Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-19672-8 — Coal, Steam and Ships Crosbie Smith Index More Information

Index

Aberdeen Steam Navigation Co. control of coastguard service, 168–70 healthy profits, 305 Cunard secures enhanced contract, 113 Just as a director, 305 Cunard’s Halifax mail proposal to, 93 Napier contracts for large iron vessels, 305 demands for faster mail services, 347–48 Abinger, Baron. See Scarlett, James; Scarlett directive against iron hulls, 186 family high opinion of Napier and Wood, 97 Acadia (Cunard), 5–6, 161 hydrographic skills of, 11 far outpaces President, 108–9 Lords cautious about Atlantic project, 77 highlights Cunard’s reputation, 121 Lowry- Corry (Secretary to), 117 “pattern card” built by Wood, 101 Magnetic Crusade, 157 takes many Great Britain passengers, 121 P&O appeal against ruling of, 276 Acadian Recorder P&O less subservient to, 263 Britannia’s Halifax arrival, 102 Parry as Comptroller of Steam Machinery, British Queen on the Mersey, 86 87 Cunard, EIC and tea distribution, 90 pressures on RMSP, 148 Nova Scotia lighthouses, 92 privileged sites of, 136 Achilles (OSS), 342 Rear- Admiral Bowles, 168–70 engine room arrangement, 343 responsible for mail contract awards, Acramans, Morgan & Co. 232 RMSP contract two steamships, 141 RMSP and the power of, 168–70 subcontract two RMSP hulls to Patterson, RMSP’s close connections with, 135 141 roles in designing RMSP’s first fleet, 136 Actaeon (RMSP) ruling against iron mail steamers, 276 steaming trials of, 175 Symonds as Chief Surveyor, 46 wrecked on Colombian coast, 171 threat to P&O existing fleet, 276 Adam, Sir Charles visit to Great Britain by Board of, 116 contempt for Oliver Lang, 137 warning issued to CDSP, 234 McQueen’s meeting with, 130 advancement. See progress Adkins, Rev. Thomas Africa (Cunard), 299–300 Amazon sermon, 190–91 Agamemnon (OSS) Anna Maria Smith’s heroism, 190–91, coal consumption, 342 190–91 first round voyage to China (1866), 342 Admiral trial trip Greenock to Liverpool, 342 science- based naval architecture, 324–25 air- engine Admiral (David MacIver) Rankine’s Liverpool (1854) address, 317 similar to first Cunard contract, 95 air- engine, marine Williams’s smoke- consuming patent, Napier and Rankine’s, 312 246–47 Aitkin & Mansel Admiralty builders for Union Steamship Co., 311–12 approves Humphrys’s engine- building, 333 Glasgow shipbuilders, 311–12 Board of, 168–70 Aitkin, James Chappell’s encounter with, 168–70 partner in Aitkin & Mansel, 311–12 Claxton expresses GWSS’s debt to, 79 Akbar (EIC), 267 387

388 Index

Alacranes Reef RMSP’s rule of service, 185 site of the Tweed shipwreck, 179 sudden destruction, 185 Albert, Prince, 266 Times first reports, 188–89 floating out ofGreat Britain, 116 Amazon Inquiry Allaire Works Capts Beechey & Walker preside, 191 engines for Collins Pacific and Baltic, 298 character of, 191 Allan, James Graham on spontaneous combustion, 192 appointed P&O assistant manager, 273 no definite conclusion on origin of fire, 192 attacks press distortion of P&O, 251 Prof. Graham as scientific authority, 192 Caird consultation, 263 second engineer Angus’s evidence, 191–92 character of, 4 Vincent interrogated and exonerated, 190 defends P&O against RM critics, 251 Vincent on breakdown of discipline, 192 instructions to screw steamer master(s), 280 witnesses to presentiments, 193 Lindsay and, 11 America (Cunard) Lindsay negotiates P&O coal cargoes, Mackinnon criticises officers’ manner, 285–87 300–301 Lindsay’s acquaintance with, 285 Mackinnon praises engine performance, Lindsay’s judgment, 4 300–301 Lindsay’s view of, 273 American Journal of Science, 84–85 meets Tod & MacGregor, 279 American Railroad Journal, 53 P&O servant, 4 American Steam Navigation Co., See Smith, P&O’s system building, 11 Junius recommends Sutherland as MD, 360 Anderson, Arthur resignation from P&O, 360 aligns P&O with leading reformers, 243 resigns as P&O secretary, 273 announces Royal Charter, 243 suggests Sutherland for management, 355 anticipates P&O’s triumph over rivals, 243 Tod & MacGregor agree iron screw con- birth and early life in Shetland, 228 tract, 279 changes to P&O management structure, 355 Amazon (RMSP) death of, 355 built by R.&H. Green at Blackwall, 185–86 declares “Precursors” now in alliance, 243 coal, passenger and freight data, 188 Dundas’s patronage, 228–29 deck plans, 189 extols benefits of EISNC merger, 239 departs on maiden voyage, 188 Harcourt’s representation, 2 distinguished witnesses on trial trip, 187–88 HMS Medea aids in the rescue, 232–33 formal trials near Portsmouth, 188 introduction to Willcox, 229 heating of paddle- shaft bearings, 187–88 meets threat from EISNC, 242–43 perfection of engines on Thames trial, narrative of Don Juan shipwreck, 232–33 187–88 origins of Peninsular Steam, 231–32 River Thames trial trip, 187–88 P&O as imperial torch- bearer, 227 RMSP confidence in Green’s work, 186–87 P&O MD, 227 trials of, 185–86, 187–88 political strategy of, 244 Amazon disaster promotes P&O “practicality”, 242–43 breakdown of discipline, 190 promotion of P&O system, 227 brig Marsden lands first survivors, 188–89 public profile, 4 female heroism represented, 190–91 represents P&O as non- partisan, 243 final death toll, 190 RN volunteer, 228–29 finding heroism in, 191 sailing ship trade to Iberian Peninsula, 229 largest wooden steamer since President, saving Peninsular Steam’s reputation, 185–86 232–33 loss of all senior officers, 189–90 Scott’s Romantic literature, 228–29, 232–33 loss of control of steamship system, 185 Shetland Journal, 232–33 maiden voyage, 185 ship- broking partnership with Willcox, Midshipman Vincent’s account, 189–90 229 moral and spiritual lessons of, 185 ship- owning partnership with Willcox, 229 Neilson as early witness, 188–89 size and value of P&O’s fleet (1852), 330 Rev. Hollis’s evangelical sermon, 196–97 St Mary Axe, City of London, office, 229

Index 389

Andersonian Institution, Glasgow Atlas Works Andrew Ure’s lectures at, 312 boiler probelms identified, 325–26 Mansel as a student at, 309 high- pressure boiler tests, 325–26 Randolph studied at, 312 Horton as works manager, 325–26 Anglicanism. See Church of England privileged site, 325–26 Angus, William Rowan’s Glasgow boiler works, 324–25 Amazon’s second engineer, 191–92 Atrato (RMSP), 199 gleam of fire witnessed in bilges, 191–92 entry into service, 346 refusal to obey master’s order, 191–92 fitted withDemerara engines by Caird, RMSP’s rule of service, 191–92 199–200 Arabia (I) (Cunard). See La Plata (RMSP) high coal consumption, 199–200 Arago (L+H), 341 hull construction, 199–200 Arctic (Collins), 298 iron- hulled mail steamer from Cairds, Capt. Luce as master, 301–2 199–200 collision with iron- hulled Vesta, 301–2 largest mail steamer afloat (1853), 199–200 disaster as Divine punishment, 302 outpaces Amazon- class in speed, 199–200 loss of all women and children, 301–2 restores confidence after Amazon, 185 NAR account of sinking, 301–2 RMSP’s first large iron steamer, 185, 346 Rev. Abbott’s verdict on clientele, 299 Auckland, Earl of. See Eden, George shielded from a hostile ocean, 299 Austin, Capt. Horatio T. (RN) survivors from, 301–2 commander of HMS Medea, 233 Argyll, Dukes of, 34, 35 involved with naval steam warships, 212 Ariel (tea clipper), 342 PSNC director, 212 aristocracy Australia (P&O) Junius Smith, 71–72 Caird contract for hull and engines, 359 North British, 4 first Clyde- built P&O compound ship, 359 RMSP and, 4 Australian Royal Mail SN Co. Asia (Cunard) auxiliary steamers built by Russell, 289 competes with Collins Atlantic, 299 Brunel as consulting engineer, 289 Rev. Beecher’s complaints, 299–300 Russell’s performance data, 289 Sunday practices on board, 299–300 Avon (PO packet), 234 Assheton Smith, Thomas Avon (RMSP), 146 Duke of Wellington, 46 beaten by P&O Oriental, 264 Elder’s side- lever engines, 43 brings home Tweed survivors, 179–80 friendship with Lord George Bentinck, carries news of Tweed disaster, 179–80 46 disorderly state of, 171 last Napier- built steam yacht Serpent, 43 high coal consumption of, 176 Napier- built steam yachts, 324 refit incompetently managed, 202 Napier- engined steam yachts, 44 regulating coal consumption, 172 Port Dinorwig, 44 steaming trials of, 175 provides Napier with access to EIC, 46 Tweed narrative written on passage, 179–80 provides security for Napier, 47 Ayr, 24, 25 Spencer Wynn as neighbour, 277–78 sporting culture, 44 BAAS trust in Napier and Elder, 43 Brunel challenges Lardner at Bristol, 64 wealth fromWelsh slate quarries, 44 Cleland’s address to, 19 withdrawal from RYS, 43 interest in steamship performance, 324–25 Atalanta (EIC), 47, 132 John Elder’s Aberdeen (1859) address, 317 exceeded Lardner’s limits, 68 Lardner’s addresses to, 60 Athenaeum, 72 Liverpool meeting (1854), 288–89 Athlone (CDSP), 234 Magnetic Crusade, 157 Atlantic (Collins), 298 Orion disaster and Edinburgh meeting, 31 breaks main shaft and sails to Ireland, 301 Prof. Thomson’s address on energy, 365 Edinburgh Journal on, 298–99 rally to Russell’s Great Eastern project, 290 ILN on internal style, 298–99 Rankine’s Liverpool (1854) address, 317 weather damage to, 298–99 Russell and Edinburgh meeting (1834), 138

390 Index

BAAS (cont.) Cunard line’s debt to, 295 Russell’s address (1854), 288–89 David MacIver’s view of, 113 Russell’s experimental investigations, familiarity with politics of empire, 77–78 138–39 Financial Secretary, 77–78 science- based naval architecture, 324–25 letter from McQueen, 129, 131, 133 Whewell’s tidal investigations, 213 mail contracts, 77–78 Williams at Dublin meeting (1835), 233 patron of Cunard, 93 Bacon, Francis Whig politics of, 77–78 Novum organum, 70 Baring, Thomas Bain, Capt. George brother of Francis, 135 accused of “grave insubordination”, 360–62 head of Barings Bank, 135 aware of Elder’s reputation, 358 RMSP director, 135 blames Sutherland for Australia delay, Barings Bank, 135 359–60 Barony Church, 18 claims rejected by most proprietors, 360–62 Barton, Capt. (RN) compound alliance with P&O L’Estrange, RMSP’s marine superintendent, 167 358–59 Battle of the Boyne, 90 controversies with Sutherland, 359–60 Bayley, George Elder lets him witness compound’s merits, P&O superintendent of construction, 272 358 Bayley, Henry Elder meets P&O directors at his hotel, Anderson promotes to P&O MD, 355 358–59 began as a P&O clerk (1848), 355 esteemed by Anderson, 355–56 Beagle, HMS experienced in nautical practices, 355–56 Valparaiso visit, 206 hostility to and from Sutherland, 360–62 Beale, James instructed not to visit Elder’s works, 358 Cork Quaker, 63 invites Elder to meet him in Granton, 358 family connection to iron shipbuilding, 63 joins P&O management staff, 355 St George Steam Packet Co., 63 married to Anderson’s niece, 355–56 Beattie, Dr Alexander master of Anderson’s steam yacht, 355–56 accuses RMSP Court of fatalism, 346 only nautical member of P&O management, awards to masters for fuel economy, 352 359–60 bonuses to officers and engineers, 352–53 P&O Board limited nautical experience, criticism of RMSP officers, 346 359–60 questions level of RMSP debt (1854), 200 P&O master, 355–56 questions RMSP coal purchase policy, 346 pamphlets attack P&O managers, 360–62 RMSP and P&O proprietor, 200 reports on ship construction, 355–56 sail- aided steamships, 352–53 rising tensions with Sutherland, 359 serious attack on RMSP competence, 201 seeks P&O Committee of Investigation, 360 Beecher, Rev. Henry Ward Sutherland ridicules pretensions of, 360–62 Arctic disaster as Divine punishment, 302 Sutherland’s character assassination, dislikes Cunard Sunday practices, 299–300 360–62 Plymouth Congregational Church, 299–300 tour of P&O eastern establishments, 355–56 preference for Collins Line, 299–300 views others in P&O as former clerks, US Congregationalist pastor, 299–300 359–60 Beechey, Capt. F.W. (RN) Baltic (Collins), 298 BoT marine dept. superintendent, 191 Baltimore charting coastlines, 191 Red Star Line sailing packet, 179 co- presides over Amazon Inquiry, 191 Bank of England Begbie, Thomas Stirling Curtis as Governor, 238 London agent for Clyde builders, 327 Sir John Reid a director of, 56 witness to Scott Thetis’s engine trials, 327 Baring brothers. See Baring, Francis Bell, Henry, 17 Baring, Francis Thornhill grave at Rhu Kirkyard, 35 Baring brothers, 77–78 Helensburgh baths, 23 Canning’s Tory ministry, 77–78 Napier supports memorials to, 49 Chancellor of the Exchequer, 77–78 Robert Napier, 35

Index 391

Bengal (P&O) encourages British merchants in India, advantages over RMSP’s Orinoco, 279 237–38 coal consumption of, 279 P&O Bentinck named in honour of, 266 compass deviation, 279–81 reforming Governor- General of India, 47 edge over paddle steamers, 367 Bentley’s Shilling Series, 190 exemplary performance of, 279 Berenice (EIC), 132 imperfect performance on voyage east, master’s report sent to Napier, 47 279–81 Napier exemplar for Cunard, 90 large iron screw steamer, 263, 279 Napier- engined mail steamer, 47 launch by Tod & MacGregor, 279 Napier’s award for performance of, 48 performance, 263 performance under sail alone, 68 tendency to serious rolling, 279–81 satisfaction over voyage east, 47 Tod & MacGregor, 263 Berkeley, Henry (MP) Bennett, James Gordon criticism of mail contract allocation, 118 brings news to London of crossings, 75 supporter of GWSS against Cunard, 118 Catholic upbringing, 74–75 Bible crosses eastbound on Sirius, 75 authority of, 18 Enlightenment perspective, 70 moral power, 61 faith in progress, 75 Bible Society of America, 206 New York Herald editor, 74–75 Biblical literalism perfectibility of man, 70 BAAS avoidance of, 290–91 Rev. Chalmers, 74–75 Capt. Henderson’s, 290–91 Scottish roots of, 74–75 Church of England and, 290–91 Sirius’s arrival in New York, 75 Oriental’s place in, 264–65 support for Collins Line lobbying, 297–98 Big Picture history of science, 14 witnesses Clyde steamboats, 74–75 Birmingham & London Railway, 9, 57 witnesses launch of British Queen, 75–76 Black Ball Line, 59 Bentham, Jeremy Black Prince, HMS close friend of Bowring, 163 Mansel’s role in designing, 311–12 Bentinck (P&O) Napier- built iron- clad, 311–12 built by Wilson, 244, 265–66 sister to HMS Warrior, 311–12 coal consumption, 268 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, 130 Company promotion of, 267–68 Blandford, Marquis of, 71 contrast with first Cunarders, 266–67 Blenheim Palace, 71 designed for Suez to Calcutta service, Bliss, Henry 244 Agent for New Brunswick, 77 displayed at Blackwall, 266 Baring’s comments on letter of, 78 elegant accommodation, 266–67 petitions British Postmaster- General, 77 engined by Fawcett, 244 Blood, Rev. William enlarged version of Oriental, 265–66 Amazon as a picture of Hell, 195 exhaustion of coal, 267–68 chaplain to Marquis of Hertford, 193–94 high cost of, 265–66 chooses W. Indies voyage to recover, ILN account of, 266–67 193–94 named in honour of Lord William, 266 Church of England living, 193–94 RM reports trial trip a failure, 267–68 contrast with Cameron’s narrative, 194, side- lever engines, 265–66 195, 197 sister to Hindostan, 265–66 daily worship aboard galliot, 195 smoke- consuming patent, 266–67 divine vengeance upon a sinful world, 196, as a steamship system, 266–67 197 underperformance of, 267–68 evangelical Anglican clergyman, 193 watertight iron bulkheads, 266–67 evangelical shipwreck sermons, 194 Bentinck, Lord George, 46 large congregations attracted by, 194 Bentinck, Lord William life- boat as metaphor of Christ, 195 Anderson aligns P&O values with, 243 narrative of providential deliverance, 194 brother to 4th Duke of Portland, 47 personal experience of Amazon fire, 194 driving force behind steam to India, 237 published tracts on Amazon disaster by, 194

392 Index

Blood, Rev. William (cont.) from family of Exeter wool merchants, puritanical intensity aboard galliot, 195 162–63 resistance to evangelicalism of, 195 leads opposition RMSP proprietors, 162–63 RMSP rejects financial assistance for, 197 mocks complacency of RMSP Court, 163 RMSP reminds him of insurance option, seeks RMSP Committee of Inquiry, 163 197 Unitarian, non- Anglican values, 162–63 serious illness in Paris, 193–94 urged to call for Solway investigation, 156 special providence at work, 194–95 voices RMSP proprietors’s anxieties, 148 Blue Funnel Line. See OSS; Holt, Alfred Westminster Review political editor, 162–63 Boardman, Frederick Boyne (RMSP) partner in Naylor, Boardman, 212 large iron screw steamer by Denny, 353 Bogota (PSNC), 305 wrecked, 354 David Elder (jr) attends to engine of, 307 Braganza (Bourne), 232 re- engined with compound system, 321–22 chartered to Peninsular Steam, 232 Bombay (P&O) Brandon second large iron screw P&O steamer, 279 first Elder compound- engined vessel, Book of Common Prayer, 195 312–13 Tweed disaster, 180–81 trial trip favorably reported in NM, 313 Booth, Charles trial trip witnessed by George Peacock, 313 doubts about ship- owning, 344 Bristol Booth, Henry Patterson as shipbuilder in, 58 Great Britain’s commercial flaws, 117 Bristol Mirror, 116 L&MR, 10 Britannia (Cunard), 101, 102 Liverpool Polytechnic Society, 10, 117 Acadian Recorder on Halifax arrival, 102 Bossut, Charles, 36 built by Duncan, 139 Boulton, Matthew, 97 celebratory arrival in Boston, 102–3 Bourne, John Dickens’s Atlantic crossing, 7, 89 Great Eastern combination inspired by, 289 Isabella Napier names, 102 Treatise on screw propeller, 289 maiden voyage of, 102 Bourne, Richard Rev. Gannett’s sermon, 8 acquires steamers for Peninsular trade, 231 side- lever engines, 105 commanded a 12-gun RN schooner, 230 Britannia Bridge, 290 Dublin & London Co., 4, 230 cellular structure tested at Millwall, 290 extensive transport interests in Ireland, 230 Robert Stephenson as engineer, 290 financial loss from Don Juan wreck, 233 British & American SN Co., See also Smith, owner of early Peninsular Steam ships, 232 Junius owner of paddle- steamer Royal Tar, 230 Laird as secretary, 71 owns 3/4 new Peninsular Steam ships, 232 British & Irish Steam Packet Co. P&O Nautical Committee, 272 acquires Bourne’s London & Dublin, 233 sale of Dublin & London to Williams, 233 owned by Williams, 233, 247 wealthy Anglo- Irish family, 230 British & North American RMSP Co., See Bowen, Capt. John Cunard’s line of steamers master of P&O Bengal, 281 British Queen, 86 reports on Bengal’s imperfections, 279–81 aristocratic admiration, 71–72 Bowles, Rear- Admiral Sir William bankruptcy of engine builders, 65 asserts authority over RMSP, 169 delays in construction, 72 brother- in- law of Palmerston, 169 delays to fitting out, 81–82 comptroller- general coastguard service, dwarfs Great Western, 87 169 for sale at time of Alexandria contract, 242 seagoing career of, 169 Thames hull, 64 wields authority of social superiority, 170 Hall’s condensers in, 96 Bowring, Dr John (MP) laid up and sold to Belgium, 110 caricatures RMSP directors, 153 Laird to oversee construction, 64 close friend of Jeremy Bentham, 162–63 Mercator on structural weaknesses, 87 engagement with political economy, 162–63 originally named Victoria, 3 enthusiast for radical causes, 162–63 P&O reject purchase of, 270–71

Index 393

performance poor under Belgian flag, 110 Glasgow merchants to invest in Cunard, 100 press controversy over engine contract, 82 managers of Cunard’s line of steamers, reported broken backed, 111 100–101 spectacle in New York, 86–87 Burns, Dr John spectacle of arrival at Liverpool, 86 contingencies of human life, 22 Times account of interiors, 85–86 evangelicalism of, 18, 22 Times report of launch of, 75–76, 76 George Burns’s debt to, 22 Broomielaw. See Glasgow Glasgow professor of surgery, 17 Brown & Bell laws of nature, 22 build Collins Pacific and Baltic, 298 Orion disaster, 31 Dramatic Line packets built by, 297 Providence, 22 New York sailing packet builders, 297 reputation, 26 Brown, George Burns, G.&J. contests Russell’s proposed changes, 144 coastal shipping business of, 23, 24 first PSNC chairman, 135, 212, 215 Comet (II) disaster, 24–25 RMSP director, 135 confidence in, 29 Brown, James general merchants, 23 brother of William, 296 Glasgow branch of Cunard Line, 295 Collins Line proprietor, 296 joins with MacIver, 30 family losses in Arctic disaster, 302 move into steam, 26 takes 20% of Collins capital, 297–98 Sabbath observance, 26–27 Brown, Rev John Todd Burns, George Church of Scotland evangelical, 264 church and steamboat analogy, 29 Brown, William Church of England, 27 family interest in Cunard’s and Collins, 296 Cleland family, 19 guest on Persia for trial trip, 295 Comet (I), 23 Liverpool banker, 295 Cunard line’s debt to Sir Charles Wood, Brown, William H. 295 builder of Collins Atlantic and Arctic, 298 Cunard vessels avoid Sunday sailings, New York shipbuilder, 298 102–3 Steers as loftsman for, 298 Cunard’s line of steamers, 13–14 Brunel, Isambard Kingdom debt to Dr John Burns, 22 alters Great Britain to screw, 115 declines bidding for Halifax mails, 88 BAAS Bristol meeting, 64 Donaldson introduces Cunard to, 99 data from HMS Rattler screw trials, 276–77 efforts to convert David MacIver, 30 Great Eastern project, 285 evangelical ship- owning practices of, 26 Great Western fire, 73 evangelical views of Cunard, 92 GWR, 9 evangelicalism of, 18 GWSS, 9 family of, 17 heroic representation, 2 Glasgow merchant, 19 Holt’s satire on, 291 Henry Bell, 23 injuries sustained on Great Western, 72–73 marriage to Jane Cleland, 19 Leviathan project, 188 moderate evangelicalism of, 27 Lindsay’s criticism of Great Eastern, moral credibility of, 24 291–92 occupies chair on Persia trial trip, 295 Pettit Smith’s screw engines, 115 opposition to steamboat legislation, 28 projection of GWSS, 57 opposition to Thames bill, 27–29 railway systems, 9 Persia toast to absent Samuel Cunard, 295 Russell’s acquaintance with, 289 Persia toast to rival Collins Line, 295–96 witness to Amazon’s Thames trial trip, 188 political economy, 19 Buccleuch, Duke of, 156, 266 Providence, 22, 296 Burns & MacIver role of clergy in relation to trade, 296 Admiralty order against iron steamers, 276 Sabbath observance, 26–27 coastal steam navigation system, 30 Sabbath service on the Thames, 29 Cunard’s managers, 89 self- reliance evangelical agenda, 28 formation of partnership of, 30 steamship owning as vocation, 27

394 Index

Burns, George (cont.) takes Cairds into iron shipbuilding, 198–99 toasts clergy of three denominations, 296 worked at Randolph, Cunliff, 312–13 unwarranted state intervention, 28 works with Russell on RMSP steamers, 199 Burns, James. See Burns, G.&J. Caird, John (sr) Burns, James Cleland death of, 139 son of George, 31 reputation for reliable marine engines, 139 Burns, Rev. John Caird, Prof. John baptises Russell in Barony Church, 138 early work in his father’s firm, 139 David Tod, 268–69 liberal Presbyterian scholar, 139 evangelical Protestantism, 18 Principal of Glasgow University, 139 minister of Barony Church, 18, 268–69 studies at Glasgow University, 309 Bury, Curtis. See Bury, Edward Callao (PSNC) Bury, Edward near- sistership to Valparaiso, 321–22 builds engine of Sarah Sands, 277 Calvinism. See Presbyterianism Chappell’s praise for Forth’s engines, 147 Cambria (Cunard) excessive vibration of Forth’s engines, 147 wanton waste by officers, 122 Menzies subcontracts one set of engines, Cameron, John Black 141 brings to London details of Tweed loss, P&O contract for oscillating engines, 179–80 270–71 Church of England narrative frame, 180 White subcontracts one set of engines, 141 contrast with Blood’s evangelicalism, 195, witnessing Forth’s troubled sea trials, 147 197 Bute, Marquis of, 28, 156 contrast with Blood’s sermons, 194 disintegration of the Tweed, 166 Caird & Co. enhances RMSP’s depleted standing, 183 builds RMSP iron screw Douro, 348 former RMSP Moorgate St clerk, 180 close ties to P&O under Sutherland, 362–63 his anonymous Times narrative, 180 converts P&O Sultan to screw (1855), 335 his SPCK tract (1856), 180 engines for the wrecked Demerara, 187 practical, moral and spiritual message, 180 Greenock engineers and shipbuilders, 12 RM’s allusion to theRMSP Camerons, 180 Hamburg America contracts, 349 RMSP reward to, 183 Norddeutscher Lloyd contracts, 349 RMSP superintendent at St Thomas, 183 P&O connections, 12, 263 Tweed passenger and survivor, 179–80 P&O seek performance advice, 263 Campbell, Sir Colin P&O’s contract for Australia, 359 Governor- General of Nova Scotia, 93 P&O’s return to, 359 summary of Cunard’s credentials, 93 reputation for strength and reliability, 263 Campbell, Sir John revival of P&O connection, 345 P&O chairman, 252 RMSP allocate four steamships to, 141 responds at GM to RM leading article, 252 Russell manager after owner’s death, 139 RM’s satirical account of P&O GM, 255 subcontract all four RMSP hulls, 141 Candlish, Rev. Robert Smith take- over by Harland & Wolff, 362–63 Free Kirk deputy to Chalmers, 356 Caird, James Tennant Sutherland attends services of, 356 acquire yard of Thompson & Spiers, Canning, George (Prime Minister) 198–99 Britain’s relations with South America, 209 Allan and Carleton consult, 273–75 James Scarlett sympathetic, 209 apprentice with Caird & Co., 199 liberal Tory ministry of, 78 design changes recommended to P&O, liberal Tory political views, 209 273–75 South American policy of, 78 friendship with Sutherland, 362–63 capital, moral and spiritual, 2 mill machinery skills, 199 capitalists, gentlemanly principal draughtsman at Cairds, 199 Junius Smith’s involvement with, 57 railway engineering experience, 199 Carleton, Francis strict Presbyterian upbringing, 199 attack on RM at P&O GM, 260–61 succeeds Russell as Cairds manager, Caird consultation, 263 198–99 CDSP joint- MD, 234–35

