The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-15 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

WOOD AND IRON AS MATERIALSI7OITSTRATI:VESSELS.
—Several paragraphs have recently appeared in some of the
daily journals relative to the performances of the Garland,
a wooden steam-vessel, built by Messrs. Fletcher of Lime-
house, from the designs of Mr. Oliver Lang, jun., assistant
master-builder of Chatham Dockyard, which was built for
the Dover station, where the Violet and Onyx iron steam-
vessels, built by Messrs. Ditcbburn and Mare, are also sta-
tioned. It appears from a recent return made by Captain
Mercer, the superintending officer on the Dover station
(who accompanied the vessels in their trials of speed), to
the Board of Admiralty, that the relative speed and draught
of water of the three steamers is as follows. It should be
mentioned that each vessel had 22 tons of coal on board, and
that the trials were made in smooth water. Garland
(wooden steamer), 14 3 knots per hour; draught of
water aft. 6 feet 1 inch; forward, 5 feet 10 inches.
Violet (iron), speed, 14 1 knots; draught, 6 feet
4 inches aft, 6 feet 2 inches forward. Onyx (iron),
6 feet 6 inches aft, 6 feet 2 inches forward. From this return
it would appear at first sight that the Garland is the supe-
rior vessel, her increased speed being nearly a third of a mile
per hour beyond that attained by the Violet, or in the ratio,
43 to 42. She also made the quickest passage on record from
Ostend to Dover. steaming from port to port in 3 hours 55
minutes. A little closer examination of the merits of the
rival boats will, however, lead us to pause before we deter-
mine the relative superiority of the Garland. The Garland
is confessedly a slight boat, built for one object only, speed,
and accordingly her draught of water is less than either of
the other vessels. The Violet and Onyx, though built for
speed, are also built to stand the chopping seas in the Chan-
nel. We must have better evidence, the test, at least, of
six months wear and tear, before we accord the palm to the
" oak" over the " iron gnome," or pronounce the Garland
to be a better boat than the Violet. The former is, not-
withstanding, a good boat, and reflects great credit on her
constructor.

THE GREAT BLAST AT DOWNHILL.—The Be fast
Chronicle gives the following account of this affair :—" This much-
looked-for event came off on Saturday, and was completely success-
ful In the early part of the day vast numbers flocked to the place
from all parts of the neighbourhood and placed themselves in groups
on various eminences commanding a view of the operations. Eight
steamers, from different places, one the St. Mungo from Belfast,
conveyed to the scene of action numbers of scientific men
anxious to witness the powerful effects of the heavy charge of
gunpowder on the solid rock to be cleared away fur the rail-
way. Three flags were raised on a prominent situation to mark
the progress of the operations. The taking down of the first was
the preparative ; the second indicated that all was in readi-
ness, and when the third was struck and a gun fired, the galvanic
battery was applied, and immediately, with a booming noise, the
tremendous mass of rock, heaving outwards, lay prostrate under the
powerftd agency skilfully applied to it. Great cheering from the
spectators succeeded the blast, and several bands of music struck up
triumphant airs en the occasion. A numerous company of ladies and
gentlemen assembled soon after in the adjoining large tunnel, where a
cold collation and abundance of choice wines were prepared, and in
this romantic spot, brilliantly lit up, hilarity and good humour pre-
vailed for several hours. Toasts and sentimeuts in honour of the oc-
casion were the order of the day, and many appropriate speeches
were delivered to the suPcess of the undertaking."
[ADVERTISEmENT.) —A CATHOLIC CLERGYMAN AND
HoLLowAY's rims .—A poor rson, who had been in a very declining
state of health for a cons.derabpele time,
and had
tried all the doctors
in his neighbourhood, without deriving the h
.4' least
Holloway's benefitcelebrated
,
has been
restored to perfect health in a few weeks
Pills, which were presented to the then dying man by a distinguished
member of the Catholic clergy. John Thompson, Esq., the proprie-
tor of the Armagh Guardian, can attest to the truth of this, as well
as other remarkable cures that have been effected in that part of Ire-
land, by the use of this invaluable medicine. Sold by all druggists,
arid at Prof r Holloway's Zstabilsbiniaut, 244, Strand, London.