Chronicle & Gazette (Kingston, ON), July 27, 1833

p.2 Welland Canal - letter from Directors of Welland Canal Company in reply to Chief Justice Robinson's congratulatory letter earlier printed.

The Thames - again described, similar to earlier paragraph. [Montreal Gazette]

The Cornwall Observer notices that Mr. Wright of New York, the Engineer of the projected St. Lawrence Canal, accompanied by Mr. Miles, the Assistant Engineer, are now on a tour, visiting the Lachine and Rideau Canals, previous to the commencement of the Canal on which they are about to be employed. The Commissioners are to meet at Prescott on the 27th, to receive the plans and estimates of the Engineers, and should the funds be obtained, the work may be expected to go into operation immediately. [Montreal Gazette quoting Cornwall Observer]

Rideau Canal - A correspondent at Bytown under date of 9th inst. gives us the following: "The Bytown end of the Rideau Canal has been open for some time as far as the Isthmus. Since the 1st May last, about twenty-four rafts of timber have passed into the Ottawa by the Rideau Canal, amounting nearly to 300,000 feet of oak, 200,000 feet of pine, independent of elm, staves, etc. the probable amount of Lockage dues upon which is little short of £4000 currency. Although very heavy complaints are made of the Canal dues being too high, and equally loud grumbling at the depressed state of the Quebec markets, report says the lumbermen are busily engaged in buying up every stick of oak they can get hold of along the whole line of the Canal for next year."

Another correspondent says, "The line of water communication may now be considered in a more effective state than it has been - the depth of water is increased to upwards of five feet throughout its whole extent, and a proof of this exertion, we can quote the transit of the Rideau steamer (drawing about 4 feet 10 inches) which performed the passage in 48 hours between Kingston and Bytown, on the 17th July, including stoppages in order to take on board passengers and merchandize at the old landing Rideau Lake, and also proceeding up the River Tay as far as to the first lock." [Canadian Courant, 24th]

A Lucky Sailor - Lieut. Smart R.N., late master of steamer Britannia - never wrecked, hurt, etc. [Herald]

Steam-Boats - The past week has been one of varied experiment among this very useful and important class of vessels.

On Saturday last the really beautiful St. George made trial of her engine, and the result was such as to very much please the public and her spirited proprietors. Every thing indicates that she will become one of the fastest, as she is one of the most elegant of our Lake boats. It will be perceived, by advertisement that in consequence of the accident which has befell the William IV, the St. George will take her place for the present. - With the name of the tutelar saint of the Empire, whose prowess has gained for it the appellation of "mistress of the waves" benefitted by the skill and experience of an officer from a service that has gained for Great Britain that proud title; and beautiful in all her proportions; we hope the good steamer St. George, Lieut. Harper, R.N. Commander, will be as prosperous as she eminently deserves to be. -We cannot omit on this occasion to express our admiration of the skill and taste which has been manifested by Mr. Ewen, the master-builder of two such ornaments to the naval architecture of Kingston, as the St. George and Britannia: and we trust his talents will be amply and sufficiently rewarded by the community.

It has been a source of general regret that Mr. Parker's new steam-boat, the Kingston, whose launch was so auspicious, should have been found, upon trial on Saturday, unfit for navigation. Her proprietor, however, (whose many acts of enterprise have deserved a better success,) has determined, with his accustomed PERSEVERANCE, to make her available for the purposes intended. She is now careening, and is undergoing such improvements as will render her, no doubt, in three or four weeks, able to fulfil the original design of her owner. That she may do so, in every respect, we heartily wish.

Last Tuesday the steam-boat John By, now intended to ply between York and Hamilton, under the experienced command of Capt. Kerr, made experiment of her new engines, on a trip to Prescott. She left Kingston at 2 o'clock, P.M. and after stopping at Gananoque and Brockville, together, for two hours, she reached Prescott at 11 o'clock the same evening; thus making the voyage of 72 miles in 7 hours. This first trial of her two new engines, of 30 horse power each has proved them to work so exceedingly well as to reflect great credit upon their builders, Messrs. Sheldon, Dutcher & Co. of York. We are the more pleased at this result, that we may attribute it to the effects of skill and enterprise employed in our own Province - to machinery of Upper Canadian manufacture.

An accident occurred to the John By while on her return from Prescott, which although it may be magnified among unthinking people, was still of such a nature as not in the least to affect the character or safety of this boat. In the middle of the night of Wednesday, while the vessel was making her way rapidly about 14 miles this side of Brockville, in the North Channel, at no great distance from the shore, the pilot carelessly veered from his proper course, and she struck upon a rock - the force of the concussion driving up a large plug which projected 25 inches beyond the bottom of the boat, whereby the water rushed in so fast as to compel the crew to run her ashore. At the time the former engine of the John By was taken out, last year, the waste pipe for supplying the cistern was stopped up with the plug above mentioned, and afterwards inadvertently covered over without the knowledge of the owner or the present captain.

The John By arrived here safely yesterday in less than two hours from Gananoque, and without any material injury on board except the damage of a few cases of goods; for which, Mr. Drummond is willing to remunerate the owners. She leaves this afternoon for York and Hamilton, between which ports we hope her voyages may be attended with uninterrupted success, which her indefatigable proprietor so richly deserves. We repeat that this accident should not, to the smallest extent, affect the reputation of the John By; it being of a kind which the most watchful prudence might not be able to guard against.

p.3

The Fast Sailing Steamer

ST. GEORGE,

Lieut. Harper, R.N., Commander,

Will, until further notice, leave Prescott for Brockville, Gananoque, Kingston, Cobourg, Port Hope, York, Hamilton, and Niagara, every Monday afternoon, after the arrival of the Montreal Stage.

She will leave Kingston (weather permitting) at 6 o'clock every Tuesday evening; Cobourg at 6 o'clock Wednesday morning; and York for the Head of the Lake and Niagara every Thursday morning at 9 o'clock, and arrive at Niagara the same day.

Returning, she will leave Niagara for York at 4 o'clock every Friday afternoon, and will leave York for Cobourg and Kingston every Saturday morning at 9 o'clock, and will leave Kington for Prescott on Sunday morning at 8 o'clock.

This beautiful Vessel is propelled by a low pressure engine of 90 horse power, manufactured by Messrs. Bennett and Henderson of Montreal; she is schooner rigged, and has accommodations for upwards of 60 Cabin passengers.

No luggage or parcels taken charge of unless booked and paid for. For Freight or Passage apply to the Captain on board.

POSTSCRIPT

In consequence of the accident which has occurred to the engine of the William IV, the Proprietors of the St. George have determined (to prevent disappointment) to run on the days advertised by the William, until her engine is repaired. The arrangement, above advertised, will therefore not go into effect, until the William IV resumes her usual trips.

Kingston, 23rd July, 1833.

At a meeting of the subscribers for building a Steam Boat, to run from Prescott to the head of the Bay of Quinte, the following gentlemen were appointed a committee for superintending the building of the boat, viz.:

H. Gildersleeve,

J. Strange,

J. Watkins,

A. Truax,

H. Smith,

T. Kirkpatrick, and

G.W. Yarker, Esquires; and

T. Kirkpatrick, Secretary & Treasurer.

Kingston, 25th July, 1833.

At a meeting of the Building Committee of the new Bay and River Steam Boat, about to be built under the superintendence of Captain Gildersleeve, held 25th July, 1833 - It was resolved, That an instalment of ten per cent on the Stock subscribed, be called in, payable to the Treasurer on or before the 20th day of August next.

Thos. Kirkpatrick, Secretary & Treasurer.