The James Rumsey Correspondence

[Diary entry — Bath, Virginia]

Remained at Bath all day and was shewed the Model of a Boat constructed by the ingenious Mr. Rumsey, for ascending rapid currents by mechanism; the principles of this were not only shewn, & fully explained to me, but to my very great satisfaction, exhibited in practice in private, under the injunction of Secresy, untill he saw the effect of an application he was about to make to the assembly of this State, for a reward.

The model, & its operation upon the water, which had been made to run pretty swift, not only convinced me of what I before thought next to, if not quite impracticable, but that it might be turned to the greatest possible utility in inland Navigation; and in rapid currents; that are shallow. And what adds vastly to the value of the discovery, is the simplicity of its works; as they may be made by a common boat builder or carpenter, and kept in order as easy as a plow, or any common impliment of husbandry on a farm.

I have seen the model of Mr Rumsey's Boats constructed to work against stream; have examined the power upon which it acts; have been an eye witness to an actual experiment in running water of some rapidity; & do give it as my opinion (altho' I had little faith before) that he has discovered the art of propelling Boats, by mechanism & small manual assistance, against rapid currents: that the discovery is of vast importance — may be of the greatest usefulness in our inland navigation — &, if it succeeds, of which I have no doubt, that the value of it is greatly enhanced by the simplicity of the works; which when seen & explained to, might be executed by the most common Mechanic's.

Given under my hand at the town of Bath, county of Berkeley in the State of Virga this 7th day of September 1784.

G: Washington

Dear General

I thought It my Duty to give you notice of it — The honor you Did me at Bath by giveing me So ample a Certificate I Shall Eve[r] most greatfully acknowledge. It Convicts almost Every person that Sees it and puts Quite a new face on my Scheme I Long to have the Opertunity of Convinceing those that Remain Unbeleivers that you are not mistaken in your opinion.

I am with perfect Esteem your Obt hbe Servt — James Rumsey

Whereas it is represented to this present General Assembly that James Rumsey hath invented Boats which are constructed upon a model that will greatly facilitate navigation against the current of rapid Rivers, whereby great advantages may be derived to the Citizens of this State…

Be it therefore enacted that the said James Rumsey his heirs, Executors and Assigns shall have the sole and exclusive right and Privilege of constructing and navigating Boats upon his model in each & every River, Creek, Bay, Inlet or Harbour within this Commonwealth for and during the said term of ten years, to be computed from the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and eighty five.

Provided always that the exclusive right and privilege hereby granted may, at any time during the said term of ten years, be abolished by the Legislature upon paying to the said James Rumsey his heirs, Executors or Assigns the sum of ten thousand Pounds current money in gold or silver of Virginia.

Dear Sir

J. Rumsey by a memorial to the last Session represented that he had invented a mechanism, by which a boat might be worked with little labour at the rate of from 25 to 40 miles a day, against a stream running at the rate of 10 miles an hour, and prayed that di[s]closure of his invention might be purchased by the public. The apparent extravagance of his pretensions brought a ridicule upon them, and nothing was done. In the recess of the Assembly, he exemplified his machinery to General Washington and a few other gentlemen, who gave a certificate of the reality & importance of the invention, which opened the ears of the Assembly to a second memorial. The act gives a monopoly for ten years, reserving a right to abolish it at any time on paying £10,000. The inventor is soliciting similar acts from other States, and will not I suppose publish the secret till he either obtains or despairs of them.

Dear Sir

Respecting my Boats — Georgia & South Cariline I have petioned, North Carolina I have But have not heard what they have Done, maryland, I hear has gave me an Exclusive Right under a redemtion by the Legeslature, pensylvania has Done the Same, the Jerseys threw it out of the house by a majority of four…

I have made many neat and accurate Experiments with my Boats Since I Saw you, and find She far Exceeds my Expectations on the first Experiments made Last fall.

I have taken the greatest pains to afect another kind of Boats upon the princeples I was mentioning to you at Richmond I have the pleasure to Inform you that I have Brought it to the greatest perfection — the power is amence and I am Quite Convinced that Boats of pasage may be made to go against the Current of the Mesisipia or ohio River, or in the gulf Stream from the Leeward to the Windward Islands from Sixty to one hundred miles per Day.

The plann I mean to persue is to Build the Boats with Boath the powers on Board on a Large Scale and then Sir if you would Be good enough Once more to See it make actual performances I make no Doubt but the asembleys will alow me Sumthing Clever.

