HMCo #14p Vision

"September 24 [1874] - Underway [in #187406es Riviera] with light airs, nearly calm and proceeded eastward with fair tide. Off Hatchett Reef, we saw several little puffs of smoke to the eastward and presently made out a little steamer which proved to be VISION, built by John and having James' first practical coil boiler and a single 3 1/2 X 7 engine designed by me. She was about 40 ft. long and 4 1/2 ft. beam. She was going west about a 1/2 mile south of us, and on our signalling with our coats, she came to us. Lewis and I went on board with James and John and they took RIVIERA in tow heading east. In Fisher's Island Sound, we met JULIA [#187004es], with my father and Mr. Henry Brownell on board. They, too, had started to meet us the day before and passed the night at Stonington. Lewis went on JULIA and we all headed for Bristol. VISION, with RIVIERA in tow arrived at dusk and JULIA in the late evening of the 24th with a moderate south wind." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "The Log of the Riviera." Nice, France, Spring 1874 with additions from March 1932. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 92.)

"On arriving at New York they lowered 'Riviera' from the steamer and started at once for home, down Long Island Sound. On the third day of their trip near the east end of Long Island Sound, they were met by their brothers James and John in the first steam launch that J. B. had built, which had a coil boiler invented by James Brown Herreshoff and a steam engine designed by Captain Nat. This launch, 'Vision,' took 'Riviera' in tow and they started for home." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 70.)

"The coil boiler was invented in 1873 by James Herreshoff, Captain Nat's oldest brother, and I believe the first one used in a launch was built by J. B. for his steam launch 'Vision,' built in about 1874. [Sic. The first coil boiler used in a launch was for #12p Crest.] 'Vision' was forty feet long with a four and one half feet beam, had a single cylinder engine with three and one half inches bore, seven inches stroke designed by Captain Nat. I do not know who modeled 'Vision' for at that time four different Herreshoffs were working for J. B., off and on. They were his father, Charles Francis Herreshoff, James Herreshoff, who was working out the coil boiler, Charles Herreshoff of whom we have spoken before as a farmer but who about that time had charge of the woodworking part of the boat yard, and Captain Nat, himself, who apparently even then made all of the working drawings." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 74.)

"Considerable interest having been excited by the reported performance of the steamer 'Vision,' built by the Messrs. Herreshoff of Bristol, a reporter for the Press has investigated the causes and method of the matter, and we make room for a brief account of the steamer, and the novelties in her construction.
The hull is 43 feet long, 3 feet 8 inches wide, decked fore and aft, with a cockpit some eighteen feet in length. In the center stands the boiler, consisting of a coil of one-inch steam pipe, 140 feet in length. The fire is built in the middle of the coil, and so the entire surface is available for heating. The fire is kindled without water in the pipe, and when the latter is almost at red heat, the water is injected. Nothing is remarkable so far. But the water is salt, being drawn through the bottom of the boat with a hand pump. On its way into the boiler it passes through a feeding, and separating chamber, the exact construction of which is not disclosed. The salt is rejected and is carried off in volatilized form by a waste pipe. The purified water passes into the hot pipe, and the steam runs up almost instantly. It is used at super-heat, the temperature being from 500 to 800 Fahrenheit. The average weight of steam carried is 235 pounds. The engine is an ordinary propelling engine, divested of all excess of metal in order to stand the pressure of running at great speed. The wheel is placed directly under the boiler, and is an ordinary two-bladed screw. It is driven at the rate of 400 revolutions per minute, and the light craft leaps through the water at the rate of eighteen miles an hour. This arrangement of screw is merely for convenience, and is in no way required by the nature of the apparatus.
The boiler has been used for nearly a year, and is said by the builders to show no signs of rust or scaling, and the water does not foam in it. Moreover the water used being almost chemically pure, deposits no sediment in the boiler, and its life is thus greatly lengthened.
The weight of the boiler, grates, covering, and smoke stack is about two hundred pounds, and with this insignificant weight, 20 horse power is developed from salt water. Just one bucket of soft coal is needed to run the craft from Bristol to Newport.
The facts in the case are incontestable because they are matters of observation to anybody who cares to look at the boat, and see what she is doing. The question to be answered is, whether the same thing can be done with a larger craft, and done so thoroughly as to make the invention reliable for a long voyage. If this can be accomplished, the effect on the commercial world need not be indicated. The inventor of the apparatus, is Mr. James Herreshoff of Bristol, and the boilers are to be placed in the market at an early day." (Source: Anon. "Salt Water for Boilers." Providence Evening Press, September 7, 1874, p. 3. Reprinted on September 12, 1874 in the Bristol Phoenix, p. 2.)

