The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-22 00:00:00

litiNCH OF THE TRAFALGAR.

~ iNotwithstanding the threatening appearance of yester-
Y..
emot..)runing, the river,. from an early hour, presented a
"n-sZ 1. nusualauimation and gaiety. Steam-boats of every
7'y and description, from the tug to the gaily decorated
rdezeursion boat," were in motion from ten o'clock in the
ening, conveying the vast multitudes. who thronged
0 ari•es wharfs and piers on the line of route, to the
great centre of attraction at Woolwich. The Greenwich
th..arl Blackwell Railways also poured in their
countless s
isllsands, who availed themselves of every
possible
-e °f conveyance to their ultimate destination on the
ent or Essex shore. The vessels in the River were also, with veryfew ex-
t 4 ec_Pt.ti°n, gaily decorated, and the flags of almost every
nto in the globe floated on the breeze to hail the arri-
Zal ,forte
4e Trafalgar in the element which is destined
:lhh to be her home. Many of the buildings, yards,
e! forth along the River
.also. displayed flags and ban-
cs, and not a few were bristling with cannon. to greet
er Mait:stv with a Royal salute in the event
of- h
but
rUceedin to Woolwich by water,
,t110.,_
.uetircerPtainty which prevailed upon this point pre-
'l;.t.ll, any arrangements upon an extensive sive scale. The
t•tu)al. standard floated from the top of Greenwieh Hos-
ot
_and here many thousands had stationed themselves.
P 4„a 1 hour in expectation that the embarcation
i
°' otbneottuotayratYparty'would takeplace at this point.
erotvdedr arrival.
.at Woolwich,_
we found the streets
ir with visitors, all hurrying to. those stations
nalwhence the best view of the interesting proceedings
ce°l4lll,`,l,h,e obtained. There were abundance of shows and,
could rrions in the streets for the amusement of those who
io;i. not penetrate the barrier of police constables at the
Kaye yea gates, and the tavern and inn-keepers must
e reaPed a rich harvest.
Rich was rumoured in the 'metropolis, and also at Wool-
wich, i
sent, arillith morning that her Majesty would not be pre.-
thro although the report did not gain credence, it
ittsomething of a damp upon the general hilarity,
,Rasv_ the day advanced, the arrangements observable in
doet. uyal booth or gallery at the extreme west of the
• thatha:°; gave satisfactory assurance to erloyal subjects
t her Majesty was about to honour the august and
111,Nrteing ceremony with her presence.
ta ru,ain entrance to the Dock-yard vv. a.s kept by a
th,
,Mithe Horse Artillery, supported by a strong
ea,,,.;' 13t 410 R division a the Metropolitan Police. .
two,-...ages f
ut t • ° the nobility and gentry began to arrive
o , 'rive, and continued in quick succession up to,
1,11,1 o es 00k
enattl4 ; but the admirable arrangements of Captain -
,"°lllby, C. 8., Superintendent of the Dock-yard,
confusion`ali parties to obtain access without the slightest.
„ or inconvenience.
of \el, r_thi,n the Dock-yard all was high liday—business
wori','lr) sort was suspended, andallhoth.e officers and
in, ueli were thus afforded an oppodrututyntyinof witness-
were the .. we ...wresting proceeding. On the yard,,
re th,„. 1, .
Rocyal ‘, -.ma) al Foot Artillery, the Royal Marines, the
thei °aPPers' and Miner; and the 1 sthe Foot,a, with
d 3 were
static splendid band; which, during th
vitriet.ed in various parts of the yard, and played' a
,t, of favourite airs.
been" aPPearance and dimensions of the Trafalgar have
unnecessary to
repeats() often stated that it is almost
ga.sho!',lletn. We may briefly state that she is
24a6
feet
.
