Brunswick, in New Jersey, where he set up the business of
clock-making, engraving, and repairing muskets, before the
revolution. When New Jersey was invaded by the British troops,
Mr. Fitch removed into the interior of Pennsylvania, where he
employed his time in repairing arms for the army.

Mr. Fitch conceived the project of steam navigation in 1785,
as appears by his advertisement. He built his boat in 1787.
In my Diary I have myself noted that I visited the boat, lying
at the wharf in the Delaware, on the ninth day of February,
1787. The Governor and Council were so much gratified with
the success of the boat that they presented Mr. Fitch with a
superb flag. About that time, the company, aiding Mr. Fitch,
sent him to France, at the request of Mr. Vail, our consul at
L'Orient, who was one of the company. But this was when France
began to be agitated by the revolution, and nothing in favor
of Mr. Fitch was accomplished; he therefore returned. Mr. Vail
afterward _presented to Mr. Fulton for examination the papers
of Mr. Fitch_, containing his scheme of steam navigation.
After Mr. Fitch returned to this country, he addressed a
letter to Mr. Rittenhouse, in which he predicted that in time
the _Atlantic would be crossed by steam power_; he complained
of his poverty, and urged Mr. Rittenhouse to buy his land in
Kentucky, for raising funds to complete his scheme. But he
obtained no efficient aid. Disappointed in his efforts to
obtain funds, he resorted to indulgence in drink; he retired
to Pittsburgh, and finally ended his life by plunging into
the Alleghany. His books and papers he bequeathed to the
Philadelphia Library, with the injunction that they were to
remain closed for thirty years. At the end of that period,