The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-24 00:00:00

THE RANGOON TELEGRAPH CABLE.

The following are the particulars of the transshipment
of the Rangoon and Singapore telegraph cable from the
iron screw steamship Queen Victoria, stranded in Barn
Pool, Plymouth, into the Government hulks. The dis-
charge into the brig Pilot commenced on the 6th inst.
and finished on the 11th. It consists of 39 knots of the
main cable, 91 tons, and 27 knots of the shore end, 189
tons on the berth deck : and 20 knots, 47 tons, cn the
upper deck ; total, Pilot, 327. tons. The Brig Rover
commenced on the 6th instant., finished on the 13th ;
57 knots main coil of the cable, 133 tons, and 23 knots
shore end, 161 tons, and 48 knots main cable after coil,
all on the berth deck ; total, Rover, 406 tons. The
Corvette Arachne commenced Jan. 11th, finished 18th.
Berth deck, main cable, forward coil, 18 knots, 42 tons,
ward-room aft 27 knots, 63 tons, main coil 44 knots,
103 tons ; shore end, main coil 22 knots, 154 tons ;
total on berth deck 362 tons ; main deck, port side
aft 15 knots; main cable 35 tens, starboard 15 knots
35 tons; total main deck 70 tons; total in the the three
vessels, 283 knots main cable and 72 knots shore end,
355 knots, 1,165 tons. Although the cable was covered
with water while running, only two kinks occurred ;
they were caused by the disturbed position of the coil
where the keel had been forced up by a rock underneath.
The three vessels are now moored up llamonze, near the
Royal Albeit-bridge, Saltash, lashed alongside of each
other, for the greater convenience of the electricians
when testing the cable. Awnings are spread over the
coils on the main decks, to protect the cable from the
weather, and windsails are fitted down to the berth
decks to keep it as cool as possible. The temperature of
the cable is, of course, considerably lower since it was
recoiled, and it is very satisfactory to state that if the
cable continues in an improved condition uutil it is
thoroughly dry no further apprehension of heating need
be experienced. Every assistance has been rendered to
the contractors, Messrs. Glass, Elliott, and Co., by the
Government officials, Commander Brown, master-atten-
dant, and Commander Paul, his assistant; the value of
ready help at such a time cannot be over-estimated.
The cable is believed to have received no material
inktry, and tests very well. It is intended to rejoin
the wire and thoroughly test the whoic. To-morrow
(Saturday) or Sunday, when the tides range high, an
attempt will be made to float the Queen Victoria, by
Captain Daniel Russell, from Lloyd's, a gentleman who
has had much experience in operations of the kind.
Harris, the diver, has examined her, and reports that a
smooth rock, 25 to 35 feet long, is right under her main-
mast and pushes up the keel ; the after-part of the ship,
which was buoyant some time after grounding, has how
sunk down on the beach. The Queen Victoria is divided
into three compartments, and it is proposed to draw the
water from the forward compartment with one of
Gwynne's pumps, worked by an engine of 10 horse-
power, and capable of lifting 1,000 gallons per minute.
The after compartment is provided with another pump,
worked by a six-horse engine, which lifts 500 gallons
per minute. When these compartments are empty (the
cable being landed), it is hoped that she will float
sufficiently to be taken into the large graving dock in the
Plymouth Great Western Docks. If not, she will be
removed to a clean beach near, repaired by divers, and
then placed in (lock. The Queen Victoria is a five-year-
old ship; she was lengthened 62 or 63 feet at Sunder-
land, purposely to receive the Rangoon cable, the coils
of which occupied about that length in her. There
is, we are informed, neither lower deck nor beams
in the new part, although the depth between the
main deck and the ceiling is over 19 feet. Some mer-
cantile men consider that the arrangements for the con-
veyance of the cable, which weighs nearly 1,200 tons,
were not of the best kind. It should, if possible,
.have
been distributed more equally over the ship, instead of
being in two coils only, one immediately before, the
other immediately abaft the mainmast, and all within a
distance of some 60ft., in a ship 280 ft. long; this alone
was calculated to cripple her. The cable was also
stowed too low ; the platform on which it was laid
should have been higher. When all stowed the upper
part of the coil did not reach the main deck by [about
Bft., and the main deck is low, because a spar deck runs
fore and aft the ship. When laden the line of flotation
was two or three feet below the main deck, and conse-
quently five or six feet above the upper part of the coil,
and she must therefore have rolled fearfully at sea.
The weight of the cargo no doubt decreased her steer-
ing qualities, which are defective. It is also probable
that her rudder and other fittings were not increased
proportionately after she was lengthened. The
two main pumps are worked by a crank which
requires the labour of eight men ; a lift of 28 feet is
usually considered the maximum. on board ship; in this
case the water has to be raised over 31 feet. The pumps
are fitted on an iron frame, bedded with wood, apparently
not in a very secure manner. No doubt many modifi-
cations will be made before she again proceeds to sea.
The ship is insured in various companies to the extent
of about £42,000. The cable is insured at about
£BO,OOO. There some dispute about the liability in
regard to the cable, which was underwritten in the first
place for a voyage to Rangoon, and when it was deter-
mined to send the Queen Victoria to the Mediterranean
this alteration, it is said, was not properly endorsed on
the policies. If this should be the case it will form
the subject of the second legal proceedings since the
unfortunate cable was shipped. The first were brought
by Messrs. Newall and Co., for an alleged infringement
of their patent mode of stowing. They obtained an
injunction just after the ship left Greenwich. llcr
Majesty's paddlewheel steam-sloop Spiteful, 6, Com-
mander William C. P. Wilson, was sent into the Chan-
nel to bring her into the Sound. On Monday Captains
Ferrer and Box, two of the Pilot Committee of the
Trinity House, inspected the stranded ship in Barn
Pool. Fortunately there has been no weather likely to
injure her much since she has been ashore.

