England, however claims the honour of first apply ing steam to the purposes of navigation. In 1735, Mr. Jonathan Hulls took out a patent for a boat to be propelled by the aid of steam, and in 1737, published a pamphlet in London illustrative of his plan. Its ti tle is Description and draught (f a new-invented Machine for carrying Vessels or Ships out of, or into any Harbour, Port or hirer, against 1Plivel or Tides." This little publication is now become exceedingly rare; but a copy of it was lately presented to the library of the loyal Society of Edinburgh, by its distinguished pre sident, Sir Walter Scott.f This important and ori ginal thought was, however, never carried into prac tical execution by Hulls, probably from the want of funds and sufficient encouragement.
It is not our province in this article to trace the many other attempts that were made to carry on and perfect this great invention, but we may remark that in 1802, Mr. Symington actually constructed a steam boat on the Forth and Clyde canal, and that it was only abandoned in consequence of some narrow-mind ed proprietors of the navigation, conceiving that the undulation of the water occasioned by the motion of the wheel would wash and injure the banks; and ill consequence, the boat was with great reluctance laid up in a creek of the canal near Bainford draw-bridge, exposed for years to public view. It is a remarkable
fact, however, in the history of this great invention, that Mr. Fulton, for whom the Americans have with some unfairness claimed the original invention of the steam boat, actually visited Mr. Symington in 1802 and having mentioned the interest he felt in this new application of steam, Mr. Symington caused the en pine fire of his boat to be lighted up. and carried Mr. Fulton in the steam boat, pont Lock No. 16, where the boat lay, four miles west the canal, and returned to the place of start /lig, in one hour and twenty minutes, to the astonishment of Mr. Fulton, and several other gel' tlemen who happened at the outset to come on board.
This simple and incontrovertible fact decides in the most unquestionable manner, that the invention of the steam, boat is due, both in theory and practice, TO GREAT