The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-11 00:00:00

TRIAL TRIP OF THE NEW IRON

STEAMER CAMBRIA.

On Thursday a trial of the beautiful now iron steamer
Cambria, constructed by Mr. John Laird, of Birkenhead,
was made between this port and the Menai Strait, under
the command of Lieut. Keane, R.N. The Cambria is the
property of the Chester and Holyhead Railway Company,
and is intended, when the works at Holyhead are completed,
to ply between that station and Kingstown, in con-
nexion with, or rather in extension of, the railway. She
is an exceedingly beautiful vessel, of fine model, re-
markably neat appearance, and great strength. The
utmost care and skill have been exercised in so con-
structing her that she may combine the best qualities of
a seaboat with the highest amount of speed. The fol
lowing aro the particulars of her dimensions, &c.

THE VESSEL.

Length of water-line
Beam ... •••
Draft of water, about
Tonnage, about

... 193 ft.
... 27 ft.
... 9 ft. 3 in.
... 700 tons.

ENGINES.

Diameter of cylinder ...
Length of stroke ... ...
Diameter of paddle-wheels ...
Number of strokes per minute
Power ••• ••• ••.

73 in.
5 ft.
28 ft. 6 in.
24 to 25.
370 horse.

The result of the trial was in all respects highly satis-
factory. The speed of the vessel was, during the trip,
ascertained to be full seventeen miles an hour, and on
this rate there will, no doubt, be a considerable
improvement when she comes under the manage-
ment of her regular officers and crew, and when the
engines have been worked into full facility of action.
She had on board all the weight which she will have to
carry on her station, so that the trial was a perfectly
fair one in this as well as all other respects. She steers
remarkably well, and, as she is altogether free from
tremulous motion, she will be an exceedingly pleasant
boat for passengers.
The Cambria steamed from the Sloyne at eleven
o'clock on Thursday morning, having on board a large
party of ladies and gentlemen, who, as the day was calm
and brilliant, were in the highest spirits, anticipating
from their marine excursion a full measure of en-
joyment. The vessel had to ply against a strong tide
throughout the whole distance, and, as it was feared
there would net be water enough in the Rock Channel,
she left the Mersey by the Victoria Channel, which
took her considerably out of her direct course. Notwith-
standing these disadvantages, and that the speed was more
than once slackened for the purpose of making observa-
tions on the working of the engines, &c., she made Beau-
marls in the short space of three hours and twenty mi-
nutes. The sea, during the whole passage, was as smooth
as a millpond, and though the day was intensely hot,
with scarcely a breath of air, the speed of the steamer
produced a breeze for those on board that was deliciously
refreshing. Under these circumstances the passengers,
ladies as well as; gentlemen, enjoyed the voyage
exceedingly. But, sweet and refreshing as was the
air, the delighted voyagers were not left, like
Hamlet, to feed on that " chameleon's dish."
About half-past one o'clock Mr. Laird invited his
friends to lunch in the cabin, where a substantial cold
collation was set out, with good store of champagne and
other wines, to which welcome repast the guests did
ample justice, for though air, be it ever so pure, proves,
accordine. to Shakespere, but sorry food for capons,
it provides a most healthy sauce for those birds
when they appear properly dished amongst the
other plenishrnents of a well-covered table. We
forbear to write of the beauty of the ladies or the
fashion of their garments, or the influence and rank
of the gentlemen, for such topics are exceedingly trite,
threadbare as a beggar's garment, and, consequently, far
from complimentary. It is more to the purpose and
more gratifying to be able to say, that the company con-
sisted of most intelligent, well-informed, and cheerful
individuals of both sexes, and it will be readily con-
ceived that, with such a party, the time passed most
agreeably.
The vessel lay to for a short time off Beaumaris, and
then steamed up to the Suspension-bridge, where many
of the party wont on shore, some on the Anglesea and
some on the Bangor side of the strait. They amused them-
selves by inspecting the bridge, the iron tubes that are in
course of construction for the Britannic-bridge, and
other objects of interest. Shortly before six o'clock
the vessel departed for Liverpool, taking back with her
the majority of the party whom she had carried out ;
several, however, remaining to return by the Holyhead
Railway, from Bangor to Chester, and thence by the
Cheshire Junction Railway to Liverpool. The steamer
reached the Mersey about nine o'clock. Those who
went by railway arrived in Liverpool a few minutes
before midnight.—Liverpool Albion.

