On returning from his first voyage with it, Mr. Sparks said to me: “I have nothing to say, Mr. Porter, except that we have sat quietly in our chairs all the voyage, which has been a very stormy one, and watched the engine moving as regularly as a clock, while the governor has been in a state of incessant activity.”
The captain joined with him in giving me the following testimonials:
“Steamship ‘New York,’
“Pier 30, North River.
“To Mr. Chas. T. Porter:
“Sir: It affords me sincere pleasure to acknowledge the perfect success of your patent marine governor, as applied to the engines of the above ship.
“On our passage from Southampton we had an excellent opportunity of testing its merits fully, and I can assure you it had complete control over the engines at all times. Not the slightest racing occurred, nor any of those sudden shocks that happen with the best hand-throttling. It closed the valve at the right moment, and as freely opened it again, thus maintaining a uniform speed throughout.
“To the proprietors of steamships, or engineers having charge of marine engines, I can confidently recommend this most valuable invention, wishing it the success so perfect a governor deserves.
“I am
“Respectfully yours,
“H. Sparks,
“Chief Engineer.
“May 30, 1861.”
“I cordially concur in the approbation of Mr. Porter’s governor, contained in the foregoing letter of the chief engineer. We had several days of bad weather on the last passage, and the ship, being very lightly laden, pitched excessively, so as to throw the screw at times entirely out of the water.