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 1 
 
 6 
 
'•' '^wii.jin 
 
 THE 
 
 ( ( 
 
 ROYAL WILLIAM," 
 
 The Pioneer of Ocean Steam Navigation. 
 
 ~4>-*«-'< 
 
 A Paper bead before the Liteeart and Historical 
 
 Society of Quebec, on the 81st day of 
 
 March, 1891, 
 
 BY 
 
 ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, 
 
 One of the Vice-Presidents of that Institution. . 
 
 QUEBEC: 
 
 PRINTED AX THE " MORNING mRONIOLB " OFFICE. 
 
 1891 
 
Literary and Historical Society of IJueliec. 
 
 Founded in 1824. 
 
 Incorporated hy Noynl Charter, 1881, 
 
 PATRON: 
 His ExcELLENcv, TiiK Rkjiit Hun., TiiK Lord Stanley of Pkeston, 
 
 GoVKUNOK-CiiKNEKAL OF CANADA. 
 
 HONORARY M KMBKRS. 
 
 Tlu' Mai'C|uifl of DiiflTcnn and Avii. 
 Till' Mfiniuis of liOitu-. 
 Tlitf Miir()iiis of Liuisdowiic, fJ.C.M.rj. 
 iSiimlford Fleming, (J.M.(J., L1>.D., 
 
 Sir I)aniel''Wilson, LL 0., F.U.S.C, 
 
 I'lesidont, Toronto Univcisitv. 
 T. Stoirv Hunt, LL.D., F.R.S., F'.R.S.C, 
 
 Now-Vork. 
 Clms. Lanni!ui,Ivs((., Wasliiiijrton, D.C 
 Joliii Milker Grant, Escj., liondon. 
 Jolin Laiigtoii, M. A., Toronto. 
 K. A .Merc'diili, LL.D., Toronto. 
 E. T. FletclKM-. Esq.. I5riti^^h 0(dumbia. 
 Frauds Parknnm, LL.D., F.K.S.C, 
 
 Boston. 
 Rev. Cliarles Rogers, LL.D., F.S.A., 
 
 Scotland. 
 
 Hon. Wni. C, no\VfIl.-J, nliio. 
 
 Sydney rvolijohiis. K.-<(|.. F. |{. Hist. 
 
 Society, Scotland. 
 JaineH Doujrlas, E.sti., .M.A., Spuytcn 
 
 Dnxvil. N. V. 
 Wni.'Kirby, F.RS.C. author of " Lo 
 
 Cliien d Or," Niagara. 
 Jolin Rcade, F.R.S.(V !iutiior of " The 
 
 J'-opln'cy of .Mtrlin," .Montreal. 
 James Aslrlniry, Hs(|., England. 
 I'rnfessor dolilwin Smith, D. (J. L., LL.D., 
 
 F.il.S.t,'.. Toronto. 
 Tletiry J'hilijis, .Jr., I'hiladclphia. 
 Jo.sefih W. Lawrence, Esq., St. Jolm, 
 
 N. W. 
 Ju^!tin AVindor, LL.D.. Harvard Univer- 
 
 Bity, Cambridge, Mass. 
 
 COR RES l'ONDIN( J ME.M BER8. 
 
 Akins, Dr. Thos. B., Halifax, N.S. 
 Albemarle, Rt. Jlon. the Earl. London. \ 
 Bartholomew, J. (1., F.R.G.S., 
 
 F.R.S.E., London. 
 Bonnie, Wm. ('land, New York. 
 Brackenbury, (.'ol. H., R. A., England. 
 Boneher de Boucherville, Hon., M.L.t,'., 
 
 Boucherville. 
 Brock, R. A., Richmond, Virginia. 
 Bailey, Dr. L. \V. Fredericton. N.B. 
 Canovas del Castillo, JT E. Don, I're.^i- 
 
 dent of the Royal Academy of His- 
 / tory, Madrid. 
 Cherriman, J. B., M.A., F.R.S.C, 
 
 (>ttawa. 
 Chapleau, Hon. J. A., Q.C., LL.D., 
 
 P. C, M.P., Montreal. 
 Campbell, Prof. John, Montreal. 
 D'Abbadle, Antoine, Membre de I'lns- 
 
 titut de France, Paris. 
 
 j DeSeehelles, Desmazicres, St. Malo, 
 
 Kr.ince. 
 j D'Urban, W. S. M , Enghmd. 
 I De Peyster, Gen. J. Watts, New York. 
 I Danserean, Arthur, Montreal. 
 ' Filippi, le Comte Waldeniar, I'ari^. 
 ' (Janong, \V.F., .d.A.. Cambridge, Mass. 
 I Graham. Lt.-Col. U.S.A., Chicago. 
 
 Germ, E., Trois-Rivieres. 
 j (!ra/,illier. L'Abbe, Saintes, Franco. ^ 
 »Hanney, James, St. .John, N.B. 
 
 Henderson, ^Y., Franiplon. 
 ! Jack. [. Allen, D.C.L , St. .John. N.B. 
 I Jeph.^on, Alfred, (Captain R.N. 
 \ Kingston, Professor G. T., University 
 ' College Toronto. 
 ! Huguet-Latowr, Major, Montreal. 
 I Lee, G. Herbert, M. A., St. .lolin, N.B. 
 : Lcfebvie de Bellefeuille, E., Montreal. 
 I I 
 
fORRKSl'ONDINi; MKMJ{EriS.-(.W/;/(»/»/. 
 
 Le flarilciir (If Tilly, Ir ('miiU' llyppu- 
 litc, <'liiinti('iiii-l)irs-Siiinle8, France. 
 
 Mailrii/.o, Dun IN-dio di-, Sci rot.irv-diMi- 
 cnil of llio Ifoyiil Aciiilciiiy ol' history, 
 
 iMiiidmiHi.Hon. I\ (}., F.U.S.C.,M.r.l'., 
 
 St. .Johii's, Qiicbfi'. 
 Morgan, Mi'iirv J. .Ottawa. 
 /..I.lo, Colonel VV. H., II. A., F.R.S., 
 
 F.ll.A S., Kngland. 
 I'lovenciior, Coloiml .V., .Montreal. 
 i'owJH, Uevil. 11. D., l.,ondon, England. 
 
 Uohcrtd. I'roi't'HHor, Clin.'^. G. I)., M.A,, 
 F.II..S.C.. Windsor, \.S. 
 
 H.-(.tt, C. IVrcy. M .\.. Windnor, N.H. 
 
 Sininionds, I'l-ti-r Lund, I.iindun, Kng. 
 
 Strange, T. Itland, Major-CJeneral, Cal- 
 gary, N.W.T. 
 
 Si riding, I'rofessor Paul C, Copen- 
 liageii. 
 
 Snlte, Jk'njamin, F.U.S.C., Ottuwa. 
 
 Tiliey, Sirs. L , K.C.M.C.., O.K., Lt.- 
 (Jovernor of New IJrnnswicii. 
 
 Wynne, Tlionia."* II., Richnmnd, Va. 
 
 Wildon, Gen. James Grunt, NfW-Vork, 
 
 COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1891. 
 
 GKORflESTKWAKT, D.C.L., I.L.D., D. Litt., F.R.O.S., F.R.S C. Prmdent. 
 
 W!LI,l.\M IIoS.SAfK 
 
 Vkky Rk.vi). Dk.v.n NoiiM.v.v, D.D., D.C.L , ,,. „ 
 
 Cvllll.MC rtHSIKU 
 
 AKCHlBAIil) Cami'ukll 
 
 Edwi.v Poi'B Treasurer. 
 
 F. C. WuuTELK Librarian. 
 
 T. Ai.NSLiK Yor.N'O Recordiny Secretary. 
 
 W. A. Ashe, F.R.A.S Correfpondini/- Secretary, 
 
 W. C. II. Wood Council Secretary. 
 
 W. Cmnt Curator of Museum. 
 
 C. B. Lanhlois Curator of Apparatus. 
 
 I'ktku Johnston ] 
 
 J. M. LkMoink, F.R.S.C \ Additional Members 
 
 P. B. Cascmiain [ of Council 
 
 Dr. J. M. Habi'kk, F.E.I.S .J 
 
 W. S. Bknnett Auditor. 
 
 J. W. Sthachan V. Custodian of the Library. 
 
 t 
 
8 
 
 [)., M.A„ 
 
 )!•, N.a. 
 
 lull, Knu. 
 eral, Cal- 
 
 , Cojicii- 
 
 ttiiwa. 
 C.U.,Lt.- 
 
 id, V.v. 
 s'fW-York, 
 
 Presidents of the Literary and Historical Society. 
 
 ent. 
 
 "ctanj. 
 
 • Secretary. 
 
 ary. 
 
 seiim. 
 
 paralus, 
 
 mbera 
 
 he Library. 
 
 1824 81f N. F. r>iirlitii, Ll.-(Ji)veriior. 
 
 1S2S »r Hon. Mr. \Uu\, Cliii-.f . I upline. 
 
 IS25) Lieut. I'ltikiiik l'.iuliltlcy, K.N. 
 
 1S."W Hull. Jniuilliaii Sow I'll, (.'liiif .)ii«tico. 
 
 18.31 " •• ** " •' 
 
 1882 Hon. An.lrcw Stuart, Q.C. 
 
 18.33 Hon. Will. Shtipjianl. 
 
 ]S'M Hon. Will. Slu'iipiu-tl. 
 
 18;J.5 liKsiph Sk.y, M.D. 
 
 18.S0 Kiiv. Diuiicl Wilkii", T.L.I). 
 
 1837 Hon. .\n<lrow Stuart, Q.C). 
 
 1838 " 
 
 1839 Win. K.;lly, M.D., K.N. 
 
 1840 " '' " " . , 
 
 1841 Hon. Will. Slifpjmrd. 
 
 1842 Hon. A. W. CVjchrnuo. 
 
 1843 Hon. Win. Slicpparil. 
 
 1844 O. 15. Fiiiil)iuilt, Ksq. 
 
 1845 Hon. A. W . C'ocluano. 
 
 184G 'lohn C. Fisher, K»<]. , LL. D. 
 
 1847 Hon. Wni. Shop])anl. 
 
 1848 Hon. A. W. Cochrane. 
 
 1849 (r . B. Faribault, Ka(|. 
 
 1850 " .' '* 
 
 1851 " 
 
 1852 " 
 
 1853 " 
 
 1S54 " 
 
 1855 . - E. A. Meredith, Esq., M.A. 
 
 185fl W. Andrew, Esq. 
 
 1857 " " 
 
 1858 O. B. ti.-ibault, Esq. 
 
 1859 '♦ 
 
 I860 E. A. Meredith, Esq., M.A. 
 
 1881 " 
 
 1862 John Langtou, Esq., M.A. 
 
 1863 " 
 
 1864 " ' •' " " 
 
 IflflK •! ti l« «» 
 
 lOWU . .,!•■«.. fif,*tff'ff »,» 
 
L I ST OK 1 ' U ESI DKNTS. —CotUin ufU 
 
 1866 Com. K. U. Ashe, Lieut. R.N. 
 
 1867 " " " •• 
 
 1868 Hon. P. J. (). Cliauveiiu, LL. D. 
 
 1809. Prof. iJanieH I Douglas. 
 
 1870 Dr. W. J. Anderson. 
 
 1871 J. M. LeMoiiio, Kh(|. 
 
 1872 3 Dr. W. J. An.lorBon. 
 
 1873 Com. K. D. A*he, Lieut. U.N., F.U.S. 
 
 1874 Prof. JaiiicH Douglas. 
 
 1875 •• 
 
 1876 Jatiios Stevenson, Ksq. 
 
 1S77 " 
 
 1878 •• " •• 
 
 1879 1. M. LeMoino, E^i., P.Il.S.C. 
 
