The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-17 00:00:00

COLONIAL NAIL STEAM-SHIPS.

The anticipations expressed by several witnesses
examined before Lord Jocelyn's Committee, last
session, as regarded the efficiency of the screw-
propeller, and its adoption in ocean steamers, appear
to be in course of early realisation. We are informed
that at this moment in the Clyde alone above 17,000
tons of steam-shipping, both in wood and iron, are
under construction, the greater part of which will be
fitted with the screw. It is also understood that the
building yards of the Thames are more actively em-
ployed than they have been for many years, and that
the most eminent shipwrights and engineers have
orders so numerous that it will require many months
before they can be executed. Extensive engagements
have, we believe, been entered into by the Peninsular
and Oriental, the General Screw, the Pacific, and
West India Mail Steam Companies respectively, for
building large steamers of a capacity and power
superior to any yet employed ; nor should we omit
to mention that the South American Steam Navi-
gation Company (whose projection we lately
mentioned to run three large iron steamers be-
tween Liverpool and Rio ana the Plate) are ad-
vancing most vigorously under their charter; so
that we hope before long the spirit of rivalry
excited ,by American competition will exhibit its
beneficial effects in the character of our steam
marine. Another incentive to this desideratum will
be found in the Australian and African mails now
called for by Governments; but to the terms of these,
or rather of the former, we must solicit attention in
some little detail. For the fourth time the form of adver-
tising fur tenders for the conveyance of the Australian
mails has been exhibited by the Admiralty, but whether
with a bond fide view of carrying out the undertaking,
or as a repetition of an old ruse to cajole for a while
longer the unfortunate colonists, we are, at a loss to
conjecture. The advertisement in the present instance
presents a novel feature in requiring the service to be
performed either " in continuation of the existing line
between England and the Cape, or fora new line extend-
ing the whole way from England to Sydney ;" whereas
in all previous cases tenders were invited in connexion
with the overland and Indian route. The change, no
doubt, has been produced in consequence of the re-
port of Lord Jocelyn's Committee, by whom, as is
already known, the route viii the Cape of Good Hope
was specially recommended ; and it is expected, as a
matter of course, that the General Screw Steam Navi-
gation Company will obtain the contract. The Admi-
ralty notice to which we allude is alike worthy of the
quarter from which it has emanated and of the lay
lordling who superintends the steam-packet branch of
the department. Where it intends to be particular it
is simply vague, and where it should be explanatory
it is guilty of omission. There is not a single
provision which indicates the means by which
the mails are to be delivered at or received
from Van Diemen's Lend, New Zealand, or Swan
River, and the rapidly-thriving settlement of More-
ton Bay is equally left out of consideration. We
cannot imagine any escape for such an oversight, un-
less it be in contemplation to provide for the mail ser-
vice to New Zealand and Moreton Bay by a supple-
mental line via Panama, and which the recent de-
monstration through the lake of Nicaragua would
seem to suggest. It is, however, almost idle to spe-
culate as to the ultimate scope or result of the Admi-
ralty scheme, as we are informed it is in a course of
alteration almost daily ; and the officials at Somerset-
house honestly warn all applicants that the proposed
arrangements may receive further and probably im-
portant modifications. We shall, however, watch the
process. and see how far the public interests may be
affected, either injuriously or otherwise, by changes
which can only emanate from ignorance or caprice.—
Liverpool Albion.

ENCROACHMENTS IN ST. PANCRAS.
A Correspondent of the Builder says—l beg to call
your attention to the New-road and City-road, from
Trinity Church eastward. For many years past I have
observed with great regret the progressive encroachments
on the gardens in front of the houses, particularly in
those parts near the end of Tottenham•court-road, by
the erection of shops, &c., close upon the footway; so
that this once open thoroughfare is now contracted into
the dimensions of au ordinary street; excluding in a
great degree the sir and view, and destroying its proper
and distinguishing character as a kind of Boulevard.
The increasing value of the frontage for the purposes of
trade is obviously the inducement to these erections, and
it would be useless to urge against this private advan-
tage the consideration of the public good: I had, there-
fore, observed and deplored the growth of this evil as un-
controllable, and without remedy. I was surprised,