1831.] 
Analyses of Books. 
155 
The Falcon , formerly Lord Yarborough’s yacht, had been sent out on speculation, 
during the Burmese war. She arrived under canvas, in March, 1826, but not find- 
ing a purchaser, was dismantled of her machinery, and converted into an opium 
Bark. 
The Telica met with no better success as a steam speculation. She first tried 
Chili, where her supercargo, in a fit of madness, fired a pistol into her magazine, and 
destroyed the after part of the vessel, with himself and several passengers. — She was' 
then consigned to Calcutta, (April 1827,) exhibited great capabilities as a tug, was 
purchased by Government, at Rs. 61,000, and was transferred to Bombay. Once 
more, however, our friends in the west, who seem to expect impossibilities from 
steamers, were dissatisfied, and the Telica was converted into a pleasure yacht for 
the Governor ! 
In 1826, the Engineer of the Diana, Mr. Anderson, planned and built, at Calcutta, 
two sister steamers, the Comet and Firejly, which deserve mention, in proof of the 
difficulty of ensuring success, under every care, in the introduction of any novelty in 
the conduct of ordinary affairs : built economically by native carpenters ; under his 
own personal charge, as pilot, commander, and engineer ; traversing between Chin- 
surah and Calcutta, and plying for passengers in a port always crowded with shipping; 
moderate also in their charges ; still the utmost effected by these boats has been to 
repay merely the expenses of the day, without any return of the capital invested. 
Th e Forbes is the last of the steamers as yet built on private speculation : she 
was launched at the new Howrah Dock, on the 2 1st January, 1829, designed as a tug 
for the shipping of the port, for which she certainly combines all desirable qualities, 
more than any vessel so employed. She has two 60 horse engines, with a copper 
boiler : her loaded draught is 12 feet, with eleven days coal on board ; she has the speed 
of the Emulous , and considerable advantage over her in rough water. By way of 
experiment she was sent to China, by her owners, Messrs. Mackintosh and Co., in 
March last, towing the Jamesina opium trader, and acquitted herself well, as far as 
regards velocity, making the passage in 38 days, while the Red Rover, a fast sailer, 
was reckoned fortunate to arrive in 43 days. On the whole, however, the isea tug 
system would not seem conducive either to expedition or economy. The necessity 
of cleaning the boilers every 3 or 4 days, is a serious defect ; we believe this is obvi- 
ated in the Enterprise, by a discharge pipe at the foot of the boiler. Tredgold’s work 
on the Steam Engine, gives the calculation of the quantity of water to be ejected to 
preserve the bulk of a constant specific gravity. 
The Bengal Government had paid highly for their two steamers, but yet the bene- 
fits derived from their acquisition, during the Burmese war, were such as to induce 
a strong recommendation to the Court of Directors to send out engines fitted for two 
armed vessels. The Court approving the measure, obtained a transfer of two pair of 
40 horse engines, then in store at Deptford, and shipped them to India, in 1826. In 
a separate department a reference home had also been sanctioned upon the sugges- 
tionof Mr. Scott, the commissioner in Assam, for two pair of boat engines, adapted 
to the navigation of the rapid rivers of that district : hostilities had terminated ere 
any of the four arrived, but the plan was prosecuted to completion, and early in 
1827 were launched four Government steamers, the Ganges and Irrawaddy, and 
the Hoogly and Rurhampootur. 
The Ganges and Irrawaddy were built upon an English model, as 10 gun brigs of 
war, by Messrs. Kyd and Co. upon a contract of Rupees 125,000 for each. 
“ To sum up the qualities of these vessels, it must be admitted that they draw 
rather too much water, with reference to their power, and the situation of their pad- 
dle shafts, and have not the speed which was anticipated ; and that they are ca- 
pable of but little progress against a strong head wind. But as with these defects 
they have always made good passages, thejr general efficiency cannot be denied. At 