"Mr. Herreshoff's little steamer, the Vision, went to Providence on Saturday last [September 26, 1874] to give the people of that city an opportunity to witness her wonderful power of navigation. She made the trip to Providence, in one hour and nineteen minutes, with the tide ahead. The Vision made several runs from Weybosset Bridge to India Point and back, going at the rate of a mile in four minutes, when her coal gave out, and being unable to replenish with the proper quality, she returned home, arriving about four P. M. A further exhibition will be given in a few days." (Source: Anon. "Locals." Bristol Phoenix, October 3, 1874, p. 2.)

"In the [Bristol] Phoenix of April 25th and May 16th [1874], we published a lengthy but very interesting account of a regatta which took place on the river Nice [sic], in Italy [sic], in which a small sail boat built on that river by our young townsman, Mr. Nathaniel G. Herreshoff, took the prize. Mr. Herreshoff in company with his brother Lewis, left home in the spring of 1873 [sic, i.e. 1874], for the old world, on an exploring expedition. Arriving in France and Italy, their native ingenuity and skill prompted them to build a sail boat, which they called the Helen, and which fairly astonished the natives, both by its swiftness and the adventurous exploits of its owners, in traversing those heretofore unexplored rivers. [Note that Helen had not been built by NGH.] After completing their visit they set about to build a second boat [#187406es Riviera], of still smaller dimensions and in which the two brothers embarked for home, cruising two hundred miles through the Mediterranean Sea, thence five hundred miles down the Rhine, thence to Amsterdam, by steamer and to England where they embarked for New York in the steamer Russia [sic. NGH reported this in 1932 to have been the City of Brussels] and arrived on Sunday the 21st ult [sic. September 21, 1874 would have been a Monday]. Mr. C F. Herreshoff. the father of the young men, learning of their arrival in New York, and that they intended returning through the sound in their boat, started on Wednesday morning to meet them, he was accompanied by other members of the family and friends, Messrs. James B., and John B. Herreshoff, accompanying the party, in the steamer Vision [#14p], and meeting the Riviera about midway off Long Island Sound. The meeting was a very happy one between father and sons, brothers and friends. The Vision took the Riviera in tow and the party turned for home, where they arrived about mid­night, on Thursday. ..." (Source: Anon. "Locals." Bristol Phoenix, October 3, 1874, p. 2.)

"The Centennial International regatta comes off at New York on Thursday and Friday of next week, and quite a fleet of Bristol craft will be present to represent the town. Mr. C. F. Herreshoff and Dr. Brownell in the 'Julia,' [#187004es] and the brothers Herreshoff, N. G. and Lewis, in the new double boat 'Amaryllis,' [#187601es] expect to start to day. On Monday Mr. John B. Herreshoff and a Providence gentleman will start with three of the little Herreshoff steamers, viz the 'Fleche' [#17p], 'Vision,' and a new pleasure launch [#22p] last completed for a Mr. Lawrence, of New York. The first and last mentioned steamers are to be delivered to their purchasers in New York, and the 'Vision,' after the regatta, will go direct to Springfield, Mass., where she is engaged as referee's boat for the great Harvard Yale eight-oared race. The committee pay Mr. H. a large price for the use of his boat and his own services, because they are determined to have a boat with speed enough to allow the referees to see every moment of the race, and there is no other steamer of suitable size in the country, which can equal the 'Vision' in this respect. ..." (Source: Anon. "Bristol." Providence Evening Press, June 17, 1876, p. 3.)

