The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-05 00:00:00

A NEW PACKET SHIP.

The William H. Harbeck, a new ship of 1,500 tons,
arrived from New York during the past week, and, in
point of excellence of material, symmetry of mould, or
general equipment for the trade for which she is intended,
we may with safety place her on a par with any vessel
extant. She was built for the owners, after one of whom
she is named, by Messrs. Perine, Patterson, and Stack, of
New York,whosc names will.be familiar to the public as the
constructors of the Jamestown, the Enterprise, the De
Witt Clinton, &c., &c., in fact of a fleet of ships that
cannot have failed to have established their names as
first class naval architects. The American measurement
of the William H. Harbeck is 872 tons. Her length over
all is 175 feet; length of keel, 160 feet; her beam, 36
feet; and the depth of her hold, 23 feet. Her exterior
appearance presents all that nobility observable in vessels
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she has a full overhanging bulwark, which gives her great
capacity on deck, and tends to keep her dry. Her car-
rying properties are fully proved by her having brought
to this port a dead weight of 1,460 tons. Her speed in
sailing must cause her to rank as " a clipper." Owing
to the great increase of emigration to the- United States,
vessels latterly constructed have been provided more
amply for the accommodation of passengers; and the
William H. Harbeck has certainly been made in every
way subservient to their comfort. The upper deck is
well sheltered by a lofty bulwark. and forms a splendid
promenade. The 'tween decks are 7 It. 10 inches in
height, are well lighted and ventilated, forward, by a batch
running down to the keelson, which, when occasion re-
quires, will carry the whole down-draught from the fore-
sail completely throfigh the ship—aft, by numerous
apertures running to the main deck. In connexion
with this passenger apartment there are four hatches,
with houses to protect them from the weather. The
second cabin is built on deck ; adjoining is the
galley and the passengers' cooking ranges, but protected
from any accident from fire by iron bulk-heads. The
main cabin, though not particularly large, is handsomely
fitted with pilasters of satinwood, inlaid and relieved
with rosewood and zebrawood, the plinths of black
marble, and the caps dead white and gold, and inter-
spersed with panels of the same material. The ceiling,
or quarter-deck flooring, is white and gold; but
throughout the vessel the general aim seems to
have been more at substantial and comfortable
excellence than gingerbread decorations. The
strength of this ship is, for a merchant vessel, somewhat
uncommon. Her guard-board streak is six inches thick,
and is bolted horizontally into the keel. The outside
planking is wholly of white oak and yellow pine. The
main and lower deck knees are of great strength (ave-
raging 22 inches at the throte), and well fastened. The
deck staunchions are below kneed to the keel, and are
bolted through large iron roove plates to the decks,
which give her an extraordinary strength. The water-
ways axe 16 inches square, and immedietely above them
the thickness of her timbers and planking of her sides
exceeds two feet; in fine, nothing that material could
contribute has been neglected. The William 11. Har-
beck is built expressly for one of Mr. John Taylor
Crook's line of packets from this port. She is com-
manded by Captriin Robert Shinn, who, we hope, will
long enjoy the handling of so noble a craft.—Liverpool
Mercury.

LONDON BAILEES' ASSIZE ASSOCIATION.—Last
night, at seven o'clock, a meeting of master-bvkers, re-
presenting 'rations districts of the metropolis, was held
at the Londen•Coffee-house, Snow-hill, for the purpose
of receiving the report of the committee appointed to
draw up a circular for distribution among the members
of the trade, in order to adopt measures for obtainirg
uniformity in the price of bread throughout the metro-
polis. Mr. Edwards, of Shadwell, was in the chair,
and briefly addressed the meeting, stating the course
which had been adopted by the committee since the pre-
vious meeting of the association. Mr. William Brookes,
the secretary, read the circular. It was finally resolved
that the circular should be distributed. Gentlemen who
represented St. Pancras, Kingsland, the Eastern Union,
&c., made their report, and it was stated that some emi-
nent millers had promised their co-operation and contri-
butions. Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and
the meeting separated.

_ .
THE SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW.--The
arrangements for the annual exhibition of cattle, agri-
cultural implements, and produce, brought forward to
compete for the prizes awarded by the Smithfield Cattle
Club, was yesterday finally completed. Yesterday, at
noon, was appointed by the stewards of the club, as the
latest hour at which any specimens for competition could
be received, and both in point of number and general
appearance (symmetry, and not outrageous fatness, being
now accepted by the judges as the criterion of excel-
lence), they far exceed the exhibitions of former years.
Ills Royal Highness Prince Albert has`contributed some
fine specimens of the Scotch breed in the cattle classes,
and is also a competitor in the sheep and pig classes.
Daring the day his Grace the Duke of Richmond (the
President of the Club) inspected the specimens, and ex-
pressed himself much gratified with the superiority of
the collection. With regard to the show of implements,
the entries considerably exceed those of former years,
and it is stated that many new and valuable improve-
ments, iu aid of agriculture, will be submitted.