The pictures of steamboats and
railroad cars, in the columns of some newspapers which I had, gave
me great difficulty to explain. The grading of the road, the rails,
the construction of the carriages, they could easily understand, but
the motion produced by steam was a little too refined for them. I
attempted to show it to them once by an experiment upon the cook's
coppers, but failed; probably as much from my own ignorance as from
their want of apprehension; and, I have no doubt, left them with about
as clear idea of the principle as I had myself. This difficulty, of
course, existed in the same force with the steamboats and all I
could do was to give them some account of the results, in the shape of
speed; for, failing in the reason, I had to fall back upon the fact.
In my account of the speed I was supported by Tom, who had been to
Nantucket, and seen a little steamboat which ran over to New Bedford.
A map of the world, which I once showed them, kept their attention
for hours; those who knew how to read pointing out the places and
referring to me for the distances. I remember being much amused with a
question which Hope asked me.
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