The Sun.
London, England, 1831-09-24 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF THE THUNDEREII.

(Omitted yesterdayfor want of room.)
The southern side of the metropolis, on the line to
Woolwich, presented on Thursday a scene of unusual anima-
i.in and interest. The announcement that the launch of
Abe Thunderer, 84 gun ship, would take place at Wool-
wich in the curse of the day, and that their Majesties in-
tended to honour the ceremony with their presence, drew
together thousands from every part of the metropolis, all
bending their course, on foot, on horseback, and in every
mentionable kind of vehicle, to the scene of the intended
spectacle. From an early hour of the day, the road from
Westminster-bridge to the Kent-road, and from thence to
Deptford, was thickly thronged with spectators anxious to
view the Royal party as they passed ; and we do not et-:
agcerate when we state, that long before their Majesties
s-t out from the Palace there was sc.ircely an unoccupied
part of the whole line by which they were to
proceed. At Greenwich, the crowd was immense, and
from thence to Woolwich the road was to thronged
that it was difficult to get through. The dock-yard at
Wo'dwich W 39 the great scene of attraction. Within
the entrance a large body of marines were stationed to
receive their Majesties. At the further end of the yard
and next the water side, a party of the artillery, under
arms, lined the way from the Royal Pavilion to the Royal
Sovereign yacht, which was moored in the new basic!.
The Pavilion and stands for the reception of their Ma-
ie,ties and suite and the nobility and geotty who were
expected to he present, were erected alongside the dry
dock in which the Thunderer wan built, and were fittec#
up with great taet.e and elegance,—the posts and scaffol4:,
ings which supported them were tastefully covered with
a variety of naval flags and ensign., of which also a
handsome awning was formed covering the passage from
the head of the dry dock to the seats which the Royal

party was to occupy.
It was announced that their Majesties would arrive at
the Dock-yard at about a quarter past one o'clock, and
in a very few momenta after that time the hoisting of the
Royal standard on the flag staff in the yard announced
their presence. Their Majesties were escorted into the
yard by two troops of lancets, who we believe had ac-
companied them from town. Amongst the members of
the Royal Family present we noticed ti,?ir Royal High-
nesses the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Pr;nce George
of Cambridge, and, we believe, of Cumberl.tra. The
Royal party was received with presented arms by the mili-
tary force, the band playing " God save the King." 'l,be
appearance of the dock-yard and the river at this moment,
presented one of the gayest and most animating scenes that
could well be imagined. The whole of the space
through which the launch was to pass from the slips was
lined, in multiple tiers, with boats of every kind, tilled
with company of every description. Outside these were
stationed several Government vessels, tastefully decorated
with the flags of all nations. Among these—the Royal
yacht the William and Mary, and the Mayicienne, a
rave frigate (a splendid specimen of her class), with yards
manned, were moat conspicuous ; beyond these were three
or four steam-vessels, the decks of which presented the
curious spectacle of huge pyramids of human beings, ferf
in the manner in which the passeneers stationed them-
selves on the seats, fore and aft, and the paddle-boxes in
the centre, they had that appearance from the shore. Be-
yond these again were some of the hulks, also crowded
with spectators, who, from the height of the vess,`ht in
the water, could see over those before them. This gay
and diversified scene on the water, connected with the
brilliant appearance of the crowds assembled tin the shore,
—.the hills over the dock-yard,—in the dock-yard itself,
and the stands near the launch, (to which the splendid
dresses of the ladies, and the no less showy uniforms of
the naval and military officers, greatly contributed),
afforded one of the most imposing spectacles which has
'.en witnessed in the neighbourhood of the metropolis far

a long time.
His Majesty, immediately on his arrival, proceeded to
examine the launch as she was placed on the slips. After
this, and when all the preparations were concluded, her
Majesty the Queen was graciously pleased to perform the
ceremony of christening the ship, by casting off the bottle
of wine and bre,ilcing it on her bows. (We hall no op-
portunity of witnessing this part of the ceremony, but We
take it on the authority of those who were present.)
Their Majesties then took their seats, and the signal being
given, the dogs (as they are termed) which held the
launch were struck off, and the Thunderer moved majee,
tically into her proper element, amidst the hums of one
of the most numerous and brilliant assemblages which wit-
nessed a launch since the early part of the reign of Geo. 111.
The vessel which was thus auspiciously ushered into
naval existence, as one of the wooden walls of old England,
is a fine specimen of her class, a second rate. She is
built on Sir Robert Seppings' plan of the round stern, but
has also many other recent improvements in her construc-
tion. She is 120 feet in length i❑ her keel, 50 feet in
the beam, and 22 feet depth in the hold. She registers
2,380 tons, but we presume, from her build, that she
would carry some hundred tons more.
On leaving the slips the launch moved along amidst an
immense fleet of small craft, but without the slightest ac-
cident, though to use a sailor's phrase, it was with re-
spect to many of them " more by good luck than good
guidance" that they got "out of harm's way." It was
intended that the Pluto steam-vessel should take the
launch in tow, and bring her into the new basin. This,
however, was rendered unnecessary, for she had not got
more than half a cable's length from the slips, when she
took the tide, and as if she knew her way, made so near
the eirrance of the basin, that without requiring the aid
of the steamer, she was warped into it by a hawser from

