STEAM NAVIGATION. 



4. In the quarter of a century which elapsed between 1812 

 and 1837 steam-navigation made a steady and continuous, but not 

 a sudden progress. The first lines of steamers were established 

 naturally between the ports of England and the nearest sea-ports 

 of Ireland on the one side, and France on the other. The length 

 of each unbroken passage was then regarded as the great difficulty 

 of the project. Thus steamers were established between Holyhead 

 and Dublin, and between Dover and Calais, long before projectors 

 ventured to try them ietween Dublin and Liverpool, or between 

 London and the Low Countries. 



After some years' experience, however, and the consequent 

 improvement of the marine engine, passages of greater length 

 were attempted with success. Lines of steamers were established 

 first between more distant parts of the United Kingdom ; as, for 

 example, between London and Edinburgh, and between Dublin, 

 Liverpool, and Glasgow. At a later period still longer trips 

 became practicable, and lines of steamers were established between 

 the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean ; touching, however, 

 for fuel at the peninsular ports, such as Corunna, Lisbon, and 

 Gibraltar. 



During this period, also, a fleet of steamers was constructed by 

 government for post-office purposes, and a steam navy was gra- 

 dually created, among which were found ships of large tonnage 

 and considerable power. 



5. At length, in the year 1836, a project, then considered as a 

 startling one, was first announced, to supersede the far-famed New 

 York and Liverpool packet-ships, by a magnificent establishment 



Of STEAM-SHIPS. 



These vessels were to sustain a constant, regular, and rapid 

 communication between the New and Old World. They were to 

 be the great channel for commerce, intelligence, and social inter- 

 course, between the metropolis of the West and the vast marts of 

 the United Kingdom ; they were, in a word, to fulfil, not only all 

 the functions which for half a century had been so admirably dis- 

 charged by the packet-ships, but to do so with expedition increased 

 in a threefold proportion at the least. Such an announcement 

 could not fail to captivate the public. The results to be anti- 

 cipated were so obvious, so grand, and must be attended with 

 effects so widely spread, that all persons of every civilised nation 

 at once felt and acknowledged their importance. The announce- 

 ment of the project was accordingly hailed with one general shout 

 of acclamation. 



Some, who, being conversant with the actual condition of the 

 art of steam-engineering as applied to navigation, and aware of 

 various commercial conditions which must affect the problem, and 

 116 



