The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-16 00:00:00

THE SUN,'"LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JULY 16, 1860.

day's run against the head wind, for noon, on Wed
nesday, the 20th, showed the vessel only to have
reached long. 22.54 deg., lat. 47.40 deg. or a dis-
tance of only 276 knots, very little more than 111
knots an hour. It was some consolation, however,
to know that during the morning the vessel had
been kept off her course to north-east and then
south-west for an hour and 40 minutes to ascertain
if any deviation had arisen in the compass, and this
loss of time had, of course, to be considered as so
much.off the run due west. Nevertheless, and in
spite of all excuses, it was felt to be a sad falling eff,
and caused general disappointment among the pas-
sengers, who, of course, as passengers, were bound
to be well-wishers of the ship, and who, to do them
justice, were all most sanguine of her success in
point of speed. The gloom, however, did not out-
last the dinner hour, and was quite forgotten in the
games that evening, when the passengers ran races,
jumped, climbed a rope hand over hand, and per-
formed other feats of strength and skill, till the
bugler blew " Polly, put the kettle on and we'll
have tea," a signal which always announced when
that refreshing meal was ready. On this day, as
On the previous, and, indeed, throughout the voyage,
we sighted other vessels, all of which bore down to-
wards us, dipping their ensigns over and over again
as a mute token of gladness and admiration for the
giant ship that was rushing over the water so easily,
and in comparison to them, at least, so fast.
THURSDAY, JUNE 21.
The weather was still cold, raw, and dull, and
a mist, which was neither a fog nor a shower,
though partaking largely of the attributes of both,
hung close upon us, Twelve noon gave us, long.
30.3 deg., lat. 46 16 deg., a run of 304 knots, or
nearly 13 knots an hour. This was better than the
previous day, though the want of steam was still as
keenly felt as ever, and Mr. Gooch and Mr. M'Len-
nan cast about in their minds as to the best means
of remedying such a serious clog on the chance of
a quick passage. On the valves of the paddle
boilers it was found that the weights which had
been so unfortunately removed could not be re-
placed without stopping the engines. With the
screw, however, it was different, as they were there
adjusted from inside the boilers, and of course could
only be altered when the boilers were empty, and,
no matter what the consequences short of danger,
it was' determined not to stop the engines for a
moment. Mr. M'Lennan had, therefore, to make
the best of the means at his disposal, and endeavour
to drive her as well as he could against the strong
north-westerly wind which blew all day. There
had evidently been a south-westerly gale blowing
in the latitude we were in this afternoon, for the
swell was strong. and high in that direction, and
the wind from the north made a rough broken sea
over which the Great Eastern, as in duty bound,
not only rolled but pitched. It has always been
said that she never "could or would pitch,
but the truth is that this ship does just the
same on a small scale that ordinary vessels in a sea
may do on a very large one. The motion in her is
reduced in exact proportion with her immense
height, bulk, and power, and the Great Eastern
against a head sea makes a slow majestic rise
and fall, where a steamer of 2,600 or even 3,000
tons would be labouring heavily, and perhaps
taking in green seas over her bows. On this Thurs-
day she dipped down below her hause pipes. It
was a fine sight to watch her motion from the
bows, splitting the great waves before her into two
streams of water, like double fountains, and to
look along her immense expanse of deck as she
rose and fell with a motion so easy and so regu-
lar that the duration of each movement could
be timed to the very second. Her heavy trim by
the stern, coupled by the want of steam for the
paddle engines, was, as I have said, found to tell
most unfavourably on her speed. A quantity of
heavy stores was, therefore, got up from the after
cargo deck, the four heavy quarter-deck guns were
run forward to the bows, and other small attempts
made to bring her more on a level keel. On the
principle that " every mickle makes a muckle" the
change might possibly have done some good, but
when it is recollected that the Great Eastern was
nearly five feet by the stern, that 1,000 tons only
brings her down in the water some 11 inches, and
that the whole weight shifted fcrward was certainly
short of 100 tons, it will easily be seen that no very
great results were produced by this alteration.
The Great Eastern is an awkward vessel to trim
down to a level, and it requires the transference of
some 1,500 or 2,000 tons fore or aft, as the case may
be, to affect her at all. Still, it was an effort to
improve her speed, and the very fact of its being
made shows that in the next run her proper trim
will be more carefully adjusted before starting.