"... In the summer of 1874 J[ohn] B[rown Herreshoff] fitted out the new 48-foot steam yacht VISION (HMCo 14) with the first application of the safety coil boiler invented by his brother James. Billed as 'The fastest Steamer of Her Length in the World' VISION was exhibited for two days in September at Rhode Island’s Oakland Beach regatta. Each day with her propeller spinning at 480 rpm, spectators watched in awe as 'the little vessel darts through the water like a meteor' over a mile course at 18 mph. Following each day’s run J[ohn] B[rown Herreshoff] and James hosted all interested parties aboard to inspect the new boiler design. ['The Fastest Steamer of Her Length in the World to be exhibited Sept. 4 & 5, 1874.' Oakland Beach Regatta broadside published in an unidentified newspaper pasted into the Sadie L. Herreshoff March 1875 Newspaper Cuttings Book in the Louise DeWolf Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum archives.] VISION was also made available to officers from the Newport Torpedo Station for trials the results of which convinced the Navy to order its first torpedo boat from Herreshoff (LIGHTNING HMCo 20). ..." (Source: Palmieri, John. "Advertising the Herreshoff Way." Curator’s Log - October 2013. http://www.herreshoff.org/news/newsletter3.html, accessed October 21, 2013.)

"[Item Description:] Johny [sic, i.e. JBH] has a [coil] boiler, detailed description, operation, performance, Mr P purchased the boat, will build boat 50ft long, 3 1/2 wide, weight 150lbs, to go 13 or 14 miles [this will be #14p VISION], you should not have built the boat [#187406es RIVIERA] until you get to the head of the Rhine, the Rhone is against you, hope you will see Rome and Venice, on the back a note 'James has made this even worse than mine would[?]. He is just going out with the [#12p] CREST. Sat afternoon, 3 F'" (Source: Herreshoff, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_07390. Correspondence, Folder 25, formerly 212. No date (1874-05 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Perhaps you are thinking I am going to pay you in your own coin by not writing before this, but I have no such intention, neither am I going to fill this sheet with apologies, but will tell you when I see you why I haven't written before. This is a lovely Sabbath morning all nature is pleasing God and I also would praise him from the inmost depth of my soul for the pleasure he is continually bestowing upon me. Through my multiplied sorrows and affections he has even been with me to bless me in raising up kind friends to cheer my lonely way, and above all he has sent his only son to die for me, not for me only both for all them that put their trust in him. May you my dear friend see all this with an eye of faith is the prayer of your sincere friend.
Mame[?] has gone to Sabbath school[?] also[?] if you will just look in at No. 50 Jenkins street you will see I am all alone. Through all morning along quietly as usual. Mr. Andem[?] as you know got to Bristol every Saturday. We find him very pleasant, and kind, quiet, and ever ready to do us a kindness the same as you are. We should have been very lonely since you and Annie left, if he had not been here. He wished to be remembered to you with his kindest regards. Likewise the Weedens wished me to remembered to you and are very glad to hear of your improved health. Mr. W and Allie have been on a journey. Mr Weeden being appointed a delegate to the justice[?] coughts[?] held at St. Louis, so he took the opportunity of visiting his friends at Hannibal and other places, for the improvement of his health, also of others, he has studied very hard the last year, and was pretty well worn out. Next week is Comm. and Allie[?] will be a senior. I cannot realize that he is so soon to be a senior, he is so small. John Carter Brown was buried yesterday. the paper speaks well of his character, not a stain to mar it. May none be found upon him when he stands before his udes[?].
I was very glad to learn of the improvement in your health, but was amused at the idea of your going away be[?] lest[?] you should go right to work as soon as you arrived. I was very much obliged for your interesting letter it is pleasant to hear of the manners and customs of other countries from an eye witness. It must seem very strange to you to find every thing so different from New England. I suppose there are many things pleasanter there than here, but I cannot help thinking our country is the best after all.
I am very glad to hear you are having such a good appetite, and a plenty of good wholesome food, bring home some good peaches for your Providence friends. I hope you will continue to improve and return to us with your health entirely established and with a determination of taking good care of yourself and wearing an overcoat even when the thermometer is not down to 0. The girls are going to write, Annie will tell you about her journey she has just returned from, Mame[?] has been at home with me this summer has not been teaching at all.
I have been very busy lately cleaning house. The spring work of N.E. I have cleaned your you, turned your carpet and put it all in order for you when you come (LE)[?] if you want it. I think will scold, when you attempt to read. This my pen cut though whence[?] I heal[?] on. George's wife took tea with us last week. Mrs P. expects her mother soon & brother[?] Will likewise. She talks a great deal about Ma's coming.
