THE LOG OF THE SAVANNAH. 637 



For details of this voyage she refers to the sworn statement of Capt. 

 Stevens Rogers, the sailing-master, " and prays that they will grant her 

 some pecuniary acknowledgment, etc." 



At New London, Connecticut, May 2, 1856, Capt. Stevens Rogers 

 swore that he is aged 6S years; that he was the sailing-master of the 

 steamship Savannah on her trial trip to Liverpool. Copenhagen, St. 

 Petersburg, etc., and that : 



Said steamship was built in New York in the year 1818, the builders being Fickett 

 & Crocker. She was designed for a Havre packet, and was purchased by William 

 Scarborough, of Savannah, and was named at his suggestion The Savannah, he hav- 

 ing told me that in his opinion the ocean would be navigated by steam, aud he in- 

 tended his own State and city should have the credit of sending the first steamer 

 across the Atlantic. Her castings were made in New York, aud her boilers at Eliza- 

 bethtowu, New Jersey, by Daniel Dodge. She left New York under canvas, and ar- 

 rived at Savannah in the early part of May, 1819. President Monroe was then in 

 Charleston, South Carolina, and Mr. Scarborough directed us to go there aud give 

 the President an invitation to come to Savannah on the steamship. The President 

 declined, because the people of Charleston did not want him to leave their State in 

 a Georgia conveyance, but said that he would visit us at Savaunah. So we returned. 

 A few days after we got back the President arrived, and came on board the vessel 

 with his suite and several naval officers and citizens. The vessel was navigated by 

 steam, and we proceeded down the river on an excursion. The President dined on 

 board, and expressed himself greatly pleased with the vessel, and told Mr. Scarbor- 

 ough that when she came back from her trip across the Atlantic to bring the vessel 

 around to Washington, for he thought there was no doubt the Government would 

 purchase her, and employ her as a cruiser upon the coast of Cuba. 



We sailed from Savanah for Liverpool on the 26th of May, 1810. Moses Rogers, 

 my brother-in-law, was master and engineer. 1 was sailing master aud Mr. Blackmau 

 was third officer. We made the port of Liverpool in 22 days after leaving Savannah, 

 14 of the 22 under steam. The only reason why the whole voyage was not performed 

 by steam was the fear of the fuel giving out. Off Cape Clear the admiral at Cork 

 dispatched a ship to our relief, supposing we were on fire. At Liverpool we caused 

 a great deal of excitement, aud suspicion of having some design to release Napoleon 

 from St. Helena. From Liverpool we proceed to Copenhagen, and thence to Stock- 

 holm. At both places the Savannah excited great curiosity ; at the latter place she 

 was visited by the royal family, our minister, Mr. Hughes, aud Lord Lynedoch. 



Lord L. went with us to St. Petersburgh. On the passage he desired us to bring 

 the vessel from steam to canvas. He held his watch and noted the time — 15 minutes. 

 He was so delighted that he exclaimed, " I blame no man born in the United States 

 for being proud of his country ; and were I a young man I'd go there myself." The 

 Emperor of Russia came on board at Cronstadt, and was much pleased with the vessel, 

 and presented Captain Rogers with 2 iron chairs (one of which is now in the garden 

 of Mr. Duuning, at Savannah). Stevens Rogers then states that he has in his posses- 

 sion a gold snuff-box presented to him by Lord Lynedoch — to Stevens Rogers, sailing- 

 master of the steamship Savannah, at St. Petersburg, October 10, 1810. 



The petition of Mrs. Taylor to Congress for aid was not successful. 

 Neither officers nor owners received any recognition of their services, 

 aud no attempt has ever been made by the General Government to 

 perpetuate the memories nor to preserve the history of the pioneer voy- 

 ages of the Savannah and her courageous crew. 



After the Savannah' 's voyages no attempt was made by a vessel to 

 cross the Atlantic under steam for several years. 



