The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-27 00:00:00

THE GREAT OCEAN STEAM' IMOF.

From the time we cease to toddle and begin to
run, we race, and we continue to race long after
our legs can carry us. Man has been described as
a cooking animal, but the Anglo-Saxon at least
might be more properly described as a racing
animal. The greatest of races came off last week
between the Royal mail steamers Russia and City
of Paris •, the Cunarder under Captain T. Cook,
and the Intnan under Captain Kennedy. The City
of Baltimore bad been delayed in her arrival at
New York by the very heavy westerly gales which
have not ceased for months to blow, and as she re-
quired some slight overhauling after her tempestuous
passage. The City of Paris, which had just arrived,
was turned round, and the cargo intended for the City
of Baltimore put on board. The 10th was the regular
day of departure for the Cunarder, and the Russia
with her steam up and passengers on board, was
about to leave. It may be wrong for ocean
steamers to run races across the Atlantic in mid-
winter, but it is simply impossible under such cir-
cumstances to refrain. Theiovessels were the two
finest mail steamers afloat, the Russia being 3,100
tons burden, 370 feet over all, and 700-horse
power ; and the City of Paris 2,875 tons burden,
365 feet over all. The City of Paris got under
weigh at 1.35 p.m., the Russia following at 2.40.
Next day the smoke of the Russia was visib'e from
the deck of the City of Paris, and so it was on the
the 12th, 13th, and 14th, though by the Russia's log
on the 13th she passed her competitor. Thenit came
on to blow ; the pace of theCityofParis which carries
an immense spread of canvas, may be imagined from
the fact that on the first day of the fresh gale she
ran 342 miles ; the next day, blowing hard, 346.
The gale still continuing on the 17th she made 338,
and there being no abatement on the 18th she log,ged
346. Glancing at the logs of the two vessels, it is clear
that up to the time of the gale the Russia was the
faster ship, and this again became evidant in the
Channel, but the extraordinary rate of speed at-
tained by the City of Paris, when aided by her
canvas, brought her to Queenstown at 8.58, making
the passage in 8 days 19 hours 23 minutes, no allow-
ance being given for the difference of longitude, while
the Russia reached Queenstown at 10.45, making the
passage in 8 days 20 hours 5 minutes, which shows
42 minutes in favour of the City of Paris. In run-
ning up •the Channel the Russia not only recovered
this time but gained on the passage to Liverpool
15 minutes. The Russia was more heavily laden,
and, it is alleged, that she had to stop an hour and
a half in the Atlantic to renew the indiarubber on a
valve. On the other hand, the City of Paris had
no time, after a rough passage to New York, even
to clean her boilers. An undue pressure of steam
is against the strict orders of both companies, who
do not permit racing, but we imagine it would have
been difficult, even had the captains desired, to
have prevented the stokers from cramming in fuel.
The interest excited was extraordinary both in New
York and Liverpool, even a cold winter's morning
being unable to prevent a great gathering at the
docks to see the vessels come in. The City of Paris
is a marvellous ship, and perhaps her running dur-
ing the four days of the gale was never before
equalled.

COURSE OF EXCHANGE—Last Eveiang.

Amsterdam Short ... 12 I ... 12 1
Do
Rotterdam — ... 12 li ... 12 2.k.
Antwerp — ..25 35 ... 25 40
Brussels — .25 35 ... 25 40
llamburgh — ... 13 101... 13 11
Paris
Ditto
Marseilles
Frankfort-on-the-Main ..• ... 1191 1201
Vienna — ... 12 30 ... 12 50
Trieste —
... 12 30 ... I 2 50
Petersburg
Copenhagen — ~ 9 2U ... 9 24
Berlin
Madrid..
Cadiz — ... 481 .„ 481
Leghorn
Milan — ... 26 30 ... 26 40
Genoa,
Naples
...''
••• 30 ... 26 40
Palermo — ... 26 30 ... 26 40
Messina
.. 26 3U ... 26 40
Lisbon — ... 52k ... 521
Oporto — „. 52k ... b2i
Rio Janeiro
New York
--- ••• ••• --

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_
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