Mt. Vernon, 31 Jan. 1786
Sir:—If you have no cause to change your opinion respecting your mechanical boat, and reasons unknown to me do not exist to delay the exhibition of it, I would advise you to give it to the public as soon as it can be prepared conveniently.... Should a mechanical genius hit upon your plan, or something similar to it, I need not add that it would place you in an awkward situation and perhaps disconcert all your prospects concerning this useful discovery....
George Washington
(Letter to James Rumsey)
Mississippi admitted to the Union, 1817
December Eleventh
Mr. Rumsey’s steamboat, with more than half her loading (which was upwards of three ton) and a number of people on board, made a progress of four miles in one hour against the current of Potomac River, by the force of steam, without any external application whatsoever.
(Virginian Gazette and Winchester Advertiser, Jan. 11, 1788)
Second trip of Rumsey’s steamboat at Shepherdstown, Va., in boat designed after model of 1784
December Twelfth