You probably have heard of their visit at Bristol at your brother John. They enjoyed it very much, were moved into his new house and is pleasably[?] situated, and Katie is a darling. Edward & Anne called at your house & Mrs Chesebro on May day. Not one of your friends have been here since you left. I think they must have come to see you. Annie's wedding reception passed off very well all seemed to enjoy themselves. Annie had only one butter knife and one motto among her presents. I suppose you know who the Donor was, so I will not mention. I had a visit from Mr Talbot this spring. He was[?] not very well ad a cough, he is very fleshy but his health is not firm. Mrs Dunn always sends her regards and kindest wishes to you whenever she writes and is very glad your health is improving. She is still at East Machias. She wants Mame & myself to go to Bruns[?] when she gets home, we are not going however. Remember me to [brother] Lewis with my best wishes and hope to see you before a great while
You will perceive[?] I have filled the sheet with not much news you will say. I hope you will favor us with another letter before you start for home. May god's richest blessings be showered upon you is the wish of your friend M. L. Houghton as I could write better of the paper[?]
II
Annie[?] expects to get into ther[?] house very soon, it will be all done this week, ready to furnish. I shall be very glad when she gets settled.
Miss Barnes is teaching in Burrilville[?] this Summer, she says she is very lonesome there, it is way up in the country.
Abby Louisa spent the day a week or two ago, she asks for you always and says 'give my regards to Nat when you write. Your room has been occupied eversince you have been gone, by my white dress that I wore at the wedding. I am trying to have a flower garden this Summer but it don't do very well.
June 22. I stopped writing the other day to get ready for a festival at our church in the evening. We had a very pleasant time and presented our Superintendent with a very handsome gold watch and chain.
I went the other evening to see the procession of the students on their way to bury their English Literature.
The juniors who were chief mourners were dressed in white shrouds trimmed cambric clothes and the Sopho.[?] in red, all carrying torches. It was all very comical. I went up class day to the College, in the afternoon, and as it was very stormy, the[?] cruises[?] which are usually held on the Campus were held in manning Hall. About night it stopped raining and they had the usual promenade concert in the evening.
John made us a little call this morning. He was on his way to New London, says he is going to build a boat [#14p VISION] that will astonish you, it will go twenty miles an hour. I suppose he has written you all about it.
I was very glad you beat the Frenchmen in the race you sailed so long ago.
I went out to Annie this afternoon, and found her very busy putting down carpets with Ed. I think she has a very pretty home, and it ought to be for there has been no expense spared in fixing it up.
How will you spend the glorious Fourth? I suppose this will not reach you till after that, but I hope you will make dome demonstration, such as hoisting the American flag on your boat. I guess when you went away, you had little thought of spending the fourth in a foreign country.
I guess I have written about scraps enough, and as I can not think of anything more that will interest you, I guess I will close.
Please give my regards to Lewis, and tell him I suppose he has a great many lonely oranges to eat now.
I think this is horrid paper to write on and am glad I don't have to write on it every day.
Your friend ..." (Source: Houghton, Mary S. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_78790. Correspondence, Folder 26, formerly 213. 1874-06-14.)
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"[Item Transcription:] My dear Sons,
your letters are giving us a great deal of true pleasure. the one dated May 25th enclosing one to the Francises, another to Mrs Rogers, which was sent to your aunts & then ours[?], one last Saturday to Charlie & Alice, and this morning, Charlie Eatons's letter to Carrie & Stanton. So we feel almost as if we had been with you. I think Charlie & Nellie have done wisely in staying where they are for they seem to be most comfortably & pleasantly settled, and I am sure the sea bathing in your lovely climate must be very beneficial to Nat. Charlie's description of the villa, its landlord & the new teacher for the children, the sittings under the awning over the terrace and all he wrote is very interest in. You seem to have everything that one could wish and I should not fear the degree of heat as I should our sudden & great changes. With regards to Nat, I think he must have improved very much indeed since he left us. We could hardly expect that in so short a time he could be entirely restored to his condition three years ago, and perhaps he may have applied himself too closely, but I trust that after the boat [#187404es L'ONDA] was finished & launched, he gave himself more recreation and that he has been since gradually gaining in health & strength. The excellent vegetables, & variety, & quality of the fruits, too, are just what his system required, & we all think he could not have been so well & pleasantly situated as with Charlie's family & his brother Lewis. With regard to clothing for summer, I think blue flannel or sheep's grey, if it could be found, very desirable if it can be then[?], so that it will be cool & dry easily, suits that are without lining & as cool as live[?] out[?] & not so much trouble in working & youring[?].
