The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-28 00:00:00

Launch of an Indian Troop Ship.

One of the most remarkable results of the late
changes in the military arrangements of India has
been the vastly increased demand for transport.
Lord Halifax, before leaving office, determined on
the creation of a fleet of screw steamers, specially
designed for this service, and yesterday the first of
five sister vessels was launched at the dockyard of
the Thames Ironworks, Shipbuilding, Engineering,
and Dry Dock Company, Blackwall. The weather,
forming an unhappy contrast to that of the previous
day, was not at all calculated to attract persons to
the banks of the river, but there was nevertheless 5
large and distinguished company present. About
half-past two the vessel began to move, and she
glided majestically into the stream causing scarcely
a ripple on the surface of the water. As she left
the stocks, Viscountess Cranborne, wife of the
Secretary of State for India, bestowed upon her,
with the customary formalities, the name of Serapis•
She is a remarkably fine vessel, and her principal
dimensions are—Length between the perpendiculars,
360 ft.; length of the keel for tonnage, 326 ft. 91 ie.;
breadth for tonnage, 49 ft. ; depth in midships (frail
top of keel), 34 ft. 6i in. ; burden in tons 8.31./
4,173 25-94. Her engines are of 700-horse power
nominal, and are under construction by
Messrg•
Humphrys and Tennant. Immediately after the
launch a dejeaner was served in the Mould-house to
about 250 ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Peter Bolt in
the chair. In proposing success to the vessel, 1'
Rolt observed that she was designed by Mr. Reed,
the constructor to the Royal Navy, and he believed
that she would be found to possess a high degree of
perfection in point of speed, ventilation, capacity,
and every other quality that was attainable in ship'
building. Captain W. R. Mends, R.N., director
of the transport service, in reply, dwelt upon the
great importance of reducing the length of, the
passage to India. Tell a sick soldier that in a
month he would be with his friends at home, and
he would very likely rally, but tell him that
he would be three months and a half on the voyage/
he would probably lie down in despair, and, perhaps?
die. With regard to the Serapis he had heard that
some persons had ventured upon adverse criticisms
upon her design, but such persons could not be avvar°l
of the difficult conditions which the designer ha'
had to fulfil. In the first place he (Capt. Mends)
had required that she should be large enough to taka°
out a whole battalion, together with the wives an
families of the soldiers ; it had therefore to be mad°
large enough to carry no fewer than 1,500 persons;
Next, as she had to make a considerable portion c't
her voyage through the tropics, he had insisted Os
she should possess every possible advantage in the
way of sanitary arrangements, and he had also bee°
obliged to restrict her draught to 21ft., as she would
have to enter two bar harbours, Aden and Alexau"
dria. Lastly, he had fixed her speed at 14 knots;
It was quite possible that she might not quite attat
il
to that rate, but if she approached it he thoug`'
they ought to be well satisfied. As to her construe:
tion he might truly say that no piece of work h.?
ever been more beautifully put together. She dt
in fact, reflect the greatest credit upon the grew
company by which she had been built, alb-•
trusted that her future administration would be ":a,
successful as her launch. (Cheers.) The s°')_
officer concluded by proposing " The Health r:
Lady Cranborne," with thanks to her for her ae
on
vices. Mr. Reed, in acknowledging the toaat,tbo
behalf of her ladyship, took occasion to refer to o
remarks to which he had from time to time 1:e1.,
subjected ; and to observe that no greater rois'°to
tune could happen to any one in his position thanl,
enjoy exemption from the freest criticism. A n.,.11„ds
ber of other toasts followed, and the proceeal"
were protracted through the afternoon.

Liverpool Cotton Market. —This Day
The-41P-
The market opens very strong, and the sales 0111
probably foot up 20,000 bales.