"Jonathan Hulls,
With his paper skulls,
Invented a machine
To go against wind and stream;
But he, being an ass,
Couldn't bring it to pass,
And so was asham'd to be seen."
Now this Jonathan Hulls was the great grandfather of a man of the same name, now residing in Campden; so that if there be any truth in the tradition, the application of steam power to the propulsion of hulls must be long prior to the time of Watts his name!
Can any reader of NOTES AND QUERIES throw any light on the inventions of this man Hulls?
NOCAB.