There were no skittles this evening, but in their
stead a betting mania took possession of the pas-
sengers, and sixpences and bottles of bitter ale
were bet on everything imaginable—on the run of
the ship, the sails we should see, the revolution of
the engines, the way of the wind—on all, in fact,
which could, suggest itself to idle minds as affording
a chance for interest or excitement. Such amuse-
ments, with watching the paddle engines of a night,
as the enormous cylinders revolved and the pistons
shot out like giant arms, forcing round the wheels
with a silent exhibition of irresistible might, which
always seemed to charm and fascinate the loungers
on deck, got through the day pretty well. It was
not easy, however, to remain long looking into this
engine-room, for the heat in it was something
really awful, and the air kept rushing up through
the open skylights almost like the draught from a
blast furnace. The stoke-holes of the Great
Eastern are cooler than those of any other steam-
ship yet built; the screw engine-room is also, for
its depth, much better than one often finds in other
vessels ; but the heat in the paddle engine-room is
quite unbearable, and some improvement must be
made in this respect, or it will be all but impossible
to keep the men at their duty in anything like
warm latitudes. Even in the cold and rainy
weather that prevailed, and with two large wind-
sails blowing full into the engine-room, the
temperature was seldom under 105 deg., and
mostly stood as high as 110 or 112 deg., and even
118 deg.—a dry, parched heat, as from hot iron,
which was inexpressibly distressing to the engineers.
On this night Capt. Hall, always genial and courte-
ous, and bent on making the passengers enjoy their
trip, commenced the Great Eastern harmonic meet-
ings in the grand saloon, at which, assisted by Mr.
M'Farlane and the small band of the ship, some
very creditable amateur vocal and instrumental
performances were given. With such aids the
evening passed quick enough till half-past 10, when
lights
The lowerwereout deck watchesinthesaloons,
wandeirne
set,th and ebeehsat
11. all
turned in early, to meet again on the deck next
morning between 6 and 7—talking nothing but
" ship," the run of the night, the state of the weather,
condition of the engines, or any one of the half-dozen
worn-out topics which had already been discussed
till threadbare, but to which all still clung as even
then affording some interest to idle passengers at
sea. The weather on Friday, the 22d, was fine and
calm, but at 12 o'clock at noon showed us only in
lat. 44 50, long, 36 22, a run of 280 knots, or less
than 12 knots an hour. The paddle engines were
not doing more than 94, in spite of constant firing,
and although their boilers had been put in connec-
tion with those of the screw,
which, as having two
more, were less in want of steam, it was evident
that something must be done to change such a state
of affairs. Mr. Gooch, with Mr. M‘Lennan, there-
fore decided they would restore in the paddle boilers
as near as they could the 51b. pressure which, as it
turned out, had been so injudicously removed. This
day would have been dull enough but for some
goodnatured whales, which, to the delight of every-
body, came rather close alongside, occasionally
showing their huge, unwieldy bulk high out of the
water, like capsized schooners, or dropping beneath
the waves, and spouting, in honour perhaps of the
occasion, with astonishing energy and power.
Saturday, the 23d, was a warm, close, dull day,
with a calm sea and torrents of tepid rain. The
sun did not show, so no observation was taken; but
the dead reckoning was found pretty accurate, and
gave our lat. 42 50, the long. 42 49, showing a run
of 302 knots, or 121 knots an hour. Before noon the
.51b. was replaced on the valves of the paddle
boilers ; but with those of the screw, for the reasons
already given, nothing could be done. The con-
sumption of coals up to this time had been at the
rate
of about 270 tons a day, sometimes, falling as
I°W as 230, and with a head wind going' up to

nearly 300, the average being on the whole 260.
