The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-25 00:00:00

THE GREAT EASTERN.

At last the problem of what is to be the ultimate
fate and destination of the great ship seems in a fair
way of being solved successfully. A new company
has arisen which, as an earnest of their intention
to make her pay at last, have begun matters with
a most successful bargain—getting the noble ship,
as she lies at present at Deptford, for a sum almost
nominal, when compared to what she cost—at some
£3 or £4 less per ton than sailing vessels are now
built for. £160,000, we believe, is all that has been
paid for the stronuest and fastest ship afloat, to say
nothing of her being in addition to these qualifica-
tions larger than the united tonnage of seven of the
largest ships in the world. The cost of now finish-
ing and fitting for sea is variously estimated at from
£lOO,OOO to £120,000, so that, even allowing a wide
margin for unforeseen incidental expenses the new
company, out of their capital of £330,000, will be
the fortunate possessors of the Great Eastern when
ready for sea, and with £40,000 of their capital
still untouched to start her fairly in competition
with the finest ocean steamers now afloat. The task
of getting her ready for sea will commence probably
about the middle of next month, and to finish in
every respect will require five months from the day-
the work begins. In all probability, therefore, the
Great Eastern will be filling up with coals and
stores, and making ready for her first great trial
trips, by midsummer, and another month from that
time, as we believe, will establish her reputationbe-
yond all chance of competition as the fastest vessel
every propelledby steam. The only alteration which
has been made in her original design is in fitting
her with a poop-deck. It will be between eight
and nine feet high—the same height a the fore-.
castle forward—and this is the only change of note
which will be carried out. The six masts are al-
ready nearly made. There are to be one fore, two
main, and three mizen masts, the first five of iron,
the last of wood, in order not to influence the com-
passes. The foremast and time mizens will be rigged
with fore and aft sails, the mainmasts only being
permanently square rigged. The first mizen is
of the same size as the last mainmast, and it is
intended that when the weather may make it
necessary that this also shall be square rigged. All
the masts, of course, are of iron, as wooden spars
of such size and required to do such work could
scarcely be depended on. Each is built of boiler-
plate, with wrought-iron discs, strengthened with
angle iron, and bolted inside the tube to give ad-
ditional rigidity. Constructed in this manner each
' mast costs less than half the price of wooden ones,
while, of course, the metal has the advantage of
being nearly double the strength. By this plan, also,
what would otherwise have been an almost insuper-
able difficulty—viz., stepping wooden masts into a
ship of such a height—is entirely got rid of. The
foremast is 2 feet 9 inches diameter, and 172 feet
high from keel to truck. The first mainmast is 3
feet 6 inches diameter, and 216 high • the second
is of the same girth, but 225 feet hig. The first
mizen is of the same size as the first main ; the
second is 188 feet high and two feet nine inches
diameter; while the third and last is of wood,
of the same dimensions round as the iron, and 164
feet high. The lower yards of the square-rigged
masts are likewise of iron. Each is 126 feet long
and 2 feet 6 inches in diameter in the centre. The
upper topsail and topgallant yards are of wood and
of proportionately large dimensions. As the fittings
progress the ship's boats-14 in number—with the
two small auxiliary steamers will be built at the
same time. The latter, as our readers may recollect,
are to be of 120 tons each and 60 nominal horse-
power. These will be in all respect 4 decked and
fitted as seaboats, and will be hoisted in and out
with the aid of the auxiliary engines with which
each set of engines on board the ship itself is fitted.
The first year's trips, will be between this country
and Portland, in Canada, and it is, of course, con-
fidently anticipated that a very few runs on this
line will convince the world that the Great Eastern
is not alone the largest, but the best and quickest
vessel yet built. Where she will eventually be
employed is at present undecided, but it has been
suggested by some of the best and ablest members
of the company—and the idea is so feasible and full
of promise that it may hereafter be carried out—
that she should be employed as a great trunk line of
communication between this countryand our eastern
empire. The immense advantages of such a plan, if
energetically carried out, are manifest. No doubt,
one of the greatest checks to the rapid development
of our eastern trade has been the difficulties
and delays in the way of speedy communication.
Ordinary steamers perform the voyage between
this country and Calcutta in 80 days but Green's or
Smith's sailing ships average only 90. Yet for this
10 days' difference double and treble freights are
charged on merchandise. This high freightage
would not, we believe, be objected to at all if intel-
ligence did not precede goo&. For instance, a mer-
