The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-24 00:00:00

SHIPBUILDING ON THE MERSEY.

On Saturday there were a number of ships
launched from the Liverpool and Birkenhead sides of the
Mersey—Mr. John Laird's yard turning out • splendid
government troopship called the Orontes, and Means. Jones,
Queggin and Co.'s yard two very fine vessels for merchant
semen. Besides these launches, we may mention that a
gunboat—one of the craft about which so much speculation
relative to destination has been indulged in—together with
some keels of a less noticeable character, left the stocks, and
kept the building yards in commotion. The Birkenhead
ironworks present a busy scene. There are from 2,800 to
3,000 hands in daily employment ; and between
16,000 and 17,000 tons of shipping, warlike and
commercial, and machinery of about 1,500 horse-power,
in course of construction on the premises. Amongst
the most prominent undertakings is the iron-cased screw
frigate Agincourt, which is intended for the royal navy.
The Agincourt has so far progressed that the homes ere all
up, and nearly plated to the armour shelf, with the ex-
ception of the extreme ends of the vessel, which are kept
hack until the stem and stern posts are set up. The
forging of these immense pieces of iron is progressing satis-
factorily at Messrs. Hornbill's Money forge, where the
armour plates of the Agincourt are also being constructed,
and these plates are to be nearly 54 inches thick, but they
will taper off tot 4 inches at the extreme sods of the ship,
which enables the builders to give • sharp model for
speed, sod its to he hoped a ship that will not pitch in the
same manner as the Warrior does. In another part of the
yard the two iron-plated rams, about which
so many extraordinary rumours have been
are rapidly getting into form, and to Malt
men a very uncommon form it appears to be. With
regard to the Orontes, she is one of the improved class of
troopships, of which the government are building several,
something after the style of the celebrated Himalaya, but
from 25 to 30 feet shorter than that vessel ; her dimensions
being :--Length, 300 ft.; beam, 44 feet 4 inches ; depth of
hold, 23 feet 6 inches ; measurement (old), 2,811 tow. The
engines, some portions of which are already ow board, will
be of 500 hone power, and manufactured by Mews. James
Watt and Co., of Birmingham. They are calculated to
drive the ship at a high rate of speed, and the sailing cape-
city of the Orontes will be that of • barque
fulled rigged in proportion to her tonnage. From
the foremast to the bow the deck is covered in,
and forms the forecastle, on which the crew ol,the ship will
be quartered. From the foremast aft the deck is quite flush.
The 'tween decks on which troops will be noconimodated,
are fully eight feet high "in the clear," with square side
ports, large deck skylights, and every provision for thorough
ventilation, so important • requisite for the aucisesful per-
formaoce of „transport service. The Orontes is calculated
for the conveyance of 1,200 troops and 70 officers to any
part of the world. She will carry two pivot guns for de-
feosive purposes, but must not at all be considered as a
fighting ship. It is expected that she will be completed
sad fit for service by the middle of February.