 1880 " " " " 
 
 1881 " •• " " 
 
 13(^2 «' •« «« (• 
 
 1883 .Hon. D. A. Rosa, (^C. 
 
 1884 " " 
 
 1885 G. Stewart, B.C. L., F.R.S.C.,F.R.(;.S. 
 
 1886 " " " " " 
 
 1887 " ", " " " 
 
 1888 " " " " W 
 
 1889 " " " " *» 
 
 .'890 " " " " ** 
 
 1891 " " '• • " 
 
A880CIATK MEMBERS 1801. 
 
 Aflnm, J. 
 
 AhtTii, M..J., M.D. 
 
 An<lcr»oii, K-lnnmd H. 
 
 Andrcw-t, JiiMtice 
 
 Arnold. J. IV 
 
 Asl..., W. A., F.U.A.S. 
 
 A II KIT, J. 
 
 IJahy, M. W. 
 
 liitilliiii^*''. I,. O. 
 
 UiiMwiii, \V. II. 
 
 Itunlci, MisM. 
 
 I\'<;kett, ThoB. 
 
 Ufliii^jo, A. 
 
 Bt'llcmi, J. F. 
 
 lifniM'tt, \V. H. • 
 
 Hilliiijrsl.y, F. 
 
 Hishi)|i, K. A. 
 
 ni.aiiil, Uovd. S.,I{.A. 
 
 Bo^iufll, St. Geori^c, AI.I.CE. 
 
 IJoswi'll, A . 
 
 Hotteiell, J. II. 
 
 Boycc, S. 
 
 Hoin-lictte, Tl. Krroi. . 
 
 Hrodif, Will. 
 
 Hiinoiitrli.t, Louis F. 
 
 Biirstall, .luliii. 
 
 Crthill, ,J. U. 
 
 Caiii))b(!ll, Arcliiliiild. 
 
 Campboll. W. N. 
 
 Cnilirav, Fflix. 
 
 Cait.T.'W. H. 
 
 Ciisj^rain, 1*. 15. 
 
 rhiiiiiitioii, ('. P. 
 
 Cliuiiiimnl, JI. J. J. \i. 
 
 (^laiph.im J. G. 
 Clint, W., 
 Cream, 1). 
 Dawson, J. T. 
 Dean, W . R. 
 DubcU, U R, 
 Diiggun, W. E. 
 Dunn, Logic II. 
 Dunn, Sti'Wiirt II. 
 Dunscomlu', J. W. 
 iMiviil, E. M. 
 livaiis, {..orenzo. 
 Fail-child, G. M. 
 FooU', J. J. 
 
 Forsytli, Jos. Ijcll, Lt.-CoL 
 F laser, A. 
 Fra,ser, K. G. 
 Fry, E. C. 
 Fry, .John S. 
 Fitzi)alrick, Cli8. 
 Geggie, I). H. 
 C.eggie, .lanies. 
 Goodday, H. G. 
 Grant, Robt. 
 Gregory, J. U, 
 
 Orifflth. W. A. 
 
 Orcfmingli, \V. P. 
 
 Habv K. J. 
 
 Ilaiiiilton, Robert. 
 
 Iliiiiiilton. .lohii. 
 
 MariK-r, .f., IMi. P., F.E.I.S, 
 
 IIt>nnning, lifiirv. 
 
 Holt, .I(.lin II. ' 
 
 Holt, Stauli'v II. • 
 
 II(»rMn, .1. 
 
 Ilo.'j.sack , \\ . 
 
 Niiiidiinsoii, Rov. \V. U. 
 
 Hunt, A. F. 
 
 Hunter, Jolin. 
 
 Ilnun, Hon. .1.. M.L.C. 
 
 Ilcncliey, ,1. II., .M.D. 
 
 Ik'ndi'i.son, W. II. 
 
 Henry,.!. W. 
 
 Huissoii. df St. Laurent, Le Baron. 
 
 Irvidi', lion. G. 
 
 Irviii.-; .M. lk'li,C.M.G., Com. Genl. 
 
 Jewell, I). ^ 
 
 .Iohii.*<uii, I*. 
 
 .I((ly do Lotblnii're, Hon. II. G. 
 
 .lofy do Lofliiniere, K. G. 
 
 Jone,s, K. Allen. 
 
 Joseph, .Moiitoliore. 
 
 JoHoi.h \. C. 
 
 King, .fas. 
 
 Lat'rance, G. A. 
 
 Lamp.son, F. 
 
 Langlois, C. R. 
 
 Languedoe, W. C 
 
 Ledroit, Tlieopliile. 
 
 Lemieux, T. 
 
 LeMoiue, .1. .M., F.R.S.C. 
 LeMoine, Gasp. 
 Lesage, Simeon, 
 Litidsay Crawford. 
 Laurie,' F. C. 
 Lee, W. 
 
 Martin, Miss., B. 
 Maciira, .luliu. 
 Maehin, 11. T. 
 Maekay, J. 
 .MacKeuzio, Cii3. 
 Machueu, W. II. 
 MacLeod, D. R. 
 MacNidur, .fas. 
 Maei'hersoii, W. M. 
 McQuaiiie, A D. 
 McWilliam, W. 
 McMicbael, II. M. J. 
 Masson, Hon. L. R. 
 Messervev, A. J. 
 .Miller, j'. 
 Miller, Mrs M. 
 Moir, Gavin, 
 Jlontizambertjf., M.D 
 
ASSOCIATE MKMBEItH.-Cow/uu/f./. 
 
 MortfiU), Jiiiiu-ri. 
 
 M.Cji,., I). 
 
 .Mi-|.iiiii>iit, l{. 
 
 Mii\lMnn, V. J. 
 
 .\lcitii''nn, J. K. 
 
 MtiiiisDii. M. .1. 
 
 N.nTn.iii, The Vpiv I!.'\. U. W., D.U., 
 
 niiv.i. TIko. II , HA. 
 
 (CMiMii. I». II. 
 
 (Inimit, lltiii. (li-tU'i.ii, Q.C., M-.l>. 
 
 Pure, Kiliiiiiud. 
 
 I'lUliiii, Will. 
 
 I'fl.TS, S. 
 
 I'elrv, W. a. 
 r.tiv, |{fv II. J. 
 i'lipi', Kilwiii. 
 
 I'lipt', y\\<i K. 
 
 I'ricc, lloti. r.NMii .) , .M.S.U. 
 
 Pii.'.", U. M. 
 
 I'n.wt-r, J. Klltm, iJ.-Col. 
 
 <,>Miiin, Frs. A. 
 
 Kile, Will. 
 
 Hiui'v. Knitsf. 
 
 Ui'iilriw. (i. I!. 
 
 Ilcvtord, IJi'v. K. J. ' 
 
 itlio.U'.««. (.'(.1.. II. 111. W. 
 
 ilolll'lt.SOII, .\. 
 llo.>*S, 11(111. I). .\. 
 
 l{.)s.->, .1. T. 
 I{iMitliirr,.lii3tii'('. 
 Uic'li:inl,<oii, Jiiiiiod, 
 Kii'liuiil.-iiii |j. 
 Ilov, J. Kiliiioiid 
 ItuWil, llcniy, M.I). 
 Sclnvart/, K. 
 .Sroll, r. A. 
 Sen ton, AVni. 
 Sr\\cll, K. I). 
 S-.vcU, C, M.D. 
 Sliiiw, Will. 
 
 SillKllls. J. 
 
 Siiiitiii"), Will. 
 
 Hmilli, II. StaiiKy. 
 Hiiiiili, l(. II. 
 
 .Mliililry, W III. 
 SifWHit. (} . I>.«VL 
 
 iMi.(j.s.. r i{ S.l' 
 
 ."^IllUt, (llH. <'. 
 
 Stiiiul. Sii' AmliTW. 
 .Stiivi'li'V, II 
 
 Sll'VLll.Sni', .fl\-l. 
 StfVfll.-i WilltlT. 
 
 .Siiiilli, I' V. 
 ; ^1. C.vr, ;> N. r.lt.H.U. 
 
 Tl'FHilT, ('viillf 
 ■I'voMvr. .Iiilvs. .\I.IM'. 
 
 I TliilKiii.lniii, ('. 
 
 1 Tiiim. I'laiik I). 
 
 I Tiini.M. U. 
 
 I Tunil.nll, l,l.-('n!. .1. !•'. 
 T.ii.i., Miijm W. II. 
 
 I TI1..111.1S, 1-. T. 
 
 I T.iit. 15. A.,UfVil. I). 
 
 I Vflild-i. .1. .1. 
 
 I Villi. .Misr*. 
 
 i W iiiiink, .Iiiiiu'd. 
 
 I WllIICI,-), .\lllllll. » 
 
 W.'l.l), K. K. 
 I Wcl.sti'i- (J. .M. 
 
 Wi-lih. .luliii V. 
 I Wclrh, .1. I, moil. 
 I Wcl. h, W Wil.lr. 
 ' WhiK . .1. U. II. 
 I W ilk ins. Vm. 
 j Williiim.'', lit. Itt'v.l 
 ISi.slioji iif (^)ii('bii 
 
 Wil!iiiiii.s, IJevil. A. 
 
 Winlii'M. Jii!». 
 
 W...).l, W. ('. H. 
 
 WliiU'. (ii'o. Kolt. 
 I W nrl.'ic, Fir. I. C. 
 
 A\ iiit.'l..'. W. (i. _ 
 
 Voiinjf, T. .ViiKsllu. 
 
 Youiii,', Julm 11. 
 
 M-.D., D.Mlt., 
 
 .1. W., D.n., Lord 
 T. 
 
 ritlVlLEGED MKMUEKS. 
 
 LiFK MK.MUEU8 OF THE LATR QUEDKC LlRRAllY As.SOCIATION, VIZ 
 
 George Colley. Robert Mitchell. 
 
I. lit., 
 
 , lionl 
 
f 
 
DlMtNMyN.S 
 
 K 
 
 UNCTH nc DECK 
 
 («off 
 
 lenCTHOF KtCL 
 
 (b9f' 
 
 [jcTAtME eKswrm 
 
 t7F' 
 
 ctmdirHfli-D 
 
 /9f* 
 
 «i\KEnF Port 
 
 iPP 
 
 RW^e iiF STEM 
 
 (5^ 
 
 DR|\OC,HTOPWATW 
 
 ~ IVf 
 
 /3UKDEN 
 
 
 The " ROYAL WILLIAM." 
 
THE 
 
 ( ( 
 
 ROYAL WILLIAM," 
 
 The Pioneer of Ocean Steam Navigation. 
 
 A I'APEIi HEAD 15EF0RE THE LlTERAKY AND IItSTOUICAL 
 
 {Society ok Quehec, on the 'Hst day of 
 March, 1801, 
 
 BY 
 
 A R C 1 1 1 B A L 1 ) C A M P P. }■: L L, 
 
 One of the Vice Presidents of that Institution. 
 
 Mr. Piesiderit, Ladies and Genlltnien, 
 
 The subject of my paper is ih(^ stonmship " Tvoyal Wil- 
 liam," as I pretend, the Herald of Confederation, the pioneer 
 of the Cunaid fleet and of Ocean steam navigation. She was 
 the fir.st Ocean steamship to cross the Atlantic solely 
 propelled by the motive power of steam. She was built 
 expressly as an Ocean steamship, to contend with the storms 
 of the Atlantic ; built too in the Port of Quebec, by the 
 iinited etibrls of Quebec, Halifiix and Montreal enterprise ; 
 designed, draughted and i^erfected by Quebec ship archi- 
 tects, builders, carpenters and In'oad axemen. Her engines 
 were made in Montreal and there adjusted to her. So, 
 you will .see, that Canada, this Canada of ours, took a vast 
 onward step in teaching mankind how to girdle the world 
 by steam power and bring the ends thereof to every man's 
 door and enable him, should famine threaten at home, to 
 obtain corn rapidly, easily and economically in any distant 
 Egypt, where it would likely be found, even on the other 
 side of the Globe, and that too with greater facility than 
 
10 
 
 the Sons ol' Jacob ever did vvh«'ii th(^v sought it in tlie laucl 
 of the Phiiraohs, though neighboring to their own. 
 
