… “Your desire to see useful arts introduced or created in our country is the strongest reason for your urging the permission and accepting no refusal; the fact is I cannot establish the Boat without the engine. The question is then—shall we or shall we not have such boats?” At the same time Fulton sent a second entreaty to Boulton & Watt, telling them of his request of Mr. Monroe, and renewing the order. He says, “It gives me pain to trouble you on a business so insignificant, but I have no confidence in any other engines, and hope you will give me the necessary information on the Boiler and other parts so as to produce the best effect. I wish exceedingly to be obliged by you.” But no reply came to either of these letters, and Fulton’s plan for the American steamboat seemed doomed to disappointment. Again he wrote to Mr. Monroe, but the diplomat probably hesitated to ask for a permit officially refused to an English firm of established reputation, and in behalf of an American enthusiast, already under watch by naval authorities. For the British had kept informed concerning Fulton’s submarine torpedo-boats, and at the suggestion of the English statesman, Lord Stanhope, they thought it best to have Fulton on their side of the channel. Accordingly, Lord Sidmouth, then Prime Minister, contrived a meeting with Fulton in Paris and persuaded him to take the trip to Holland, where, on neutral ground, he could confer with a representative of the British government. Fulton thus described the meeting: “About this time, May, 1803, there was a gentleman in London, Dr. Gregory, who had known me in Paris for some years. I had many conversations with him upon my inventions and their probable success.” It was this Dr. Gregory whom Lord Sidmouth sent to talk to the inventor. Fulton described his invention to Dr. Gregory and offered to put the English government in full possession of the combinations and movements of submarine torpedo-boats, so that any good engineer could make and navigate them; he also promised full directions for making submarine bombs and to explain the many ways to use them. Dr. Gregory asked Fulton to go to Holland to await a reply. He promised to bring it in person, passing, for political reasons, under the assumed name “Smith.” For three months Fulton waited in Amsterdam, until “Mr. Smith” arrived in December with unsatisfactory proposals from the government. Fulton declined these, but drew up another form of proposal for “Mr. Smith” to take back to England. Then Fulton returned to Paris. The following March “Mr. Smith” arrived in Paris with a letter from Lord Hawksbury; it was encouraging; and Fulton decided to go to London to consider an engagement by the British government.