2 jacce i her length from figure-head to tern
in h es ; her extreme breadth, 55 feet 7 inches ; depth
tclas,°oll,,, 32 feet 2 inches ; burden, a fraction over 2,721
14%,,' aleasurement ; height, 64 feet 1l inches.
htro-fqgure-head displays a bust of Nelson, the
ogallant
shed ?` Trafalgar, touching the very extremity. f.ntahle.
ternal',.l which she has been built. She is paintedfi. i
shed in
the ,'", .striPs of drab and white, square stern
thailrlatnest and chastest style, with] no other finished
ornament
6artoanr,,,°f fluted pillars between the cabin windows,
Xot—Len by a neat moulding.
a lar,„:11e least interesting portion of the spectacle was
lett Z. Party of Greenwich pensioners, who were pre-
the ,f,,L the battle of Trafalgar, andwho were stationed in
1111 on'sssiel when she was launched. They were all drawn
Profti-se7te tlPper-deck "in full fig," their cocked hats
Vial whiff decorated with laurel; and the hearty cheers
of the -tell they greeted her Majesty showed that some
The old blood still warmed their veins..
I,,t_e ~ arr..
r -egements for the accommodation ofdtheitp. public
eithrr-,extensive as circumstances would
behind
m
to the 'itie of the chip, seats, ascending tier tier,
°ltt it chic of
of twelve or fifteen benches, were erected,
Persons calculated that in this way five or sixthaousand
lice-
tiohs, -sh were accommodated. The number of
anti 1,, 'Ovever, were more than double that
and
atio, Iniderstand that, in the course of Fridayamount;PP
tql,olaY, the authorities at the Admiralty
P
were compelled
f,a,"'illuessegthe applications ofmany of the most distinguished
"`ge '''n°l.lg the Nobility. On Saturday an additional
thous' callable of affording sitting room for more tot.
the
'l'rafajfrnd Persons, was erected in front of the bows fTh
The
I,4'ver rahr' and this also was crowded in every part.
I di4ffp;°°ths as they were termed, were distinguished
°lle, at letters, the ticket bearing a correspondingstationed
at the a party of the A division of police,
the ,ie. entrance of the various enclosures, enabled
The is!ik'ts to find their
and the union-
jaek uenches were covered with bunting, an
places without an difficulty.
°I. the vast a variety of flags were displayed in every part
lad I,:asAt variety
t e which, when filled with h
ie,s-r,el.4,..visitors, three-fourths of whom at least were
'elles qe"ented one of the most brilliant and interesting
At 0 ever witnessed.
to the one
e'elock the Dock-yard gates were
htheroruwsnhowpeans
titocp..!lie, and it is needless to say that t
/10ioith(Jut it hu.man stream continuing
atomplobuyrtihnaatlmtlinoset
ery rnussion for half an o ,
tt,Y—teestt
wag
which a glimpse of the vessel, or the
which she was surrounded, could be oh-
'll;occupied.
alid Work
killtlitir then now began to knock away the shores,
no li,,ttletheaxterhte-er
14141 the dense amndulteirtuiedse °emeasaniony sedupp
1 two bafter
excite-
\, ''' Yha 1 • ' short.),
oei, , , arrived. Atlength, supposing
'1414 11 11' 1:"e expectation was on tiptoe, the boomingofup
igocl° 'r°ol the heights, and the bands striking. .
°- her Ufa the Queen," gave certain indication
Oil t Majesty's a
ort
djklirteceded h ments
proach. The Royal For e
-y the oPfficers of the various rep
32rtl gate and proceeded at a slow pace from the docka-
'°ubr jje to the water's' edge, the troops
formingpresenting
.?,I, arms Zs-111 e along the entire distance, and' sTothing
~,to x her MaJesty's carriane came in view.
'rill e eeed the enthusiasm with which the Queenan d
L. Albert were received on entering the Royal
latinoetctilet. cheering and waving of handkerchiefs
to highly several minutes, and the Royal Pair ap
411ilin. delighted with the scene, bowing and
ilerseg." all sides. Shortly after, her Majesty presented
and liti In front of the platform, she pointed to the
svesselo
exPPeared, b.. ,
her gestures, to indicate a wish, to
leaTillne her more minutely, she then • proceeded
the 4 on his Royal Highness,' and attended by
)i
the Treers• of the Duck- ,ard, close uuder the sterfn
the
oek afalgar, arid thence along the western ed
%cer.lll.'der her
hews,b conversing familiarlgweitoh the
then
retot., 43. rhom was attended. Her Majesty
hmiii eil tthe -oval , ; —oyal booth, and orders to that effectree
"04 'the- -ssued, nt twent minutes before th
s.Nek
.ce last shores were knocked away—the bands
ism ,ne spirit-stirring strain of " Rule Britannia,-
tiltktiltolanY a heart beat high with pride and ex.
t herald n as amidst the thunder of artillery, and
t,ccu and enthusiastic cheers of the vast multi-
Zoble.!ile majestic vessel, destined to be one of
.. the..
