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Show FULTON ON STEAMBOATS AND TORPEDOES The Scientific American unearths the following interesting letter by Kobert Fulton describing tbe first trip of the first steamboat on tho Hudson river, and iucidently, also, prophesying, prophesy-ing, what is just now, being practically practi-cally recognized in naval science, the great importance ol the torpedo system of drfeuse and attack: "New Yoiik, 22d August, 1807. To Joel Barlow, Philadelphia My Dear Friend: My steamboat voyage to Albany and back has turned out rather more favorable thau I had calculated. cal-culated. The distance from New York to Albany is one hundred and fifty miles; I ran it up in 32 hours and down in 30 hours. The latter is juBt five miles an hour. I had a light breeze against me the whole way going and coming, bo that no use wai made of mj Bails; and the voyage has been performed wholly by the power of the Bteam engine. I overtook many sloops and schooners bearing to windward, and passed them as U they bad been at anchor. "The power of propelling bonis by eteam ia now fully proved. The morniog I left New York tliero were not perhaps thirty persons in the city who believed that tbe boat would ever move one mile an hour, or be of he least utility. And while we were putting of! from the wharf, which was crowded with spectators, I hoard a numberof sarcastio remarks;tbis is the way, you know, in which ignorant men compliment what they call philosophers and projectors. "Having employed much time anil money and zeal in accomplishing this work, it gives me, as it will you, great j pleasure to ace it bo fully answt r my expectations. It will give a quick and cheap conveyance to merchandise merchan-dise on the Mississippi, Missouri, and other great rivers which are now laying lay-ing open their treasures to tbe enterprise enter-prise of our countrymen. And, although tho prospect of personal emolument has been some inducement induce-ment to me, yet I feel infinitely mure pleasure in reflecting with you on the I immense advantage that my country will derive from the invention. I "However, I will not admit that it j |