To go into the investigation it is not Necessary to have Many persons. 3 or 4 will be Suffecient for the less number who become acquainted with the Mechanism of the submarine Vessel, the less it will be talked of or become publicly known.
I hope Sir you will form such a committee as soon as possible and when formed favor me with a line,—
I have the honor to be your Most Obedient and Very humble servant
P. S. Would not Lord Sidmouth, Lord St. Vincent, Mr. Windham and Yourself Suffice for the investigation?
The Right Honorable Charles Gray First Lord of the Admiralty & & &
The duties of new office probably occupied Mr. Grey’s time to the exclusion of coming to a settlement with Fulton. At any rate the latter writes again:
After the Various changes of Ministers and Measures which have kept me in this country for near two years and the time fast approaching when I must Absolutely sail for America you will excuse me for Urging that my arrangements with this government may be finally Setteled. In the copies of my letters to Mr. Pitt which I had the honor to present you my Ideas of the powers and Consequences of Submarine navigation and Attack are fully explained and without disguise the question therefore between government and me appears to be Simply this: have I proved Sufficient to merit the 40,000 mentioned in the contract? If there be Still doubts on this point it is Stipulated to be setteled by arbitration this is Justice founded on the contract, but added to this: Is it not the Interest of government to finally settle with me and then use my mode of attack as they think proper? I beg you will have the goodness to mention an early hour when we may have a conversation on this subject and fix a plan for a just honorable and prompt Settlement, let it be morning or evening or any period most convenient to you when there may be suffeceent time for ample Explanations.
Fulton’s impatience always inclined him to correspond simultaneously with more than one official, and particularly so if thereby he could reach one higher in authority. Although his negotiations begun through Lord Howick were apparently proceeding satisfactorily, he forestalled a submission by the latter to Lord Grenville by writing to the latter himself. As this letter gives a review of Fulton’s claims and forms the basis for arbitrators who were subsequently appointed, it is of peculiar interest.