the pier.
Soon after the launch, their Majesties and suite went
from the Royal stand along the water-side, first to view
the model frigate. This most beautiful specimen of
British meal architecture was built, we understood, by
desire of his late Majesty, and intended as a present to the
King of Prussia. It is built wholly of Spanish mahogany,
and would carry (as far as we could judge, seeing it only
on land) about 13 tons. The beauty and symmetry of its
construction make it a perfect curiosity in its way, which
would well repay (if nothing else were to be seen) a
visit from London to Woolwich. From the inspection of
this little miniature frigate, the Royal party proceeded on
board the Royal Sovereign yacht to witness the entrance
of the Thunderer into the new basin. This basin is a
splendid addition:to the dock-yard, and was opened yes-
terday for the first time for the admission of vessels. It
is capable of receiving 12 line-of-battle ships. The Thun
derer was, as we have already mentioned, warped into
this basin, and passed alongside the Royal Sovereign,
from which a fine view was afforded of her majestic ap-
pearance. After the vessel was moored, the Royal party sat
down to a cold collation on board the Royal Sovereign, of
which several of the distingished naval officers present
also partook. Their Majesties remained on board until
nearly half-past four o'clock, when they took their dep ir-
ture for London. They were loudly c.ieereti by the crowds
which lined the way, in one uninterrupted chain from
Woolwich to Deptford. We cannot conclude this brief
account of the day's proceedings, witluatt noticing the
manner in which the public were received by the several
officers on duty in the dock-yards. His Majesty is natu-
rally fond of naval spectacles, and we believe that on these
occasions his desire is that his subjects should equally par-
ticipate in them, as far as circumstances may permit. In
the arrangements of yesterday, his Majesty's wishes in this
respect were most fully complied with, fur more polite and
gentlemanly attention we have seldom had an opportunity
of witnessing on public occasions, than was shown to the
visiters by the several officers on duty, more particularly
the naval officers. This courtesy on the part of those in
authority was met as it deserved, for in no instance that
we had an opportunity of observing, was any attempt
made to infringe upon the regulations for the admission of
the public. The regulatiohs, as far as the arltnis,ion of
parties with tickets, were at first enforced but when these
parties were accommodated, no refusal of admission was
made to any parties who appeared likely to conduct them-
selves with propriety.

THE LORD MAYOR AND SIR PETER
LAultitc.—On Thursday a meeting of the friend. of Sir
PETER LAURIE was held at the London Tavern, to take
into consideration the steps necessary to be adopted for
the purpose of securing the Worthy Alderman's election on
the approaching Michaelmas-day, as Chief Magistrate for
the next year; THROWER. HERRING, Esq. in the chair.
Several resolutions were adopted, pledging tke meeting, in
case of any attempt being made to set aside the worthy
Alderman next in rotation on Michaelmas-day, to resist
such attempt, and to use their utmost exertions to ensure
the electio❑ of Sir PETER LAURIE, the next Alderman in
rotation, to fill the civic chair on this occasion. Sir PETER
LAURIE then stood upon the table amidst loud cheers.
He really thought, when he beard at Brighton of the in-
tention of the Loan MAYOR to try a re-election, that it
would take
was all a joke; but upon coming to town he found rv‘as
no joke at all.—(Laughter.) He had rerivded
red to
tLoolcikons.t
the matter from first to last if his
,end ; but he did not expect that
aannt7iit:Fuentesc'hjrßeformer
place. He then avowed himself a. , Sir SAMUEL
only voted for tor c3AMUEL,
ninster, but that he
aßn:)lkdtietctlarreadndthAaitrh.ell,,t,alinsotiot
had actually given .
toovote for Mr. BROUGHAM.
in order to be qua"— resolutions were unanimously
Hear,(hear. ) 411 the.
• 280/.r a freehold at Westmoreland
and the meeting separated,
agreed to,