Index 395

CDSP secretary, 234–35 defends Solway master’s reputation, 161–62 director in Williams’ several companies, dismissal of RMSP officers, 168–70 247 follows Admiralty plan, 145–46 P&O MD, 227 meeting with Rear- Admiral Bowles, 168–70 RM’s satirical portrayal, 255 orders to masters, 170 Carnot, Sadi PO agent at Milford Haven, 61 Gordon tells GPS about theory of, 308–9 ponders restricting steamers’ range, 176 steam navigation and civilization, 8 promoted to RMSP secretary, 147 theory of the motive power of heat, 308–9 reports CDSP for reckless action, 234 Carron, 133 retires as RMSP secretary (1856), 203 Cassini (L+H), 341 RM criticises authority held by, 156 Cavendish- Bentinck, William. See Portland, RM’s criticisms of, 160 4th Duke of RM’s satirical portrayal, 255, 256 ceremony. See spectacle, steamship RMSP Board of Management, 166 Ceylon (P&O) RMSP Courtier, 4 Humphrys supplies simple engine, 333 RMSP marine superintendent, 145 Challenger (tea clipper), 186 RMSP secretary, 4, 145 Chalmers, Rev. Thomas selection of RMSP officers, 168–70 Astronomical Sermons, 19 support for Laird’s voyage to Africa, 61 Bennett impressed by, 75 Tweed disaster casualties, 179 Christian political economy, 19–20 witnessing Forth’s trials, 147 divine miracles, 21 character evils of speculation, 21 Cunard’s line of steamers, 13 Free Church of Scotland leader, 27 David Elder’s, 5 friendship with Napier, 35 engineers’ stock in trade, 5 George Burns and, 19–20 George Mills’, 5 honourable merchants, 21 James Allan’s, 5 human beings as instruments, 22 Charles Bartlett laws of nature and society, 20, 31–32 collision with Cunard Europa, 123–24 moral trials, 20 Charlotte Dundas nature’s instabilities, 21 Forth & Clyde Canal trials, 228 philanthropic system of, 19–20 Chile (PSNC) political economy of, 21 Peacock’s account of salvage of, 217–18 Presbyterianism of, 31–32 rendezvous with Peru at Rio, 215 Providence, 20, 31–32 Chili salvation, 20 Chilean navy flagship, 217 sea sermons of, 21–22 chivalric code shipwreck of St Paul, 22 women and children first, 154 social experiment of, 19–20 Christianity. See Presbyterianism; St John’s Church ministry, 19 Church of England; Unitarianism; Tron Church ministry, 19 Congregationalism Chappell, Capt. Edward (RN) Church of England “Daily minutes”, 167 BAAS’s gentlemen of science and, 290–91 Admiralty authority, 168–70 broad church views in, 290–91 agent for PO packets at Milford Haven, 145 Cameron’s narrative framed by, 180 assisted Laird’s African voyage, 145 Cunard line’s adopted form of worship, 300 attends Amazon trials, 185 David Elder joins, 48–49 authoritarian style of management, 145 evangelicals in, 18 challenges Russell’s recommendations, not committed to Biblical literalism, 290–91 145–46 Rev. Macleod’s view of, 49 changes to sail plan, 146–47 Church of Scotland. See Presbyterianism Chappell announces Solway loss, 153 Churchill family, 71 concern over engine installations, 146 City of Dublin SP Co. concern over shipwrights’ practices, 146 Admiralty issues warning to, 233–34 contests authority of Admiral Bowles, 169 Atlantic project, 60, 82 crew discipline and sobriety, 170 Carleton as secretary, 234–35

396 Index

City of Dublin SP Co. (cont.) Cleator (Alfred Holt) Carleton promoted to joint- MD of, Holt knew both old and new engines, 234–35 340–41 Chappell reports reckless action of, 233–34 Holt’s compound- engined, 340–41 false image of prosperity, 247 trial seagoing trip ranked a success, financial and physical aggression of, 340–41 233–34 Cleland, Dr James iron steamer under construction (1843), 247 BAAS, 19 Liverpool & Dublin Steam Ship Building Chalmers’s friendship with, 19 Co., 248 Clyde shipping, 19 Macgregor Laird, 63 Glasgow Sabbath observance, 25–26 mail contract awarded to, 233–34 Glasgow’s leading statistician, 19 PO steam packets’ understanding with, public works of Glasgow, 19 233–34 social statistics, 19 prosperity and dividends, 234–35 statistical account of Glasgow, 19 RM attack on monopoly character, 247–48 support for Comet (I), 19 RM contrasts Glasgow partnerships, transatlantic passenger data, 46 247–48 Cleland, Jane, 19 RM’s satire on smoke emitted, 246 Clyde (RMSP), 146, 151 Royal William (II)’s three voyages, 82 Clyde, River sets up Transatlantic Steam Ship Co., 82 civil engineering of, 345 slide in share values, 247 voyage down, 345 Tod & MacGregor contracts, 275 coal consumption Williams as chairman, 82 Admiralty demands for speed increase, Williams as founder of, 63 347–48 Williams as MD, 246 alleged fraudulent practices regarding, 352 Williams as owner of, 233 Amazon’s formal sea trials, 188 Williams’s founding of, 233–34 awards to masters for reducing, 352 City of Glasgow Callao’s highly satisfactory, 321–22 iron screw steamer, 278 Chappell’s pessimism over, 176 sold to Inman Line, 279 coal suitable for tropical climates, 172–73, Tod & MacGregor’s own account, 278 177 City of Glasgow (I) (David MacIver), 30 costs of British versus West Coast coal, 221 City of Glasgow (II) (Burns & MacIver), 30 disputed measurements of, 367–68 Napier exemplar, 98 Elder identifies difficulties of analysis, 348 operating for RMSP, 151 Elder links engine cost to savings in, 313 RM’s scathing report on, 151 Engineer commends Lardner’s estimates, City of Glasgow Steam Packet Co., 29, 95, 99. 326 See also MacIver, David Engineer on Cornish pumping engines’, 326 contracts with Napier, 42 Engineer on ocean steamship, 326 City of London (ASNC) Engineer on SW R’way locomotives’, 326 built and engined by Napier, 305 Engineer’s desiderata for reduced, 326 Civil Engineer & Architect’s Journal, 149 expansive working, 172–73 Clapeyron, Emile, 308–9 experimental tests on inequalities of, 366 Clarence, 43 great differences in calorific values, 366 Clark, Daniel Kinnear Great Eastern, 293–94 independent arbiter for Valparaiso, Great Liverpool, 250 320–21 Great Western, 250 railway engineer, 320–21 higher pressures reduce, 324 Claxton, Capt. Christopher (RN) Hindostan claims for reduced, 245–46 Amazon’s Thames trial trip, 188 HMS Cyclops, 250 Great Western voyage record as gift, 79 HMS Medea’s, 66 practical nautical man, 58 human agents devoted to, 366 prime mover in SC challenging Cunard, 112 importance of masters for reducing, 352 Report on GWSS Atlantic project, 58 Jevons on thermodynamics of, 323 visit to principal British ports, 58 Junius Smith’s projected, 56

Index 397

L+H Humboldt’s 50% reduction in, 341 RMSP’s investigation into coal handling, Lardner’s locomotive duty, 65 166 Lardner’s projected, 64, 65, 67 RMSP’s problems of control, 346 MacIver’s rules for measuring, 122 RMSP’s steaming trials, 175–76 mail steamship companies, 345 Royal William, 250 McQueen’s projected eastern routes, 235 Russell’s data on auxiliary steamers, 289 McQueen’s projected sail assistance, 134 sail- aided P&O mail steamers, 364 McQueen’s projected West Indies, 131–33, sail- aided steamships, 352–53 134 single- expansion engines’ high, 350 Napier’s projected transatlantic, 46 South Wales coal, 172–73 oscillating versus side- lever engines, steamers exhaust coal on passage, 174–75 172–73 superheated steam reduces, 324 P&O annual (1857-58), 335 superheating and possible reduction of, 348 P&O Bentinck’s high, 268 Thetis matches Engineer’s desiderata, P&O Himalaya’s very large, 331–33 326–27 P&O imperative to reduce coal consump- trials with coal from different mines, tion, 335 172–73 P&O’s Bengal versus RMSP’s Orinoco, 279 variation of quality among regions, 366 Peacock’s quest for Chilean deposits, 216 visible manifestations, 366 Peacok’s mine system at Talcahuano, Watt’s link of engine cost to savings in, 220–21 313 Persia, 293–94 Welsh versus Labuan (Borneo) coal, 366 Peru on delivery voyage, 215 Wheelwright fails to find Callao coal, political importance to Chile, 220 220–21 problems of accurately measuring, 352 Wheelwright’s projected Chilean supply, Prof. Thomson on, 365 211 PSNC Quito’s moderate, 307 Wheelwright’s projections of PSNC, 208 PSNC Santiago’s extraordinary, 306 Williams’s smoke- consuming patent, PSNC’s high, 304 245–46, 246 PSNC’s projected, 208 Woolwich Dockyard experiments, 173 Randolph, Elder’s compound system, coal question. See coal consumption 367–68 coal shipments Randolph, Elder’s promise to reduce, British steam, 285 313–14 Chappell’s ordering of, 174 realising the virtues of coal, 366 Chilean mines, 12 RM’s estimate of P&O’s annual, 249–50 Conrad’s Youth (1899), 364 RMSP, 172–78 Crimean War, 304 RMSP annual expenditure, 172 dangers of damp coal, 192 RMSP Atrato’s high, 199–200 Great Eastern, 285 RMSP concerns with higher, 347–48 Great Eastern carries enough coal, 289–90 RMSP’ Dee’s very high, 176 Lindsay negotiates P&O, 285–87 RMSP engine performance, 166 Lindsay’s costing, 286 RMSP investigation into coal handling, 174 Lindsay’s system of, 285 RMSP large paddle steamers’s high, 350 McQueen projects sailing vessel, 134 RMSP masters’ and engineers’ economy, P&O tonnages shipped by Lindsay, 287 166 Palestine destroyed by coal fire, 364 RMSP older steamers’, 347–48 PSNC, 304 RMSP resolves to reduce (1843), 153 RMSP’s costs, 346 RMSP rewards to officers for cutting, RMSP’s sailing vessel charters, 174 176–77 sailing- ship cargoes, 12 RMSP savings not due to compounding, South Wales mines, 12 352–53 spontaneous combustion, 192 RMSP steamers’ daily, 172–73 coaling stations RMSP trials with patent fuel, 176 P&O list of, 286 RMSP’s experimental trials, 166 coastguard service, 169 RMSP’s increased costs (1853), 199–200 Cochrane, Sir Thomas (RN), 215

398 Index

Collins Line Compagnie Générale des Paquebots alleged extravagance and recklessness, 302 Transatlantique Arctic crew discipline broke down, 302 deploys former naval vessels, 124 Bennett’s Herald supports lobbying, outpaced by US sailing packet, 124 297–98 promised rival to Cunard, 124 collapse of, 303 suspended after heavy financial losses, 124 Collins lobbies Federal Govt., 297–98 compass, magnetic. See also Smith, Archibald complexity of engines delays delivery, 298 Archibald Smith and deviation of, 156–59 Edinburgh Journal on Atlantic, 298–99 Great Britain stranding, 120 Faron as superintendent engineer, 298 inaccuracy in P&O Bengal’s, 280, 281 Gothic- style engine frame on Pacific, 298 material, moral and spiritual meaning, 182 heavy wear and tear on steamers, 301 problems of insuring iron vessels, 158–59 ILN on Atlantic, 298–99 recovery of fromTweed wreckage, 182 insufficient lifeboats on Arctic, 302 Tweed disaster, 180–81 James Brown takes 20% of capital, 297–98 compound engines maintain Noah’s Ark ratios, 299 Alfred Holt’s system, 340–44 no watertight bulkheads on Arctic, 302 arrangement of Humphrys’s, 333–34 NY Times admits Cunarders’ strength, 301 coal consumption, 304 Pacific departs Liverpool past Persia, 297 Elder’s 2nd compound- engine patent, 315 passenger list with “all tongues spoken”, Humphrys avoids high pressure, 333–34 299 Humphrys avoids high speed, 333–34 press attention, 298–99 John Elder, 304 public narrative of recklessness, 303 P&O fits 8 sets of Humphrys’s, 337 quality of accommodation, 298–99 P&O Mooltan with Humphrys’s, 334–35 Rev. Abbott’s verdict on clientele, 299 practical advantages over simple, 336 ships to be available in event of war, RMSP adopt, 350–51 297–98 RMSP recognition of potential of, 347–48 side- lever engines, 298 condensers, surface steamers’s average crossing time, 293 Samuel Goddard’s patent, 96 struggles to raise capital as costs rise, Samuel Hall’s patent, 71 297–98 confidence theatricality, 298–99 British Queen’s USA arrival inspires, 86–87 tragedies of, 285 Cameron’s heroic narrative rebuilds, winning confidence of passengers, 299 180–83 wins Federal subsidy, 297–98 coastal steam navigation, 17 Collins, Edward Knight Collins Line rise in public and passenger, Dramatic Line of sailing packets, 297 298–99, 300–301 family losses in Arctic disaster, 302 Collins Line tragedies destroy, 301–3 New England son of a ship master, 297 Cunard Columbia loss boosts press, 123 theatricality of, 299 Cunard line’s rise in press and public, 121 Columbia (Cunard) Cunard practices to maintain public, 13 last of the original quartet, 103 Cunard’s line cultivates Government, loss by grounding near Cape Sable, 13, 123 113–14 portrayal of heroic rescue, 123 Cunard’s line of steamers and public, 12–13 Colvile, Andrew Dickens on rise and fall of passenger, 103–5 brother- in- law to Earl of Auckland, 135 Great Britain and varying passenger, RM’s satirical account of P&O GM, 255 116–17 RMSP chairman after Irving, 203 Great Britain stranding wrecks press, RMSP deputy chairman, 135 120–21 Comet (I), 17, 23, 35–36 Great Eastern enthusiasts promote, 292–93 Cleland’s support of, 19 Great Eastern performance threatens, 294 Comet (II) Holt’s Agamemnon secures shippers’, 342 disaster, 24–25, 27 Humphrys’s engines fail to sustain P&O, Commercial Steam Packet Co., 232 338 Commodore (Burns & MacIver), 42, 94 increase in Great Western passengers’, 73 Napier exemplar, 98 Liverpool spectacle raises public, 28–29

Index 399

loss of Great Western passengers’, 73 RMSP director, 144 Mercator undermines large steamship, 87 strongly opposed by Bowring, 162 Napier and Elder build steamship, 33 Courier, Liverpool Napier stresses importance of, 45 Persia’s trial trip, 297 Napier’s Dundee steamers raise public, 44 craftsmen. See sites of skill Napier’s warning of accidents at sea, 12 Crane, William, 77 P&O iron Pottinger occasions loss of, credibility. See confidence 272–73 Burns’s moral, 24 P&O management lacks public, 252 G.&J. Burns’s moral and spiritual, 25 P&O narrative of practicality builds, moral and spiritual, 22, 30, 31–32 242–43 Crimean War P&O secrecy generates loss of, 252 coal shipments, 304 P&O slavery links threaten public, 257–61 Cunard’s Line steamers as transports, 296 P&O’s iron- hulled Pacha builds, 270 high freight rates, 308 P&O’s original grounds for, 242 PSNC, 304 President’s loss affects public, 110 Croker, Thomas Crofton press criticism of RMSP threatens, 149–52 Admiralty mail contract official, 242 PSNC attempts to exert control of, 219 mail contract restricted by engine hp, 242 PSNC directors lack proprietors’, 222–23 Crum, Walter, 308 PSNC grand pageant staged to boost, 217 Cuba (Cunard) PSNC’s Capt. Peacock’s promotion of, 218 large iron screw steamer, 7 RM threat to P&O’s control of public, 245 tendency to heavy rolling, 7 RMSP disciplinary practices restore, Cumming, Rev. John 170–71 belief in progress via r’way and s’ship, 356 RMSP moves to restore public, 198–99 dislike of Catholicism, 356 RMSP Solway loss undermines public, dislike of Free Kirk, 356 153–56 dislike of Tractarianism, 356 RMSP suffers Admiralty loss of, 168–70 Sutherland attends services of, 356 sound management crucial to public, Cunard, Edward 100–101 explicit about his father’s faith, 92 steamboat disaster as threat to public, 24–25 son of Samuel, 92 Thames steamboat, 28 Cunard, Samuel Congregationalism absent from Persia’s trial trip, 294–97 Junius Smith, 54 accepts Napier’s advice on size, 95–96 puritan heritage, 54 accepts Napier’s advice on tonnage, Rev. Beecher’s adherance to, 300 95–96 Rev. Hollis’s puritanical sermons, 197 acquainted with Parry, 88 Connal, William approves of Great Western, 114 Glasgow tea and sugar merchant, 100 attendance at Episcopal Church, 90 guest on Persia for trial trip, 295 avoidance of debt, 90–91 major investor in Cunard’s project, 100 avoids a joint- stock model, 98–99 Conrad, Joseph Baring as patron of, 93 P&O sail- assisted mail steamers, 364 British Queen maiden voyage, 86 sail versus steam, 7 Campbell’s summary of credentials of, 93 sailing- ship systems, 7 Charles Wood as patron of, 93 ships as living things, 7 China tea agent in Halifax, 90 wooden barque Palestine voyage, 364 close ties with contractors, 89 Youth (1899), 364 colonial gentleman, 89, 107 Conway (RMSP), 177 commercial interests of, 92–93 Copernicus (L+H), 339 commitment to Providence, 90, 91–92 Cotesworth, Robert commitment to prudence, 90–91 contests Russell’s proposed changes, 144 confidence in John Wood’s skills, 98 director of various railway companies, 162 contrast with Junius Smith, 98 discomfort over high insurance costs, 162 contrasts with RMSP., P&O., PSNC, 98–99 narrative of RMSP’s success, 162 credentials presented to Lord Glenelg, 93 prospective Peninsular Steam director, 230 dines with Howe, 77

400 Index

Cunard, Samuel (cont.) Cunard, Susan dislike of waste, 90, 92 death of, 90 Donaldson introduces Burns to, 99 Scottish Presbyterian values of, 90 EIC connections, 90 wife of Samuel, 90 estimated capital of, 92–93 Cunard’s line of steamers evangelical views of, 91–92 absence of Sunday departures, 12–13 family loyalty to Britain, 90 Admiralty order against iron steamers, 276 first contract with Napier, 89 anticipates competition from Collins, Fox’s misreading of religious faith of, 299–300 92 avoids Sunday sailings, 102–3 gentlemanly trustworthiness of, 93 Black Ball Line’s United States, 124–25 gives Napier credit for power and size, bring credit to Clyde builders, 109 96–97 Burns & MacIver as managers of, 30 Glasgow networks of trust, 94 Burns & MacIver role, 13–14 Glasgow Presbyterian connections, 94 Capt. Judkins as commodore, 294–97 Goulburn’s characterisation of, 107 Capt. Mackinnon’s criticisms of, 300–301 grounds for confidence in Napier, 97–98 cautious to adopt compound system, 345 GWSS interests on SC challenge, 112 character of, 13 GWSS’s characterisation of, 119–20 Church of England services at sea, 300 Hyde’s representation, 2 collision Europa vs Charles Bartlett, initial problem of capital, 98–99 123–24 initially unaware of invitation to bid, 81 community of trust embodied in, 30 introduction to Whig Government, 93 complaints against masters, 300–301 Kidston as link to Napier, 89 confidence- building public practices, 12–13 Kidstons decline invitation to invest, 99 contrast with Bentinck cabin layout, 267 loyalist credentials of, 93 contrast with RMSP, 165 Melvill as link to Napier, 89 crew discipline, 12–13 Melvill insists on Napier’s authority, 98 cultivating literary passengers, 12–13 mercantile experience of, 93 D.&C. MacIver’s disciplinary rules, 121–22 Napier establishes face- to- face trust, 95 deploying threat of US competition, 118–19 Napier introduces Donaldson to, 99 Dickens’s Atlantic crossing westbound, Napier’s strategy to unlock capital, 99 103–5 network of trust, 89 distribution of share capital, 100 no Royal Charter, 98–99 distribution over 4 Clyde hull builders, nobility of a mercantile life, 91 101–2 Nova Scotia lighthouses, 92 division of managerial labour, 100–101 opts for a private partnership, 99 early financial losses, 112–14 Parry as patron of, 93 established as a partnership, 100 practical experience of, 93 exemplary safety record of, 13 Presbyterian values of, 90 first Atlantic steam navigation system, 89 priority of “comfort” over “luxury”, 91 Forbes’s warning to, 123–24 priority of “comfort” over “show”, 94 French rivals fail to deliver promises, 124 projector of Atlantic steam, 93 Government patronage, 13–14, 112, 125 Providential protection of the line, 303 lack of ostentation, 12–13 Quaker origins of, 90 legal rights implicit in first contract, 118–19 replies to criticisms of Napier, 97–98 Liverpool Albion on privacy of, 100 Rev. Henry Melvill’s Trinity House ser- lives lost in sinking of Charles Bartlett, mons, 92 123–24 Royal William (I), 77 loss of Columbia, 123 sailing vessel mail contracts, 77 MacIver’s early assessment of, 112–14 securing Government patronage, 93 MacIver’s shipboard moral economy, 123 shared interest with Howe, 77 mainline paddle steamers of, 367 steamship and railway systems, 9 meetings held in private, 100 symbolic capital of, 93 mixed fortunes of first US rival, 124 visit to Napier’s Lancefield House, 40 Napier contract for iron- hulled vessel, 119 Whig patronage, 93–94 Napier contract for New York vessels, 119

Index 401

New York mail contract, 117–18 EISNC chairman, 241 no tempting of Providence, 12–13 failure of his merchant house, 244 oceanic proprietorship, 285 Governor of Bank of England, 238 only established clergy to preach, 300 Cyclops, HMS orders Africa and Asia to compete, 299–300 coal consumption, 250 patronage of successive Governments, 107 Persia steamship, 294–97 Danube (RMSP) portrayal of heroic Columbia rescue, 123 alleged unsafe character, 348–49 praises America’s engine perfomance, Capt. Mangles defends, 348–49 300–301 damage to builder’s reputation, 348–49 private partnership, 13, 231 draught exceeds specification, 348–49 privileged sites of skill on the Clyde, 11 expensive lengthening, 348–49 proprietors limited in number, 100 great consumer of coal, 350 Providence, 294–97 iron paddle steamer, 348 Providential protection, 303 ordered from Millwall Iron Works, 348 public culture that of Glasgow, 100 sale to Union SS., 353 public narrative of safety, 303 Darien Scheme, 212 Railway Magazine approval of, 13–14 Darwin, Charles regularity of, 107, 121 Valparaiso visit, 206 regulation of coal consumption, 122 Dee (RMSP), 144, 146 renegotiation of original mail contract, very high coal consumption of, 176 112–14 Demerara (RMSP) reputation for safety, 303 Caird engines never fitted, 187 Rev. Beecher’s complaints, 299–300 loss by grounding in River Avon, 187 Rev. Gannett’s sermon, 8 sistership to Amazon, 187 Robert Napier’s role in, 11 Denny, William safe navigation in contrast to RMSP, 155 compound re- engining P&O steamers, 359 SC on Halifax and Boston mails, 111–12 Dumbarton shipbuilder, 35, 42–43 Scott Russell’s perspective, 101 kinsman of the Napiers, 35 Scottish connections, 13–14 P&O acquire steamers building with, securing the New York mail contract, 357–58 118–19 Derwent RMSP) serious accidents, 124 Mills mismanages engine installation, 202 similarity in size to Great Western, 101 design argument specifications of first four steamers, 101–2 Rev. Macleod’s reworking, 6 speed and regularity of, 109 Devitt & Moore Sunday practices on board, 299–300 last owners of Simla, 330–31 Sunday worship at sea, 12–13 sailing- ship owners, 330–31 threat of American competition, 118 Dickens, Charles trusted character, 285 Atlantic crossings, 7 vessel discipline and public confidence, 123 Britannia Atlantic crossing, 89 weathers financial storms, 303 Cunard’s line of steamers, 13 Cunliff, Richard Departure of Britannia westbound, 103–5 partner in Randolph, Cunliff, 312 satire on religious sects, 7 Curling & Young Diomed (OSS), 342 builder of East Indiamen, 71 Disraeli, Benjamin builds Iberia for Willcox & Anderson, 71, acquisition of Suez Canal (1874), 368 232 British Prime Minister, 368 contract for British Queen’s hull, 64, 71 Chancellor of the Exchequer, 358 PSNC’s order for two wooden vessels, 213 metropolis of a maritime empire, 368 steamship construction practices, 110–11 renews P&O mail contract (1867), 358 Cursotjee, Ardaseer speech on merchant steamers (1866), 368 chief engineer steam factory Bombay, 188 Disruption, Free Kirk, 27 witness to Amazon’s trial trip, 188 Don Juan (Bourne), 232 Curtis, Timothy Abraham chartered to Peninsular Steam, 232 chairs meetings to form EISNC, 238 wrecked on coast of Spain, 233

402 Index

Donaldson, James East India Co. Glasgow cotton broker, 30 award 5-year mail contract to P&O, 244 introduces Cunard to Burns, 99 Capt. Shepherd as chairman, 10 Napier introduces Cunard to, 99 Court of Directors, 3 source of capital for MacIver, 30 Fairbairn’s iron- hulled Ganges steamers, double- cylinder engine. See compound 271 engines Napier’s contract for Berenice, 46–48 doubt resists P&O’s entry Suez to Bombay, 244 John Elder on faith and, 318–19 East Indiamen, 47, 236. See also East India PSNC’s rising stock, 304 Co. Valparaiso’s trial trip assuages, 319–20 Eastern Steam Navigation Co. Douro (RMSP) Brunel’s “Great Ship” proposal, 289 chief engineer’s testimony to engines, 348 Cape route to Calcutta, 289 iron screw steamer built by Caird, 348 Indian and Australian investors, 289 Dramatic Line loses mail contract bid to P&O, 289 founded by Collins, 297 rival for P&O overland mail contract, reputation for speed, food and safety, 297 331–33 Dublin and London Steam Marine Co. Echo, HMS, 213 Richard Bourne’s, 230 economy, moral Duffus, William Cunard’s line of steamers, 125 born in Banff, Scotland, 90 David and Charles MacIver’s, 121–22 father of Susan Cunard, 90 MacIver’s shipboard rules for, 122–23 Dumbarton P&O’s contested, 245 Clyde seaport and shipbuilding town, 34 Ecuador (PSNC), 304–5 Denny family, 34–35 Eden, George (Earl of Auckland) Napier family, 34–35 brother- in- law to RMSP’s Colvile, 135 Duncan, George (MP) First Lord of the Admiralty, 135 Chairman of Dundee company, 44 Governor- General of India, 135 conveys favourable reports, 44 Edinburgh Dundee steamers as exemplars, 44–45 finds suspected Pacific wreckage, 302–3 EIC’s trust in Napier, 47 Tod & MacGregor iron screw steamer, Napier’s Dundee steamers, 44 302–3 Duncan, Robert Edinburgh Journal builder of Cunard Britannia, 101, 139 Collins Atlantic in Mersey, 298 builder of David Napier’s Earl Grey, 139 Edinburgh Observer, 24 built Russell’s first wave- line vessel, 139 Edinburgh Review Caird subcontract two RMSP hulls, 141 Lardner’s essay, 52, 65 close friend of Russell, 139 T.L. Peacock’s essay on steam to India, death from typhus, 146 235–37 Greenock shipbuilder, 139 Whig stance of, 52 Dundas, Lord Edinburgh Weekly Journal, 24, 25 aristocratic patronage helps Anderson, 229 Edinburgh’s South Academy, 138 Charlotte Dundas canal trials (1802), 228 Edye, John Edinburgh New Town project, 228 Admiralty Surveyor’s Office, 136 Forth & Clyde Canal project, 228 objects to Russell’s strengthening, 145–46 Lordship of Shetland purchased, 228 EISNC origins of family’s wealth, 228 accepts union with P&O, 243–44 Dundee (Dundee, Perth & London), 44, 66, 132 Anderson meets threat from, 242–43 Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Co., 44 Anderson’s merger proposal rejected, 240–41 Eagle Line City merchants and bankers form, 238 Gibbs, Bright interests in, 287 Comprehensive party, 238 sailing packets to Australia, 287 directors, 241 Earl Grey (David Napier), 139 EIC rejects EISNC to carry Indian mail, 238 boiler explosion, 44 estimated returns, 241 steamboat trials, 44 key directors join P&O Board, 243–44