Iran til'eclf Old England's wooden walls, glided graceful!),
1,, water
a ae .4 •
Of• ,14 ti,=37 continued fine, with even occasional glimpses
place, but for some time; after the launch had. taken
dueea unt a heavy shower then came on, which n P
,icilf, an electrical effect in clearing the yard
and its
I%l"Y'
,4 of the least
'gs of tl, graceful or interesting of the proceea-
visit h le daY, was the circumstance of her Majesty s
kost daylng
the
the release of a number. of !he
t°,. the raises of the convicts, and while contributing
tlajest,:9oYrnent and gratifications of thousands, h
'Peneß -7 lorgot not to exercise the brightest and most
tolt,weent attribute of Royalty, by giving liberty to the
°lt captive, and letting the oppressed go free.
The ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
ahore appears of the river was superb. The Essex i
seil4 as far
aas the eye. could reach, was thronged by per-
Yard.%4i'Dusly directing their gaze towards thepock-
Passeatainers, decked out with flags, and crammed with
niongers, continued to arrive, and were arranged in such
°I tiler' aa tO be out of danger, and yet to securea.sigbht
Ilips ati.,noh for all. The form adopted farranging t e
/tiTnQsftearriers so as not to interfereowriathastthaenladu,nvcebst,
their ~ a double crescent, extending
,e
Ica,. aialgar from the Kent to the Essex shore, thus
fer tihneglau athply sufficient space between the two tiers
Majesty's and Mary, two
'algae
tivaeur:chl,i,e'r Immediately to the east .of the Tra-
yacht, William
i'Sals4,-1. re h'
cutters, and her Majesty's steam frigate
kviths;..llder ,the decks 'of all these vessels
ntivis.,--al ?i'ing One above another for the accommodation
were fitted up
amber whom they were crowded; by far the greater
-11rols-i-t elpnaiStin ?) of ladies. Outside the Salamander wasttheer
y.ii'-z. Yacht Club yacht Reindeer, and several o h
the c,"' and merchant vessels. Shortly before two o'clockrst
. thti4s'orninercial Steam Packet Company's
• kft.d atfamer Princess Victoria came down the river,er
large fi
.tmi,,eeas crowded • with passengers, and took up her
!Ithilt-11 Ito the north of the eastern cre
1414 o:nlinediatelY to the west of the Trafalgar,
we"Ae --sequently the southernmost vessel braxidn. crescent, was her Majesty's 'steam-packet nneer a packeotf Fire-thele arch of flags ; considerable at-
. Purt 4 'was at to the Firebrand, during the early
44
cj?t: !he morning, in consequence of a rumour whichl-
jeß,,,.°t.alned extensive circulation, that it was her '?. a
bra 4 Intention to return from Woolwich in the 1 ire-
eve,: and land at Deptford. This rumour, how-
naiveturned out to be unfounded. The re:
`4,5,,
,s;ci rof the western crescent wasprincipally composed
, r-ver steamers and small craft. The boats of the
s't,l4„4/11,1 Thane, and of the Harbour Master w,erencon-. ger7l ltAing about the lines for the purpose
.ot pre tw0.41,g order and preventing accidents. Precisely at
v.
e) al Military Acw.rlein ,
Ito ,') ekck a lloyal salute, fired by the Cadets of the
..u_r . Royal announced the approach of
pary, ancr the bands in the dock-
Zud, and those on board the different vessels,
,N,„„,!14 up the national anthem. In a few minues after-
Z-7fLs, her 11Iajesty, leaning upon the aim of Prince
ejaiten, and accompanied by the First Lord of the Ad-
Y, Earl Minto, and a numerous suite, made her
Act'eAranee in the Royal booth, situated at the extreme
t tl3 t°f the Trafalgar. The Royal booth was tastefully
~r`,ed up with the flags of various nations, the Royal stand-
-I:l`_' of 'England being in the centre, and forming the roof.