chant at Calcutta foresees that in a certain time
there is likely tobe a large demand for printed goods.
He has them shipped from England, and pays a
differential freightage for a steamer coming round
the Cape. The result is that each overland mail
brings him and other merchants the news that that
and other similar shipments to Calcutta have been
made, and this intelligence, of course, operates in
the Calcutta market in a way precisely similar to
the arrival of the goods themselves—viz. in check-
ing the demand and lowering the value of the
goods themselves when finally landed. The genius
and enterprise of the merchant are thus often ren-
dered nugatory, and it is this great drawback
which so often compels agents t o avail themselves
of the overland route, though the rates are so
high 'as to be in a manner almost prohibitory,
and by that route, of course, no very heavy or
bulky cargoes can be sent at all. The overland
route is, nevertheless, used with costly articles, and
then it pays well, as intelligence of the shipment
of the goods has no time to forestall the market be-
fore the goods themselves arrive. Recently a
merchant sending a large quantity of cochineal to
Calcutta, where it was in great demand, suddenly
determined upon despatching it overland. On the
whole shipment by this route a profit of 25 per
cent. was realized, while on other packages that
arrived by long sea a month later there was a loss
of 30 per cent. But, though the same necessity
exists for rapid communication in other merchan-
dise, and there is the same demand for it, the
cargoes themselves are too heavy to come overland,
and resort is had to steamers or clippers. The
Aberdeen clippers get £8 and sometimes £l2 per
ton from China, and still their market may be fore-
stalled, while steamers, though charging a freight-
age that is equally exorbitant, only anticipate the
sailing vessels by a few days, and sometimes not
even by as much. It is such an unsatisfactory state
of things as this which the Great Eastern is so
peculiarly fitted to remove, if employed as a great
trunk line of communication between this country
and the East. For such a scheme Trincomalee, as
an eastern port, offers unqualified advantages. The
harbour is one of the finest in the world. Taking
the lowest possible estimate of the Great
Eastern's speed, and as averaging only fifteen
knots, she could accomplish the voyage from Eng-
land to Trincomalee in 29 or, at most, 30 days. The
distance from Trincomalee to Madras is a two days'
voyage, to Calcutta between three and four days, to
Hongkong and Shanghai 10 days, and to Australia
only 12 days. At Trincomalee, therefore, the Great
Eastern would be at her terminus ready to tranship
her cargo to steamers for India, China, Australia,
or even we may now say Japan, while she in turn
would receive a back Treight of the produce of those
regions. It has been often asked what market would
not the cargo of the Great Eastern swamp, and what
market will afford her a return freight ? But if used
as a great trunk line between this country and the
East, with Trincomalee as her depot, the market
she would then supply is nothing less than the Eu-
ropean wants of some 400,000,000 or 500,000,000 of
people. As to her return freight let it once be seen
that she can accomplieh the voyage between Trin-
comalee and England in 30 or perhaps 25 days, and
that she can afford to take cargo at very little more
than the freights now charged by sailing vessels,
and not her whole available space, even to her coal
bunkers, or water tanks, will suffice to contain the
half of what will be sent to her depot. The cargo
stowage of the Great Eastern is 8,000 tons; her
stowage for coals about 12,000. Full steaming, her
consumption of fuel will be about 200 tons per day,
and thus, if she only realises a speed of 15 knots,
ample she can carry e fuel for the whole run to Trin-
comalee and- b aa, ck. The least sanguine, however,
anticipate a higher rate of speed, the general opi-
nion being that shes will average from 17 to 18
knots an hour. Thu
at Trincomalee all coal
not necessary for the then,
rrturn voyage could be left,
and a depot magazincdual y formed there. It
has always been
alleged,ga
and with truth, that
carrying coals on freight will
not pay a steamer.
But the rule only applies toocean-going steamers
t
with such a small capacity for
of course, remuneragtee that in
to
their case it will not,
coals at £2 per ton freight, when they can receiveearr
£8 and £lO per ton for carrying merchandise.
The Great Eastern, however, is a vessel of 22,000
tons, and therefore one which can well afford to
carry coals for her own use, and by avoiding the
long delays necessary for coaling, make such quick
passages as will insure her large cargoes at the
most remunerative freights. Her immense length,
too, gives her additional facilities for loading and
unloading, as 4 ships can get alongside at the same
time. That the passenger traffic by such a great
trunk line—a route then so easy and so swift—
would be an immense source of remuneration none
can doubt. For instance, if she had been ready
when the troops were being despatched for. India
and taken 8,000 men at only the same rates as were
charged by vessels requiring 90 days to the voyage,
one such voyage, with 8,000 troops, would tactually

