Miller and Taylor commenced their experiments at Dalswinton in 1788, with a steam engine driving paddle-wheels in boats[17]. Symington's steam tug, _Charlotte Dundas_, by its success in 1802 on the Forth and Clyde Canal[18], removed any remaining doubt; but it was not until 1812 that Henry Bell, with his _Comet_, proved the commercial utility of the steam system, although without profit to the promoter.[19] The building of steamships, evolved by experiments by various workers in Britain--and in America also--was readily adopted on the Clyde. Within four years of the completion of the _Comet_, it was not unusual for five hundred or six hundred passengers to enjoy in the course of one day water excursions on the river.[20] The fares were practically five times those prevailing to-day. Among the earliest of the Clyde steamers were the _Active_, of 59 tons, and _Despatch_, of 58 tons, built by the Scotts. In calculating the tonnage in those early days, an average allowance of one-third was deducted for the machinery. In 1816 the firm built the _Shannon_, of a length between perpendiculars of 77 ft. 7 in., of a beam of 15 ft. 3 in., and of a depth moulded of 9 ft. 1 in. She had fore-and-aft cabins. Her engines were of 14 horse-power nominal. She plied on the Shannon between Limerick and Kilrush. By 1818--six years after the completion of the _Comet_--thirty-two steamers were running on the Clyde, and some of these were sent ultimately for traffic on the coast and on other rivers.[21] The largest of these was of 112 tons, with engines of 40 nominal horse-power. The Scotts had built many sailing craft for the Clyde and Belfast trade, for the Glasgow and Liverpool service, and for the Liverpool and Drogheda, and other coasting routes; and it was natural when steam was introduced that the same firm should supply the side-paddle boats. [Illustration: Plate VIII. _From an Old Engraving._ EARLY STEAMBOATS AT GREENOCK.] In three successive years--from 1819 to 1821--the largest steamer in the kingdom came from Scotts' Works. The record was marked in 1819 by the _Waterloo_, of over 200 tons, with engines of 60 nominal horse-power; in 1820, by the _Superb_ of 240 tons register, with engines of 72 nominal horse-power, which cost about £37 per ton, and steamed 9 miles per hour, using 1670 lb. of Scotch coal per hour; and in 1821, by the _Majestic_, of 345 tons register, with engines of 100 horse-power, which cost over £40 per ton, and steamed 10 miles per hour for a consumption of 2240 lb. of Scotch coal. Although the modern steamer is fifty times the size of these pioneers, with a cost per ton of less than one-fourth, and a fuel consumption per unit of work done of not more than a seventh, the records of these and other early ships are worthy of full reference.