ARRIVAL

OF

THE "SIRIUS" AT NEW YORK, 22ND APRIL, 1838. The Original cf above is certified as correct by LIEUTENANT RICHARD ROBERTS, R.N.

OOKING over the placid waters of our noble harbour on a summer's morning, the writer's gaze was focussed on the magnificent White Star steamer "Baltic," as she gracefully and almost silently glided out to sea for New York with her thousand or two of passengers, and instantly the thought arose unbidden-"What of the 'Sirius," the shattered wreck of which lies in Ballycotton Bay "full many a fathom deep," a few miles or so on the port side of the departing liner, and what of her gallant captain, whose bones lie whitening in the caverns of the deep, in the broad Atlantic, perhaps aye a thousand miles from the remains of the steamship which he so successfully navigated for the first time in maritime history, from our old city by the Lee, to the land of the Stars and Stripes, where so many of our people have found a new home. He went down amidst the roar of the tempest, and his struggle has long since been over.

To narrate the story of the historic "Sirius" from her cradle to her grave may possibly be of interest in view of the marvellous developments which have taken place since she first solved the problem of steam communication between Europe and America, and thus attracted the attention of the maritime world on the practicability of long ocean voyages, all the more because, in 1836, at a meeting of the British Association, and in a lecture on Steam Navigation, Dr. Lardner declared as follows:-"As to

the project of establishing a steam intercourse with the United States, which was announced in the newspapers, of making the voyage directly from New York to Liverpool, it was, he had no hesitation in saying, perfectly chimerical, and they might as well talk of making a voyage from New York or Liverpool to the moon."

It is a curious fact that the result of the latter statement was the immediate cause of sending the "Sirius" across the Atlantic, and emanated from the suggestion of a Corkman, Mr. James Beale, who was about that time a good deal occupied in steam business, and was also President of the Cork School of Art and Science.

During a visit to London, and going to Blackwall in an omnibus in company with several gentlemen, one a Banker and two members of the East India Company's Board, the above speech of Dr. Lardner's was discussed.

In the course of the discussion he was referred to for his opinion, and he replied that not only was it practicable, but that if anyone would join him, he would guarantee to coal and send out a steamer from Cork, then built, to New York, and find a captain who should be competent to take her. He named Lt. Roberts, R. N., of Ardmore, Passage West, father of Major R. Roberts, of River View, Glenbrook, Co. Cork, late Ist Batn. 9th Norfolk Regt., and also late Governor of H.M. Prison, Cork, to whom I wish to express my thanks, for kindly placing at my disposal all the valuable and authentic records of the "Sirius.

His project was agreed to, and he chartered the "Sirius" from the St. George Steam Packet Co., and Captain Roberts was appointed her captain. Thus we see beyond doubt that a Corkman originated the idea, a steamer registered in Ireland made the memorable voyage, and a Corkman navigated her to New York, which ought, once and for all, set at rest the suggestions, which we see from time to time, that the honour belongs to other ships and other ports.

The founder of the Saint George Co. was Mr. Joseph Robinson Pim. He was joined in the enterprise by Counsellor Charles Wye Williams, of the City of Dublin Steam Packet Co. Mr. Pim was a good business man, possessed of a large amount of mercantile talent: in others words, a thoroughly "go-ahead man."

Previous to 1831 the Saint George Company's office was on Warren's Place, halfway between Fish Street and the corner house on Merchants' Quay, but in the latter year they removed to the present Packet Office on Penrose Quay, surmounted by Saint George and the Dragon, of which I am enabled to give a copy, taken from the original block made for the Saint George Company.