The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-09 00:00:00

THE LAUNCH OF THE PARAMATTA

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company have
given emphatic proof of their preference of iron
over wooden ships by ordering two vessels of very
large dimensions from the Thames Iron Company
to replace their wooden vessels Magdalena and
Orinoco. It appears now to be ascertained that a
much greater strength of structure can be obtained
in iron ships, together with diminished cost, and
more expedition in the construction of the vessel.
It is asserted, moreover, that in the wooden ships
of the company the full power of the engines has
never been developed, and it is expected, therefore,
that in the new ships to which the engines of the
supei-seded vessels are to be transferred, a greater
speed will be attained than has up to this time been
found possible. The first of the two new ships, the
Paramatta which was laiinched yesterday (having
been commenced in January last), is a magnificent
vessel of,upwards of three thousand tons, but look-
ing, notwithstanding her immense size, as -light
and graceful as a pleasure yacht. Her stern is
particularly beautiful, and although fastidious
critics object to the form of the bow, it did not
appear to us to present any peculiarity that marred
the general symmetry of the vessel. The model,
which is from the drawings of Mr. Rennie, naval
architect to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Com-
pany, bears considerable resemblance to the lines of
the Great Eastern, and similar anticipations are
entertained of the speed of the vessel, when once
fairly in motion in her native element. The launch
took place adittle before three o'clock p.m., in the
presence of a considerable number of ladies and
gentlemen, there being amongst the latter Captains
Mangles and Whish, directors of the Steam Com-
pany ; and Messrs. Rolt and Ford, of the Thames
Iron Company. Beyond a modest display of bunt-
ing over the rails of an improvised balcony, there
was no attempt at display or formality, and it was
not until the vessel was actually in motion that
the majority of the visitors knew that the launch
was going on. The " dogshores" were knocked
away with scarcely any noise, and the enor-
mous vessel glide I down in the most noise-
less and unpretending manner until just as
she touched the water, when there was for a mo-
ment a considerable heel-over, and some apprehen-
sions were felt that she was going to take the
water in anything but an upright position. How-
ever, she soon righted herself, and floated majesti-
cally down the creek, where a tug steamer was in
readiness to convey her to the Victoria Dock. The
baptismal ceremony was performed by Miss Whish,
daughter of Capt. Whish, R.N., and a general
round of cheering signalled the completion of the
launch and its ceremonial. The length of the
Paramatta between the perpendiculars is 330 feet,
and her extreme breadth 43 feet 9 inches, her exact
burthen 3,092 tons, and the superficial space allotted
to passengers in the main and saloon decks is 270
feet. -The vessel will be barque-rigged, have paddle•
wheels, and be fitted with engines of 800 horse
power, the work of Messrs. Maudslay and Field,
and which are to' be transferred from the Orinoco.
The saloon fittings are to be in white and gold, with
handsome frieze, and to comprise an efficient system
of ventilation on the plan known as Robinson's
patent. It is expected that the Paramatta and her
consort will be the fastest vessels in the Royal
Mail fleet, and, from their many conveniences and
improvements, much patronised by tropical travel-
lers. The weather, although a little gloomy yes-
terday, as befitted the November season, was, on
the whole, very favourable to the launch, the whole
of the proceedings in which went off without tits
slightest hitch, interruption, or accident.