This large consumption made the Great Eastern
lighter in the water, and of course gave more slip
to both screw and paddles. The mean rate of slip
throughout the run, however, never exceeded 12
per cent., as shown by the difference between the
revolutions of the engines and the result of each
day's run. All the machinery worked with the
most perfect ease and regularity. It rarely, if ever,
occurs that even the best vessels of the Cunard or
late Collins line have crossed the Atlantic without
stopping at least an hour to " key" up the machi-
nery on tighten the cylinder packing. On the run
of the Great Eastern, however, there was no check
or slip of any kind ; there were no hot bearings,
nothing required tightening, and all went on as
smooth and well as the most anxious shareholder
could wish, On Saturday afternoon the weather
came on very thick and hazy, and, as we were now
getting south of the banks of Newfoundland, and
in the track where icebergs were lately known to
be much about, a careful look-out was kept, and
the temperature of the air and water tested every
hour. This was well, as in the course of an hour
or two after dark the wind became colder and
colder, while the thermometer in the water fell
from 68 to 53 degrees. Here was an unmistakable
sign of ice being somewhere near, though attempts
to keep a watch for it seemed hopeless in the ex-
treme, the weather was very thick. The engineers
stood all ready below to stop and reverse the en-
gines in case of any berg being suddenly seen cr
heard ahead, and other customary precautions were
taken, but the thickness of the weather rendered
the value of them all united but slight indeed. At
last, as the atmoshere grew still colder, Captain
Hall came to the prudent determination of altering
the ship's course more to the south, though hee
knew that in taking this step he was giving
up almost his last chance of making the
passage is less than 10 days. Every one was glad
that Captain Hall had exercised such caution,though
all were, of course, sorry fox its necessity. After
Divine service on Sunday we saw, as usual, many
vessels, English and American, homeward and out-
ward bound. One of the former signalled us, " How
many days out ?" but the Great Eastern was then
at full speed, under her fore and aft sails, and the
questioner was too far off for signals ere his query
could be answered. The wind kept steady and
strong from the north, with a swell which would
have been to other vessels rather a heavy sea. The
run at 12 showed 299 knots, or 12 knots an hour,
the latitude was 41 deg. 3 min., the longitade 48
deg. 52 min. The increase of the pressure on the
boilers had evidently produced a good effect on the
resistance of the wind ahead. The paddles were
working easily at 11 and 111 revolutions, and feel-
ing their way up to 12 or 13. At night the breeze
went down, and a dead hot calm settled upon the
ocean, and prepared us for the beautiful and almost
tropical weather of Monday, the 25th. The sea on
this day was quiet and motionless as a vast blue
mirror, and the sun rose up in a rich misty haze,
which, melting before his heat, left the sky above
like another ocean, so clear and soft in its unfathom
able azure. Not a breath was stirring, and all the
passengers seemed to yield to the genial quiet of
the day, as they congregated listlessly in the bows
of the Great Eastern, so contented and so idle, look-
ing dreamily over at the little rainbows made as the
prow of the huge ship divided the quiet water, or
watching the sharks skimming so quickly along,
and diving far, far down as the shadow of the Great
Eastern came over the sea. We were evidently far
south, and well in the Gulf Stream, for lumps of the
gulf weed, like broken orange peel, came slowly
drifting south. By and by the heat and calm in-
creased, and groups of little nautili began to rise to
the surface, and, spreading their rich purple sails in
the sun, went drifting away with the stream. But,
alas for the happiness of these frail little beauties !
they seemed always somehow to steer direct for the
paddles of the Great Eastern, under which hundreds
passed, though none were ever seen to emerge on
the other side. Little coveys of flying fish, too, kept
rising from beneath the bows, n•w and then, and
spreading their wings and tails, went gaily flutter-
ing along the water, into which amid the stillness
that prevailed they dropped with quite a splash ;
becalmed cotton ships from New Orleans, with every
stitch of canvas spread, but still "as idle as a painted
ship upon a painted ocean," were in sight all day,
.drifting with the Gulf Stream some half a knot an
hour, and apparently making it an even question
whether they would reach Liverpool this year or
next. At noon the latitude was 40 deg. 58 min., the
longitude 56 deg. 10 min., giving a run of 325 knots,
or nearly 13 knots an hour. During this night
some anxiety was felt at the heat of one of the
screw coal bunkers, lest the 250 tons of coal which
it contained should heat. An examination was at
once made by Captain Hall, and the uneasiness
shown to be without cause, as the warmth of the
inner plates of the coal bunker was due only to their
being opposite the furnace doors. Indeed, through-
out the whole cruise the most vigilant precautions
were adopted on every deck to guard against the
possibility of any fire originating, and in this point
certainly no ship was ever more carefully watched,
or possesses better or more ample means for instantly
extinguishing a conflagration, than the Great East-
ern. Tuesday, the 26th, was our ninth day out, and,
according to the rate of speed at which the vessel
had run, she ought to have entered New York har-
bour that afternoon. The long detour to the south,
however, which during Saturday and Sunday she
had been compelled to make to avoid ice, had added
at least 300 miles to her course. Mid-day showed us
to have made a run of 333 knots, or at the rate of 14
an hour, Much of this gain was attributable to the
paddle engines, which worked easily at 121 revolu-
tions a minute, the screw making 35. To do their
fair proportion of the work the screw should have
reached 40 at least ; but with the low pressure on
the valves, sufficient steam could not be gained for
this. At noon on Tuesday we were still, therefore,
470 miles from New York, and almost to the south
of it, still there seemed a chance of making a good
run, and doing the distance in 101 days, till the
light mists which had been sweeping over the sea
during the day at last settled down into a wet fog,
which, though certainly thinner than a millstone, was
not a whit more penetrable to ordinary visions.
