The Press. — London, England, 1857-05-02 00:00:00

MAY 2, 1857. sixty feet beneath the spectator. In spite, however, of these aids to appreciation of its size, one must resort to figures at last in order to understand the monster fully. Her length, then, between the per pendiculars is 680 feet ; length on the upper deck, i;92 feet—within twenty-eight feet of double the length of the height of St. Paul's, and more than d o uble the extreme length of the new United States' screw.frigate Niagara, about which the Transatlantics are talking so mush. The height from the bottom of the ship to the underside of the planking of the upper deck is fifty-eight feet; the extreme breadth is eighty-three feet, or as wide as Pall-mall ; the breadth across the paddleboxes 120 feet. Already nearly 8,000 tons, or 600,000 superficial feet, of wrought iron have been used in the 30,000 plates of her hull. To secure these upwards of 3,000,000 wrought iron rivets have been welded in. Her tonnage is within a few tons of 23,000. She will be propelled by paddle engines of 1,500-horse power, and screw engines of 1,800 horse power, giving a total of 8,300-horse power, at a pressure of 25 lbs., though, of course, if necessary, she can work to a force of upwards of 5,000 horses. For three feet above the watermark the hull is constructed double (on the cellular principle, adopted in the top and bottom of the Britannia tubular bridge), the inner hull or skin, as it is called, being two feet ten inches apart from the outer. In this space, at intervals of six feet, run longitudinal webs of iron plates, which are again subdivided by transverse plates into spaces of about six feet square. This gives an enormous addition to the strength of the whole frame. At the bottom the longitudinal webs are thicker, and the spaces between them only about three feet square, in order that whenever it is necessary to ground the vessel for any repairs she will support her own weight without strain or injury. The draught of this monster will not be in pro portion to what might be anticipated of her enor mous tonnage; it will be something under that of a screw throe decker, and is estimated at thirty feet, with cargo on board. Her ordinary light draught is set down at twenty feet. She will carry coals to the extent of 11,379 tons ! In addition to these facts we may mention that she will have six masts, three square, and three fore and aft rigged, and ten anchors. She will carry twenty large boats on deck. In addition to these she will also carry, suspended aft of her paddleboxes, two small screw steamers 100 feet long each, and of between sixty and seventy tons burden. These will, of course, be raised and lowered by small auxiliary engines, several of which will be fixed on board for working pumps, hoisting sails, weighing anchor, &c. Both the little screws will be kept in all respects perfectly equipped for sea and used for embarking and landing the passengers with all their luggage, &c., alongside the wharf or pier, whichever it may happen to be. This will be onerous service, for the Great Eastern is fitted to accommodate 800 first•class passengers, 2,000 second-class, and 1,200 third-class—in all, 4,000 passengers; or, if employed in the transport of troops, she can carry, it is said, 10,000 men. She will be ready for launching early in August next, and able to take her first trial trip to America and back about the middle of that month. She is expected to realise a speed of at least twenty miles an hour, or to accomplish the voyage from England to Aus tralia (between which countries she is to run) in thirty days. Reckoning the cost at so much per ton, it is said to be one of the cheapest vessels yet constructed. The arrangements for the launching— or perhaps we should rather say for her being lowered gra Wally down an inclined plane into the river—ard quite as extraordinary and as noteworthy as the vessel itself. At present we cannot enter into the details of the plan, which has been entirely de vised by the eminent engineer to whom the whole merit of originating the first great idea of the vessel is due—Mr. Brunel. We may mention, however, that the launch will be by no means a slapdash affair into the " native element," but a tedious operation which will very probably occupy two or three days. On these points, however, and on some others of equal interest, we shall give our readers fuller information as the great ship progresses towards completion. THE "NORTHERN BELLE." MIL DALLAS, the American Minister at her Ma jesty's Court, has addressed a despatch to Lord Clarendon, calling the attention of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs co the circumstances under which the crew of the American ship Northern Belle were rescued foam death on the 6th of January last by the heroic exertions of the Margate and Broad stairs boatmen. Mr. Dallas details at length the circumstances of the wreck, and concludes : These are the leading features, as reported to his Govern. ment by the Consul of the United States in London, of the series of successful acts of courage and humanity which it is the desire of the President to mark by tokens of American gratitude and thanks. The undersigned has therefore been specially instructed to lay