I am your Sincere freind and Very hble Servt — James Rumsey

Sir,

Mr McMeikenss explanation of the movements of Rumsey's newly invented Boat, is consonant to my ideas; and warranted by the principles upon which it acts. The small manual assistance to which I alluded, was to be applied in still water; & to the purpose of steering the vessel. The counteraction being proportioned to the action, it must ascend a swift currt faster than a gentle stream; and both, with more ease than it can move on dead water.

Further than this I am not at liberty to explain myself; but if a model, or thing in miniature can justly represent a greater object in its operation, there is no doubt of the utility of the invention. A view of this model with an explanation, removed the principal doubt I ever had in my mind, of the practicability of its progressing against stream, by the aid of mechanical Powers.

I have the honor to be Sir Yr Most Obt Hble Sert — Go: Washington

Sir,

It gives me much pleasure to find by your letter that you are not less sanguine in your Boat project, than when I saw you last; and that you have made such further discoveries as will render them of greater utility than was at first expected: you have my best wishes for the success of your plan.

& I am with great esteem, Sir, &c. — G: Washington

Sir

I have got my Boat nearly Done the Mechenery Excepted. Inclosed I Send a Letter for you and the Directors of the potomack Company and if you pleas be kind anough to Read it and have it Dilivered or Suppresed as you may think best I Can only add that Should I have the honour of an apointment I will Exert myself to the Outmost of my power to afect the Business.

I am Sir your Sincere freind and Very hbe Servt — James Rumsey

Sir,

If you have no cause to change your opinion respecting your mechanical Boat, & reasons unknown to me do not exist to delay the exhibition of it, I would advise you to give it to the public as soon as it can be prepared, conveniently. The postponement creates distrust in the public mind; it gives time also for the imagination to work… should therefore a mechanical genius hit upon your plan, or something similar to it — I need not add that it would place you in an awkward situation, & perhaps disconcert all your prospects concerning this useful discovery.

I will inform you further, that many people in guessing at your plan, have come very near the mark; & that one, who had something of a similar nature to offer to the public, wanted a Certificate from me that it was different from yours. I told him, that as I was not at liberty to declare what your plan was, so I did not think it proper to say what it was not.

With esteem & regard I am Sir &c. — G: Washington

[Diary entry — Mount Vernon]

After an early breakfast we left Mr. Scotts; and about noon I reached home… Soon after I arrived Miss Sally Ramsay, Miss Kitty Washington, Doctr. Craik Junr. & Mr. Porter came in and Dined, and stayed all Night. After Dinner Mr. Rumsey arrived and stayed the evening also.

Sir,

Mr Rumsey has given you an uncandid acct of his explanation to me, of the principle on which his Boat was to be propelled against stream. At the time he exhibited his model, and obtained my certificate, I had no reason to believe that the use of steam was contemplated by him — sure I am it was not mentioned; and equally certain am I, that it would not apply to the project he then had in view; the first communication of which, to me, was made in Septr 1784 at the Springs in Berkley.

It is proper for me however to add, that sometime after this, Mr Fitch called upon me on his way to Richmond, and explaining his scheme, wanted a letter from me introductory of it to the Assembly of this State — the giving of which I declined; and went so far as to inform him that tho' I was enjoined not to disclose the principles of Mr Rumseys discovery, yet I would venture to assure him that the thought of applying steam for the purpose he designed it, was not original; but had been mentioned to me by Mr Rumsey.

With great esteem & regard I am — Sir Your Most Obedt Hble Servt — Go: Washington

Sir,

Inclosed you have Coppies of two Certificates of what the Boat performed at Sum tryals we have been making… we Enhibeted under many disadvantages and Should not have Come forth publickly untill Spring if it had not been for Mr Fitches Stealing a march on me in Virgine.

I met with Govenor Johnson He toald me of a Letter he had wrote you respecting Sum Conversation that him and me had about my applying Steam to work the Boat… I Toald him I beleived not for that I had Informed you of my Intention, to try Steam.

nor had I before near about that time Reduced it To any form Sufisantly promising to determin me to make the Tryal I was then det[e]rmened, as I wrote you as follows — "I have taken the greatest pains to afect an other kind of Boat, upon the principles I was mentioning to you at Richmond… the power is amence and I have quite Convinced myself that Boats of pasage may be made to go against the Corrent of missippa or ohio River or in the gulf Stream from the Leward to the windward Islands from Sixty to one hundred miles per day."

You have Sir my Sincerest thank for the many favors you Conferred on me.

I am your much Obliged Hbe hbe Servt — James Rumsey

Dr General

With this you will Receive five pamphlets Respecting My Boat and other plans… I hope Sir that the nessisaty there was of Such an Explanation being made to the public, will plead my Excuse for Taking the Liberty of Introduceing your name into my Concerns.

