Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-11-24 00:00:00

the lower edge. The upper edge had an an
rivetted on the tipper edge of the be

a three by three by

half an inch. The-second tier of beams were nine inches

-eighths

angle irons rivetted on the upper edge

The apertures of beams we're eight inches by nine-
sixteenths ; angle irons on the upper edge, three by three
by half 'an inch. The upper tier of 'beams had two
plates, four and a-half-inches thick, extending fore and
, _ ,

aft, tyitits' them together
ends of the beams, and angle irons on the top

were rivetted down to the beams, with a vertical plate
next the angle irons of the frame, and with an angle
iron between the two plates. This vee'xal plate extended
fore and aft, and acted as a springer. All the tiers of
beams were so secured. Strong teak water-way pieces
about 14 or 15 inches square were bolted to the shelf-pieces
in each case. There were six standing bulkheads, five of
which were water-tight. They were about half an inch
thick. The one at the after part of the engine-room
was not water-tight, as it had a passage leading into
the screw tunnel. The tunnel-shaft was made water-
dolt. There was a water-tight bulkhead immediately
at the stern-post, and the stuffing-box was immediately
before that bulkhead. This was further secured by a
water-tight deck over it. These bulk-heads were put
into the ship before she was launched, and after she was
designed for a screw steam-ship. The bulk-heads were
rivetted to the floor angle-irons up the side of qie ship
to the middle deck beam, with vertical angle-irons
every two feet nine inches. The stringers passed through
them, the bulkheads being cut. This is applicable to
all water-tight bulkheads throughout the ship. The
whole of the fastenings were of the best iron; anything,
that I saw the least defective, I put to one side. Ido
not know-where the iron was made. The stanchions were
rivetted to the kelson and to the beams,' and extended
up to the upper beams. This was throughout the ship.
The ship in every way was well secured. The ship was
lengthened before I took to her, but it was not
by cutting her amidships, but at the two• extremi-
ties, so that, in point of fact, it did not weaken
her. The length of the plates was about six
feet, and one streak between each set of butts.
She was clinker built,. The rivets were counter-sunk
,on the outside, and were all of best rivet iron, and I
knoiethe men were paid extra for rivetting well.l
have seen her in dock each 'voyage except the last one,
and I never found a loose rivet, and I could say the
same of the Great Britain, which I also built. I haVe
no idea of galvanic action taking place. If the vessel
be not kept clean, the heads of the rivets may be
affected by the bilge water. • I recommend a coating of
Portland cement, as high up as the washing of the bilge
water. The bearers of the engine were of iron. The
floor plates were 27 inches deep at the central line
of the ship, and tapering up to the .sides of
the iron' above -, the bilge, and on the upper edge
of those floor plates were rivetted angle irons
3 by 3 by a. ,The beams were double iron on the
upper edge. The main yard was ninety-five feet in length.
She had hempen rigging. In the river Dee there is very
little 'water, and it is a high tide when we have sixteen
feet; and when we were launching her, she ran her heel
into the sand. The ways were under her all the time. We
dug the ways out from under her, and afterwards towed
her out Whe she was going down the river, she
.got
aground; 'and strained and broke her kelston, just
under the main hatchway. She remained there
to the next tide. After she was got off, she was
taken to Liverpool where she got a thorough repair. It
was the 'main kelson that was broken. I did not ob-
serve that any of the plates had departed from their
original line and I had a fair opportunity of seeing. I
believe that all the damage that was done was quite
capable of being effectually' repaired. I have no doubt
that the reason of her breaking up so sodn was her
striking against the rocks amidships while she had such
a great weight aboard as her cargo, engines, and coals,
flod lielng often lifted and let fall against the rocks, as
well as the sea Striking
keritawt'ibllotbheelnudsit.e
these are considered, I thin ti
plan that
no vessel could have stood it. Her power was 200
nominal horse-power, or 600 actual. her decks 'were 4
American pine; that was her tipper deck. The middle
deck was 3-inch American pine, and the water-ways was
Indian teak.
To Mr. Aspinall—After I began to .build the ship
there was no contract, and I got directions to spare no
evenses to make her a good ship. I believe that after
the repairs she got in Liverpool, when she, was towed
out of the Dee, where the accident happened, she was as
good a ship as at first.
Mr. O'Dowd said he had some questions ,to put to
Mr. Patterson, but as arrangements had heen made for
testing the quality of the iron, he would reserve them
until these tests were made

The court then adjourned to one o'clock to-day.

