Chapter XXI

First attempts to construct steamboats--All attempts fail until
Watt’s condensing engine invented--The locomotive of Watt and
Murdock--William Symington--His model locomotive--Symington
at Edinburgh--Steam-engine for canal-boats proposed by
Symington--Miller’s paddle-boats--Symington, Miller, and
Taylor co-operate to produce a steamboat--Sir John Dalrymple’s
inquiries of Boulton on the same subject--Boulton’s
reply--Symington’s engine finished and fitted in Miller’s
boat--Successful experiment--Symington makes another engine,
further experiments--Miller applies to Boulton and Watt to join
speculation--Watt’s reply--Symington’s engine for the ‘Charlotte
Dundas’--Symington’s success frustrated--Fulton and Bell inspect
the ‘Charlotte Dundas’--Fulton’s steamboat on the Seine--His
‘Nautilus’--His application to James Watt, jun.--Boulton’s
caution, his letter to Lord Hawkesbury--Fulton orders an engine
from Soho for the ‘Clermont’--Its success--Henry Bell’s steamboat
‘Comet’--Development of steam-navigation--First rendered
practicable through Watt’s inventions 434–455