Tomorrow morning I throw myself upon the wide world In persuit of my plans, being no longer Able to proceed Upon my Own foundation, I Shall bend My Course for philidelphia where I hope to have it in my power to Convince a Franklin and a Rittenhouse of their Utility, by actual Experiments.

I must Say that I am under great Obligations to the gentlemen of this County, on hearing my Intentions to travel, a number of them Vollentarily furnished me with Letters to gentlemen of their acquantances in Different States, and ten of the magistrates has given me a Recommendation that would do Honor to a much worthyer person.

I am Sir with Every Sentiment of Esteem & Regard your much Obliged and Very Hbl. Servt — James Rumsey

Dr General,

When I Last had the honor of writeing to you I was about Seting out on a Very uncertain Expedition. I Came to this place with an Intention of astablishing my prior Right to The Invention of the Steam boat and have met with great Oppozetion from Mr Fitches Company who Seem to Stop at nothing to Carry their point. By advice of Several freinds we attempted an N[e]gotiation of the matter and I was met Several Times by Deputyes from his Company — I offered to make an Eaqual Join of the matter with them which They Refused, & they offered me one Eighth which I Refused, when all negotiation Ceased.

I Laid the Drafts of Several Mechines before the philosophical Society… among these Drafts was my new Invented Boiler for Generating Steam. Mr Fitches party Immediately Sent a Draft of the boiler to Urope, with Letters and Instructions to apply for a pattent for it. The Gentlemen That formed my Company… Subscribed 1000 Dollars more for the Express purpos of Sending me to Urope and I am to Set of in the morning, Docter Franklin and a number of other Gentl. write Letters by me to their freinds in Europe.

If you think Sir that you Could with propriaty mention me in a Line the first opertunity to the Marquis La Fayette Mr Jefferson or any other Gentlemen that you may think proper, the favor Should always be most Greatfully Remembered.

I am Sir with Every Sentiment of Esteem your much obliged hble Servt — James Rumsey

Honoured Sir,

Mr James Rumsey who has now sailed for England under favour & with Testimonials from a Respectable Company of Citizens of Philadelphia of whom Govr Franklin was one, has had sundrie attacks made on his Character by a Mr Fitch & Co. and the more effectually to rival & traduce him in his absence have confidently Reported in the City of Philada that Mr Rumsey left the Service of the President & Directors of the Potomack River Company in Disgrace. This is the single point that sundrie Gentlemen of this place, with myself, would pray Your Excellency to determine.

Charles Morrow

Dear Sir

I request the favor of your attending to the interest of Mr. James Rumsey of Virginia, who wishes to obtain patents for a new boiler to the steam engine and for the application of steam to the purposes of navigation.

Mr. Rumsey is patronized by Genl. Washington, Dr. Franklin, and other respectable persons, notwithstanding he has a competitor in Pensylvania; which is my apology for presuming to write to you upon this occasion… having myself no personal interest in Mr. Rumsey's success, except my regard for a person who seems to me possessed of modest merit.

Mr. Rumsay is at present in a favorable train of negotiation with Messrs. Watt and Bolton, at Birmingham.

Benjn. Vaughan

Dear Sir

This requiring the first attention, I went immediately to the Marquis de Condorcet, Secretary to the Academy of arts and sciences, and spoke to him on the subject of the Caveat for Mr. Rumsey.

He informed me that this was not their method of acting in such cases: that the best thing Mr. Rumsey could do would be to commit to paper a perfect description of his invention, expressed without any mystery, to seal this up with his own seal, and indorse on it the general title of his invention, to inclose this in a letter addressed to Monsieur le Marquis de Condorcet… The Marquis de Condorcet will comply with this request and Mr. Rumsey may rest most perfectly assured that his seal will remain unviolated.

Th: Jefferson

Dear Sir

I cannot refrain, tho' I know any recommendation of mine is needless, from soliciting your friendly assistance to your ingenious countryman. He goes to solicit that exclusive privilege which I think his valuable inventions deserve… You will find him not only very thoroughly Master of the Subject which is his immediate pursuit but in every respect a modest sensible and respectable man, such an one as does honour to our Country.

I am most respectfully & Gratefully Your friend & Servant — Jno. Trumbull

Sir

In the arts, I think two of our countrymen have presentd the most important inventions. Mr. Paine, the author of common sense, has invented an iron bridge… Mr. Rumsey has also obtained a patent for his navigation by the force of steam in England and is solliciting a similar one here. His principal merit is in the improvement of the boiler, and, instead of the complicated machinery of oars and paddles proposed by others, the substitution of so simple a thing as the reaction of a stream of water on his vessel. He is building a sea-vessel at this time in England and she will be ready for an experiment in May.