betnre the Earl of Clarendon tle list, accompanying this letter, of those truly heroic spirits who manned the lifeboats, and to beg toreign ant, (colonial 3ntttlignue. SWITZERLAND AND PRUSSIA. The propositions of the allied powers have been accepted by Switzerland. The Federal Council has decreed the signing and the immediate publication of the treaty, as also of an annexed protocol, adding to it the tenor of the primitive demands of Prussia and the first instruc tions given to Dr. Kern. A letter from Berne, dated 27th April, gives the following account of this treaty, which is drawn up under the express guarantee of Austria, England, France, and Russia : The first article of the project is very categorical, and is couched in these terms : " His Majesty the King of Prussia renounces for himself and for his successors for ever all claim to the sovereignty which Art. 23 of the Treaty of Vienna of ltil3 assured to him over the Principality of Neufchatel." This stipulation is formal, and does not stipulate any reserve or restriction. The second article qualifies the position of Neufchatel towards Switzerland and towards foreign States. Neufchatel is recognised as a sovereign and independent State ; it will continue to enjoy the same rights and guarantees as any other Sovereign State of the Swiss Confederation, as was stipulated in the declaration made at Vienna on the 20th of March, 1815. This article, therefore, confirms the full independence of the Canton of Neufchatel, and its right of constitution. . . The third article is thus conceived:-" The Confederation will pay to the King of Prussia the sum of 1,000,000 f." Nothing is said about why this sum is paid; and it is worthy of observation that the word indemnity is not men tioned, probably purposely, in the treaty. The other articles mcy be summed up as follows : The Confederation will proclaim a general amnesty fur all political and military offences, and offences of the press relating to the events of September 3,18 A. The Con federation itself will provide for the expenses caused by the recent events, and the State of Neufchatel will only have to pay its proportional share of the money-contingent. No special tax is to be imposed upon any class of indi viduals fur this purpose. The Church property, which in 1845 was incorporated with the fortune of the State, can not be employed fur any other object, and the revenues are to be applied to those particular objects. The funds of charitable institutions, arising from private donations, such as those of Baron de fury and the Pourtales cannot be employed for other purposes, and shall continue to he employed henceforth according to the intentions of the donors. Intelligence has not yet been received whether Prussia has also acceded to the terms, hut every confidence is expressed in favour of her acceptation of the same. FRANCE. The Grand Duke Constantine of Russia arrived at Paris at five o'clock on Thursday evening. He was conveyed in an open carriage to the Tuileries, along the Boulevards, accompanied by Prince Napo leon. An immense crowd welcomed his Highness as the Imperial carriages passed along the Boulevards. On arriving at the Tuileries, the Grand Duke was warmly welcomed at the top of the grand staircase by the Emperor, who conducted his guest to the Salle des Alarechaux, and intro:lined him to the Empress, who was surrounded by the principal members of the Court. A grand review of the garrison of Paris, comprising 50,000 men of all arms, will be held on the 13th, in honour of the Grand Duke. Intelligence from Algiers of the 2 . 2nd announces the arrival of Marshal Randon i i that town, where he was received with the usual ceremonies by the troops and civil authorities. The expedition against Kabylia will commence without delay, and all the regiments that are to take part in it are already con centrated in the advanced stations. Le Nord states that the intentions of the French Government as regards China are as follows : The French authorities will formally demand a permanent embassy at Pekin, and, in case of a refusal, will en deavour, in concert with the English forces, to pene trate to the capital by water, and there dictate terms to the Chum Government, AUSTRIA AND SARDINIA. The two Governments, it is repotted, have given orders to suspend the usual annual military exer• cises. The Marquis Cantono has left Vienna for Turin. The Inclipendance of Brussels repeats its state ment, which had been denied, about the existence of a circular note dated the Bth of April, from Count Buol, addressed to the Austrian Ministers at the different German Courts, in which Count Buol com plains bitterly of his not having received from Count Cavour any satisfactory reply to the last note, speci fying certain alleged grievances, which was handed to the Sardinian Minister by Count Paar ; and also complains that from the Marquis Cantono di Ceva, the Sardinian envoy at Vienna, he has been able to get no further explanations than a vague and general declaration that the Sardinian Government, notwith standing the rupture of their official intercourse, intends still to perform all the obligations which are imposed upon it towards Austria by existing treaties. A dispute has broken out between Sardinia and