The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-13 00:00:00

A New Steam Line to New York.

The connection between America and the United
Kingdom is monthly becoming more and more in-
timate. It is probable that increased facilities will
soon be furnished for despatching intelligence by
the telegraph, as the one now laid down is but the pre-
cursor of others which will quickly place the two
continents in immediate communication, and give
ample scope for messages. However important may
be such powers of intercourse, however wonderful
as an achievement of science, it can only be regarded
as an adjunct to the true bridge by which the
Atlantic is spanned. The system by which Liver-
pool and New York is joined resembles on water
the junction of two cities by land. Steam and
electricity are the. engines in both. Trains starting
every few minutes, rushing along by the side of the
still swifter telegraph wire, may not inaptly be
compared to the splendid steamers daily leaving
each of these ports, conveying their passengers with
scarcely less speed, punctuality, and security, and
passing along the whole route by the wire which
connects the countries. The trade between Liver-
pool and New York has already obtained a mar-
vellous development. Already the finest steam
lines in the world connect these cities. The Cunard
took the lead in ocean navigation, and has main-
tained from the commencement the highest reputa-
tion. This company has furnished a model which
cannot on other ocean routes be equalled ; for on
no other is there anything like the richness of
freight, and the number of passengers. But no
one company could do the work of this traffic, and
lines of scarcely less importance have been opened
out. The magnificent fleet of the Inman, and the
National Company, now ply almost daily from
Liverpool, besides the splendid steamers between
Germany and the South of England to America.
These are supplemented by the Canadian line, from
Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal, and the Anchor
line from Glasgow. But grand as is this provision,
embracing as it does by far the finest steamers built,
the traffic outstrips even these extraordinary facili-
ties. The Americans during the violent changes
and unsettled condition into which they were
plunged by their civil war have for some years,
comparatively, been shut up. The evil influences
removed, the restless spirit of the people has
gathered new force, and the passenger traffic has
grown, and is growing to prodigious dimensions.
Under these circumstances another great fleet has
entered the field. Six new steamers, built on the
most approved principles, will form this line, to be
called " The Liverpool and Great Western Steam
Company " (Limited), under the eminent firm of
Guion and Co. The first of these steamers, the
Manhattan, sailed from Liverpool on the 7th inst.,
filled with passengers and cargo. The Manhattan
is a worthy pioneer of the fleet now rapidly approach-
ing completion. Her length is 335 feet, beam
421, depth 28, tonnage 2,866 gross, and 1,951 net
register, horse power 350, and calculated for a
mean speed of 11 knots an hour. Her rig is that
of a brig, and she can spread an unusual quantity
of canvas. She can accommodate 72 first-class
passengers, and the arrangements for the people in
the steerage are on a very improved system, com-
bining perfect light and ample ventilation. With
all her coals on board she can carry 2,000 tons of
cargo. This vessel is under the command of
Captain Harris, who has been nominated Commo-
dore of the fleet. He has been long known and
highly esteemed in the New York trade as a navi-
w