The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-24 00:00:00

Hover or Cilium' role Durraireru Puts°Ns,
Roan-eruct, 80110-10111.:A/LL—A couversazione of the asso.
cistes and friends of this institution was held on Tuesday
evening. The Rey. the Warden esplaiDed the objects of
the charity, and assigned as a reason why it was less sup-
ported than some other institutions, the fact that preven-
tion occupied lies of pulAo sympathy than cure. Pr. Irons,
Dr. Moire, Rey. T. T. tarter, N. Wade, and Mr. Brett,
took part in the discussion, in which especial regard wee
WI to the fact that a speedy removal to better and more
suitable premises was imperatively called for. There was a
fall atteadmics, including the Marchioaens of Loodoederry
and Lady Victoria Noel, Mon. H. sod Mrs. Walpole ; Dr.
11 and Yrs. Chaahsra, Colonel Andrew., Miss Twining, Miss
Meetharel4, sad other ladies, besides twenty of the London
ant,

Tat. GiOnRAPHICAL Stw'lVlY.—At the meeting
as Nasity, ths 28th Menial. at Borlingtonhouse, the fol.
kerbs mom will be read " North Atlantic Telegraph
"
I. "Sways of the Bulldog." by 'aptais Sir F. L. Wain-
Mak, 8.N.. ; awl 2. those of the Fog, by Cap-
ella Allan Yam, ; Y. " Exploration.. in the
mous Iselsa4" by Dr. John Rae, ; 4. "The
cd Routh Orsssland." by F. 3. Taylor. Ewl• ; 5.
"baeY4s etrosilk" by Colonel Madsen, ke.
eaaummicatitm from Rome states that there
me at prime. ia the Sacred College then one cardinal
scasig hy Lem XII., tereetreee by Gregory XVI.. thirty.
sight * Phis IL, ass reserved in peek, is dm consictory 'of
Jsne. and sins bata vacant—total, eereaty. 'The
dart d the cetdisala is his Eminence Tosti, who j,
lasi has were the purple 24 years; the yoasgeet u hie
Limon Mimi, 43, who has been a cardinal three years.

GOVERNISSET TROOP smut= lOR THE
INDUS.

Yesterday a very satisfactory trial took place on
the Thames of a most peculiarly constructed steamer,
intended for the conveyance of troops upon the Lower
Indus, and which, in sporting phraseology, might be called
a " eras" between Noah's Ark and the Crystal Pa/aoe.
A numerous company of persons interested in marine engi•
Peering were present on board, amongst whom nuiy be
billlloli Mr. Mimeo, Admiralty Inspector of Machinery;
Mr. Luke, Admiralty Surveyor of Shipping ; Captain Ro-
bertson, of the Board of Trade; Mr. Blake, of the firma of
Messrs. James Watt and Co. ; and Mr. Henry S. Pitcher,
of Northffeet Dockyard.
This vowel is uas of a series of various dimensions recent-
mendedby a commission appointed by government in 1817
to investigate the subject of river navigation and to report
on the best claw of vessels for service on the rivers of India.
The commission consisted of the late Colonel Crawford, of
the Indian Engineers; l‘Aptaiu Balfour, of the Indian navy;
and Mr. T. B. Winter, consulting marine engineer. The
rivers of India are usually broad, although their best chan-
nels are at various places comparatively narrow. In general
the-e rivers are tortuous, shallow, very rapid in Good
seasons, and abound in shifting sandbanks.
The form of boat recommended by the above commission
as best adapted to meet these circumstances is popularly
known as the "spoon-ended" form, and resembles, in prin-
ciple, many of the native craft. Several steam vessels have
been sent out during the lard few years, more or less ap-
proximating to this model, and have been found the most
useful on the Indian rivers. The compilation recom-
mended the still farther carrying out of the
ended" principle by dispensing entirely yids soy
to an angular hem at either end of the vessels, in order to
counteract, as far as possible, the difficulties to steering
caused by the cross currents of the rivers, and also to re-
duce the labour of hauling the vessel off a sandbank, should
shoat any time run aground. For ordinary purposes tug-
vessels with barges attached thereto were recommended:
but teethe all-important service of the speedy conveyance
of troops (the necessity fur which was so apparent during
the late Indian rebellion) vessels of the class about to be
described were advised. Mr. T. B. Winter, the engineer
member of the commission, was subsequently instructed by
government to prepere the plans sod specifications of the
various vessels above referred to, and was then entrusted
with the charge of superinteuiliog their coostrurtion in this
Country.

The 'teach arc sent out to India in pieces and emm
pleted there, but one tug, and now this larger strainer, have
been finished for previous trial in this country. After-
wards these vessels will have to be taken to pieces and
packed for shipment. The contract for the present troop
steamer was given to Meows. James Watt and Co., of
London and Birmingham, who have built her engines, and
have rublet the building of the hull to Mews. M. Pease
and Co., of Stockton-om Tees, where the vessel was "tot-
tered" together, and afterwanls was brought up in pieces to
the Victoria Docks, and there riveted and finished. The
clineeekee the stosisaer are : - Length over all, 377 feet ;
beam, 16; breadth over paddle bones, 74; depth, F ; ditto
at paddle shafts, 12 ; ditto at top of arched girders, 18 ;
working draft of water, 2 ; displacement of 2 feet draft,
to tons ; tonnage (old measurement), 3,911. Accommo-
dation is provided on board fur about 800 troops and their
officers. The engines are 220 nominal horse power, having
horizontal cylinders of 55 inches diameter, and 6 feet stroke.
The diameterof the paddlewheels is 26 feet, and the breadth
of Modem& or paddle-:muds 12 feet. There is a separate pair
of small oscillating engines, intended to assist in maintaining •
vacuum fur the main engines when the navigation becomes
intrirate. These engines are likewise to work crabs for
hauling the vessel off sandbanks.

