[Men of Invention and Industry by Samuel Smiles]@TWC D-Link bookMen of Invention and Industry CHAPTER II 10/43
The boat was built at Edinburgh, and removed to Dalswinton Lake.
It was there fitted with Symington's steam-engine, and first tried with success on the 14th of October, 1788, as has been related at length in Mr.Nasmyth's 'Autobiography.' The experiment was repeated with even greater success in the charlotte Dundas in 1801, which was used to tow vessels along the Forth and Clyde Canal, and to bring ships up the Firth of Forth to the canal entrance at Grangemouth. The progress of steam navigation was nevertheless very slow. Symington's experiments were not renewed.
The Charlotte Dundas was withdrawn from use, because of the supposed injury to the banks of the Canal, caused by the swell from the wheel.
The steamboat was laid up in a creek at Bainsford, where it went to ruin, and the inventor himself died in poverty.
Among those who inspected the vessel while at work were Fulton, the American artist, and Henry Bell, the Glasgow engineer.
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