have almost paid for the vessel. But to carry ont
fully such a great trunk scheme will require one
more similar vessel, and perhaps two. It is esti-
mated that two vessels each of 14,000 or 16,000
tons could now be built for little more than the
Great Eastern has cost. The whole question.
then, of her success, or whether .other vessels of
the [same size will ever be constructed, now
rests upon the trial of her speed. If her • rate
fulfils the present high expectation, she must
become an enormous source of profit to the new
shareholders, as with her speed must come the
Government subsidies for mails, or the Government
subsidies must be done away with altogether.
Four or five months more, however, must decide
the all-important question of the Great Eastern's
speed. If successful, the result will at once mark a
new era.in commerce and shipbuilding, and create
as extensive a change as the first introduction of
.locomo4,ves for land traffic. Small ocean-going
steamers will, for large cargoes and rapid voyages,
be superseded, like the mail coaches of old, and only
fact as feeders to the termini of trunk lines for ships
like the Great Eastern.

CONVOCATION OF THE UNIVERSITY

OF LONDON.

The Convocation of the University of London
met yesterday, by adjournment from the 10th inst.
at Burlington-house, Piccadilly. The Chairman of
Convocation, C. J. Foster, LL.D., took his seat at
7 o'clock, and there was a numerous attendance of
fellows and graduates.
The following staterhent was read by Mr. Shaen,
M.A., clerk of Convocation, on behalf of the chair-
man, with reference to the proceedings which took
place at the last meeting, relative to the appoint-
ment of a representative of the University to the
Medical Council constituted under the Medical Re-
form Act of the last session :
" Gentlemen of Convocation,
" I have to acquaint you that at a meeting of the Senate
held on the 17th instant, I communicated, pursuant to the
25th clause of the charter, the minutes of the proceedings
of Convocation on the 10th inst., and that your resolutions
respecting the appointment by the Senate of a representa-
tive of the University on the Medical Council on the 3d
inst. was considered.
" The Senate have forborne to pass formal resolutions
upon the subject, but I am requested to state to you the
circumstances under which the Senate proceeded to make
the appointment,' and which now preclude a formal com-
pliance with the requests made by Convocation.
"With respect to the appointment itself the Senate con-
sidered that the communication from the Privy Council
appearing on their minutes on the 20th OctOber rendered
it imperative that the appointment should be made with as
little delay as possible.
" There was not at the time that the Senate acted any
conflict of legal opinion ; nor did there appear to the Senate
to be any reason for anticipating any such conflict. The
opinion of the legal gentlemen consulted (one of whom was
selected by the Snate on account Of his having been en-
gaged in settling the charter in the interest of the gra-
duates) was clear and distinct, ' that the choice of a member
of the New Medical Council on the part of the University
of London is vested in the Senate,' and the legal members
of the Senate itself did not entertain any doubt that such
was the law.
" Under those ctrcumstances the Senate proceeded to
discharge the duty which the letter from the Privy Council
appeared to them to cast upon them—viz., of making the
appointment without delay.
" The confirmation of minutes is, according to the prac-
tice of the Senate, a matter of course, provided such minutes
accurately state the proceedings recorded by them, which in
this case they did. The appointment made by the. Senate
was complete on the 3d inst., and was officially notified to
the Privy Council on the day following. The proposed sus-
pension of the confirmation of their minutes would there-
fore be nugatory.
" Since the meeting of Convocation the Senate have re-
ceived notice that the validity of the appointment which
they have made will be brought into question in a court
of law. The Senate, therefore, deem it probable that Con-
vocation will not now consider it necessary to take the opi-
nionnf the law officers of the Crown upon the subject."
In reply to a question from Dr. Baines, the
CHAIRMAN said that, as he was advised, it was not
competent to members of Convocation to vote by
proxy.
Dr. E. SMITH, pursuant to notice, moved resolu-
tions to the effect that it was expedient that a sub-
scription list should be opened to obtain funds to
assist in the erection of University buildings, and
for the formation of a library and museum, and that