The Great Eastern blew steam whistles till one's
ears ached, and still kept on her course. But, as is
not at all unfrequent during these Atlantic fogs,
the wind was strong ahead and the sea rising fast.
As night fell, therefore, the necessity of slackening
speed became apparent to Captain Hall. The Great
Eastern, as may readily be imagined, had very little
to fear from a collision with a stray coaster, or
even a line-of-battle ship for that matter ; but what
would have been almost unnoticed by us, as far as
safety was concerned, would be certain death to
others, so taking this humane view of the question,
Captain Hall, as night fell, ordered the speed of
the engines to be reduced to less than half, at which
pace the huge vessel went slowly rolling through
the fog, which had become by that time as thick as
a blanket. The reduction of her speed was a source
of disappointment and anxiety to many of the pas-
sengers, for a grand lottery had been formed and
tickets drawn as to the time of her arrival off the
light at Sandy Hook, and the fortunate holder of
the right hour was to win the whole amount—
some £25, Those, therefore, who had early num-
bers and were betting high and freely on their
expected success looked on the fog with feelings of
the bitterest anger and dismay, and heard of the
reduction to half speed with much the same feel-
ings with which the news of the lameness of the
favourite would be received at Tattersall's the night
before the Derby. There was nothing for it, how-
ever •, even speculation and betting were at a stand
still before the thick, damp mist, and as far as per-
sonal observation went the Great Eastern might
have been in the middle of Hyde Park for all that
the passengers could see to the contrary. Towards
midnight Mr. Murphy, the New York pilot, wished
to try for soundings, and, for the first time since
leaving Southampton, the engines were stopped
and the ship brought to a dead standstill. The
deep-sea line was hove, but found no bottom at
115 fathoms. This sounding occupied nearly 40
minutes, and the engineers, under Mr. M‘Lennan,
at once took advantage of the pause to examine all
those parts of the screw and paddle-wheels which
could not be inspected while the ship was in mo-
tion. Everything in both was found in the most
perfect order—not a part showed signs of wear—
not a screw or valve required even the most trivial
adjustment, and all were reported perfect. After
this the night cleared up a little, though the speed
was still kept easy till 5 o'clock, when the ship was
again stopped and another sounding taken, which
got bottom at 65 fathoms. As the pilot had ex-
pected, we were passing over St. George's Bank,
and in what is called pilot's ground. From this time
full speed was continued, and 12 o'clock on the 27th
showed a run of 250 knots—a far higher rate than
was anticipated from her stoppages and half speed
through the night. We were still, however, 234
knots from New York, or rather Sandy Hook, and
some 12 or 15 to the south of it, with a strong breeze
ahead and a chance of thick weather. It was still,
therefore, an open question when we should get in,
and speculation in the lottery tickets revived with
ri
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gl
ths d changes,ay
redoubled
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the weasel,
st
about 700 tons of water were pumped into the for-
ward compartment, which had some effect in restor-
ing her trim ; but at the best it was but a make
shift, and the mischief on the speed of the run had
been dorm long ago. About two in the morning the
weather was hot and close, the sea as still as a sheet
of glass, and over the horizon loomed the land
clouds, which showed we were fast approaching our
destination. By and by a light was reported, and
could be faintly seen—a minute speck gleaming
now and then as the mist cleared up. Soundings
were taken, and we were in 21 fathoms water, so

the speed of the vessel was slackened down to do
little more than keep steerage way on her until
dawn. The voyage was virtually over on the night
of the 10th day, but, as it was not intended to take
the vessel up to New York till the afternoon tide,
no object was to be gained by pressing forward.
