The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-27 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF AN INDIAN TROOP SHIP.

One of the most notable results of the late
changes in the military arrangements of India has
been the vastly increased demand for transport. Lord
Halifax, before leaving office, determined on the creation
of a fleet of screw steamers, specially designed for this
service, and yesterday the first of five sister vessels was
launched at the dockyard of the Thames Ironworks, Ship-
building, Engineering, and Dry Dock Company, Blackwell.
The weather, forming an unhappy contrast to that of the
previous day, was not at all calculated to attract persons
to the banks of the river, but there was nevertheless a
large and distinguished company present. About
half-past two the vessel began to move, and she
glided majestically into the stream causing scarcely
a ripple on the surface of the water. As she left
the stocks, Viscountess Cranborne, wife of the Secre-
tary of State for India, bestowed upon her, with the cus-
tomary formalities, the name of Serapis. She is a remark.
ably fine vessel, and her principal dimensions are—Length
between the perpendiculars, 360 ft.; length of the keel for
tonnage, 326 ft. 94 in. ; breadth for tonnage, 49 ft. ; depth
in midships (from top of keel), 34 ft. 64 in. ; burden in
tons RM., 4,173 25-94. Her engines are of 700-horse
power nominal, and are under construction by Messrs.
Humphrya and Tennant. Immediately after the
launch a (gleaner was served in the Mould-house to
abaut two hundred and fifty ladies and gentle-
men, Mr. Peter Bolt in the chair. In proposing
lIICCOSS to the vessel, Mr. Rolt observed that she was
designed by Mr. Reed, the constructor to the Royal Navy,
and he believed that she would be found to possess a high
degree of perfection in point of speed, ventilation, capa-
city, and every other quality that was attainable in ehip-
building. Captain W. R. Mends, R.N., director of the
transport service, in reply, dwelt upon the great import-
ance of reducing the length of the passage to India. Tell
a sick soldier that in a month he would be with his friends
at home, and he would very likely rally, but tell him that
he would be three months and a half on the voyage,
he would probably lie down in despair, and, perhaps, die.
With regard to the Serapis he had heard that some per-
sons had ventured upon adverse criticisms upon her
design, but such persons could not be aware of
the difficult conditions which the designer had had to
fulfil. In the first place be (Captain Mends) had required
that she should be large enough to take out a whole batta-
lion, together with the wives and families of the soldiers ;
it had therefore to be made large enough to carry no fewer
than 1,500 persona. Next, as she had to make a consider-
able portion of her voyage through the tropics, he had in-
sisted that she should possess every possible advantage in
the way of sanitary arrangements, and he had also been
obliged to restrict her draught to 21 feet, as she would
have to enter two bar harbours, Aden and Alexandria.
Lastly, he had fixed her speed at 14 knots. It was quite
possible that she might not quite attain to that rate, but
if she approached it he thought they ought to be well
satisfied. As to her construction he might truly say that
no piece of work had ever been more beautifully put to-
gether. She did, in fact, reflect the greatest credit upon
the great company by which she had been built, and he
trusted that her future administration would be as success.
ful as her launch. (Cheers.) The gallant officer concluded
by proposing " The Health of Lady Cranborne," with
thanks to her for her services. Mr. Reed, in acknowledg-
ing the toast on behalf of her ladyship, took occasion to
refer to the remarks to which he had from time to time
been subjected ; and to observe that no greater misfortune
could happen to any one in his position than to enjoy ex-
emption from the freest criticism. A number of other
toasts followed, and the proceedings were protracted
through the afternoon.