Monaco upon the annexation by Sardinia in 1848 of the communes of Menton and Roquebrun. Sar. dinia denies the legitimate claims of the house of Monaco, declines restoration, but offers pecuniary indemnity. Austria supports the pretensions of the Prince of Monaco. The Sardinian Government has just concluded the preliminaries of a contract with the company of the Victor Emmanuel Railway for the passage and tun nelling of Mount penis. The sum of forty millions having been deemed sufficient for completing the tunnel and galleries required to complete the plan as previously sanctioned, the Government has consented to take twenty millions on itself and the company an equivalent sum. SPAIN. THE QUEEN'S srEEcir. The Wats this week publishes an,analysis of the Royal Speech, which was read by General Narvaez, in the Queen's name, yesterday, at the opening of the Spanish Cortes. The speech is drawn up by M. Yid al : It will announce the re•Establishtnent of a good under standing between Spain and Rome ; renewal of friendly relations with the Court of Russia. The hope is expressed that the difference with Mexico will be amicably settled, but nut unless the honour of Spain is satisfied, and the interests of Spaniards in Mexico guaranteed in future, and an indemnity paid to those who have suffered. Should the conditions put not be granted, Spain, despite her sincere wish for peace, will not hesitate to have recourse to coercive measures. 'Vile Queen calls the attention of the Cortes to the in ternal condition of the country. Peace and order prevail everywhere. A veil of oblivion is to be thrown over the past. The difficulties caused by the high price of provisions have been happily overcome by a series of well•combined measures. The loan is especially mentioned as having enabled the Government to act without complying with the enormous exactions of Spanish capitalists. The conditions of the loan have been faithfully fulfilled. _ . _ The Queen will recommend a series of political and financial reforms; a bill for the reform of the organisation of the Senate will be brought forward very early in the session, as also a bill for reforming the regulations of the two Chambers. The Senate, as now constituted, consists exclusively of members appointed by the Queen for life. It is proposed to introduce a new element into this great body which will give it greater authority and add to its lustre. The Senate would lose nothing if it comprised a certain number of hereditary Senators selected from the Grandees of Spain and possessors of large territorial fortunes. The fortune would he the flotation of the title, and would descend from generation to generation with the title to the eldest sons of the Senatorial families. The existing regulations of the Senate and of the Chamber of Deputies have en gendered many abuses which continually impede the public service and the progress of the tiovernment,land will ultimately throw discredit upon the parliamentary system. Finally, the Speech from the Throne will give some explanations on the bills that will be presented by the Government for the regulation of the finances, with a view to establish the financial system upon the principles of economical science and the wisdom of experience. The Queen will inform the Cortes that the plans of the Minister of Finance will be submitted to them at the same time as the Budget of ISSS. Espartero has publishad his manifesto to the Pro gresistas, justifying his abstinence from all active interference in the recent crisis . how could I (be asks) take part in the fratricidal strife which had commenced in spite of all my solicitude. when it was evident to me that the fatal imprudence of those who had provoked it had rendered impossible that its result should not be the immediate, although transitory, ruin of one of the institutions to whose support and defence T have consecrated my whole life? I will say no more. Yon will divine that which duty forbids me to speak. I will say no more, whatever the provocation addressed to me, whatever the imputations cast upon me. The document is of great length, but it has not been well received. THE PRESS. that his lordship will cause ench individual therein men• tioned to be presented with the silver medal inscribed to him, and also, from the anicunt of the bill of exchange, with the sum stated opposite his name (augmented according to the number of risks incurred ), in evidence of the high appreciation and acknowledgment of their conduct by the Government and people of the United States : LIT. John Castle £lO 0 0 George Castle 10 0 0 William Hiller, jn 10 0 0 Robert Miller lO 0 0 James Rowe lO 0 0 Edward Emptage 10 0 0 John Sandwell 10 0 0 Thomas Sandwell. XlO 0 0 Robert Simpson 10 0 0 James Beve lO 0 0 Alfred Eroptage Robert Parker 2O 0 0 John Cowell William Wales 2O 0 0 Thomas Holborn. 10 0 0 Jethrow Miller .. 20 0 0 William Ralph.... 10 0 0 Robert Gilbert.... 10 0 0 Jerry Walker .... 10 0 0 F. Lawrence .... 10 0 0 Twenty.oi George Eraptage.. 30 0 0 t 270 () () NJ Medals. THE PRINCIP ILITIES. The elections have been adjourned, it is roported, until the 10th June. Constantinople journals and letters of the 20th explain the reason. The com missioners assembled at 13uchare5t having experienced 427