Index 403

London party, 238 reports improvement to Santiago, 307–8 no direct links with East India Co., 238 reports on quality of Chilean coals, 307 Precursor party, 238 specifications for steam boiler needed, 307 projected 6 large new steamers, 241 takes passage to Pacific West Coast, 307 prospectus, 241 Elder, Isabella RM’s satirical portrayal, 255 marriage to John, 317–18 schisms within, 238 Elder, John, 318. See also Randolph, Elder & Elbe (RMSP) Co. designed for Brazil service, 350–51 aim “to meet all doubters on their own Elder- built compound steamer, 350–51 ground”, 318–19 Elder, David, 36 apprenticeship with Robert Napier, 308 British Queen engines, 71 BAAS Aberdeen (1859) address, 317 builder of organ for West Shandon, 49 Barony Church, 317–18 building confidence into steamships, 33 Brandon trial trip, 312–13 character, 5, 33, 38–39 challenges McNaught’s indicator(s), 314–15 character of work, 42 chief draughtsman at Napier’s yard, 308 close connections with Cunard’s line, 89 compound engine, 304 Clyde steamboat races, 42–43 compound engine patent, 312–13 contrast with Collins Line engines, 298 consultant to PSNC for older tonnage, 313 Cunard’s steamers, 5 contests McNaught’s indicator data, 316 David MacIver, 30 departure from Napier’s, 312–13 Dundee steamers’ reliability, 44 difficulties of separating causes of waste, early life, 36 348 Edinburgh New Town Buildings, 36–37 engineering and spiritual perfection, 317–18 engine- builder for Cunard’s steamers, face- to- face with Mansel, 312 105–6 faith and doubt, 318–19 engineering practices, 38–39 first PSNC contract since Napier’s, 312–13 engines for Cunard’s Persia, 105–6 forges good relations with PSNC’s Just, 313 evaluation of transatlantic project, 45 heat- engine experimental knowledge, 304 Glasgow workshops, 33 imitation of Christ, 317–18 Goven iron shipbuilding works, 41–42 imitation of the divine engineer, 317–18 invisible engineer, 5 interconnectedness of s’ship systems, iron shipbuilding practices, 41–42 366–67 joins Church of England, 48–49 joins GPS, 308 key to Berenice’s good performance, 48 lets Bain see for himself engine merits, 358 MacIver reassured by engines of, 99 marriage to Isabella Ure, 317–18 mill and mill machinery design, 36–37 meets P&O’s Capt. Bain at Granton, 358 minimizing waste, 37–38 meets some P&O directors at his hotel, minimizing waste of power, 37, 105–6 358–59 Napier engine- works manager, 305 modern Christian exemplar, 317–18 obituary of, 5 Napier chief draughtsman, 305 practical science, 37–38 networks of science and engineering, 304, Presbyterian dissent, 36 308 reputation, 33, 42–43, 105–6 partner in Randolph, Elliott, 312–13 Robert Napier’s works manager, 5, 36 partnership of Randolph, Elder, 312–13, side- lever engines, 5, 11, 37, 42–43 313 side- lever steam engine design, 36–37 pattern maker at Hick of Bolton, 308 steamboat Leven, 36–37 persuasion of PSNC, 304 strengthens British Queen, 81–82 Presbyterianism, 317–18 tool named “the devil”, 37 problem of analyzing sources of waste, unorthodox engineering practices, 37 366–67 Elder, David (jr) PSNC, 304 attends to Bogota engine problems, 307–8 PSNC contract for large screw ships, 350 brother of John, 307 PSNC contracts with, 12 oversees repairs to PSNC steamers, 307 Rev. Fraser on faith of, 318–19 reports favorably on Quito working, 307–8 Rev. Macleod, 317–18

404 Index

Elder, John (cont.) hails Thetis economy as best result yet, RMSP contract for compound, 345 327–28 RMSP’s compound system, 12 ocean steamship coal consumption, 326 sees cause of his engine’s inefficiency, 316 P&O annual (1857-58) mail contracts, 335 son of David, 304 P&O annual coal consumption, 335 studies with Prof. Lewis Gordon, 308 report on PSNC Callao, 321–22 takes Bain through compound’s merits, 358 steamship versus pumping engines, 326 trustworthiness, 317–18 SW R’way locomotive consumption, 326 Elliott, John Thetis system matches desiderata, 326–27 manager at Fairbairn’s Manchester works, witness account of Thetis system, 326–27 312–13 Engineering Elsmie, George Humphrys obituary, 338 attends Amazon trials, 185 obituary of David Elder, 42 drawings for Conway (RMSP), 177 engineers, marine RMSP superintendent shipwright, 177 heroic representation, 2–3 Emilio (brig) invisible, 2 rescues Tweed survivors from reef, 183 Engledue, Capt. empire P&O director, 360 British North American, 78–79 P&O marine superintendent at So’ton, 280 compound economy to China Seas, 338–43 Enlightenment compound power for P&O, 330–38 Bennett’s faith in, 70 compound steam for India & Australia, 329 Scottish, 17 Cunard’s line of steamers, 100 Town’s appeal to values of, 53 Glasgow as second city of, 100 Enlightenment vision Government patronage of, 93 Rev. Gannett’s, 8 Great Eastern projections, 288–94 Sadi Carnot’s, 8 Halifax mails and appeal to, 78–79 Episcopalianism, 18. See also Church of Howe and Crane’s appeal to, 78–79 England Howe and Crane’s vision of, 93 Cunard’s adherance to, 90 instabilities in British North America, 93 Euler, Leonard, 138 Macgregor Laird and West Africa, 61–62 Europa (Cunard) mail contracts integral to, 78 lives lost in sinking of Charles Bartlett, McQueen’s Caribbean project, 129–36 123–24 P&O capture the passage to India, 235–44 European & Australian RMSP Co. P&O power and authority, 355–63 collapse, 348 Pacific Steam in practice, 218–22 RMSP acquires two screw steamers, 348 Pacific Steam re- invented, 353–55 European, The, 121 political system of British N.American, Euxine (P&O) 78–79 design changes recommended by Caird, 274 power and wealth of, 11 iron paddle- steamer from Caird & Co., 274 rebuilding civilization after shipwreck, evangelicalism 178–83 Biblical authority, 18 sovereignty of the seas, 364–68 Burns family’s, 18 steam coal trade, 285–87 Burns’s moderate, 25, 27 Wheelwright’s Pacific Coast project, Chalmers’s, 20 204–12 Cunard’s line of steamers context of, 113 Encyclopaedia Britannica divine vengeance against sinful men, 197 Russell’s contribution to, 140 Dr John Burns’s, 22 energy sources extreme versions of, 20, 22 Prof. Thomson’s BAAS address (1881), 365 George Burns’s, 264–65 Engineer, The Junius Smith, 54 coal economy editorial, 326 Noah’s Ark, 264–65 Cornish engines’ coal consumption, 326 Oriental interpreted within, 264–65 desiderata for reduced consumption, 326 resistance to Rev. Blood’s, 195 editorial on “progress of steam navigation”, Rev. Beecher’s commitment to, 300 327–28 Rev. Hugh McNeile, 264–65

Index 405

Rev.J.T. Brown, 264–65 Fanny (brig) Rev.Melvill’s moderate, 50 Peacock family- owned, 213 Robert Napier’s moderate, 50 Faron, John Samuel Cunard’s, 92 Collins engineering superintendent, 298 shipwreck sermons, 194–97 engine specifications for Collins ships, William Wheelwright’s contexts, 206 298 Ewart, J.C. observes Cunard Niagara engines, 298 P&O director, 255 US Navy chief engineer, 298 experiments, laboratory Fawcett, Preston & Co. Mansel and Thomson’s freezing point, 311 eminence of, 109 experiments, model engines for Hindostan and Bentinck, 244 John Scott’s Loch Thom, 324 engines for P&O Oriental, 264 Virginia House experimental tank, 140 engines for President, 108 experiments, steamship, 36 Fawcett, William, 231 Atlantic steam no longer a mere, 74 Ferrier, James Fairbairn’s iron- hulled river steamers, 271 Transatlantic proprietor, 240 Forbes’s voyage from Calcutta, 236–37 Field, Joshua Great Britain a never to be emulated, critical of Lardner’s engine data, 65 114–15 Fincham, John Great Western and Sirius voyages as, 77 master shipwright at Chatham, 136 Great Western as, 73 Fisher, Rev. George Great Western as steam packet, 73 magnetic researches of, 281 Haliburton’s comment on, 11 Fitzroy, Lt. Robert (RN) HMS Rattler screw trials, 276–77 authority lends credibility to steam, 206–7 Holt’s compound- engined Cleator, 340–41 Peacock’s navigational debt to, 217 Liverpool Screw tug, 277 Times publishes letter to Wheelwright, MacIver’s early phase of Cunard’s line, 113 211–12 Napier’s cautious approach to, 97 Valparaiso visit, 206 P&O’s first iron- hulled steamers, 158 Wheelwright invokes authority of, 210 P&O’s iron paddle- steamer Pacha, 263 Flambeau P&O’s small- scale screw propeller, 331–33 Russell’s first wave- line craft, 139 research into heat engines, 304 Fogo, Rev. Laurie, 35 RMSP constrained by first fleet, 177–78 Forbes Russell’s experimental tank, 140 Boston merchant R.B. Forbes owner, Russell’s iron canal vessel, 138 236–37 Russell’s wave- form BAAS, 139–40 T.L. Peacock’s satirical view of, 236–37 T.L. Peacock suggests Cape route, 237 Forbes, Prof. James David T.L. Peacock urges Euphrates route, 237 criticises Russell’s data accumulation, 139 Woolwich Dockyard coal, 173 Edinburgh natural philosophy prof., 311 Prof. Thomson communicates results, 311 Fairbairn, William wins contest for Edinburgh chair, 139 admits problems with yard practices, 271 Forbes, R.B. BAAS Liverpool (1854), 289 Cunard and Charles Bartlett disaster, Elliott at Manchester works, 312–13 123–24 experiments with iron- hulled steamers, 271 experimental steamship Forbes, 236–37 James Thomson as Millwall apprentice, 271 warns Cunard against complacency, 123–24 Manchester engineering works, 271 Forth & Clyde Canal Millwall shipbuilding yard, 271 Dundas family interests in, 228 P&O contract for one large iron steamer, Scott Russell experiments, 138 270–71 Symington’s steamboat trials, 228 Randolph at Manchester works, 312–13 Forth (RMSP), 146, 161 Stephenson’s bridge experiments, 290 departures changed to Southampton, 147 supports Great Eastern construction, 290 first RMSP steamer to depart, 147 Falls, Lt.-col. Thomas spectacle of launch at Leith, 147 confidence in RMSP shares, 149 Fox, Stephen, 2 loss of Medina, 149 Cunard as “gambler- capitalist”, 92

406 Index

Fox, Stephen (cont.) Glasgow Courier, 130 misreading of Cunard’s religious faith, 92 Glasgow Herald safety of Atlantic sailing packets, 59 Tod & MacGregor steaming trials, 269 Fraser, Rev. W.G., 318–19 Glasgow Mechanics Institution, 309 Fredericton Athenaeum, NB., 292 Glasgow networks Free Church of Scotland. See Presbyterianism science and engineering, 304, 308 Glasgow Philosophical Society. See also Galileo (L+H), 339 Glasgow networks galliots, 190 Carnot reading of Stirling’s air- engine, 310 Ganges (P&O) John Elder joins, 308 Tod & MacGregor iron paddle- steamer, 278 members, 308 Gannett, Rev. Ezra Stiles Glasgow’s Riverside Museum Cunard Britannia’s arrival, 8 model of Simla engine, 331 Enlightenment vision, 8 Glenelg, Lord Unitarian theology, 8 Colonial Secretary, 78 Garrick (Dramatic), 297 Cunard’s credentials presented to, 93 General Screw Shipping Co. evangelical Presbyterian, 78 auxiliary steamers to Australia, 188 petition for Halifax mails, 78 witnesses to Amazon Thames trial trip, 188 Glenny, Frederick Gibbs, Bright & Co. personal presentiment aboard Amazon, 193 Eagle Line of sailing packets, 287 Goddard, Samuel merchant house in Bristol and L’pool, 287 patent surface condensers, 96 owners of rebuilt Great Britain, 287 Golconda (P&O) Gilchrist, Archibald down- river trial trip very satisfactory, 337 co- designer of P&O Simla, 330–31 Humphrys’s compound engine fitted, 337 Gillin, Edward Gordon, Prof. Lewis religious readings of Great Eastern, 290–91 Glasgow chair of civil engineering, 308 Girdwood, Claude, 65, 71 GPS address on motive power of heat, Glasgow, 23 308–9 “economic cosmopolitanism”, 40 GPS member, 308 artisans of, 18 John Elder studies with, 308 BAAS (1840), 19 waterwheel investigations, 309 BAAS data, 41 Goulburn, Henry Barony Church, 18 Cunard as an independent gentleman, 107 Broomielaw, 23, 26, 33, 41 interview with GWSS, 118 Cathedral of, 18 Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer, 107 Cleland on political economy of, 19 Government line, the Cleland on shipping of, 19 Cunard line of steamers as, 119 Cleland’s promotion of public works, 19 Graham, Prof. Thomas Cleland’s social statistics of, 19 University College London, 192 coastal steamers, 33 Grantham, John Donaldson as cotton broker in, 30 advocate for iron screw steamers, 269–70 economic strengths, 33 associated with Williams, 233, 269–70 harbour, 33, 34 critic of wooden hulls, 269–70 maritime trade, 41 design of screw yacht Vesta, 277–78 McQueen’s connections with, 129–30 designer and promoter of iron hulls, 233 merchants of, 18 inland steam navigation, 269–70 narratives of progress, 34 Irish waterways engineering, 269–70 Reformation in, 18 Liverpool based, 269–70 Sabbath observance, 25–26, 26–27 Liverpool Polytechnic Society member, St John’s Church, 19 269–70, 277 Tron Church, 19 Polytechnic Society Presidential address, wealth and power, 41 269–70 West Indies trades of, 129–30 screw propulsion, 277 Glasgow (G.&J. Burns), 26 supervises building of Sarah Sands, 277 Glasgow College. See University of Glasgow Tod & MacGregor connection, 277–78

Index 407

Great Britain. See also Brunel, Isambard owners’ liquidation, 294 Kingdom; Humphrys, Francis poor returns of, 294 Brunel opts for new system, 115 projected Atlantic crossing time, 293 change from paddle to screw engines, 115 projected coal savings, 292–93 coal consumption, 116–17 projected passenger comfort, 292–93 construction time and costs, 115 projected speed, 292–93 contrast with Bentinck cabin layout, 267 projected steam navigation system, 285 controversies over the stranding, 121 projected transatlantic freight for, 292–93 data from HMS Rattler screw trials, 276–77 projected transatlantic route for, 292–93 engines and interior ruined, 121 propulsion systems, 292–93 every feature “experimental”, 114–15 as steamship system, 285 experiment never to be emulated, 114–15 system combines paddles and screw, 289 fragility of screw propeller, 7 Vernon Smith’s optimistic vision of, 292–93 GWSS finances wrecked, 121 voyages to N. America, 294 Henry Booth on commercial flaws of, 117 Great Liverpool (P&O), 249 Holt’s praise for, 291 coal consumption, 250 Humphrys visits Nasmyth, 115 fails Admiralty survey, 263 lighthouses and stranding of, 120–21 formerly Transatlantic’s Liverpool, 248 matters of reliability at sea, 116–17 P&O’s acquisition, 248 Nauticus queries decision to fit screw, 115 P&O’s first total loss, 264 navigational errors, 116–17, 120 poor performance, 264 passenger confidence, 116–17, 120 RM correspondent’s damning criticism, 264 problematic operation, 107 RM satire on excessive value placed, propeller problems, 116–17 248–49 protracted construction, 107, 114–15 RM satire on transformation of, 248–49 Railway Magazine representation, 117 transformation for Alexandria service, 249 record passenger list, 120 Great Ship. See Great Eastern rising and falling passenger bookings, Great Western 116–17 Admiralty involvement in, 79 Russell advises a larger Great Western, arrival in New York, 73 114–15 Atlantic voyages of, 79–80 sailing qualities, 7 average crossing time, 293 spectacle no guarantee of passengers, 116 changes to layout and trim, 72 spectacle of, 116 chief engineer’s death by scalding, 74 steam hammer for forging shaft, 115 Claxton’s voyage record, 79 stranding in Dundrum Bay, 120 coal consumption, 250 strength of iron hull, 121 completed ahead of British Queen, 72 under sail alone, 116–17 engines fitted on the Thames, 72 Great Eastern, 294 fire on board, 72–73 accidents to, 294 intended as the first of others, 80 ambitions of Brunel and Russell, 285 Judge Haliburton’s crossing on, 8 best passage times, 294 Lang’s “most valuable” calculations, 79 cellular double- bottom and sides, 290 loss of confidence in, 72–73 coal consumption, 293–94 Mercator’s approval as “pattern”, 83–84 coal enough for round voyage east, 285 New York public and press reception, 74 crises that beset, 285 operating at a loss, 80 debt to Britannia Bridge experiments, 290 P&O reject purchase of, 270–71 Gillin on religious readings of, 290–91 passenger account of maiden voyage, 73 Holt’s critical view of, 291 presentation of voyage record to Minto, 79 hull form, 292–93 reduced returns due to Cunard, 115–16 known as the “Great Ship”, 285 reputation for reliability, 83–84 limitations of, 292–93 sale to P&O collapses, 115–16 Lindsay’s “wonders of the age”, 291 similarity to Cunard’s first steamers, 101 Lindsay’s criticisms of, 291 sold to RMSP, 121 long construction time, 293–94 spectacle of invincibility, 72 Noah’s Ark compared, 290–91 Great Western Steam Ship Co., See GWSS

408 Index

Green, R.&H. finances wrecked, 121 Blackwall shipowners and -builders, 354 Great Western construction begins, 64 builders of British tea clippers, 186 Great Western sale to P&O collapses, East Indiamen and Blackwall frigates, 186 115–16 family rescues PSNC fleet, 354 GWR connections with, 64 Orient Steam formed, 354 Howe seeks Halifax calls from, 77 remain loyal to wooden shipbuilding, 186 intend to build more large steamships, 80 RMSP confidence in quality work, 186–87 interest on SC challenge Cunard, 112 split from Wigrams (1843), 186 interview with Goulburn, 117–18 Greenock lobbies Peel against Cunard monopoly, 112 Clyde seaport and shipbuilding town, 34 meeting with Peel, 117–18 Custom House Quay, 24 not tied to fixed mail schedules, 114 Greenwell & Sacker Patterson as master shipbuilder, 58 Sunderland shipowners, 286 prospective competition for Smith, 57–58 Gribble, Rev., 31 quest for state patronage, 79 Grimsby Docks reduced returns due to Cunard, 115–16 John Elder as draughtsman with, 308 SC on Halifax and Boston mails, 111–12 Gruppelaar, Capt. threat from Cunard’s New York line, Calvinist master of Dutch galliot, 193 117–18 perusing Dutch Bible while on watch, 195 threat of American competition, 118 rescues Amazon survivors, 193 unprofitable state of, 114 Grylls, Lt. (RN) personal presentiment aboard Amazon, 193 Haddington (P&O) guano underperformance, 263 return freight for sailing vessels, 221, 308 Haddington, Lord Guppy, Thomas Board of Admiralty, 169 attack on Lardner at Liverpool BAAS, 68 Hadow, P.D. Great Britain engines, 115 Bombay merchant family, 360–61 GWR engineer, 58 mocks Capt. Bain’s lowly status, 360–61 GWSS projector, 58 P&O director since 1849, 360–61 Gurney, Russell Haliburton, Judge Thomas Chandler RMSP deputy chairman, 346 “Sam Slick” invoked by RM, 161 Guthrie, Capt. Robert crosses Atlantic by Admiralty brig, 76 P&O superintendent of navigation, 280 satirical writings, 8, 11 GWR Hall, Admiral William Gibbs, Bright interests in, 287 P&O director, 360 Guppy as engineer, 58 Hall, Samuel GWSS connections, 64 British Queen adopts condensers, 71 GWSS Napier wary of patent condensers, 71 absence of Atlantic mail contract, 107 patent surface condensers, 71, 81, 96 absence of winter voyages, 114 Halley (L+H), 339 arguments against Cunard monopoly, 118 Hamburg America Co (HAPAG) appeal to Goulburn for state support, Caird contracts, 349 115–16 Hamilton, Rev. James appeal to Lord John Russell, 118 leans towards Free Kirk, 356 Brunel challenges Lardner at BAAS, 64 Sutherland attends services of, 356 campaign for Admiralty mail contract, Hannan, John. 79–80 questions trustworthiness of indicators, Claxton’s report on feasibility, 58 315–16 competition with Junius Smith, 12 Hants Independent, 194 criticism of Government patronage, 118 Harcourt, Freda, 2 Cunard’s verdict on financial state of, 114 Harland & Wolff debt to Admiralty, 79 take- over of Caird & Co. in Great War, debt to Symonds, 79 362–63 disquiet over mail contract tendering, 118 Harper’s Magazine establishment of, 64 Cunard versus Collins, 300

Index 409

Rev. Abbott’s Arctic Atlantic crossing, 299 dislike of monopoly, 13 Hartley, James dividends may arise from new capital, 253 director in Williams’ several companies, doubts P&O public limited liability, 254 247 infers “want of confidence” in P&O, 252 involved in Bourne’s companies, 240 insists Hindostan letter is harmless, 258 Transatlantic proprietor, 240 own verdict on Zulueta’s acquittal, 259 Hawthorn, R.&W. P&O exclude RM reporter from GM, 252 compound engines for L+H, 341 P&O high dividend but low shares, 252 Hawthorne, Nathaniel P&O jeopardise public confidence, 252 character of Liverpool Unitarians, 287 P&O secrecy leaves space for rumour, 253 New England writer, 287 P&O secrecy over relations with Pasha, 253 Head, Sir F.B. P&O’s debt to Whig patronage, 253–54 attends launch of British Queen, 76 response to P&O proceedings, 260 former Governor of Canada, 76 RM Editor, 245 heat, motive power of. See thermodynamics RM Editor and proprietor, 150 Hedderwick & Rankine RM’s Zulueta report the likely trigger, 258 Glasgow shipbuilders, 244 Royal Society rejection, 13 Helensburgh, 42 states public right to know about P&O, 253 Hell- fire. See also lake of fire Zulueta on charge of slave dealing, 258 Rev. Blood’s image of, 196 Herapath’s Journal. See Railway Magazine Hemsworth, Lt.W.G. (RN) Herman, 124 Admiralty Agent aboard Solway, 159–60 Hermes HMS, 179 places whole blame on master, 159–60 Herod, King witness at RMSP investigation, 159–60 image of violence and extravagance, 273 Henderson, Capt. Andrew heroic representation, 2–3 BAAS (1854) dissenter on “Great Ship”, heroism 290–91 Anderson’s account of Don Juan, 232–33 criticism of iron paddle- steamers, 272–73 Anna Maria Smith’s Amazon, 190–91 EISNC director, 241 Eleanor McLennan’s Amazon, 191 evidence to SC on contract packets, 238 Hewitt, Capt. John frailty of mechanical science, 367–68 Britannia master, 105 Great Eastern sceptic, 290–91 formerly Royal William (II) master, 105 lambasts P&O’s aggression, 238n Hibernia (Cunard), 114 Liverpool Mercury report, 290–91 Hick & Co. Noah’s Ark ratios, 290–91 Bolton engine makers, 308 P&O’s Himalaya compared, 290–91 John Elder as pattern maker at, 308 Pottinger criticisms, 272–73 Hill, Christopher SC (1849) evidence on P&O, 272–73 Anderson marries daughter of, 229 schisms within EISNC, 238 introduces Anderson to Willcox, 229 Henley, J.W. (MP) Scarborough ship- owner, 229 chairman of SC(1849), 242 Hill, Laurence Her Majesty builder of Tasmanian, 348 steaming trials, 269 Port Glasgow shipbuilder, 348 Herald, Daily, 179 Himalaya (P&O) Herald, New York Capt. Henderson’s verdict, 290–91 support for Collins Line lobbying, 297–98 Crimean War transport, 331–33 Herapath, John. See also Railway Magazine designed for paddle- wheels, 331–33 alleged falsehood in Zulueta’s defence, built by Mare, 331–33 259–60 largest and longest mail steamship, 331–33 assault on slave trading, 258–59 Noah’s Ark ratios, 290–91 asserts P&O is part- public property, 252–53 redesigned for screws while building, asserts press freedom in public interest, 258 331–33 attacks steamship lines, 13 rise and fall of fast overland project, 331–33 claims RM exclusion bred distrust, 252 sold to British Government, 331–33 condemns P&O culture of secrecy, 252–53 Times report on, 331–33 counter- attack on P&O Board, 260 very large coal consumption, 331–33

410 Index

Hindostan (P&O), 274 contract with Scott for Plantagenet, 339 built by Wilson, 244, 265–66 criticism of P&O as monopoly, 355 designed for Suez to Calcutta service, 244 debt to Lamport & Holt, 338–39 engines by Fawcett, 244 deems Humboldt’s trial trip a success, 341 enlarged version of Oriental, 265–66 durable friendship with Leslie, 339–40 high cost of, 265–66 enters China tea trade against clippers, 340 reducing coal consumption, 245–46 experimental compound engine, 340–41 RM correspondent challenges claims, friendship with John Scott, 338–39 245–46 Great Eastern criticism, 291 RM queries financing of engines for, joins with his brother Philip, 340 251–52 L&MR, 10 RM reports underperformance, 267 L&MR apprenticeship, 338–39 RM reports unfit for Hooghly River, 267 lack of showmanship, 342 side- lever engines, 265–66 mechanical skills of, 338–39 suitability for tropical climes, 272–73 ocean steam navigation system, 341–42 unwieldy size of, 245–46 offered managership of PSNC, 354 Williams’s smoke- consuming patent, OSS outpaces tea clippers (1868), 342 245–46 Philip Holt advises rejection of PSNC, 354 Hobhouse, Sir John Cam praise for Great Britain, 291 Anderson aligns P&O values with, 243 PSNC’s extravagant expansion, 353–54 President of Indian Board of Control, 243 Scott’s friendship with, 323 Hodder, Edwin, 20 sells West India line of steamers, 340 Hodgson, Frederic (MP) steamers with low dependence on sail, EISNC director, 241 341–42 Hodgson, James stresses reliability and tolerable speed, builder of Sarah Sands, 277 341–42 Liverpool shipbuilder, 277 trials of compound engine at sea, 323 Hollis, Rev. R.B. West Indies Talisman voyage (1862), 339 Amazon disaster sermon, 196–97 witnessing high- pressure steam Thetis, Amazon disaster spiritual lessons, 196–97 338–39 Amazon sudden destruction, 196–97 witnessing trials of L+H steamer Zulu, condemnation of steamship speed, 185 338–39 Congregationalism of, 197 work on Lindsay’s auxiliary steamers, Congregationalist minister, 196–97 338–39 divine vengeance on sinful humanity, Holt, George (jr) 196–97 eldest son of George, 287 exemplary conduct of Vincent, 197 partnership with Lamport, 287 Mrs McLennan’s Amazon heroism, 191 Holt, George (sr) speed condemned, 197 admiration for President, 108 violating laws of nature, 197 diary records Pacific loss, 302–3 voluntarist universe of, 197 disappearance of President, 109 Holt, Alfred Liverpool BAAS meeting (1854), Achilles engine- room arrangement, 343 288–89 Agamemnon as first OSS steamer, 342 Liverpool’s shortcomings, 83 Agamemnon’s coal consumption, 342 Hooghly River, 263 Agamemnon’s first round voyage (1866), Horton, Thomas 342 engine and boiler patent with Rowan, Agamemnon’s trial trip to Liverpool, 342 325–26 announces OSS in printed circular, 341–42 manager of Atlas Works in Glasgow, Capt. Middleton as trusted master, 339 325–26 Caribbean mail contract, 339 House of Commons challenges RMSP for mail contract, 339 Alderman Wood on steamboats, 27–29 Cleator’s trial trip rated a success, 340–41 Capt.Henderson’s SC (1849) evidence, coal consumption, 341, 340–41 272–73 contract with Scott for 3 large steamers, Cunard’s performance at SC (1846), 340–41 119–20

