The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-09 00:00:00

THE NEW SOREW STEAM-SHIP COLOMBO.

SOUTHAMPTON, Dec. B.—A number of scientific gen-
tlemen attended this morning on board the Peninsular
and Oriental Company's new screw steam-ship Colombo,
to make a trial of the speed of that steamer. Amongst
those on board were Captain Engledue, the superinten-
dent ; and Mr. Andrew Lamb, the engineer-in-chief of
the company ; Captain H. Austin, R.N., Admiralty
superintendent of packets ; Mr. W. Lynn, assistant-
inspector of steam machinery at Portsmouth ; Mr.
Luke, of the shipwrights' department ; Captain Moresby,
I.N. ; Mr. W. A. Summers, Esq. The Colombo, under
charge of Captain George Brooks, started from the dock-
head at half-past ten o'clock a.m., and steamed towards
Stokes-bay, where, after having previously stretched out
as far as the Nab Light, two runs were made at the
measured mile as follows :

nevoln-

Min. Sec. Knots. tions. Pressure. Vacuum.
let run in 4 46, equal to 12.587 124 151 b. 2641 b.
2d run in 5 16, equal to 11.392 24 151 b. 2641 b.
the average being 11.989, or nearly 12 knots and hour,
equal to a little under 131 statute miles. During the
trial the actual power exerted by the engines, as exhi-
bited by the indicator,- was 1,281 horses. The result
was considered satisfactory, and the speed quite as great
as could have been anticipated. This steamer, another
and important addition to the already existing numerous
and splendid fleet of the Peninsular and Oriental Com-
pany, is a remarkably noble and handsome ship. She
was built by Mr. R. Napier, of Glasgow, and her engines
were also supplied from his factory. Her dimensions are
as follows :---Extreme length, 305 feet ; length between
the perpendiculars, 280 feet ; length of keel, 263 feet ;
breadth, 374- feet ; extreme depth, 321 feet ; depth of
hold, 18 feet ; tonnage, 1,872 tons ; builder's measure,
ment, equal to 1,837 25-95ths old measurement; engines-
-450 nominal horse-power. As a specimen of engineer-
ing skill and excellence of workmanship and finish, the
engines of the Colombo will stand a comparison with any
naval machinery now afloat, and reflect the greatest
credit upon the establishment which produced them.
They worked most admirably, and the boilers, constructed
after the patented principle of Messrs. Lamb and Sum-
mers, gave a full supply of steam without extraordinary
exertions in stoking. The screw used to propel the
Colombo is the common three-bladed one. The engines
have cylinders of 72 inches diameter, with a sft. 6in.
stroke. The draught of water at the trial to-day was 16
feet 3 inches forward, and 17 feet 6 inches aft ; coals on
board, 450 tons. The Colombo can, however, carry 650
tons of fuel, besides about 550 or 600 tons of measure.
ment goods, thus showing a great capacity for freight,
the latter being an element of material importance in
a commercial point of view. From 100 to 120 pas.
sengers can be accommodated, the fitting up and ar-
rangements of the saloons, sleeping berths, ladies'
cabins, promenade deck, &c., being of the most con-
venient and excellent description, combining both the
elegance and comfort of a first-rate floating hotel.
The main saloon, which is seventy-two feet in length,
is beautifully fitted up and ornamented, and can com-
fortably dine 100 persons at one time. The Colombo is
intended to be despatched. to India, to take her place in
conveying the mails between Suez, Aden,mace one trip
C
Madras, Ceylon, &c., but will previouslya cutta,
to Gibraltar, Malta, and Alexandria, for
hi she is appointed to depart on the 20th instw which
iports Indian, China, and Mediterranean mails. with the
The Manilla,
a new iron steam-ship of 750 tons burden, belonging to
the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company,
arrived here but a few days ago to
boilers, and screw machinery, Which
arecewher enginiees,i
at the factory of Messrs. Summers, Day, and being ce3raa iae
e• k ,
d)
of Northam, near Southampton. This
steamer, in con-
junction with the Rajah, of similar size, is to be employed
in carrying supplies of coal from the mines of the East-
ern Archipelago Company, at Labuan, in Borne", t°
Singapore, for the use of the steam
fleet of the Peninsu-
lar and Oriental Company.

