Second River, _Sept. 10th, 1798_.
Dear Sir,
I acknowledge receipt of yours of the 3d Inst. By this time you have
doubtless recd. mine of the 6th Inst. which gave you all the
information on the subject of the boat I was then capable of doing;
since which I have thought of trying another experiment upon _the
present plan_ and concluded to morrow to set about it. It will take us
three days with two hands which will cost very trifling and enable us
to calculate with more certainty what power will be required _for your
wheels_. The plan is this. Sun and planet wheels we will take off and
form a double crank with the coupling links, which at one end will be
fastened to the shaft of the fly wheels by taking out the brasses and
drilling holes for pins to enter. This change will give us only half
the motion of your wheels we first contemplated and consequently
double the power we now have. I will try this in the same way we did
the last time by leaving the vessel’s stern on shore, and in the
meanwhile _I hope to hear your opinion of throwing wheels over the
sides. I will also be glad_ to know if it is more agreeable to you to
give a note for the balance of your proportion of the expense
attending this business or whether you will make me a remittance in
cash. Could I at present raise money through the house of J. Mark for
all the ends I have in this quarter I would not solicit more money
until you come down. This however it is not for them to do. I hope
the Chancellor will consider my situation in the midst of many workmen
as an apology and pardon me for my impatience.
Yours, &c.
N. J. ROOSEVELT.
R. R. Livingston.