lumbia, give the following written descriptinon of my discoveries inventions, and improvements on steam boats. To obtain the power for driving the boat, I make use of Messrs. Bolton and Watts' steam engine, but instead of a beam above the cylinder, I have a triangular cast iron beam on each side of it, and near the bottom of the boat the base of the triangle is seven feet long; in the centre of the base a perpendicular is raised three feet six inches high, which is the vertex of the triangle; the two triangles are fixed on one strong iron shaft, so that they play together. On the top of the piston rod, there is a tee piece or strong iron bar which moves in guides at each side of the cylinder, from each end of the tee piece; and passing down by the sides of the cylinder is a strong bar of forged iron, called a shackle, which is connected by a shackle pin to the end of the beam; thus the end of the beam moves through a curve in a perpendicular direction, and its vertex moves through a curve in a horizontal direction; the other end of the triangle is cast with a weight of iron sufficient to balance the weight of the piston, and all the weight on the opposite side of the fulcrum, or centre of the base line. From the vertex of each triangle, a shackle, from six to eight feet long, is connected with a crank which is fixed on each side of the propeller wheels; close to each crank is a cast iron wheel about four feet six inches diameter, each driving a pinion two feet three inches diameter; these two pinions are on one shaft, in the centre of which is a fly wheel ten feet diameter; the movement for the air pump is taken from the base line of the beam and twenty-one inches from the fulcrum. The condensing water comes through the sides or bottom of the boat by a pipe, which enters the condenser, and is regulated by a cock or valve. The hot well, the forcing pump, to replenish the boiler, the steam guage, the safety valve, the float in the boiler, to regulate the quantity of water, the plug tree, and hand-geer, &c. are so familiar to all persons acquainted with the steam engine, and may be arranged in such a variety of ways, as not to require a description. I prefer a propelling wheel or wheels, to take the purchase on the water; they may be from eight to twenty feet diameter, and divided into any number of equal parts, from three to twenty; each wheel may have from three to twenty propellers, but a wheel or wheels from twelve to fifteen feet diameter, cach, with from eight to twelve propellers, will be found to apply the power of the engine to great advantage. Hitherto I have placed a propelling wheel on each side of the boat, with a wheel guard or frame outside of each of them for protection. A propelling wheel or wheels, may, however, be placed behind the boat or in the centre, between the connecting boats. To give room for the machinery, passengers, or merchandize, I build my boats five or more times as long as their extreme breadth at the water line. The extreme breadth may be one third from her bow, or in the middle, in which case the water line will form two equal segments of a circle united at the ends. To diminish the plus and minus pressure, I make the bow and stern sharp to angles of at least 60 degrees, and that the boat may draw as little water as possible, I build it flat, or nearly so, on the bottom. Having mentioned the essential component parts of a steam boat and its mechanism, its successful construction and velocity will depend→→ First-On an accurate knowledge of her total resistance, while running 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 miles an hour in still water. Second-On a knowledge of the diameter of the cylinder, strength of the steam, and velocity of the piston, to overcome the resistance of a given boat while running 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 miles an hour in still water. Third-On a knowledge of the square feet or inches which each propeller should have, and the velocity it should run to drive a given boat 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 miles an hour through still water. It is a knowledge of these proportions and velocities, which is the most important part of my discovery, on the improvement of steam boats. The following definitions, tables, and calculations, will lead to a clear idea of them. DEFINITIONS. By head pressure, is meant, the total pressure against the bow when the boat is at rest. By stern pressure is meant the total pressure against the stern, when the boat is at rest. Plus pressure is additional pressure against the bow while the boat moves forward; it is occasioned by the fluid being displaced, and is in addition to head pressure. Minus pressure is a diminution of stern pressure, occasioned by the fluid not passing so strongly against the stern when the boat moves forward as when at rest. Friction arises either from the adhesion of the particles of the fluid to the surface of the body, or from the roughness of the body, or from both these causes united. Bow resistance is minus pressure, and the friction of the water against the bow united. Stern resistance is minus pressure, and the friction of the water against the stern united. Table of Friction of Plus and Minus Pressure, and of the resistance of one square foot of propeller. By this table the total resistance of all lengths, widths, and draft of