It answers all my expectations, and
has convinced the unbelievers, who were 999 in 1000. It will be
only a nine days' wonder, and afterwards a Columbus's egg." It
was, however, more than a nine days' wonder; for wood long
continued to be thought the only material capable of floating.
Although Wilkinson's iron vessels continued to ply upon the
Severn, more than twenty years elapsed before another shipbuilder
ventured to follow his example. But in 1810, Onions and Son, of
Brosely, built several iron vessels, also for use upon the
Severn. Then, in 1815, Mr. Jervons, of Liverpool, built a small
iron boat for use on the Mersey. Six years later, in 1821, Mr.
Aaron Manby designed an iron steam vessel, which was built at the
Horsley Company's Works, in Staffordshire. She sailed from
London to Havre a few years later, under the command of Captain
(afterwards Sir Charles) Napier, RN. She was freighted with a
cargo of linseed and iron castings, and went up the Seine to
Paris. It was some time, however, before iron came into general
use. Ten years later, in 1832, Maudslay and Field built four
iron vessels for the East India Company. In the course of about
twenty years, the use of iron became general, not only for ships
of war, but for merchant ships plying to all parts of the world.
When ships began to be built of iron, it was found that they
could be increased without limit, so long as coal, iron,
machinery, and strong men full of skill and industry, were
procurable.
Pages:
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85