The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-14 00:00:00

ARCHIMEDEAN STEAM SCRS

The gentlemen interested in this great and novel pri"
ciple in steam navigation invited their friends to see°.
thhoeayr d
mighteir have beautifuln
opportunityvessel e o
f witnessing Archimedes,
pany them yesterday from Blackwall to Gravesend °D.
of Mr. Smith's invention. James Mackillop, Esq.*
Powles, Esq., John Loch, Esq., Matthow Forster, Esql
Henry Robinson, Esq., Mr. Forbes (one of the sons of
Sir Charles Forbes, Bart.), Messrs. Galloway ,ado hepr;
kins, the eminent engineers, and about twenty ""d
individuals of high standing in the scientific 411.,„
commercial world, including some naval effiee—
of distinction and foreigners, were of the PEI'
ni ore:
'rile weather, in the early part of the
but soon
ing, was unfavourable for the excursion;
intoherdseurcthas;
after mid-day the clouds dispersed, and the atmosphere
became as bright and pleasant as could be desired. rf
commander of the Archimedes, after making a little dig;
play of her capabilities off the Brunswick Wharf, receive:
his company on board, and at once started in the fine ;
style conceivable towards Gravesend, but with the tide an,
wind against him. From the position of the propeller,
which a description has already been given in The uji:
it may be supposed that the vessel causes but little sweict
The fact is, she causes no more than a sailing vessel wen.
do going at the same speed, the only trifling
ance of the water being at the bow. The action of in.:
steamer was throughout most perfect, and called
expressions of admiration from every one on board. gu f
advantage she possesses over the ordinary vessel from
Which e
the same class, the paddle-wheels of
their situation never acquire the necessary tneigtanc
agitated ses,
and one or the other of which, in an
is constantly out of the water alto ether, needs n°
tration. The screw at the stern, bgein under water;
g ever erns'
throws not away its labours, nor is it exposed to ext
tbs
injury, like the great unsightly paddle-wheels of
combinie:
common steam-vessel—a circumstance which,
with other important considerations, leads to the cone id
distur.e_
sion that it must completely supersede them. In g "I.avby
action the screw is not by any possibility to be got a,
the enemy, whereas the old-fashioned exposed
be knocked to atoms the very first shot. Again, sonislinr
a stearnen_
that any accident occurred to the machinery,
Pate
like the Archimedes, propelled by Mr. Smith's
prettY,
a
screw, may, in two minutes, be converted into as
sailer as ever walked the waters. In the course of T.
short trip the steam was taken off, and canvass hoist e%
and the wind being, for a short interval, in her favour, tutu
Archimedes ran up the river at the rate of from 811
seven knots an hour. hich
An example was also given of the facility with w ed
the vessel puts about. No play whatever was requirre,
for the purpose. The movement was effected, as it Weep,
upon a pivot. Two eminent Parsee shipbuilders wrest
paddle mig7
among the guests, and they seemed to take a deep inter
in all that passed.
The Archimedes went a few miles beyond sea
ireatbe
and, after passing a most agreeable day, and eninY-ngwere
hospitalities of the captain on board, the comP!ln/
landed at Blackwall at an early hour in the evening* •