The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-02 00:00:00

New Ocean. Mail Steamers.

Visitors to Spithead on Thursday had the gratifi-
cation of witnessing a temporary addition to the
allied fleets which have occupied that anchorage
ground during the past week, in the shape of three of
those fine steam vessels which now perform the mail
service between England and other parts of theworld.
Taking advantage of the arriving at Southampton of
new screw steamers, the directors of the West India
Royal Mail and the Peninsular and Oriental Com-
panies determined on combining a preliminary trial
of speed with a very agreeable pleasure trip, to
afford their shareholders and friends an opportunity
of seeing the noble ships of war belonging to Eng-
land and France now assembled in our waters in
peaceful companionship. The West India Company
were represented on the occasion by the Rhone, of
2,500 tons and 500-horse power, and the Peninsular
and Oriental Company by the Tanjore, of 2,129
tons and 400-horse power, and the Mongolia,. of
2,404 tons and 500-horse-power. Each of the
three vessels carried a large number of visitors, who
were regaled with princely hospitality by their en-
tertainers.
The trip of the Rhone was rendered specially in-
teresting by the presence among the visitors of her
Majesty Queen Emma, of the Sandwich Islands,
and suite, accompanied by Lady Franklin, the
widow of the venerated Arctic navigator, and Mr.
Synge, the British Commissioner to the Sandwich
Islands. The company also comprised General Sir
John Pennefather, K.C.8., Colonel Bayley,
A.D.C., Brigadier-General Hodge, and a host of
distinguished personages connected with different de-
partments of the public service, officials of the com-
pany, and other gentlemen, accompanied by a number
of ladies. The London portion of visitors arrived at
Southampton by special train a little after 11 o'clock,
and Queen Emma was escorted on board by Capt.
Mangles, chairman of the company, while Mr. Rus-
sell Gurney, M.P., the deputy-chairman, did simi-
lar honours on the return into dock in the evening.
After passing round the fleets at Spithead the Queen
and principal portion of the company went on board
the French flagship, the Solferino, her Majesty be- ,
ing received by the admiral with the royal honours,
the ceremony of saluting the Hawaiian flag on the
Queen's arrival being alone dispensed with on ac-
count of the flag having been accidentally left be-
hind in London. A sumptuous banquet was served
on the return voyage, in the splendid saloon of the
Rhone, when the healths of the Queen, the Emperor
of the French, and Queen Emma of the Sandwich
Islands, and other toasts, were drunk with all the
honours. The Rhone, which was commanded by
Capt. E. M. Leeds, returned into dock about 7
o'clock in the evening, when the Queen landed, as
she bad embarked in the morning, amid the most
respectful salutations of large crowds who bad as-
sembled to see the distinguished lady who has played
so important and notable a part in the Christian
history of the world. The train left for London
about half-past 7. '.['he Rhone was built by the
Millwall Ironworks Company, and her performances
during the day were most satisfactory, giving good
promise of her being one of the fastest and best ves-
-4s in the company's service. She is a very hand-'
same ship, and her fittings throughout are excellent,
the saloon, which occupies the whole length of the
ship, being one that will bear favourable comparison
with any similar apartment afloat.

The Mongolia, as above stated, belongs to the
Peninsular and Oriental Company, built by Messrs.
Scott and Co., of Greenock, and engined by the
Greenock Foundry Company. She is a noble-
looking screw steamer, of 2,404 tons and 500 horse
power, her length being 319 ft., breadth 40ft., and
depth of hold 32ft. This vessel arrived at South-
ampton on Wednesday evening from the Clyde,
under the command of Capt. N. Stewart, and pro-
ceeded to Spithead in the morning with a goodly
company on board who were were pleased with
their trip, and the satisfactory working of the ship.
The other Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamer the Tanjore, commanded by Captain G. S.
Brooks, was built by the Thames Ironworks Com-
pany, from the design of Mr. G. C. Mackrow, their
naval architect, and engined by Messrs. Ravenhill,
Salkeld, and Co., of London. Her length between
perpendiculars is 300 ft., beam 38ft., depth 29ft. ;
2,129 tons, and 400-horse power. Although no
regular trial of speed was made, the Tanjore was
timed, as she passed the measured mile in Stokes
Bay on her return home from the fleets, when, with a
slight tide in her favour and engines making 65 re-
volutions per minute, she ran the mile in 3 min. 25
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Peninsular and Oriental Company, her predecessors
being the Nepaul, Delta, Mooltan, Poonah , Gol-
conda, Nyanza, and Charkieh ; while the Himalaya
ptherish our
firm. for T
thhee
and the Pera were also built at the same works blt lay
be-
fore the establishment passed into the hands of its
present o wner. This firm have just contracted for the
building of a new iron ship of 6,300 tons and 1,200
horse power, for the Turkish Government. They are '
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French
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completing an ironclad for the Turkish Govern-
ment of 4,200 tons and 900-horse power ; an iron-
clad for the Spanish Government of 4,900 tons and
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Government,
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steamers,
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tons. Their works are being considerably enlarged,
and they have just completed two of the largest
graving docks in the world, while powerful shears
are being constructed for the company by Messrs.
Day and Co., of the Northam Ironworks at
Southampton.
Besides the additions to the mail fleets abovenamed
a new paddlewheel steamer, of 1,134 tons and 250
horse power, built for the West India Royal Mail
Company by Messrs. Caird and Co., of Greenock,
and intended for the River Plate station, arrived
at Southampton at the beginning of the pre-
sent week ; and two steamers are in course of
construction for the Peninsular and Oriental Com-
pany—viz, the Surat, of 2,596 tons and 500-horse
' power, and the Niphon, of 790 tons and 140-horse
power.