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life。
The importance of steam navigation has been still more recently
ascertained。 When it was first proposed； Sir Joseph Banks；
President of the Royal Society； said： 〃It is a pretty plan； but
there is just one point overlooked： that the steam…engine
requires a firm basis on which to work。〃 Symington； the
practical mechanic； put this theory to the test by his successful
experiments； first on Dalswinton Lake； and then on the Forth and
Clyde Canal。 Fulton and Bell afterwards showed the power of
steamboats in navigating the rivers of America and Britain。
After various experiments； it was proposed to unite England and
America by steam。 Dr。 Lardner； however； delivered a lecture
before the Royal Institution in 1838； 〃proving〃 that steamers
could never cross the Atlantic； because they could not carry
sufficient coal to raise steam enough during the voyage。 But
this theory was also tested by experience in the same year； when
the Sirius； of London； left Cork for New York； and made the
passage in nineteen days。 Four days after the departure of the
Sirius； the Great Western left Bristol for New York； and made the
passage in thirteen days five hours。＇1＇ The problem was solved；
and great ocean steamers have ever since passed in continuous
streams between the shores of England and America。
In an age of progress； one invention merely paves the way for
another。 The first steamers were impelled by means of paddle
wheels； but these are now almost entirely superseded by the
screw。 And this； too； is an invention almost of yesterday。 It
was only in 1840 that the Archimedes was fitted as a screw yacht。
A few years later； in 1845； the Great Britain； propelled by the
screw； left Liverpool for New York； and made the voyage in
fourteen days。 The screw is now invariably adopted in all long
ocean voyages。
It is curious to look back； and observe the small beginnings of
maritime navigation。 As regards this country； though its
institutions are old； modern England is still young。 As respects
its mechanical and scientific achievements； it is the youngest of
all countries。 Watt's steam engine was the beginning of our
manufacturing supremacy； and since its adoption； inventions and
discoveries in Art and Science； within the last hundred years；
have succeeded each other with extraordinary rapidity。 In 1814
there was only one steam vessel in Scotland； while England
possessed none at all。 Now； the British mercantile steam…ships
number about 5000； with about 4 millions of aggregate tonnage。＇2＇
In olden times this country possessed the materials for great
things； as well as the men fitted to develope them into great
results。 But the nation was slow to awake and take advantage of
its opportunities。 There was no enterprise； no commerceno 〃go〃
in the people。 The roads were frightfully bad； and there was
little communication between one part of the country and another。
If anything important had to be done； we used to send for
foreigners to come and teach us how to do it。 We sent for them
to drain our fens； to build our piers and harbours； and even to
pump our water at London Bridge。 Though a seafaring population
lived round our coasts； we did not fish our own seas； but left it
to the industrious Dutchmen to catch the fish； and supply our
markets。 It was not until the year 1787 that the Yarmouth people
began the deep…sea herring fishery； and yet these were the most
enterprising amongst the English fishermen。
English commerce also had very slender beginnings。 At the
commencement of the fifteenth century； England was of very little
account in the affairs of Europe。 Indeed； the history of modern
England is nearly coincident with the accession of the Tudors to
the throne。 With the exception of Calais and Dunkirk； her
dominions on the Continent had been wrested from her by the
French。 The country at home had been made desolate by the Wars
of the Roses。 The population was very small； and had been kept
down by war； pestilence； and famine。＇3＇ The chief staple was
wool； which was exported to Flanders in foreign ships； there to
be manufactured into cloth。 Nearly every article of importance
was brought from abroad； and the little commerce which existed
was in the hands of foreigners。 The seas were swept by
privateers； little better than pirates； who plundered without
scruple every vessel； whether friend or foe； which fell in their
way。
The British navy has risen from very low beginnings。 The English
fleet had fallen from its high estate since the reign of Edward
III。； who won a battle from the French and Flemings in 1340； with
260 ships； but his vessels were all of moderate size； being
boats； yachts； and caravels； of very small tonnage。 According to
the contemporary chronicles； Weymouth； Fowey； Sandwich； and
Bristol； were then of nearly almost as much importance as
London；＇4＇ which latter city only furnished twenty…five vessels；
with 662 mariners。
The Royal Fleet began in the reign of Henry VII。 Only six or
seven vessels then belonged to the King； the largest being the
Grace de Dieu； of comparatively small tonnage。 The custom then
was； to hire ships from the Venetians； the Genoese； the Hanse
towns； and other trading people； and as soon as the service for
which the vessels so hired was performed； they were dismissed。
When Henry VIII。 ascended the throne in 1509； he directed his
attention to the state of the navy。 Although the insular
position of England was calculated to stimulate the art of
shipbuilding more than in most continental countries； our best
ships long continued to be built by foreigners。 Henry invited
from abroad； especially from Italy； where the art of shipbuilding
had made the greatest progress； as many skilful artists and
workmen as he could procure； either by the hope of gain； or the
high honours and distinguished countenance which he paid them。
〃By incorporating；〃 says Charnock； 〃these useful persons among
his own subjects； he soon formed a corps sufficient to rival
those states which had rendered themselves most distinguished by
their knowledge in this art； so that the fame of Genoa and
Venice； which had long excited the envy of the greater part of
Europe； became suddenly transferred to the shores of Britain。〃＇5＇
In fitting out his fleet； we find Henry disbursing large sums to
foreigners for shipbuilding； for 〃harness〃 or armour； and for
munitions of all sorts。 The State Papers＇6＇ particularize the
amounts paid to Lewez de la Fava for 〃harness；〃 to William Gurre；
〃bregandy…maker；〃 and to Leonard Friscobald for 〃almayn ryvetts。〃
Francis de Errona； a Spaniard； supplied the gunpowder。 Among the
foreign mechanics and artizans employed were Hans Popenruyter；
gunfounder of Mechlin； Robert Sakfeld； Robert Skorer； Fortuno de
Catalenago； and John Cavelcant。 On one occasion 2；797L。 19s。 4
1/2d。 was disbursed for guns and grindstones。 This sum must be
mu