The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-24 00:00:00

THE BRITISH QUEEN.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable state o the weather yesterday an
immense number of people flocked to Limehouse to visit the new steam.
ship which is to be floated out of dock this afternoon. A scene of ani.
tnation and bustle such as was never before witne,sed on the banks of
the Thames took place—men, women, and children, of all grades in so-
ciety, hastened on board, and in a few minutes the deck, cabins, engine
rooms, the hold, and forecastle was cramme I to excess, and the company
unmindful of danger, ran up and down the ladders leading from the deck
to the lower past of the vessel, occasionally tumbling over each other.
As fast as the curiosity of one party was satisfied and they bad left the
ship another succeeded, and until sunset, the yard and the vessel were
thronged with company. The amazing length of the ship her roomy
decks, and her capacious engine-room, saloon, and cabins, excited
great admiration. Platforms have been erected for the accommo-
dation of the nobility and gentry and their ladies, who intend to
he present this day to witness the floating out of the largest 'steam-
ship ever built. If the Americans were surprised at the appears
ance of the Great Western what will they say when the British Queen
arrives at New York ? Our transatlantic brethren may expect her in
the beginning of August. A contract has been made with scotch engi-
neers, Napier and Co., of Glasgow, to fit up her engines aid machinery,
and she will proceed to Scotland for that purpose directly after she is
floated out of the dock in which she had been erected. Her internal
fittings up, the decorations of her saloon, a spacious apartment, and her
furniture will he supplied by Engiish artificers. The floating out of
the British Queen will take place at high water, and, to give her plenty
of sea room, a tier of vessels in front of Messrs. Curling and Young's
ship-building yard have been removed. 'rho floating out of the ship
will be, comparatively speaking, an uninteresting spectacle. The launch
of such a large ship from the stocks would have been a grand sight,
Utility as wall as
beautyi anti
has beeni'a has been
consulted bee
and those who expected a regular launch of the monster ship will
be much disappointed. The British Queen is a very handsome
s
yearsher n
e strbuilding,uct,
on, and without any dis_
paragement to the Great Western, she is undoubtedly a better looking
craft. The poop deck of the latter is wanting in the British Queen,
ll
two
i n
and our River-built ship is content with the old number, three masts
the Great Western, though not so long as the new steamer, has four.
The internal arrangements of the British Queen are very different from
those of the Great Western. `Whether her engines, and the decorations
and paintings of the British Queen will surpass those of her Bristol
rival remains to be proved. The bows of the new ship are surmounted
with a full-length figure of her Majesty, with a sceptre in her right
han I and the orb in her left. The likeness is well'preserved. On the
whole the British Queen is deserving of the high character which our
River-built ships have always possessed. We subjoin an accurate
account of her dimensions, as furnished by the builders, Messrs. Curling
and Young