Through various channels he succeeded in getting his plan for moving vessels with steam, before Napoleon--then First Consul--who ordered the Minister of Marine to treat with the inventor.

The Minister in due time suggested that 10,000 francs be spent on experiments to be made in the Harbor of Brest.

To this Napoleon assented, and sent Fulton to the Institute of France to be examined as to his fitness to conduct the tests.

Now the Institute is the most learned body in all France.

In 1860 one of its members wrote a book to prove that the earth does not revolve upon its axis, nor move about the sun.