 If I make out my pretensions, the world must admit that 
 Canada established a new epoch, and in so doing encircled 
 her own brow with a halo of renown. In my early- 
 boyhood the " lioyal William " was a daily to[)io, of con- 
 versation, , and the impression was given me then, which 
 nothing since has induced me to change, that this steam- 
 ship was the first one to dare the dangers of crossing the 
 Ocean and contend then-on solely with the motive power 
 of steam against the frightful storms that so fre(]uently 
 agitate its surface. This idea being so fully impressed upon 
 my mind, and considering that we of this favored land 
 might well boast of this illustrious achievement of her 
 sons, I need scarcely say, how delighted 1 felt when I 
 read in the papers in the early part of the year that a Royal 
 Naval Exhibition, in aid of the funds to relieve the poorer 
 members of that service, would take place in May next, in 
 London, and that the Naval Committee had arranged to 
 have a very complete and historical collection of obi<»ct3 
 connected with navigation ; here theii was a cliance to 
 claim from the world a recognition of our right of being 
 regarded as the greatest benefactor in modern times to the 
 human race, as having inaugurated Ocean steam naviga- 
 tion. So at the annual general meeting of this Society, in 
 January last, I moved, seconded by Mr. W. C. N. Wood,, 
 that we should lend to the said Royal Exhibition the model 
 of the " Royal William," which had been presented to the 
 Society by the late Mr Henry Dinning ; that motion was 
 agreed to. What then was my utter astonishment when 
 the Honorary Secretary, Captain Jephson, though courteously 
 thanking the Society for its kindness, good wishes, &c., said 
 " not to send the model unless it could be well authenti- 
 cated that the " Royal William " was really the first steam- 
 ship to cross the Atlantic, as the Naval Committee are very 
 particular about proper authentication." 
 
11 
 
 the 
 
 This took me all aback as the sailors say. What ! a Naval 
 Committee, not know that our " Royal William" was the 
 iirst steamship ever to plough the Ocean without the aid of 
 wind, aye and against it ; that Ocean upon which Ih'itannia 
 boasts to be mistress.... ! ! What next, surely there they 
 must know little ol' the anteci'dents of our glorious country 
 to doubt our righteous claim ; aye and of other noble claims 
 we have on the gratilude of mankind and of Britain in ])arti- 
 cular. For if Britain is aided by the eminent abilities of the Jew 
 in the (V)uncils of the nati(»n, it was (*nnada that shewed 
 the noble example ol eufranchising that down trodden 
 race ; Canada ever in the vanguard of progress and enlight- 
 enment, if T mny coin a word, un-Kussianised the Jew, and 
 Ih'itain following in her wake did so too, and the olFspring 
 of the Jew are now amongst the representatives in Her 
 House of Commons, even Peers of the Kralm, and on high 
 occasions preside right Royalty at Guildhall. No longer 
 abject as was Isaac of York, but able, sans peur el snns re- 
 pro67je, confident of the rights of freemen, to regard their 
 fellow mortals with uplifted brow. Britain's mighty lleets 
 of Ocean stt^amships now display her meteor Hag on <^very 
 sea, as far as the waters of the Ocean extend, " from Green- 
 land's icy mountains to India's Coral Strands," and yet do 
 the Naval Committee question the right of the " Koyal 
 William," and are they not aware that this viking ship, this 
 modern Argo, was built and provided with powers of con- 
 tending with adverse winds by Canadians ? 
 
 Well then, I determined to satisfy them that our right was 
 beyond contention. I knew that an old and eminent Pre- 
 sident of this Society had written npon the subject ; but his 
 works are now so voluminous, that without an index to their 
 contents, it would take so«ie time to lind out ^j^ which of 
 them contained the information. So to make matters short 
 I looked up their author, Mr. J. M. LeMoine, F.R.S.C, &:c., 
 for many years, as you all know. President of our Literary 
 and Historical Society ; and he very kindly and most will- 
 
'Wf 
 
 IS. . 
 
 ingly g-}ivt> m<' sileh inrorniation upon the .su})j<*ct as to 
 li^^hloii the work I had uiidtM-lakrn, in order to satisfy tlio 
 Naval C()iiimitte(» that our claim was good. 
 
 Mr. Douiinick O'Moara, acting Collector of Customs of 
 this I'ort, courteously gave me eertiiicates ol' birth, if 1 may 
 so call them, of the '* Royal William, " known to nautical 
 men as registers of the ship. These were sent to the Naval 
 Committee, as was also " LeMoine's Quebec Past and Pre- 
 sent," which latter work at pages 2(j0, 277, 278 and 27i>, 
 besides extracts iVom "Christie's History of Canada,' eon- 
 tains much original matter bearing iTpon the subject, Mr. 
 F. A. McCord, of Ottawa, also liberally sent me tor the said 
 Committee his own admirable work on historical events, 
 wherein he too maintained the righi. otthe " Royal William " 
 to l)e regarded as the Jirst Ocean steamship to cross the 
 Atlantic under steam. All these were sent to the Committee 
 with the transactions of this Soi-icty ot the years 1877-8 and 
 0, containing a letter written to a Mr. King by (\\ptain 
 McDougall giving an account of the " Royal William's " 
 voyage to England, and which letter Mr. King pre.sented 
 to Mr. LeMoine, and he to the Society Most ol'these extracts 
 and letters I shall later on make you more particularly ac- 
 quainted with. They had however th" desired etlect w ith 
 the Committee, and a few weeks ago our Secretary received 
 an intimation from them that they had accepted the loan 
 of the model, and that at the Exhibition it would be well 
 placed ; the Honorary Secretary adding that he was so glad 
 to have someting from old Quebec at their Naval Exhibition. 
 The model was then immediately forwarded by express, 
 
 and no doubt is bv this time received. 
 
 Mr. Frank Johnson, Secretary of the Quebec Exchange, 
 
 kindly furnished me -with extracts from the register of that 
 
 institution during the years 1831-2 and 3, wherein entries 
 
 respecting the " Royal William " were made. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Wilson Henry, a fine hearty old citizen, who 
 
 though passed the three score years and ten ordinarily 
 
l:{ 
 
 ullotled to hnuiiui lilt', wears them so lijililly Hint ho mijiht 
 be takoii as ot iniddlo ago, gave me a solemn doclaration, 
 raado before the prothouotary, of what he knew respecting 
 the steamship in question, and which I shall now read to 
 you. 
 
 " Ij.loseph Wilson Henry, of the City of Quebec, founder, 
 " aged 70 years, do solemnly declare that in the year 1881, 
 " I was present at the launch of the steamship ' lioyal 
 " William ' in the cove generally known as Cape Cove, 
 " owned at the time by Mr. John Saxton Campbell, mer- 
 " chant, w^ho, with Mr. George Black, built the said steam- 
 " ship for a company, to trade between Quebec and da- 
 " lifax. The launching was a great event in Quebec and 
 " attracted an enormous eonconrse of people; the regiments 
 " stationed in the city provided the bands ; the shipping in 
 " port lent their bunting, and Lady Aylmer, the wife of the 
 " Grovernor General, honored the scene with her presence 
 " and christened the vessel after the reigning sovereign, 
 " William the Fourth. 
 
 " I knew perfectly well Mr. James Goudie ; he was the 
 " son of that Mr. Goudie, ship architect, who constructed 
 " the navy, on the Upper Canada Lakes in the war of 1812, 
 " and was born in Quebec, but about the age of 15 years, 
 " left to study his profession of shipbuilder at Greenock, 
 " Scotland. On his return to Quebec, I think it was previous 
 " to the laying of the keel of the ' Royal William,' in the 
 " fall of 1830, he was employed in the shipbuilding yard 
 " of Messrs. Campbell and Black, and from all I heard and 
 " saw^, he draughted the lines of the said steamship. After 
 " her launch, she was towed to Montreal, where engines 
 " were put into her. The following year she traded between 
 " Quebec and Halifax, but it being the dreadful year of 
 " the first cholera, busijiess was nearly at a stand still, 
 " consequently the ' Royal William ' did not prove a pay- 
 " ing con'^-ern to the stockholders. During that year I made 
 " several castings for the said steamship's engines. The 
 
" followinc!' year sho loft this port niulor stoam for the 
 
 " port of London, and roirnrding hor as the first steanishi]) 
 
 •' that attempted the dangers of the Ocean voyai^e, like all 
 
 " Qaebeckers, I took a great interest in everything con* 
 
 •' nected with it, and greedily pei'nsed the aecounts of her 
 
 " voyage across th(^ Ocean, M'hich appeared in the papers 
 
 *' several months alter her departnrc In these accounts it 
 
 •' was stated that the voyage from Quebec to London was 
 
 " made the whole way under steam ; that as the Pictou coal 
 
 " was considered unequalled for steamboats, she put into 
 
 " the port of ifirtou to obtain lier supply for the voyage, 
 
 " and after luwing secured v^hat she required, proceeded 
 
 " to the port of London, where I understood she arrived 
 
 *' safely. 
 
 " And 1 make this solemn declaration conscientiously, 
 
 " believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the Act 
 
 " passed in the 37th year of Her Majesty's Reign, intituled : 
 
 '* ' An Act for the Suppression of Voluntary and Extra Ju- 
 
 " dicial Oaths.' 
 
 (Sigiied,) 
 
 The said solemn declaration'! 
 "svas taken before the under- 
 
 ■ signed by the said Joseph Wil- 
 son Henrj'', at the City of Que- 
 bec, this 26th day of February, 
 
 '1891. 
 
 ■4 
 
 FiSET, Burroughs & Campbell, 
 
 Prothonotary of the Superior Court, 
 for the district of Quebec. 
 
 Thus was launched this young aurora of the seas, pre- 
 pared to drive darknes.s, distance and the winds before 
 her, and constrain the elements themselves to be submis- 
 sive. 
 
