202 



ON THE HYDROLOGY OF THE BASIN 



and there contracted with the firm of Bolton & Watt, for the engine of a larger boat, 

 some of the castings and rougher part of which were made in Lower Canada. The Lon- 

 don engine builders could build the engine, but they knew nothing of the appliances by 

 which it was adapted to navigation: these required to be furnished here. 



"In 1811, the new vessel, the 'Swiftsure,' was launched and at work, and in 1812, did 

 'the state some service' in the transport of troops and stores during the unhappy inter- 

 ruption of our relations with the United States. This boat had nearly five times the power 

 of the ' Accommodation.' Her length was one hundred and twenty feet, her beam twenty- 

 four feet, the engine was rated at twenty-eight horse power, and she was fitted up and 

 equipped in all respects in a superior manner. 



"The 'Malsham' was the next boat placed on the line, still superior to the 'Swiftsure;' 

 and after her the ' Lady Shcrbrooke,' vessels at that time of very considerable tonnage and 

 power. 



" At this period the river was not lighted and buoyed as at present : it was, therefore, 

 thought unsafe to run after dark. The pilots, too, were less experienced than at present: 

 it was, therefore, usual to anchor at night. Frequent and expensive delays were also 

 caused by strong southerly winds in getting up the current St. Mary, more especially when 

 the boats were heavily loaded, as they generally were at that time. Oxen and horses were 

 sometimes employed to tow the vessels up this very powerful current. , 



" In a few years later than the period referred to, we find the St. Lawrence Steamboat 

 Company, and their competitors (afterwards their coadjutors) the Montreal Towboat Com- 

 pany, running their boats during the night with perfect safety, and ascending the current 

 in any state of the wind, triumphing over all the former difficulties of the navigation. 



"To the late founder of the St. Lawrence Company, the Hon. John Molson, the celebrity 

 of being the first to establish steam traffic on our noble river must be accorded, — a traffic 

 which, by the enterprise of Upper Canada and that of our neighbors in the adjoining 

 States, is now made to enter from Superior City, on Lake Superior, and Chicago, on Lake 

 Michigan, to the ocean, — aye, and across the ocean, also. 



" To the late Robert Hamilton, Esq., Upper Canada is indebted for the first steamer on 

 1 eke Ontario, the engine of whose boat was constructed from the model of the ' Malsham's' 

 engine. 



" In contrast with the dimensions, power, and speed, of the little ' Accommodation,' we 

 subjoin those of the ' John Munn,' the largest steamer now (1856) plying between this 

 city and Quebec: 



Length, 312 feet. 



Breadth of beam, 29 " 



Cylinder, .......... 72 inches. 



Stroke, 11 feet. 



