So numerous are the sources of information drawn upon, it is impossible to make adequate acknowledgment of them all. The agents of Atlantic lines of steamships were particularly obliging in their replies to inquiries made of them. Without in any way making them responsible for the use made of their communications, upon these my remarks on that branch of the subject are chiefly based. Among other publications I have consulted the “Transactions of the Imperial Institute,” London, and of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec; Government reports emanating from Ottawa and Washington; also many pamphlets, magazine and newspaper articles bearing on the subject, not to speak of my capacious scrap-book and some well-thumbed note-books. Additional authorities will be indicated as the narrative proceeds. Besides these, grateful acknowledgments for valuable assistance are due to Sir Sandford Fleming and Mr. George Johnson, F.S.S., of Ottawa; to Messrs. Douglas Battersby, R. W. Shepherd, and the late Captain Thomas Howard, of Montreal; to Mr. Archibald Campbell, of Quebec; Captain Clarke Hamilton, of Kingston; Mrs. Holden, of Port Dover, Ont., and Mr. T. M. Henderson, of Victoria, B.C.; to members of the Boards of Trade in Montreal, Minneapolis and Duluth; and to the following clergymen: Rev. Dr. Bruce, of St. John, N.B.; Rev. T. F. Fullerton, of Charlottetown. P.E.I.; Rev. James Bennett, of L’Orignal, Ont., and Rev. W. H. L. Howard, of Fort William, Ont. The illustrations have nearly all been made for this work: the wood-cuts by Mr. J. H. Walker, and the half-tones by the Standard Photo-Engraving Company, Montreal. J. C. MONTREAL, _October_, 1898. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE THE DAWN OF STEAM NAVIGATION 17 CHAPTER II. EARLY YEARS OF STEAM NAVIGATION 50 CHAPTER III. THE CUNARD STEAMSHIP COMPANY 71 CHAPTER IV. NORTH ATLANTIC STEAMSHIP COMPANIES 103 CHAPTER V. STEAM TO INDIA AND THE EAST 142 CHAPTER VI. STEAM IN THE BRITISH NAVY 166 CHAPTER VII. THE ST. LAWRENCE ROUTE 192 CHAPTER VIII. STEAM ON THE GREAT LAKES 244 CHAPTER IX. STEAM COMMERCE OF THE GREAT LAKES 268 CHAPTER X. STEAM NAVIGATION IN ALL THE PROVINCES OF THE DOMINION AND IN NEWFOUNDLAND 307 ILLUSTRATIONS.