With this demand the following Ideas were associated, First that I Should not exersise or be the cause of exersising this invention against the fleets of great Britain, Second that by not Shewing the Mechanism of the Submarine boat and adopting only a part of my plan, this government might draw advantage from it. Government can now Judge whether it is important that I should never be the means of using this invention against the British marine whether it is their interest to grant these my original terms and whether this proposal is extravagant considering the demonstrations I have made and the power I possess to render my invention Infinately more productive. In this proposal as it Stands I See that Ministers Will have one difficulty which is a Security that I Shall not be induced to use this invention against the british fleets after having receeived the sum Specified, there is but one way to give such security that is to put it in my power and make it my interest to remain tranquil or occupy myself in other pursuits equally honorable and important to my country for this purpose I propose to receive Sixty thousand pounds and my present Salary of two thousand four hundred pounds per annum for life, the Annuity to be forfeited if I break the treaty—I have already receeved ten thousand to be considered part of the above Sum.
My Lord I conceive this proposition fair you have the Interest of England to consider I have my own. I love tranquility and science in my chamber. As a man of honor my principle Is to fulfill my part of all my engagements before writing this letter I have well considered the subject on all its bearings and made up my mind to the general principles here proposed.
And I assure you that great as this demand may appear to be I am not much interested in its success, for by agreeing to let my invention lie dormant I feel that I abandon a Subject in which there is the most Philosophic and honorable fame and perhaps the interest of my country which is dearer to me than all considerations of wealth. However I hope America And England will so well understand their Mutual Interest, that it will not be necessary for me to introduce my Invention into practice for our own defence And I have no desire to use it to the Advantage of any other Nation.
I am Sir & & &
R Fulton
Fulton was not content to submit his demands to Lord Castlereagh only, but as on other occasions he went over the head of his correspondent and appealed to higher authority. In this case he forwarded a copy of the letter with some additional thoughts to the Prime Minister, Mr. Pitt:
London Jany 6th 1806
Mr. Pitt
Sir
That you may have an opportunity before you come to Town, to Judge of what I conceive my rights And the governments Interest, I have taken the liberty to send you a Copy of my letter to Lord Castlereagh, you will no doubt at the first thought consider my demand great, but there is one reflection which Usually accompanies all negotiations, whether between Nations or Individuals, that is the power which each possess to support certain claims. Now in this business I will not disguise that I feel the power which I possess which is no less than to be the means if I think proper of giving to the world a System which must from necessity sweep all military marines from the ocean, by giving to the weaker maritime powers Advantages over the stronger which the Strong cannot prevent, this power I felt before and when I came to this country but I did not think right to insist upon it nor could I expect ministers to believe it till I had given them sufficient demonstration. This is a power which is not possessed by even Bonapart. It is concentered in me and two friends who are governed by my success in this country.