„ 7,majest's appearance watt the signal for a most en-
.yard:a SlUtie burst of cheering from thousands in the Dock-
stis and on board the ships, which was taken up by
41,' e on the Essex shore. The cheering continued
h era" he minutes, and was repeatedly acknowledged
li,
Y
ew r 'Majesty in the most affable and grace-
, kanner. Indeed her Majesty seemed quite de-
,,,,,t'ted with the cordial and hearty manner in which she
kir:. greeted. She repeatedly turned towards the Tea-
bar an .
thronged d acknledged the cheers of the veterans, who the upper-deck, by bowing and smiling. Eer

Majesty, we are. happy to say, looked. uncommonly
well, and seemed to take a great interest in
the whole of the proceedings. She was dressed in
a blue satin dress, with a white crape hood, trimmed
with blue riband, and wore a white chip bonnet, orna-
mented with blue feathers. Prince Albert, who also
seemed in exellent health, was dressed in plain clothes.
He wore, however, the star and riband of the Order of
the Garter. Shortly after the Royal party entered the
booth they were joined by Admiral Lord A. Beauclerc,
Capt. Hornby,R.N., the Superintendent of the Dockyard,
Sir William Symons, and other officers of the dock-yard.
Her Majesty and suite, accompanied by these distin-
guished officers, and also by Earl Minto, then proceeded
to walk round the Trafalgar, Sir William Symons ex-
plaining to her Majesty and the Prince the process by
which the launch was to be effected. Her Majesty
seemed to take great interest in these explana-
tions, and, from her manner, she appeared to be ad-
dressing various questions to Sir Wm. Symons, on the
subject. During the whole of her progress round the
ship her Majesty was loudly cheered ; and on her return-
ing to the Royal booth, the same enthulasra was exhi-
bited as when she first entered it. Her Maijesty then
came forward, and stood immediately in front of the booth,
and remained there until after the launch had taken place.
A gun was fired, and the sound of knocking away the
blocks was heard, and every eye was directed towards the
ship. " She moves, she moves!" was the cry, and
slowly and majestically, " like a thing of life,"
in all the calmness of conscious power, did the
noble vessel glide, into that element which is
henceforth to be her home, the scene of her glories,
and over which she is to bear in triumph the glorious
standard of the Ocean Queen. Shouts of " Success to the
Trafalgar," "Hurra," rent the air, as having run out nearly
across the river, she swung to her anchor and was
brought up. A more imposing and majestic sight was never
witnessed, and several old naval officers who were pre-
sent, who had frequently seen in other dockyards
launches of large ships of war, declared that they had
never seen one to equal that of the Trafalgar. Immedi-
ately the launch was over the steamers and
small craft stood close in shore, in order
to give their passengers an opportunity of
seeing her Majesty, and as each vessel pass-
ed slowly, those on board enthusiastically
cheered the Royal party. Her Majesty was evidently
pleased and came forward bowing most affably, so that
all present had a full opportunity of seeing their
Sovereign. Her Majesty's condescending kindness and
affability was the theme of universal eulogium and won her
" golden opinion from all sects of men." The
Royal party then retired to the house of Captain
Hornby, who had the honour of entertaining her
Majesty to lunch : after which the Royal party left
Woolwich in their carriages for London, and were loudly
cheered during the whole of their progress. The Trafalgar
was taken in tow, by two steam tugs, and towed to her.
moorings off the dockyard, and to-morrow she will be
towed down to Sheerness where she will be docked,
preparatory to being coppered.
The day was exquisitely fine until about ten
minutes after the launch had taken place, when
a pelting shower came on, which played sad havoc
with the ladies, many of whom were exposed to
the pitiless storm from the absolute inability
of the town of Woolwich to afford accommodation
or even shelter to above one-fourth of those congregated
there to see the launch. It was with the greatest diffi-
culty that anything like conveyance to London could be
procured, every steamer and carriage was crammed.
No doubt many will be obliged to remain there all night.
We are happy to say that not a single accident of any
description has occurred. All the arrangements were
admirable, and reflect the highest credit on all concerned.