THE - VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

IMPORTANT MEETING AT WOOLTON.
Last night, at eight o'clock_, a 'cKeWded_ineeting of
the inhabitants was held at the Girls' Sehool-room,
Woolton, for the purpose of aiding in the formation of
a Volunteer Rifle CorpS for Woolton, Wavertree, and
neighbourhood. Mr. Ambrose Lace presided ; and
amongst the gentlemen present were Messrs. F. Shand,
Robert Neilson, Rev. R. Leicester, JaMes Fletcher;
T. G. T: 'ton, S.

Livingst,, . It. Healey, W. Moon, T. D.
Hornby, A. .Higgins, G. H.- Thompson, S. R. Graves,
T. Brandon, W. Darning:, W. •F. Macgregor, George
Martin„ John Farnworth, Charles Ashton, Thomas
Seller, John Hinde, the Rev. T. Chambers, Richard
Bright, M: Armour, Richard Bell, Martin, Leisk.
pan, John Cross„R. Rigg, and Thomas Carey.
The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, it is not necessary
to tell you the object of the meeting,
,when I see the
crowded state of this room. You haw

all been apprised
s meeting has for its object to form,' and I hope

into the question of whether war is certain or imminent,
or only doubtful; but this is the very, question for us to
consider-7-that if a war shoUld arise, and We had an inva-
sion of this country by the French, and:l am told by those
I resident in France now, that there is a determined feelinz

amongst the French army to attempt au invasion of
this country, if unhappily • such a thing should be
attempted, the ruin—not to the most wealthy, but to,
those who get their bread by the sweat of their brow—

to the artisans and to those who, form our great indus-
trial classes, would be lamentable' and would take us
years to recover. (Hear, hear.) You would, in such
an event, have to turn out, not as riflemen, but as
soldiers, to defend yourselves, your wives and families.
(Hear, hear, and applause.) The movement in that event
would become a conscription, whereas, now if you come
forward and show that Great Britain is as one man—
that she United—that you are determined to have a
force of natives equal to the French army itself—you
will have no invasion. You have therefore only to take
the initiative, to show that you are prepared, and you
will have a continuance of peace. I shall only say
one thing more to you; that I and those who
ar. old

getting. in life, and cannot, join in
406 n., -must contribute in the' paying 'element, and
Ishall be, very, happy to contribute my mite. (Cheers.)
Our WOrthy vicar has sent a letter stating that in con-
sequence of having attended' the' swearinc, in- of the
volunteers at St. George's-hall last night he'haFi caught
a Cold Which prevented hini .attending here to-night,
but he warmly syinpathiseS with us in'the object of our
meeting, and is desirous of contributing to the funds
ire to be raised. (Cheers.) Mr. , Theodore
is prevented from attending -this 'evening, but
letter refers to matters of. detail, I will not now
trouble the Meeting by reading it.
'" Alderman FU.s.-scis SnAlcn said—'Though I am- only-

which
Itittlibo.

recent inhabitar

beaus

'hem-called upon to take this part in the proceed-
have'sornething like an
4nd I do rernomb—

•ecollectio

old town of Liverpool was animated

pritli the martial spiri

f the pr

end day, but, at the

ore 'natured than they,
but, I
,ain bound to

hat 'ha's been displayed
strength that cannot be opposed by
)reign arttr---(Lourt- cheers.) And I can add to
', that. whatever were the inten.:
*ions of the French Xmperor on thoSe occasions-:-what-
liii-object_in collecting that large body of
at toulogne—he. was deterred,. at . all
-lay made by Englishmen, from even

at with the spirit

ave beconic

pi 7,; reetillection this fac

;ruled t

by the did

makink a,n attempt on her sh'oresi'and I am sure that
the, display made on the, present occasion will ~teach
the preSent. Emperor that his project—if ht,entertain
it, of invading. our country, will be a very useless
project. (Enthusiastic cheers.) At the same time I;

would say,' while I am animated by the most determined

anxiety to see a body so constituted in this country that
our hearths and homes niay be placed in safety-,-for we
seek to make no obtrusion on any foreign nation, but to
defend those hearths and homes so extremely dear to,
us—and whether old" or young, rich or poor, all hands
will join in that event whenever it shall be necessary. I
would not 'have it thought that we menaced any country.
With regard to the first part of the resolution, which
says that "it is desirable to establish volunteer corps as

a permanent institution for the defence of this country,"
I perfectly agree with the sentiment expressed ; and in
reference to the second portion, which runs thus—" and
'that the present state of European politics renders the
immediate and extensive adoption of this step desirable"

