Robert Fulton
Paris, France, July 26, 1799
Robert Fulton ALS Arranging Business Meeting with Future-Nemesis Nathaniel Cutting & Others for Cordage Machine
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A rare autograph letter signed by inventor Robert Fulton, setting a meeting between his future partner Nathaniel Cutting, Joel Barlow, and Richard Codman. 1p of a bifolium, measuring 8" x 10", Paris, dated 8 Thermidor and 7 [July 26, 1799]. Signed "Robt. Fulton" and addressed to Nathaniel Cutting. Fulton sets up a meeting between himself, Cutting, Codman, and Barlow for the following day, likely to discuss their rope cordage machinery. With flattened mail folds, along with scattered soiling and staining. Mounted at the edge to a slightly larger sheet. Two edge tears and some paper loss from the seal being removed on the integral address page. Boldly signed.

In full:
"Yesterday I met Mr. Codman, he has fixed tomorrow evening the 9 of Thermidor to determine our business, the plan is to assemble to tea at our house about 6 or 7 o'clock. You will be so good as to come, he and Mr. Barlow will hear each of us and then decide."

Fulton had lived abroad in Europe since 1786, and in 1797, he went to Paris to study math, chemistry, and modern foreign languages. While in France, he presumably met Nathaniel Cutting (d. 1824), his soon-to-be his business partner, and much later, his most implacable mortal enemy. Cutting was a merchant from Cambridge, Massachusetts who lived at Le Havre and was appointed U.S. Consul at Le Havre by George Washington in 1793. Cutting was also an investor and speculator with a particular interest in rope-making.

Robert Fulton delved into innumerable areas of design and engineering besides steamships, including rope-making. The world's navies, merchants marine, and private merchants depended on miles and miles of rope for ship's rigging, and in France, unlike in England, rope was laboriously hand-twisted. Seeing a business opportunity, Fulton and Cutting filed a 15-year-long joint patent in France on May 18, 1799 for "machines ? fabriquer toutes esp?ces de cordes, cables et cordages en g?n?ral" ["machines to make all types of cords, cables and rigging in general."] Fulton later sold a share of his rope-making technology to Cutting, and the two co-patented a "mode of manufacturing cordage" in the United States on March 4, 1808. However, by 1815 the Fulton and Cutting rope-making partnership had greatly deteriorated for reasons which are still unclear. Cutting evidently felt that he had been cheated in their business dealings, and thereafter, he began spreading rumors that Fulton's designs were cribbed from other successful inventors like John Fitch and Edmund Cartwright. In a January 28, 1815 letter to Cutting, Fulton passionately defended himself against the former's allegations of intellectual theft. In that letter, Fulton stated: ?I accept the war. I defy you or any living being to stain my character with one unfair, ungenerous or illiberal act? and I will not lose an instant, in making you answerable for a libel on my character as a man of honor.? Fulton died from tuberculosis at the age of 49 less than one month later.

Author of an epic poem titled "Vision of Columbus", Joel Barlow (1754-1812) was then considered one of America?s most eminent poets. Barlow?s connections in society embraced numerous cultural and political figures, including a particularly close friendship with Thomas Jefferson. He was appointed U.S. Minister to France and served from 1811 to 1812. Highly practical and alert to every opportunity, Barlow also had acquired a fortune speculating in French securities. With the considerable charms of his wife, Ruth, a partnership with the couple was very appealing to Fulton. A joint household was formed between the three that lasted many years. While there is some dispute whether this was a m?nage ? trois in the full sense of the term, the association with the couple played an important part in his success.

Richard Codman (1762-1806) was part of a wealthy, well-connected Boston merchant and investment family. Richard, who preferred a luxurious life in Europe to his home in Massachusetts, was the family reprobate, described by later generations as "fond of society, careless in money matters, but with nice taste in pictures and statuary." From this letter and family records, it appears that he was seriously considering going into partnership with Fulton and Cutting in patenting the machinery for making cordage and cable. However, two years later, Codman would declare bankruptcy.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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8" x 10"