170 
On employing Steam Tugs 
III. — On the general Employment of Steam Tugs for Inland River 
Navigation. 
The practicability of navigating the river Ganges in steam boats, and the utility 
of their general employment were, about this time last year, considered something in 
the light of doubtful questions ; questions on both sides of which much might be said. 
Many of our most sturdy oppugners of innovation indeed did not rest here ; for they 
boldly asserted the scheme to be altogether visionary, and were loud in prophesy- 
ing disappointment- r I he attempt has been made ; and, as is generally the case, it has 
been found that the difficulties had been greatly exaggerated, as well as the advan- 
tages which the boats of the country were supposed to possess. A second voyage 
has been performed; and we now no longer hear of the practicability or utility of the 
scheme being called in question. 
. ^ * s difficult to estimate correctly the value of this successful experiment, which, 
it is generally believed,, we owe entirely to Lord Bentinck ; or to calculate the 
consequences to which it may lead. The state of India is so wretchedly below 
what it might be; the capacity of the country is so inferior to its capability; 
that we might, were it necessary, safely assume the position that any change must 
be tor the better, — every innovation an improvement. In the case of steam naviga- 
tion, however, there is no necessity for thus begging the question; its advantages are 
oo tangible (when the practicability of its employment has been shown) to allow 
ot our resting its claims to notice on such an unsound basis. 
The facilitating our communication with the north-western provinces is obviously 
a great advantage, whether we consider the question in a political point of view, as it 
may affect commerce, or as it concerns us individually. The power of transporting 
troops and military stores with such expedition along the whole line of river, we can 
easily see, would greatly strengthen the hands of Government, in the event of our 
being ever involved m another war. During the late contest with the Burmese, 
such a power would, at particular junctures, have been gladly purchased at aiiv price, 
ihe advantages to commerce are scarcely less obvious, in ensuring quick returns, 
without which commerce must necessarily languish. The voyage to the upper pro- 
vinces at present occupies a period scarcely less than that to England: and this delay, 
in the case of perishable articles particularly, must be a great drawback on any thing 
rW o" a ?v C ln ^ C i m ” ge of commodities. To passengers, the convenience ofsupe- 
nf ' V1 , bc r B,lt ln a11 lbese cases, k is not only in the diminution 
advantage of steamers consists, but also in the diminution of risk; 
and tins in two w ays : first, by shortening the period over which the risk extends, and 
avoiding all those delays arising from unfavourable winds, which often prove fatal in 
wftb secondly, fey thegreater power which a steamer has, to contend 
with difficulties, f hus whether it be to stem a current, to avoid a lee shore, or falling 
bank, or a dangerous eddy ; m any of these cases a steam boat will be safe when or- 
dinary boats must be lost. But to enter fully into all the advantages of steam on such 
a riveras the Ganges, would require limits far beyond those that can be looked for in 
the Gleanings , and even were they available, the writer of this is far from thinking 
himself capable ofliandling the subject so as to do justice to it. The foregoing crude 
w“f ks . are rather meant to serve as an introduction to an extract from the 
: an ; * rcollnt of the views of Captain McKonochie R. N. with 
regard to the employment of steam tugs, rather than steam passage or freight boats 
in some of the great femes in Scotland. b 
of the principal objections i originally made to the introduction of steamers 
foundafin^S^’,. ’ llC ‘J and ti‘ is objection appears to have had more 
foundation than many of the others. The Hoogly in going up, even during 
l™ nS ’ got a g rt >und several times, and on one occasion so obstinately, that in 
Sh a C ?"? ed ‘ he best P art of tbe sand-bank with her. In 'the latter 
ravSf r„| " hc made .J n April. She could not reach Miruapoor, butstopped at aplace 
r'o’ some miles below it. Even had she reached Mirzapoor, it was believ- 
the w)?,,l,' i d i UlVC . >Ud "’ alt the setting in of the ra * n s for her return; and upon 
is even 1 belie ? c ll ma v be safely said, that this objection of their greater draught 
,? senous one, and must be obviated before they can be generally intro- 
duced with that prospect of decided advantage expected from them Now one con- 
sequence of employing steamers as tugs, is, that they, as well as the passage or freight 
boats, may be made of much less draught than when the engine is on board the same 
boat With the passengers or freight. It is, therefore, with gX satisfaction^ W- 
ceive, by the Government advertisements, that tenders anfinvited for building pas- 
sage boats of certain dimensions and draught, and of two descrintions as regards 
accommodation, one for conveying European soldiers, the other for officers or other 
