That service had been founded in 1816 by New York merchants.

The Red Star line followed in 1821, and soon after the Swallowtail line.

The packets were ships of from six hundred to fifteen hundred tons burden, and made the eastward trip in about twenty-three days and the return trip in about forty days.

The record was held by the "Canada," of the Black Ball line, which had made the outward run in fifteen days and eighteen hours.

That time was reduced later by the "Amazon." The first steamer to cross the Atlantic was the American ship "Savannah." She made the trial trip from New York to Savannah in April, 1819, and in the following month her owners decided to send her overseas.