The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-14 00:00:00

FOREIGN MAIL PACKET LIST.

In the followingtable E signifies that letters are despatched
by eyenin,g mails from London, and /ti by morning malls.

_______
..... Next
DESTINATIONS. Despatch Port of Mail
of Mails. Despe tolt. due.
-- --- --- ---
Australia and Mauritius, via p. Dec.lo
Southampton
Ditto, via Marseilles
Bahamas and Havana via New 4
York N0v.25, E Liverpool.. NovL . _
Canada, ~c. (by Canada. pckt.) Nov. 15, E Liverpool.. overdue
NDoecv..ll2B,, Mm 5..0.u.t.h. a.
...
..
peeec..
Cape of Good Hope, Ascen-
sion, and St. Helena
China, Penang, and Singa-
pore, via Southampton'
Ditto, via Marseilles
Gibraltar, via Southampton Nov. 12, M S'outhamp. Nov. 18
Honduras and Blewfields
India (Calcutta) and Ceylon,
via Southampton Nov. —, M Southamp. Nov. 18
Ditto, via Marseilles
India (Bombay), via South-
ampton Nov., M Southamp. Nov. 25
Ditto. via Marseilles
Lisbon, Brazils,Buenos Ayres,
and F. Islands
' Lisbon, Vigo, and Oporto Nov.l7, M Southamp. overdue
Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via
Southampton Nov. —, M Southamp. Nov. 18
Ditto, via Marseilles
Mexico and Havana
UnitedA in
er Stietaa
(ebsy aßnrdi t
ißs
lir i
pt iaschk
eNt)
Newfoundland Nov. 19, E Galway ....
Dec. 2. M Southamp. Dec. 1
Nov. Nov. 19,
23 E
I:sLoivuetrhpaomopl ... Nov_. 16
Ditto (by U. s. packet)
West Coast of Africa, Ma- . '
dcira, and Teneriffe Nov. 23 E Liverpool.. Dec. 10
West India, California, Vene-
zuela, Chili, Peru, Grey-
town, New Granada, &0 Nov.l7, Id Southamp. Nov. if

INOT. 16

The launch of the Victorialwas effected at Ports-
mouth on Saturday in the molt satisfactory manner.
The recollection of the him+ of the Marlborough
from unslei neath the same sited—when that vessel
stopped in her progress when halfway down the in-
cline, and was not released from her perilous position
until the following tide, created considerable anxiety
is the minds of many as to what the results might
be in the present instance, but the whole passed
off' most admirably and a more satisfactory launch
was never witnessed. An immense concourse of
people was present, and the whole of the space set
apart for the public was crowded; the girders and
pillars of the sheds, the galleries on the port side of
the Duncan, nearly complete in the adjoining shed,
with every available point from whence a view of
the proceedings could be obtsiined, appeared to be
covered with eager human faces, every eye directed
towards the platform on which the Queen was to
make fier appearance. The balustrade enclosing the
platform, with the rail, was lined and covered with
rich crimson velvet. The floor was covered with
carpeting, and on a rosewood-table in the centre
was placed a golden bowl, once the property of
George IV., representing the bow- and stern-of a
war galley, and filled with the 'choicest cut flowers.
At the head of the short flight of stairs leading
down to the anteroom, where the Queen would
enter the building, were placed.'on pedestals marble
vases and tazzas filled with flowers. The walls of
the anteroom were hung with a light green paper
and crimson damaslt_drapery. • On the one side,, on
entering, was an antique sofa of rich crimson Utrecht
velvet, with chairs en suite ; on the opposite side
was pla ed a splendid Indian cabinet, over which
was a-richly carved and gilt girandole. Opposite
the entrance on either side were inlaid Indian tables,

on which was placed respectively silver-gilt ink-
stands, and bowls filled with the choicest cut
flowers. At the foot of the staircase leading on to
the platform were placed two highly gilt jardinieres
with Sevres porcelain covers- The whole of the fit-
tings of the anteroom and platform, for the accom-
modation of her Majesty and the Royal family, had
a very handsome effect, and r6flected the highest
credit on the taste of the designier. The troops of
the garrison were marched into ihe dockyard at an
early hour, the workmen employed in the yard
having leave granted them at the same time. The
troops lined the road through the yard along
which her Majesty would pass, from the launch-
ing shed to the platform where her Majesty
would alight from the train, and thence to the Ad-
miralty-house. Guards of honour, with the bands
and colours of the Ist battalion Rifle Brigade, Ist
Stafford Militia, and Royal Limerick County Mi-
litia were stationed at the railway platform, Admi-
.

