As already mentioned in the previous chapter, the _Frontenac_ and the _Queen Charlotte_ were the first two steamers in Upper Canada, launched respectively in 1816 and 1818. In 1824 another steamer was built for Hon. Robert Hamilton—the _Queenston_, of 350 tons—which was at first commanded by Captain Joseph Whitney and plied between Prescott, York and Niagara. The _Canada_, Captain Hugh Richardson, came out in 1826 and used to run from York to Niagara (36 miles) in four hours. The famous _Alciope_, of 450 tons, Captain Mackenzie, appeared in 1828, and plied with great _éclat_ between Niagara, York, and Kingston, under the Hamilton flag.
The late Hon. John Hamilton, who for many years may almost be said to have controlled the passenger traffic on the Upper Canada route, commenced his connection with the steamboat business about the year 1830, when he built the _Great Britain_, of 700 tons, the largest vessel then on the lake. After this there was a rapid succession of steamers, and some very fine ones. The _Cobourg_, of 500 tons, Captain Macintosh, came out in 1833; the _Commodore Barrie_, 275 tons, Captain Patterson, in 1834. The _Sir Robert Peel_, 350 tons, one of the finest boats then on the lake, was seized and burned on the night of May 29th, 1838, by a gang of rebels headed by the notorious Bill Johnson. The _Queen Victoria_, Thomas Dick, commander, launched in 1837, was advertised to sail daily between Lewiston, Niagara and Toronto, connecting at Toronto with the _William IV._ for Kingston and Prescott. “This splendid fast sailing steamer is fitted up in elegant style, and is offered to the public as a speedy and safe conveyance.” The _Sovereign_, 500 tons, Captain Elmsley, R.N., Captain Dick’s _City of Toronto_, and the famous _Highlander_, Captain Stearns, began to run about 1840. The _Chief Justice Robinson,_ Captain Wilder, the _Princess Royal_, Captain Twohey, and Captain Sutherland’s _Eclipse_ were all noted steamers in their day. The _Traveller_ and the _William IV._, Captain Paynter, both powerful steamers, famous also for many years, ended their careers as tow-boats, the latter being conspicuous by her four funnels.
“These steamers, and others that could be named,” says one of my informants, “bring to mind good seaworthy ships, fit for any weather and commanded by able seamen. Nor was the steward’s department unworthy of the vessels. As good a breakfast and dinner was served on board as could be desired.” Such were some of the early steamboats in Upper Canada more than fifty years ago, for which the public are indebted to the Hon. John Hamilton, Mr. Alpheus Jones, of Prescott, Mr. Donald Bethune, of Cobourg, and Mr. Heron, of Niagara, as well as to Captains Dick, Sutherland and Richardson.