Index 411

Laird’s SC evidence on steam to India, serious damage to reputation, 338 235–37 simple engines for P&O Travancore, 358 S C(1849) evidence of Croker, 242 worked with Nasmyth in Manchester, 333 S C(1849) hp restrictions on tendering, 242 Humphrys, Francis S C(1849) on contract packet service, 242 brother of Edward, 333 SC on Halifax and Boston mails, 111–12 death of, 115 SC on steam to India, 62, 235–37 steam hammer to forge paddle shaft, 115 speed of Thames steamboats, 27–29 visit to Nasmyth’s machine tool works, 115 Howden, James Humphrys, Tennant & Dykes. See Humphrys, criticisms of Rowan & Horton patent, 329 Edward tubular boilers for high- pressure engines, Huskisson, William (MP) 329 death at opening of L&MR, 29 Howe, Joseph Hyde, F.E., 2 dines with Cunard in London, 77 Nova Scotian newspaper owner, 76 Iberia (brig), 229 seeks Halifax calls from GWSS, 77 Iberia (PSNC) witness to the Sirius at sea, 76 world’s largest active steamship, 354 Howe, Joseph and William Crane Iberia (Willcox & Anderson) appeal to empire, 78–79 built by Curling & Young, 232 HSBC, 356 first steamer for Peninsular Steam, 71 Hughes, Thomas P., 1, 14 Illustrated London News human agency, 2–3 Collins Atlantic internal style, 298 Humboldt (L+H), 341 P&O’s Bentinck, 266–67 Humphrys, Edward improvement. See progress attends first meeting of INA (1860), 335 Inca (PSNC) brother of Francis, 333 delivers power but not economy, 319 chief engineer Woolwich Dockyard, 333 engines by Randolph, Elder, 314 compound engine, 334 McNaught finds vessel underpowered, 314 compound engine system, 323 prototype for Elder’s second patent, 314 compound engines avoid high pressure, small compound- engined steamer, 314 333–34 indicator diagrams. See indicators compound engines avoid high speed, indicators 333–34 Actaeon steaming trials, 176 compound- engine system for P&O, 333–35 authority vested in, 366 death at 57 (1867) from overwork, 338 David Miller’s historical study, 315–16 Deptford riverside engine works (1852), disputes over reliability, 366 333 IES critical discussion, 315–16 early build- up of trust from P&O, 333 importance of interconnectedness, 366–67 Engineering obituary, 338 James Napier on limitations of, 336 explains his own engine to P&O, 334–35 McNaught’s authority, 366 first man into and last man out of works, practical versus scientific engineers, 315–16 333 Prof. Thomson queries trustworthiness, 322 Great Britain machinery, 333 Randolph, Elder versus McNaught, 366 Great Western machinery, 333 Thetis’s engine trials, 327 initial contracts with P&O, 333 Indus (P&O), 274 insists on durability of his engine, 334–35 Inman Line known as “Economiser General”, 333–34 purchased City of Glasgow, 279 known for economical “dodges”, 333 Institution of Civil Engineers, 291 managed Rennie’s works in London, 333 James Stirling’s air- engine address to, 310 Mooltan’s failed promises, 338 Institution of Engineers in Scotland P&O contract for Mooltan engines, 334–35 critical discussion of indicators, 315–16 P&O fits 8 sets of compound engine, 337 Institution of Naval Architects P&O’s connections with, 323 first meeting of new, 335 P&O’s Mooltan compound engined by, 323 Murray’s address (1860), 348 practical advantages of compounding, 336 Murray’s address (1865), 367 reassurance to ships’ engineers, 334–35 Russell’s address on Wood brothers, 140

412 Index

instruments RM criticisms of, 246 human beings as, 22, 31–32 RMSP as, 13 insurance Judkins, Capt. Charles H.E. RMSP’s problem with, 4 Cunard Line commodore, 294–97 iron- hulled steamboats master of Persia, 294–97 Macgregor Laird’s promotion, 235–37 Persia’s trial trip, 294–97 iron- hulled steamers Just, William Admiralty directive against mail, 186 ASNC contracts with Napier, 305 Admiralty order against, 276 ASNC director, 305 Grantham as advocate of, 269–70 PSNC coal consumption, 304 P&O appeal against Admiralty ruling, 276 PSNC joint- MD, 4, 222, 221–22, 304, 305 P&O impressed with Pacha, 270 PSNC recruits, 305 P&O’s adoption of, 263 Randolph, Elder forge good relations, 313 PSNC directors reject order for, 213 recollection of John Elder, 304 RMSP consideration of, 186 witness to Valparaiso seagoing trip, RMSP’s Atrato, 199–200 319–20 Irving, John (MP) aristocratic disdain for RM, 164 Kemble, Fanny close links to EIC, 57 Cunard as Atlantic’s proprietor, 112 first chairman of RMSP, 57 representation of Cunard, 93 McQueen as RMSP scapegoat, 164 Kendall, Franklin named first chairman of RMSP, 135 favourable account of Sutherland, 357 opponent of political reform, 135 posted to P&O Hong Kong agency, 357 partner in Reid, Irving & Co., 57, 135 Kendall, Lt. (RN) RM’s satirical account of P&O GM, 255, reports on Caird’s layout changes, 141 256 resigns in humiliation, 145 RM’s satirical view of, 162 RMSP assistant superintendent, 137 Isabella Napier, 42 RMSP orders drawings duplicated by, 137 Isabella, Queen (of Spain), 230 Kepler (L+H), 339 Isis (RMSP), 149 Kermit, Robert Red Star Line sailing packets operator, 277 James (II), King, 90 Keys & Co. James Watt Granton (Firth of Forth) shipbuilders, Charles Wood’s pattern ship, 140 357–58 Jevons, Thomas P&O acquire steamers building with, concern with magnetism of iron ships, 357–58 158–59 Khedive (P&O), 359 Liverpool ironmaster, 158–59 Kidd, Capt. Alexander Jevons, William Stanley Holt deems Humboldt a success, 341 on board RMSP Medway, 203 Lamport deems Humboldt a failure, 341 coal economy, 323 master for Humboldt’s trial trip, 341 Coal Question, 365 master of Holt’s Talisman (1862), 339 high- pressure steam economy, 323 Kidston, William Prof. Thomson’s address echoes, 365 friend of Cunard, 89 sailing vessels down- graded, 323 friend of Howe, 94 science of thermodynamics, 323 Glasgow merchant, 89, 94 superheated steam economy, 323 intermediary for Cunard and Napier, 95 work done by an engine, 323 merchant in Halifax, 94 John Wood (David MacIver), 30 Napier link to Cunard, 89 joint- stock tells Napier of Cunard’s requirements, 94 chartered steamship companies, 13 Kingsley, Rev. Charles Junius Smith, 57 Neva’s eastbound Atlantic crossing, 349–50 P&O as, 13 passenger experience, 347 PSNC as, 13 Shannon’s sail- and- steam crossing, 347 railway companies, 9, 57 Kylsant, Lord Railway Magazine attacks on, 13 financial scandal, 3

Index 413

L&MR, 10 witness to Amazon’s Thames trial trip, 188 George and Robert Stephenson, 29 Lambert, Andrew Huskisson’s death at opening, 29 Rattler project, 276–77 Lime Street terminus, 288–89 Lamport & Holt opening in 1830, 29 Alfred Holt oversees ship construction, vision of progress, 29 339–40 La Plata (RMSP) Alfred Holt witnesses Zulu’s trials, 338–39 built by Steele in Greenock, 198 contracts with Leslie, 339–40 originally Arabia (I) for Cunard, 198 estblishing Brazil and River Plate system, Laird family 339–40 Junius Smith, 54 Fenwick St. Liverpool offices, 222 Laird, John first steamshipZulu , 338–39 concern with magnetism of iron ships, independent Liverpool ship- owner, 350 158–59 intensifies competition for RMSP, 350 Laird, Macgregor iron screw steamers, 12 acquainted with Napier, 71 Lamport p’ship with George Holt (jr), 288 advocate of iron hulled steamers, 62, 85 loyalty to sail, 338–39 Alburkah trial, 61 prosperity from Lindsay’s coal trade, appointed secretary of Smith’s Co., 63 338–39 argues for scaling up of Leeds, 62–63 sailing- ship cargoes, 12 Christian missions, 61 sailing- ships carrying British steam coal, close ties with family shipbuilders, 62–63 288 counter- attack on Lardner, 62–63 steamers named after astronomers, 339–40 evidence to SC on steam to India, Lamport, Charles 235–37 shipbuilder in Workington, Cumberland, favours Persian Gulf route, 235–37 287 high death- rate on Niger expedition, 62 Lamport, William James imperial river projects, 60–61 brother of Charles (shipbuilder), 287 iron- hulled river steamers, 60–61 deems Humboldt’s trial trip a failure, 341 Merseyside network of, 63 had served in office of Gibbs, Bright, 287 moral and mechanical power, 60–61 Lindsay’s friendship with, 287–88 moral power of the Bible, 60–61 Liverpool Unitarianism, 287–88 narrative of progress, 61 partnership with George Holt (jr), 287–88 Niger expedition, 60–61 son of a Unitarian minister, 287 Peacock aims to command President, 214 Lancefield Works. See Napier, Robert promotes Laird- built steamers, 235–37 Lang, Oliver Smith’s loss of trust in, 85 Adam’s judgment of, 136–37 steamboat performance at sea, 62 alignment with McQueen, 136–37 tenders for Alexandria mail contract, 242 defender of master shipwrights, 136–37 the immortal Watt, 60–61 designer of HMS Medea, 65 voyage of iron- hulled Alburkah, 61–62 drawings for RMSP, 136 witness at House of Commons SC, 62 Great Western calculations, 79 Laird, William. See also Laird, Macgregor master shipwright at Woolwich, 65, 136 Birkenhead iron shipbuilder, 63, 234 Tory politics of, 136–37 father of Macgregor, 63 unfavorable view of Liverpool, 83 property deal with Tobin, 83 Laplace, Pierre Simon de, 138 lake of fire, 25 Mécanique céleste, 70 Lamb & Summers Lardner, Rev. Dionysius superheating patent, 335, 336 accesses Admiralty log- books, 65 Lamb, Andrew addresses criticism of data, 65 face- to- face with Tod & MacGregor, 275 BAAS Bristol meeting, 64 Lamb & Summers superheating patent, 335 BAAS involvement, 60 P&O contract for Clyde compound- engines, Cabinet Cyclopaedia series editor, 60 359 challenges ocean steam projectors, 52 small- scale experimental screw vessel, controversial Liverpool lecture, 60 331–33 co- ordinated counter- attack on, 68

414 Index

Lardner, Rev. Dionysius (cont.) Leven, 37 critique of direct line to New York, 60 Leviathan. See also Great Eastern Edinburgh Review essay, 52, 65 Booth’s term for Great Britain, 117 Engineer commends estimates of, 326 Lichfield, Earl of fixedversus feathering paddle- wheels, 66 British Postmaster- General, 77 Guppy’s attack on, 68 doubts viability of Atlantic project, 77 Laird’s counter- attack on, 63 petitioned for UK- Canada mail service, 77 Laird’s criticism of, 61 lighthouses limits to projected Atlantic steamers, 67–68 Calf of Man, 120 Liverpool BAAS adress, 68 Chicken Rock, 120 locomotive duty, 9, 65 Christian symbolism of, 92 McQueen as an unnamed prime target, 129 Nova Scotian Commissioners of, 92 performance of sailing packets, 67 Samuel Cunard and, 92 popular lecturer and editor, 60 St John’s Point, 120 promotion of Valentia to NY line, 60 stranding of Great Britain, 120–21 railway systems, 9 Lima (PSNC), 305, 306 scientific credibility, 60 re- engined with compound system, 321–22 Smith’s opposition to, 70 Lindsay, William Schaw sources of waste of engine power, 66–67 Allan’s character, 5 steam engine writings, 60 Allan’s system building for P&O, 11 translations of books, 60 auxiliary steamer, 288 Trinity College Dublin education, 60 auxiliary steamships, 12, 288–89 University College London professor, 60 British sail and steam tonnage (1850-74), using science to evaluate steamships, 70 364–65 Larkins, J.P. carriers of progress, 285 EISNC deputy- chairman, 241 coal agent to ship- broker transition, 285–87 negotiates union with P&O, 244 coal shipment costings, 286 Larpent, George coal shipments, 12, 285, 338–39 elected P&O chairman, 244 criticisms of Great Eastern, 291 laws of nature failure of Australian auxiliary steamers, 289 Chalmers’s reading of, 31 faith in universal progress, 364–65 leave no space for luck, 31 former ship- master, 285–87 Rev. Hollis’s voluntarist conception, 197 gives Leslie his yard’s first order, 339–40 shipowners operate within divine, 31 Gothic- style engine frame on Pacific, 298 Thomas Reid’s view of, 22 historian of merchant shipping, 5 Leeds Holt’s work on auxiliary steamers of, CDSP cross- channel steamer, 63 338–39 Laird advocates scaling up of, 63 Lamport’s friendship with, 287–88 Lefebrvre, Henri meets face- to- face with Allan, 285–87 trial- by- space, 367–68 Merchant Shipping, 286 Leith Mechanics Institute, 138 negotiates P&O coal shipments, 285–87 Leslie, Andrew ocean steam navigation, 285 first order from Lindsay, 339–40 P&O tonnages shipped by, 287 hulls for 3 L+H compound steamers, Providence, 286 341 ship- broking practices developed by, L+H contracts, 339–40 285–87 Tyne shipbuilder at Hebburn, 339–40 ship- broking system, 285 Leslie, Prof. John steam coal trade, 285–87 natural philosophy chair at Edinburgh, 138 targets deep- sea mail steamship lines, L’Estrange, George Carleton 285–87 blamed for secret meeting with Elder, turning Great Eastern into a “show”, 358–59 291–92 commands P&O’s Irish proprietors, 358 visit to Russell’s Millwall yard, 291 only P&O director favoring compounding, liners. See sailing packets 358 Liverpool. See also Great Liverpool persuades Disraeli to renew contract, 358 excessive coal consumption, 83

Index 415

first steamer of Transatlantic Co., 83 Rev. Macleod and Barony Church, 268–69 Lang’s unfavorable view of, 83 MacIver, Charles poor performance of, 83 letter from Cunard on Providence, 303 Tobin as principal owner, 83 MacIver, D.&C. under- performing on Atlantic, 240 abhorrence of waste, 121–22 Liverpool & Dublin SN Co. Presbyterian moral economy, 121–22 Pim and William Laird’s, 63 MacIver, David Liverpool & Dublin Steam Ship Building Co. City of Glasgow Steam Packet Co., 29 CDSP’s connections with, 248 concerned about Admiralty penalties, not set up to build ships, 247 99–100 primary purpose of raising capital, 247 contracts with Napier, 42 Williams’s connection with, 247 Cunard line’s early passenger income, 114 Liverpool & Manchester Railway. See L&MR Cunard’s line of steamers, 13–14 Liverpool (G.&J. Burns), 26, 28 death of, 121 Bourne purchases for Peninsular run, 231 dislike of show and showmanship, 112–13, Liverpool Albion 113 Callao’s highly satisfactory service, 321–22 emphasis on speed, 30 Cunard’s line of steamers, 100 family of, 17 loss of Columbia, 123 initial resistance to Cunard project, 99 Macgregor Laird’s address in, 63 joins with Burns, 30 Liverpool Courier, 154 paddle- steamer Admiral, 246–47 Liverpool Journal, 120 provides Napier with financial security, 44 Liverpool Polytechnic Society reassured by power of Elder’s engines, Grantham as a founder member, 269–70 99–100 Grantham on iron screw steamers, 269–70 rehearses case for improved contract, 113 Grantham’s Presidential address, 269–70 rival to Burns, 29 Henry Booth on Great Britain, 117 succeeded by brother Charles, 121 members’s witness account of Thetis, MacKillop, James 326–27 Anderson’s merger proposal rejected, Livingston, Mortimer, 118 240–41 locomotive, 65 EISNC director, 239 locomotive duty, 9 meets Anderson to hear merger offer, London & Edinburgh SP Co., 55, 231 238–39 London (Dundee, Perth & London), 44 Mackinnon, Capt. Lachlan (RN) Napier exemplar, 94, 98 criticises Cunard America’s officers, London and New York Union SP Co.. See 300–301 Smith, Junius praises Collins Baltic’s officers, 300–301 London and South- Western Railway praises Collins Baltic’s sea- kindliness, Aitkin & Mansel build steamers for, 312 300–301 Lord of the Isles, 325 praises Cunard America’s engines, 300–301 Lord of the Isles (tea clipper) MacLeod, Christine, 2 designed and built by John Scott, 324 Macleod, Rev. Norman record- breaking iron- hulled, 324 Atlantic crossing, 5 Luce, Capt. James friendship with David and John Elder, 49 master of Collins Arctic, 301–2 guest on Persia for trial trip, 295 Lytton, Sir Edward Bulwer human agents in action, 5 attends launch of British Queen, 76 invisible engineers, 2, 5 radical Whig MP and writer, 76 James MacGregor, 268–69 John Elder as Christian exemplar, 317–18 MacGregor, James. See also Tod & John Elder’s character, 317–18 MacGregor minister of Barony Church, 268–69 David Napier as mentor, 268–69 Persia’s trial trip, 2 marine engineer and iron shipbuilder, preaching at sea, 8 268–69 Presbyterian theology, 5 partner in Tod & MacGregor, 268–69 rolling of screw steamers, 8 Rev. Burns and Barony Church, 268–69 view of the Church of England, 49

416 Index

Macmillan, James steam navigation systems, 9 Greenock shipbuilders, 139 value of P&O’s first Alexandria, 242 RMSP hull subcontracted to, 141 Wheelwright negotiates first PSNC, 221–22 Madras (P&O) Whig Government invites bids for, 80 first large iron screw P&O steamer, 279 Malmesbury, Earl of, 169 Magdalena (RMSP) Mangles, Capt. Charles (MP) Amazon- class built by Pitcher, 201 arranges for Blood’s transfer of cabin, 194 Magellan (PSNC) asks Croker about Alexandria contract, 242 high cost of construction, 354 compound system coal economy, 347–48 large iron screw steamer from Elder, 350 compounding linked to much expense, magnetic compass 347–48 Archibald Smith on deviation of, 157–59 contrasts RMSP with P&O, 355 deviation due to iron, 14 family linked to EIC, 173–74 Gareloch compass adjustments, 49 former sailing ship master, 173–74 Magnetic Crusade fraudulent practices of coal measures, 352 Archibald Smith, 157 gentlemanly character, 352 BAAS, 157 gentlemanly disdain over lower orders, 174 Royal Society, 157 impressed by Green’s pace and quality, mail contracts, 78 186–87 Alfred Holt’s challenge to RMSP, 339 inspections of departing steamers, 171 Bristol interests challenge Cunard, 112 investigation into coal handling, 173, 174 British Govt. short- term mail contracts, 352 member of RMSP management board, 163 Burns declines bidding for Halifax, 88 mistrust of compounding, 347–48 CDSP, 234 praises P&O’s Oriental, 264 Chappell as agent at Milford Haven, 62 praises Shannon’s sailing qualities, 346–47 Cunard extends to New York, 107 problem of measuring coal useage, 352 Cunard secures the New York, 118–19 RMSP Board of Management, 166 Cunard unaware of bidding for, 81 RMSP chairman, 345 Cunard wins 7-year Halifax/Boston, 98 RMSP coal consumption, 347–48 Cunard’s direct line to New York, 112 RMSP shipboard discipline, 167 Cunard’s proposal for Halifax, 93 SC(1849) member, 242 Eastern Steam lose to P&O overland, 289 succeeds Colvile as RMSP chairman, 203 French Govt. long- term mail contracts, 352 unaware of Randolph, Elder system, 347–48 GWSS and St George bids for Halifax, 81 Wapping merchants and chandlers, 173–74 GWSS campaign for Admiralty, 79–80 western Australia trades, 173–74 GWSS’s lack of, 107 Mangles, James Holt’s criticism of P&O’s renewal (1867), father of Charles, 173 355 mayor of Guildford, 173 Holt’s Jamaican, Haitian & New York, 339 Mansel, Robert losses of Admiralty sailing brigs, 78 assistant to Prof. William Thomson, 309–10 P&O annual (1857-58) payment, 335 based in University of Glasgow, 309–10 P&O awarded eastern, 268 construction of delicate thermometer, 311 P&O’s renewal (1867), 355 designing Cunard’s Persia and Scotia, P&O’s renewed eastern, 331–33 311–12 Parry’s support for Cunard’s enhanced, 113 designing HMS Black Prince, 311–12 Peninsular Steam awarded Iberian, 232 educated at Andersonian Institution, 309–10 Peninsular Steam to Iberian ports, 80 freezing point lowering experiments, 311 Peninsular to tender for Alexandria, 237 groundwork for thermodynamics, 309–10 petition for Halifax mails, 78 invisible assistant, 311 PO replaced by Admiralty, 62, 232 naval architect at Napier’s yard, 311–12 PO steam packet system, 62 partnership with James Aitkin, 311–12 PSNC’s West Coast (1845), 304–5 precision experimental research, 311 RMSP signing of, 135–36 Prof. Thomson’s assistant, 311 RMSP’s original, 3 recollection of working with Thomson, 311 RMSP’s revised and extended (1850), 186 shipbuilding yard of Aitkin & Mansel, SC on Halifax and Boston mails, 111–12 311–12

Index 417

witness to Stirling air- engine discussion, patent known as “McNaughting”, 313–14 310 practical engineer’s reading, 316 Mare, Charles PSNC’s independent engineer arbiter, Blackwall shipbuilder, 331–33 313–14 builder of P&O Himalaya, 331–33 regards Elder’s engines as flawed, 314–15 establishes Millwall Iron Works, 348 sees imperfection in Elder’s system, 319 fails at Blackwall, 348 sees no reduction in coal consumption, 319 large investment in Millwall Works, 348 trained by David Elder, 313–14 Maria, Queen (of Portugal), 229 uses Monas Queen for comparison, 319 Marlborough, Duke of, 71 Valparaiso fails to meet contract, 319 Marsden (brig) McNaughting. See McNaught, William lands Amazon survivors at Plymouth, McNeile, Rev. Hugh 188–89 approval of Wilson’s shipbuilding, 264–65 Marsden, Ben guest on Persia for trial trip, 295 Napier and Rankine’s Admiral, 324–25 Noah’s Ark ratios, 264–65 Masterman, Thomas Porcupine’s view of, 264–65 RMSP auditor, 135 praise for Oriental, 264–65 masters, steamship staunch evangelical, 264–65 Admiralty seeks control over selection, McQueen, James 169–70 “mail coaches of the ocean”, 9 Capt. Hayden’s breach of trust, 167–68 acknowledges debt to Napier, 131 Capt. Vincent as exemplary RMSP, 171 advantages of steam in time of war, 131 Napier’s trust in, 306–7 appeal for closer colonial ties, 129 regulating coal consumption, 172 appeal for Government support, 129 RMSP unhappy with ex- naval officers, authority on African geography, 130 169–70 Blackwood’s Magazine contributor, 129–30 RMSP’s discipline in action, 167–68 blame for over- optimistic scheduling, 149 shortcomings of naval officers as, 168–70 British rivalry with USA, 131 Matthie & Theakstone, 24 coal consumption comparisons, 235 Matthie, Hugh, 24, 26 contrast to findings of SC report, 235 Maudslay, Son & Field defence against attack from Irving, 164–65 Actaeon steaming trials, 176 disadvantages of overland passage, 235 Admiralty- approved engine builders, 136 discussions with Admiralty, 130 engines for Great Western, 65, 72 eastern steam navigation system, 235 engines for HMS Medea, 65 economy of expansive principle, 131 Pitchers subcontract two sets of engines, favours Cape of Good Hope system, 235 141 General Plan, 9, 130–34, 148 RMSP consult with, 136 geographical system builder, 129 Maynard, Thomas, 92 Glasgow Courier editor, 129–30 McLennan, Eleanor Glasgow’s West Indies trades, 129–30 Amazon heroism, 191 Grenada plantation manager, 129–30 McNab & Co. insistance on adequate power, 133–34 Greenock shipbuilder, 339 large- scale steam navigation system, 148 McNaught, William letter to Francis Baring, 129, 131, 133 apprentice in Napier’s works, 313–14 meetings with Adam and Parry, 130 blames inaccurate workmanship, 316 minimization of time and materials, 148 dispute with Randolph, Elder, 319–21 Napier’s Dundee steamers as standard, Elder admits engines are imperfect, 314 131–33 Elder challenges indicator credibility, 319 original grand western system, 238 Elder proposes to remedy defects, 314 over- ambitious schedules, 148 finally approves Valparaiso, 320–21 Presbyterian values of, 133–34 finds Inca underpowered, 314 projected coal consumption, 134 Inca partly fails to meet contract, 319 projected coal supply by sailing ship, 134 inventor of indicator instruments, 313–14 projected operating costs of steamers, patent for compound stationary engine, 131–33 313–14 projected sail assistance, 134