THE BRITISII AND TURKISH FLEETS.-139 a letter
received by the last mail front Constantinople it appears
certain that none of the British ships-of war had
entered the Black Sea. The Turkish fleet lies at
anchor next the Black Sea, and the English fleet next
to the Turkish fleet in the Sultan's Bay, Cons,tantino.plo.
The scene of the engagements of the Turks aifd Russians
is about 400 miles from the present station of the Eng-
lish and Turkish fleets, and, contrary to what was ex-
pected, the English fleet has been ordered not to pro-
ceed into the Black Sea.
u G THE BLIND MUSlC.—Yester.
SOCIETY FOR
Txbtecidil'ait the London Tavern, for the
day a meeting we .
John
a_society for carrying out the above
purpose of f
Villiers g.'ownshend presided. The
object—Mr.
fa that the meeting had been called for the
chairman fs—devising the best mode for cultivating the
purpose ° .
musical genius of
.th.e blind, and of thus affording them
means of obtaining an independent livelihood. He
stthaeteduLihn:t it was well-known that the blind were gifted
by nature with peculiar aptitude for learning music, pos-
sessing, as they generally did, a very correct ear, and.
tho faculty of memory to a remarkable degree. There
were several institutions of the kind in existence, and a
practical direction had been given to this too often unde-
veloped talent in blind persons, at the school for the
blind at Paris, called the "Institution des Jeunes Ave-
ugles," and also at the school at Bristol. Some of the
pupils of that excellent institution are taught to perform
on musical instruments, and he could assure the meeting
that they composed a very efficient orchestra.
g Thanes,ccholoimaod-1
com-
mittee of the Blind School in London, at whose
the only musical instrument taught is the r
passed a resolution that day, in which they agreed to
take the plan into their favourable consideration. lie
had received a letter from Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart,
who stated that he agreed most cordially with the ob•
jects of the meeting, and would subscribeak 20 guineas to
the funds. Mr. Thomson Han key, jun., had also
written, approving the objects of of the meeting, and en.
closing a cheque for 2/.
Cap-
tain Sherson seconded, the app‘taiunstsmeleinint oofvaed committee,a n d
with power to add to their
rying out of the objects number, for
of the benevolent founders..
the proper car.
The motion was
put and carried nem. con. A subscrip-
tion, amounting in the aggregate to about 401., having
been entered into, the meeting separated.
ADVANCE IN THE
prietors of Barnsley PRICE OF COAL—The coal pro•
yof and its neighbourhood
advanced the price have again
that they are still coal is. per ton, and they state
below those ofselling them at prices considerably.
Staffordshire and other colliery districts;
k —Leeds Times. .

SPORTING NOT

WORDS FROM WOLVERHATvIPAZy "'"-rt
The pursuit of sport under difficulties wns d tiagreets`
ably experienced at Wolverhampton on Tuesday. Just
before the commencement of the proceedings a dense
fog spread itself over the surrounding country, and
drifted in a thick hazy mass over the running ground.
The jockies were consequently unable to see the various
leaps and " obstacles" until they were close upon them,
and their long knowledge of the course was scarcely
sufficient to enable them to pursue the proper track and
prevent them from swerving against posts, running into
ditches, or dashing among the people. To the specta-
tors on the stand the artificial water jump only was
visible. Still the dangerous uncertainty which the fog
occasioned perhaps heightened the excitement with
which the steeplechases were regarded.

The squaring system, as usual, largely regulated the
proceedings. Bourton, the some time leading favourite,
was " scratched." His withdrawal was more than
hinted at in The Sun of Saturday and Monday last.
The ostensible cause of his non-appearance was "unfit-
ness ;" but more cogent reasons are supplied in my
" Notes" published on the days above-mentioned. Still
no declaration was made of Bourton's withdrawal, and
his name was allowed to stand on the "card." When
it was understood that Bourton would not run, Oscar
was immediately advanced to a very short price, and
The Screw received additional and more spirited support.
Little Charley, too, came unexpectedly into the betting
at the last moment, and was basked freely at about 6
and 5 to 1. Although, however, D. Wynne weighed
for him, he did not go to the post, his owner scratching
him because, it is said, he had been forestalled in the
market. Oscar won very cleverly. The rider of Topsy,
however, declared that his victory would have been ma-
terally jeopardised if Topsy had not "baulked" the drop
fence on to the course. Oscar's party were large winners
by the result of the race and followed up their success
by backing Half and Half for the Hurdle Race.
On a reference to The Sun of Saturday last, it will be
seen that in writing about the steeplechase, I said " Oscar
is intended, and will go for the money."
December 8. A FRESH MAN.

