Port
To Renfrew.Dunglass.Glasgow orGonrock.Largs.Millport.
Greenock.
From.[C][S][C][S][C][S][C][S][C][S][C][S]
s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.
Glasgow1 01 02 01 64 02 64 03 07 65 08 66 0
Greenock3 02 02 01 61 00 63 62 64 63 6
Largs6 64 05 63 63 62 63 02 01 01 0
Ardrossan9 06 68 06 06 05 05 64 62 62 01 61 0
Rothesay

[C] = Cabin
[S] = Steerage

Campbelton
To Rothesay.Ardrossan.Troon.Ayr.Helensburg.or
Inverary.
From.[C][S][C][S][C][S][C][S][C][S][C][S]
s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.
Glasgow7 65 010 07 611 08 012 09 64 63 012 08 6
Greenock3 62 66 05 07 06 08 06 61 01 09 06 6
Largs1 61 02 62 03 62 64 63 6
Ardrossan1 61 02 62 0
Rothesay7 65 0

Young persons 8 to 14 years of age—half-price. Below eight years of age at
the discretion of the Master.

These rates were fixed by a Conference consisting of the proprietors of the following steamboats:—Albion, Argyle, Britannia, Clyde, Defiance, Duke of Wellington, Dumbarton Castle, Glasgow, Margaret, Marquis of Bute, Neptune, Prince of Orange, Rothesay Castle, and Waterloo, who agreed that the Fares taken from passengers travelling by any of the boats named should be according to the above table, and that no engagements should be entered into with families or individuals at rates below these fares. Passengers were allowed 28 lbs. of luggage free, excess luggage was charged at the rate of 10d. per cwt. from Glasgow to Greenock, and proportionately for any further distance.

Chapter VII.

1819 to 1821.—The Savannah the first steamer to cross the Atlantic.—Arrival at Liverpool of the Waterloo, the first Irish Channel steamer.—Sailing of the Robert Bruce, the first steamer trading between Liverpool and the Clyde.—Curious Accident to the steamer Morning Star.—The Triton.—The Conde De Patmella, first European steamer to cross the Atlantic.—Cattle Ventilators suggested.—The Tourist.—Steamers between London and Leith.

Prior to the introduction of marine steam engines, the United States of America had no inconsiderable share of the world’s ocean traffic. No swifter ships raced with cargoes of tea from China to the Thames than the famous Baltimore clippers. No finer vessels crossed the Atlantic than the celebrated New York Packet Liners. It cannot be supposed that a people so enterprising as the Americans would make no attempt at ocean steam navigation. On the contrary, as they were the first to build a coasting passenger steamer, so were they the first to build a steamer to cross the Atlantic.

During the latter part of the year 1818, and the beginning of 1819, there was, in process of building at New York, a beautiful little ship of about 320 tons burden. Whilst on the stocks it was suggested to convert her into a steamer, which was accordingly done. After she was launched, the Savannah, that being the name given to her, sailed from New York to Savannah, and thence, about the 25th May, 1819, she sailed to Liverpool, en route to St. Petersburg. It was reported at the time that she was a present from the Americans to the Emperor of Russia. Although she did not steam the whole of the voyage from Savannah to Liverpool, which occupied twenty-six days, she was the first steamer that ever attempted to cross the Atlantic. British and Canadian authors have contended that she was not entitled to this honour, as her steam power was merely auxiliary, but the contention is somewhat ungenerous, and, if allowed, would debar later vessels, notably the Sarah Sands and the Great Britain, from claiming the title of steamships. The Savannah reached Liverpool on Sunday, 20th June, 1819, after a voyage of twenty-six days duration. Shortly after leaving Savannah it began to blow hard, and the following entry appears in the Captain’s log book:

“Stopped the engines, and brought the paddle-wheels
in-board in thirty minutes.”