continuity, and we can now pass on to two other steamers built in 1841, for the Royal Mail Company. In the illustration facing this page will be seen the _Teviot_ and _Clyde_ respectively, the former being of 1,793 tons, the latter of 1,371 tons. We have already spoken of the founding of the General Steam Navigation Company, and shall speak presently of the Peninsular and Oriental Company. Following the precedent set by the Cunard Company, the Royal Mail Line, on March 20th, 1840, entered into an agreement with the British Government by which the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company were “to provide, maintain, and keep seaworthy, and in complete repair and readiness, for the purpose of conveying all Her Majesty’s mails, a sufficient number (not less than fourteen) of good, substantial, and efficient steam vessels, of such construction and strength as to be fit and able to carry guns of the largest calibre now used on board of Her Majesty’s steam vessels of war, each of such vessels to be always supplied with first-rate appropriate steam engines of not less than 400 collective horse-power, and also a sufficient number--not less than four--of good, substantial, and efficient sailing vessels, of at least 100 tons burthen each.” Previous to this agreement, the Government had conveyed the mails to the West India Islands in gun-brigs, and in those days we must not forget that the seas were not the free highways that they are now. [Illustration: THE “TEVIOT” AND “CLYDE” (1841). _From a Painting in the Victoria and Albert Museum._] [Illustration: SIDE-LEVER ENGINE. _From the Model in the Victoria and Albert Museum._]