Dawn showed the coast in a dim blue line, with
the spit of Sandy Hook lying like a haze across the
sea, and the fir-clad heights the back, already hot
and arid-looking in the morning sun. The light-
ship was passed at 7.20 a.m., and, firing two guns
as a salute, the engines of the Great Eastern were
stopped, and amid cheers and congratulations the
first voyage ended. That morning an address
drawn up and signed by all the passengers, was
presented to Captain Hall, who in return made a
kind and appropriate reply by letter. The address
and reply were as follows :
" To CAPTAIN JOHN VINE HALL.
" Great Eastern, June 17, 1860.
" Dear Sir,—We, the undersigned passengers,
who have the honour of being the first to cross the

Atlantic in your magnificent vessel, cannot now, at
the conclusion of our pleasant voyage, separate
without expressing our opinion of the great merits
of this triumph of engineering skill and naval ar-
chitecture. _ _

" Our voyage, though fine, has yet (as is gene
rally the case in Atlantic passages) been sufficiently
checkered with rough weather to demonstrate that,
in point of seaworthiness, the Great Eastern has no
equal in the world. We are aware that the incredu-
lity and prejudice which oppose all great under-
takings when first attempted have been manifested
to an almost unusual extent against this noble ves-
sel. On no point has this feeling been more strongly
shown than with regard to her manageability at
sea, Her conduct during the brief storm of the
18th and 19th inst. should put all such fears (if
any still exist after this voyage) at rest for ever.
" Her movements, even when the gale was
strongest, were slow and easy, and at all times so
much less than those of the best seagoing steamers
as to be quite removed from any standard of com-
parison. Those who know by experience what an
Atlantic passage really is will appreciate the high
praise bestowed when we express our belief that
the Great Eastern, in accommodation, safety, and
freedom from disturbing motion, is as much superior
to ordinary vessels as she surpasses them in mag-
nitude and power.
" The supposed necessity of working her engines
at a low rate of speed for some days has prevented
her effecting that rapid passage which we are con-
vinced she can easily accomplish. Yet from what
we have seen, we express our firm belief that the
Great Eastern, in proper trim, is:capable of making
greater speed than has yet been attained at sea.
Such a result will be due not more to her
unequalled form than to the efficiency and power of
her engines, That the latter will always be found
equal to their duty is witnessed by the fact that
during the whole of our run from Southampton to
New York they have worked with the utma ease
and steadiness, never requiring even a moment's
stoppage for attention or adjustment of anything.
We fully appreciate the anxious vigilance which
has been exercised by yourself and your officers in
all relating to the safety of the ship and the general
comfort of the passengers.
"In taking leave of you we most heartily wish
every success to yourself and the noble vessel which
you have the distinguished honour to command,
and remain, &c."
Then follow the signatures of all the passengers.
The answer of Captain Hall was as follows :
" To THE CHAIRMAN OF MEETING OF PASSENGERS.
" Great Eastern, off Sandy Hook, June 28, 1860.
" Dear Sir,—l am very highly gratified with the
comprehensive and expressive address which yo
' -
have just presented to me from the passengers.
value it the more as it so simply, yet justly, points
out the peculiar excellencies of the Great Eastern,
being at the same time free from undue panegyric,
and stating only facts, and opinions based upon
those facts. The expression of satisfaction at the
endeavour of my officers and self to promote the
comfort and safety of the ship is, and will continue
to be, highly appreciated by us. In return, we
beg to thank you, on behalf of the passengers, for
the unvarying courtesy we have received from
them, and only regret that our acquaintance should
be so short. With the best wishes for the happi-
ness and prosperity of every one among the pre-
sent passengers—the select few who were the first
to have practifical faith in the great ship.—l
remain, dear sir, with much esteem, yours faith.
fully, " JOHN VINE HALL."
For the first hour after her arrival the Great
Eastern was left pretty quiet in that still, hot sea,
with the sun blazing down fiercely on her white
decks, and not a breath of wind even to move the
dull column of smoke from the funnels, which went
straight as the masts high into the sultry air.
Coasters, looking like schooner yachts, were all
over the bay, their close-fitting white cotton sails
drawn flat as boards. - But all in vain ; they only
moved to the gentle swell without advancing an
inch, and seemed to repose in -their own dark
shadows.