 You must have noted 9,11 the pomp and circumstance of 
 pivil and military splendour accompanying the launch. The 
 
 J. W. Henry." 
 
 L. S. 
 
u 
 
 liopivsenttitivo of Royalty wis thoro, in llu» person of the 
 Governor General, followed by a brilliant Staff; the 
 Martial IJancl of the Imperial Thirty-seoon'l ]u»<^iment 
 of Foot discoursed joyons music in conijratulvtovy strains. 
 The wife of the; Governor acted as sponsor as the 
 ship quivered and swayed proudly from her bili»e ways 
 into that ol(>ment whereon she initiated a new era; 
 all this was unusual on such an occasion, but there 
 was a reason of state for all this display, the act represent- 
 ed Britain's deep an<l well considered policy towards her 
 provinces in ]J. N. A., her determination to blend them into 
 one undivided whole, to weld them into a nation, it was 
 the signet mark by this country of its endorsation of that 
 policy approved of by our Parliament and heartily sup- 
 ported by the people; it was the precursor of thi^ Federal 
 Union. The completit)n of the " lioyal William " in that 
 day was what the building of a short line to Halifax is in 
 our time ; no more crossing from shore to shore of the St. 
 Lawrence ; no more tacking now required. All would be 
 on a straight course ; the laying down of that keel was to 
 the prophetic eye of vision, the turning of the first sod of 
 Intercolonial and the construction of the Canadian Pacific 
 Railway ; the same policy dictated both, acts, to rivet the 
 Union of the Provinces into our superb Dominion, and form 
 the strongest link in the chain of Britain's Empire, and give 
 to us a name and position that must ultimately lead to Can- 
 ada acquiring a commanding influence, and may be (if we 
 can only live at peace with one another) to perpetuate the 
 existence of this country among the ruling nations of the 
 world. A rayof this policy of Britain's glimmered upon the 
 country when in 1825 she urged the building of the " Royal 
 William." Yes, 1 say the suggestion came from Britain go 
 early as tjiat time, and the first fruit of this conception was 
 the " Royal WiBiam. " 
 
 Now 1 must tell you how I delved all this out, through 
 what shaft I extracted such a wealth of hidden information 
 
le 
 
 iiii 
 
 n* 
 
 I stated above that I ohtaiiiod ivgistovs oi" tho ship, for 
 there were two ; in the lirst, the owikts are rej)resented to 
 be Tke Quebec and Ila/ifa.r. Nuri^afioH Com/iani/ , this gave 
 mo a clue, an incorporated company must have its act of 
 incorporation in our statutes, so I liuntcd them up in our 
 Literary and Historical Library and found them. Hero 
 was a veritublc historical eldoratlo, (lisclo^in^»• the policy that 
 culminated in the construction of this jnoneer of sea freedom, 
 as releasing mankind from the thraldom of the winds on the 
 Ocean wave. 
 
 By the 5th Geo. IV, (.'ap. XX, it will be seen that the 
 Ciovernment of that day oifered induceuK^nts to the "first 
 person or Com\)any that shtiU cause a steam vessel of not 
 less than 600 tons burden to be built and rei^ularly navicfat- 
 ed ])etween the Ports of Quebec and Halifax ;" but 
 the su])sidy therein olf'ered was not of a suiliciently 
 attractive nature to induce anv to nibble at the bait. 
 AVhat do you think it amounted to ? lO.OOO ! ' ! Five years 
 elapsed. The act remained a dead letter, when a j^-reater 
 inducement was otl'ered by the 10 and 11 Geo. IV c. 32 ; in 
 fact the subsidy was therein doubled. 
 
 Judgin<»- by the munilicence of the subsidies offered in 
 the present day, those not aware of the secret spiings that 
 guided them, would consider the then Commons of Lower 
 Canada in Parliament as.sembled very parsimonious. Let me 
 remove that stigma. It was a high- sense of duty that 
 dictated their conduct. By passing the Act they evinced 
 their desire in unison with the Government to create a 
 bond of union between this Inland Province and the Mari- 
 time Provinces ; but as at that time the country was»not 
 blessed with a Responsible Government, the ministry were 
 then but the minions of the Crown, their appointment had 
 not to be endorsed by the voice of the people, and the people 
 were, through their representatives in Parliament assem- 
 bled, struggling for their rights, and the only hold they 
 had upon the Government to coerce them to yield them, 
 
 ; ( 
 
IT 
 
 was by kt't'piiijj ft ti<j;ht hold on the purse strini^s and pre- 
 venting the ministry t>r the day o))tuiniiig money, the nmni- 
 piUation of whitli wonhl he ji^iven lo thfir own i'ricnds. 
 We all know the diineully lead to the struggle of 18'}7, when 
 the enlightened mind of Britain, seeing thi' justice of Ca- 
 nada s demands, acceded to them and granted us the free 
 const itul ion w<3 enjoy to-day. • 
 
 Well then, this extra liberality of the Commons had the 
 desired ellect, a eompany \vas formed and imiorporated as 1 
 have already staled for the purposes mentioned in these acts 
 cited. ]\y tliis time, six years after the passing of the Jirst act, 
 great intt'rest was taken not only hy Canada, but also by the 
 Maritime Provinces in the pioject ; tiie coiin«( ting — the 
 federation of the Colonies together — had become a national 
 scheme, all the interprising, energetic and j)atriolic men in 
 the two Colonies gave the same th«!ir support, as establish- 
 ed by the names I shall read to you from our Statute Book, 
 William lY, cap. ,o3, the act of incorporation of the said 
 company. 
 
 If the laying of the keel of the "Koyal William' foreshadow- 
 ed what was then hidden in the womb of the future, the 
 turning of the first sod of the C. IMi. ; her first voyage to Hali- 
 fax proclaimed her the forerunncM' if not the first of the Cu- 
 nard line of steamers. In the note at foot of page 26t> of 
 LeMoine's Quebec Past and Present, published in 187G, we 
 read : " Whilst in Halifax the ' Royal AVilliam ' was repeat- 
 " edly visited by Sir Samuel Cuiiard, who lost no opportun- 
 " ity to enquire every particular regarding her s))eed, sea 
 " qualities, consumption of fuel ; carefully noting down all 
 " the information obtained, which says Mr. J. C. Dantner, 
 " 2nd Engineer on board, doubtless enabled him to establish 
 '* the magnificent fleet of Ocean Steamships that si ill bear 
 " his name." Mr. Dantner did not then know what you 
 will all now learn, that Sir Samuel Cunard and his brothers 
 were partowners of the " Royal William," for they were 
 
 u. 
 
corporators ii» thc^said associiilion, as wcro ihf fornnoBt mer- 
 (•hantM olour city. 
 
 Horc are a fi'w of tin- names inoiuione:! in tlio act of in- 
 cori)oriitioji of" Ww Qurht'c and llalil'ax: Navii^ution Co." 
 
 Mattlu'vv Ui'il, proprietor of tin? Tliro<' Ivivcrs Iron Minos 
 and fSt. Maurice Forges. L»;rand-ratlier ))y the way to the 
 Judge of the Vice-Atluiiralty Court liero, the Honorable 
 George Irvine. 
 
 Jeremiah LeayerafI, pioneer (in that day, our merchants 
 were men of (.'uergy and hacked out new paths for com- 
 luerce) of the AW'st India trade. 
 
 Henry LeMesuricr, an old reniiiKular vt-teran, who fought 
 ami l)led undt r Wellington and left his right arm al ^ala- 
 menrea. 
 
 AVillia»n I'rice, the liing of the >'aguenay. 
 
 George 'J'aylor. designer and owner of the Patent Slip at 
 Levis. 
 
 Duncan McCallnm, the great brewer, a sterling soul.as 
 ever lived. 
 
 The three brothers, William, George and Harry Pem])er- 
 ton ; George, the falherofour popular lawyer Ned Pember- 
 toii. Mr. G. Peml)erton rem<Mnbered to (his day as a wonder- 
 ful pedestrian, having walked, during the winter season, to 
 Montreal in less than three days, half that time in the lace 
 of a houliiig sjiow storm. 
 
 William Lam[)sou, father of George and Frederick Lamp- 
 son, well known advocates of our city. The father opened 
 up a great South American trade. 
 
 Hypolite Dubord, who sat for several Parliaments as re- 
 presentative of our city. 
 
 James McKenzie, of Levis, the fortunate owner of the 
 first steam tow-boats. Had he, on leaving the army in 
 Upper Oajiada, gone down the Hudson to New York, in- 
 stead of coming down the St. Lawrence to Quebec, with his 
 well known energy and steamboat proclivities, the fortune 
 he left his family, thougii great as it was, might have been 
 
19 
 
 very inucli greater, uid no doubt h" would have rivalled 
 llie vvealtiiy Vuuderbill in the 8ani<^ line of business. 
 
 .lamt's C'learihue, the great Hour inerchaiit. 
 
 Th»' thn't^ Cuiinrd }»iotl»ers, Samuel, Joseph and lloiuy, 
 now ()!'Iiui)i'rial reputalion. 
 
 William Sheppard, well known, in the annals of this in- 
 stitution as a leotuH'r on most erudite subjeets, and whose 
 papers ])iibliflied in our transactions command attention 
 even to the present day. 
 
 Archibald Campbell, Her Majesty's notary, a wonderful 
 musician and the founder of the Music Hall, falhcr-in-law 
 of the hit.' lamented General Bra<kenbury and ol' Captain 
 Noble, the eminent s "ientist and asso iate ot Sir William 
 Armstroni^'. 
 
 Jolin Saxton Campbell, one of the pioneers of the Ottawa, 
 and fortunate for my father that ho was so, as upon the 
 latter's ri'giment, 11. M. JM^th Kej.^iment of Foot and other 
 regiments being disbanded in this country, he and many 
 of his brother olRcers, amongst whom was a grand uncle 
 of Major Crawford Lindsay, of the (Quebec Artillery, sought 
 for service in the disputes and wars then being carried on 
 between Spain and iier South American Colonies, and 
 were embarking on board of a iship just about sailing 
 for South America, Mhen iiis ])rother John persuaded 
 h u to take charge of his (-lianlifrs on the Ottawa and 
 try the exciting life of a coiireur de bois. The present (ity 
 of Ottawa was not then even dreamt of. Col. l^ye had not 
 passed that way ; the whole country was a wilderne the 
 home of the bear, wolf and other wild animals. A. 1). 1819, 
 I think it was. And the lot on which Ottawa now stands 
 was olFered him for jCGO, but he declined it and lived fifty 
 years after as one of the Crown's hard bargains, as he called 
 half-pay oilicers ; while poor Lindsay and his gallant com- 
 panions, to a number exceeding ten, ^ides a band of 
 discharged soldiers who eml)arked on board the same ship, 
 
r I 
 
 I'! 
 
 ii 
 
 were never allerwards heard of; the vessel must have 
 fouiidored at stni. 
 
 But why continue readiuL"' the names of the^e enterprising 
 shareholders, amoiif^st whom are to be found women, wor- 
 thy mothers I trust they became of noted C/anadiuns. The 
 act is upon tlie shelves of our Library, and reference can 
 always be had to it and the names there seen. Yet there is 
 one other, Win. Stiiirs, whom I cannot help referring to, 
 though I know nothing of him personally, save that he 
 must liave been of sterling stuff, as ne was the grand- 
 father of a hero, the gallant Lieut. Stairs, of world-wide 
 reputation, the companion of the indomitable Stanley in 
 Africa. Need I tell you that Stairs is a Canadian. 
 
 You perceive, irom the entries in the register of the Que- 
 bec Exchange and from the statements of the second engi- 
 neer which T have just read, that the "Royal William" had 
 made trips to Halifax, and one would imagine that the inter- 
 est of Legislature would noAv cease in the concern ; but no 
 such thing, its paternal care still hovered over its banthng, 
 for another act, the fourth one, was pas.sed during the session 
 of 1831-82, the 2 AVil. IV, cap. 2. Thus the policy which sug- 
 gested the building of the " TJoyal AVilliam" occupied the at- 
 tention of tlii^ Legislature for a period of seven or eight years, 
 and this last ac' relieved the vessel from facing the storms of 
 the Atlantic, and authorised the Finance Minister to pay the 
 subsidy, though the voyage extended no further than Pictoii 
 in Nova Scotia. Now, thougli we have not been able to get 
 hold ot the log book, what is the inference we must draw 
 from this act, but that in the autumn of 1881, on one of her 
 trips to Halifax, the '" Royal William " had encountered 
 severe weather on the Ocean, that perhaps her bulwarks 
 had been stoven in, her wheels broken, boats carried away 
 and divers other injuries sustained. On her return to port, 
 it is evident a meeting of the shareholders took place, and a 
 stormy one, I opine it was ; some timid one must have repre- 
 sented the fickleness of the Ocean " uncertain, coy and hard 
 
21 
 
 to please" like-liko. I ^vns u'oiiig to add something, 
 
 but my good angel interposes, noticing so fair an audience, 
 and sn2:ixesls that under certain circumstances silence 'vas 
 golden. So as to fickleness I shall say no more, save that 
 even man at times is fickle ; for whi;t says the poet : 
 
 Woak and irroholutu is lu.in 
 Tlio purpose of day, 
 Woven with pains into his plan 
 To-moi'1'ow ronds away. 
 
