The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-24 00:00:00

THE GREAT BRITAIN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—having read in your paper of yesterday an
article headed " Hint. for Floating the Great Britain,"
which " Hints," in my opinion, come nearer to the prac-
tical effect of doing so than any of those proposed, and
with much less expense, I would beg leave of " Hints,"
&c., to allow me to tail on to his one or two of mine.
First, clear the vessel completely of every incurn-
bream within her, machinery and all its appurtenances,
having ready such a number of strong empty water-
buts
(tight and well bunged) as would complete two
tiers of them stowed regularly in her hold, fore and aft,
(in the manner Indiamen formerly used to stow their
water for long voyages), securing them in the Great
Britain to the keelson, either by lashing or beams
athwartship ; when the ground tier is complete, stow
the second the same way, securing them firmly by cross-
beams and upright stantions to the deck above ; when
this operation is finished then apply the brewer's vats,
in the manner proposed by "Hints," only with this dif-
ference :—they should be placed when the vessel is as
nearly high and dry as possible. When all is secure
and so far ready then the gear for heaving off should t e
got ready and well manned. Allow, then, the flowing
tide to enter the hold of the ship ; as she fills the buoy-
ancy of the casks within and the vats without will float
the body. Should all so far succeed all after is easy, as
when in deep water the leaks can then be stopped by
sweeping her bottom with a sheet of the " Galvanised
India Rubber ;" having it ready, with guys and hauling
ropes, such as are fitted to a thumtree sail at sea to stop
a leak. Your admitting these suggestions a space in
your national valuable paper will oblige an
OLD SAILOR.
Woolwich, Nov. 20, 1846.

A FEASIBLE PLAN TO FLOAT
THE GREAT BRITAIN.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—By the following plan I would engage to float
the Great Britain, with the aid of a spring-tide and a
moderate sea, at a comparatively small expense.
I would give orders for about 3,000 square yards of
air-proof or India rudder sail-cloth, made into forty-
eight bags, each measuring about twenty feet by twelve,
divided into compartments in order to increase their
strength. To each of these bags I would fasten (in the
process of manufacture) cords, twelve inches apart all
round the edge, with loose ends about eighteen inches
long, about the size of a man's thumb.
Having prepared these forty-eight air-tight bags, each
with a flexible tube at the upper end, to reach the deck,
and communicate with the interior of the bags. I would
transport them from the manufactory to the ship. The
whole bulk, I calculate would be equal to about one o':
the vats referred to by your correspondent, yesterday.
Being so far Deady, my attention would be next directed
to secure teem to the sides of the ship, keeping them
as low down as possible ; to accomplish which, I would
excavate the sand as near her stern-post as possible, and
pass a rod or bodkin to the other side, drawing through
first a cord, and afterwards a cable long enough to pass
under the ship, and reach the deck on both sides, and
be secured. there. This done, I would, if possible, con-
tinue this process every twelve feet (the width of each
bag), until I hap prepared a space between each cable
for my twenty-four bags, on each side. To steady
which, and to afford the means of securing my
bags to her sides, I would securely fasten spars hori
zontally, twelve or twenty-four feet long, as low down is
possible to the before-mentioned cables. Thus far pre-
pared, having all the bags in readiness, and machinery
on board to inflate them with atmospheric air (gas
would do better, and it might be nucleon board if all the
coal is not removed), I commence at the proper time the
fastening the bags to the ship's sides, by means of the
upright cables, horizontal spars, and the short ropes,
wove into the bags, in the way before mentioned, leaving
sufficient slack for expansion, and no more. The weather
being favourable, I consider my bags safe, but in any
event, such as the bursting of one or more compart-
ments in the bags, the difference would be perfectly
immaterial, each being independent of the other. I esti-
mate the cost of the bags at 7501. (mind, I am not in the
India rubber trade), and when they have performed their
work, and the iron monster is safe in harbour, they
would realise nearly the cost price, for by reducieg them
to the proper sizes, they would make excellent mat-
tresses for either sea or land, and in any great emer-
gency would be available as life preservers. I have full
confidence in the success of the plan, and should be happy
to undertake the superintendence of it for the pro-
prietors. C. R. C.
Greenwich, Nov. 20, 1846.