water of all boats with bows and sterns on angles of 20 or 60 degrees may be calculated. The resistance of one square foot of propeller is also shewn: Hence, when any particular sized boat has been determined on, and the number of miles which she is to run in still water, has been decided. First, find her total resistance for the velocity; then by the table also, find the number of square feet or inches of a propeller, which while running a velocity equal to the boat, will make a resistance equal to the boat. It will consequently follow, that the resistance of the boat and propellers being equal, they will pass through equal spaces in equal times, and while the boat advances one mile the propellers will strike through the water one mile backwards; therefore, if the boat is to run 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 miles an hour, the speed of the propellers in the water must be 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 miles an hour, one half of each these velocities is spent in striking water back to create a resistance equal to the resistance of the boat, the other half is to overtake as she advances: For example, when a boat moves one mile an hour, the water runs along her sides with the speed of one mile an hour; were the propellers to run only one mile an hour, they would not touch the water which was running from them with any force; but if they run two miles an hour, they would strike the water with the force of one mile, and create a resistance equal to the resistance of the boat. The following is the method of finding the total resistance of a boat, and of calculating the power and proportions of the machinery to the speed which she is to run. For these calculations, say, boat 154 feet long, 18 feet wide, drawing two feet of water; bow and stern on angles of 60 degrees; steam engine making a 4 foot stroke and 15 double strokes a minute, equal 2 feet a second; the boat to run four miles an hour. Plus and minus pressure on one foot, lb. 12.37 Multiplied by 36 feet, the boat's bow, 445.32 Friction on 848 feet of bow and and stern, at 7.75 lbs. for every 50 square feet, 131.75 Friction on 2.200 square feet of the body of the boat, 341.00 to be felt at the end of the propellers, running 4 miles an hour, or 6 feet a second. This is three times as fast as the piston moves, hence 1836.14 lbs. must be multiplied by 3 equal 5508.42 lbs. or the power of the engine. A cylinder 27 inches diameter, equal 729 round inches, and 8 pounds to the inch gives 5832 lbs. The periphery of the propeller wheel must run 8 miles an hour, or 12 feet a second, equal 720 feet a minute. Wheels 14 feet diameter, 44 round, and 16 revolutions a minute, will give 704 feet a minute, which is sufficiently near. The total resistance of the boat is 918.07 lbs. The resistance of one square foot of propeller, running 4 miles an hour, is 51.95 lb.-17 square feet give resistance, 909.12 This is 83 feet in each propeller. By this example all necessary calculations may be made. I make use of sails and take advantage of the wind to aid the engine, or when the wind is sufficient, I stop the engine, throw the wheels out of gear, and move by the power of the wind only. To prevent the boat making lee way, she has lee board or boards, which are let down into the water while she is sailing. Hitherto there have been two lee boards on each side of the boat; one on each side near the bow, and one on each side near the stern. That the helmsman may steer to advantage, I place the wheel for steering, and lead the tiller ropes so near the middle of the boat as to enable him to have an uninterrupted view forward. In any case where a current against the boat is superior to the power of the engine to pass it, I propose to cast anchors in such waters, or ob tain any other fastening which will enable me to warp the boat by the power of the steam engine, from station to station, until the rapid be passed. Such steam boats as are for passengers, I build with births, good sophas and beds, kitchen, bar, and ice magazine, with every convenience for giving breakfasts, dinners, tea, and suppers, either in the cabins, or under an awning or awnings on deck. (Witnesses,) JOHN R. LIVINGSTON, ROBERT FULTON. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: I certify that the annexed is a true copy of a patent granted to Robert Fulton, for his improvement in steam boats; dated February 11th, 1809. L. S. In testimony whereof, I John Q. Adams, Secretary of Done at the city of Washington, this 6th day of June, A. D. 1818. J. Q. ADAMS. D. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A To all to whom these Letters Patent shall come. Whereas Robert Fulton, a citizen of the United States, has alleged, that he has invented a new and useful improvement, entitled, "Inventions and Discoveries, for constructing Boats or Vessels, which are to be navigated by the power of Steam Engines," which improvement, he states, has not been known or used before his application; hath made oath, that he does verily believe, that he is the true inventor or discoverer of the said improvement; hath paid into the treasury of the United States, the sum of thirty dollars, delivered a receipt for the same, and presented a petition to the Secretary of State, signifying a desire of obtaining an exclusive property in the said improvement, and praying, that a patent |