You are favored, dear Louis, in friends, who write for you! The hand writing of these[?] the[?] last is not familiar to us. I was so much pleased with the description in your letter to Mrs Rogers that I copied it. Since I wrote you, Francis has been in Rhode island to pass three days. He came gown with Grace on Monday last in the early train & left us the next morning. I am quite ashamed that he has not written you in all this time & send most of your letter to him[?] & he is very much pleased to have them & practical[?] in returning them. You enquire of home & what he is doing in New York. Habershaw's[?] laboratory business is very little indeed now, and we shall not be surprised if he should be unable to retain Francis, unless there should soon be an improvement. But business generally is considered dull & besides at this time of the year, people feel like resting rather than starting anything new. Francis is in his usual health, but he looked pale, compared I suppose with y[ou]r father & James who are bronzed by the sun. Aunt Anna is wonderfully well & energetic, driving to town as of old. She is charmed with the letters from the family at Nice, talking abut you all this morning. She drove around early this morning, along for Sally, who had been here since Saturday as is her usual custom. Sally devotes herself to her aunt Sarah, who still continues out of health, altho' very much improved. She has a good appetite & sleeps well, but cannot bear any noise, as you have seen her before. They have a new girl from New Hampshire who is quite promising, one of our own people, who pays great regard to aunt Sarah's wants, and besides little Julia is at home for the summer.
Her father took her out of school for the remainder of the quarter on account of the alarm of the scarlet fever and she is a great comfort to your aunt Sarah.
Sally manages to keep along with her music, and occasionally to learn something new. She has improved very much in singing.
Your father practises with her every week & it is quite interesting to see & hear them together. Julian finished the 'Grand Sonata' [Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 4, in E-flat major, Op. 7] last Saturday & I know is thinking what he will take next.
Lewis Mitchell has made us several visits. Quite a number of persons were at Carrie's on Saturday eve[nin]g, June 13th. The Ushers, the Andrews sisters, & young Andrews cousin, with Gallup from Prov[idence], Mrs. Locke & Mr. Locke's sister, &c, &c, but some of them had better remained at home, rather than disturbing the performer, and those that wished to listen.
You do not know, my dear Sons, & you Charlie & Nellie, the comfort your letters give us here & at P[oin]t Pl[easant], but I fear mine are often a repetition. Mrs Mitchell, Nellie's mother passed a few hours with us a week since. She is looking very well & read from a letter of Nellie's to us. It was the day of John C. Brown's funeral & Carrie, your father & James were in[?] Providence to attend it. You will have heard no doubt before this reaches you of his death, the funeral, & his will. His mind was clear & calm during his sickness & from the beginning he said it would be his last & that he was perfectly assigned to death. The preparations for the funeral were very undecided in the beginning and some did not get the invitation until the same morning. Amasa did not receive his in time to go out for Maude[?] & the Francis cousins came[?] up on business, having heard at first that it was to be very private, their invitation was rec[eive]d in town that forenoon of the funeral, ours was by telegram the afternoon previous from Moses G., and then the will, I do think Mr Brown should have remembered his niece, Mrs Words, more especially on account of her having given to her husband all her property. But I have heard she was not even mentioned in the will, a legacy of $2000 to Carter[?] Woods, and the children of his brother Nicholas were not named, but I suppose you have heard all this before, and of his bequests to Brown University, the R.I. Hospital & only five thousand to the Butler H.
We should have been happy to have had Mrs. Mitchell with us over Sunday, but she had a previous engagement & so missed seeing Carrie, except for a few moments at the depot. I always write of your father's excellent health. He is beginning to bring in strawberries from our garden but they are very sour as yet. Evening of the 22d. Your aunt Mary went to Prov. with Mrs Richmond to visit y[ou]r aunt Elizabeth & found her in her usually comfortable condition. She was able to call on Mrs. Sawyer with aunt M. & enjoyed the strawberries we sent her. Last Sunday was your grandmothers' Lewis's birthday 88 years.
