A LETTER, ADDRESSED TO CADWALLADER D. COLDEN, ESQUIRE. IN ANSWER TO THE STRICTURES, CONTAINED IN HIS 'LIFE OF ROBERT FULTON,' UPON THE REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE, TO WHOM WAS REFERRED A MEMORIAL RELATIVE TO STEAM NAVIGATION, PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATURE OF NEW-YORK, AT THE SESSION OF 1814. WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING THE SEVERAL LAWS CONCERNING STEAM BOATS; THE PETITIONS PRESENTED FOR THEIR MODIFICATION; AND THE REPORTS OF SELECT COMMITTEES THEREUPON, &C. &C. &C.
New York: E. and E. Hosford, 1817. 127, [1 blank] pp, with the half title. Sketch of Fitch's Steam Boat. Bound in modern wrappers. Half title lightly foxed, Very Good.
Colden was Robert Fulton's biographer and chief ally in defending his monopoly, granted by New York State, to navigate the State's waters by boats propelled by fire or steam. Fulton's rivals, particularly Duer, litigated for years the constitutionality of the grant, but failed to overturn Chief Justice James Kent's conclusion that a sovereign's issuance of a monopoly is an essential attribute of sovereignty and, in this case, was wisely granted: otherwise, steamboat navigation, contributing significantly to the public good, could not possibly have been developed with economic viability. Duer presents here a detailed compendium of facts and law in an effort to undermine Fulton's claims and Colden's arguments.
Rink 3615. 134 Eberstadt 602. See Howes D539 [related item]. Item #28988
Price: $450.00