NOTICES FOR THE COMING SESSION.—The following
notices have been given for the approaching Session of
Parliament :—Mr.Roebuck,—To ask Mr. Gilpin whether
he is a descendant of John Gilpin, and otherwise to in-
sinuate to the remarkable Minister, that when humble
people are suddenly elevated to the backs of horses, they
are very likely to ride in an objectionable direction.
Mr. Edwin James.—To move an address to the Crown
for leave to him to wear his blouse and pistols (as deli-
neated in the 11leistrated London News) the first time he
moves the address in the House of Commons. Mr. W.
Williams.—To move an address to the Crown for leave
to him, when he receives his coronet of Viscount, to
have the same electroplated, as more in accordance with
the economical principles of the day than gold or silver-
gilt. Also to ask the Crown when it is likely the hon.
member will have the said distinction. Colonel North.
—To move that Mr. Speaker be instructed to issue his
warrant to the Sergeant-at-Arms to arrest any member
who, not holding a commission in the army, shall pre-
sume to speak or ask a question upon any military
subject ,whatever. Sir Francis Baring.—To ask Vis-
count Palmerston the reason why he, Sir Francis, is not
a member of the present Ministry, and to assure the
noble Viscount that the nation cad have no confidence
iu a Cabinet which has not the official co-operation of
the honourable baronet. Mr. Bright.—To move that
the Warrior be immediately completed, and preFentell
by the House of Commons to the Emperor of the French
as an assurance of the belief of England that his Majesty
will never do any harm with that vessel or any other.—
,
Puna.

LATEST NEWS.

(BY MIME ♦ND IRISH MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.)

FRANCE.

UNEASINESS AMONG THE COMMERCIAL
CLASSES.-THE EMPEROR'S FORTH-
COMING SPEECH.

The Minister of Commerce, in reply to deputa-
tions of manufacturers asking for explanations of
the political situation, has said that he hoped for
the maintenance of peace, but the country would
soon know what turn events were likely to take
by the Emperor's speech and the debate on the
address. I
It is said the Emperor's frequent interviews
with MM. De Morny and De Persigny, no other
person being present, have reference to the pre-
paration of his speech to the legislative body.
The absence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs
from these consultations is much remarked upon.