The Express.
London, England, 1858-11-09 00:00:00

THE LAUNCH OP THE PARAMATTA.

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company have
given emphatic proof of their preference of iron over wooden
ships by ordering two vessels of very large dimension@ front
the Thames Iron Company to replace their wooden vessels
Magdalena and Orinoco. It appears now to be ascertained
that a much greater strength of structure mn be obtained in
iron ships, together with diminished cost, and more expedi-
tion in the constractka of the vessel. It is asserted, more-
over, that in tin wooden ships of the company the full power
of the engines hes Dever been developed, end ft is expected,
therefore, that in Um new ships to whieh the engines of the
superseded vessels ere to be transferred, • greater speed will
be attained than has up to this time bees found possible.
The Bret of the two new ships, the Paraniatta, which was
launched yesterday (having been commenced in Ja-
nuary lest), is • magnificent vessel of upwards
of three thousand tons, but looking, notwith-
standing her immense size, se light and graceful so
pleasure yacht. Her stern is particularly beautiful, and
although fastidious critics object to the form of the bow, it
did not appear to as to present any peculiarity that marred
the general symmetry of the vessel. The model, which is
from the drawings of Mr. Rennie, naval architect to the
Royal Mail Stearn Parket Company, bears esesiderable
resemblance to the lines of the Great Eastern, and similar
anticipations are entertained of the speed of the vessel, when
oece fairly in motion in her native element. The launch
took place a little before three o'clock p.m., in the prsssnce,of
a eseaklerable number of ladies and gentlemen, there being
emotive the latter Captains Mangles and Whish, directors of
the Steam Company ; and Messrs. Bolt and Ford, of the
Theme Iron Company. Beyond • modest display
of bunting over the rails of an improvised bal-
cony, there was no attempt at display or for-

mality, and it wee net until the veosel wee. actaally in
motion that the majority of the visitors knew that the launch
was going on. The " dogabores" were knocked awry with
scarcely any noise, and the enormous vessel glided down in
the moat noiseless and unpretending manner until just ea
she touched the water, when there was for a moment • con-
siderable heel-over, and some apprehensions were felt that
she wee going to take the water in anything but an upright
position. However, she soon righted her elf, and looted
majestically down the meek, where a tog steamer was in
readiness to convey her to the Victoria Dock. The bsp-
tiemal ceremony was performed by Mae Whish, daughter of
Captain Whisk, R.N., end a general round of
cheering signalled the completion of the launch and
its ceremonial. The length of the Portman* be-
tween the perpendiculars is 330 feet, and her eltretne
breadth 43 feet 9 inches, her exact borthen 3,092 tons, and
the superficial space allotted to pessongem in the main and
saloon decks is 270 feat. The vessel will be barque rigged,
have paddle.wheals, and be fitted with engines of 800 home
power, the work of Madera Maadslay and Field, and which
are to be transferred from the Orinoco. The saloon fittings
are to be in white and gold, with handsome frieze, and to
competes an efficient system of ventilation on the plan known
as Robinson's patent, It is expected that the Parental& sod
her consort will be the fastest vessels in the Royal Mail fleet,
and, from their many convenienoes and improvements, much
patronised by tropics] travellers. The weather, although •
little gloomy yesterday, as befitted the:November seesen,was,
on the whole, very favourable to the launch, the whole of
the proceedings in which went off without the slightest hitch,
interruption, or accident.