The first vessel of the fleet, named the _India_, was built and engined by the Scotts, and was a few years later transferred to the Peninsular and Oriental Company. The _India_, launched in 1839, was the largest steamer built on the Clyde up to that date, being 206 ft. 6 in. long, 30 ft. 9 in. beam, or 48 ft. wide over the paddle-boxes. The gross tonnage was 1206 tons. Accommodation was provided for eighty cabin passengers, and provision made for 400 tons of cargo. A feature of her construction was the provision of two strong bulkheads of iron across the engine-room, in order to avoid accidental outbreak of fire, and also to prevent water from a leak in one part spreading to another.[39] This was probably the beginning--nearly seventy years ago--of the system of division by watertight bulkheads, now universal. Its compulsory adoption was advocated by the Institution of Naval Architects in 1866, and enforced by Lloyds in 1882, and by the Board of Trade in 1890. The machinery was of 320 horse-power, and had surface-condensers. The _India_ was launched on the anniversary of the birth of James Watt, and a salute of twenty-one guns was fired as the vessel left the ways. Five other steamers were built for the service, and the voyage took from fifty-five to sixty days, as compared with the one hundred and thirteen days occupied by the _Enterprise_. A monthly service was thus rendered possible. At the same time the Scotts built steam vessels for the coasting trade of India and of South Africa. The type of machinery in use at this period is illustrated on the opposite page. This particular engine was constructed in 1838. The piston was connected to one end of the side-levers, while the crank was operated from the other. The paddle-wheel of this engine was 25 ft. 0-1/2 in. in diameter, with seventeen floats. For about thirty years this was the standard type of marine engine for paddle steamers. The Gothic architectural design for the main framing was gradually abandoned for something less ornamental and perhaps more mechanical. [Illustration: TYPE OF SIDE-LEVER ENGINE OF 1840.] The Royal West India Mail Company's Service, still one of the best known of British lines, was commenced in 1841. Some of the steamers were purchased, but amongst those built originally for the service was the _Dee_ by the Scotts. She was 213 ft. 9 in. long, 30 ft. 4 in. beam, and 30 ft. in depth, the burden tonnage being 1848 tons. On a draught of 17 ft. 6 in. she carried 700 tons of cargo; and, as with most of the oversea liners of the period, the average speed was only about 8 knots. The voyage of 13,650 miles occupied then one hundred and nine days, including stoppages; and the consumption of fuel was 25-1/2 tons per day. The engines, which had cylinders 73 in. in diameter with a stroke of 7 ft., were of 450 horse-power, driving side paddle-wheels 28 ft. 6 in. in diameter.[40]