The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-17 00:00:00

TRIAL TRIP OF THE QUEEN OF THE

SOUTH.

Those who have been wondering at the marvel-
lously rapid development of the American commercial ate ara•
marine might fairly reserve a portion of their admiration
for what has been done and is every day doing at home in
the same direction, in a far more efficient manner. A very
admirable instance of the progress of British enterprise is
afforded in the history of the General Screw Steamship
Company, which, although only six years established, bide
fair at no distant day to appropriate a large share of the
oceanic traffic of the world. The principle of the screw,
which they have adopted, although not producing an great
a rapidity of motion as the paddle, has yet vast advantage,
in the econeasy_both of space and fuel, and in the superior
which may be given to the vessel, thus enabling
her to more freely through the water under the mo-
MMUS of wind and sail. Another great advantage is that
the MON room being of comparatively smell diraensions,
and placed low down in the vessel, a much cooler general
temperature is attained—ale:an, which the passengers well
know bow to appreciate when crossing the Equator.
All these advantages are fully developed in the com-
pany's spendid new vessel the Queen of the South, in
which the directors and a moot distinguished party of
friends, including two ex-Cabinet ministers, foreign ambas-
sadors, distinguished members of both Houses of Parlia-
ment and of both services, and several men of mark in the
seientilic and commercial world, enjoyed a highly successful
trial trip on Saturday last. The company, in all about 120
ggaweta, started, at 11 o'clock, from Blackwell in the Father
Thames, which had been engaged for their accommodation,
and overtook the Queen of the South a little below Graves-
end, the latter vessel having steamed slowly down
the river in the morning. An excellent opportunity
was afforded of observing the proportions of the noble vessel,
her symmetry being unmarred by cumbrous paddle wheels,
and her masts, yards, and rigging, being exactly the Same
as in a sailing vessel of similar dimensions. The Queen of
the South, which is of nearly 2,000 tone berthen mid 300
horse power, is more lengthy and somewhat narrower in
the beam than a sailing vessel of the same tonnage, but to
the unpractised eye there is nothing in her appearance to
disturb or violate the genteel notion of a handsome ship,
while the large port-holes—not "shams" painted on for
the reception of "dummies," bat regularly pierced for
"keg thirty-two's," in case of need—give a very satisfao-
tory notion of the defensive force our merchant navy could
supply should any of the long talked of threats of invasion
Ville be realised. The company were received at the
gangway, "man-o'-war" fashion lby the officers in hand-
es uniforms, and immediately spread themselves
awe the read to examine the various interior
emangements. The saloon, which occupies the whole
= between the poop and quarter deck, is a spa:
apartment, capable of dining 160 person.,
sal ie fitted up in a state of substantial elegance. The
shesping apartments are immediately below, and run the
entire length of the vessel, with the very peculiar feature
of • long corridor on each aide, the effect of which must be
to secure constant and thorough ventilation ; and the state-
rooms themselves contain every requirement of a comfort-
able bedchamber. Baths and a pianoforte complete the ac-
commodations, of which the visitors were loud in their
commendations. Curiosity having been satisfied, the com-
pany sat down to en excellent luncheon supplied from the
Artichoke, at Blackwell, the chair being taken by Mr.
J. W. Ellis, the chairman of the compony.
The following interesting particulars respecting the di-
mentions and accommodations of the " Queen of the
South," and the general progress of the company, were
obligingly furnished by Mr. O'Beirne, the secretary. The
Queen of the South it built of iron, with watertight com-
partments, by the eminent builders, Messrs. Mare. She
mmosures 240 feet from stem to stern, 39 feet beam, 25 feet
in depth of hold, is of 1,850 tons burden, and is furnished
with engines of 300.horie power for driving her auxiliary,
serew. The engines—built by Messrs. Mnudalay—are io-
dised cylinder direct action, the screw working with the
same number of revolutions as the engine—via., 60 per
Winne. The floats are 15 feet diameter, with 17 feet pitch,
and the steam is supplied by lour boiler], which can be
worked together or separately. The blades of the screw
are feathered so ea to throw them on a line with the keel,
and not impede the sailing of the ship. The accommoda-
tion for passengers is of the most extensive and superior
character. There is a magnificent saloon on the upper deck,
and below the berths are arranged fore and aft
along nearly the entire length of the ship to
the another of 130. The fittings up, the berths,
=nts for ventilation, &c., are all upon the most
and complete scale, and every. refinement that
gas minister to the comfort and convenience of the pea-
wagers, including one of Collard's pianofortes, has been
pr.eidad by the liberality and forethought of the direetore.•
The eenstruction of the vessel his beta under the superin-
tendence of Mr. Waterman, and her cost is about 70,0004.
Bee speed, as tested by the measured mile in Long Reach,
le equal to knots an hour ; and she is, we can testify,
perfectly free from that tremulous motion which sometimes
makes itself so unpleasantly felt in paddle steamers.
The comps y was originally formed in 1846 to trade be-
tween Holland and London with four steamers. In 1848 it
became chartered, and extended its operations, building
three additional steamers of 600 tons each, and engaging in
the Mediterranean trade between Constantinople and
Liverpool. Being saccenful in these speculations, it ten-
dered for the performsece of the maul service between
England end the Cape of Good Hope. That contract was
obtained, and they commenced the service with four steamer%
in December, 18M.
_The company win then enlarged, and'
i the capital ncromed, and a tender was sent in for a
farther line of communication from the Cape to the Maitre
tins; Port de Galls, Madras, and Calcutta, for which pur-
pose it was proposed to build a fleet of seven steam ships, of •
from 1,860 to 2,000 tons burden. Three of these splendid
ships ham been already launched, the Lady Jocelyn, the
Indiana, and the Queen of the South. The government •
contract, which was formerly 30,7001. for the mail service
to the Cape of Good Hope, has now been increased to
45,0001. per annum, and the steamers start from Plymouth
the 15th of every month, making the voyage to the Cape in
32 or 34 days ; but with the larger class it is expected that
the distance will be performed within 30 days' and it is
highly creditable to the company to state that since chop •
commenced running to the Cape they have had no single
cam of failure, nor has the ordinary course of past been •
interrupted. Although so lately established they have
already a reserve fund of 12,000!., and the annual dividends
have averaged from 6to 8 per cent. The same company
have onsets in the Dutch trade, between the poets
of Harlingen, tindam, and Dunkirk, in connexion with
the Northern Railroad of France. They have now a fleet
eonsistiag altogether of le vessels, amounting to about
18,000 tons.