This state of things, as regarded the weather,
continued all day, but the quiet unquestionably
tiid not. It was soon known at New York that we
were off the bar, and those who know our cousins
know that they are about the most excitable people
in the world. The ferment caused by our arrival
may thus be readily anticipated. At first it only
manifested itself in the occasional advent of those
queer-looking steamers, very much in, appearance
like the popular types of Noah's Ark, with the ad-
dition of paddle-engines, two or three white cotton
reefs, and some 500 or 600 people also in white
cotton. These vessels, all decorated with flags, and
swaying to and fro under their crowds of visitors,
who cheered, waved handkerchiefs, clapped hands,
and shouted till one's ears ached, went round and
round the ship, and then stopping under the stern
their delighted passengers made offers of anything
we might want—newspapers, cigars, ice, &c. The
band of the Great. Eastern had hard work that day
standing up on the hot paddlebox (Mount Misery
they called it) and playing " Hail Columbia!" every
minute, in return to the harmonic compliments of
" God save the Queen," " Rule Britannia," &c.,
which came over the water from all sides. Soon
after 11 a tug came alongside with Mr. Yates, the
secretary of the company, and about 100 visitors
including some of the most eminent gentlemen
of New York. These were the only visitors
allowed on board that day, as during the rather
difficult navigation to New York it was de-
sirable to keep her as little crowded as possible.
Towards neon the sea was dotted all over
with the white sails of little yachts, which spread
their huge folds of canvas in the sun, and certainly
did their best to get through the water, though
almost in vain. There was not even wind enough
to move these exquisite little boats, from the shapes
of which our English yacht squadrons might take
valuable lessons. By 2 o'clock there were some
dozen steamers close around us, all crowded from
deck to funnel, and all cheering and shouting as
if their passengers were demented. To do them
mere justice the Americans do go ahead with what-
ever they take in hand, and when a furore in
favour of anything begins among them it goes to
greater length than with any other people in the
world. Nor did it only manifest itself in mere
acclamation, for, before the visitors from Neve
York were an hour on hoard, there was not a pas-
senger of note on the great ship who did not find
himself committed to the acceptance of more invita-
tions than he could possibly have got through
between this and Christmas. At 2 o'clock, as the
tide was then making fast over the bar, the Great
Eastern fired two guns and got under way. She
took a short turn round the bay before" offering"
at the shallew to get good way on her, so that in
case of touching she might easily push through the
sand. She drew 25 feet aft, and there was evidently
not depth of water sufficient, as her stern touched
slightly and stirred up the sand, but before one
could well perceive it she was over, and the last
danger of the Great Eastern's voyage was safely
passed. Three tremendous cheers were given for
Mr. Murphy, the pilot, by all on board, and the
voyage up the harbour commenced. With it also
commenced such a scene of excitement and enthu-
siasm as outdid even the great demonstration of
that morning when the Great Eastern first left her
mooring in the Thames. The spit at Sandy Hook
was crowded with visitors, wh.o stood bare-headed
in the fierce sun as they cheered and waved their
hats to the ship. The bell at the lighthouse
was clanging madly in honour of the occasion, and
signal flags of every hue and colour were drooping in
the sun, though still giving an air of festivity and
animation, even to the arid spot over which they
were expected to flutter. As the harbour opened
out it could be seen covered with a fleet of yachts,
which now, favoured with a slight breeze, were
skimming across the still water from all directions
towards us, their flags waving, their crews cheering
and shouting a welcome till they were hoarse again.
Great ferry-boats and coasting steamers, looking
for all the world like a street of houses floating out
to sea, with their three tiers of windows and re-
gular cotton roofs, came rolling slowly down—
decks, roofs, and windows all crowded with eager
heads, the ladies waving handkerchiefs and clapping
hands—the men shouting and cheering—all seeming
wild with exultation and delight. Past the shores
of Staten Island, and on to the Narrows, the Great
Eastern continued her stately way, every minute
increasing the excitement, and adding scores to the
the numbers of yachts, pleasure. boats, and steamers
swarming round. In vain the band of the Great
Eastern played " Hail Columbia," in vain the bands
of the other steamers essayed
44 Rule Britannia;"
music was drowned and shouted down with cheers.
The " universal hat" went into the air—the " uni-
• versal handkerchief" was waved, and the Ameri.

