CHAPTER XXI.

First attempts to construct steamboats--All attempts fail until Watt’s condensing engine invented--The locomotive of Watt and Murdock--William Symington--His model locomotive--Symington at Edinburgh--Steam-engine for canal-boats proposed by Symington--Miller’s paddle-boats--Symington, Miller, and Taylor co-operate to produce a steamboat--Sir John Dalrymple’s inquiries of Boulton on the same subject--Boulton’s reply--Symington’s engine finished and fitted in Miller’s boat--Successful experiment--Symington makes another engine, further experiments--Miller applies to Boulton and Watt to join speculation--Watt’s reply--Symington’s engine for the ‘Charlotte Dundas’--Symington’s success frustrated--Fulton and Bell inspect the ‘Charlotte Dundas’--Fulton’s steamboat on the Seine--His ‘Nautilus’--His application to James Watt, jun.--Boulton’s caution, his letter to Lord Hawkesbury--Fulton orders an engine from Soho for the ‘Clermont’--Its success--Henry Bell’s steamboat ‘Comet’--Development of steam-navigation--First rendered practicable through Watt’s inventions 434–455