a committee should be appointed to confer with the
Senate on the subject.
The resolutions, however, were not seconded, and
therefore fell to the ground.
Mr. CREAK then moved resolutions to the follow-
ing effect:--
"That, as her Majesty's Government have announced
their intention of introducing a measure of Reform in the
House of Commons during the next session of Parliament,
this Convocation deems it a fitting opportunity for pre-
ferring the claim of the University of London to two seats
in the Legislature, in fulfilment of the pledge that this
University should be placed on a footing of perfect equality
with the older corporations of Oxford and Cambridge. That
with a view to secure the recognition of this claim, the
Senate be requested to lend their co-operation. That a
committee of ten members of the Convocation, with power
to add to their numbers, be appointed to confer with the
Government on the sabject, and to adopt such measures as
they may consider most suitable to promote the interests of
the University in this respect."
Mr. Creak said he thought that, as her Majesty's
Government had announced their intention of in-
troducing a measure of Parliamentary Reform dur-
ing the next session, some effort ought to be
made on the part of the University to secure
representatives in Parliament. He believed it
would be generally admitted that the status
of the University would be improved if
it returned members to Parliament, and that
such representation would greatly facilitate
the passage through Parliament of Bills affecting
the interests of the University. (Hear, hear.) He
thought much time would have been saved at their
last meeting if they had had representatives in Par-
liament to watch the progress of the Medical Act
passed last year. (Hear, hear.) He was satisfiefr
that the public sympathised with them in this
movement, and Lord J. Russell stated in the House
of Commons, when he introduced his last Reform
Bill, that he proposed to give representatives to the
University of London. (Hear, hear.) As there
seemed to be a growing feeling in the country that
education ought to be constituted a qualification for
the exercise of the franchise, he did not think they
were likely to encounter any very serious opposi-
tion. A question might arise as to whether they
should have one or two members, but he hoped the
Convocation would not rest content with only one
member,:for if they so the probability was that
they would not get a second representative for 50

or 60 years to come. (Hear.) He thought there
were two grounds upon which they might urge a
claim to two representatives. The first was that
when University College abandoned its claim to be
considered the University of London an express
pledge was given that it should be placed upon a
footing of perfect equality, save as regarded theo-
logical degrees, with the old Universities of Oxford
and Cambridge, and until the University of London
had two representatives in Parliament that equality
would not be secured. (Hear, hear.) There was,
however, a second ground for urging this claim.
It would be found that there were at present upon
the register of the University upwards of 1,100 gra-
duates, most of whom were of more than three years'
standing. On striking a balance it appeared that
the average number of constituencies in each
place throughout the kingdom was 1,400.
There could be no doubt if the Univer-
sity of London continued to progress in
the same ratio as had hitherto ben the
case it would soon number 1,400 graduates
of more than three years' standing, which would
form a most respectable constituency, whose claims
he thought no Government could deny. (Hear,
hear.) He had conversed on the subjectovith seve-
ral members of Parliament, who were of opinion
that the claims of the University of London to Par-
liamentary representation were well founded. He
did not think, however, that they, were likely to
find in Mr. Bright—who, it was said, was to intro-
duce a Reform Bill, in opposition to that of the
Government, a very warm advocate of their views,
for, as Mr. Bright's opinion was, he believed, that
Oxford and Cambridge should be deprived of their
Parliamentary representation, it was net likely that
he would be disposed to extend that privilege to
the University of London.

Mr. B. H. COOPER seconded the motion.

Dr. TUFF moved that after the words " Univer-
sity of London," in the first paragraph of the re-
solutions, the words " the Chancellor, .Vice-Chan-
cellor, fellows, and graduates" be inserted.
Only three hands were held up in favour of the
amendment, and the original resolutions were car-
ried nem con.

