'This fine screw steam yacht, built and engined by Messrs. Blackwood and Gordon, Port-Glasgow, made her official trial trip last week… the speed attained not-withstanding a strong breeze, was 12 knots… The Thistle is a yacht of 506 tons builders' measure, her dimensions being 165 ft. long, 25 ft. 3 in. broad, and 14 ft. depth of hold, with engines of the compound system, of 90 horse-power, having surface condensers on Mr. Marshall's (of Leith) system.'