The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-06 00:00:00

THE LEVIATHAN.

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LAUNCHING OPERATIONS RESUMED.
Yesterday the works and increased machinery
having been entirely completed, at an early hour
operations were once more resumed for effecting
the launch of the monster vessel, and with highly
satisfact pry results.
In the effectual attempt made to clear the boun-
dary of the ship-yard by a certain date, in order to
save a sum of 1,0001., which would have been then
due as a monthly fine, it will be remembered the
head of the vessel was forced much lower down than
the stern, and therefore the first attempts yester-
day in the operations were for the purpose of en-
deavouring to.remedy this, and "square" the ship,
by bringing, if possible, her stern parallel with her
head. .

The operations were renewed at nine o'clock,
Mr. Stephenson, M.P., together with Mr. Brunel
were present throughout the day superintending
the works, which were specially under the direction
of tried scientific men, iu the persons of Mr.
Hepworth (at the foremost cradle), Mr. Dixon
(at the aft cradle), and Mr. Roberts. There were
a number of scientific gentlemen, notwithstanding
the severity of the weather, present likewise during
the operations, all taking a deep interest in the
affair. The machinery used and the hydraulic ap-
paratus had been greatly increased in strength,
and, instead of six hydraulic machines, ten were
brought into play, one being the original press used
in the operations for carrying out that vast under-
taking the Menai-bridge, and which alone gave over
200 tons nominal pressure. The river tackle, for
hauling purposes, was not required to be used dur-
ing the day's operations, as the great principle
aimed at was, by means of the hydraulic apparatus,
to square the monster, preparatory to the whole
power, the hydraulic and the hauling, being brought
into motion on a fair footing, so that there might
not be more drag or pressure on one part (1 the
vessel than on another. In the course of the day's
operations the movements were slow, but at the
same time sure, and although the greatest move-
ment at one lime forward was 6i inches, and 5
inches aft; yet the movements were accompanied
with such satisfactory and pleasing results as to
give the greatest satisfaction to the scientific gentle-
men present, especially Mr. Stephenson, who
seemed to fall in with every idea of Mr. Brunel,
and indeed appeared more desirous than the latter
to keep a strict check on the monster's sudden
movements. The slides varied from 2i inches to
3,4, 5, and 6i inches, making for the whole day's
operations a decided motion of 7 feet 8i inches aft
and 3 feet 1j inches forward, thereby almost iguar-
nig her.
The whole machinery worked beautifully through.
out the operations, and, with the exception of one
of the small hydraulic pumps getting out of order,
which did not affect the works in the least, no dis-
aster happened, and although upwards of 200 men
were employed at the work, no accident whatever
occurred.

There are at least 160 feet of "ways" yet to be
got over before the vess-1 is entirely launched, but
considering yesterday's satisfactory operations,
little fear is now entertained by the scientific men
concerned as to the successful results of a few days'
more such operations.
A very beautiful series of stereoscopic views of
the Leviathan has just been completed at the yard
by Mes,rs. Howlett and Downes. They give all
the most striking points of her interior and exterior,
the cradles, engine-room, drums, chains, and,
above all, the hydraulic rams used in the launch,
with the most admirable minuteness and effect,
and, indeed, are the only pictures which convey a
correct idea of the gigantic ship and its still more
gigantic launching apparatus.

• I PROGRESS OF THE LAUNCH THIS DAY.
The launching of the Leviathan was resumed
this morning. During the whole of the night huge
fires were kept burning around the hydraulic rams,
feeding-pipes, and pumps to prevent the water from
freezing with great success, for, notwithstanding
the intensity of the frost, Mr. Brunel was enabled
this morning to recommence operations without
.some idea difficulty. The fires are kept burning during the
thew weatherork,and r
may mebefrom the fact that the water that drips from the
tptrieogr severityess of tobfe
pumps immediately freezes and hangs in icicles
under the stages upon which the men work. The
vessel as the power is applied appears to move with
the greatest ease, though, of course, very slowly,
and every arrangement has been made to continue
the work until she is low enough on the ways to
float with the rising tide.
The work was resumed at about 10 o'clock, and
proceeded with the utmost satisfaction till 12
o'clock, when the .3aen left off for dinner. It was
then found, by a reference to the indicator, that
she had moved 34in. forward and 36in. aft. The
motion was imperceptible to a casual observer, and
it, was only from the reg stry of the index that her
progress to the water could be accuiately ascer-
tained. The pressure brought to bear on her
appears to be more uniform than on previous occa-
sions.
She this morning moved gradually broadside on,
instead of by slips, (further at the stern than the
bow) as on former occasions. Captain Har-
rison's active operations in connection with the
al-o recommenced this morning. The
chit n cables, fore and aft, carried across
to the piles, and. Trotman's anchors on the
other side of the river, are under his directions, ably
assisted by Mr. Prowse, the chief mate ; and this
morning the trawling chains were found of essential
set vice in the pi ogress of the launch.
On the return of the men, at half-past 12 o'clock,
they again commenced operations, and were very
successful. On the first application of the power
she wade a splendid slip of six inches forward and
seven inches aft. Up to the time of our despatoh
leaving she had moved 55 inches forward and 56
inches aft, and everything was progressing satisfac-
torily.

CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SURREY SESSIONS —Yesterday
at a meeting of magistrates for the County of Surrey,
Mr. J. E. Johnson was elected chairman, and Mr. T.
Tilson deputy-chairman of the sessions held at Newing-
tUrl.
"LET GLASGOW FLuDßlfslit I"—Between 3,000 and
4 000 gallons of whisky passed our door from Clenury
dignilie. y on Monday last, en route for the City of Saint
Mongo —Aberdeen. Free Press.
THE BELFAST TEA FRAUDS.—It appears that the
total loss originally to the Customs did not exceed
5,0001., out of which 3,000/. has been already paid by
some of Moore's sureties ; besides from other sources
' some property has been made available, and it is more
than probable that a very trifling balance, if any at all,
will ultima ely remain. The Custons' authorities,
however, have not yet done with
the matter. They
have bt en put in possession of certain information, and
they have no choice hut to follow it up.
THE BISEIor OF OXFORD a. Tun VICAR OF EINSIAM.
—ln consequence 'of the dispute between the Bishop
of Oxford arid the Rev. William S. Bricknell, M.A.,
Vicar of Eynsham, Oxon, relative to the removal of
the communion-table in the parish church, the following
notice was placed on the church doar, Eynsh, previous to ChristaaaF-day :—" The Bishop oani
f Oxrd having directed the removal of the communion-tablefo in
the parish church of Eynsham, by violence if necessary,
in the event of its being placed in the position required
by the rubrics arid callous of the Church of togland
when the holy communion is administered (canoa.
82), and it having been made known to me that
several persons are likely to be deterred from at-
tendance at the communion upon the approaching festival
through fear of witnessing the unseemly consequences
which might ensue from an attempt to carry out such
a direction from his • lordship, I feel it my duty to give
this public notice that no opportunity will be afforded
on Christma—day for any such desecration of the sane-
tuary.—W. S BRICKNELL, vicar."
CIVIL SERVICES, &c.—A. return was issued yesterday
giving a detai:ed statement of the estimates for civil ser-
vices (classes 1 to 7) for the year 1852, showing the in-
crease or decrease in each item of those estimates for every
i,uhsequent year to 1856, inclusive. Upon class 1 (public
works. &o.), the net increase as compared with 1856 is
270,7691 ; upon class 2 (saltines, Ste.) the increase is
485.2431.; upon cals 3 (law and justice), the increase is
952,7091. ; upon class 4 (education), the increase is
408,1811 ; upon class 5 (colonial), the decrease is
49,0431; upon class 6 (superannuatiuns, (&c., and chari-
ties), the increase is 13,1761. ; upon Class 7 (special or
temporary), the incrPase i,t 225,471/
A MORE THAN SOLVENT BANKRUPT.—We understand
that the affairs of Jonn floptun Wyld, wine and spirit
merchant, and late alderman, Bristol, having, as our
readers are aware been wound up in bankruptcy, the
balance sheet has just been completed, and, after the
stock, furniture, &c., of the so called, but not real,
nankrupt, have been sold, subject to the usual sacrifices
necessarily trade in such sales, it shows a cash balance
in favour of Mr. Wyld (after paying every creditor 20s.
in the pound and all expenses) of 5,0001. Here was
certainly a victim to the monetary pressure, which,
combined with a confusion of the business accounts,
cau.,ed a proceeding in bankruptcy to be hurried on,
‘vile.n, as the sequel proves, it was worse than useless.—
Bristol Times,
MUNIFICENT BEQUESTS.—In consequence of the de-
cease of the widow of the late John Flinchliffe, Esq., of
Notting-hill, on Nov. 28, in her 92d year, the following
bequests under his will have fallen in, and are now being
paid by his executors to the undermentioned charities :
° per Cent. Consols : Cancer Hospital, 1,0001.; Charing.
cr, as Hospital, 1,000/, ; Middlesex Hospital, 1,0001. ;
St. Mary's Hospital, 1,000/. ; Asylum for Idiot's,
1,000/. ; Three per Cent. Reduced : Indigent Blind
Society, 1. 0001. ; Deaf Dumb A6yluin, 1,0001. ;
We3tmlukt.t. hospital, 1,0001 ; Magdalen Hospital,
1,000/. ; Lock Ilimpitai, 1,000/.: Loudon Fever Hos-
pital, 1,0001. ; London Truss Society, 1,000/, ; Jour-
.
neyruaa • lii,titution 1,0001 ; lioa,rleAa Poor
Society, 5001. ; Prevention of Cruelty to Animals'
Society. 5001.