June 23d.
Ther[mometer] today 85deg here. Carrie & Bertie [Chesebrough] have gone to Prov[idence] today on business. I will meet E.&.S.[?] Francis at Amasa's office. James also has gone up this hot day. The cousins Francis have sold the Prudence farm wa[?] Company for $10.000. Charlie Potter will have a share in it. Mrs Slocum is repairing clothes[?] at our home & sits most patiently at work. Julian is just going with his father to Poppasquash in the JULIA [#187004es] to pass two days, and James, who has just come from Providence will join them. James says the ther[mometer] is from 90deg to 95deg in Providence today, but a fine breeze is blowing. Sally was so much pleased with her letter that she asked for it Sunday to preserve. it was brought back from new York by Francis. John [JBH] is in New London with young Mr Haswell[?], Sadie's cousin Bumstead[?] having gone for the present. James tells me to write that the engine did not goout[?]. It was used four weeks without scratching cylinder or valve. The new [coil?] boiler goes perfectly well without superheating the steam, but with an equal fire the pressure goes from 110 to 165. When we admit less water the former not superheated, the latter superheated to about 700deg. Johnnie is going to put the propeller under the bottom in the new boat [apparently #15p GEM]. James thinks that when the dip of the shaft is equal to about 2.3 of the angle of of[sic] slip, then the wings on the up side, when rising half way up, have no effect, and pull back of the shaft is more inclined or more than 1 in 18 with the CREST's [#12p] wheel. What thinks Nat?
Johnnie [JBH] is building two seine boats (row) [#???s], & a 27 foot sail boat [#???s] will be done this week. He is also setting up the engine for the narrow steamboat [#14p VISION], to be completed by the middle of July. The CREST [#12p] was taken to New York by one man, who, as the Bristol paper says, was cook as well as Captain, engineer, & all in one. Something i think he ought to be ashamed of, ventyious[?] risky man. James told me his name & that you knew him, but it has slipped from my mind. Amasa has sent us a translation of the last cruise though the torrent. The paper is at Carrie's & I can't spell the name.
Mrs. Rose is with Stanton today. Julian & I passed most of last Tuesday with him (while Carrie was in Prov[idence]) reading Hume's History of England in[?] a History from Hume & Smollett to Stant & Julian and I enjoyed the day, for I had parted that morning from Francis & was thankful to have my mind diverted & knowing that I was making Stant so comfortable, feeding him &c & giving Carrie a chance for a change. Julian is quite interested in History & I am very thankful he enjoys reading. Therein he differs entirely from Mitchell, who can never fix his mind on anything but music. He says he never reads. We hear he is considered the best pianist in prov. I have written you since I sent the draft for $270 through Duncan & Sherman the same as James did, but I suppose it is hardly time for me to receive an acknowledgment of this draft. I am as usual in somewhat of a hurry for mail. Carrie has a good girl at $2.50 per week devoted to her but not as capable as Mary. I am quite interested in your descriptions of your landlord &c.
With a great deal of love for you all & kisses, for the children. I am your aff[ectiona]te mother ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Julia A. Letter to Herreshoff, Lewis and Herreshoff, N.G. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_07570. Correspondence, Folder 25, formerly 212. 1874-06-22.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Text in left margin:] Dear Charlie [Eaton], will you forward [this letter] at once to the boys [NGH & Lewis].
Your letter of June 24 & 25th was rec'd on the 8th of this month. I was thankful to hear that you had rec'd the draft sent May 27th.
Another draft for $125 was mailed from Prov[idence] to you on the 30th of June, which I sincerely hope you will have rec'd before leaving Nice, because you will require it to enable you to see as much as possible before you arrive in England. There, you will find money for your passage as John said, I think, $200.
Elizabeth Francis enquired very kindly about you, & read your letter & Nellie's of the 9th of June, I think, & seemed to regret very much that you should return without seeing all you would like to see. Your last was very interesting and welcome. It must be hard to part with Charlie & Nellie [Eaton] after passing such a length of time so happily together, & with your kind friends, the Fighieras. Nothing would suit me better than to give up the trials of house keeping here for[?] such a pleasant home & delightful climate as you have in Nice, but I could not move without Sally, & she could not leave her aunts, Carrie's family, Johnnie & all & so I must keep on, performing my duties cheerfully, and be ready to welcome our sons on their return. Dear Nellie & Charlie I shall write soon. I have very little time this afternoon before the mail will close, & perhaps not very much to say. Amasa dined with us yesterday. He came down to see Dr. Gallsy[?] . They are[?] well at