Robert Fulton and the SubmarineParsons, William Barclay
History
Robert Fulton and the Submarine
Parsons, William Barclay
Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815; Submarines (Ships)
I have not as yet seen or heared from Lord Grenville nor Mr. King nor
received any assurance that my business shall be speedily setteled In
a thing so Just and Simple as the naming of two Arbitrators why should
such unnecessary delays and injustice be [extended to me] exercised
toward me? Will Ministers necessitate me to lay my Claims before the
public, and force me to such demonstrations and disclosure of facts as
must be disagreeable to all parties and of serious consequence to the
nation; My Lord I look to your Lordship and Lord Grenville for prompt
Justice I demand it as my right and will not Submit to ask it as a
favor. I am Conscious of my own Strength and resources I convinced the
late ministers of them, they felt them and treated me with Justice
attention and civility, I have offered to convince your Lordship and
His Majesty present Ministers, of the truth of these powers by
submitting the whole to men of Science and Arbitrators Your Lordship
has intimated that [you] you doubted your own [capacity] power to
Judge of the [power or] effect and ultimate consequences of my
Inventions, then how do you expect to arrive at truth but through the
medium of men of Science
My Lord this is common sense and [the Nation] Men of sense and the
Nation will not approve of any other line of conduct in this Business—
My Lord 3 months ago I informed you that my plans were laid for
Sailing to America In July this is still my intention the time is fast
approaching. And one of the gentlemen who [was] agreed to act As my
arbitrater must shortly leave town for these reasons I must [Insist
on] [beg Insist] [beg] hope for your immediate decision, and answer to
this letter.
I am etc.
R. FULTON
As one reads these letters beginning with the moderate request to Lord
Grenville on May 5th, the unwritten matter between the lines suggests
that Fulton was not very hopeful of obtaining either a satisfactory
financial award or the personal treatment that he felt he was entitled
to receive.
CHAPTER X
THE FAILURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS
Arbitrators appointed. Fulton’s presentation of his case (Aug.,
1806). Arbitrators decide against Fulton. He makes a last appeal
to Lord Grenville, reviewing whole case (Sept., 1806). No reply.
The arbitrators were finally appointed. By that time the increasingly
fault-finding note of Fulton’s correspondence shows that his fears as to
the outcome had become almost certainties in his mind, because he
prepared a written brief for submission, the tone of which was far from
hopeful. This brief is the “Descriptions” of this book.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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