He purchased "Lioness", a small River Mersey steamer of only 70 tons register in Scotland in 1853, had her rigged her as a three-masted schooner, and was sailed to Melbourne by James Ritchie, George and Thomas Johnston (cousins), John Barclay, John McDonald, William Barker, and John Ritchie. The first four named returned to Scotland for Cadell in December 1853 in "Admiral", returning to Australia in 1854 in "Lady Emma", with the river steamers "Gundagai" and "Albury" in sections as freight. "Lioness" never made it to South Australia; it had become evident that she was not suitable for the River Murray trade and she was sold in Melbourne.