The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-20 00:00:00

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

Yesterday afternoon a meeting was held at Man-
chester, to consider the propriety of petitioning Par-
liament for the retention of the Crystal Palace, and
of applying for the return of the fund subscribed by
Manchester, in order that it may be devoted to local
purposes. Sir John Potter opened the business, and
referred to the petitions sent from Warrington, Sal-
ford, and other towns. He said it had been suggested
the tund contributed by Manchester could be made of
great benefit in supporting the Manchester Free Li-
brary and the School of Design. Mr. Bazley having
been called upon as a Royal Commissioner, said
•he was not authorized to say anything, but he
reminded the meeting that the money was given un-
conditionally, and with the understanding that it
should be applied to some kindred object in London.
It must be recollected that the continent and other
parts of the world contributed, magnificently to the
Exhibition, and he could have wished some institution
could be raised by the surplus from which they could
derive some advantages as well as this country. The
suggestion which had been most favourably received
at present was a great industrial institution in London
at which people going up to London could study
and receive diplomas—marking the progress they
had made. The Bishop of Manchester objected
to the fund being broken up into small sums to
the contributing towns, and as to a great institution
like that Mr. Biz!ey spoke of, why should young men
go to London to receive diplomas? Wny could not
commissioners he appointed to go round the country
to make examinations and grant diplomas on the
spot? As to the retention of the Crystal Palace,
that was an affair for London. Mr. Entwistle ob-
jected-to dividing the fund, or applying thv surplus to
the retention of the Crystal Palace. Mr. Ma colm
Ross, Vice-President of the Commercial Association,
was for preserving the Crystal Palace, and moved a
petition in support of the resolution of Mr. James
tiny wood, " P,to be moved in the House of Com-
mons this (Tuesday) evening; but the motion fell
through for want of a seconder, and the meeting
separated without transacting business.

IRON STEAM-SHIP lIUILIHNG AT
LIVERPOOL.

An order has been received in this country for the
construction of 30 iron steam-boats for the use of the
Danube Steatn.Nsvigation Company. They are to
be of large dimensions and of substantial materials.
The order has been distributed so as to give employ-
ment in the districts, namely, Liverpool, the Clyde,
and Newcastle, where it is well known that the
largest number of steam-heats have been built, and
where the greatest amount of experienced men have
been acquired. Messrs. Thomas Vernon and Son,
whose building-yard is on the west side of the Bruns-
wick Dock, have received orders for the construction
of ten of these new iron steamers, which are to be
completed with the greatest possible dispatch.
They will be sent out in sections, for the purpose
of being put together on reaching their clstination
abroad. They will be large flit- bottomed boats, 176
feet long, 25 feet beam, and 9 feet depth of water, and
so constructed that they will be able, even with a
very large cargo, to navigate in the shallow waters.
of the Danube. They are being built for conveying
produce produce and general merchandise to the BeacnecSes.
from 'he iuterior of the country, and,
whihcehrthe com-
sary will be towed by steam• tugs, of which have just
pany have a large fleet. The samiechb
is the pioneer
completed an iron screw-vessel, h
of a new fleet to be constructedtowfoL
otnhdeonp.urpftseis oaf
carrying coal from Hartlepool
at prhe-
..b ,ail
cw a
Nor r 'lumber-
matter of great importancep.ptihvatotiheseoay s from
vesselsl shotuld
succeed, inasmuch as the. t
weep re
sent convey a large s u
intermediate districts
and thus shut out an
in Northumberland and
lacd
immenseand a
rethae metropolis;
At24,olive, for the lack of a de-
mand; an enormous
Durham, in which,
are made to carry
resent these coal districts
capital is invested.
given
n sufficiently
to
the
miners, rapi d
are comparatively unruti
but if the new
etghrired
of
coali isly
ine-edless to say,
coal
b:e ol
being
prices,isteamboatsutb aebnedei
no:
conferred
speed, a great on those coal
put
London,
circulation • and also
districts, in einp.....,
who would doubtless,
increase in the supply of the mineral, be
h e it at •
able to purchase it a considerable reduction per
tbaonycitshi eill
acrgepeia inhabitants
of Vtherensoanmaereelassw
Should this, and the sister boat which
ton.
building, bseucr ce eq eudi
r, e sde. v e rAal
range
hun-
dreds
of docks is being constructed at Hartlepool for the
accommodation of the proposed screw-steamers, and
.other important arrangements are being made for car-
rying out the trade in a very extensive and spirited
and manner.
well
fiTh hi
sehyt
da,rehfirnsgt-rcilgagss,,isteacimuseirs
t,
oo fa full lhl r
dp oi
nwa er ry, '
merchant vessel. They are 160 feet long, 25 feet 6
inches beam, 130-horse power, and 500 tons burden.
But, perhaps, the mast important feature is, that,
having double iron-bottoms, they can take in water
when returning light from a voyage, thus avoiding
the cost and delay of putting ballast on board, all
that is required being to open the tap to
the sea when ballast is wanted. Their having
good inside bottoms will also contribute ma-
terially to their strength and safety. The vessel
that is finished will carry about 600 tons of coal, has
12 feet 6 inches draught of water, and her mast and
tunnel are made to lower down, so as to enable her to
go under the Thames bridges. She is driven by a
screw-propeller in the stern, of the best form and pro-
portions that engineering experience can suggest, the
propeller and engines being made by the eminent firm
of J. Watt and Co., Soho Works, Birmingham. The
twin vessel is being built in the adjoining berth. Her
keel is laid, and the rattle of the workmen's hammers
upon her iron ribs is heard almost unceasingly. These
boats are being constructed according to the designs and
under the direction of Mr. John Grantham, consulting
mechanical engineer. The one that is finished, pad
which it is expected will attain a speed of from
will lie
to eight knots an hour, when full of cargo,br
t other
launched to-day, at half-past ten A.M.,
"d 8-bout the
in three weeks. Another iron steaml%loP
8.
r Vernon
same s;z,, which is being built by Dl,eo Carry pas.
• for the Liverpool and Newry Btelti(4l