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON ALMANACK
FOR 1854.

In this elegant and attractive almanack for the
(
approaching year of grace, 1854, we have a tenth
specimen of that annual off-shoot from the Illus-
trated London News—most gorgeous and popular
of all weekly periodicals. Arranged precisely upon
the old plan, containing the customary amount of
olefttwerldrceusst,s2anthdeevmobiumelli
the same time among all these
accustomedposes charmsat
eslitteedbwefitohrethuse usual number
gtw ndbeaseuwoevlomeclexe
excellences should
Fhoulaorbee-
-1 na varietyostm
a among
new
specified the twelve principal illustratio •• illus-
trations commemorative of the more notable events
in the reign of her present most gracilotl7lll42Ve.
Thus, the first refers to June 20, 8
First Council at Kensington Palace ;" the second
to November 9, 1837, the " Visit to the City ;"
the third to June 28, 1838—" The Coronation in
Westminster Abbey ;" the fourth to February 10,
1840—" The Marriage at the Chapel Royal, St.
James's ;" the fifth to January 25, 1842—" The
Christening of the Prince of Wales, at St. George's
Chapel, Windsor ;" the sixth to October, 1844
" The Reception of Louis Philippe at Windsor
Castle ;" the seventh to October 28, 1844—" The
Opening of the Royal Exchange ;" the eighth to
May 1, 1851----" The Opening of the Great Exhibi-
tion ;" the ninth to February 3, 1852—" The
Opening of Parliament ;" the tenth to June 21,
1853—" The Review at Chobham ;" the eleventh
to August 11, 1853—" The Review at 'Spit-
head ;" the twelfth to August 30, 1853—" The
Visit to the Dublin Great Exhibition." Be-
sides these, there are in the " Illustrated
London Almanack" for 1854, twelve graceful illus-
trations, designed by B. Herring, appropriate to
the months as delineative of seasonable sports, or
open-air amusements. January, in this way, brings
" Coursing ;" February, " Rabbit Shooting ;"
March, 4‘ \Voodoo& Shooting ;" April, " Steeple-
chasing ;" May, " Racing ;" June, " Otter Hunt-
ing ;'' July, "Angling ;" August, " Grouse Shoot-
ing ;" September, " Partridge Shooting ;" October,
" Pheasant Shooting ;" November, Fox Hunting ;"
December, " Wild Duck Shooting." A miscella-
neous assortment of other woodcuts, accompanied
by explanatory letter-press, imparts to the alma-
nack the advantage of supplying the purchaser with
an instructive and amusing store of . light reading,
the character of which may be conjectured from an
enumeration of a few of the more curious sketches,
such as "The Chair 'of the Poet Gay," and " The
Drinking Cup of St. Thomas k Becket," and " The
Sword of Napoleon," and "The Tomb of Chateau-
briand." Altogether " The Illustrated London
Almanack" in its tenth year is, if possible, more than
ever a marvel of cheapness, because fraught from
the first page to the last (in all sixty-four, closely
printed) with literary and pictorial materials at
once for amusement and information.

