The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-27 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF A FRIGATE.

The sight-loving inhabitants of Paris had on Sun-
day an opportunity of witnessing a spectacle such as
the oldest among them had never before seen, and
which the youngest may never see again—the hunch
of a frigate pierced for 40 guns, within the distance
of a pleaeant walk from the centre of the capital. So
great was the curiosity excited that for some hours
before the time announced for the launch every
road leading to the spot was thronged
with vehicles and foot passengers, and seats
in the ordinary conveyances leading there-
to were engaged six deep. Long before the appointed
hour the bridge of Neuilly was one mass of living
heads, and the opposite side of the river was thronged
with tens of thousands of curious spectators, whilst
scores of pleasure-boats crowded the river. One
o'clock was the hour fixed for the affair to come
off, but the.spectators were doomed to have their
patience put to the test, for it was nearly half-past
four before the vessel touched the water. Fortu-
nately there were two fine military bands present,
wno beguiled the time, and a large number of the
Orpheonists who sung a variety of glees. A few
minutes after four, a bustle at the entrance-gate
announced to the parties in the galleries, among
whom were a number of elegantly-dressed women,
the anxiously-expected arrival of the President of the
Republic. He came on horseback, dressed in plain
clothes, and only attended by two grooms. Oa arriv-
ing, he was greeted with a unanimous and hearty
shout of " Vive le President!" " Vive Napoleon !"
which was loudly repeated by everyone in the gal-
leries as he advanced down the yard to the seat pre-
pared for him. He appeared much gratified by his
reception, and
bowed repeatedly as he passed along.
u
Previously to the arrival of the President,he clergy
of the parish, of Neuil had gone through
ceremony of benediction, and the g the usual
moment the Presi.
dent reached his place, the last operations were pro-
ceeded with. To nautical men, the launch was one
of more than ordinary curiosity, from an inno-
vation on the usually adopted system of tending
part ofding the
vessel into the water stern foremost. The
the river, on the banks of which she was built, and
which is the inlet running between the
_IN borders_
11eu..,i
of
the park attached to the late royal Château of 1
and the small island opposite, is very narrow,
scarcely wider than the vessel' is long, and it.
was therefore necessary to adopt the plan of
launching her " broadside on." The principle is the
same, though doubtless more complicated. Instead of
two " ways" there were seven, whilst greater me-
chanical means is necessarily required to move the
vessel. That first of all levers, the wedge, however,
soon did, the business ; and as soon as the " doge
shores' were knocked away, a few heavy strokes
at the wedges placed at the inner or " shore" end
of the ways quickly set the mass in motion. The
vessel, which bears the name of the Ville de Paris, is
a very pretty craft, and is a perfect model of a 40-
gun frigate minus the keel, and about 5 feet below
the bends, thus giving her a fiat bottom, a plan
of building which was necessary to lessen her
draught of water. When afloat, however, this deli,
ciency is not visible. Her length on deck is about
150 feet, with a breadth of beam -of i 0 feet. Her
upper deck is flush fore and aft, and her height
be-
tween decks is a little more than six feet. She is
to be lightly rigged es a frigate,
_or the pup
and have the neces-
sary number of guns ion board f
teaching gunnery. When complete, her draft
water will be about about five and a half feet. This
vessel, which is built by a joint-stock company, with
the authorisation of the Government, is intended as a
practical and theoretical Preparatory Naval School,