Steam-ships : $b The story of their development to the present dayFletcher, R. A.
History
Steam-ships : $b The story of their development to the present day
Fletcher, R. A.
Shipbuilding; Steamboats
“In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made
patent.
“(Witness) CAROLINE,
“Queen of Great Britain.
“Given by right of Privy Seal at Westminster this 21st day of
December 1736.”[10]
[9] Mr. J. H. Hulls’ lecture at the Institute of Marine Engineers on
“The Introduction of Steam Navigation,” February 26, 1906.
[10] From copy of patent in possession of Mr. J. H. Hulls.
Mr. P. C. Rushen, in referring to the experiment, writes:
“About this time it may be presumed that Jonathan set about
constructing a vessel in accordance with his plans, and for this
purpose he had the help of the Eagle Foundry at Birmingham, to which
he forwarded rough model plans and sketches to aid in founding and
forging the various parts. Until quite recent years these relics were
existent, but on the sale and demolition of the foundry they seem to
have been destroyed.
“The new vessel was tried on the Avon, but tradition says it was a
failure, by reason of the inventor not providing the proper means
to communicate the power to the paddle. That the experiment was a
failure seems evident from the fact that nothing more was heard of
the boat, but for the given reason is very improbable, because the
very ingenious means the inventor describes, although perhaps not
quite practical on a large scale, are not palpably unworkable for a
small experimental boat. Even if these means were a failure, it would
be ridiculous to suppose that a clever mechanic such as Hulls shows
himself to be in his pamphlet would be at a loss for some expedient.
[Illustration: JONATHAN HULLS’ PADDLE STEAMER, 1737.]
“The more probable reason of Hulls’ failure was the want of financial
support, that previously accorded him being perhaps withdrawn on the
first hitch in the experiments, or for some other reason, this so
disheartening him that he relinquished the idea. While Hulls had been
at work on his project, he had worn a brown paper cap, as usual with
mechanics at that time, and this fact was taken advantage of in a
scathing doggerel, which was circulated upon his failure, and which
ran:
“Jonathan Hull
With his paper skull;
Tried to make a Machine
To go against wind and tide,
But he, like an ass,
Couldn’t bring it to pass
So at last was ashamed to be seen.”[11]
[11] P. C. Rushen’s “History and Antiquities of Chipping Campden in
the County of Gloucester,” 1899.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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