SENTENCE ON ROBERT ROSS DIR.-011 Friday
the Recorder of Bristol proceeded to pass sentence on
Mr. Dix. The Learned Judge said—" Robert Dix, you
have been convicted on an indictment charging you with
embeazling the moneys of Mr. Christopher George.
Tho indictment charged you with the embezzlement
of three different sams:—ln November, of 201.; in
February following of 531. and 1434 9s. 9d. Your
case has undergone the most minute investigation at the
hands of a patient jury, and you have had also the bene-
fit of learned counsel, who brought forward every point
in your favour, and after a long investigation, the jury re-
turned a verdict of guilty, in which I fully concur. The
charge against you, a person of station and good education,
is of a most serious description ; and, considering your
situation of trust, one of great aggravation. You
had been a partner, and when your partnership had
expired, you assumed the subordinate situation of a
clerk. In 1844 you continued in that situation, and
it was then your duty to receive debts and im-
mediately to pay them over to Mr. George. In-
stead of so doing, on three occasions, and on how
many others I know not, you appropriated moneys to
your own use, in November and in February, all of
which it was your duty to enter in a book and pay
over. You then receive an intimation from Mr. Fletcher
that you were dishonest, and you then take the step of
absconding, and carrying away those books, the ab-
sence of which must cause inconvenience to the cre-
ditors. You are then captured, and escape, and are
finally re-captured in April. I have pondered much
over your case, and it is very difficult to decide
whether you should not be transported; but there is
one circumstance of some small degree of palliation,
although it does not detract from your dishonesty. I
must, however, give you a very lengthened term of
imprisonment. You had, it appears, been a partner
up to 1846; after that time it was equally clear that
Mr. George's accounts were in a very unsatisfactory
state ; and you might possibly have thought that
more was duo to you than 5831. You might plead
that you were kept in a state of ignorance; and having
been a partner, you perhaps thought yourself in a diffe-
rent condition from an ordinary clerk, and to have
imagined that you had a greater interest in the concern
than you really possessed. This, however, cannot affect
the dishonesty of the action. The sentence of the Court,
therefore, is, that for this offence you be imprisoned in
the gaol of this city for the term of eighteen calendar
months."—Farley's Bristol Journal.

MR. BEARD'S
DAGUERREOTYPE PORTRAITS.—
Daguerreotype portraiture is still a mystery and a
marvel : the results of the action of light on surfaces
chemically prepared are made more and more evident to
our senses by the efforts of manipulators ; but, so far
from bringing us nearer to a clear understanding of the
process, serve, in many cases, to contradict our previous
views, without supplying new ones. None of the mys-
teries of religion at which sceptics laugh " because they
are contrary to reason"—their reason—are so irre-
concilable with our ignorance, so apparently impossible,
as results which are now every day before us. Just
think of this fact, for example, that a ray of light of a
violet colour, falling upon a common sewing-needle will
convert it into a magnet! Who can understand it?
We know little or nothing about light. The improve •
meets which Mr. Beard has made in the process by
which portraits are produced, at his establishments in
King-William-street, City, and the Polytechnic Institu-
tion, result from an entirely different treatment of the
plate from what previous knowledge would have sug-
gested. The effect, with which alone we are able to
deal, is greatly improved ; white and its modifications
are more perfectly produced than was formerly the case,
and that, too, without lessening the force and depths of
the blacks, which was all the difficulty; the colouring,
too. is less superficial, more a part of the plate than it
was, rendering many of the recent specimens which we
have had an opportunity of examining perfectly life-like
and beautiful.—Builder.
Fairlop fair was held on Friday, and was attended
by many thousands of holiday makers. Those amphi-
bious vehicles, the boats, mounted on carriages, with
masts and rigging—the Union, belonging to the water-
men of Wapping, and the Maggot—were the principal
attractions on the road. Each boat contained twenty-five
persons and a band of musicians, and each was drawn by
six horses, gaily caparisoned. The wives and families of
the watermen and blockmakers followed in open landaus.
A third boat was started for the first time on this occa-
sion. It was built by Mr. Everest, a watermen, at an
expense of no 'less than 2301., for a Wapping club of
water-side men. It was rigged out like a man, of-
war brig, and gaily decorated, and contained twenty-
nine passengers. Seven open landaus, each drawn
by four horses, and containing well-dressed women
and children, followed. This novel procession, as it
proceeded along she Mile-end road, was loudly cheered
by the people assembled. The forest once reached, the
parties alighted and roamed about, enjoying the
beauties of the woodland scenery. There were a great
many theatrical booths and shows on the forest, near the
site of the Old Fairlop Oak, which, after standing for
three or four centuries, was partially destroyed, about
thirty years ago, through the carelessness of some visi-
tors, who lighted a fire within its trunk. The remains
of this monarch of the forest were soon afterwards felted.
Upwards of 5,000 persons came down to Ilford by the
Eastern Railway. From there it was a pleasant walk
along the green lanes to the fair. Numerous omnibuses,
flys, cabs, vans, and other vehicles were also in requisi-
tion, and the Forest echoed with the cheers and shouts
of countless thousands. The boats were illuminated on
their return to London in the evening, and an immense
quantity of fireworks were discharged from them at
various places on their journey home.
How POOR'S RATES ARE INCREASED. Robert
Blake, the man who cohabited with Hanuali Parker until
she murdered two of his children (tor which :ibmroeuselhiet
was executed a short time ago at Newgate),
before the magistrates at the Birmingham police-office
on Thursday, charged with having deserted his wife and
child, who have at times been relieved by the parish
authorities of that borough since January. 1843. It
appeared from the evidence of a relieving officer that he
apprehended Blake at Mr. Plummer's saw-mills, Golden-
lane, St. Luke's, on a warrant ordered by the guardians
of the poor of the parish of Birmingham, and that his
wife and children had received relief amounting to
1.10/. Os. 7d. He was convicted, and sentenced to two
months' imprisonment in the House of Correction at
Warwick, with hard labour. This man's criminality has
been very expensive to the public.