We are requested to contradict the statement erro-
neously made in several of the morning papers yester-
day, of the recall of the French Ambassador. The
Count de St. Aulaire is shortly expected at Hertford
House, to resume his diplomatic functions.—Times.
Samuel Palmer, Esq. (Mayor of Great Yarmouth),
has been appointed, under the Wreck and Salvage Bill,
Deputy-Receiver of Admiralty droits, for the Norfolk
coast, vacant by the resignation of Francis Wheatley, Esq.
ALARMING Ac c 'DENT TO VISCOUN T:CLIFDEN.—
We regret to announce that a most serious accident oc-
curred to Viscount Clifden, the son of Lady Dover, and
nephew to the Duchess of Sutherland and Viscount
Morpeth, between the hours of ene and two o'clock yes-
terday afternoon. His Lordship, who was mounted on
a high-spirited horse, was in the act of crossing the
Richmond Railway-bridge, in Rochampton-lane, when
the animal reared, frightened, as it is said, at a timber-
carriage, and placing his fore feet upon the parapet,
threw his Lordship on to the line, and literally across the
metal. His Lordship was speedily resued from his
perilous position, and conveyed with all due alacrity to
the residence of Lady Dover, at Roehampton. Medical
assistance was promptly procured, but we have not as
yet learnt what the exact injuries are that his Lordship
has sustained.

A daring attempt at robbery was made in Liverpool
on Friday. In the middle of the day a lad, who was
carrying his master's cash-box into a court devoted to
offices branching out of Chapel-street, was knocked down
by a fellow with a bludgeon, who ran off with the cash-
box. He was puisued by a crowd of nearly 300 persons,
yet, strange to say (dropping the stick and box), he
escaped. The poor lad remains seriously ill.
OPENINGS or NEW RAILWAYS.—The opening of
the South-Eastern Extension Branch to Tonbridgo
Wells, and the company's branch line from Ramsgate to
Margate, which were to have taken place yesterday,
were again deferred for a month. The former has been
sanctioned by the Board of Trade for public traffic nearly
a month. The postponement has caused great disap-
pointment. The Ely and Peterborough branch of the
Eastern Counties is finished, and was to have been
opened yesterday for cattle traffic only, but the late
rains having occasioned a slight subsidence in various
parts of the permanent road, it was deferred till the
middle of the ensuing month. The Hertford branch, as
a double railway, is announced to be opened on Wed-
nesday next. That of the Eastern Union Extension,
from Ipswich to Bury St. Edmunds, is fixed for the 30th
inst.; it is intended only for cattle and goods. The
trafc for passengers is deferred until the road has
become perfectly consolidated.
CONSERVANCY or THE RlVER.—Notices have been
given by the Corporation of the city of London of their
intention to apply to Parliament to extend their power
for the conservancy of the river; to enable them to
widen, deepen, dredge the same, and to remove all
obstructions; to take down or build bridges, and to levy
toils; to erect steam-boat and other piers between
Yantiet-creek and Staines; and that all acts, charters,
and customs which may be inconsistent with, the power
now sought to be obtained shall be altered, varied, ex-
tinguished, and repealed.
NEW HOLYHEAD PACKETS.—The four new packets
ordered by the Admiralty for the Holyhead station are
to be called, respectively, the Caradock, the Llewellyn,
the Kathleen, and the Banshee. One is to be built by
Messrs. Ditchburn and Mare, it is understood, on the
lines of the Surveyor of the Navy, engines by Messrs.
Seawood and Co.; one of wood, on the links of Mr. 0.
W. Lang, with Penn's engines; one e•iigine and vessel
by Messrs. Miller and Co.; and one vessel by Mr. J.
Laird, of Birkenhead, the engines by Messrs. Forrester,
of this town.—Liverpool Albion.
ACCIDENT FROM GUN COTTON. On Sunday
evening James Richardson, a young gentleman residing
in
oiriosto Bdtct
!sborough-terrace, Pimlico, and several other young
men,ppcho.'
were in the kitchen trying experiments with gun
mwai nciuhnd
clgaher
outfelldsi
injured,
o jn theuo
wrne
adt wsh:efnoaduncondowdt cotton,
lying
is ,ng andright
on whicht whenh
ene instantly
e floora n
light, ttl
oy w
twaeil
with
a)h,s-
anfria;e,cdbe a c
blowing
destroyed. The other parties present were more
frightpened than hurt.