OF THE RIVER SAINT LAWRENCE. 



261 





could have advanced but little in material prosperity and settlement since the time when 

 the Jesuits narrated (in their most interesting letters written one hundred and fifty years 

 before;), their occasional visits to these regions. 



There are, however, two periods which we must now mark, as the first great steps to- 

 wards the real progress of the country ; and one of these which has only fulfilled in 

 American waters what has been the result in all others, is that of the commencement of 

 steam navigation; the other is the establishment of the canal system. 



It is an agreeable fact to state that on the llivcr St. Lawrence, and on Lake.Champlain, 

 almost the first successful attempt was made to employ steam for the propulsion of vessels; 

 and the following narrative, drawn up by a local committee, will be read with some interest 

 by engineers : 



"In 1807, Fulton first launched his first steamer on the Hudson. In 1809, his example 

 was followed on Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence. 



"The first movement towards the steam navigation of the St. Lawrence was made by 

 the late Hon. John Molson, in conjunction with David Bruce, a shipbuilder, and John 

 Jackson, an engineer. 



" The vessel built by them was the ' Accommodation;' she was but a small boat, seventy- 

 two feet in length, with sixteen feet beam, propelled by an engine constructed by Mr. 

 Jackson, of not much exceeding six horse power. 



" It required no ordinary courage and enterprise on the part of these pioneers, to under- 

 take the difficult task which they thus essayed. But all the difficulties encountered were 

 successfully overcome, and on All Saint's Eve, 1809, the steamer started on her first voyage 

 to Quebec. As she passed after nightfall some of the settlements, going without sails 

 against an easterly wind, the sparks flying out in a continuous stream from her funnels, 

 as has been the case elsewhere, the consternation of the inhabitants residing along the 

 hanks of the river, at the unwonted sight, must have been very great; and we can easily 

 suppose that it might well be taken for some phantom ship, or other fearful apparition. 

 It was held dangerous to continue their progress through the night, and three days were 

 consumed in the downward trip of one hundred and eighty miles to, and four days in the 

 upward one from, Quebec. Therefore it was, that those who had to reach Quebec either 

 by the tedious land route or the more uncertain transport of sailing craft upon the river, 

 hailed the prospect of this more swift and certain steam navigation with satisfaction. 

 The experiment proved a failure. The engine was, of course, too weak, and of imperfect 

 construction. 



L 'Yet notwithstanding the lack of immediate success, and the money lost by the first 

 attempt, Mr. Molson did not abandon the enterprise. His practical mind saw, even in that 

 failure, the certainty of a final success, which he lived to realize, lie went to England, 



