The "Norman Morison" was 564 tonnes, 18 foot draught, 119.5' long, built at Moulmein in Burma of teak, in 1846, for the East India Company. Purchased for 7,750 pounds from Finlay Hodson & Co. in London to replace the ship "Vancouver". She sailed from Gravesend on October 18 or October 22, 1849, under the command of David Durham Wishart. She arrived in Esquimalt Harbour on March 24, 1850.

Captain Wishart commanded her for all three(3) of her voyages from Gravesend to Esquimalt Harbour. He also the commanded the Princess Royal until 1856 then Captain J.F. Trivett took over.

80 emigrants on board, chiefly men, but two or three woman, no children.