The hull of the troop steamer is constructed entirely of
paddled steel, made by the Weardale Company, near Our-
ham, and the avenge tensile strength of which is 42 tons
per sectional square inch, or double that of bolt-plate iron.
The vessel !is strengthened longitudinally by four arched
girders, two at the sides, rising to a height of 12 feet, to
carry the paddlewheels, &c., and extending about 130 feet
in length on deck. The other two, or main girders, run
fore and aft, about 10 feet from the sides of the mall
these are 10 feet high in the centre, and extend nearly the
whole length of the ship. In walking fore and aft on the
main deck, you pus underneath the paddle•shafta.
Athwartahips the vessel is strengthened through the engine
and boiler space by 12 overhead beams, or girder., extend-
ing the while breadth of the vessel, and carrying the stays
by which the sponse°, are suspended. Beyond the space
occupied by the engine and boilers, she is framed again
alliwartships by inner under the saia-dna, raested.
every 3 feet, and which resemble in principle the framework
of an iron roof.

Although the vessel is built throughout of exceedvely
light scantling she is rendered remarkably strong by means
of tLe class of framework adoptel She is steered at each
end by means of " blades," whisk instead of being worked
front side to side, in the ordinary manner of rudders, are
caused to rise or lower into the water at the proper angle.
When out of action these blades are completely within
boxes or wells, formed for their reception. Both sets are
actuated simultaneously by steering wheels placed towards
the head of the vessel, and provision is made to work one
set only should an accident occur to the other. The
principle of this ingenious arrangement is patented by the
inventor, Mr. A. Chaplin, of Glasgow. There are two tiers
of cabins, placed one above the other ; and these, as on
board American river steamers, are houses rising above the
vessel's main deck. They are entirely surrounded with
Venetian panels, for the admission or exclusion of air. The
tops of the upper tier of cabins form the chief pt manacle
deck. The saloon and state rooms for the officers are at
the fore end of the vessel. No attempt at ornamental
work has been made, everything being plain, but sub-
stantial.

The berths for the troops are composed of frames of
galvanised iron covered with perforated sheet zinc, for the
hie circulation of air. The lower tier of berths is con-
structed at a convenient height to form seats, and the upper
tier is placed soffiriently above the lower to allow the occur.
pants to sit comfortably upright. In each main troop room
there is an officer's cabin partitioned off, and the accommo-
dation for the troops is divided into five compartments, me
as to permit of separatism in ism of sickness. Fresh air,
drawn from the paddle-boxes, in order that it may absorb
moisture, is supplied to the cabins by fans worked with the
steam power, in sufficient quantity to change the whole
amount is each troop room every half-hour. Theme fans
are &bele' patent, and being independent of the engines
can be worked while the ship is lying-to for the night, at
all navigation on the Indus ceases at dark. The easuseere
cabins are placed on the extensive moutons, where are also
bath roo:ns and other accommodations, poultry bowies,
Aviv pens. Re.
Ad a precaution against shoaling, the draft of water is
taken by water gauges placed inside the ship, and analogous
I iu principle to the water gauges of ordinary steam-boilers.
The whole vessel is covered with an awning of the
strongest sail cloth, the area of which may be estimated
by the fact of its weighing three tons. The extensive frame-
work for supporting this awning has received especial
attention, and while every care has been taken to reduce
weight by making all the stanchions and stays tubular,
they are nevertheless very substantial.
The handrails all round the main and promenade decks
are also tubular, and advantage has been taken of this form
to make it serve as a speaking tube from the pilot to the
engine-room. The engineering difficulty io the construction
of this vessel was, to adopt such a class of framework that,
while atin possessing great strength, the quantity or weight
of metal used in building her should be so small
as to moue the excessively limited draft of 2 feet.
In principle the general arrangement, and also
I many of the plans for stiffening and strengthening
this vessel resemble the American river steamers, very
many of which nearly approach it in the dimensions of
1 length end beam, and one of which is believed to be about
130 feet longer and 4 feet wider. Some vessels on the
Rhone are 100 feet longer than this troop steamer, Lot not
so wide. The draft of water, however, both of the larger
I American and Rhone boats is seldom so little as 4 feet, or
doable that of Mr. Winter's design. The cabins of the
American boats frequently rise from 40 feet to 50 feet above
the main deck, whereas those of the Indus troop steamer
do not exceed 15 feet ; so that, although the hold on the
water due to the 2 feet draft is less than that of the
American boats, which lave so long and tucoesefully navi-
gated the Hudson and the Miseheippi, this troop steamer
has proportionably law top hamper.
The yawl was tried on the measured miles in Long
Reach and Gravesend Reach, the average speed attained
, being twelve statute miles per hour, sad the prevalent
opinion of the many competent authorities on board
I w..a, that the vessel would amply fulfil her intended
object.