DEATH FROM THE Brrz or A Its '.--An inquest was
held yesterday at Bristol on the body of John Thomas
Barry, an infant, aged 6 months. It appeared from the
evidence, that a fortnight ago the mother was awoke by
the cries of the infant, and, on lighting a candle, she
found that the child had been bitten by a rat just under
the right eye. There were marks remaining of the
rat's claws and teeth, and also a great quantity of blood.
The poor child died yesterday. After some considera-
tion the jury returned a verdict, " That the deceased
died from injuries occasioned by the bite of a rat."
LIG-CANNA AND GENERAL MINING COMPANY OF
JAMAICA.—An extraordinary general meeting of the
proprietors of this company was held yesterday, at their
offices, in King's Arms-yard, Coleman-street, to confirm
certain resolutions passed unanimously at a previous
meeting held on the 21st ult., for raising 2s. per share
(either with or without certain options of taking the un-
appropriated shares of the company) to enable the
1 directors to carry on the affairs of the company and
to test the Riverhead mine, also for making certain
abnydeiglaowyse,rnrmuleenst
ofan
dthe company,regulati°ns for the management
registration of shares,
or the affairs thereof ; and
of
unregistered taking powers either
to compel the registration
scrip, or to forfeit the same ifo notu"brgoiusgtehrtedin shares
scrip,
tration within a certain time, and to compel the parties
lement. Mr. Prinsep, theecrip
holding stick shares or
the meeting was merely -'
to 'execute the deed of set-
firming what had chairman, after observing that
l for the form
tion of the shareholders, received al purpose of con-
the unanimous sanc-
tion
for
28 ers, proceeded to fnusttase
instalments reso-
lutionsoflseach per share, raisingpayable
ahLe r
isnh3raen,ully
rywanoci May next ; for.
authorising the payment of interest thereon, at 5 per
cent. per annum, until the money so advanced shall be
repaid or converted into new shares ; for giving an op-
tion to the shareholders making the advance of taking
the reserved shares at par, in proportion to the number
of their original shares ; and for the other purposes men-
tioned in the advertisement, all of which were confirmed
unanimously and without observation. A vote of thanks
to the chairman concluded the proceedings.
MAJOR-GENERAL M'DoNALD, C.B.—We are happy
to be enabled to state that this gallant gentleman con-
tinues to progress as favourably as could possibly be
expected under the circumst slices. Staff-Surgeon Swan,
exp
Surgeon Langley, 62d Regiment, and Dr. Cane, have
been in constant professional attendance, and their re-
pert yesterday was that the General had passed a
ble night, and was better. The gallant officer
favourable
continues regularly, under all his sufferings, to dis-
charge the duties of his command at the Kilkenny mili-
district, receiving, dictating, and signing the de-
tary
day, and giving the necessary orders
spatches every
quite
as usual. His first act, after the shattered limb
had been set, was the graceful ono of dictating to the
aide-de-camp a letter of thanks to the city constabulary
for the attention which they paid to him when carrying
him to his residence from the scene of the accident.
which letter was received within a few hours from the
occurrence by their sub-inspector, W. F. Winslow,
Esq.—Kilke!tny Moderator.
LOSSES AT SEA.—A destructive casualty, it IS feared,
has occurred by the running ashore of the Sir Edward
Hamilton, belonging to Mr. T. Ward, of Hull. ' It seems
that this vessel was on a return voyage from Petersburgs
to Hull, with a large and valuable cargo of Russian pro-
duce. About six o'clock on Thursday evening last,
during a dense fog, she went ashore on the mg last,
Flamborough lighthouse. Immediate)
„r rocks near
she lost her rudder, and so violent was after striking
which she had grounded that she s _.the force with
water. Her position was very critical
filled with
began at once to dismantle her. luat, and the crew
casualty was at once forwarded to It ntelligence of the
despatched a steam-tugtill, and the owners
to render
was practicable. On Frida whatever assistance
the ship that the deck-load
y, such was the position of
every one of her three ma t was hove overboard, and
stores and a trifling s s cut away. Some the small
During the week furtherattempts have been made to
saving the ship but we believe the probabilities of
are small.--
ESCAPE OF Eastern Counties Herald.
extraordinar —N A g
AKE Pawl A MAN'S MOUTH.—An
• y circumstance occurred a few days ago to
Jonathan Smith, gunner's mate, who was paid off at
Portsmouth, on the 6th of May last, from her Majesty's
ship Hastings, 72 guns, on her return to England from
the East Indies. He obtained six weeks' leave. On
the expiration of that time, after seeing his friends at
Chatham, he joined the Excellent, gunnery-ship. at
Portsmouth. After some time he was taken unwell,
his illness increased, and he exhibited a swelling in
his stomach and limbs. The surgeon considering -
that it arose from dropsy, he was removed into Haslar
Hospital, and after much painful suffering, although
he had every attention paid to him by the medical offi-
cers of the establishment, he died. Two hours before
his death a living snake, nine inches in length, came out
of his mouth, causing considerable surprise. How the
reptile got into his stomach is a mystery, It is sup.
posed that the deceased must have swallowed the rep-
tile when it was young, drinking water when the
Hastings was out in India, as the ship laid for some time
at Trincomalee, and close to a small island called Snake
Island. The crew used very often to find snakes Oh
board. The way they used to get into the ship was by
the cable, and through the hawsers into thdloru-tattle. '
Tho deceased was 40 years of age. He was interred
in Kingstown-churchyard. His remains were followed
1 to the grave by the ship's company of the Excellent.