418 Index

McQueen, James (cont.) Melvill, Rev. Henry projected sail versus steam costs, 133 dislike of extreme evangelicals, 50 projected steam navigation system, 133 friendship with Napier, 50 projector of West Indies mail line, 129 Junius Smith attends church of, 54 projects maximum useful work, 133–34 Principal of East India College, 50 projects minimum waste of work and time, Trinity House sermons of, 92 133–34 Menai (steam yacht), 43 projects regularity and certainty, 133–34 Mendizabal, Juan Alvarez y reassigned foreign superintendent, 147 prospective Peninsular Steam director, 230 resignation from RMSP, 147 Spanish minister in London, 230 RMSP curtail Plan of, 135–36 Menzies, Robert RMSP General Superintendent, 135–36 builder of Sirius, 72 RMSP projector, 129 Leith shipbuilders, 72 RMSP remuneration of, 135–36 RMSP contract for Forth, 141 scapegoat for RMSP’s problems, 148, 164 subcontract Forth’s engines, 141 steam navigation system, 9 Mercator Tory political leanings of, 129–30 “locomotive power”, 83 useful work and productive labour, 148 British Queen’s structural weaknesses, 87 Mécanique céleste, 70 effect of head seas on wooden ships, 87 mechanical effect Liverpool’s underperformance, 83 Gordon’s term for work done, 309 questions hull- form of President, 109 James and William Thomson adopt, 309 sailing vessel advantage in head- sea, 87 Jevons on temperature difference and, 323 small steamers unfit for ocean service, 82 Mechanics Magazine warning to RMSP directors, 87 blames Great Britain master, 120 Merchant Shipping mechanische Wirkung. See mechanical effect Lindsay’s classic history of, 286 Medea, HMS Mercury, Liverpool Capt. Austin in command of, 213 Capt. Henderson reported in, 290–91 crew power turning paddle wheels, 214 criticism of Rev. McNeile, 265 experimental trials, 65 methodology, Hughesian, 1 Lardner’s modulus, 66 Mexico Lardner’s use of performance data, 65–66 silver from, 57 Peacock’s service on, 213 microcosm, 8 rescues Don Juan passengers and crew, Middleton, Capt. Isaac 232–33 Holt’s warning on coal quality to, 366 Smith’s original exemplar, 55 master of Holt’s Saladin (mid-1850s), 339 Medina (RMSP), 146 Miles, Philip (MP) Times account of loss of, 149 supporter of GWSS against Cunard, 117 Medway (RMSP), 179 Miller, David P. expansive working of, 176 historical study of indicators, 315–16 master’s reward for saving of coal, 176 Miller, Ravenhill & Co. W.S. Jevons on board RMSP Medway, 203 P&O contract for oscillating engines, Meikleham, Prof. William 270–71 natural philosophy chair at Glasgow, 138 Pitchers subcontract two sets of engines, Russell indebted to, 138 141 three aims of natural philosophy, 138 Mills, George Melbourne, Viscount attends Amazon trials, 185 Whig Government of, 77, 93 blamed for debacle of too- large wheels, Melvill, James C. 201–2 compares Napier to James Watt, 49 character of, 5 considerable EIC patronage of, 49 Court members rally to defence, 201–2 EIC chief secretary, 48 fits large paddle- wheels to Parana, 201–2 friendship with Napier, 48, 49 professional credentials questioned, 201–2 Napier link to Cunard, 89 report on steaming trials, 175–76 P&O mail contract Suez to Calcutta, 244 RMSP Southampon works manager, 201–2 reassures Cunard on Napier’s advice, 98 RMSP superintendent engineer, 5, 173

Index 419

scapegoat for RMSP’s ills, 185 Murray, Andrew Tufnell’s attack on competence of, 202 Fairbairn’s yard manager at Millwall, Woolwich Dockyard experiments, 173 271 Millwall Iron Works former pupil of Fairbairn, 271 builds RMSP iron screw Rhone, 348 HM Dockyard chief engineer, 335 established by Mare on Russell’s site, 348 manager at Fairbairn’s Millwall yard, 335 Mare invests heavily in, 348 Murray, Robert Overend, Gurney banking crash, 348–49 address at first INA meeting (1860), 335 reputation damaged by RMSP Danube, advantages of superheating, 335–36 348–49 Board of Trade engineer- surveyor, 335 Minto, Earl of brother of Andrew, 271 attends launch of British Queen, 76 Fairbairn’s Millwall yard drawing office, Claxton’s presentation to, 79 271 First Lord of the Admiralty, 76 favours simple over compound engines, miracles. See Providence 336, 337 Monas Queen high- pressure simple engines more reliable, McNaught compares with Valparaiso, 319 336 simple- engined Isle of Man steamer, 319 Humphrys’s engines over- complicated, Money Wigram & Sons. See Wigrams 337 Mongolia (P&O) INA address (1860), 348 built and engined by John Scott, 357–58 INA address (1865), 337 simple (one- stage) oscillating engines, James Thomson on P&O drawings, 271 357–58 mocks Humphrys’s reputation, 337 monopolies P&O Mooltan runs on one cylinder, 337 GWSS arguments against, 118 P&O Pottinger drawings, 335 GWSS lobbies Peel against Cunard, 112 paddle wheels versus screws, 367 Herapath’s dislike of, 13 Randolph, Elder’s compound engines, 336 Holt’s criticism of P&O, 355 RMSP Douro’s superheating, 348 Junius Smith, 60 sail- aided steamers, 348 Junius Smith’s goal of, 12 sceptical of RMSP ’s superheating, 348 railway systems, 10 steamship fuel economy, 335 Reid, Irving & Co., 57 underpowered screw steamers, 348 RM attacks CDSP character and costs, unsettled question of paddle vs screw, 348 247–48 writings on s’buildingand engineering, RMSP, 10 335 RMSP’s alleged practices of, 152 steam navigation systems, 10 Nairne, Capt. Alexander Wheelwright’s West Coast privileges, 206–7 EISNC director, 241 Mooltan (P&O) joins P&O Board, 244 compound- engined by Humphrys, 323 P&O Nautical Committee, 272 delays in completion, 336–37 Napier, David engines replaced after only 5 years, 337 boiler for Comet (I), 35–36 finally receives Admiralty approval, 336–37 Camlachie Works, 35–36 launch at Blackwall, 336–37 Camlachie Works leased to Robert, 36 machinery defective on first voyage, 336–37 Earl Grey boiler explosion, 44 P&O contract Humphrys’s engines, 334–35 hull- form experiments, 35–36 speed trials below expectation, 336–37 Lancefield House, 34 trials of compound- engine system, 347–48 Lancefield Works, 34, 36 Morning Chronicle mentor of Tod and MacGregor, 268–69 Amazon disaster, 190 move to London, 44 Anderson & Willcox sell ship to slave moves to Thames site, 268–69 dealer, 260 offers Works to Tod & MacGregor, 268–69 Muirkirk Iron Works, 46 Rob Roy cross- channel steamer, 35–36 Murdoch, Rev. James Scott Russell’s portrayal of, 36 grandfather of Susan Cunard, 90 steeple engine, 278, 330–31 strongly loyalist family history, 90 Tod & MacGregor’s debt to, 278

420 Index

Napier, Isabella, 102 dislike of patent condensers, 96 Napier, James Robert Dundee steamers as McQueen standard, “useful” versus “indicated work”, 336 131–33 aims to be scientific naval architect, 305 EIC’s unqualified trust, 47 attends first meeting of INA (1860), 335 engine- building practices, 38–39 blame for Santiago accrues to, 306 evangelical friendships, 49 David Elder’s skills, 37–38 evidence to PO Commissioners, 131 deformed state of President, 111 failure to meet promises, 304 Elder compound versus Neilson simple, 336 family, 34–35 face- to- face with Mansel, 312 fears first Cunard steamers too small, 95–96 indicator limitations, 336 first contract with Cunard, 89 manages design changes to PSNC order, fitting out dock, 39–40 305 fraught relations with PSNC, 305–6 marine air- engine project, 312 friendship with Chalmers, 35 Napier shipbuilding yard manager, 305 geographical range of contracts, 95 practical advantages of compounding, 336 Glasgow marine engine works, 11 PSNC Santiago trials, 305–6 Glasgow workshops, 33 re- designs PSNC Santiago, 305 Govan iron shipbuilding yard, 34, 41–42 steamships as integrated systems, 336, great authority on steam navigation, 51 366–67 grounds for Cunard’s confidence, 97–98 studies at Glasgow University, 309 importance of public confidence, 45–46 Napier, Rev. Peter interest in Sirius, 72 brother of Robert, 50 iron shipbuilding practices, 39–40, 41–42 minister of Glasgow’s Blackfriars, 50 James Melvill (EIC secretary), 46–48 Napier, Robert John Elder as chief draughtsman, 308 Admiralty standard for Cunard, 97 John Elder’s apprenticeship with, 308 Admiralty’s high opinion of, 97 Kidston as intermediary with Cunard, 95 agrees initial terms with Cunard, 95 Kidston conveys Cunard’s wants, 94 Assheton Smith provides EIC access, 46 Kidston link to Cunard, 89 Assheton Smith provides security for, 47 Lancefield fitting out dock, 119 Assheton Smith’s steam yachts, 324 Lancefield Works, 34, 39–40 assures Cunard of good work, 96–97 loses British Queen engine contract, 71 British Queen departs from practice, 81–82 Macgregor Laird an acquaintance, 71 British Queen threatens reputation, 81–82 MacIver provides financial security, 44 builder of Cunard Persia, 295 manifesto of transatlantic promise, 71 building confidence into steamships, 33 Mansel as naval architect, 311–12 challenges Santiago log data, 306 marine steam engine building, 34 Church of Scotland, 35 McQueen acknowledges his debt to, 131 Clyde steamboat races, 42–43 meets Cunard at Lancefield House, 95 consultant for Atlantic steam, 45–46 Melvill link to Cunard, 89 consults Reid, Irving about Cunard, 95 mistrust in masters, 306 contract for EIC’s Berenice, 46–48 moral value of work, 97 contrast with wooden shipbuilding, 41–42 networks of, 11 crack Dundee steamers, 66 no experiments with passenger vessels, craftsmen’s skills on display, 49 96–97 credit from Cunard for size and power, Northern Yacht Club steamboat race, 42–43 96–97 plentiful contracts for engines, 42 Cunard agrees to size increase, 95–96 Post- Office Commissioners, 44–45 Cunard contract for iron- hulled vessel, 119 practices for steamship systems, 51 Cunard contract for New York vessels, 119 precautions against accidents, 46 Cunard establishes face- to- face trust, 95 privileged sites of skill, 11 Cunard’s line of steamers, 11, 12 PSNC contracts with, 12 David Elder as works manager, 5 PSNC loss of trust over Santiago, 306 David MacIver, 30 PSNC Santiago’s underperformance, 305–6 debt to David Elder, 42 PSNC’s contracts for iron steamers, 304 delays to fitting outBritish Queen, 81–82 public confidence in Dundee steamers, 44

Index 421

recommends Burns & MacIver, 100–101 witness to Valparaiso seagoing trip, recommends still- larger Cunard ships, 98 319–20 regains British Queen engine contract, 71 Naylor, Todd reputation, 33, 38–39, 42–43, 94 partner in Naylor, Boardman, 212 reputation driven south, 44 PSNC director from Liverpool, 212 Residence at Lancefield House, 39–40 Neilson, Robert Rhu (Row) Kirk, 35 Amazon survivor and early witness, risks to confidence from accidents, 12 188–89 Santiago threat to reputation, 306 Liverpool merchant, 188–89 share in vessel ownership, 42 personal presentiment aboard Amazon, similarity to Watt, 97 193 Smith’s loss of trust in, 85 Nepaul (P&O) specifications of first four Cunarders, 101–2 Humphrys supplies simple engine, 333 subcontracts hulls to Wood, 48 Neva (RMSP) systematic engine construction, 38–39 performance in high seas, 349–50 threat to Clyde’s reputation, 97 rolling tendency, 349–50 transatlantic coal consumption, 45–46 New Granada (PSNC), 304–5 Vulcan Works, 34, 38–39 New York Daily Tribune, 124 Vulcan Works, Glasgow, 39 New York Express, 73 warning to steam projectors, 72–73 New York Times, 301 West Shandon House, 49 New York Weekly Herald, 73 Wood’s work as a pattern, 48 Newborough, Lord. See Wynn, Spencer Napier, Sir Charles Newcomen engine, 35 Scottish naval officer, 230 Newport (South Wales) Nasmyth, James coal tonnages loaded, 173 designs steam hammer for forging, 115 News, Daily, 179 Humphrys briefly works with, 333 Newton (L+H), 339 Manchester machine- tool works, 115 Niagara (Cunard), 298 Nautical Magazine Nichol, J.P., 308 Asia versus Atlantic, 299 Niger expedition, 62. See also Laird, Atlantic crossing times, 299 Macgregor Atlantic lines “struggle for mastery”, 299 Nile (RMSP) blames Great Britain master, 120 modelled on Caird’s Neva design, 349 Brandon trial trip favorably reported, 313 Noah’s Ark ratios criticism of RMSP management, 149–50 Capt. Henderson’s application, 290–91 Cunard versus Collins Line, 299 Collins steamers maintain, 299 Curling & Young on shipbuilding, 110–11 Great Eastern and, 290–91 Forbes on Charles Bartlett collision, Himalaya compared, 290–91 123–24 Rev McNeile’s address in Liverpool, Hydrographic Office semi- official imprint, 264–65 214 Norddeutscher Lloyd (NDL) Mercator, 82 Caird contracts, 349 Mercator questions President’s form, 109 sale of Rhein to RMSP as Neva, 349 Nauticus queries Great Britain screw, 115 Norna (P&O) Niger expedition, 62 built by Tod & MacGregor, 355–56 Peacock’s contributions to, 214 commanded by Capt. Bain, 355–56 President’s deficiency of power, 109 North American Review Nauticus account of Arctic tragedy, 301–2 deems President underpowered, 109 Britain’s sovereignty of the seas, 368 queries Great Britain screw propulsion, North British Review, 19 115 Northern Yacht Club navigation laws Clyde steamboat races, 42–43 British and American, 55 Novelty Iron Works Naylor, Boardman & Co., 212 engines for Collins Atlantic and Arctic, 298 appointed PSNC agents in Valparaiso, 216 engines for Herman and Washington, 124 Naylor, John Edward Novum organum, 70

422 Index

Ocean Steam Navigation Co., 118, 124 Orion (Burns & MacIver) Ocean Steam Ship Co., See also Holt, Alfred BAAS meeting at Edinburgh (1850), 31 fleet of 17 ocean steamers (1875), 342–43 built by Caird & Co., 31 loyalty to Scott and Leslie, 342–43 iron paddle steamer from Cairds, 199 private partnership, 342–43 shipwreck, 30–31 profits and interest from investments, watertight iron bulkheads of, 31 342–43 Ottoman Empire, 206 self- insurance from non- shipping funds, Overend, Gurney 342–43 backs Mare’s Millwall Iron Works, 348 Oersted’s apparatus, 311 banking crash, 348–49 Old Line. See Black Ball Line PSNC bankers, 221 Olrick, Lewis overland passage. See also P&O contribution to INA discussion (1865), P&O’s, 227 337–38 P&O’s complex system of travel, 357–58 favours Glasgow over London engines, T.L. Peacock’s objections to, 235–37 337–38 Maudslay- trained Danish engineer, P&O 337–38 abandoned compound system, 345 steam wasted in Humphrys’s engines, acquaintance with Tod & MacGregor, 12, 337–38 268–69 Oneida (RMSP) addition of “Oriental” to Peninsular, 239 built by John Scott, 348 Alexandria mail contract awarded, 242 originally for European & Australian, 348 Allan and Carleton consult Caird, 273–75 RMSP’s first mainline screw steamer, 348 Allan as servant of, 4 opium trade, 361 Allan defends against RM critics, 251 Orient Steam Navigation Co. Allan resigns as secretary, 273 charters laid- up PSNC steamers, 355 Allan returns as assistant manager, 273 Green family of Blackwall, 355 Allan’s instructions to master(s), 280 new line to Australia, 355 alleged failure in relations with Pasha, 253 Oriental (P&O) alleged threat to overland passage, 253 admiration for hull- form, 263–64 Anderson asserts unique credentials of, beats RMSP Avon, 263–64 239–40 differing passenger verdicts, 263–64 Anderson’s address at Bengal launch, 330 built by Wilson, 263–64 annual coal consumption (1857-58), 335 exemplar, 263 appeal against Admiralty ruling, 276 formerly United States while building, Bentinck runs short of coal, 174–75 263–64 Board persuaded of Elder engine merits, inaugurates Alexandria mail service, 263 358–59 L’Pool & Dublin Steam Ship Building Co., Board resist return to compounding, 358–59 250 British press, 245 Noah’s Ark ratios, 264–65 Caird advises on design changes, 273–75 reputation for speed, 263–64 Caird compound- engined Australia, 359 re- registered under P&O ownership, 258 Caird connections, 263, 362–63 Rev. McNeile’s approval of, 264–65 Caird consultation on performance, 263 RM questions ownership, 252 Caird- built Khedive, 359 RMSP praise for, 263–64 Carleton attack on RM at GM, 260–61 side- lever engines, 263–64 CDSP connections put shares at risk, 247 spiritual credibility of, 264–65 celebration for Sir Henry Pottinger, 271–72 Williams’s and partners’ ownership, chairman responds to RM lead article, 252 250–51, 251–52 challenge to P&O of the Suez Canal, Orinoco (RMSP) 357–58 Amazon- class built by Pitcher, 201 character of desired merger with EISNC, construction at Pitcher’s, 187 239–40 P&O Bengal’s advantages over, 279, 367 chastises Sutherland for coal tally, 365–66 quality below Green’s Amazon, 187 coaling stations list, 286 Orion, 31 compound re- engining programme, 359

Index 423

contrast to RMSP on safe navigation, 155 iron paddle- steamers underperform, 263 contrasts with RMSP, 263, 355 iron screw Bengal performance, 263 control of recalcitrant elements, 245 joint- stock co. with Royal Charter, 239–40 Court of Directors, 4 junction proposed with Transatlantic, 239 culture of secrecy, 245, 251 key EISNC directors join P&O Board, data on steam navigation system, 330 243–44 debt to Whig Government patronage, Leadenhall Street Head Office, 261 253–54 lengthening to improve performance, delay problems with Thames yards, 272 273–75 disaffected proprietors, 245 L’Estrange in favour of compounding, 358 diverse make- up of founding network, 227 Lindsay negotiates coal shipments, 285–87 diversity of mail steamer designs, 263 loss of confidence in, 4 division of existing shareholdings, 241–42 loyalty to Tod & MacGregor, 279 eastern mail contract awarded, 268 mail contracts renewal (1852), 331–33 EIC award 5-year mail contract to, 244 maritime empire, 245 EIC’s Akbar out- performs P&O ships, monetary and moral values, 245 267–68 Mongolia’s oscillating engines (1865), EIC’s resistance to, 268 357–58 EISNC accepts union with, 243–44 Mooltan contract Humphrys’s engines, EISNC reject Anderson’s merger offer, 334–35 240–41 Mooltan delays and engine defects, 336–37 engineering practices of, 279–81 Murray on superheating experiments, experimental iron steamer Pacha, 263 335–36 experiments with iron- hulled steamers, 158 narratives of progress, 245 extension of steam navigation system, 268 navigational practices of, 279–81 extensions east to China and Australia, 227 orders for 8 Clyde compound vessels, 359 fall in share price (1863-70), 355 Oriental as exemplar, 263–64 first MDs, 227 Oriental sets performance standard, 263 first minuted meeting of new co., 240 original form of abbreviated title, 227 fits 8 sets of Humphrys’s compound, 337 oscillating engines, 177 formation of, 228 overland passage, 227, 245, 285 Geo. Bayley as superintendent of construc- Pacha tested on the Iberian service, 270 tion, 272 patronage rituals of, 271–72 Government patronage from Parry, 242 Peninsular Steam define mail contract, Great Liverpool shortcomings, 264 241–42 harsh legacy of Humphrys’s engine, 357–58 planning large steamer for Indian seas, 242 Henry Bayley opposes compounding, 358 plans for first large iron mail steamer, 270 Herapath condemns culture of secrecy, Pottinger named to honour Sir Henry, 252–53 271–72 Herapath asserts Co. part- public property, practical character emphasised, 227 252–53 project for large iron mail steamers, 270–71 Himalaya projected as first of five, 331–33 projected faster overland system, 331–33 Hindostan, 274 projection of power east of Suez, 265–68 Hindostan and Bentinck, 265–68 public concerns over stability, 355 historians of, 4 Railway Magazine attacks on, 4 Holt’s criticism of monopoly, 355 reject purchase of British Queen, 270–71 Humphrys’s compound engine, 334 reject purchase of Great Western, 270–71 Humphrys’s compound- engine system, renewal of mail contracts (1867), 355 333–35 restructuring management post-1865, 355 Iberian Peninsula service, 227 return to simple engines, 357–58 imperative to reduce coal consumption, 335 revival of Caird connection, 345 imperial steam navigation system, 244 Richard Bourne and, 4 impressed with Pacha’s iron hull, 270 Ripon, 274 initial capital, 227 rise and fall of Himalaya project, 331–33 initial contracts with Humphrys, 333 rival bids for Alexandria mail contract, 242 internal strife over compounding, 358 RM asserts over- valuation of property, 254

424 Index

P&O (cont.) Williams’s system of finance, 248–49 RM correspondent strongly defends, 250 Pacha (P&O) RM criticisms, 245–46 experimental iron steamer, 263 RM Hindostan engines letter libellous, P&O impressed with hull strength, 270 257–58, 257–58 small iron- hulled paddle steamer, 270 RM queries Hindostan engine finance, Pacific (Collins), 298 251–52 Persia witnesses Liverpool departure, 297 RM questions financial foundations, 248–49 possible wreckage reported, 302–3 RM questions P&O Oriental ownership, posted missing on passage New York, 250–52 302–3 RM satire on Great Liverpool, 248–49 suspected collision with ice, 302–3 RM’s April Fool on proprietors, 251 Pacific Steam Navigation Company. See RM’s caricature of proprietors, 251 PSNC RM’s criticisms, 245 paddle steamers RM’s critics of Hindostan and Bentinck, better time- keeping, 367 267–68 high fuel consumption of, 367 RM’s estimate of annual expenses, 249–50 problems with sail assistance, 367 RM’s estimate of coal consumption, 249–50 steadying effects of paddles, 367 RM’s report of Zulueta felony case, 257 superiority in heavy seas, 367 RM’s report on Zulueta not mentioned, pageant, 217 257–58 Palestine seeks information on screw propeller, coal voyage of wooden barque, 364 276–77 Conrad’s voyage aboard, 364 shipbuilders contracted, 330 destroyed by fire in coal, 364 size and value of fleet (1852), 330 Palmerston, Viscount, 169 small- scale screw experiments, 331–33 Sir Henry Pottinger and, 272 spiritual credibility of Oriental, 264–65 Panama canal steam navigation system, 227, 285 Scarlett’s suggestion for a, 209 steam navigation system to India, 239 Paramatta (RMSP) steam navigation systems of, 11 Dr Beattie on officers’ over- confidence, 346 steam shipping rather than City men, 240 large iron paddle steamer, 346 superheating trial on Sultan, 335 Parana (RMSP) Sutherland as chairman (1880-1914), found to be structurally weak, 200–201 362–63 Parry, Sir Edward Sutherland as Hong Kong superintendent, acquainted with Cunard, 87 356–57 Admiralty Comptroller of Steam Sutherland versus Capt. Bain, 362 Machinery, 87 territorial ambitions of, 268 Arctic explorer, 87 Thomas Sutherland, 362 Cunard’s enhanced mail contract, 113 threat to iron steamers from Admiralty, 276 devout evangelical, 87 threatens RM with legal proceedings, friendship with George Burns, 87, 99 257–58 McQueen’s meeting with, 130 Tod & MacGregor, 12, 263 patron of Cunard, 93 Tod & MacGregor contract for Pacha, 270 plies P&O with Govt. patronage, 242 too large to fail, 355 Parsons, Capt. George (RN) Transatlantic amalgamation timing, 241–42 dismissed from RMSP service, 183 Transatlantic Steam merges into, 83 master of RMSP Tweed, 178 trust in Caird’s skill as naval architect, passenger experience 273–75 Dickens’s Atlantic crossing westbound, two suitable Alexandria steamers, 242 103–5 underperformance of Pottinger, 272–73 Dickens’s first Atlantic crossing, 89 waiting for MacKillop to consult Curtis, P&O paddlers more popular than screw, 239 367 Whig patronage, 244 Rev. Kingsley’s Atlantic crossing, 347 Williams’s connections with, 247 Rev. Kingsley’s homeward Atlantic, 349–50 Williams’s role in iron steamer plans, 270 RMSP comfort over extravagance, 350–51

Index 425

screw steamer discomforts, 367 Bristol site, 186 W.S. Jevons on RMSP Medway, 203 builder of Demerara hull, 187 passengers’s testimony GWSS confidence in, 58 Liverpool’s maiden voyage, 26 reputation for open- mindedness, 58 patents visit to principal British ports, 58 cold- air versus hot- air Williams, 246–47 Peacock, Capt. George (RN) condensers of Hall and Goddard, 96 acknowledges debt to Fitzroy, 217 James Thomson (jr)’s awareness, 310 appointment at Southampton Docks, 222 Lamb & Summers superheating, 335, 336 Austin’s list of navigational skills of, 213 McNaught’s compound arrangement, Brandon trial trip witnessed by, 313 313–14 bravery award, 214 Napier’s dislike of surface condenser, 96 ceremonial arrival in Valparaiso, 204 Randolph, Elder’s 2nd compound- engine, ceremony at Port Famine, 215–16 314, 316–17 coastal survey practice, 213–14 Randolph, Elder’s compound engine, combines skill and showmanship, 217 347–48 combining engineering and surveying, 214 Randolph, Elder’s first compound engine, contributions to NM, 214 312–13 data for Whewell’s tidal theory, 213–14 Rowan & Horton’s engine and boiler, ensures safe movement of the Queen, 222 325–26 HMS Medea propulsion, 214 Samuel Hall’s surface condensers, 71 HMS Medea under Capt. Austin, 213 Stirling’s air- engine, 309–10 marine steam engine practice, 213–14 Williams’s smoke- consuming, 246, 266 marking Chilean independence, 215–16 Patriot, The Maudslay, Son & Field works, 213–14 article on Zulueta’s defence, 259–60 meets with Pettit Smith, 213–14 patronage rituals ocean trials under sail alone, 215 P&O’s Pottinger celebration, 271–72 oversees despatch of HM mails, 222 patronage, Admiralty personification of trustworthiness, 219 RMSP, 169 Peru rendezvous with Chile at Rio, 215 patronage, aristocratic Peru trial trip on Thames, 214–15 Anderson protected by, 229 Peru’s coal consumption, 215 PSNC’s debt to Scarlett family, 204 Peru’s delivery voyage to Chile, 215 patronage, East India Co. PSNC criticism for irregularities, 218–19 Melvill’s considerable, 49 PSNC grand entry into Valparaiso, 216–17 patronage, Government PSNC’s arrival on the Pacific, 215–16 Cunard cultivates successive, 107 PSNC’s second superintendent, 204 Cunard’s line of steamers, 112, 125 quest for Chilean coal supplies, 216 empire, 93 reports home to boost confidence, 215 GWSS criticism of, 118 resignation from PSNC, 222 Haliburton on generosity of, 11 resigns Admiralty commission, 214 Junius Smith’s lack of, 12, 57 salvage and showmanship, 217–18 P&O’s, 272 salvage skills, 214 Parry supplies P&O with, 242 screw propulsion conversations, 213–14 RMSP, 156 seagoing career, 213–14 Samuel Cunard, 11, 93 takes command of PSNC Peru, 214 steam navigation systems, 11 Talcahuano coal mine and jetty, 220–21 patronage, Whig teaches mining practices to Chileans, Cunard line’s debt to, 253–54 220–21 Cunard partners’ benefit from, 113 trustworthiness of, 213 RMSP’s debt to, 253–54 unrelenting optimism of, 218 Samuel Cunard, 93–94 visits Wheelwright and Laird, 214 Symonds receipt of, 47 Peacock, Thomas Love Patterson, William Cape route best left to sail, 235–37 Acramans subcontract two RMSP hulls, 141 East India Co. servant, 235–37 alteration to Great Western trim, 72 economy of space and time, 235–37 Bristol shipbuilder, 58 Edinburgh Review essay, 235–37

