"The models of the _Washington_ and _Hermann_ were quite defective, particularly so in having a very narrow bottom, which made them load deep and be tender or even crank at all times.... _Their engines also were not quite strong or stiff enough._" The boilers were not large enough to furnish an adequate supply of steam and the paddle-wheels were too large for the engines. The _Scientific American_, October 7, 1848, said:-- "The great cause of our unsuccess in our Atlantic steamers is owing to our short acquaintance with the building of marine ships. There is science and genius among our nautical engineers, but _they want experience_." When our first American mail steamer sailed for Europe no practical marine engineers could be found to work her engines. She took a first-class engineer and corps of assistants from one of the New York river packets; but as soon as the ship got to sea, and heavy breakers came on, all the engineers and firemen were taken deadly seasick; and for three days it was constantly expected that the ship would be lost. (Rainey's _Ocean Steam Navigation_.) It is to be noted here that John L. Stevens, the ablest American marine engineer of his day, was one of the directors of this company. The _Washington_ sailed for Southampton and Bremen on June 1, 1847. Her passengers and crew looked forward to a cheering reception on the other side; for when the _Sirius_ and the _Great Western_ arrived in New York the people of the city turned out to honor them, and the city authorities and such bodies as the Chamber of Commerce gave public receptions in honor of the event. Then when the Cunard's first liner the _Britannia_ was frozen in at Boston the merchants of the city contributed $10,000, for which a contractor agreed to saw a channel for her to clear water. The contractor spent $20,000 in doing the work. He spent $10,000 out of his own pocket without a murmur, and the Cunard Company without a murmur let him do it. But the only official action taken on the arrival of the _Washington_ at Southampton was in the sending of a notice to the American mail agent that he would have to pay full sea postage on all mail landed, as well as the usual inland rates. And the only word of welcome spoken in the port was uttered by the officials of the dock company with whom the ship was berthed.