ralty-house, and at the scene of- the launch. The
band of the Royal Marine Light Infantry were also
present at the launch. The Royal train had left
Basingstoke at 10 20 a.m., and arrived at the Land-
port terminus at Portsmouth, in charge of Mr.
Beattie and Mr. Scott, at 11. Here the large en-

gine which had brought the train down was
detached and a smaller one substitutzd, on account

of the sharp curves from the station through the
line of defences to the dockyard. A Royal salute
from a field battery of artillery stationed on the
glacis of the -fortifications contiguous to the rail-
way stationed announced her Majesty's arrival, and
in a few minutes the train entered the dockyard
and drew np alongside the platform. Her Majesty
was received, on alighting from the train, by Sir J.
Yorke Scarlett, K.C.8., Admiral W. Bowles, C. 8.,

and a brilliant staff of military and naval officers.
The Royal party comprised, in addition to her
Majesty the Queen, his Royal Higbness the Prince
Consort, his Royal Highness Prince Frederick
William of Prussia and her Royal Highness the

Princess Frederick William of frussia (the Prin-

cess Royal), their Royal Highnesses the princesses
Louisa and Helena, and his Royal Highness Prince
Alfred, attended by a numerous suite of Ladies and
Gentlemen in Waiting. Two State carriages with
the Royal liveries were in attendance, which the
Royal party entered and proceeded towards the
launching shed. The Royal standard hoisted on
the platform announced the arrival of her Majesty,
and the military bands struck up the National An-
them as her Majesty and the Royal family made
their appearance, while a tremendous shout of en-
thusiasm rose from the assembled crowds. Her
Majesty was attended on the platform by the Lords
and Ladies in Waiting, the Lords of the Admiralty,
amon,, whom we noticed Admiral Sir B. W. Wal-
ker, K.C.8., the designer of the ship, and Admiral
Pelham, C. 8.; Major-General Sir J. Y. Scarlett,
K.C.B. ; Admiral W. Bowles, C. 8.; and a numer-
ous. suite of military and naval officials. Con-
spicuous among the spectators was the Persian
Ambassador, Mirza Ali Khan, and his suite.
Her Majesty was dressed with her accustomed good
taste and simplicity, as were also the Princess Fre-
derick William (the Princess Royal), and the
youthful Princesses. Prince Arthur wore a royal
tartan plaid over his shoulder. His Royal High-
ness the Prince Consort wore a field-marshal's uni-
form, decorated with the Order of the Garter.
Prince Frederick William of Prussia wore a Prus-
sian uniform, and also were the insignia of the Or-
der of the Garter. The scene at this moment was
a most animated one ; on the platform in the centre
stood the Queen, surrounded by the members of the
royal family and a group of officers in English and
Prussian uniforms. The fan-like tiers of the gallery
in the background were filled with ladies in bright
toilets, with a sprinkling of uniforms of both ser-
vices; while on the other wing were separate com-
partments—the one on the right side being occupied
by the mayor and corporation in their robes of
office, and the one on the left by officers in full
I uniform. In the foreground, towering to an irri-
I mense height above the platform, were the bows of
the mighty ship which was about to receive from
the Queen of England, at the hands of her illustri-
ous daughter, her own regal name, and which would
henceforth take precedence in her fleet. As a ne-
cessary preliminary to the proceedings, Mr. Abe-
thell, the master builder, was presented to her Ma-
jesty by Rear-Admiral the Hon. George Grey, and
was received by her Majesty in the most gracious
manner. The Princess Frederick William was then
instructed by Mr. Abethell in the mode of christen-
ing a ship, and her Royal Highness taking the
bottle suspended by its silken cord in both hands,
dashed it with energy against the bows of the ship
and the christening of the Victoria was complete,
amid the cheers of thousands and the waving of