 However at that meeting it must have been decided to 
 jxert the influence ot the Company with the Legislature, 
 and have the law amended, as was doiu^ by the last men- 
 tioned act. 
 
 After this, we hear little or notliing of trips to Halifax. 
 The year 1882, as we all know, the hand of the Almighty, for 
 some wise and inscrutable purpose, alUicted the children of 
 Adam ; th(^ dreadful cholera broke out, the streets of cities 
 were deserted, the merchants' counting ho\ises closed and 
 the wharves abandojied ; trade was at a stand still, and as a 
 consequence the " Royal AVilliam " did not prove a linan- 
 cial success, and the Sherill's hammer transferred her to 
 other owners, as appears by the second register, wherein 
 John McDougall, already mentioned, is stated to be 
 master, and James Bell Forsyth, Jeremiah Leaycraft, Henrv 
 LeMesurier, Matthew Bell, Noah Freer and Henry John 
 Caldwell, owners. Most of these gentlemen were original 
 shareholders, and are household iiames in our civic com- 
 mercial history ; and they, of bolder spirit than the majority 
 of the old associatioji, sent the '• Koyal William" on an 
 Ocean voyage to Boston, " to plume h(M- feathers and let grow 
 her wings," prior to attempting a higher flight, and then, sa- 
 tislied of the capabilities of the craft " on the dark blue 
 
 sea 
 
 >» 
 
 " Their thoughts as boundless, their hopes as -free," de- 
 cided to risk her on a voyage to England, and so she left 
 our shores and steamed across the Atlantic the tvhole ivay, 
 
as is conclusively established by two letters of Captain Mc- 
 Doug-all, the iiist written to Mr. "William King, as before 
 stated, the other to the Historian Christie, dated Ste. Foye, 
 1 0th August, 18*);», and i)ub]ished in hf^ History of Ca- 
 nada, vol. V, p. 3(J2. I shall now read them :• 
 
 ' " London, November 10, 1.853. 
 
 '* My dear Willie, — You will, I am certain, think me 
 ** very neglectful in not giving you an earlier account of our 
 " proceedings with the ' lloyal William '. AVe left Pictou on 
 " the 18th of August, after having waited several days for 
 " some passengers who were expected from Prince Edward 
 ' Island, and for whom we laid in a stock. W^e were very 
 ' deeply laden witli coal, deeper in lact, than I would ever 
 " attempt crossing the Atlantic with her again ; however we 
 " got on the Grand Bank of Newfoundland, where we expe- 
 " rienced a gale of wind, which rather alarmed my engineer ; 
 " he wished very much to go into Newfoundland. We had 
 " previously lost the head of the foremast, and one of the 
 " engines had become useless from the beginning of th(^ 
 " gale ; with the other we could do nothing, and the engi- 
 " neer reported the vessel to be sinking. Things looked 
 *' rather awkward, however we managed to get the vtssel 
 '' cleared of ^vater, and ran by one engine after the gale 
 " ten days. Afcer that, we got on very well, and put into 
 *' Cowes to clean the boilers, a Job which generally occupied 
 " them from twenty-four hours to twenty-six every fourth 
 ' day ; however we managed to paint her outside while 
 ' there ; the inside we had previously done, which enabled 
 *' us to go up to London in line style. Ten days after her 
 " arrival she was sold, and has been since thoroughly re- 
 " paired and coj^pered. Her model is co]isidered to be su- 
 " perior to any of their steamers here. I should not be sur- 
 " prised to hear that George Black had got orders to build 
 " some more like her. She was sold for ^£10,000, which I 
 " believe has all been paid. I am now employed by her 
 
" owners at .£30 per month, and I shall sail in a few days 
 " for Lisbon. 
 
 *' My dear AVillie, belie vo me to be, ever sincerely yours, 
 
 (Signed), Juiix McDolgall." 
 " Mr. William King, 
 
 " Quebec." 
 
 From History of Lower Canada, by li(»bert Christie, vol. 
 V, published at Quebec in 1854, at pa,n-e 362 is found the 
 followini^ letter, from Captain John McDougali, claiminti^ 
 to have been the lirst who actually crossed the Atlantic 
 solely by steam, and this in the " Royal William," a steam- 
 er built at Quebec and launched in 1832, intended to run 
 between this port and Halifax, an enterprise however that 
 failed, will be found interestinj 
 
 'S" 
 
 -^ ' " Saint Foy, 10th August, 1853. 
 
 " Robert Christie, Esq., M.P.P. 
 
 '* Dear Sir^ — 1 lately found some papers connected with 
 " the ' Royal William ' steamer which brought to my recol- 
 " lection my promise to furnish you with a brief sketch of 
 " her history, while I was attached to her, from the 10th 
 *' of April, 1833, to the 1st of January, 1838. 
 
 " 1 took charge of her at Sorel, after she was sold by She- 
 *' rifl's sale, from Captain Nicolas, and was employed during 
 " the month of May towing vessels from Grosse Isle, and af- 
 " terwards made a voyage to Gaspe, Pictou, Halifax, and 
 •' Boston, in the United States, being the first British steamer 
 " that entered that port. On my, return to Quebec the own- 
 " ers decided on sending her to London to be sold, and I left 
 " for London, vid Fictow, on the 5th of August, and wasde- 
 " tained at Pictou until the 18th, repairing the engines and 
 " boilers and receiving coals, I then started for London and 
 " was about twenty days on the passage, having run six or 
 
»''/ 
 
 24 
 
 '• seven days with the larboard ongiiie. in consequence of 
 *' the starboard engine b 'ing disabled, and was detained at 
 " difl'.'rent times, about a week, laying to repairing theboil- 
 " erS which had become very leaky. 
 
 *' About the latter endoC JSepteniber the ' ]{oyal William ' 
 " was sold by Messrs. Geo. Wildes Sc Co. (the ngents to 
 " whom she was consigned), to Mr. Jos. ISimes, the ship- 
 " owner of Radclilf, through Messrs. Wilcox ik Anderson, 
 " for c£10,000 sterling, and chartered to the Portuguese 
 " Government to take out troops for Don Pednys s«n'viee, 
 " and on my arrival in Lisbon olfered to them for sale as a 
 " vessel of war, but rejected by their admiral, Count Cape 
 " St. Vincent, the present admiral Sir Charles Napier. 
 
 " I then returned to London with invalids and disband- 
 *' ed soldiers from Don Pedro's service and laid iier up off 
 " Deptibrd victualling oiliee. In July I received orders to 
 " fit her out to run between Oporto and Lisbon, and made 
 •' one trip between these ports and a trip to C^adiz for specie 
 " for the Portuguese Government, and on my return to 
 *' Lisbon I received orders to dispose of her to the Spanish 
 " Government, through the Spanish ambassador, at Lis])on, 
 " Don Evanston Castor da Perez, which was completed on 
 '• the 10th of September, LS84, and her name was changed to 
 " 'Ysabel Seguuda,' being the first war steamer the Span- 
 *' iards ever possessed, and commodore IltMiry hoisted his 
 " broad p(^nnant on board as commodore of the first class and 
 " commander in chief of the British Auxiliary Steam Squa- 
 " (iron, to be employed on the North Coast of Spain against 
 " Don Ckrlos. I joined the Spanish service under him with 
 " the rank and pay of a commander, but with a special 
 " agreement by which I w as guaranteed jCBOO sterling per 
 " annum, and under a contract to supply the squadron with 
 " provisions from Lisbon. We proceeded to the North 
 " Coast of Spain, antl about the latter part of 1834 returned 
 " to Gravesend for the purpose of delivering her up to the 
 *' British Government to be converted into a war steamer 
 
25 
 
 at ihoir dock yard, and tin; crew and ollicors wore transfer- 
 red to the ' Royal Tar,' chartered and armed as a war steam- 
 er, with G hmg- o'2 pounders and named ' the lleyna Go- 
 vernadoza,' the name, intended for City of Edinbarj,di 
 steamer, \vhich was chartered and then iltting' up as a 
 war steamer, to form part of the squadron ; when com- 
 pleted she reh'eved the 'Koyal Tar' and took her name. 
 
 "The 'Ysabel Segunda,' when completed at ^heorness 
 dock yard, took out General Alava, th«' Spanish ambas- 
 sador, and General Evans and the mcst of his stall' ollicers 
 to Saint Andero and afterwards to Saint Sebastian, hav- 
 ing hoisted the commodore's 'broad pennant' again at 
 Saint Andero, and was afterwards employed in cruizing 
 between that port and Fuenti Arabia, and acting in con- 
 cert with the ' Legion ' against Don C'arlos, until the time 
 of their service, expired in 1837. She was then sent to 
 Portsmouth, with a jiart of those discharged from the ser- 
 vice, and from thencio she was taken to London and de- 
 tained in tlie City Canal ]>y commodore Henry, until the 
 claims of the officers and crew on the Spanish Govern- 
 ment were settled, which was ultimately accomplished by 
 bills, and the officers and crew discharged from the Spa- 
 nish service, about the latter end of 1837, and the ' Ysabel 
 Segunda' delivered up to the Spanish ambassador, and 
 after having her engines repaired returned to Spain, and 
 was soon, afterwards sent to l>ordeaux, in P'rance, to have 
 the hull repaired. But on being surveyed it was found 
 that the timbers were so much decayed, that it was de- 
 cided to build a new vessel to receive the engines, which 
 was built there and called by the same name, and now 
 forms one of the Royal steam navy of Spain, while her 
 predecessor was converted into a hulk at Bordeaux. 
 
 "She is justly entitled to be considered Wie Jirst steamer 
 that crossed ike Atlantic hjj steam, having, steamed the whole 
 way across, while the Savannah American steamship 
 
2G 
 
 " which crossed iii 1822 to Liverpool and Pi iorsburg, sailed 
 " the most part oi' tho way goinii* and returning. 
 
 " J roninin, dear Sir, 
 
 •' Yonr most olxnlient, 
 
 " John McDou(4all." 
 
 Captain McDougall died the year after having" penned 
 the above letter, as Mr. J. Macpherson LeMoine and myself 
 verilied by a visit to Mount Hermon Cemetery last week, 
 when Mr. Treggett, the o])liging overseer thereof, shewed us 
 the registers, from which I took the following entry : 
 
 Grave 531. 
 John McDougall, raasttn* mariner, born in Oban, Scotland. 
 Died 0th Deceml>er, 1854, aged 57 years 
 13uried 8th " " 
 
 *• Presbyterian. Dr. Cook. 
 