Sfr.CUEAK then nominated ten gentlemen, who
he proposed should form the committee, and after
considerable discussion, and the proposition of seve-
ral names by way of amendment, it was determined
that the following gentlemen should constitute the
committee :—The Chairman of Convocation (Dr.
Foster), Dr. Wood, Dr. Storrar, Dr. Miller, Mr.
Jcssel, M.A., Mr. Whaley, M.A. Rev. A. Creak,
M.A., Rev. B. H. Cooper, 8.A., Mr. Robson, 8.A.,
and Mr. Littler, B.A.
Mr. J. R. QuAIN observed that in 1852 the claims
of the University of London to Parliamentary re-
presentation had been brought under the notice of
Lord Derby by a deputation of which he was a
member. At that time a Franchise Committee was
formed, by which subscriptions were received, and
he wished to know whether there was any balance
available for the purpose of the present movement.
Mr. SIIAEN, as secretary to the committee referred
to, stated that he believed there was a balance of
' about £7O in the banker's hands, which he had no
doubt might be rendered available for the further
agitation of the question. (Hear.)
The next business was a motion, of which Mr.
T. S. Osier had given notice, for the appointment
of a committee,to consider and report upon the re-
gulations adopted by the Senate on the 7th of July

last with reference to degrees in art. Before the
resolution was ;proposed,
Mr. SHEAN, the clerk, read two memorials ad-
dressed to the • Convoeation with reference to the
regulations of the Senate. The first of these docu-
ments, from members of the University and the
Colleges of Cheshunt and other places, recom-
mended 'some changes in the period of the exami-
nation for the' B.A. degree, and referred to details
connected with the course of study pursued at the
University. The second memorial was from pro-
fessors and graduates in Catholic Colleges affiliated
to the. University of London, and was signed by the
President and professors of the Roman Catholic
Colleges of St. Cuthbert's, St. Mary's, Oscott, St.
Gregory's, Downside, St. Edmund's, Ware, and
Stonyhurst.
T. S. OSLER moved resolutions to the fol-
lowing effect:—
" That having regard to the length of time during which
the system of This .University has been in operation, and
also to the important changes now introduced by the 36th
clause of the new Charter, the time has arrived for a search-
ing investigation as to the principles upon which this Uni-
versity ought to confer degrees in Arts. That Convoca-
tion is desirous of entering upon such investigation, and in
the meantime abstains from expressing any opinion with
respect to the 'propriety or adequacy of 'the recent
changes adopted by the Senate. That a committee be ap-
pointed to consider and report upon the principles on which
degrees in Arts ought in future to be conferred in this
University, and on the tendency and adequacy with refer-
ence thereto of the new regulations adopted by the Senate."
The Rev. A WELD, Professor at Stonyhurst Col-
lege, seconded the motion.
Some discussion ensued, and several amendments
which were proposed were withdrawn or negatived.
In the course of the debate, _

The Rev. J. SWEENEY, Prior of St. Gregory's,
Downside, said that the Catholic colleges of this
country had hitherto remained true to the Univer-
sity of London, although a Catholic University had
been established in Dublin, but if the regulations
recently promulgated werecarried out, they would
certainly have the effect of driving those colleges
from the London University.
The motion was agreed to nem. con., and a com-
mittee of 15 gentlemen was appointed carry out
its objects. . _

On-the motion of the Rev. A. CREAK it was re-
solved that, in view of the very inadequate amount
that had been appropriated hitherto for the encou-
ragement of learning in the University in the form
of scholarships, exhibitions, and prizes, the Senate
be requested to take suitable measures for increasing
the same, and that instead of awarding gold medals
to candidates in law and arts, scholarships of not
less than £lOO a-year for three years should be
awarded to every candidate whom the examiners
might deem entitled to such a distinction. Mr.
Creak said he did not propose such a prize in the
medical department, because he understood there
was a disinclination on the part of the medical
students to accept such an honour.
A member then moved that Convocation should
adjourn for three months, to which an amendment
was proposed, " that Convocation do now adjourn."
The amendment was carried, and the proceedings
terminated shortly before 11 o'clock.