426 Index

Peacock, Thomas Love (cont.) Penny Magazine, 33, 34, 38–39, 39–40, 41–42 favours Persian Gulf (Euphrates) line, perfectibility of man 235–37 Bennett’s belief in, 70 objections to Red Sea/overland route, performance, sailing- packet 235–37 Lardner’s data on, 67 satirical wit of, 235–37 performance, steamship SC evidence on steam to India, 235–37 Amazon’s formal sea trials, 188 trials of Forbes, 235–37 Amazon’s Thames trial trip, 187–88 urges tests of routes to India, 237 BAAS interest in, 324–25 Peel, Sir Robert (Prime Minister) Ben Marsden’s study of BAAS, 324–25 GWSS lobbies against Cunard, 112 Bengal’s exemplary, 279 meeting with GWSS, 117–18 British Queen’s unsatisfactory, 110 Oliver Lang’s support for, 137 Caird not in favour of lengthening, 273–75 Pekin (P&O) Caird’s advice to P&O on, 273–75, 273–75 built by Tod & MacGregor, 275–76 Callao’s highly satisfactory, 321–22 iron paddle steamer, 275–76 Capt. Henderson’s Pottinger criticisms, lower building costs than Fairbairns, 272–73 275–76 David Elder (jr) on PSNC, 307–8 P&O’s praise for Tod & MacGregor, Dundee steamers’s impressive, 44 275–76 Engineer on Thetis’s economy of fuel, 328 Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co., fixedversus feathering paddle- wheels, 66 See P&O Great Britain’s ocean- going, 116–17 Peninsular Steam Navigation Co., See also heavy wear and tear on Collins ships, 301 P&O HMS Medea’s, 65–66 Admiralty approval of house- flag, 232 importance of speed on N. Atlantic, 299 Admiralty invite Alexandria tender, 237 iron screw Neva’s rolling tendency, 349–50 Admiralty mail contract for, 80 iron- hulled Alburkah, 62 Alexandria contract private assurance, L+H Humboldt’s trial trip, 341 238–39 large iron screw Bengal’s imperfect, 279–81 Anderson meets EISNC’s MacKillop, lengthening to improve, 273–75 238–39 Liverpool’s poor, 83 Anderson on benefits of EISNC merger, 239 Mackinnon on Baltic’s sea- kindliness, Anderson saves reputation of, 232–33 300–301 Bourne as chairman, 232 Mackinnon praises America’s engines, charters steamers from partners, 231 300–301 confidence in large steam packets, 231 McNaught’s indicators to measure, 313–14 Cotesworth a prospective director, 230 Mooltan engines replaced after 5 years, 337 Curling & Young build first steamer, 71 Napier’s award for Berenice’s, 48 delivering Iberian mails on schedule, 237 Neva’s heavy seas, 349–50 early operating losses, 231–32 P&O consult Caird on unsatisfactory, 263 GWSS cite precedent of, 80 P&O Sultan’s excellent, 275 Iberian mail contract awarded, 232 P&O’s Hindostan and Bentinck, 267–68 importance of political stability to, 231 P&O’s iron paddle- steamers’, 263 initial prospectus (1834), 230 P&O’s iron screw steamers’, 263 launched as a private partnership, 231 passenger discomfort, 7–8 loss of Don Juan, 232–33 Persia’s fast passage in N. Channel, 296–97 original project stalls, 231 Persia’s trial trip, 294–97 projected new vessels, 231–32 Peru coal consumption meets promise, 215 promotion of, 231 Pottinger’s manifold problems of, 272–73 propose merger with “Precursor party”, President’s unsatisfactory, 108–9 238–39 PSNC Quito sea- kindliness in storm, 306 Spanish minister in London a director, 230 PSNC Santiago’s unsatisfactory, 305–6 Willcox named as chief agent of, 230 Rankine’s measurement of Thetis, 324–25 Penn, John report on Thetis’s engine trials, 327 Deptford marine engine builders, 331–33 RMSP Danube’s troubled, 348–49 engines for P&O Himalaya, 331–33 RMSP Moselle as sail- aided, 352–53

Index 427

RMSP steamers’ high fuel consumption, subcontract four sets of RMSP engines, 141 172–78 Thames sites of skill, 12 RMSP’s 1843 report on, 152 Plantagenet (Alfred Holt), 339 RMSP’s Elder- built trio, 352–53 Plymouth Congregational Church Russell’s data on auxiliary steamers, 289 Rev. Beecher as minister of, 300 sail- aided dampening of rolling, 352–53 political economy sail- aided role in RMSP Elder- built trio, Bowring engaged with, 163 352–53 Chalmers’s, 21 Sarah Sands as iron screw exemplar, 277 Cleland on Glasgow’s, 19 screw propulsion, 7 McQueen’s projected oceanic, 133–34 Shannon’s sail- only voyage, 346–47 Porcupine, The speed as mark of scientific excellence, 299 Liverpool’s satirical magazine, 264 superior durability of Cunard’s ships, 301 PSNC chairman’s desertion, 354 Thetis’s quantitative, 324–25 PSNC directors’ loss of control, 354 Valparaiso seagoing, 319–20 PSNC’s imprudence, 354 Valparaiso versus Pride of Erin trial, Rev. Hugh McNeile, 264 320–21 Port Glasgow Valparaiso’s contested, 316 Clyde shipbuilding town, 34 Perrey, Abraham, 24 Portales, Diego Persia (Cunard) Chilean statesman, 206 average crossing time, 293 Valparaiso meeting promoting steam, 206 burning “Scotch coal”, 296–97 Portland, 4th Duke of (William Capt. Judkins as master, 294–97 Cavendish- Bentinck) coal consumption, 293–94 enthusiasm for fast sailing yachts, 46 creates sensation in Liverpool, 297 patron of Symonds, 46 David Elder’s engines for, 106 Portuguese Civil War departure on maiden voyage, 297 Anderson’s connections with, 229–30 Mansel’s role in designing, 311–12 Post- Office Commissioners passage from Clyde to Liverpool, 296–97 Dundee steamers as exemplars, 44–45 spectacle of night- time steaming, 296–97 Pottinger (P&O), 274 strikes ice during maiden voyage, 302–3 Capt. Henderson’s criticisms of, 272–73 trial trip, 2, 5 damaging publicity, 272–73 witnessing performance, 294–97 Fairbairn- built iron paddle steamer, world’s largest steamship (1856), 294–97 272–73 Perth (Dundee, Perth & London), 44, 66, 132 as a “floating tavern”, 272–73 Peru (PSNC), 216 lack of stability, 272–73 coal consumption on delivery voyage, 215 P&O Nautical Committee investigate, Peacock takes command, 214 272–73 Picayne, 179 re- engining and lengthening, 272–73 Pickstone, John, 14 underperformance, 263 Pim, Joseph Robinson Pottinger, Sir Henry co- owner of William Fawcett, 231 Hong Kong’s first Governor, 271–72 Dublin Quaker, 63 P&O’s celebration for, 271–72 St George Steam Packet Co, 63 P&O’s naming steamer in his honour, warns Smith of Liverpool opposition, 64 271–72 Williams and, 234 Treaty of Nanking with China, 271–72 Pirie, Sir John (Alderman) Viscount Palmerston and, 271–72 EISNC director, 241 Precursor (P&O from 1844) joins P&O Board, 244 large Napier- engined steamer, 244 RM’s satirical portrayal, 255 Presbyterianism Pitcher, William Calvinist legacy of, 23 builder and repairer for RMSP, 12 Calvinist version of, 17 drawings for Conway (RMSP), 177 Calvinist view of Christmas Day, 122 Northfleet, River Thames site, 186 Chalmers version of, 20 RMSP contract four steamships, 141 Chalmers’s moderate evangelical, 31–32 RMSP’s last wooden paddle- steamer, 346 Cunard and partners’s values of, 125

428 Index

Presbyterianism (cont.) Pride of Erin Cunarders avoid Sunday departures, 102–3, simple- engined paddle steamer, 320–21 102–3 used as modulus for Valparaiso, 320–21 Cunard’s line permitted Church of Scotland Prince of Wales (CDSP), 275 ministers, 300 print culture Cunard’s values of, 90 PSNC’s campaign to attract investors, David and Charles MacIver’s, 121–22 212–13 Disruption (1843), 27, 48 PSNC’s promotion through, 204 divine punishment, 25, 31–32 private partnerships economy of, 17 Cunard’s line of steamers, 231 evangelicals within, 18 Peninsular Steam Navigation Co., 231 Free Church of Scotland (Free Kirk), 27 Railway Magazine’s preference for, 13 Free Kirk use of floating churches, 48 privileged sites James Caird’s strict upbringling in, 199 Admiralty’s, 136 John Elder’s moderate, 317–18 Atlas Works in Glasgow, 325–26 McQueen’s values of, 133–34 Forth & Clyde Canal steamboat trials, non- hierarchical governance, 18 228 Rev. Macleod’s, 5–6 PSNC engineering works at Callao, 219–20 Sabbath observance, 25–26, 26–27 RMSP’s “Moorgate Street Admiralty”, 156 steamboat disasters, 25 RMSP’s Moorgate Street office, 152 Sutherland’s adherance to, 356 Virginia House experimental tank, 140 Tod and MacGregor’s, 268–69 procession, 217 United Presbyterian Church, 23 progress William Wheelwright’s contexts, 206 American faith in, 53 presentiments Bennett’s faith in, 75 Amazon Inquiry witnesses, 193 British Queen specimen of European, 86 President (Junius Smith), 108 Engineer on steam navigation, 327–28 Acadian Recorder on failings of, 109 Glasgow and the Clyde, 34 admiration for, 108 Junius Smith’s rhetoric of, 70 cranky behaviour under tow, 107–8 Laird’s narrative of, 61 Cunard mail steamers up- stage, 109 Lindsay on carriers of, 285 disappearance of, 12, 104, 107, 109 Lindsay’s faith in divinely sanctioned, end of Smith’s ambitions, 107 364–65 fails to deliver on promises, 108–9 narratives of, 47 far outpaced by Cunard Acadia, 108–9 P&O’s narrative of, 245 George Holt (sr) on disappearance, 109 Rev. Cumming on r’ways and s’ships, 356 James Napier on deformed state of, 111 rhetorics of, 367–68 loss seals fate of Smith’s project, 110 Rocafuerte on coal linked to, 220–21 Mercator questions hull- form, 109 steamships accidents as challenges to, 74 Nauticus reports deficiency of power, 109 projectors Peacock aims to command, 214 Burns and MacIver families as, 17 for sale at time of Alexandria contract, 242 clash with science, 52 Smith blames Laird for flaws, 108–9 coastal steam navigation, 17 Smith blames Laird for the disaster, Cunard as Atlantic steam navigation, 93 109–10 fallibility, 3 Smith’s second large steamer, 82 Junius Smith, 3, 52 Times reports delayed launch of, 107–8 Lardner’s “swarm” of, 52 Vernon Smith on weaknesses, 111 large technological systems, 1 President, HMS North Atlantic steam navigation, 70 British flagship in Valparaiso, 217 steamship company, 3 press. See also Railway Magazine, Times Town’s vision of Atlantic steam, 52–54 RM’s criticisms of RMSP, 153 proprietors, RMSP RMSP and, 149–52 anxieties of RMSP’s, 148 RMSP fall in share price after attacks, Court’s effort to reassure, 153 160–61 gentlemanly character of, 149 Times critique of RMSP scheduling, 149 too trusting character, 155

Index 429

Protestantism. See Presbyterianism, Church of contracts with Napier, 12, 304 England, Episcopalianism, Unitarianism contracts with Reid for steamer hull, 313 Providence controlling information on mishaps, 219 Arctic disaster as divine punishment, 302 costs of British versus West Coast coal, 221 Cameron’s narrative of deliverance by, 180 Crimean War high freight rates, 308 Chalmers view of, 20 David Elder (jr) on Chilean coal quality, Collins Line tempting of, 302 307 Cunard’s line of steamers, 296, 303 David Elder (jr) on Quito performance, 308 divine miracles, 21 demand for punctuality, 218 Dr John Burns’s view of, 22 directors reject plan for iron hulls, 213 Junius Smith’s view of, 54 dispute with Napier settled, 313 laws of nature and society, 20 early interest in iron- hulled steamers, 213 Lindsay’s faith in, 286 economies promised for compound engines, NAR rendering of Arctic collision, 301–2 313 natural and moral laws, 25 egineering works established at Callao, nature of God, 18 219–20 Rev. Atkins’s Amazon sermon, 190 Elder consultant for older tonnage, 313 Rev. Blood’s sermons, 194–96 Elder on good terms with Just, 313 Rev. Hollis’s sermon, 196–97 engineers’ rates of pay ashore and afloat, Samuel Cunard to Charles MacIver, 303 219–20 Samuel Cunard’s commitment to, 90 extraordinary coal consumption, 306 sea, 21 financial crisis of, 221–22 tempting of, 17, 22–31, 23, 30 financial losses pre-1845, 304–5 trust in, 17, 29 first chairman George Brown, 135 Psalm no. 107, 21, 24 first directors, 212 PSNC. See also Wheelwright, William first iron paddle- steamer, 304–5 accept Inca but decline Valparaiso, 319 first Napier contract, 305 adopts compound system, 345 first steamers confined to Pacific seas, 214 British call for West Coast mail service, flawed accounting system, 354 204–5 fraught relations with Napier, 305–6 Callao contract with Reid and Elder, gains in confidence post-1845, 305 321–22 Government promise of Royal Charter, Callao highly satisfactory performance, 209–10 321–22 groundwork for West Coast steam, 204–5 capital raised falls far short of target, importance of trust with local states, 212–13 219–20 ceremonial first arrival in Valparaiso, 204 intensifies competition for RMSP, 350 Chile salvage and showmanship, 217–18 international dimensions, 204 Chilean coal, 12 John Elder, 304 coal consumption problems, 308 John Elder’s persuasion of, 304 coal shipment problems, 308 launches direct UK- Chile line, 350 coal shipments, 304 lay- up of 11 ocean steamers, 353–55 coal shortage a threat to system of, 221 Lima Committee established, 205 coal- carrying sailing vessels, 308 Lima Committee favours steam, 205 compound system, 4 Lima Committee in action, 204–5 compound- engine contract with Elder, London- based character of Board, 212 312–13 loss- making services first five years, 204 concern to prevent “derangement”, 218 Magellan’s high cost of construction, 354 consider early sale of Santiago, 306 mail contract (1845), 304–5 considers option of auxiliary steamers, 306 move from London to Liverpool, 221–22 Construction Committee, 213 Napier contract for 4 large steamers, 305 consults John Reid on older tonnage, 313 ocean steam navigation system, 353–55 consults John Wood for new tonnage, 313 opposition to project, 212 contract with Curling & Young, 213 Pacific states grant privileges, 209–10 contract with Elder for large screws, 350 Peacock turns defeat to triumph, 204 contracts with John Elder, 12, 313 penalties for delay in Santiago, 305–6

430 Index

PSNC (cont.) Quakers, Irish, 63, 64 Peruvian Govt’s smuggling suspicion, Quakers, North American 219–20 Cunard family, 90 Porcupine indictment of, 354 Quito (PSNC), 305, 307 Porcupine’s critical report, 354 David Elder (jr) reports favorably on, 307 press advertising to attract investors, lost by grounding, 313 212–13 master reports favorably, 306–7 problems of geographical distance, 306–7 problems running a fleet at a distance, 204 Railway Magazine problems, promises, and prospects, 222–23 April Fool on P&O proprietors, 251 project recommended to Britist Govt., attacks CDSP character and costs, 247–48 205–6 attacks P&O and RMSP, 13 projected coal consumption, 208 caricature of P&O proprietors, 251 projected expenses and receipts, 207–8 closure of P&O legal case, 261 promotion through print cultures, 204 contrasts CDSP with Glasgow p’ships, prospectus of, 212 247–48 Quito, 307 correspondent strongly defends P&O, 250 Randolph, Elder as engine makers, 4 credibility of correspondents, 246 recruits Just as joint- MD, 305 criticism of Bentinck, 267–68 RMSP steamers to connect at Panama, 214 criticisms of joint- stock companies, 246 Royal Charter, 212 criticisms of P&O, 4, 245–46, 246 Santiago improved performance, 307–8 criticisms of RMSP, 4, 150–52, 153, 160, Santiago’s underperformance, 305–6 246 Scarlett family patronage, 204, 209 criticisms of Royal Charter, 246 Smith & Rodgers contract, 304–5 damning criticism of Great Liverpool, 264 steamers’ grand entry into Valparaiso, dissaffected P&O proprietors, 245 216–17 doubts P&O promise of high dividend, strict control over officials, 218–19 249–50 strict neutrality in states’ conflicts, 219–20 Editor’s satirical broadsides, 246 Tod & MacGregor, 304–5 estimate of P&O’s annual expenses, trust in John Elder, 304 249–50 trust in masters, 306–7 Herapath as Editor, 13, 245 (un)reliability of engine logs, 306–7 Hindostan payment letter libellous, 257–58 Valparaiso accepted after seagoing trip, indicts CDSP financial practices, 248 319–20 Irving’s aristocratic disdain for, 164 Valparaiso meeting to promote, 206–7 over- valuation of P&O’s property, 254 Valparaiso performance in service, 321–22 P&O Hindostan underperformance, 267 vast construction programme, 353–55 P&O Hindostan unfit for Hooghly, 267 vulnerable to states’ instabilities, 219–20 P&O institute proceedings against, 260 Wheelwright and Just as joint- MDs, 221–22 P&O make no mention of Zulueta, 257–58 Wheelwright as projector, 204 P&O Oriental ownership questioned, Wheelwright integrates British interests, 250–52 205–6 P&O threatens legal proceedings, 257–58 Wheelwright reports on Santiago, 306 P&O’s culture of secrecy, 245, 251 Wheelwright sent to Pacific coast, 305 queries P&O Hindostan engine finance, Wheelwright’s dismissal and return, 221–22 251–52 Wheelwright’s pamphlet on projected, questions P&O’s financial foundations, 209–11 248–49 William Just, 304 report on Rattler screw trials, 276–77 William Just as joint- MD, 4 reports on Liverpool Screw tug, 277 world’s largest ocean steamship fleet reports Zulueta felony case, 257 (1874), 4, 353–55 response to P&O proceedings, 260 Ptolemy (L+H), 339 satire on its exclusion from P&O GM, 255 punctuality, steam navigation satire on P&O’s Great Liverpool, 248–49 PSNC’s insistence on, 218 satire on RMSP’s navigational record, Samuel Cunard’s view of, 9 160–61

Index 431

satirical fictional account of P&O GM, James Napier on air- engine, 312 254–57 Liverpool BAAS (1854) address, 312 satirical view of RMSP’s John Irving, 162 marine air- engine project, 312 secrecy of shipowners, 1 Randolph, Elder’s 2nd patent, 317 secret of dividend- paying from capital, 254 Randolph, Elder’s compound patent, 317 Solway disaster scrutinised in, 154–56 Randolph, Elder’s steam- jacketing, 317 threat to public confidence in P&O, 245 thermodynamic language of, 327 warns P&O’s credulous proprietors, 249–50 Thetis performance measurements, 324–25 Williams’s financial practices criticised, witness to Thetis trials, 324 247–48 Rattler, HMS railways. See systems, railway Brunel’s aim of obtaining data from, Randolph, Charles 276–77 appreciated Andrew Ure’s lectures, 312–13 data for Great Britain, 276–77 apprentice at Robert Napier’s, 312–13 experimental trials, 7, 276–77 educated at Andersonian Institution, 312–13 Red Star Line GPS member, 308 US sailing packets, 277 trained by David Elder, 312–13 regularity worked at Fairbairn’s in Manchester, steam navigation systems, 9 312–13 Reid, Irving & Co. Randolph, Cunliff & Co., 312–13 Central American interests, 135 Glasgow mill machinery makers, 199 Junius Smith, 56–57 Randolph, Elder & Co., See also Elder, John leading London merchant house, 56–57 2nd compound- engine patent, 315 monopolistic schemes of, 56–57 acquire James Napier’s yard, 321–22 Napier inquires after Cunard’s credit, 95, compound system, 4 135 deem McNaught’s measurements unrelia- Reid, John ble, 319 Callao hull contract, 321–22 deploying superheated steam, 324 Clyde shipbuilder, 313 dispute with McNaught, 319–21 married to John Wood’s niece, 313 Engineer notes use of higher pressures, McNaught fails Valparaiso trials, 319 327–28 Reid, Sir John (MP) higher steam pressures, 324 assures Junius Smith of his support, 56 later engine includes steam jacketing, 336 attends launch of British Queen, 76 later engine includes superheating, 336 Bank of England director, 56 PSNC contracts enhance credibility, 321–22 EISNC auditor, 241 PSNC insist on McNaught as arbiter, 316 head of Reid, Irving & Co., 56 PSNC’s adoption of compound- engine, 323 supporter of Junius Smith’s project, 135 PSNC’s contracts with, 4 Reid, Thomas (banker), 57 reject McNaught’s Inca verdict, 319 Reid, Thomas (moral philosopher) Russell endorses compound engine of, 336 divine agency and power, 21 second compound- engine patent, 316–17 laws of nature, 21 seek to supersede McNaught’s verdict, 316 moral philosophy professor, 21 settlement with PSNC, 320 Reliance (EIC) steam- jacketing solution, 316–17 freighted with China tea, 158 Randolph, Elliott & Co. wrecked near Boulogne, 158 reputation for accurate work, 312–13 Reliance disaster Rangoon (P&O) Archibald Smith on deviation, 158 Humphrys’s compound engine fitted, 337 Rennie, John iron screw steamer, 8 Humphrys as manager at works, 333 tendency to rolling, 8 Rhone (RMSP) trial trip to Ireland very satisfactory, 337 built by Millwall Iron Works, 348 Rankine, Prof. W.J. Macquorn destroyed by St Thomas hurricane, 349 BAAS Liverpool (1854) air- engine address, Ridgeley- Nevitt, Cedric 317 Collins Line steamers’ breakdowns, 301 Gordon’s successor in Glasgow chair, 312 Ripon (P&O), 274 imitation of Christ, 317–18 underperformance, 263

432 Index

RMSP coal economy of compound system, 347–48 absence of dividend, 151–52 coal savings not due to compounding, additional orders for compound ships, 352 352–53 Admiral Bowles asserts authority over, 169 coal shipment costs, 346 Admiralty approval, 152 coal suitable for tropical climates, 172–73, Admiralty approve iron hulls, 198 177, 346 Admiralty demands for faster services, coal trials from different mines, 172–73 347–48 confidence in quality of Green’s work, Admiralty design of steamers, 136 186–87 Admiralty directive against iron hulls, 186 consideration of iron- hulled steamers, 186 Admiralty powers over, 168–70 conspicuous disorder of, 148 Admiralty pressures, 148, 150–51 constrained by 14-strong first fleet, 177–78 adopts compound system, 350–51 consult mercantile shipbuilders, 136 advantage of sailing brigs, 151 contract with Caird for iron steamer, 198 allegations of incompetence, 154–55 contrast to P&O on safe navigation, 155 alleged jobbing, 151–52 contrast with Cunard’s line, 165 alleged lack of transparancy, 151–52 control of coal costs, 346 alleged monopoly practices, 151–52 controversy over older steamers’ refits, alleged specious promises of, 151–52 351–52 allocation of contracts, 141–42 Court as “Scotch aristocracy”, 155 Amazon deck plans, 189 Court attempts to control costs, 152 Amazon replacement from Cunard, 198 Court defence of management, 152 Amazon trials, 187–88 Court of Directors, 3 Amazon- class steamers problematic, Court of Directors’ caution, 345–46 200–201 Court of Directors resigns (1856), 203 annual coal expenditure, 172, 346 Court resists Committee of Inquiry, 200 annual surpluses, 345–46 crew discipline and sobriety, 170 aristocracy and, 4 Crimean War earnings, 345–46 aristocratic Court of Directors, 135 crisis of public confidence, 198 asks Russell to co- ordinate alterations, 144 curtailed version of McQueen’s Plan, Beattie’s accusation of Court fatalism, 346 135–36 Beattie’s criticism of officers, 346 Danube’s unsatisfactory performance, Beattie’s serious attack on competence, 348–49 200–201 Dee with funnel aft of paddles, 144 begins payments of dividends, 178 delays to mails, 149–50 Board of Management, 166 demand for economy, 150–51 Bowring caricatures directors, 153 demand for regularity, 150–51 Bowring voices proprietors’ anxieties, 148 demands for management reform, 149–50 Bowring’s criticism of the Court, 163 demands of the trade, 345–46 Building Committee of, 136, 141 derangements to machinery, 152 Cairds changes steamships’ layout, 141 discrepancies in contracts, 141 Cairds undertake their own remedy, 142–43 dividends demanded, 166 Capt. Mangles as chairman, 345 early losses of steamers, 149–50 Capt. Mangles’s contrast with P&O, 355 EIC similarities, 129 Capt. Mangles’s distrust of innovation, Elder contract for compound system, 345 347–48 Elder’s compound- engined trio (1870-72), cautious adoption of compound system, 345 352–53 Chappell as secretary, 4 enormous expenses of, 150–51 Church of England practices, 166 enthusiasm for compound engines, 352 civilization, 166 expansive working, 172–73, 176 clerical errors in Kendall’s drawings, fall in share price after press attacks, 142–43 160–61 close ties to Admiralty, 129 fatalistic narrative of, 348–49 Clyde- built iron screw steamers., 353 favourable report on Caird’s Neva, 349 coal consumption, 172–78 financial scandal, 3 coal consumption accentuated, 347–48 financial statements (1843), 152–53

Index 433

first fleet fitted with side- lever engines, Mills’s report on steaming trials, 175–76 177–78 (mis)management of Solway disaster, first meeting at Reid, Irving’s offices, 153–62 135–36 monopoly supply of coal, 346 first two mainline screw steamers, 348 Murray on superheating experiments, flawed system of management, 185 335–36 formation of, 134–35 naval officers as masters, 168–70 frequent changes to routes, 151–52 new fire safety after Amazon disaster, 198 gentlemanly character of proprietors, 149 new fleet of 5 large mail steamers, 185–86 gentlemanly Court of Directors, 148 new mainline system to Chagres, 186 Government culpability, 149–50 new steamship systems not adopted, 203 Government short- term mail contracts, 352 Newport, South Wales, colliery, 346 implementing disciplinary practices, 171 older ships’ excessive coal consumption, improved public image, 353 347–48 inspections of departing steamers, 170–71 opening up the secretive world of, 165 insurance problems, 4 orders to masters, 170 investigation into coal handling, 174 oscillating engines, 177 Irving named as first chairman of, 134–35 oscillating versus side- lever engines, Irving’s aristocratic disdain for RM, 164 172–73 James McQueen, 3 over- ambitious schedules of, 148 John Elder’s compound system, 12 paddle- steamers’ fine sailing qualities, joint- stock chartered company, 129 346–47 joint- stock structure of, 134–35 Pitcher as builder and repairer, 12 Kendall resigns in humiliation, 145 possible return to sailing packets, 151 lack of control over contractors, 142–43 potential for transpacific line, 186 lack of steamship experience, 148, 149–50 potential war steamers, 150–51 lacks experience in maritime affairs, 163–64 press criticism of, 149–52 Lamport & Holt intensify competition, 350 proprietor favours modern Clyde ships, Lang’s drawings accessible at office of, 137 351–52 large coal consumption, 166 proprietors’ anxieties, 148, 166, 185 large iron paddle- steamers, 346 proprietors’ complaints, 345–46 last two wooden paddle- steamers, 346 proprietors criticise building practices, 200 limiting large steamers to main line, 198 proprietors’ criticisms of, 164 limits proprietorial access to accounts, proprietors’ criticisms of invention stance, 163–64 350–51 line to Brazil and Argentina (1850), 186 proprietors’ disaffection with, 151–52 loosely worded Danube contract, 348–49 PSNC launches direct UK- Chile, 350 Lord Kylsant scandal, 3 punctuality, 9, 152 loss of confidence in, 4 purchase of Arabia (I) while building, 198 loss of Demerara in River Avon, 187 reduction in coal costs (1868-70), 352–53 loss of Isis, 149 reform campaign fails (1854), 203 loss of Rhone at St Thomas, 349 regulating on- board coal consumption, 172 loss of Solway, 148 relatively stable period for (1856-73), mail contract signed, 135–36 345–46 mail contracts, 3, 9 reputation threatened, 166 mail steam navigation system, 148 resolves to reduce coal consumption, 153 mail steamers run short of coal, 174–75 revised mail contract (1850), 186 maintaining proprietors’ confidence, 153 rewards for good conduct, 167 Mangles’s wary approach to invention, rewards to masters and engineers, 176–77 350–51 RM criticisms of, 4, 150–52 McQueen as scapegoat, 148 RM satire on navigational record, 160–61 McQueen’s defence against attack, 164–65 RM scrutinises Solway disaster, 154–56 McQueen’s title and remuneration, 135–36 rule(s) of service, 185 metal linings in engine rooms, 198 Russell co- ordinates remedies, 142–43 metropolitan- centred, 129 Russell enhances his authority, 142–43 Mills as engineering superintendent, 5 Russell explains layout changes, 140–41

