The Express.
London, England, 1860-09-25 00:00:00

NEW STEAMER TOR THE CHANNEL
ISLANDS.

Yesterday the Southamp_ton, a splendid new
steamship, bat for the South Western Steam Navigation
Company, and destined for the trade between the
port from which also takes her name and the Channel
Islands, was subjected to the usual trial previous to being
placed upon the station. She is the last vessel launched
from the iron shipbuilding yard of Messrs. Palmer and
Co., of Newcastle, • firm which has rapidly risen into
eminence as the constructor, of some of the swiftest and
most efficient iron steamships afloat. The Southampton is
• fine model of a sea boat—roomy and commodious, her
internal fitting.' and arrangements combining in an
degree comfort and elegance ; while her lines are peculiarly
adapted to meet and resist the unplement action
:of the heavy ems which in rough weather tend
to make the voyage from Southampton to Jersey, or from
Jersey to Southampton, anything bat agreeable. The
dimensions of the Southampton are considerably larger than
either of the mail boats now plying upon the same station.
Here length over all is 215 feet 5 inches, and her extreme
breadth 25 feet 7 inch... Her depth of bold ts 12 feet 7
inches, and her grou tonnage 475.55, winch, after deduct-
, nig 175.58 for the engine-room and its appurtenances, leaves
a space available for passengers and cargo equal to 298.97
tons net registered measurement. She is fitted with oscil-
lating paddle engines —apparently of great strength—menu.
factored by John Palmer and Co., the marine engineers,
also of Newcastle, and are supplied with Bodin'. patent
super-heater. The 'nominal power of her engines is 250
horses, and her boilers, two in number, and fed by ten fur-
naces, are under the contract made to work at • pressure of
15 lbs. to the square inch.
The trial yesterday took place under the direction of Cap-
tain Riley, kN., the assistant-superintendent of South-
ampton Dockyard ; Mr. Ruble, shipwright 'surveyor; and
Mr. Murray, steam surveyor, deputed by the Board of
Trade, and there were present on board Captain
MM
the chairmen of the South Western Hallway, and see of
directors of the Steam Packet Company, the Hon. Mr.
Dutton, M.P., Captain Luard, and see other pntleenen
' connected with one or both of the compuaing intentated or
with the port of Southampton. Thermal started from the
Southampton Dock at eve minutes to eleven, and semming
down the Southampton water at • rapid rate
reached the light ship off Calshot Castle In exactly
30 minute.. She then proceeded to Spithead, where her
speed was tested by the measured mile, the results being as
follows : First mile against tide 4 minutes 41 seconds, or at
the rate of 12.811 knot. an hour ; sewed mils with tide
4 minutes 30 seconds, or at the rate of 13.373 biota; third
mile against tide 4 minutes 45 seconds, or at the rate of
12.531 knots ; and the fourth mile with tide 4 ninnies 27
seconds, or at the rate of 13.483 kiwis, giving • maximum
rate of 13.064 knots, the engines going 281 revolutic"
minute. The pressure upon the boilers was 141ba., except in
the second mile, when it was worked ups which, the
vacuum being 221 to 24. As regards sresult of the
trial scarcely comes up to the anticipations of the builders ;
but this they account for by the strict conditions of the
manse* which henna them not to exceed the 15Ibs. pressure.
Some modifications in this respect, together with a alight al-
teratum in the funnels, which are at present thought to be
somewhat too low, will, it is calculated, add at least from
me to two knots an hour in her rate of progress. Meanwhile
there is no doubt of her being able to compete successfully
with either of the boats now on the etatioa, and in a heavy
era, owing to her pendia: build, consklerably to distaace
them. Some Wes of her capabilities as an efficient seaboat
may be formed from the fact that she steamed round from
Snaderhml to Southampton, a distance of 410 knots, during
the were weather of the week before last against a head
wind, and in • heavy sea, in 38 beam Moms. Palmer
Brothers. herbuildshave, since their first establishment,
way woven eels ago, built and launched no fewer than 97
iron steamships, inset of them first clam MOAB, and are
now building the Defiance, me of the new iron-erred
frigates, and • foaling battery, for goveninisat

Soura Ksweiwayow Musurox.—Dwi the week
=ding Sept. 22 the visitors have be.. se (Qom, t—Oa
Monday, Tuesday, sad flaterdsy, free dart, 3,072; ee Noe.
day sad Tuesday, free evenings, 4,371; oa the three eto-
&ate' der (admission to the public ed.), IMO ; one
statieettr. evening (Wednesday), IVO : total, MOOS ; from
the opssiag of the noomos, 1,1166,440.
FLUM PALACI. ONI Szigauto
AY, Iterninis IL —Adminioes as mutest, {,146;
4WD by mesa OW NMI Mateyo, 7,004.