The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-24 00:00:00

TRIAL TRIP OF THE VALETTA.

The Valetta, the new paddle-wheel steamer, just
built by the Peninsular and Oriental Company, for the
purpose of conveying the India mail between Marseilles
and Malta, returned to Southampton yesterday from a trial
trip to Cherbourg. She started from SoutboluMla
three o'clock on Tuesday morning with a large pasty ma
board, consisting of the managing directors of the Palis-
ade: and Oriental Company, Capt. Austin, R.N., the mail
packet superintendent at Southampton, Captain Halstead,
R.N., of the Dauntless; Lloyd, Rol., the head of the
steam branch of the Royal Nary; Smith, Req., a prin.
elgai promoter of the screw propeller ; Swart, Req.; Mr.
Pens, the eminent marine engine manufacturer, sad who
mu the engines of the Valetta; Mr. White, the ship
builder, of ,Cowes, and the builder of the Vials, a sister
ship to the Valetta; ][sense. Loma and Arnim heads of a«
pertinence at the Poetemeeth dockyard ; Capt. Rogledue, the
Oriental Company's Southampton superintendent, Mr. A.
Lamb, the company's marine superintendent, after whose
patent the boilers of the Valetta were constructed. The
party, in fact, was formed of men of ilnt•rate talent and
experience connected with the national and mercantile
steam marine, and their object in the trip was to thoroughly
test the qualities of the Valetta, about which no expense
has been spared to make her the fastest ship in the world.
Her speed was put to the tat repeatedly during the trip,
and there was no hesitation is believing that she would
average 15 hub, equal to 16, miles an hour, and that
she was superior in speed to her Majesty's stoma Ban-
shee and Caradoc. The Valetta is about 700 tens burden
and 400-horse power. Her peddle-wheels are of the enor-
mous diameter of SO feet. She hes bees built purposely
for short ocean voyages. She ran from the Cherbourg
breakwater to the Needles rooks, in the tale of Wight, on
bar return voyage, in hears. Her engines are quite
now, sad work a little Kiss, ; after they have been worked
atamelser speed will be incremsd. Considering her great
speed, her slight vibration while under fall steam is extra-
ordinery. Her strength, fastenings, and finish are oval
to enticing Waal oat of oar naval dockyards. The Vs.
lett* contains every new improvement in shipbuilding dad
marine steam machinery, and in nothing are these impasse-
meets more observable than in the construction.of her ea.
ease-room sad etoke-hole, in order to preserve the had*
and lives of engiaars sad firemen. Oa the Valetta arra-
ing at Cherbourg the company cm board were permitted, by
a special order from the Pasch Minister of Maim
previously obtained, to inspect the vessels in the lasidlwar,
and the renowned fortifications at that port. Twe inaach
edam were appointed to Goaded the Valetta party, end to
point out everything they were desirous of inspecting. The
latter were much interested in the mastics of the great
inner basin for the security of ships sot In service. Your
thousand men are aspleyed in this stupendous work. The
forts wen minutely metined ;—use en the breakwater
attracted 000sideratie atleatiaa MO lie Initial' mai
altars, from its tr* clemiamilia. • The Wye
in the harbour wan the am ellamere dintleXite, tbo
Roland, and a steamilfwitich was firmed, a pail belong.
rug to Louis Philippe. Of course the poliddill eiloset of
attraction WM the far-famed Austerlitz. Ilhowen anemia&
last September, end is rapidly sompletiar. sir is Mei
with a screw upon a weal principle, of wM* IBM XXgs
as anticipated, and' which I. after the patent et Cease
Rosin. In her equipment eke will firm a magni-
ficent floating battery. The superintendent of the
fort of Cherbourg, the awes ceder of the Boland,
sad two of the Prosaic sagia•sat in authority, dined on
board the Valetta during her stay at Cherbourg, and the
meet kindly feeling vree manifested between the English
party and their French guests. The apples they discussed
were of the highest scientific interest Main to steam
marine. In a few days the Valetta will start for the Medi-
Xmases. The Peninsular and Oriental Company are de.
asmined to spare no expense to expedite the postal service
to the Mediterranean. Although they are generally @obeli.
ming screw for paddle wheel steamers, yet, for a short pas-
sage like that between Marseilles and Malta, where there
is no stopping at any intervening place to coal, the paddle
wheel mast always triumph over the screw. The Bengal
steamer, which left Southampton with the India mail last
month, reached Malta in eight days, including a stoppage
at Gibraltar, and averaged 11 miles an hour. At this rate
she would make the passage between Alexandria and Malta
in ITN than three days, and there is no doubt that the
Valetta will run between Malta and Marseilles in lea then
two days. It will not be the company's fault if the India,
China, and Australian mail is not before long conveyed
between Alexandria and London, through France, in little
more than six days.

IMMENSE CONSUMPTION OF TOBACCO.—Yesterday
a return was printed, snowing the consumption of tobacco,
&c the last three years. In the year ended the sth
January, 1851, the quantity of tobacco unmanufactured,
manufactured, and cigars, and also snuff, entered for borne
consumption, was 27,234,785165., and the duty paid thereon
4,430,1311. is. 3d. In the neat year the quantit7 was
28,062,8411b5, and the duty 4,485,2471. 18s. 84., whilst in
the year ended the 6th January last, the quantity was
28,658,753 lbs., and the duty thereon 4,660,7411.85. 6,1.

• . .
COALS BROUGHT INTO THE PORT OF LONDON.—
Yesterday a return was issued which chewed that last year
3,70,345 tons of coals were brought into the part of Lon-
don, against 3,490,963 tons of the preceding year•