Lot 498: (FULTON, ROBERT)

498. (ROBERT FULTON) The first successful voyage ofRobert Fulton's steamer, Clermont, as reported in the New-EnglandPalladium (Boston, Sept. 1, 1807) 4pp. folio. The report consists of areprint of Robert Fulton's letter to the American Citizen of New York,announcing his arrival "...this afternoon at 4 o'clock, in the steam boat,from Albany. As the success of my experiment gives me great hope that such boatsmay be rendered of much importance to my country, to prevent erroneous opinions,and give some satisfactions to the friends of useful improvements, you will havethe goodness to publish the following statement of facts..." . Fulton thendescribes the dates and times of his departures and arrivals addingthat"...Throughout the whole way my going & returning, the wind wasahead; no advantage could be drawn from my sails — the whole, has,therefore, been performed by the power of the steam engine...". Newspaperincludes other fine content including coverage of the Aaron Burr trial inRichmond as well as continuing letters and reports on the popular reactionagainst the British over the Chesapeake Affair. Light scattered foxing, lightchipping to margins, usual creases, otherwise very good. $400 -600