hats and ladies' handkerchiefs. Her Majesty ap-
peared to enjoy the scene as much as any of her
subjects present, and waved her handkerchief with
the rest. Mr. Abethell next with a mallet and chisel
cut the cord which held in their position the pigs
of ballast, and these, descending in their grooved
ways, liberated the ship from the dog-shores.
All present now directed their attention to the
ship, as the master builder continued to give his
orders ; before, however, the pressure of the screws
at her bows could be brought to bear upon her the
ship made a start and glided easily, but with a
crashing sound, down the ways, which emitted
clouds of smoke from the friction caused by the
immense mass moving overhead. An anchor dropped
from her bows as soon as she had cleared the shed
stopped the ship in her further progress, and she
swung gracefully round with her stern to the north-
ward out of the sight of the Court and spectators
inside the building. After a few moments the
graceful little Fairy appeared at the mouth of the
shed, with flags dipped from her mastheads in token
of respect to her royal mistress. All were struck
with the appearance of the Queen's favourite
steamer, and exclamations of delight burst from the
younger branches of the royal family. The Fairy
had no sooner steamed slowly clear of the mouth of
the shed than the figurehead of the Victoria came
into view on the opposite side, and slowly and gra-
dually the ship passed by, as though forming part
of a procession with her diminutive rival. At the
conclusion the Prince Consort, who had manifested
the most lively interest during the proceedings,
complimented Mr. Abethell, through the admiral-
superintendent (Hon. G. Grey), before leaving the
platform. After remaining on the platform some
little time longer her Majesty and suite re-entered
the state carriages and proceeded to the north wall
of the dockyard, where they embarked on board the
Fairy, which had arrived alongside, and steamed
slowly down the harbour as far as the steamship
Princess Royal, 91, screw, Capt. T. Baillie, lately
returned from the Mediterranean ; and returning
round the Victoria, and disembarking at the north
wall again, re-entered the carriages and proceeded
to the Admiralty-house, the residence of the com-
mander-in-chief, Admiral Bowles, C. 8., where the
royal party partook of luncheon, at the conclu-
sion of which they left the dockyard by train for
the Basingstoke station at 2 10 p.m.
The Victoria has been built from the designs of
Sir W. Walker, K.C.8., under the immediate su-
perintendence of Mr. Abethell, the master builder
of Portsmouth dockyard, and is the first three-
decked ship built according to her ordinary designs
as a steamship. She was laid down in February,

Middle Deck-30 65ewt. Bin., 9ft. long.
Lower Deck-32 Gocwt., Bin., Oft. long.
Total number of guns, 121.
The ship's figurehead is a three-quarter figure of
her Majesty, 15 feet in length. It represents the
Queen in her robes Of State, the right hand hold-
ing the sceptre surmounted by the dove, and the
left the oib ; executed by the Messrs. llellier, •of
Cosham and Southampton, carver to her Majesty's
Dockyards: As we have given the dimensions of
various ships in a late impression in comparison
with the Victoria, we may mention that although
the Victoria is the longest three-decker in the Bri-
tish, navy, we have several frigates of greater
length than,euem the Victoria. The Mersey exceeds
her. by 40 feet; as does the Orlando. The llimalaya
troopship, mow at Spithead, also excels her in length.
The arrangements for the accommodation of her
Majesty and the public at the launch on Saturday
were under the direction of Mr. Woods, C.E., and
Mr. Absalom, contractor of public works, and were
most efficient. Mr. Abethell, as the master builder,
had the sole direction of the launching of the ship;
and the successful manner in which it was accom-
plished must have been as highly gratifying to that
gentleman's feelings as it was to her Majesty and
her surrounding subjects.