The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-06 00:00:00

OCEAN STEAM NAVIGATION.

The New York Evening Post of a recent date
contains a very interesting letter written by one of
its editors who made the trip from New York to
Europe by the New York and Havre Company's
steamship Arago. The writer pays a high tribute
to Captain Gadsden. He says :
" The vessel is -unquestionably the finest seaboat
that sails out of our port. While the English and
French steamers go digging,' their noses in the
brine, shipping tons of water whenever the waves
are high, the Arago floats like a duck. With little
pitching, and not much rolling, the motion causes
no more internal distress to the passengers than
would appeir inevitable on the ocean. In the
heaviest weather she remains as dry as a bone,
makes about the same speed without wind as with
it, and at all times gives you a feeling of triumph
over the elements. Captain Gadsden, her comman-
der, who is a most intelligent, accomplished, and
courteous gentleman, as well as a skilful navigator,
is more than worthy of his fine ship. He imposes
an absolute confidence by his constant care and
watchfulness, while he has brought about him in his
second officers, both in the sailing and engineering
departments, men of high qualities, not unlike his
own. Even the cuisine does not escape his atten-
tion, and the living on board would compare favour-
ably with the best Parisian restaurants."
The writer goes on to discuss the discomforts of
ocean travel generally, and comments as follows
on Mr. Silver's "Transatlantic-Ferry " plan

" Captain Gadsden is quite dissatisfied with our
American attainment in the art of ocean navigation.
He says that we ought to surpass the rest of the
world as much in ocean steamships as we do in our
inland steamboats. While they are satisfied on the
Thames, the Rhine, the Danube, the Mediterranean,
and other waters of Europe, with miserable little
black centipedes, that are without speed or accom-
modations of any sort, we have long enjoyed on
the lakes, the Sound, the Mississippi, and the Hud-
son our magnificent floating palaces, which make
twenty miles an hour, and are furnished like the
best hotels. But on the ocean we have allowed
other nations to equal, •if not to excel, us. We
have, in fact, no Transatlantic line comparable to
the Cunard for speed or safety, nor that can beat
the German in regularity. The Arago and Fulton,
as single ships, are not equalled, perhaps, but they
compose the entire line, are somewhat slow, and
make only fortnightly instead of weekly voyages.
We should have a line to run every week, to make
the transit in seven days, and to do it without re-
gard to wind or waves. These ends could be ac-
complished, Captain Gadsden is fully convinced by,
a life-long experience, by the plan of steamers pro-
posed by Mr. Thomas Silver, of New York, for the
execution of which a company is now forming."
"The comparative proportion of the steam power
of a vessel with her sectional area of resistance de-
termines chiefly her speed. To illustrate the case
more clearly, statistics of the two following steamers
are given, in connection with the estimate of the
speed as per area of resistance and power of the
proposed vessels.

Area of Mid. Nominal Speed in
Steamers. Section. Horse p'r. miles.
Persia
Great Eastern
Transatlantic Company's.
new steamers 930 2,500 18*
* Equivalent to a passage in seven days.

" These are average performances of the Great
Eastern and Persia, the latter crossing in ten and a
half days, consuming fourteen hundred tons of coal,
while the former consumes twenty-eight hundred
tons in the same time. This gives the following
remarkable result, viz. : Each horse-power of the
larger vessel costs 1.8 tons of coal and drives nine
tons across the Atlantic, while each horse-power of
the smaller vessel costs 1.55 tons of coal, and drives
only three and a-half tons the same distance at the
same speed. This exhibit demonstrates the advan-
tage of running large steamers, where there is such
an abundant employment for them as exists between
America and Europe."
It is estimated that the economical running ex-
penses Qf the proposed vessels will leave an annual
balance of over fifty per cent. on the cost of a
vessel (supposing that cost to be $1,500,000), as
~follows :

RECEIPTS PER PASSAGE.
1,500 tons freight (one third carrying capa-
city) $lO
750 Passengers (one-third —carrying capa-
city) $50.. 37,500
Restauration and Wine department
Mails, Specie, &c.

Total
EXPENSES PER PASSAGE.

2,500 tons coal, $lO (Bristol price weuld
be only 10s". to 12s. sterling)
All other expenses on board (the ship's
supplies, expenses of stewards, &c.,
being in account current of restaurant
department) . 5,000
Shore expenses 3,000
Wear and tear, insurance, &c., say per
.._ ........

passage - 10,000

$43,000
Profit per passage 542,000
Or an annual profit on twenty passages, allow-
ing two months to lay by
Or one year's profit on four ships, costing
$6,000,000 3,360,000

Select Committee on Theatrical Licences
and Regulations.

The following document has been given in evi-
dence before this committee, from the Lord Cham-
berlain's office, vesting in the Examiner of Plays
authority to act as Inspector of Theatres- :
The Lord Chamberlain, in order to secure greater effi-
ciency to the officer of Examiner of Plays, has desired it
be communicated to that officer, and to be registered in
the books of the Loid Chamberlain's office :—First—That
the Reader of Plays shall reside in London, for the greater
facility of communication with the Lord Chamberlain, and
with the managers of theatres, as well as for the general
efficient performance of his duties ; and that he shall at-
tend at the Lord Chamberlain's office at least once a week
to examine the play-bills of all the metropolitan theatres,
so as to satisfy himself that no theatrical pieces are an-
nounced contrary to the Lord Chamberlain's decision. 2d.
That the Reader shall attend personally •at theatres or
saloons in any case when hpportant alterations have been
made in plays submitted to the Lord Chamberlain for
licence, or whenever any report has been made of impro-
priety, either in a drama itself, or the mode of placing it on
the stage; it being the opinion of the Lord Chamberlain
that the duty of Examiner is not only to read plays sub-
mitted for licence and advise him thereon, but that he is
responsible to himfor seeing that the play when acted cor-
responds in every respect with the play as licensed by the
Lord Chamberlain. 3d. That as the Lord Chamberlain's
attention has been directed during the last few years to
the improvement of the theatres, especially as regards a
proper space being afforded to the public, not only in the
boxes, but more particularly in the pit and the galleries,
with a view of insuring by such arrangements increased
comfort, order, and decency, and also as regards the
more perfect system of lighting and ventilation, security
from fire, and an easy ingress and egress in the case of a
sudden panic, he wishes the attention of the Reader of
the Plays to be particularly directed to these points, and
to consider it his duty (with the assistance of a profes-
sional surveyor) annually, or should it be deemed neces-
sary more frequently, to report to the Lord Chamberlain
' the state of progress which is made in these respects, and
to offer any suggestions which may advance the objects
the Lord Chamberlain has in view.
By order of the Lord Chamberlain.

(Signed) NORMAN.

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