The Sun.
London, England, 1840-06-04 00:00:00

THE ARCtiIMEDPS STEAMER.

In reply to the inquiry of our Cork friend, relative
to the precise nature of the screw. and its application on
board the Archimedes, we are enabled, through a Uor-
respondent, to furnish the following details:—
The propeller consists of one circumference of the
Archimedian screw, placed in the dead wood of the after
run of the vessel, below the water line, and immediately
before the stern-post. The diameter of the screw is only
five feet nine inches. This spirt propeller is set in mo-
tion by an ordinary steam-engine. acting through the
dium of cog wheels, on a shaft rui.ning aft, along the
hold of the vessel, a little above the kelson, and the
rapidity of its revolutions drives the water with great
force on each side of the rudder not only giving the vessel
more speed than can he obtained by piddle wheels, but
an extraordlnary facility in steering. With the exeep•
tion of the funnel, the build, rig, and appearance of the
Archimedes, which is a rakish looking three-masieil
schooner of '237 tons, are entirely those of a fast pilling
craft and co,id sea boat. In a see way, with a tr,,n
wind on her b-am, the fastest steamer in aig!and would
have little chance with her, and with any adequate horse
power, her average rate with steam alone is iron 9 to 91
knots.

On Saturday last the Archi►►►edes exhibited her powers
on the canal at 13,istol, to a !digt, ass•.ulblage, when the
facility with which she worked, and the abs,-nce of uii
hat swell, which is caused by paddle wheels, excited
much surprise, and fully established the advantage of
the screw propeller as a river tug•.

WESF'S PICTURE OF THE AN

NUNCIATION

TO THE EDI 7 OR OF I'RE SUN.
Sr. Marylebnne, June 3, 1840.
Slll,—Tne Editor of the Art- Union (who seems to
shake hands at his morning rising, and remain on ex-
cellent terms with himself during the entire day), has
thought proper, in an article (.vtii'elt you copied into
our Paper), he ailed "Singukr Auction in his last.
number, to attack the Vestr) of St. Mdrylc bone relative
to the '' Annunciation Transparency,"painted by West.
for which he received !rum the old Select Vestry 8001..
anti which has just been sold by public aution for ten gui-
neas. H.• proceeds to reprobate the present Represen-
tative Vestry for selling the picture (although he admits
it has lain 14 years useless iu a lumber room), and their
incapability of appreciating this " work of art,"
aid lie proceeds pathetically to lament that " no public
spirited individual was by (where was he ?) to rescue it
from the clutches of these parish Vandals, in order to
have it placed where it might be seen and valued."
He also states, with his usual vet acity, that " within a
few minutes after it was knocked down, the purchaser
was offered, and ietused, tea times the amount he save
for it."

It is very evident that this sapient editor knew very
little about the matter, or, what is worse, has not deemed
it derogatory to his editorial dignity to highly colour his
statement.

First. The transparent picture by West was adver-
tised and exhibited, some few years since, at the Queen's
Bazaar, for sale, withciut a single offer being made for it.
Second. Thirty-one advertisements in the public
prints, in April last, besides korn; thousand posting-
bills all over the town, announced tie time of sale, and
the subject to be sold by auction.
Third. Cards of particulars, and invitations were
sent to the Church Commissioners, to the entirety of
the Bishops, all the clergy of the parish (about thirty
persons), and to the members of the old Select Vestry,
who so remorselessly vated 8001. of the ratep.tyers'
money for this " splendid production by WEst," but
not one of these grave, just, and honourable personages
thought proper , to attend to "rescue it from the
clutches of these. parish Vandals."
Fourth. Toe only bidder, to whom it was knocked
down, ittatead of having had ten t.mes the amount of
tered for it, l►-as had no'offer at all ; and from the test
as to value to which it had been put, it bids fair to re-
main on his hands as long as it lay useless in the lum-
ber-room of the Court-house.

In conclusion, if the editor of the Art-Union had
seen the" transparent piaure," he perhaps would not
have been so much surprised at its being sold for so
small a sum—but I beg pardon, I was presuming h,
cluid form a correct opinion of the merits of a picture
—a suppo,nion which Ow pages of the twaddling Art-
Union would by no means bear me out in forming.
I am, Sir, your ohrilfrot sf,rv.int,
WILLIAM KENSETT.