cans, always " guessing," guessed for the time truly
when theysaid no such ovation had over been paid
to any vessel in the world. It was a heart-stirring
welcome, and one which even now that it is past
and done one cannot recall without a feeling of
emotion and astonishment. The departure of the
vessel from the Thames, the departure of the Queen
from Cherbourg, even the Oxford and Cambridge
boat race (the last a wonderful specimen of aquatic
excitement) give no idea of the reception of the
Great Eastern at New York. Every minute brought
down fresh steamers, each seeming more crowded
and more enthusiastic than the others, and every
minute added to the thousands who lined tho shores
and stood bareheaded, cheering under an almost tro-
pical sun. Off Fort Hamilton the high compliment
of a salute of 14 guns was given—the first time that
ever a merchant vessel has been saluted in America.

To this distinguished honour the Great Eastern re-
sponded by stopping, and dipping her ensign re-
plied gun for gun in a regular and seamanlike style.
A Government vessel, the chief revenue ship, next
saluted and dipped her flag, and this honour was
similarly acknowledged. From this time out it was
almost one continued roar of artillery, ringing bells,
blowing steam whistles, shouting and clapping
hands, till one was almost dizzy with the whirl
and wild confusion of uproar and excitement. As
she came through the Narrows New York could be
seen dimly through the smoke and hot haze, red,
dry, and baked-looking in the summer sun, with
the shore lined with thousands and tens of thou-

sands of people, and the water so covered with
boats of every size and shape that it seemed a mys-
tery however the Great Eastern was to get through
them all. This difficulty, however, was solved by
the simplest of all methods—viz., that the Great
Eeastern kept her course, and everythiog else took
good care to keep out of her way. As New York
loomed nearer and nearer the jangle of joy-
bells could be heard from the steeples. What
had seemed at a distance but a dark line along the
shore grew more and more distinct, and showed at
last to be dense masses of human beings shouting
and waving hats as if they were possessed. Not
only, too, were the shores thus lined, but even the
roofs of the stores and houses far and near, the rich
green hills on the opposite bank, the very masts
and yards of all the vessels in the harbour seemed
literally black with countless swarms. Right in
the middle of the Hudson lay the Niagara at anchor
as the Great Eastern steamed up, and the former,
hitherto the largest vessel in the world, seemed
dwarfed to the dimensions of a cockboat as the
huge hull of the great ship towered high over the
waters, reaching almost half way up the mast of
the fine frigate.
It took a little time to turn and fix the Great
Eastern, but at last Mr. Murphy, the pilot, brought
her up alongide the wharf, where she now lies, and
where she was moored with hawsers as easily as one
of the Cunard packets.
The crowds had assembled at this spot in immense
numbers, and amid cheers for Capt. Hall, for the
pilot, for the directors, for Mr, Bold, for the pas-
sengers, for everything, or anything, in short, con-
nected with the noble vessel, the Great Eastern's
first voyage across the Atlantic ended.
She is not to be shown till Monday next, the 2d
of July. This afternoon, I believe, the Japanese
Princes, who leave here tomorrow in the Niagara,
will visit her. I have not time now to give any
details of this affair, except to record the naive
opinion of an American who heard of the intended
visit, and who, with some strong remarks regard-
ing his future welfare, said if the Japanese did go
to see the big ship they would think the English
the greatest people after all. Certainly they will
think the Niagara very small in comparison.
ill

SLIIIIIE_R ASSIZES.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—NORTIIAMPTON, July 12,
(Before Mr. Justice Wightman.)
Henry Cowley, a railway policeman, was charged
with the murder of a newly born illegitimate child,
at Oundle, on the 17th of Match last.
Mr. Merewhether conducted the case for the pro-
secution; the prisoner was defended by Mr. O'Brien.
The facts of the case, as appeared from the state-
ment of the counsel for the prosecution andthe evi-
dence of the witnesses called in support of it, were
these :—The prisoner had since May in last year
been cohabiting with a woman, Mary Ann Foulk,
who acted as his housekeeper, and in March last
was pregnant by him. On the evening of Friday,
the 16th of that month, being suddenly taken with
labour pains, she called to the prisoner, who was
down stairs with a little boy of his named William,
and on his coming up desired him to send for some
one of the neighbours to be with her. He told her
she should have no one, and taking from a drawer
a pistol which he pointed at her, threatened if she
made any alarm that he would blow her brains out.
