The Steam Watermen deliberately timed their packets to start at the same time as the Woolwich Company’s and the rivals raced each other heedless of the safety of their passengers or other users of the river.

Reference:
Bernard Dumpleton, The Story of the Paddle Steamer (Melksham, Uffington Press, 1973) p41

The phrase "A la Francaise, conducteur, a Mons. Shillibeer" is a reference to Shillibeer's practice of employing French speaking staff. The British aristocracy's love of things French survived the Napoleonic Wars and French speaking staff were intended as a sign of refinement. French people fled to England during the Revolution. There were forty thousand in Britain by end of 1800 [Ref Murray, Venetia. High Society : A Social History of the Regency Period, 1788-1830] The picture in Note 378.8 shows one of his conductors attending passengers