Oaklands. E. & S. Francis with their friend Miss West from California came down to Carrie's & passed two hours this week. Elizabeth took your letter of the 9th of June to S[pring] G[reen] with her --- has since returned it. Your Aunt Sarah is very much improved. All the members of the three Herreshoff families & Carrie's are as usual. Sally is here today, Saturday, & has just heard yours of 24th. Mitchell has been here playing this morning and Julian is trying to get Mr. Vincent down to play with Mitchell tonight at Carrie's. Julian, Mitchell & Frank Brownell have just gone up town together. James has returned from Canada & enjoyed the trip very much indeed. The train that[?] in Canada going collided with a freight train, upsetting the locomotive, letting out all the steam & water, but hurting none of the passengers. In going from Montreal to Quebec, the steam valve was blown off on board the Steamer CANADA, letting the steam all off into the steamboat, & very much frightening the passengers.
Did I write you of the boat [#187402es ASPHODEL] for Macomber of R.I. about the size of the JULIA [#187004e], John has been building. It is a foot longer than the JULIA & in in sailing together was quite as fast as the JULIA. Your father & Dr. B. in the JULIA, Charlie & John in Macomber's.
John is now building a keel boat [#187405es PHOSIE] 21 feet long, 8 1/2 wide for Capt. Gibbs, our old friend, also two row boats for fishing. As soon as these shall be completed, he will begin on the narrow steamboat [#14p VISION]. I am writing with James sitting by, giving me statements. James says, tell Lewis, the fire dos not touch the pipe [of the coil boiler, just invented by James, and to be put into VISION], & when we stop the engine, we open the door, thus the metal is not overheated.
I cannot help feeling very anxious about your cruise [with #187406es RIVIERA], & hope you will never think of staying in the boat all night --- not to fast too long --- & to be sure of regular & sufficient sleep. Sally sends a great deal of love to you. Little Bertie called out 'give my love to Uncle Nat' & Lewis too & I know if I had not left him suddenly he as all of us would remember all of you.
I am sorry to hear Charlie has suffered so much with his throat, but about the loss of flesh I think both Charlie & Lewis might lose a little in summer. My love to you all including little Bessie & baby Fred.
Your father has come in with John & is singing 'Beloved Star' with Sally. John says, 'tell them we think of going to Block Island next week in the JULIA & HARTFORD --- The Brownells, yr. father, James & Phillips, & John, myself & I wish you were here to go with us.' I saw Amasa a little while yesterday that I did not learn much of your Providence relatives & friends. Mrs. Abbott is to be at her mother's during July & August. They are full of preparation. Aunt Mary is about letting the house she bought to Furlong[?] for Oct[?]. The Cennerys[?] are there at present. She is in good health & would send a message if she was in.
Acknowledge her letter & photograph if you rec[?]? it --- from Boston last May. I write in too much haste --- but I think of you both, & pray for your safety.
Your affectionate Mother
Julia A. Herreshoff
Can't you go to Minden & see the town register. Learn more of yr. grandfather's family." (Source: Herreshoff, Julia A. Letter to Herreshoff, Lewis and Herreshoff, N.G. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_07530. Correspondence, Folder 25, formerly 212. 1874-07-11.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Postcard from Bristol to NGH at Corliss Steam Engine Co.:] Jim[? James Herreshoff] and I are elected on a Committee for ascertaining the requirements to & costs of a stationary engine or engines, with pumps, to supply our water pipes with sufficient salt water, to throw 6 one inch streams from hydrants one mile from the engine and at a force of 200 lbs to the Sq inch.
My idea is, one of the best stream pumps with a 16 or 18in cylinder with a 10 or 11 inch pump --- driven by a coil boiler with 4 1/2ft grate (diam) with a heating surface of 400 sq.ft.
Will you please give me on paper, with your signature, what you think is the best kind of engine & boiler to be used with size & cost of same with other useful information.
Would like to hear from you in a day or two.
All well [here] VISION [#14p] up." (Source: Herreshoff, J.B. Postcard to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_78710. Correspondence, Folder 26, formerly 213. 1874-10-27.)
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"N/A"

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #14p Vision even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Vision (HMCo-made index card)
• Vision (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

Year: 1874
E/P/S: P
No.: 014
Name: Vision
OA: 48'

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

"Vision was the first Herreshoff-built vessel to be built with a coil boiler, invented by James Herreshoff. The first vessel to be equipped with a coil boiler was #12p Crest, built in 1873, and converted to coil boiler in 1874." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. June 16, 2017.)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.