Atlantic Steam Navigation. 163 



from their first position, these scientific champions have encamped 

 upon another, confident that their position is impregnable. They 

 indeed admit, because they camiot now deny, that it is practica- 

 ble to navigate the Atlantic by steam ships ; but they contend 

 that the ships will not pay a profit to the proprietors. This is a 

 question worthy of a minute and careful investigation. A fair 

 and impartial inquiry may place the matter in so clear a point of 

 view, that the plainest understanding will comprehend it. No 

 doubt those who possess the most practical information on the 

 subject, have nursed it for their own benefit, whilst those who are 

 not confined to narrow thought and selfish views, and who would 

 give some light to the understanding of others, have it not them- 

 selves to give. 



Whateve)^ article of produce or manufacture can he exported 

 or im,ported in a sailing ship, at a remunerating freight, can he 

 exported or impo?'ted in a steam ship at a greater or equal profit, 

 independently of passenger's. To elucidate this proposition, which 

 I am aware the public mind is scarcely prepared to credit, it is 

 necessary to go into some details of the working power of steam 

 and sailing ships. 



It will be borne in mind, that in constructing a steam ship for 

 commercial purposes, independently of passengers, the expense 

 will be much less, and the capacity for stowage much greater, 

 than when both objects are combined. 



If we build a steam ship of 2500 tons measurement, her capa- 

 city for stowing, exclusive of engines and fuel, will not be less 

 than 1600 tons register,* equal to 2400 tons of measurement 

 goods, of 40 cubic feet to the ton. A sailing ship of 400 tons 

 register, upon the same scale of capacity, would take 600 tons of 

 measm'ement goods. 



For the sake of calculation, I will take the ports of New Orleans 

 and Liverpool for the points of the ship's destination. I do not 

 specify New Orleans as a more desirable port than any other in 

 the United States for steam navigation, although I believe the 

 commerce between that port and Europe may be carried on with 

 singular facility and profit, especially as the Western Islands, Ber- 

 muda and Jamaica, offer natural stations for depots of coal, and 

 its vicinity to the Mexican territories opens a wide field for the 

 combination of South American commerce with that of the Uni- 



* By a recent act of Parliament, the engine and coal rooms are deducted from 

 the gross measurement, and the remainder is the legal register tonnage. 



