CHAPTER VI.

THE HISTORY OF SHIPS AND SHIPPING INTERESTS (_continued_). The Clyde and its Ship-building Interests—From Henry Bell to 97 Modern Ship-builders—The First Royal Naval Steamer—The First regular Sea-going Steamer—The Revolution in Ship-building—The Iron Age—“Will Iron Float?”—The Invention of the Screw-propeller—Ericsson, Smith, and Woodcroft—American ’Cuteness—Captain Stockton and his Boat—The First Steamer to Cross the Atlantic—Voyages of the _Sirius_ and _Great Western_—The International Struggle—The Collins and Cunard Lines—Fate of the _Arctic_—The _Pacific_ never heard of more—Why the Cunard Company has been Successful—Splendid Discipline on board their Vessels—The Fleets that leave the Mersey