 One more episode in the career of the " Royal "William," 
 I would wish to narrate. In 187G, the question respecting 
 the right to the honor of being the first steamship to cross 
 the Atlantic seems to have been agitated and brought out a 
 very interesting letter to the Globe of date 15th May, 1876, 
 from a Mr. Alexander Sommerville, then of Toronto, and it 
 would almost seem as if this inanimate ship was imbued 
 with the instincts of that noble animal the dog, " the first to 
 welcome, foremost to defend," and shared with him the su- 
 blime spirit of gratitude. You have all noticed that Mc- 
 Dougall, a Scot, commanded her; Creo. Black, John Saxton 
 Campbell, James Goudie and Joseph William Henry, all of 
 Scottish extraction, whose sires spring from the 
 
 Land of brown houtli and shaygy wtxid 
 Land of the Mountain and the flood — 
 
 participated in giving and maintaining the ship's existence 
 and one of the first acts of this now historic vessel, when 
 provided with weapons of offence and defence, was to pro- 
 
fir 
 
 , sailed 
 
 ILL. 
 
 penned 
 
 my self 
 
 week, 
 
 wed us 
 
 jotland. 
 
 illiam," 
 peeling 
 o cross 
 it out a 
 
 and it 
 mbued 
 first to 
 the su- 
 at Uc- 
 S ax ton 
 f, all of 
 
 istence 
 when 
 to pro- 
 
 tect those clothed in the garb of the Gael. I shall read from 
 Mr. Sommerville's letter : — 
 
 ** This vessel earned one other distinction than that of 
 " steaming across the Atlantic prior to any other steamship. 
 " The ' Isabella Secunda ' (the new name of the ' Uoyal 
 " William '), was the earliest steamer of war in the history 
 " of nations to deliver a hostile shot. It was on thi5 5th of 
 " May, l8v3G, in the \hy of San Sebastian, during thetiction 
 " on land then in progress between the British lA^iiion 
 " under General Sir de Lacy Evans and the C'arlists en- 
 " trenched behind a series of lield works, theiirst shot from 
 " the shi[) dislodged some? Carlist sharp shooters who were 
 " picking of rank and iile and ollicers of the J^^ighth Scottish 
 " Highlanders in the Grenadier Company ot which I was 
 " a color sergeant, " &c., &c. 
 
 This letter of ^Nlr. Sommerville I had from ]\Ir. J. ]\I. Le- 
 Moine, and I must here again say how much in this matter 
 I have been indebted to him, and further add my iirm be- 
 lief that if he had not, some twenty years ago and frequent- 
 ly since, interested himself on tlie subject and written 
 thereon, all traces of the " lioyal William," save what Mr. 
 Christie had unearthed, would have been completely buried 
 in the tomb of the past. 
 
 I have little more to add respecting this steamship, ex- 
 cept that I received from Mr. James Goudie, shipbuilder, a 
 most interesting letter in answer to one I had written to 
 him in February last, asking for information upon the sub- 
 ject, and which letter I shall, with all other papers and do- 
 cuments I obtained thereon, hand over to be preserved of 
 record amongst the transactions of this society ; so that in 
 future times, should other Christies, Garneaus, Parkmans, 
 LeMoines or Stewarts, arise and wish to ferret out something 
 in the history of this country respecting this first Ocean 
 steamship voyage, they may here have ready reference to 
 it and the career of this noted craft. 
 
f '/ 
 
 
 I I 
 
 «8 
 
 Mr. ("lomlic, in his letter, ao'reos with Captain McPougall 
 that t\n\ " Koyul William" is justly eiilitlotl to be considered 
 the lirst steamer thai crossed the Atlanli<; by steam, as does 
 also >'r. Kivas Tiilly, of Toronto, V.K, who delivered a 
 most valuable lecture in Toronto thereon, before the Cana- 
 dian Institute, in 1877 ; a printed synopsis of which he 
 most obligini'-ly sent me on my writing* to hiui last month ; 
 the conclusions of which print(,'d synopsis 1 shall read : — 
 
 " The facts are fully borne out by ])ublished letters from 
 Mr. McDonald, Lonsacre, London ; Mr. Stevenson, president 
 of the Literary and Historical Society, Quebec; Mr. Ser- 
 pell, lUirfovd ; Mr. Dunscombe, collector of customs, Que- 
 bec ; Mr. Johnston, superintendent of Quebec Exchanjj;e ; 
 Mr. French, Ottawa; Mr. D. McPherson, Mnnitoba; Mr. 
 F. H. Heward, lioynl Insurance (Company, Toronto, who 
 was in Quebec when the " Koyal William "' sailed ; IMr. J. 
 Gr. Dantner, Welland, who was second engineer on board, 
 under Capt. McDougall, and Mr. J. W. Laurence, of Oswego, 
 who has taken much trouble to elicit several of the facts in 
 order to satisfy himself as to the correctness of the state- 
 ments ; and in a letter dated Oswego, 17th April, 1870, he 
 iu conclusion states : ' Most unquestionably the old Lower 
 Province can claim the credit of having both built, equip- 
 ped and successfully put to sea the lirst working steamer 
 to cross the W^estern Ocean and open up this great trade. 
 The only vessel which can dispute the priority as pioneer 
 steamship for transatlantic navigation is the 'Savannah,' 
 and this vessel has for vears been considered the first steam- 
 ship to cross the Atlantic. As I have full statements with 
 regard to this vessel, the claim can easily be investigated, 
 and the result will proVv^ that the ' Savannah ' was not a 
 steamboat in the strict sense, such as the ' Koyal William,' 
 but a sailing vessel fitted with moveable paddle wheels 
 driven by steam." 
 
 Now, in investigating this subject, the sole desire was to 
 attain the truth and to conceal nothing that might tend to 
 
20 
 
 shew ti at tho palm \'^as duo lo the "??avannah." So onr 
 v/orthy li))rariaii, Mr. FretL'i'ick Wiirtolo, to whom 1 am 
 very much iu(lel)tocl lor his active co-operation in this mat- 
 ter, wrote to the Secretary of the Georgia llisLorieal Society 
 a k'tter of which the following is a copy : 
 
 '• LiTEiuHY AND Historical Socikty of Quubec. 
 
 "QUKHKC, 21st February, 1891. 
 •' seciietarv of the georgia 
 
 "Historical Society, Savaxnau. 
 '• Dear Sir, — If not a.skin<? too much would you kindly 
 " send me the following information : It seems that on the 
 " 2(3th May, 1819, a kind of steamship left Savannah for 
 ' England. She was named the ' Savannah.' I would like 
 " a description of her, thair is, build, rig-, engines, horse- 
 '' power, tonnage and size, in full all information you could 
 »' give me. Also, extract from the custom house records, 
 " and from any newspaper extract of that date. I will be 
 " most happy to reciprocate at any time you may require, 
 " historical information from Quebec. 
 
 *' I remain, yours truly, 
 
 " (Sighed), F. C. Wurtele, 
 
 ' " Librarian." 
 
 The following is a copy of the answer to above letter : — 
 
 " Georgia Historical Library. 
 
 " Savannah, Ga.; lOth March, 1891. 
 
 " F. WURTELE, Esq. 
 
 " Dear Sir, — In response to your request I have written 
 " on the back of your letter a short description of the steam- 
 " ship ' Savannah.' It is the best I can do for you. There 
 *' was in a number of Harpers Magazine several years ago 
 " a lengthy article about this steamship, but I cannot re- 
 " member which number it was. If you can find it, it will 
 *' give you all the information you desire. 
 
 " Very truly yours, 
 " (Signed) Wm. Harden, 
 
 " Librarian Ga. Hist. Society." 
 
■7 '^- 
 
 30 
 
 What was wrilleii on the hack of the U>tter in ah follows : 
 "800 tons burthen; clipper huilt ; full ship rigged, pro- 
 pelled by one inclined, similar to tliose now in use ; tho 
 si/e of lior cylinder was 40 inches m diameter, with G feet 
 stroke and carried 20H»s. of yteam. The puddles were of 
 w^rought iron with only one flange, and were entirely un- 
 covered : they were so attached to the shaft, but their re- 
 moval and 8hi])nn;nt on deck could be accomplished in lif- 
 teen or twenty minutes. There were two line ca))ins for 
 passengers, the two being separate and handsomely fur- 
 nished. All the berths, thirty-two in number, were state- 
 rooms and w^ere provided with cA'ery comfort then demand- 
 ed. Left iSavannah 20th May, 1811), with no passengers, 
 in ballast, and Just one month later came to anchor in the 
 harbor of Liverpool. As she had to economize fuel, she used 
 steam only eighteen days ; pitch pine was used for fuel, 
 coal not then having come into use on steamers." 
 
 Now search was made in our library and we found in 
 the February number of 1877 of Ilarperf, Nein Monlhly 
 Mai\nzuie the article referred to in Mr. Hardens letter, and 
 there we have the American view of the voyage of the 
 " Savannah," strong contrast from that which I have from 
 uncontestable authority shewn to have been that of the 
 •' Royal William." Here we find that really the " Savan- 
 nah" was not in the proper sense a steamship; she was 
 I only a hobledehoy, at one moment a sailing sliip tacking 
 against the wind with her wheels on deck, and w^hen the 
 wind fell the wheels were lowered and steam got up. In 
 fact she was a hybrid craft. Take for instan<^e this entry 
 from her log : " At 8 a.m., tacked ship to the w^estward ; at 
 *' 11 a.m., took in the mizen and fore top gallant sails ; at 
 " 11 a.m., got the steam up, and it came on to blow^ fresh, 
 *• we took wheels in on dedv in thirty minutes." 
 
 On the Saturday following the departure, we find this 
 entry : " '^' .ese twenty-four hours begins calm and pleasant. 
 <♦ Used wheels middle of the day." 
 
 J . 
 
31 
 
 On 2nd June. "Stopped \vht>el8 to clean theclinktTS out 
 " of the iiirnace ; a lieavy houd sea. At (I ]).in., stiirted 
 •* wheels again ; at 2 a.m , took in the wheels." 
 
 This is 11 lair sample, a« the artirjo states, of the daily 
 records. Now it is then* asserted that the " Savannah " <'0iild 
 only carry seventy-five tons of coal and twenty-live cords of 
 wood. Wo all know that such a supply could not a.ssist a 
 steamship any g-reat distance at sea. Mr. Harden states 
 steam was only used eighteen days. If steam was UNed 
 eighteen days, this clipper ship must have been a dull sail- 
 er, for with steam during tht' whole oi that time the ship 
 ought to have arrived in England ; but no doubt, as the log 
 had it, when it commenced to blow the wheels were taken 
 on deck, and if wind was adverse, why she tacked. Now 
 Captain McDougall tells us that the «' Koyal William " 
 steamtnl the whole way across the Atlantic. From a solemn 
 declaration taken at Pictou the. 25th day of March instant, 
 by D. McDonald, Esq., collector of customs, at the recjuest 
 of Mr. F. Wiirtt'le, he gives date of clearance of 'Royal 
 William," bouud to London, the 17th August, 1S38, and that 
 she had 254 chaldrons of coals on board, a sullii lent supply 
 for steaming across. 
 
 As I saw remarked in some newspaj^er, the voyage of the 
 " Savannah" rather retarded Ocean steamship navigation, 
 so ill considered wa.s the application of steam to do it, and 
 attended with such poor results that it raised the warning 
 cry 0^ miive qui peut to all who were making preparations 
 to dabble in similar undertakings, and nothing in conse- 
 quence was done to test the practicability again of Ocean 
 steamship navigation for thirteen or fourteen years, until 
 the successful venture of the " Roval William," which 
 stimulated it ; for we lind recorded five years later, in May 
 of the year 1838, the apparition of the " Sirius " in the 
 '•Royal William" constellation, followed by the "G-reat 
 Wv^stern," both British steamships, and a few years subse- 
 quently was completed the bridging of the Atlantic by the 
 
I 
 
 82 
 
 Canadian Canard Oooan hloann^hip.s, (he Allan, Dominion 
 
 • and oUkt maii;nilici'nl lin»'M ol' sU'iunors. 
 
 Thimkiiii^ you lor llif kind altcntiou you have j^'i von nit\ 
 
 and trust in<j^ you will forn-iv*' ihc prolixity wilh which 1 
 
 » hav»i spun out my «oa yarn, and attrilintc it to its truo cause, 
 
 • prido in narrating tho dieds of our pn'd«»c«'K,sorH, citizens of 
 Quehoc, and an earnest dfsire to obtain lor our city in the 
 annals of the world recognition lor oniiiifuce in enterprise 
 and courage, which I trust may n»'V<'r !»<• lacking in her 
 Bons. I shall conclude in the words I have already address- 
 ed to tho public. 
 
