A description and draught of a new-invented machine for carrying
vessels or ships out of, or into any harbour, port, or river, against
wind and tide, or in a calm. For which, His Majesty has granted letters
patent, for the sole benefit of the author, for the space of fourteen
years. By Jonathan Hulls.[312] London: printed for the author, 1737.
Price sixpence (folding plate and pp. 48, beginning from title).
(I ought to have entered this tract in its place. It is so rare that its
existence was once doubted. It is the earliest description of steam-power
applied to navigation. The plate shows a barge, with smoking funnel, and
paddles at the stem, towing a ship of war. The engine, as described, is
Newcomen's.[313]
In 1855, John Sheepshanks,[314] so well known as a friend of Art and a
public donor, reprinted this tract, in fac-simile, from his own copy;
twenty-seven copies of the original 12mo size, and twelve on old paper,
small 4to. I have an original copy, wanting the plate, and with "Price
sixpence" carefully erased, to the honor of the book.[315]
{148}
It is not known whether Hulls actually constructed a boat.[316] In all
probability his tract suggested to Symington, as Symington[317] did to
Fulton.)