I —I can only say that I am ;lire it is desirable on every
account, and that as a nation we-should be prepared to
defend ourselves under any circumstances. (Hear,hear.)
But, sir, I believe that 'the French Emperor will never
move towards the coast of England until he
is so desperate that he cannot resist the desire for an
attempt at aggression; and I' believe that even should
he make the attempt he will fail in his evil efforts.
(Loud cheers.) Ido believe that only, be the
desperation of his circumstances that will impel him to
take such a course. He cannot, he dare not do it under
ordinary' circumstances, for. he knows full well that it
would be a desperate remedy, and, he knows that his
fortune has come to the -tut gasp when he undertakes
to make so mad an attempt; (Loud cheeri.) -- But,
as the chairman has said just now, duet
think the requirements of the country will even amount
to conscription. lam sure there is not a hand or
arm in the country that would not rise by the ,ap7:
plieation . of any pressure' more than the pressure-
of an ' English heart, beating in an English
body, and that that pressure alone will animate-every_
man to perform his part. (Hear, hear.) We shall not,
therefore, have to call upon you in any other spirit than
we meet you in here to-night—to take your sword, your
rifle, or whatever weapon' may be found necessary, or
even a pitchfork—which will meet a fellow very well at
,elose_quarters(laughter)—and tell the common enemy
that hg
,ianaceting an Englishman that wants not to
be to distant from_ foe. (Loud cheers.) 1 there-
fore have very great pleasure in moving :—" That it is
desirable to establish Volunteer Corps as a permanent
institution for the' defence of this country, and that the
present state of EUropean politics renders the immediate
and extensive adoption of this,step'desirable." _

Mr. THOMAS IIORNBY said this was a movement in
which every one must take his part, and therefore he
came forward to second the motion. On no ground,
either of politics or religion, could they oppose this
movement. All minor difficulties must be sunk, and
preparations made to meet any emergency, so that, if the
emergency should arise, there might be no confusion in
dealing with it. He was certain that Woolton would
not be behindhand, but that they would raise an admi-
rable body of volunteers. (Cheers.)
Mr. ROBERT NEILSON said the resolution needed no
support beyond that which would be acceded- to it by
the heart of every Englishman then present. He wished
to, say that the arm wbich it was intended to place in
the hands of Englishmen was one calculated to be most
useful to this country in repelling the attacks of the
invader. He had spent some years abroad in a rifle
corps, both as a private and an officer, and he would
tell them that two things were necessary to a good
and efficient rifleman—a good rifle and a practical
familiarity with the weapon. (near, hear.) To be a
good shot long-range practice grounds were necessary,
but in a country like this there was a difficulty in getting
such a ground; and therefore he would advise them to
practice persistently and with steadiness of purpose, even
in a yard at 50 paces. He would advise them to prac-
tice with blank cartridge, or with simply a percussion
cap which would ensure a more steady aim. Mr. Neil-
son then went on to point out that this movement was a
great moral duty, which should be embraced by every
Englishman as a lifelong occupation, for the danger
was not only in the' present but in the future.
Every adult ought to be capable of taking up a
weapon to defend himself and I,is country. En-
closed as this country was, perhaps there was no country
in the world where the rifle would be so useful a weapon.
As we were invariably acknowledged to be the happiest
beings in the world, and had the greatest amount of
luxury, comfort, and happiness, so much more were we
bound to defend our country, and to defend to the last
gasp those liberties which had been handed down to us
unpolluted by our, foiefathers. (Cheers.)
The resolution was carried unanimously:
Mr. CHARLES ASHTON moved the following resolution,
in which he expressed his entire concurrence :--" That,
with the view of promoting the object of the last resolu-
tion, it is expedient to form a 'Volunteer Rifle Corps, of
gentlemen residing in Wavertree, Woolton, 'and the
neighbourhood."

gr. 8. R. HEALEY said he must express his entire
adhesion to this scheme. He thought that the move-
ment was, in the nervous language of Colonel Wilford,
the inaugaration of the true peace league. They had
heard of some very
_excellent friends styling them-