He has suggested a great number of mechanical improvements in a variety of branches; and upon the whole is the most original and the greatest mechanical genius I have ever seen.

Th: Jefferson

Sir

I return you with many thanks the Volume with D. Bernoulli's paper which I have read with great satisfaction. I observe that the proposition of M. Bernoulli differs from Mr. Rumsey's in several essential points. 1. His Water was to be raised by man: Rumsey's by elastic vapour. 2. Bernoulli's water was to act on an inclined plane: Rumsey's on a direct one. 3. Bernoulli's was to act by it's specific gravity only: Rumsey's by a forcing pump. These three differences are important. The 4th. is not so, to wit Bernoulli's vessel was to be moved by the direct action of the water: Rumsey's by its reaction.

Th: Jefferson

Mr. Rumsey has the honor of returning Mr. Jefferson his most Sincere thanks for the freindship and attention he has receivd from him. Mr. Rumsey has taken the liberty to direct that if a letter should come to the hotel where he lodged for him, That it be fowarded throgh Mr. Barlow to Mr. Jefferson so that should a letter come from the Minister Mr. Jefferson will receive it, and will much oblige Mr. Rumsey if he will open it and take such measures on the contents thereof as Mr. Jefferson thinks proper.

[Original French]

Pardonnez, Monsieur, Si je n'ai pas répondu plutot à la lettre que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'écrire; mais n'ayant pas été à l'Académie, samedy dernier, je ne Savois pas si les propositions de M. Rumsay y avoient été renvoyées par M. De Villedeuil. J'y ai été hier, et J'ai trouvé sur le régistre du sécrétaire qu'en effet ces propositions y avoient été envoyées, et que J'avois été nommé un des commissaires pour les examiner.

Sir

The Machine for my Vessel has not gone on so briskly as I Expected, the case I beleive with all new inventions, the Mechanicks not being able Execute them, with such dispatch as they do those they are acquainted with. I Expect however that an other month will be near the time of Experiment.

I am Sir under many obligations to you, for your kind attention to my business in france, and shall Ever remember your freindship with gratitude.

James Rumsey

Sir

My letters mention that their was a Committee of Congress appointed to bring in a bill for Establishing an office for granting Exclusive Wrights to inventors &c. This is a business that is at present upon, but a bad footing, in any part of the world; England I beleive has fixed it on the best Establishment, yet it is far short of being Equitable, or Encorgeing to ingenious men.

Such machines as are already in use… then Every person Improveing on such machines ought to have a grant for such improvement and no more, but where the principle itself is new I humbly Conceive that it ought to be secured to the inventor for a Limmited time. otherwise but few persons will spend their money and time in makeing new discoveries.

I have troubled you Sir with these remarks, not only because I am deeply interested myself in haveing a just and permanent Establishment of this business made, but because I wish my Countrymen to have such Encouragement given to them, as to Cause them to out Strip the world in arts and Sciences.

I meet with many delays In geting forward my Experiment. It will be ten days yet before I can have the Vessel Launched… I have a dread Comes on me as the day approaches on which I have so much at Stake, yet Every reveiw I take of my plan Confirms me more and more in its Success.

James Rumsey

Sir

You Should have heard from me long before this time, had it been in my power to have given you any information worthy your attention, respecting my Experiment; which has been most unfortunately kept back, by the ungenerous Conduct of a person who undertook to assist me with some money Towards the accomplishment of it… After he had advanced nearly all the money agreed upon, he took it into his head that he Could turn it to better account in another way… if I did not in a few (I think four) days produce him his money, that he would sell the vessel to raise it. Mr. Vaughan, and a Mr. Robert Barclay have since furnished me with the means of discharging the debt.

I am not under the least apprehention of failing. I have by weights tryed what power was necessary to hold her against the Current of the thames… For my own part I have little doubt of her going upwards of one hundred and fifty miles in Each twenty four hours; by Steam alone; and am Satisfied that ten miles per hour may be looked up to, with a great degree of Certainty.

It was my opinion before I Came to England that men of genius in general possesed liberality, but to my great disapointment, I find them to be a Set of mean pilferers; the Machanical part of them in particular are so to the greatest degree.

I have the honour to be Sir with much Esteem and regard, Your most obliged, and most Obt. hbl. Servt. — James Rumsey