 1801 and a year later the famous sternwheeler Charlotte Dundas had towed boats of 140 tons' burden on the Forth and Clyde Canal at the rate of five miles an hour。 In this same year Fulton and Livingston made successful experiments on the Seine。
It is fortunate that； in one particular； Livingston's influence did not prevail with Fulton； for the American Minister was distinctly prejudiced against paddle wheels。 Although Livingston had previously ridden as a passenger on Morey's sternwheeler at the rate of five miles an hour； yet he had turned a deaf ear when his partner in experimentation； Nicholas J。 Roosevelt； had insisted strongly on 〃throwing wheels over the sides。〃 At the beginning； Fulton himself was inclined to agree with Livingston in this respect； but； probably late in 1803； he began to investigate more carefully the possibilities of the paddle wheel as used twice in America by Morey and by four or five experimenters in Europe。 In 1804 an eight…mile trip which Fulton made on the Charlotte Dundas in an hour and twenty minutes established his faith in the undeniable superiority of two fundamental factors of early navigationpaddle wheels and British engines。 Fulton's splendid fame rests； and rightly so； on his perception of the fact that no mere ingenuity of design could counterbalance weakness； uncertainty； and inefficiency in the mechanism which was intended to make a steamboat run and keep running。 As early as November； 1803； Fulton had written to Boulton and Watt of Birmingham that he had 〃not confidence in any other engines〃 than theirs and that he was seeking a means of getting one of those engines to America。 〃I cannot establish the boat without the engine；〃 he now emphatically wrote to James Monroe； then Ambassador to the Court of St。 James。 〃The question then is shall we or shall we not have such boats。〃
But there were difficulties in the way。 Though England forbade the exportation of engines； Fulton knew that； in numerous instances； this rule had not been enforced； and he had hopes of success。 〃The British Government；〃 Fulton wrote Monroe； 〃must have little friendship or even civility toward America； if they refuse such a request。〃 Before the steamboat which Fulton and Livingston proposed to build in America could be operated there was another obstacle to be surmounted。 The rights of steam navigation of New York waters which Livingston had obtained on the death of Fitch in 1798 had lapsed because of his failure to run a steamboat at the rate of four miles an hour； which was one provision of the grant。 In April； 1803； the grant was renewed to Livingston； Roosevelt； and Fulton jointly for another period of twenty years； and the date when the boat was to make the required four miles an hour was extended finally to 1807。
Any one who is inclined to criticize the Livingston… Roosevelt…Fulton monopoly which now came into existence should remember that the previous state grants formed a precedent of no slight moment。 The whole proceeding was in perfect accord with the spirit of the times； for it was an era of speculation and monopoly ushered in by the toll…road and turnpike organizations； when probably no less than two hundred companies were formed。 It was young America showing itself in an unmistakable manner 〃conceived in liberty〃 and starting on the long road to learn that obedience to law and respect for public rights constitute true liberty。 Finally； it must be pointed out that Fulton； like his famous predecessor； Fitch； was impelled by motives far higher than the love of personal gain。 〃I consider them ＇steamboats＇ of such infinite use in America；〃 he wrote Monroe； 〃that I should feel a culpable neglect toward my country if I relaxed for a moment in pursuing every necessary measure for carrying it into effect。〃 And later； when repeating his argument； he says： 〃I plead this not for myself alone but for our country。〃
It is now evident why the alliance of Fulton with Livingston was of such epoch…making importance； for； although it may have in some brief measure delayed Fulton's adoption of paddle wheels； it gave him an entry to the waters of New York。 Livingston and Fulton thus supplemented each other； Livingston possessed a monopoly and Fulton a correct estimate of the value of paddle wheels and； secondly； of Boulton and Watt engines。 It was a rare combination destined to crown with success a long period of effort and discouragement in the history of navigation。
After considerable delay and difficulty； the two Americans obtained permission to export the necessary engine from Great Britain and shipped it to New York； whither Fulton himself proceeded to construct his steamboat。 The hull was built by Charles Brown； a New York shipbuilder； and the Boulton and Watt machinery； set in masonry； was finally installed。
The voyage to Albany； against a stiff wind； occupied thirty…two hours； the return trip was made in thirty。 H。 Freeland； one of the spectators who stood on the banks of the Hudson when the boat made its maiden voyage in 1807； gives the following description：
〃Some imagined it to be a sea…monster whilst others did not hesitate to express their belief that it was a sign of the approaching judgment。 What seemed strange in the vessel was the substitution of lofty and straight smoke…pipes； rising from the deck； instead of the gracefully tapered masts。。。and； in place of the spars and rigging； the curious play of the walking…beam and pistons； and the slow turning and splashing of the huge and naked paddlewheels； met the astonished gaze。 The dense clouds of smoke； as they rose； wave upon wave； added still more to the wonderment of the rustics。。。。 On her return trip the curiosity she excited was scarcely less intense。。。fishermen became terrified； and rode homewards； and they saw nothing but destruction devastating their fishing grounds； whilst the wreaths of black vapor and rushing noise of the paddle…wheels； foaming with the stirred…up water； produced great excitement。。。。〃
With the launching of the Clermont on the Hudson a new era in American history began。 How quick with life it was many of the preceding pages bear testimony。 The infatuation of the public for building toll and turnpike roads was