SYMINGTON. 115 



a steam-engine to be fitted on board Miller's twin-boat, and capable 

 of moving the paddle-wheels. This was accomplished in the autumn 

 of 1788, when a trial was made, in the presence of Mr. Miller and 

 various others, of so satisfactory a nature, that it was immediately 

 determined to commence another experiment, upon a larger scale. 

 It may, however, be satisfactory to state here, that this, the parent 

 engine of steam navigation, after enduring many vicissitudes, was 

 ultimately rescued from destruction by Mr. Bennet Woodcroft, and 

 contributed by him for exhibition in the South Kensington Museum. 



In the month of October 1789, a second exemplification of the 

 practicability of steam navigation was afforded by Miller and 

 Symington, on the Forth and Clyde Inland Navigation Canal, in 

 the presence of many hundreds of spectators ; the boat proceeding 

 along at the rate of nearly six miles an hour. In this instance the 

 machinery was constructed at the Carron Works, under the direc- 

 tion of Symington, and placed on board a boat which had been used 

 in Miller's previous experiments. Unfortunately, Mr. Miller now 

 withdrew from the concern ; he had already expended nearly thirty 

 thousand pounds on various experiments, and he determined to 

 devote his time to the improvement of the Dalswinton estate. 



Symington's pecuniary resources were insufficient to enable him 

 unaided to pursue his experiments, and he was compelled to desist, 

 and turn his attention to the fulfilment of engagements with the 

 Wanlock Head company, for constructing machinery on a large 

 scale. An interval of ten years thus elapsed, at the end of which 

 time Mr. Symington secured the patronage of Thomas, Lord Dundas 

 of Kerse, under whose auspices another series of experiments were 

 commenced, in January 1801, at the cost of 7000Z.; but they placed 

 beyond the possibility of doubt the practicability of steam naviga- 

 tion. Symington had availed himself of the improvements made in 

 the steam-engine by Watt and others, and he now constructed an 

 improved marine engine, with boat and paddle-wheel after the plan 

 at present adopted. This boat, called the 'Charlotte Dundas,'* 

 was the first practical steamboat; and for the novel combination 

 of the parts, Symington obtained a patent on the 14th October, 1801. 

 The vessel made her first voyage in March 1803, on the Forth and 

 Clyde Canal, and proceeded upwards of nineteen miles, drawing 

 after her two laden vessels, each of seventy tons burden, although 

 it blew so strong a gale right ahead, that no other vessel in the 

 canal attempted to move to windward during that day. There 

 were on board on this occasion Lord Dundas, the Hon. Captain 

 George Dundas, R.N., and Archibald Spiers of Elderslee, together 

 with several other gentlemen of their acquaintance. 



Miller's boat had proved a practical steam-boat, but in the 

 ' Charlotte Dundas ' Symington had the undoubted merit of having 



* Named in honour of Lord Dundas's daughter, Lady Milton. 