 The a))ove, I think, should convince the most sc«»ptical 
 that our Canada has the honor ol' having inaugurated Ocean 
 steam navigation, and that the august predc'cessor of our 
 gracious (^ueenon tln^thront^ of Britain will be ever immor- 
 talised in the name " Royal William," so well taken from 
 him, the sailor sovereign, a name so suitable and now irre- 
 trievably linked to th(5 lirst steamship, that under steam 
 the whole way, crossed the Ocean, on which Britain's steam 
 fleets now predominate, thanks lo the prescience of her 
 Merchant Princes, in having so early and energetically 
 adopted and improved U]>on the ])rilliant ideas which eman- 
 ated from the master minds of Canada, thus extending the 
 designs of Fulton's genius to the Almighty and man's ser- 
 "ce on the trackless deep. 
 
 This lirst voyage by steam on -that fickle element by a 
 Canadiaa Ocean craft, if it should be the sole memento of 
 the skill, enterprise and daring of Canada's children, must 
 give to our magniliceni Dominion, to use the words of 
 Alison, " the imperishable inheritance of historic glory.'* 
 
 Dated Slst March, 1891. 
 
Dominion 
 
 j^'ivon nu\ 
 I which I 
 
 LrUt! CllUKO, 
 LMtiztMl.s {>[' 
 
 :ity in the 
 fntrrpriso 
 iig- in htM* 
 y address- 
 
 : sccplicjil 
 il«'d( )coun 
 sor of our 
 •«'r immor- 
 iikon iVoni 
 '. now irro- 
 ider steam 
 lin's steam 
 ice of hev 
 srg-e tic ally 
 lich eman- 
 'nding- the 
 man's ser- 
 
 nent by a 
 einento of 
 Iron, must 
 
 words of 
 
 glory.'' 
 
 fl3 
 
 ArrKNDIX A. 
 
 KEOISTKl? or " UOYAL WILLIAM." 
 
 No. I'J. Tort of Quebec, dated 22nd August, 1831. . 
 
 Name, '« Koyal William." -Ihirlhen, 803;i'| Ions— John 
 Jones, master, lluilt at this port this present year, IH.'U, 
 which appeared by a certilicate of Geo. Black, the builder, 
 diil(»d I'jth .Inly last. 
 
 Name and employment of surveying olhccr. (SMgned), C. 
 (>. Stewiul. 
 
 One deck, three masts ; h'ugth, KIO feet; breadth taken 
 above the mam v al«'S, 4 4 feet; depth in hold, 11 feet 9, 
 inehes. Schooner rigged, with a standing ])ovvs])rit, square , 
 sterned ; carvel })udt; (juarter badges; scroll head; ad- 
 measured agroujid ; propelled by steam, with wheels or 
 flyers at each side : breadth between the pa(Mle boxes, 28 . 
 feet. 
 
 Subscribing Owners. Shares. 
 
 William Finlay, AVilliam AValker and Jere- ) 
 
 miah Leaycnift, of Quebec, mendiants, [ <;.. , ^ 
 ^rruslees of (he incori)orated " Quebec and [ ^^I'^^y-'^"^. 
 Halifax Steam Navigation Comnany." J 
 Other owners. 
 
 Custom House, 14th June, 1832. '' ^ . ' 
 
 A true copy. '■' " ! 
 
 Custom House, Quebec, 2nd March, 1801. ' ' 
 
 (Signed), D. D. O'Meaiia, 
 
 Acting Registrar of Shipping. 
 
I I 
 
 'I 'I 
 
 ^ 
 
 I i 
 
 34 . 
 AITENDIXB. 
 
 REGISTER OF " ROYAL WILLIAM." 
 
 No. 13. rort of Quebec, dated 18th May, 1883. 
 
 Numo, " Royal ■\Villiam."— Burthen, 368" '• tons.— Johu 
 McDougall, master. Built at this port in the year 1831, 
 which appeared by a Ibrmer certificate of registry, No. 42, 
 granted here the 22nd August, 1831, now delivered up and 
 cancelled upon transfer of property. 
 
 Name and employment of surveying officer. (Signed), C. 
 Secretan, acting. 
 
 One deck and round house ; 3 masts ; length, 160 feet 
 — inches.; breadth taken above the main wales, 44 feet — 
 inches ; height between decks — feet — inches, or depth in 
 hold, 17 leet 9 inches. Schooner rigged with a standing 
 bowsprit ; square sterned ; carvel built ; quarter badges ; 
 scroll head ; admeasurement afloat,; propelled by steam, 
 with wheels or flyers at each side. 
 
 Subscribing Owners. . Shares. 
 
 James Bell Forsyth, ) (Ten. 
 
 Jeremiah Leaycraft, > of Quebec, merchants.. - Ten. 
 Henry LeMesurier, ) (Ten. 
 
 Other owners. ' Shares. 
 
 Matthew Bell, ^ - , (Fourteen. 
 
 Noah Freer, / of Quebec, merchants < Ten. 
 Henry John Caldwell, ) (Ten. 
 
 De Novo, London, 22nd Nov., 1833. 
 
 A true copy. 
 
 Custom House, Quebec, 2nd March, 1891. 
 
 (Signed), D. D. O'Meara, 
 
 Acting Registrar of Shipping 
 PORT OF QUEBEC 
 
 Customs. 
 
 V. ^^R. 
 
 Canada, 
 
 Quebec, . 
 
sr> 
 
 1883. 
 
 ;. — John 
 (ar 1831, 
 , No. 42, 
 I up and 
 
 •ned), C. 
 
 160 feet 
 4 feet— 
 lepth in 
 ^tandillg 
 badg'es ; 
 ' steam, 
 
 lares. 
 
 ti. 
 11. 
 II. 
 
 hares. 
 
 mrteen. 
 
 sn. 
 
 ;n. 
 
 liipping 
 
 Attached to Appendix B is the following and received 
 with registers : 
 
 1844. "The Steamship 'Royal AVilliam,' McDongall, 
 master ; cleared on Saturday, ord August, for London, 1833, 
 
 And sailed for London at 5 o'clock am., Monday, 5th'' 
 Auirust, 1833. 
 
 The " Koyal William " arrived at Gravesend, 25 days pas- ^' 
 sage from rictou, N. S. 
 
 (Signed). W. Ddnscomb. 
 
 V 5th February, 1872. 
 
 N. B. — On last mentioned date Mr. Dunscomb was Col- 
 lector of Customs for port of Quebec. 
 
 A. C. 
 
 APPENDLYD. 
 
 CANADA, y 
 
 PiioviNCE OF Quebec, > 
 District of Quebec. \ 
 
 I, William Henry Baldwin, of the city of Quebec, ship- 
 builder, aged sixty-live years, do solemnly declare that in 
 the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-six I took 
 from Mr. George Black possession of Mr. George Black's 
 fshipbuilding establisliment at Cape Cove, situate imme- 
 diately under where Wolfe's monument stands, on the 
 Plains of Abraham. In the moulding loft there were num- 
 bers of models, and amongst the rest that of the steamer 
 " Royal William , " the name was on the model, and Mr. 
 George Black, who was then alive, proudly shewed it to 
 me as being the model of the first steamship that crossed 
 the Ocean, propelled by the motive power of steam. Sub- 
 sequently Mr. Henry Dinning became my partner in the 
 business of shipbuilding and he presented the model of the 
 said- ship, '• Royal William," to the Literary and Historical 
 Society of Quebec, where it now is. I had it in my pos- 
 session for a short time within the last six weeks and gave 
 it back to the society. 
 
 Mr. James Goudie, after the transfer of the said ship yard 
 to me, w^as my draughtsman and ship architect. I know 
 his handwriting and believe that the letter now shewn to 
 me, addressed to Archibald Campbell, es(^uire, from Noyth 
 
I > 
 
 I 
 
 8^. 
 
 Evanstovvii, Illinois, and oC date February 17, 1891, as 
 written in the said letter, is written by him, and the sio-n- 
 ature, James Goudie, sen., at the loot thereof, is in his hand- 
 writing. From :iU I know and heard Mr. George Black 
 mention on the subjeet, I believe Mr Goudie's statement 
 contained in the said letter to ))e correct and every way 
 worthy of belief, and I do solemly declare and make this 
 solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to 
 be true and by virtue of the " Act respecting extra judicial 
 oaths." 
 
 (Signed), Wm. H. Baldwin, 
 
 Shipbuilder, 
 
 The said solemn declaration ^^as taken 
 before the undersigned by the said 
 "William Henry Baldwin, at the Court 
 House, in the City of Quebec, this 
 twenty-sixth day of February, 1891. 
 
 Quebec. 
 
 I- 
 
 (Signed), 
 
 [L. S.] 
 
 FisET, Burroughs & Campbell, 
 
 Prothonotary of the Superior Court 
 for the District of Quebec. 
 
 AFPENDIX E. 
 
 . CANADA., •} 
 
 Province OF Nova ScoTLv. \ 
 
 I, Daniel McDonald, of Pictou, in the said Province of 
 Nova Scotia, aged lifty-six years, do solemnly declare that 
 I am the collector of customs for the port of Pictou, N. S. 
 
 In the book of records of exports of the said port, wherein 
 I find the following particulars which I now give Literalivi 
 et verbatim : — 
 
 Date of clearance, 17th August, 1833. 
 
 " 'Royal William,' 363 tons ; 36 men ; John McDougall, 
 " master ; bound to London, B (British) ; cargo, 254 chal- 
 " drons of coals : a box of stutl'ed bir.ds and six spars, 
 " produce of this province (N. S.) ; one box and one trunk, 
 " household furniture and a harp, all British, and seven 
 *' passengers." 
 
37 
 
 1801, as 
 the sign- 
 bis hancl- 
 rre Black 
 taiement 
 ery way 
 lako this 
 same to 
 a judicial 
 
 N, 
 
 )uilder, 
 Quebec. 
 
 LPBELL, 
 
 ior Court 
 ebec. 
 
 ovince of 
 tare that 
 a, N. iS. 
 
 , wherein 
 literatim 
 
 cDougall, 
 254 chal- 
 iix spars, 
 me trunk, 
 nd seven 
 
 And 1 inak*^ this solemn declaration, conscientiously be- 
 lieving the same to be true and by virtue oi" (lie actre^pect■ 
 ing extrajudicial oath's. 
 
 (Signed), Daniel McDonaj.d. 
 
 The said solemn declaration was taken 
 beibre the undersigned by the said 
 Daniel McDonald, at IMctou, this 
 tvventy-lii'th day of March, 1891. J 
 
 (Signed), Axaus McDonald, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 APPENDIX O. 
 
 T, Archibald Campbell, of Tliornhill, in the parish of St. 
 Colomb de Sillery, one of the Joint Prolhonolaries of the 
 Superior Court of the Province of Quebec, ibr the district 
 of Quebec, do solemnly declare that on or about the four- 
 teenth day of February last ]xist, 1 wrote a letter to James 
 (jroudie, shii^builder, asking for information respecting the 
 steamship " Koyal William," and on or about the twenty- 
 third day of the same month and year I received an answer 
 thereto, the let ter hereto attached and at the foot thereof 
 for identification. 1 have written the following in red ink : 
 " This is the letter I refer to in the annexed solemn declar- 
 ation taken by me this twenty-first day of March, 1891." 
 
 AllCHIEALD CaMI'BELL. 
 
