A JOURNF.Y TO London in 1840. 135 



(1835) the fare was twenty-seven shillings. The boat Roval 

 Sovereign, Captain M'Arthur commander, was constructed of 

 iron, which species of vessel I understand is regarded as safe as 

 any other and to be more steady in a storm. It was an excellent 

 boat as all the steamers that ply between Glasgow and Liverpool 

 are. There was less of that annoying tremulous motion than, I 

 think, is usual in wooden steamers. The company on board was 

 very miscellaneous, and included no one of importance. All 

 seemed perfect strangers to each other. The greater number of 

 men are of a social turn and dislike silence. To exchange 

 thoughts with each other is gratifying to the great bulk of man- 

 kind. Our countenance beams more benignantlv; our heart beats 

 more cheerily ; and time passes more delightfully in converse even 

 with a stranger than when from any circumstances we are con- 

 strained to maintain a sullen taciturnity. But when strangers 

 meet on board a steamer conversation for a time is unknown and 

 can scarcely be supposed to take place. The novelty of everything 

 on board, the bustle, the general excitement, prevent anvthing 

 like conversation taking place. So it was with all on board the 

 Royal Sovereign. Each per.son was narrowly examining his 

 fellow passengers, and was besides deeply interested in the 

 romantic and picturesque banks of the Clyde as they gradually 

 opened up to view on our way down the river. We sat down to 

 dinner at four o'clock, about half-an-hour after we had passed 

 Greenock, but still scarce a word was spoken, all seemed equally 

 stiff and unapproachable. Not a smile, no expression of frank- 

 ness appeared on any countenance. At tea the conditions were 

 similar, and the passengers retired one after another to bed 

 without the usual courtesy of saying " Good-night." 



The Clyde and all the splendid scenery which distinguished 

 it were quite familiar to me, but however frequently seen they 

 can never appear tame or uninteresting. As a commercial river 

 it is inferior only to the Thames and the Mersey, and though at 

 one time it was navigable to Glasgow only for light barges, 

 vessels of 450 tons can now approach the Broomielaw. Such 

 has been the enterprise of the citizens of Glasgow ! But 

 Greenock may in many respects be regarded as the port of 

 Glasgow, more particularly from the present date, as the railroad 

 between the two towns via Paisley is to be opened either this 

 month (May) or the next. But whatever may be the result in 



