The Development of the Steamship.
A CLOSE association existed between the Scotts and the family of James Watt, the inventor of the steam engine: the founder of the Scotts' shipbuilding firm and the father of Watt were identified with several schemes for the improvement of Greenock; and the signature of John Scott, of the third generation, whose portrait is the second reproduced onPlate II., is taken from a document in connection with some intromissions of town's funds, to which also is adhibited the signature of Watt's father.
It is not surprising, therefore, that the Scotts were early close students of Watt's inventive work, and among the first to enter upon the building of steamships; while at the same time, as we have shown in the preceding pages, building many of the fine sailing ships which established British shipping supremacy in the early half of the nineteenth century, and raised Greenock by 1829 to a port having trade with every part of the world.
Miller and Taylor commenced their experiments at Dalswinton in 1788, with a steam engine driving paddle-wheels in boats[17]. Symington's steam tug,Charlotte Dundas,by its success in 1802 on the Forth and Clyde Canal[18], removed any remaining doubt; but it was not until 1812 that Henry Bell, with hisComet, proved the commercial utility of the steam system, although without profit to the promoter.[19]The building of steamships, evolved by experiments by various workers in Britain—and in America also—was readily adopted on the Clyde. Within four years of the completion of theComet, it was not unusual for five hundred or six hundred passengers to enjoy in the course of one day water excursions on the river.[20]The fares were practically five times those prevailing to-day. Among the earliest of the Clyde steamers were theActive, of 59 tons, andDespatch, of 58 tons, built by the Scotts. In calculating the tonnage in those early days, an average allowance of one-third was deducted for the machinery. In 1816 the firm built theShannon, of a length between perpendiculars of 77 ft. 7 in., of a beam of 15 ft. 3 in., and of a depth moulded of 9 ft. 1 in. She had fore-and-aft cabins. Her engines were of 14 horse-power nominal. She plied on the Shannon between Limerick and Kilrush. By 1818—six years after the completion of theComet—thirty-two steamers were running on the Clyde, and some of these were sent ultimately for traffic on the coast and on other rivers.[21]The largest of these was of 112 tons, with engines of 40 nominal horse-power.
The Scotts had built many sailing craft for the Clyde and Belfast trade, for the Glasgow and Liverpool service, and for the Liverpool and Drogheda, and other coasting routes; and it was natural when steam was introduced that the same firm should supply the side-paddle boats.