STEAM NAVIGATION. 



1836, on the occasion of the meeting of the British Association in 

 Dublin, I had advocated the former of these projects. 



9. On the occasion of the next meeting in 1837 at Bristol, I 

 again urged its advantages, and by comparison discouraged the 

 project of a direct line between Bristol and New York. When I 

 say that I advocated one of these projects, it is needless to add 

 that the popular rumour, that I had pronounced the Atlantic 

 voyage impracticable, is utterly destitute of foundation. But I 

 am enabled to offer mfcre conclusive proofs than this, that, so far 

 from asserting that the Atlantic voyage by steam was impossible, 

 / distinctly affirmed the contrary. 



The Times newspaper sent a special reporter to attend the 

 meeting at Bristol, and more particularly to transmit a report of 

 tha expected discussion on the Atlantic steam voyage, which at 

 the moment excited much interest. 



10. The meeting took place on '^e 25th, and the report ap- 

 peared in the Times of the 27th of August. From that report I 

 extract the following ; 



" Dr. Lardner said he would beg of any one, and more espe- 

 cially of those who had a direct interest in the inquiry, to dismiss 

 from their minds all previously-formed judgments about it, and 

 more especially upon this question, to be guarded against the con- 

 clusions of mere theory, for if ever there was one point in practice 

 of a commercial nature which, more than another, required to be 

 founded on experience, it was this one of extending steam-naviga- 

 tion to voyages of extraordinary length. He was aware that 

 since the question had arisen, it had been stated that his own 

 opinion was averse to it. This statement was totally wrong, but 

 he did feel that great caution should be used in the adoption of 

 the means of carrying the project into effect. Almost all depended 

 on the first attempt, for a failure would much retard the ultimate 

 consummation of the project. 



__" Mr. Scott Russell said that he had listened with great deligEt 

 to the lucid and logical observations they had just heard. He 

 would add one word. Let them try this experiment, with a view 

 only to the enterprise itself, but on no account try any new boiler 

 or other experiment, but to have a combination of the most 

 approved plans that had yet been adopted. 



"After some observations from Messrs. Brunei and Field, 

 Dr. Lardner, in reply, said, that he considered the voyage prac- 

 ticable, but he wished to point out that which would remove the 

 possibility of a doubt, because if the first attempt failed it would 

 cast a damp upon the enterprise, and prevent a repetition of the 

 attempt." 



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