434 Index

RMSP (cont.) correspondence with Peacock, 220–21 Russell investigates costs of changes, 145 link between coal and progress, 220–21 Russell takes control to rectify errors, Paciific guano, 220–21 143–44 Roman (Union SS) Russell’s early involvement with, 129 Murray praises single- expansion engine, Russell’s work ends on a high note, 145 337 scapegoat for problems of, 164 Roscius (Dramatic), 297 secretary’s autocratic style, 148 Rowan & Horton shipboard discipline, 166 Howden’s criticisms of patent of, 329 side- lever engine by Scott, Sinclair, 142 patent tends to fail in sea water, 329 St Thomas hurricane (1867), 349 Rowan, Frederick St Thomas transfers to branch- lines, 186 defends his father’s system, 329 steam navigation system, 3 son of John Martin, 329 superintendent engineer George Mills, Rowan, John Martin 200–202 Atlas Works in Glasgow, 325–26 Tay’s grounding, 167 engine and boiler patent with Horton, transatlantic coal shipments, 174 325–26 Trent with funnel forward, 143 Royal Bank of Scotland, 228 troubled system of steam navigation, 129 Royal Charter trust in side- lever engines, 346 granted to RMSP, 135 Tufnell’s attack on Mills’s competence, 202 P&O’s proposed, 240 turns to Caird for Rhone replacement, 349 PSNC, 212 Tweed disaster, 166, 178–83 RM criticisms of, 13, 246 uncertainty at start of new era (1856), 203 Royal Consort uncorrected errors would weaken hull, steaming trials, 269 142–43 Royal Exchange Assurance Co., 221 unhappy with ex- naval officers, 169–70 Royal Humane Society, 214 uniformity of fleet design thwarted, 141 Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. See unprofitable working, 149–50 RMSP unsafe navigation contrasts to Cunard, 155 Royal Society, 13 unsettled question of paddle vs screw, 348 Magnetic Crusade, 157 variations in contractors’ prices, 141–42 Royal Society of Edinburgh, 138 West India Committee and, 134–35 Royal Tar (Bourne), 230 wide geographical spread of contracts, 137 Royal Victoria. See British Queen Wigram- built Parana weak, 200–201 Royal William (I) Wood recommends design changes, 137 Cunard’s interest in, 77 Woolwich Dockyard experiments, 173 eastbound Atlantic crossing (1833), 77 Rob Roy, 35–36, 42 Royal William (II) (CDSP) Robarts, Abraham built by Wilson, 82 RMSP auditor, 135 Capt. Hewitt as master, 105 Robert Lowe (Lindsay) coal consumption, 250 auxiliary steamer, 340 fitted with watertight bulkheads, 82 built by John Scott, 340 Irish Sea steamer, 82 loads tea at Hankow, 340 Royal Yacht Squadron, 43, 44 Robert Napier, 42 Russell, John Scott Roberts, Lt. Richard (RN) academic career, 138 defends his ship British Queen, 87 accumulation of data on vessels, 138–39 master of Sirius, 72, 76 acquaintance with Brunel, 289 Robison, Prof. John advises an improved Great Western, 114–15 friend of Watt, 138 auxiliary steamships, 289 interest in 18th c. shipbuilding, 138 BAAS Edinburgh meeting (1834), 138 natural philosophy chair at Edinburgh, 138 BAAS hull- form experimental research, Robison, Sir John 138–39, 289–90 collaboration with Russell, 139 BAAS Liverpool (1854) address, 288–89, son of Prof. John Robison, 139 289–90 Rocafuerte, Don Vicente baptised by Rev. Burns, 138

Index 435

Brown contests proposed changes, 144 Thames shipbuilding yard at Millwall, 289 chairs first meeting of INA (1860), 335 tribute to Wood, 48 changes to Lang’s deck arrangements, United Presbyterian Church, 138 143–44 variations to RMSP bow lines, 142 close friend of Duncan, 139 Virginia House experimental tank, 139–40 coal shipments redundant, 289–90 wave- line principle in action, 289 collaboration with Sir John Robison, Wood as Clyde’s best builder, 48 138–39 Wood brothers as pattern shipbuilders, correspondence with Patterson, 72 139–40 Cotesworth contests proposed changes, 144 Wood brothers’s “perfect ship”, 139–40 David Napier’s character, 36 Wood brothers’s practices of sharing, 140 Duncan as shipbuilder for, 139 Wood brothers’s shipbuilding practices, early involvement with RMSP, 129 139–40 Encyclopaedia Britannica, 140 work for RMSP ends on a high note, 145 endorses Randolph, Elder engine, 336 works with Caird on RMSP contract, 199 experimental investigations, 139–40 Russell, Lord John (Prime Minister) Forbes’s criticisms of experiments, 138–39 GWSS appeal to, 118 Great Britain as wholly experimental, Rev. Sydney Smith’s characterisation, 362 114–15 Russell, Rev. David Great Eastern coal capacity, 289–90 father of John Scott Russell, 138 Great Eastern project, 285 United Presbyterian Church minister, 138 Great Western, 72 Ryder, Dudley. See Sandon, Viscount Great Western and first Cunarders, 101 INA address on Wood brothers, 139–40 Sabine, Col.Edward indebted to Prof. Meikleham, 138 Admiralty, 157 investigates costs of RMSP changes, 145 Archibald Smith, 157 invited to co- ordinate RMSP changes, 144 Magnetic Crusade, 157 involvement with RMSP begins, 138 sail assistance iron canal boats engined by Caird, 139 Conrad’s prose portrait, 364 iron canal boats supplied by Duncan, 139 Dr Beattie’s endorsement, 352–53 iron vessel experiments on Union Canal, McQueen’s quantitative projection of, 134 138 P&O mail steamers, 364 James Smith’s support for, 156–57 RMSP Moselle as sail- aided, 352–53 layout changes to RMSP steamships, 142 RMSP Shannon’s Atlantic crossing, 347 leases Virginia House near Greenock, screw steamers, 367 139–40 sailing packets manager of Caird engine- builders, 139 Black Ball Line, 59, 297 marries aristocratic Harriette Osborne, Blue Swallow- Tail Line, 297 139–40 Dramatic Line, 297 matriculates Glasgow University, 138 Eagle Line to Australia, 287 move from Greenock to London, 289 Herman and Washington engined, 124 moves to London (1844), 198 Junius Smith, 55 natural philosophy at Edinburgh, 138 Lardner on performance of, 67 performance data on auxiliary steamers, 289 New York as the centre of Atlantic, 59 plans to strengthen RMSP hull, 145–46 opposition to Smith’s project, 59 president BAAS Mechanical Science, possible return to, 151 288–89 Red Star Line, 297 reasons for RMSP layout changes, 142 Red Star Line’s Baltimore, 179 Robert Stephenson’s yacht Titania, 289 safety and regularity of, 59 Robison’s Mechanical Philosophy, 138 Town’s Atlantic crossings by, 53 RSE member, 138 sailing vessels site forms Mare’s Millwall Iron Works, 348 coal shipments by means of, 174 son of dissenting Presbyterian minister, 138 coal supply to mail steamers, 134 steam road carriage project, 138 Saladin (Alfred Holt), 339 teaching mathematics and nat.phil., 138 salvage tempting Providence, 23 Peacock’s account of Chile, 217–18

436 Index

Samuda Bros. travels across S. America (1835), 209 Thames shipbuilders at Poplar, 333 youngest son of James, 209 Sandon, Viscount (Dudley Ryder) Scarlett, Robert (MP) marriage into Bute family, 28 brother of Peter Campbell, 212 one of the Lords of the Admiralty, 28 PSNC director, 212 support for Burns, 28 School of Naval Architecture, 47 Sands, Thomas Scotia (Cunard) chairman Liverpool Dock Committee, 277 final Cunard mail paddle- steamer, Grantham dedicates his address to, 277 311–12 Mayor of Liverpool, 277 Mansel’s role in designing, 311–12 owner of Sarah Sands, 277 Scotsman, The, 25 Santiago (PSNC) spectacle of Forth’s launch at Leith, 147 extraordinary coal consumption, 306 Scott, John James Napier re- designs, 305 Alfred Holt’s friendship, 338–39 PSNC considers early sale, 306 builder of Oneida, 348 PSNC raises sale price, 307 compound- engine defence, 329 Sarah Sands, 277 Greenock shipbuilder and engineer, 323 completes a dozen Atlantic voyages, 277 iron screw experimental Thetis, 323, credible exemplar of iron screw vessel, 277 338–39 effectively an auxiliary screw steamer, 288 marketing high- pressure motive power, 327 Grantham’s supervision of building, 277 model experiments, 324 iron screw steamer, 277 printed report of Thetis’s engine trials, 327 owned by Thomas Sands, Liverpool, 277 printed report on Thetis sea voyages, 327 satire, religious and social. See Porcupine record- breaking clipper Lord of the Isles, satire, steamship 324 Haliburton’s writings, 11 reputation as naval architect, 324 Holt’s satire on Brunel, 291 studies at Glasgow University, 309, 324 ocean steamer life, 8 tea- clipper builder, 340 RM satire on P&O’s Great Liverpool, thermodynamic language of, 327 248–49 Thetis high- pressure engines, 328 RM’s April Fool on P&O proprietors, 251 trials with high- pressure steam, 324 RM’s caricature of P&O proprietors, 251 Scott, Sinclair RM’s fictional account of P&O GM, 254–57 Greenock engine builders, 232 RM’s view of RMSP’s John Irving, 162 side- lever engine for RMSP, 142 Thomas Love Peacock on Forbes, 236–37 Scott, Sir Walter Saxon (Union SS) likely inspiration for Anderson, 233 Murray praises single expansion engine, Romantic novelist, 228 337 Sutherland’s literary favorite, 357 Scarlett family Scottish Christian Journal, 23 major role in reviving PSNC, 222 Scotts of Greenock. See also Scott, John patronage of PSNC, 204 RMSP contract for two steamships, 141 Scarlett, James (Baron Abinger) subcontract one hull to Macmillan, 141 attorney- general under Canning, 209 screw steamers high- income barrister, 209 advantage of coal economy, 367 sympathy for Canning’s politics, 209 disadvantage for mail lines, 367 Whig MP, 209 enhanced sailing qualities of, 367 Scarlett, Peter Campbell Grantham as advocate of, 269–70 account includes Wheelwright’s project, Great Britain problems, 7 209 HMS Rattler trials, 7 diplomat in Rio de Janeiro, 209 less good time- keeping than paddle, 367 meets Wheelwright on West Coast, 209 lower- powered engines of, 367 Peru spectacle, 215 more economical in light weather, 367 political importance of coal to Chile, 220 passenger discomfort, 7–8 proposes a canal across Panama, 209 sail- assistance of, 367 PSNC director, 212 steadying effects of sail, 367 Times reviews his account of travels, 209 uncomfortable rolling of, 367

Index 437

Sea Witch (tea clipper), 186 Great Liverpool loss on French coast, 264 Searle, G.R., 21, 27 Orion strikes rock, 30–31 Seaward & Capel Pacific posted missing, 302–3 Amazon’s engine builders, 186, 187 President posted missing, 108–10 Isle of Dogs, River Thames, site, 187 Solway strikes rock in darkness, 153–62 Seine (RMSP) St Paul, 22 large consumer of coal, 350 Tweed strikes Alacranes Reef, 178–83 Serica (tea clipper), 342 Siddons (Dramatic), 297 Serpent Silliman, Benjamin Assheton Smith’s last steam yacht, 43 American Journal of Science editor, 84–85 Severn (RMSP) correspondence with Smith, 70 alteration to draught of furnaces, 176 Smith’s letters on steam versus sail, 84–85 Capt. Vincent as master, 187 silver exemplary state of, 171 Mexican trade in, 57 superior condition, 187 Simla (P&O) trials with patent fuel, 176 exhibition model, 332 Sewell, William exhibition model of engine, 330–31 engine specifications for Collins ships, 298 P&O exemplar, 330–31 US Navy chief engineer, 298 sailing qualities of, 330–31 Shakespeare (Dramatic), 297 Tod & MacGregor builders, 330–31 Shannon (RMSP) Simons, William Atlantic crossing under sail alone, 367 studies at Glasgow University, 309 built and engined by Napier, 346–47 Singapore (P&O) conversion to screw, 353 Tod & MacGregor iron paddle- steamer, 278 fine sailing and sea- keeping qualities, Sirius, 73 346–47 arrival in New York, 73 large consumer of coal, 350 Atlantic westbound crossing, 73 large iron paddle steamer, 346–47 designed for Cork to London service, 72 Rev. Kingsley’s Atlantic crossing, 347 eastbound Atlantic crossing, 75 sail- only eastward Atlantic crossing, 347 end of charter after second voyage, 82 serious machinery failure, 346–47 built in Leith, 72 wrecked, 354 Howe and Haliburton impressed by, 76–77 shareholders. See proprietors Junius Smith charters, 72 Shepherd, Capt. mid- Atlantic spectacle of, 76–77 EIC chairman, 202 Napier’s interest in, 72 opposes RMSP Committee of Inquiry, 202 press celebrations in New York, 73 RMSP acting chairman, 10 sites of skill RMSP deputy- chairman, 202 boiler making, 33 Sheridan (Dramatic), 297 Caird & Co. as Greenock, 12 Shetland Journal, 233 Glasgow’s iron shipbuilding, 11 ship- broking Glasgow’s marine engineering, 11 Lindsay’s system of, 285 iron shipbuilding, 33 shipbuilding, iron. See systems, steamship John Elder’s Glasgow, 12 Clyde yards, 33 John Wood’s Port Glasgow yard, 48 shipwreck sermons marine engineering, 33 Amazon disaster, 194–97 Napier and Elder’s, 33 Cameron’s tract on Tweed disaster, 179–83 Napier’s Lancefield Works, 39–40 Rev. Blood on Amazon disaster, 194–96 Napier’s Vulcan Works, 38–39 Rev. Hollis on Amazon disaster, 196–97 Napier’s West Shandon House, 49 shipwrecks Pitcher as wooden shipbuilding, 12 Amazon loss by fire, 188–92 Port Glasgow’s wooden shipbuilding, 11 Arctic loss by collision in dense fog, 301–2 Tod & MacGregor as Glasgow, 12 Charles Bartlett collision, 123–24 slave trade Columbia wrecked by stranding, 123 allegations against Anderson & Willcox, Comet (II) disaster, 24–25 260 Don Juan stranding Tarifa Point, 232–33 Bowring actively opposed to, 163

438 Index

slave trade (cont.) criticism of Lardner’s analysis, 84–85 costs to British taxpayer of, 258–59 democratic rhetoric of, 59–60 Glasgow and Caribbean, 129 denounces Cunard project, 102 Herapath’s assault on, 258–59 denounces Transatlantic Co. steamers, 83 RM correspondent onslaught against, direct press appeal to US publics, 59–60 261–63 dislike of New York establishments, 59–60 Sir John Tobin, 83 early years, 54 threat to P&O reputation, 261–63 end of ambitions, 107, 110 West Indies, 134 failure to secure state patronage, 12 Zulueta on charge of, 258 financial crisis in USA, 64 Zulueta’s alleged activities in, 258–59 financial losses of Atlantic project, 110 Smith & Rodgers financial storm in USA, 93 Govan shipbuilders, 304–5 first prospectus, 55, 56 Smith, Anna Maria gentlemanly capitalists as directors, 57 Amazon survivor, 190–91 increase in capital target, 58–59 defiance of gentlemanly advice, 190–91 lack of New York enthusiasm, 58–59 female heroism represented, 190–91 lack of patronage, 57 novel published on actions, 190–91 lacks Admiralty connections, 57 Rev.Adkins’s sermon on escape of, 190–91 Laird appointed company secretary, 63 Smith, Archibald Laird family, 54 Col. Sabine, 157 Lardner’s opposition to, 60 compass analysis dismissed by critics, 158 lashes out against Lardner’s limits, 68 deviation in wood and iron vessels, 157 London and New York Union SP Co., 55 deviation masked by variation, 157–58 loss of the President, 12 Glasgow natural philosophy chair, 157 loss of trust in Laird, 85 likely deviation aboard Solway, 158 loss of trust in Napier, 85 magnetic compass deviation, 156–59 narrative of progress, 70 Magnetic Crusade, 157 New York mercantile opposition to, Senior Wrangler in Cambridge (1836), 157 54–55 Smith, Francis Pettit New York sailing packet opposition, 59 discusses screw with Peacock, 213–14 Pim warns Smith of opposition, 64 screw propeller, 115 points to divine punishment, 109–10 Smith, James projected receipts and expenses, 55–56 biblical researches of, 156–57 projector of Atlantic steam, 3, 9, 46, 52, deep- sea yachtsman, 156–57 54–55 father of Archibald, 156–57 prospective competition from GWSS, proximity to Robert Napier, 156–57 57–58 Scott Russell’s experiments, 156–57 Providence, 54 ship- owner and gentleman, 156–57 public and private optimism, 58 Smith, Junius puritan work ethic of, 54 advantages of steam over sail, 84–85 rejected on grounds of monopoly, 60 advocate of wooden hulls, 85 resistance from London financiers, 56 advocates large steamers, 71–72 sailing ship owners’ opposition, 58 American Steam Navigation Co., 59–60 shuns Board links to shipbuilders, 57 Atlantic crossing under sail, 54–55 Sir John Reid assures support to, 56 blames Laird for President’s problems, Solly as chairman, 57 108–9 transatlantic system, 12 blames Laird for the disaster, 109–10 Union Line of Sailing Ships, 57 breakdown of trust, 12 Union Line of Steam Packets, 55 British Queen and aristocracy, 71–72 uses railway analogy, 60 British Queen as spectacle, 71–72 vision of a single Atlantic company, 64 charters Sirius from St George Co., 72 worship in Rev. Melvill’s church, 54 competition from GWSS, 12 Smith, Rev. Sydney Congregational Church, 54 characterisation of Lord John Russell, 362 correspondence with Silliman, 70, 84–85 Smith, T.T. Vernon craves knighthood, 3 British Queen reported broken backed, 111

Index 439

criticism of Cunard’s line of steamers, Dundee steamer on Thames, 44 292–93 Forth’s launch at Leith, 147 Fredericton lecture on Atlantic steam, Great Britain attracts public visitors, 116 292–93 Great Britain naming, 116 optimistic vision of Great Eastern, 292–93 Great Western arrival in New York, 73 praise for Great Eastern project, 292–93 Great Western invincibility, 72 weaknesses in President, 111 launch of British Queen, 75–76, 76 Smith, Thomas Assheton. See Assheton Smith, launch of iron screw P&O Bengal, 279 Thomas Lindsay’s dim view of Great Eastern, 291 Solly, Isaac, 9 mid- Atlantic spectacle of Sirius, 76–77 chair of Junius Smith’s company, 57 P&O Bentinck on display at Blackwall, 266 credibility of, 57 Peacock’s account of Chile salvage, 217–18 head of London Dock Co., 57 Persia creates sensation in Liverpool, 297 London & Birmingham Railway, 57 Persia’s trial trip, 297 Solway (RMSP), 146 Peru trial trip on Thames, 214–15 Solway disaster PSNC grand entry into Valparaiso, 216–17 allegations of RMSP incompetence, 154–55 Sirius arrival in New York, 73 Archibald Smith on likely deviation, 158 turning Great Eastern into a “show”, Archibald Smith’s compass analysis, 291–92 156–59 speed casualty lists, 153–54 steam navigation systems, 9 Chappell defends master’s reputation, Spencer, Frederick 161–62 denounces compound engines, 329 Chappell excuses the master, 161 John Scott’s counter- attack, 329 criticisms of RMSP, 166 letter to Engineer, 329 early witness account, 154 St George & Dublin SP Co., 63 evidence of RMSP- selected witnesses, St George Steam Packet Co. 159–60 owner of Sirius, 72 GM receives RMSP report on, 161 St Paul’s Cathedral, 72 lack of confidence in RMSP, 154–55 St Rollox Locomotive Works, 199 master failed to include variation, 161–62 steam yachts master shaved coast too close, 159 experiments with, 44 master’s competence questioned, 154–55, steam- jacketing 155–56 legitimised by thermodynamics, 317 officers’ behaviour unacceptable, 159 Randolph, Elder’s 2nd engine patent, proprietors challenge RMSP’s findings, 161 316–17 public and private criticisms of RMSP, 148 Steele, Robert RM targets Chappell, 156 builder for Cunard’s line of steamers, 101 RM urges an RMSP investigation into, 156 builder of PSNC Inca, 314 RM’s criticisms of Chappell, 160 Greenock shipbuilder, 26 RM’s criticisms of RMSP investigation, 160 high reputation of, 26 RMSP (mis)management of, 153–62 tea- clipper builder, 340 RMSP touching at too many ports, 159 Steers, George RMSP’s investigation, 159–60 loftsman for William H. Brown, 298 sensation in City of London, 154–55 Stephenson, George steam versus sail upon grounding, 159 L&MR system engineer, 29 Somerset, Duke of, 135 Stephenson, Robert sovereignty of the seas, 368 Britannia Bridge experiments, 290 SPCK Great Eastern visit at Millwall, 291 Cameron’s tract on Tweed disaster, 180 L&MR system engineer, 29 spectacle, steamship Newcastle Works, 329 arrival of British Queen at Liverpool, 86 Rowan’s system fails in seawater, 329 British Queen at Limehouse, 71 Rowan’s system for Australian coast, 329 British Queen in New York, 87 Rowan’s system for Ganges steamers, ceremony marking advent of PSNC, 215–16 329 Clyde steamboat races, 42–43 Rusell builds yacht Titania for, 289

440 Index

Stewart, Patrick Maxwell (MP) appointed management staff (1868), 357–58 brother- in- law of Duke of Somerset, 135 assumes role of P&O moral guardian, RMSP director, 135 360–62 West India merchant, 135 briefly attends Aberdeen University, 356 Stewart, Robert controversy with Capt.Bain, 360–62 Allan acquainted with, 286 elusive character of coal stocks, 365–66 Glasgow ironmaster, 286 friendship with James Caird, 362–63 Lindsay’s brother- in- law, 286 Kendall on character of, 357 Stirling, James leading role in founding HSBC, 356–57 brother of Rev. Robert, 309–10 Liberal MP for Greenock (1884-1900), ICE address on marine air- engines, 309–10 362–63 Stirling, Rev. Robert liking for eminent Scottish preachers, 356 air- engine patents, 309–10 negotiates P&O extension to Japan, 356–57 Stirling’s air- engine P&O chairman (1880-1914), 362–63 James Stirling’s ICE address on, 309–10 P&O’s Hong Kong superintendent, 356–57 potential economy over steam, 310 posted to P&O’s Hong Kong agency, Prof. Thomson finds a model, 309–10 356–57 Prof. Thomson’s interpretation, 310 Presbyterian values, 357 Rev. Stirling’s patents for, 309–10 public profile, 4 Thomsons, Mansel and Stirling discuss, 310 rhetorical P&O GM speech, 360–62 Stowe, Harriet Beecher ridicules Capt. Bain’s pretensions, 360–62 sister of Rev. Beecher, 300 rise to P&O MD and chairman, 360–62 Strang, Dr John scapegoat for imprecise coal tally, 365–66 BAAS paper (1850), 40 Scottish Romanticism, 357 Glasgow statistician, 33 self- image close to Anderson’s, 357 guest on Persia for trial trip, 295 strict Presbyterian upbringing, 356 Suez Canal trust in Providence, 357 challenge to P&O’s system of travel, Symington, William 357–58 canal experiments with steam power, 228 connecting link in imperial systems, 368 Symonds, Sir William connecting link in steam navigation, 368 Admiralty Chief Surveyor, 46 Disraeli’s acquisition for Britain, 368 Duke of Portland’s patronage, 46 P&O Australia passes through (1870), 359 Great Britain’s empirical hull- form, 114 Sultan (P&O) GWSS’s debt to, 79 built by Tod & MacGregor, 275 hostility towards Lang, 137 converted to screw by Caird (1855), 335 radical yacht designs, 46 formerly CDSP Trafalgar, 275 systems, large technological master reports excellent perfomance, 275 control of, 1 P&O Nautical Committee impressed, 275 geographical space, 1 reported to have been much admired, 275 human agents, 1 standard for larger P&O vessels, 275–76 interconnectedness of, 1 Summers, Day & Co. systems, projected Panama, 186 RMSP contract for Nile, 349 systems, railway Southampton shipbuilders, 349 analogy with steam navigation, 11 superheating L&MR, 29 Murray on advantages of, 335–36 L&MR vision of progress, 29 Murray on Lamb & Summers patent, Lardner on, 9 335–36 regularity and reliability, 29 Murray on mail line experiments with, systems, sailing packet, 59 335–36 systems, sailing- ship RMSP Douro’s chief engineer’s report, 348 Conrad on, 7 superstitions systems, steam navigation, 8–12 popular, 26 American coastal and river, 54–55 Sutherland, Thomas, 362 British coastal, 54–55 Allan backs appointment to P&O Office, Burns & MacIver, 30 356 coal shipments, 285–87

