176 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [ Vou. IIL. 
a vessel so constructed, is that a passage may be calculated on to a 
degree of certainty in point of time, which cannot be the case with any 
vessel propelled by sails only. The steamboat receives her impeller from 
an open double-spoked, perpendicular wheel, on each side, without any 
circular band or rim. To the end of each double spoke is fixed a square 
board, which enters the water, and by the rotary motion of the wheel acts 
like a paddle. The wheels are put and kept in motion by steam, opera- 
ting within the vessel. A mast is to be fixed in her for the purpose of 
using a sail when the wind is favourable, which will occasionally accelerate 
her headway.” 
These extremely interesting details obviously written by an eye witness 
describe the second steamboat which ever made regular trips in Ameri- 
can waters, or in any part of the world for trade purposes. That she 
proved successful as a commercial venture may be judged from the fact 
that within a few years after she commenced running Mr. Molson added 
two other steam-boats the “Swiftsure’”’ and the “ Malsham ” of increased 
dimensions. The former vessel was 130 feet in length of keel and 140 feet 
on deck with a width of 24 feet. On her trial trip, in 1813, the “ Swift- 
sure’ made the passage from Montreal to Quebec in 22% hours notwith- 
standing that the wind blew strong ahead the whole distance. She 
beat the fastest sailing packet on the line 14 hours in a race of 36 hours. 
The “Malsham” was built in Montreal in 1814, and was registered at the 
Custom House, Quebec, May 4th, 1815. In the registry she is described 
_asa “steam vessel worked by steam, with wheels or flyers at each side.” 
The successful application of steam to the propulsion of vessels being 
established, it soon spread to other countries. As far as I have been able 
to investigate the matter, regular steam boats were seen for the first time 
in the following order: on the Hudson, in 1807; on the St. Lawrence, 
in 1809; on the Clyde, in 1812; on the Severn, in 1813; on the Mississ- 
ippl,in 1814; on the Humber, in 1814; it was 1815 before the first steam- 
boat, a small vessel named the “ Marjorie,” appeared on the Thames; 
the same year witnessed the “Frontenac” plying on Lake Ontario. 
The latter steamboat was built by the enterprise of the late Senator John 
Hamilton of Kingston, at a cost of £20,000. 
The third vessel on the list, that launched on the Clyde, in 1812, was 
named the “Comet.” She was built by Henry Bell. Her length was 40 
feet with 10% feet beam; her draught of water 4 feet ; her speed under 
favorable conditions was four miles an hour. She-continued to ply 
between Glasgow and Greenock a distance of about 20 miles, for some 
years. The “Comet” greatly improved appears to have been transferred 
to the River Forth where she did her work more efficiently; she ran for a 
a 