 And I do further solemnly declare that I shewed the said 
 letter to William Henry Baldwin, of Quebec, shipbuilder, on 
 the twenty-sixth day of February last past, and that the 
 same is the one referred to in his solemn declaration taken 
 at Quebec, before Fiset, Burroughs & Campbell, P. S. C, on 
 the day and year last mentioned. 
 
 And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously be- 
 lieving the same to be true and by virtue of the " Act 
 respecting extra judicial oaths." 
 
 Akchd. Campbell. 
 
 The said solemn declaration was taken | 
 betore the undersigned by the said ! 
 Archibald Campbell, at Quebec, this f 
 twenty-first day of March, 1891. J 
 
 (Signed), A. B. Uouthier, 
 
 J. s. a 
 
 , 
 
n: 
 
 \[ 
 
 ' 88 
 
 Tho Ibllowini^ is copy oT letter rei'erred to in Mr. Archi- 
 bald Caiaphcirs soleum declaration, and jijso in that of Mr, 
 W. H. ]5aldvvin. 
 
 North Evaxston, 
 
 Cook C'uunty, III,, 
 
 February 17th, 1801. 
 ARriiiBALD Campbell, Esq.: — 
 
 Dear Sik, — It is with great pleasure I take my pen on 
 hand, thoui^-h in iriy S2nd year ot'ai!,e, to acknowledge the 
 receipt ol'your kind letter, under date 14th insst., and con- 
 tents noted, 
 
 I shall give you the facts, as they occur to me, as briefly 
 as J. can, of which I am in possession as the superintendent 
 duly appointed Ijy the stockholders to superintend, in all its 
 details, the building of a stiamship, aUervvards named the 
 " Koyal William". 
 
 In the fall. of 1830 I was duly engaged, and the keel of the 
 " lioyal William " was laid in the yard of Mr. George Black, 
 shii)builder, in connection with Mr. John Saxton Campbell 
 as partner. Mr. C^ampbeil was a merchant and ship owner 
 of high standing and capitalist at Quebec, and brother to 
 the late Archibald Campbell, in his life notary public. 
 
 As I had the drawings and the form of the ship, at that 
 time a novelty in construction, it devolved upon me to lay 
 off and ex[)and the draft to its full dimensions on the floor 
 of the lof*:, where I made several alterations in the lines as 
 improvements. Mr, Black, though the builder and con- 
 tractor, v.as in dnty bound to follow my instructions, as I 
 undertsood it. The steamship being duly commenced the 
 work progressed rapidly and in May following was duly 
 launched, and before a large concourse of people w^as christ- 
 ened the " Royal William,'' in honor ot the reigning king, 
 k^he was then taken to Montreal to have her engines, where 
 I continued to superintend the finishing of the cabins and 
 deck woik. AVhen completed she had her trial trip, which 
 proved quite satisfactory. Being late in the season before 
 being completed she only made a few trips to Halifax. 
 
 The next year was 1832, the cholera made its appearance, 
 and she Avas destined to lose money ; 1833, in August, it was 
 decided to send her to London for sale, where she arrived 
 after a passage of 25 days, under command of Captain John 
 McDougall, who gave a very Hattering account of her good 
 qualities. tShe was put up for sale and sold to the tSpanish 
 
39 
 
 Archi- 
 ofMr. 
 
 891. 
 
 >eii on 
 ge the 
 cl con- 
 
 brioflv 
 eiuleiit 
 1 all its 
 ed the 
 
 1 of the 
 Black, 
 mpb(^U 
 owner 
 ther to 
 c. 
 
 at that 
 to lay 
 le floor 
 ines as 
 d con- 
 s, as I 
 ed the 
 IS duly 
 christ- 
 n- king. 
 , where 
 lis and 
 which 
 before 
 
 arance, 
 , it was 
 
 irrived 
 
 11 John 
 r good 
 
 Spanish 
 
 Government, retaiuiugCaptin McDougall as commander, re- 
 maining in charge for several years, coming back to Quebec 
 with high honors from the Spanish Government. She was 
 actually the lirst steamship to lire a gun in action, which is 
 something of an honor for Quebec. 
 
 Now as to her being the first steamship to cross the At- 
 lantic, there can be no doubt, as she was built expressly for 
 a *' sea-going steamship." I had not the slightest idea of her 
 failure to reach London as a sea-going steamer. Right here 
 let me tell you, though I was only 21 years old ; I was 
 fuU master of my business, as Mr. Simmons said when he 
 spoke to me about going out. I asked him the ([uestion : 
 " Do yon think me capable^ I am so young. " " James, if I 
 did not think you capable I would not recommend you." 
 That was enough for an ambitious youth as I was; I had 
 been at the actual building, as assistant foreman to Mr. Wm. 
 Simmons, of Greennock, Scotland, with whom 1 served my 
 apprenticeship, of four such vessels as the " Royal William" 
 to cross the Irish channel, where no rougher sea can be» 
 having made the trip to Belfast in one of them myself. I 
 was also foreman apprentice, in my last year, in building a 
 steam yacht of the same style as the " Royal William, '' of 
 400 tons, but much sharper, for Don Pedro. I merely men- 
 tion these facts to show 1 was duly qualified. It was dur- 
 ing that time I was spoken to by Mr. Simmons to engage 
 to go to Quebec to suoerintend the building of the " Royal 
 William. " 
 
 I shall now explain why I think the " Royal William " is 
 entitled to the credit of having been the iirst steamship to 
 cross the Atlantic, is because the "Savannah" ship (Ameri-. 
 can) was a full rigged packet ship, built for a sailing ship, but 
 by some ambitious desire of the owner, he conceived the 
 idea in 1819, fourteen years prior to the " Royal William," 
 to fit up a small steam engine on the deck of that ship, and 
 had it so constructed that small wheels were put on the 
 shaft, which in stormy weather could be easily unshipped 
 and hoisted on deck to be used only in line weather ; thus he 
 was only experimenting on the adaptation of steam for pro- 
 pelling on the Ocean. He seems to have got sick of the ex- 
 periment, for on the return of the ship the engine was taken 
 olf and laid aside to let the " lioyal William," fourteen years 
 afterwards, and the Canadian public, show to your Yankee 
 cousins how steam could be adapted to Ocean navigation. 
 
T 
 
 ir 
 
 p'^ 
 
 40 
 
 Mr. ( -ami^bcll, tnistiiio- this skolcli of mine nhowi tho 
 " Ttoytil Wililnm"' and " Savannah '' may he siilficiontly au- 
 thontii', I shall conclmlc, Irut^tinii' you may bf>, as I am, in 
 perfect good health, and that you may live I'or many years 
 to como to on joy the world as best wo can. Gon. Sherman, 
 said bel'oro dying, it was natural to die as it was to be born. 
 
 I remain very respectfully yours, 
 
 (Signed), James Goudie, Senr. 
 
 r. S.— I oflon thiidv as I see ihe beautiful steamers on 
 Lake Michigan, as yonder they come, driven by Ihe power 
 of the ascending vapor, wliieh man has caught and chained 
 to his service, hom how they breast the rolling wave, dashing 
 the waters aside and ploughing their way in the face of 
 wind and current, bearing the wealth of nations in their 
 capacious holds, and yet these rivers of water are but the 
 veins and arteries of man's commerce with man, and the 
 wide Ocean has become but the i)athway of her noble 
 steamships since the " lioyal William " crossed the Ocean. 
 
 (Signed), 
 
 J. G., 
 
 Shipbuilder. 
 
 }, 
 
 APPENDIX H. 
 
 < !.! 
 
 , I 
 
 i ' ■* 
 
 If 
 
 CANADA, ) 
 
 Province of Quebec, 5 . 
 
 District of Quebec. ) 
 
 I, Frank Johnston, of the City of Quebec, Secretary of the 
 Quel)ec Exchange, and as such, custodian of the registers 
 thereof, do solemnly declare that I copied the following 
 extracts regarding the steamship "Royal William," from 
 the records in the possession of the Quebec Exchange and 
 of which I am custodian : 
 
 " The steamship ' Koyal William,' constructed by Mr. 
 " George Black, of this city, was launched on Friday after- 
 " noon, the twenty-ninth April, 1831, in the presence of 
 " Lady Aylmer, His Excellency Lord Aylmer and his staff. 
 " Her ladyship performed the usual ceremonies of naming 
 " the vessel when she went off the stocks, from an awning 
 " decorated with Hags, several thousand persons crowding 
 
41 
 
 " the atljactml wliarves and heights. Tho Tow Boat Com- 
 " paiiv plated tho steamer ' Iviclirlicu' at the service of the 
 " l)u])li<', lUid Colonel Maitland, wilh liis usual kindness, 
 »* permitted the excellent band ol' the i32nd regiment to at- 
 " tend on ))oard. 
 
 " ILcr ])roportions are ns follows : Builder's measurement, 
 " 1370 tons ; steamboat measurement as per ait of Parlia- 
 " mcut, 830 tons. 
 
 " Freight, about 300 tons of goods, which witli fuel, 
 " water, ])rovision8, «S:c., and* the space occupied for the ac- 
 " commodation of t!0 passeiigers, reduced her freight stor- 
 " age to the tonnage above mentioned. 
 
 " Length of keel, 141) feet. 
 
 " Length of deck, from head to tallruil, 170 feet. 
 
 " Breadth of beam inside the ]>addle boxes, i!l)-4 ; outside, 
 " 43-10 inches; depth of hold, H-i'. 
 
 " Iler light draught of water is about 7 feet inches, and 
 •' with engiiu> and a full cargi) on board, it is estimated will 
 " be under 13 feet. 
 
 " She proceeds this evening to Montreal where her en- 
 " gint^ will be put on board and the cabin littiiigs oom- 
 " pleted." 
 
 " Montreal, 3rd May, 1831. 
 
 *' Steamer ' Royal William ' arrived at the foot of the eur- 
 " rent last night, in tow of ' British America,' and now 
 " lies opposite the foundry of ]\[essrs. Bennett &; Henderson. 
 •' where she will receive her engines." 
 
 "Quebec, 24th August, J 831. 
 
 "The steamship 'Royal William' sailed for Halifax this 
 •' afternoon on her first trip, slopping at Miramiehi and 
 " Prince Edward Island. J.Jones, II. N., Commander." 
 
 " Quebec, 4th August, 1833. 
 
 •' The steamship ' Royal William,' Captain McDougall, left 
 •' for London at hve o'clock this morning under steam." 
 
 •' She made the passage in twenty-five days. On the ar- 
 " rival of the 'Royal AVilliam' at London, she w^as sold to 
 *' the Spanish Clovernment and did a good deal of service 
 " as a frigate." - // 
 
 And. I make this solemn declaration conscientiously be- 
 lieving the said extracts and the same to be true and in 
 
42 • 
 
 virtue of the act passed in llio 37tli year of Her Majesty's 
 reii'-ii intitultMl ; " An Act for the suppression of voluntary 
 and extrajudicial oaths." 
 
 (Signed), Fhank Johnston, 
 
 Secretary Quebec Exchange. 
 
 The above soh'.mn declaration v^as taken | 
 bolpre the uiulcrsigned by the said | 
 Frank Johnston, at llie city of Quebec, }■ 
 this twenty-eighth day of F('])ruary, j 
 18i)l. ' I 
 
 (Signed). Fi.set, Burroughs & Cam "»bell, 
 
 P. S. C. 
 [L. S.] ' , ' 
 
 True co})y of original in my possession. 
 
 Akc HI). Campbell. 
 
 ]S[. B.— The " Jvoyal William " crossed the Atlantic in the 
 Autumn of 183:3. The "Sirius" and "Great Western " only 
 in the Spring of 1838. 
 
 J,* 
 
Majosly's 
 voluntary 
 
 I, 
 ;chango. 
 
 mtic ill the 
 tern " only