Why did not Mr. Canning speak of the worth of Mr. Bell, and secure to him at least £500 per annum for life, for his great labours? Brunel, Telford, and others, said he should have had twice that amount, for what he had done for Britain and the world. This opinion, posterity will confirm. Mrs. Bell still lives, and our rulers yet have an opportunity of doing something for the widow of that ingenious man, whom they neglected while living-although he went up to London, backed by all Scotland, with petitions from every great town and maritime county in this kingdom, with the voice of Liverpool in his favour. He went thither in his old age, lame, and his finances exhausted in his country's good; but we grieve-we are ashamed to say, his journey was fruitless. Well do we remember the fears and terrors which many aged people expressed, when Mr. Bell first set out with his Comet on the Clyde. Some said he was fighting against nature, against God. No man can sail against wind and tide, said our grandfathers, and some of their sons and daughters too; and quoted that pro

verb, as though it had been a Bible precept. But it is not, as every tyro in reading knows; it is an old saying, which the steam-boat has laid on the shelf, to rest for ever. Bell settled this. By and bye the ancients of the people, as well as the gallant young men and and maidens, gladly took a voyage with him, and now the greatest coward in the world has no fear of the steam-boat; for they all know that these vessels are safer than a coach and immeasurably more pleasant. It would appear that the same astonishment and terror were excited on the banks of the Hudson and on the frith of that beautiful stream, when the American Fulton started his steamer there, in 1807-the model of which he got from Bell, and the engine to work which was built by our Bolton and Watt, as all the world knows, but which I repeat, to refresh the memories of those who oppose Bell's claims, and call the Americans the inventers. No: they were not. The following description is found in pages 172 and 173 of Colden's Life of Fulton, as quoted in the London Quarterly Review, No. 19: "The steamer had

the most terrific appearance from other vessels which were navigating the river, when she was making her passage. The first steamboats, as others yet do, used dry pine-wood for fuel, which sends a column of ignited vapour many feet above the flue, and whenever the fire is stirred, a galaxy of sparks fly off, and in the night-time have a very brilliant and beautiful appearance. This uncommon light first attracted the attention of the crews of other vessels. Notwithstanding the wind and tide were adverse to its approach, they saw with astonishment it was rapidly coming towards them; and when it came so near as that the noise of the machinery and paddles were heard, the crews in some instances shrunk beneath their decks from the terrific sight, and left their vessels to go on shore; while others prostrated themselves and besought Providence to protect them from the approaches of the horrible monster which was marching on the tide, and lighting its path with the fires which it vomited.”

Let us now take a short survey of steamnavigation from 1812 to 1843, and what

splendid vessels do we behold! How would Canning speak and think were he now living! Every kingdom in the world has now seen these fire-propelled palaces, that roam over every sea, and sweep up the rivers of China, of India, of Asia, of Africa, of America, and all other parts, with a regularity and quick. ness which surpass all our former conceptions of their power and utility.

From six-horse power, these wondrous barques have advanced, through the skill of our mechanics, and the enterprise of our princely merchants, to 800 horse power, and 3000 or 4000 tons burden. These "march upon the deep,"-these triumph in the "battle and the breeze," and are the keys to unlock every kingdom on earth, and to take our produce to every nation, and bring in return. the products of all climes. They plead for free trade; and as my ingenious friend Bell once said to a monopolist, "Sir, my steamers will break down all your schemes-they will fight their way against all monopolisers, and you cannot arrest their course!" He was right in this,—sound, as in his plan of the Comet.

Several

At a public dinner given to a number of gentlemen in the Baths Hotel, Helensburgh, some years ago, Mr. Bell was speculating in an animated tone on the probability of steam ships going to every land, and carrying our merchandise over the wide Atlantic, the Indian and China seas-to all nations. gentlemen laughed at his "wild ideas," as they termed them; but Bell spoke rationally; he saw deeper into things than the laughers did, and his opinion has been gloriously realised. I have this story from Mr. A. Broom, builder, with permission to publish it. It is worth narrating, as it shows how very "lingering" was the scepticism in the minds even of intelligent men, as to the power and boundless utility of steam navigation, many instances of which will yet be stated before this little work is completed.

Mr. Bell had many difficulties to encounter and overcome after he started his Comet; but that undaunted heroism, and that fearless perseverance which had led him on, notwithstanding the two denials at the Admiralty in 1801 and 1803, and the coldness of his