He then left the room. The child was born soon
afterwards, and wrapped in flannel by the mother,
and the prisoner, at the mother's request, took it
up from the floor where it was lying and placed it
on a bed, while she lay upon the bare bedstead in
the same room. She again asked him to send for a
neighbour, but he said, with an oath, that he would
not have any one. She then desired that William,
his son, might be sent to fetch her mother. The
prisoner replied that he could not spare William,
but he bade him sit down and write to Mary Ann
Foulk's mother, and bade her go to bed. On her
hands and knees she crawled upstairs to a bed in
the attic, across which she threw herself; he
brought the child to her, and she put it to her breast.
Mr. Webster, a surgeon, and the inspector of
police, came to her about etght in the same evening,
and Mr. Webster then observed that the child was
apparently healthy and i,reathed well, but it ap-
peared that it did riot take any nourishment from
the mother. Upon their departure the prisoner In-
quired of Foulk whether Mr. Webster had asked
whose child it was, and, being told that he had not,
he took a pistol from his pocket and threatened to
blow her brains out if she said it belonged to him.
She desired him to spare her for the sake of the
child, and asked whose child she was to say it was.
The prisoner replied that if she said the ehild was
his his children would be thrown on the Union,
and he should get "nothing from nobody." He
was, it seemed, at that time in the receipt of 4s. a
week from a railway club and of relief from the
Union. The prisoner then left Foulk alone, taking
away a light which he had brought upstairs, and
there, without food, light, or companion, the poor
woman remained until 12 on the following day,
when the boy William came to her, and by her re-
quest brought her some gruel obtained from the
Union. About 3in the afternoon of the same day,
the prisoner Cowley came up and asked to see the
child, which Foulk showed him. He put one arm
over and the other beneath it, as if fondling it, and
handled it very much about the cheeks and throat.
About 4 o'clock he came again, and again acted in
the same manner; the baby then lay on Foulk's
right arm, and the prisoner Cowley lay across her
as if he was going to kiss the child, and put his
hands round its neck. Foulk noticing that he had
made its cheek red told him to desist, and that that
was not the way to kiss a new-born babe. He was
on and off the bed several times. Foulk said to
him, " Don't ; if you do, you'll kill the child," and
cried, feeling that she was herself hurt about *e
body. The prisoner answered, "It would be a good
thing if you and the child would both die ;" but he
left her, as she told him that she wanted rest, and
she fell asleep. On waking, she saw the prisoner
sitting on a box in the room.- She stretched out
her arm to take the child, and observed that its face
looked dark and its finger-nails purple, and she
said to the prisoner, " Look, how dark the child
looks in the face," and desired him to let William
go and ask Mr. Webster to come before bedtime.
The prisoner said that it was no use having
a doctor to a baby like that, but she ag:- •
desired that Mr. Webster might be sent for, adding
that he had told her that if anything happened to
the child she would be answerable. The prisoner
replied, " You and the child may both die." The
doctor did not come, and site sat up in the bed with
the child in her arms and opened its eyes, and the
prisoner said he wished that he was as well as the
child ; that there would be nothing the matter with
him. He and his son then went to bed. In a
quarter of an hour the child seemed to grow worse,
became dark in the face, and made a noise in the
throat. Foulk called out many times, and declared
that if the prisoner did not let William go for Mr.
Webster she would get up and go for him herself.
She heard the door open, and directly after saw
prisoner come up to the child. He handled it
while it was in her arms, about the throat and top
of the chest, and she noticed two drops of blood in
its nose, and a gargle in its throat. She cried and
said, "My child is dead." He said, " Dead ! not
it ; it would be a good job." He then went away.
This was about 7 p.m. In about an hour after Mr.
W ebster arrived, and rapped at the door, which the
prisoner would not open. He therefore forced it
and went upstairs, and found the child dead. Sub-
sequently a post mortem examination was made by
himself and 1)r. M'Dermot, and death was found to
have resulted from conge,stiOn of the lungs, brain,
and heart, which Mr. Webster attributed to com-
pression of the throat ; and Dr. M'Dermot called
his attention to some marks on that part, which,
however, were so slight that until then he had not
observed them, To Mr. Webster's inquiry of Foulk
as to the cause of its death, she replied that she
supposed the child had fits. Dr. M'Dermot was not
called. Mr. O'Brien, in the course of his cross-
examination, elicited that the prisoner had been
drinking on both Friday and Saturday, and endea-
voured to elicit from Mr. Webster that death might
be attributed to other causes than pressure on the