Index 441

coal shortage a threat to PSNC, 221 projected transpacific sail- and-, 210 coastal and river (USA), 52–54 PSNC engineering works at Callao, 219–20 confidence in, 17, 29 PSNC launches direct UK- Chile, 350 control imperative, 12–13 PSNC’s Callao extension, 353–55 Cunard’s line of steamers, 11, 102–3, 125 PSNC’s Liverpool to Valparaiso, 353–55 Cunard’s projected, 89 punctuality, 9 Cunard’s verbal account, 9 Randolph, Elder’s compound engine, doubts over credibility of Atlantic, 107 367–68 durability of, 367–68 regularity, 9 economy of high- pressure steam, 323 RMSP, 148 economy of superheating, 323 RMSP Court’s defence of, 152 EIC Suez to Bombay, 46–48 RMSP’s high imperial status, 129 EISNC parties’ variant, 238 RMSP’s main- and branch- lines, 186, 346 experiments with Atlantic, 52–54 RMSP’s original West Indies, 135–36 Great Eastern’s projected, 285, 292–93 RMSP’s revised, 186 GWSS promises unrealized as, 114 RMSP’s troubled, 129 Holt’s “Blue Funnel”, 345 Robert Napier, 11 interconnectedness, 14 Sabbath observance, 25–26, 26–27 Junius Smith on, 52 Sabbath service on the Thames, 29 Junius Smith’s railway analogy, 60 sailing vessels an integral part of, 287 L+H’s Brazil and River Plate, 339–40 SC on steam to India, 62 Lardner on ocean, 52 Smith on “recent experiments” in, 84–85 Lardner’s Atlantic steamship- railway, 60 speed, 9 Lardner’s attack on projectors of, 129 Suez Canal as connecting link, 368 launch of RMSP’s, 3 threats to stability of PSNC, 218–20 MacIver’s “experimental” phase of Cunard, Town’s vision for Atlantic, 52–54 113 trial- by- space in, 367–68 mail contracts, 9 Unitarian vision, 9 McQueen as projector of, 129 Wheelwright’s projected Pacific, 211 McQueen insists on adequate power, systems, steamship, 5–8 133–34 accidents aboard, 74 McQueen projects minimum waste, 133–34 advantages and disadvantages of screw, McQueen projects regularity, 133–34 367 McQueen projects useful work, 133–34 advantages of paddle steamers, 367 McQueen’s General Plan for, 130 Alfred Holt’s compound, 340–41, 340–44 McQueen’s Jamaica- centred project, 133 Australian Co’s auxiliary steamers, 289 McQueen’s projected eastern, 235 Caird’s simple, direct- acting engines, 349 McQueen’s projected westward, 134 Callao’s compound- engined, 321–22 moral threat to P&O, 261–63 Collins quartet’s, 299 Napier’s, 50–51 compound- engine saving of coal, 322 Napier’s Dundee, 45 compound- engine saving of space, 322 Napier’s projected Atlantic, 46 compound- engine saving of stokers, 322 New York scepticism towards ocean, 54–55 compound- engine scepticism, 322 no guarantees of success, 70 compound- engined, 345 North Atlantic projectors of, 52 condemnation of speed, 185 P&O data on size and value of, 330 Curling & Young’s building practices, P&O’s 3-stage sea-overland- sea, 357–58 110–11 P&O’s construction of, 11 David Elder’s engine- building, 304–5 P&O’s imperial, 244 desiderata for reduced consumption, 326 P&O’s ocean mail, 285 disintegration of the Tweed, 166 P&O’s projected faster overland, 331–33 disorderly state of RMSP Avon, 171 P&O’s vast, 227 economy of expansive principle, 131 Peninsular Steam Navigation Co., 232 economy of high- pressure steam, 323 Presbyterian values in McQueen’s, 133–34 economy of superheating, 323 privileged sites of skill, 11 Elder on interconnectedness of, 366–67 projected PSNC- RMSP (via Panama), 210 Elder’s side- lever engines, 37

442 Index

systems, steamship (cont.) RMSP’s trust in side- lever paddle, 346 exhibition model of P&O Simla engine, Robert Napier, 33 330–31 Rowan & Horton’s engine and boiler, expansive working, 172–73 325–26 Great Britain, 114–15 Russell’s data on auxiliary steamers, 289 Great Eastern’s projected, 292–93 sail- aided, 347, 352–53 Humphrys engines avoid high pressure, Sarah Sands as iron screw exemplar, 277 333–34 self- directing power of, 25 Humphrys engines avoid high speed, Smith on advantages of, 84–85 333–34 sources of waste of engine power, 66–67 Humphrys’s compound- engine for P&O, speculations on President’s design, 107 333–35 speed of iron construction of, 41–42 iron screw oscillating- engined Vesta, steeple engine, 330–31 277–78 Stirling’s ICE address on air- engines in, iron shipbuilding, 42, 41–42 309–10 James Napier on integrated character of, striking range of rival ocean, 303 336 Thetis system matches desiderata, 326–27 James Napier on interconnectedness of, three versions of compounding, 344 366–67 Tod & MacGregor’s screw propulsion, 278 large iron screw Bengal, 279–81 varieties of compound engines, 323 Lindsay’s auxiliary, 288–89 loss of control, 185 Taeping (tea clipper), 342 MacIver’s moral economy, 121–23 Tagus (Bourne) Mangles’s mistrust of compound, 347–48 built Scotts of Greenock, 232 McNaught on compound versus simple, chartered to Peninsular Steam, 232 319 Tagus (P&O, formerly Bourne) McQueen on wartime values of, 131 deployed in tandem with HMS Rattler, McQueen’s projected data on, 133 276–77 Mercator’s warning concerning RMSP, 87 P&O paddle- steamer, 276–77 microcosm of humanity, 8 Talisman (Alfred Holt), 339 Napier and Rankine’s marine air- engine, Tasmanian (RMSP) 312 built by Hill in Port Glasgow, 348 Napier’s marine engine building, 304–5 coal consumption with simple engines, Napier’s practices for, 51 351–52 no guarantees of success, 70 first RMSP mainline screw steamer, 348 oscillating versus side- lever engines, originally for European & Australian, 348 172–73 replacing simple with compound, 351–52 P&O Bentinck, 266–67 Tay (RMSP), 146, 167–68 P&O contract for oscillating engines, tea clippers, 340 270–71 Holt takes on, 340 P&O Mongolia’s oscillating engines, 358 tea races P&O Singapore’s oscillating engines, Ariel, Serica and Taeping (1866), 342 276 OSS outpaces tea clippers (1868), 342 P&O’s problematic compound, 345 tea, China popular superstitions, 26 Cunard and, 90 PSNC consider auxiliary, 306 East Indiaman Reliance laden with, 158 PSNC’s compound, 4 Temple, Henry John. See Palmerston, Viscount Randolph, Elder’s 2nd engine patent, Tennant’s chemical works, 37 316–17 Teviot (RMSP), 146 Randolph, Elder’s compound engine, Thackeray, William Makepeace 312–13, 367–68 Cunard’s line of steamers, 13 RM on projected screw mail steamers, Thames Iron Works 276–77 P&O Mooltan hull contract, 334–35 RMSP alters draught of furnaces, 176 successor to Charles Mare’s yard, 333 RMSP superheating trials, 348 Thames, River RMSP’s Atrato, 199–200 excessive steamboat speed on, 27

Index 443

thermodynamics freezing point lowering experiments, 311 Elder’s BAAS Aberdeen (1859) address, future rebirth of wind power on land, 365 317 Glasgow University nat.phil. chair, 309 experimental foundations of, 311 GPS address on Stirling’s air- engine, 310 Jevons on science of, 323 joins GPS, 308 Rankine on Elder’s compound engine, 317 Mansel as invisible assistant, 311 Rankine on Elder’s steam- jacketing, 317 mechanical effect, 365 Scott’s terminology, 327 precision experimental researches, 311 Thomson and Rankine’s language of, 327 predominance of sailing vessels (1880), 365 Thetis questions indicators’ trustworthiness, 322 Alfred Holt and trials of, 338–39 thermodynamic language of, 327 Engineer hails result as best yet, 327–28 wind and coal, 365 high- pressure compound engines, 323 Thornton, Capt. high- pressure engines, 328 P&O Nautical Committee, 272 L’pool Poytechnic Soc. witnesses, 326–27 Thurburn, Robert matches Engineer’s desiderata, 326–27 joins P&O Board from EISNC, 244 quantitative trials, 323, 324–25 Tiber (P&O) Rankine’s performance measurements, iron paddle- steamer from Caird & Co, 273 324–25 Times, The Rowan’s compound engines, 324–25 1866 Tea Race reported, 342 Scott’s iron screw experimental, 323, 324 account of British Queen’s interiors, 85–86 Scott’s printed report on sea voyages, 327 Amazon’s Thames trial trip, 188 Scott’s verdict on steamship system, 327 Archibald Smith’s compass analysis in, Thompson & Spiers 156–59 acquired by Cairds for iron hulls, 198 Cameron’s narrative of Tweed wreck, 180 Cairds subcontract one RMSP hull, 141 Chappell announces Solway loss, 153 Greenock shipbuilders, 198 Cunard’s regularity affirmed, 121 Thompson, Capt. William C. deviation in wood and iron vessels, 157 commands Sarah Sands on Atlantic, 277 disadvantages of sail, 151 US sailing packet master, 277 first reports of Amazon’s destruction, Thomson, James (jr) 188–89 adopts Gordon’s “mechanical effect”, 309 launch of British Queen, 75–76, 76 apprentice at Fairbairn’s Millwall yard, 309 launch of iron screw P&O Bengal, 279 awareness of patent conventions, 310 loss of Columbia, 123 brother of William (later Lord Kelvin), 271 loss of RMSP’s Medina, 149 Carnot- Clapeyron view of heat engines, 309 P&O Simla maiden voyage, 331 friend of Prof .Gordon, 309 P&O’s Bengal’s merits, 279 GPS member, 308 Peru trial trip as spectacle, 215 lowering of freezing point with pressure, possible retrun to sailing packets, 151 310–11 Pottinger passengers’ criticisms, 272–73 mechanical effect from heat engines, 309 PSNC’s economy of coal consumption, motive power of heat researches begin, 309 321–22 Stirling air- engine discussion, 310 quotes Fitzroy letter to Wheelwright, studies waterwheels with Gordon, 309 211–12 waterwheel analogy for heat engines, 309 report of Peru’s Atlantic crossing, 215 working for Murray on P&O drawings, 271 reports attempts to launch President, 107–8 Thomson, Prof. James (sr), 308 reports Britannia launch at Greenock, 102 Thomson, Prof. Thomas, 308 reports of Tweed disaster, 179 Thomson, Prof. William review of Scarlett’s S. America travels, 209 BAAS address on energy sources, 365 unqualified support to PSNC project, Carnot reading of Stirling’s air- engine, 310 211–12 communicating results to Prof. Forbes, 311 Titania (yacht) echoes Jevons’s Coal Question, 365 built by Russell for Stephenson, 289 exhaustion of coal, 365 follows Russell’s wave- line principle, 289 expt. to test lowering of freezing pt., Tobin, Sir John 310–11 accusations of bribery, 82–83

444 Index

Tobin, Sir John (cont.) Atlantic crossings by sailing packet, 53 Atlantic slave trade, 82–83 experiments on Atlantic steam, 52–54 L&MR, 82–83 narrative of progress, 52–54 principal owner of Liverpool, 82–83 safety measures for ocean steamers, 54 property deal with William Laird, 82–83 Trafalgar (CDSP) sale of Liverpool, 249 renamed Sultan (P&O) while building, 275 Tory mayor of Liverpool, 82–83 Transatlantic Steam Ship Co. Tod & MacGregor James Ferrier proprietor, 240 absence of formal contract with P&O, 276 James Hartley proprietor, 240 Clyde’s shipbuilding reputation, 268–69 Liverpool as first steamer of, 83 deaths of partners (1858), 333 merges with Peninsular Steam as P&O, debt to David Napier’s steeple engine, 278 83, 240 end of P&O’s close ties with (1858), 333 principal proprietors, 240 engine designs for screw propulsion, 278 Richard Williams proprietor, 240 exhibition model of Simla engines, 332 RM on merger with Peninsular Steam, 249 Gilchrist as draughtsman, 330–31 RM on serious condition of, 249 Grantham’s connection with, 277–78 shortcomings in practice, 83 hands- on approach, 268–69 subsidiary of CDSP, 82 Inman Line contracts, 330 two vessels to suit Alexandria mails, 240 iron screw City of Glasgow, 278 Williams as MD, 240 iron screw steam yacht Vesta, 277–78 Travancore (P&O) iron shipbuilding yard, 40, 268–69 Bain’s inspection at Granton, 358 launch of iron screw P&O Bengal, 279 purchased while building at Granton, 358 lower costs than southern yards, 275–76 Trent (RMSP), 143 P&O and CDSP contracts, 275 Trent(RMSP), 149 P&O connections, 12, 263 trial- by- space, 367–68 P&O contract for Pacha, 270 John Scott’s Lord of the Isles, 324 P&O large paddle- steamer contracts, 278 trials, moral P&O’s favoured builder, 330 Atlantic Ocean as place of, 120 P&O’s praise for, 275–76 Chalmers view of, 20, 31–32 P&O’s Simla as exemplar, 330–31 trials, steamboat P&O’s Sultan wins high praise, 275 Charlotte Dundas, 228 PSNC’s first iron paddle- steamer, 304–5 Forth & Clyde Canal as site for, 228 rapid construction times, 276 races as an addiction, 42–43 relocation at Meadowside on Clyde, 275 Symington’s Forth & Clyde Canal, 228 reputation for strength and reliability, 263 trials, steamship Singapore’s oscillating engines, 276 Alburkah iron- hulled, 61 steaming trials, 268–69 Clyde steamboat races, 42–43 Sultan as standard for larger vessels, compound- engined Brandon’s, 312–13 275–76 David Napier’s hull- form experiments, trained by David Napier, 40 35–36 William Tod, 330–31 Elder compound versus Neilson simple, 336 William Tod assumes control, 333 Gareloch site of, 49 Tod, David. See also Tod & MacGregor HMS Medea, 65 David Napier as mentor, 268–69 HMS Rattler screw propulsion, 7 engine valuation for P&O, 268–69 Holt’s compound- engined Cleator, 323, marine engineer and iron shipbuilder, 340–41 268–69 iron screw steam yacht Vesta, 277–78 partner in Tod & Macgregor, 268–69 L+H Humboldt’s, 341 Rev. Burns of the Barony Church, 268–69 printed report of Thetis’s, 327 Tod, William PSNC Inca underpowered on first, 314 co- designer of P&O Simla, 330–31 PSNC Santiago’s underperformance, 305–6 son of David, 330–31 RMSP Moselle’s very satisfactory, 352–53 Tory party RMSP ’s superheating, 348 corruption allegations in Liverpool, 83 Scott’s high- pressure Thetis, 323 Town, Ithiel steam yachts used for, 44

Index 445

Tod and MacGregor’s, 268–69 Capt. Sharp’s disciplinary breaches, 168 Valparaiso seagoing, 319–20 Tweed disaster, 178–83, 184 Valparaiso’s performance contested, 316 Avon brings Tweed survivors home, 179–80 voyage of iron- hulled Alburkah, 61–62 Bible, 180–81 witnessing Forth’s troubled sea trials, 147 Book of Common Prayer, 180–81 Trinity House sermon Capt. George Parsons in command, 178 Canon Melvill’s, 50 Caribbean schedule, 178–79 Trollope, Anthony casualties reported, 179–80 guest on Persia for trial trip, 295 Christian worship on reef, 182–83 trust civilizing objects recovered, 180–81 Cunard Line’s providential protection, data on survivors, 183–84 281–82, 303 disciplined watch- keeping, 181 geographical distance weakens, 306–7 disintegration of steamship system, 166, Greens of Blackwall win RMSP’s full, 181–82 167–68 division of labour among survivors, 183 indicators subject to mistrust, 315–16, 322 echoes of St Paul’s voyage, 181–82 James Allan as a person of, 273 excitement in the City of London, 179 James Caird and James Allan’s mutual, 275 experience of God’s awesome power, 180 John Elder’s embodiment of, 317–18 experiencing deliverance, 180 Laird loses Junius Smith’s, 85, 109–10 freight loaded, 178–79 McNaught and Elder lose mutual, 315 master’s trust to dead reckoning, 181 Napier and Cunard build mutual, 97–98 narrative written on Avon’s passage, 179–80 Napier loses Junius Smith’s, 12, 85 new moral and spiritual economy, 181–82 Napier loses PSNC’s, 305–6 no women or children saved, 183–84 Napier secures Assheton Smith’s, 43 observance of regular time- keeping, 181 Providence, 17, 194–95 order and civilization aboard, 181 PSNC seeks S. American states’, 219–20 reading Psalm no.107, 182 RMSP masters lose or gain Company, reconstructing civilization on reef, 180–81, 167–68 181–82 RMSP renders McQueen a scapegoat, recovering Christian civilization, 180, 182 164–65 recovery of compass from wreckage, 182 RMSP’s George Mills loses proprietors’, resonates with biblical shipwrecks, 180–81 201–2 Times reports loss of, 179 Samuel Cunard’s stock of, 93 tortuous route taken by the news, 179 steamship performance and public, 281–82 winter Atlantic crossing, 178 Tod & MacGregor and P&O’s mutual, witnessing divine providence, 180 275–76 Twigg, Paul trust, networks of St George Steam Packet Co., 63 Cunard and Napier’s, 89 Tyrian Cunard’s Glasgow, 94 Admiralty mail brig, 76 Tuffnell, Lady Anne Tyrian (barque), 229 names Orinoco, 202 Tufnell, T.R. Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 300 elected an RMSP director (1856), 203 Union Canal Co., 138 evidence of Mills’s incompetence, 202 Union Line of Sailing Ships RMSP proprietor, 202 Junius Smith, 57 urges an RMSP Committee of Inquiry, 202 Union Line of Steam Packets. See Smith, Turnbull, Rev. John Junius Anderson attends private school of, 228 Union Steamship Co. friend of Sir Walter Scott, 228 Murray on superheating experiments, Turner, Charles (MP) 335–36 PSNC chairman, 354 Murray praises single- expansion engines, sells out shares before PSNC crash, 354 337 Twain, Mark purchase of RMSP Danube, 353 Cunard’s line of steamers, 13 Unitarianism Tweed (RMSP), 146 Burns’s objections to, 18

446 Index

Unitarianism (cont.) Victoria, Queen, 222 Hawthorne on Liverpool, 287–88 Royal Charter granted to RMSP, 135 liberal politics of, 287–88 Thames visit to Great Britain, 116 Liverpool a stronghold of, 287–88 Vincent, Capt. William ocean steam navigation, 8 exemplary RMSP master, 171 questioning special divinity of Christ, 18 father of William (Amazon midshipman), Rev. Gannett’s theology, 8 187 United Presbyterian Church. See also master of Severn, 187 Presbyterianism preparing Amazon for first voyage, 187 Scott Russell’s upbringing in, 138 Vincent, William split from Church of Scotland, 138 Amazon midshipman, 187, 189–90 United States (Black Ball) exemplary conduct of, 197 unsatisfactory Atlantic performance, Morning Chronicle criticizes actions, 190 124–25 Neilson reports courage of, 190 United States (Transatlantic) presentiment among Amazon officers, 193 admiration for hull- form of, 108 reports lack of discipline on Amazon, 192 completed as P&O Oriental, 240 Rev. Hollis’s presentation of Bible to, 197 University College London, 60 survivor account of Amazon disaster, University of Aberdeen 189–90 Sutherland attends Marischal College, 356 voluntarism, 197 University of Glasgow Vulcan (David MacIver), 30 John Scott attended, 324 Vulcan (Napier), 295 Mansel working with Prof. Thomson at, Vulcan Works. See Napier, Robert 309–10 Scott Russell matriculates at, 138 Wadsworth & Smith Scott Russell’s reading at, 138 bankruptcy of, 65 sons of shipbuilding families at, 309 London and New York merchants, 54 Thomas Reid as professor, 21 memorial to New York legislature, 60 Thomson as natural philosophy prof., 309 Wadsworth, Henry Ure, Andrew Junius Smith’s nephew, 54 professor at the Andersonian Inst., 312 Walker, Capt. W.H. Ure, Isabella co- presides over Amazon Inquiry, 191 marriage to John Elder, 317–18 East Indiaman commander, 191 Utilitarians senior officer in BoT marine dept., 191 Government reform in India, 47 Wallace, Patrick, 45 Warrior, HMS, 311–12 Valparaiso (PSNC) Washington, 124 compound- engined W. Coast steamer, 314 waste contested performance, 316 Charles MacIver’s abhorrence of, 122–23 delivers neither power nor economy, 319 D. & C. MacIver’s abhorrence of, 121–22 McNaught finally approves trial, 321 David Elder’s minimization of, 106 McNaught’s indicator data contested, 316 Lardner’s analysis of marine engine, 66–67 performance on West Coast service, 321–22 McQueen’s minimization of, 148 seagoing trial trip, 319–20 minimizing, 37–38 steam- jacketing solution, 316–17 RMSP’s choice of coal to suit climate, 177 Vernon, Thomas Samuel Cunard’s dislike of, 90 P&O contract for one large iron steamer, watertight iron bulkheads 270–71 fitted toRoyal William (II), 82 Vesta Garryowen introduces, 234 built by Tod & MacGregor, 277–78 values of strength over splendour, 234 Grantham’s design for, 277–78 Williams as advocate of, 233, 266 iron screw steam yacht, 277–78 Williams’s, 82 oscillating steam engine of, 277–78 Watt, James Vesta (French steamer). See Arctic (Collins) comparison with Napier, 97 Victoria. See British Queen dislike of showmanship, 97

Index 447

economy of expansive principle, 131 PSNC benefits to West Coast states, 210 friend of Robison, 138 PSNC benefits to West Coast trades, 211 heroic representation, 3 PSNC criticism for irregularities, 218–19 James Napier on indicator of, 336 PSNC dismissal and return, 221–22 Laird’s image of, 61 PSNC joint- MD with Just, 221–22, 305 links engine cost to savings in fuel, 313 PSNC link to W.Indies mail system, 210 Melvill compares Napier to, 49 PSNC neutrality from local wars, 211 wave- line vessels. See Russell, John Scott PSNC projector, 204 Webster, Daniel PSNC win rights to use off- shore hulks, 211 annihilating space, 74 PSNC’s British- flag protection, 211 Great Western marks new epoch, 74 sail versus steam on Pacific West Coast, 211 Wellington, Duke of Scarlett family patronage, 204, 209 friendship with Assheton Smith, 46 sent to Pacific coast, 305 West India Committee. See RMSP shipwreck in River Plate, 206 West India Tavern, Blackwall, 215 submits project for West Coast steam, 205 West Indies support from Chilean merchant houses, 208 McQueen’s connections with, 129 supports missions to Pacific islanders, 210 RMSP’s mail communication with, 129 tailors his project to British interests, 205–6 Westminster Review, 163 US Consul in Ecuador, 206 Wheelwright, Isaac Watts Whewell, William Bible Society of America, 206 BAAS- sponsored tidal theory, 213 brother of William, 206 Peacock supplies data for tidal theory, 213 Wheelwright, Rev. John Whig Government, 14, 93 ancestor of William, 206 invites tenders for Halifax mails, 80 dissenting clergyman, 206 RMSP patronage, 156 Wheelwright, William sets conditions for Halifax mails, 80–81 asserts his credentials as projector, 209–10 Whig Governments, 135 blames James Napier for Santiago, 306 Whig party difficulties of raising sufficient capital, 208 Halifax mails, 77 evangelical connections, 206 Melbourne’s, 77 family’s maritime world, 206 patronage, 47 fleet of sailing packets, 206 reform politics of, 47 granted exclusive privileges for steam, 205 Whig politics importance of inviting local capital, 208 Edinburgh Review, 52 invokes Fitzroy’s authority, 210 White, J.S. lack of confidence towards S. America, RMSP contract one steamship, 141 208–9 RMSP’s last wooden paddle- steamer, 346 Lima Committee endorses estimates, 208 Whitefield, George, 206 Lima Committee proposes commission, 208 Wigrams money- market pressures, 208–9 former partners with Green at Blackwall, monopoly privileges for steam project, 186 206–7 lengthen Pottinger at Blackwall, 273 negotiates PSNC mail contract, 221–22 move into iron shipbuilding, 186 opposition to PSNC project, 212 P&O contract for two large iron steamers, pamphlet on projected PSNC (1838), 270–71 209–11 Southampton site, 186 Peacock under an illusion, 214 Willcox & Anderson possible future transpacific system, 210 charter Bourne’s Royal Tar, 230 Presbyterian contexts, 206 Portuguese conflict threatens trade of, 229 projected Chilean coal supply, 211 reward of trading facilities in Portugal, 230 projected maintenance facilities, 211 ship- broking and ship- owning p’ship, 229 projected PSNC coal consumption, 208 support for Spain’s Queen Isabella, 230 projected PSNC expenses and receipts, Willcox, Brodie McGhie 207–8 early life, 228 promotes Pacific West Coast steam, 206 London ship- broker, 228

448 Index

Willcox, Brodie McGhie (cont.) Wiltshire, Earl of, 215 P&O MD, 227 wind power ship- broking partnership, 228 resists quantification, 365–66 William (III), King, 90 Wingate, Thomas William Fawcett builder of Sirius’s engines, 72, 269 built for Pim and Fawcett, 231 Glasgow engine- building works, 40 owned by Bourne, 231 Tod & MacGregor shipyard next to, 269 Williams, Charles Wye witnesses, credible advocate of iron hulls for inland use, 233 Brandon trials with Capt. Peacock, advocate of watertight iron bulkheads, 233, 312–13 266 Capt. Peacock, 312–13 Anglo- Irish establishment, 233–34 David Elder(jr), 307 associated with Thomas Wilson, 264 experienced engineers, 307 BAAS presentations, 233 John Elder on, 318–19 CDSP founder, 63 Rankine at Thetis trials, 324 CDSP MD, 246 RMSP Douro’s chief engineer, 348 closely association with Grantham, 233 shipmasters, 306–7 cold- air versus hot- air patents, 246–47 Stirling’s air- engine working, 310 contracts with William Laird, 233 Thetis’s engine trials, 327 enthusiasm for science and invention, 233 Valparaiso seagoing trip, 319–20 fails to achieve universal acclamation, Wood brothers. See Russell, John Scott 234–35 Wood, Alderman financial practices, 247–48 Burns’s opposition to, 28 Garryowen introduces watertight b’heads, fall of his Bill, 29 234 Parliamentary bill of, 28 interconnected companies of, 247–48 speed of Thames steamboats, 27 Irish capital, 247–48 Wood, Charles (Admiralty secretary) Irish directors, 247–48 Cunard and P&O as his “two children”, 295 iron steamboats for Irish waterways, 233 Cunard line’s debt to, 295 legal training, 233 patron of Cunard, 93 mentor of Grantham, 269–70 Whig patronage of, 47 owner of CDSP, 233 Wood, Charles (shipbuilder) participation in ocean steam, 234–35 builder for Cunard’s line of steamers, 101 praised in NM, 234 Cairds subcontract one RMSP hull, 141 promoter of smoke- consuming patent, 266 James Watt as pattern ship, 140–41 reputation, 233 recommends design changes to RMSP, 137 RM correspondents on trustworthiness, RMSP consults with, 136 247–48 steamship hull forms of, 140–41 role in first P&O iron steamer plans, 270 Wood, John Shipbuilding Co., 247–48 builder for MacIver, 30 smoke- consuming patent, 245–46 builder of Comet (I), 26 smoke- consuming patent savings, 246 close connections with Cunard’s line, 89 strength of seagoing fleet, 234 Cunard’s Acadia as “pattern card”, 101 Williams, Richard experience of, 26 Transatlantic proprietor, 240 floating church, 48 Wilson, Thomas Free Kirk, 48 builder of Hindostan and Bentinck, 244 G.&J. Burns, 26 builder of Oriental, 264 Napier subcontracts hulls to, 48 closely associated with Williams, 264 Napier’s builder of wooden hulls, 11 PSNC’s interest in iron- hulled steamers, as “pattern shipbuilder”, 48n 213 Port Glasgow shipbuilder, 26 Rev. McNeile’s approval of, 264 reputation as best Clyde builder, 48 RMSP consults with, 136 reputation of, 94 Wilson, William & Thomas Scott Russell’s tribute, 48 builders of Royal William (II), 82 work as a pattern of excellence, 48

Index 449

wooden- hulled steamships descendents achieve high status, 230–31 Grantham as critic of, 269–70 evidence against, 259 RMSP’s last wooden paddle- steamers, 346 felony trial at Old Bailey, 257 work done. See mechanical effect highly controversial P&O director, 230–31 Wynn, Spencer (Lord Newborough) marries a daughter of Willcox, 230–31 Grantham’s connection to, 277–78 P&O director, 257 neighbour of Assheton Smith, 277–78 predicted acquittal, 259 owner of iron screw yacht Vesta, 277–78 presumed high character of, 259 son- in- law of Willcox, 257 Young, Prof. Thomas, 138 statements to Commons Committee, 259 Zulueta family Zulueta, Pedro Juan de agents for Peninsular Steam in Cadiz, later Count de Torre Diaz, 230–31 230–31 London agent for Spanish Govt., Zulueta, Pedro Jose 230–31 alleged method of slave trading, 258–59 Spanish merchant in London, 230–31 charge of slave dealing, 258