The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-31 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 1866.

To WEST-END DINERS.—
" THE WELLINGTON,"
ST. JAMES'S-STREET, PICCADILLY.
LADIES' SALUON DINING ROOM on the First Floor
The SUBSCRIPTION ROOMS are now OPEN.
Terms—Twelve Months ZI Us. Od.
Six Months I Is. Od.
Apply, D. CAMERON, 49, St James-street.

AIR. N. S. WOODIN'S BADEN-BADEN
and UP IN THE MR, an entirely New Entert in-
meitt, written by 'l' W Robertson. Esq., will be produced at
the POLYGRAPHIC HA t,1.,, King William-street, Char-
ing-cross, on T tIURS DAY EVENING next, March 49.
Doors open at Half-past Seven ; comm nee at Eight.
Luxurious spring sofa stalls, Os ; balcony stalls, 35.; area,
25.; amphitheatre, is.
A First RA.ND MORNING PF.RFORM A.NCE next
SATURDAY, March 31, at Three. Doors o; en at half-past
Two. A plan of stalls may be seen and seats secured at the
tall from Eleven to Five.

CHRISTY MINSTRELS,
ST. JAMES'S HALL.
EVERY EVENING at Eight. WEDNESDAYS and
SAT t, RD A.YS, at Three and Eight,—The or g nal and veri-
tably legimate CHRI,TY 3ILN3TRELS. First Season in
London the-e five years The only company in existence
which possesses a legal claim to the title, from the fact of its
being the only one which retains all the marked specialities
and distinguished favourites who originally gained the re-
putation of the company first in the United State s, and sub-
sequently in this country, ;n %857. No other company as-
suming the title of Christy Minstrels possesses a single in-
dividual member of the least distinction who belonged to the
original troupe. The Christy!; (after an absence of five years)
return to London with their band strengthened and im-
proved in every respect, their entertainment being unani-
mously pronounced b i the metropolitan press to be the most
sparkling in London.
Prices of Admission—New and luxurious fauteuils, 55.;
stalls, 3s. ' • a -ea, 2s. ; gallery, ls. ; juveniles, under twelve,
half price to stalls and area only. Fauteuils and stalls may
be secured at Mr. Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-
street; or at Mr. Austin's, 2S, Piccadilly. Manager, Mr.
Frederick Burgess.

91 H O X F OR D,
6, OXFORD-STREET, W.
The Oxford and C4•4t.rbury Hall Company (I imited‘,
I 1 I WEt ;KIM ..lomic Opera, by A DOLPIIi
Navin been tall hdtlast!tcally received, will be performed by
the whole of the ~alented Operatic Company If :14:ItY
EVEN NG in wddi:tion to the other novelties of the estab-
I shment, ineludir•ify, the ce bratei HUNGARIANS in their
new entertainment, MARSHALL, the S PONETTES,
Messrs. Davies and Sk rrett, and Miss Et LEN TRACY,
the Australien Ballad Vocalist, who will introduce for the
first time in England her novel rendering of the Ballads of
Irel nd.
Admission—Area, ed ; stalls and balcony, Is ; private
boxes, with separate entrance, 10s. 6d.

AtrADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION,
I BAKER-STREET, EASTER HOLIDAYS.
NEW ADDITIONS.—SeveraI life-size Portrait Models
of the most distinguished Personages of the day (including
those of the late LORD PALMERSTON and GUS-
TAVUS V. BROOKE) have been added since the last
Holidays ; and in the Chamber of Horrors are Effigies,
taken from life, of SOUTHEY alias FORWOOD, and the
norious CHARLOTTE WINSOR.
Open during the first three days in Easter week from 10
a.m. till 10 p.m.
Admittance, Is. ; children, under ten, half price ; Extra
Rooms, 6d.

ARGYLL ROOMS, Great Windmill-street,
Piccadilly.
GRAND EXTRA NIGHT THIS EVENING.
Dancing at fen. Open until One o'clock. Admission,
gentlemen, ss. ladles, 2s. 6d. Door open at half-past Nine.
Chef d'Orehestra, Signor L. Curti.
N.B.—Du.ing the evening- th, eminent H. Levy will per-
form some of his favourite solos on the cornet.
Manager, M. GRENET.

SWEET OPOPONAX.—PIESSE and
LUKIN'S 21GIV PERFUME. This and a thousand
others for choice at the laboratory of flowers, 2, New Bond-
street, London. Sold in all parts of the world.

SPANISH FLY is the acting ingredient in
ALEX. ROSS'S CAN I'HARIDES OIL, which speedily
produces whiskers and thickens hair, 3s. 6d, ; sent tree for
64 stamps.— ALEX. ROSS, 248, High Holborn, London.
Essay on Hair, Id.

ALEX. ROSS'S BLOOM of ROSES, 3s. 6d.,
or 51 stamps.

PIMPLE REMOVER.—AII diseases of the
skin are improved by one dose of ALEX. ROS,'S
VR4ETABLE SKIN PILLS. They remove redness, sal-
lowness, &u. 2s. 9d.•, by p, st for 40 stamps.—ALEX. ROSS,
243, Hi,411 Holborn, London.

ALEX. ROSS'S FACE POWDER, is., or 14
stamps.

FAIR-CURLING FLUID, 248, High Holborn,
London.—ALEX. ROSS'S CURLING FLUID ourhi
Ladies' or Gentlemen's hair immediately it is applied. Sold
at 3s. 6d.; sent free for 54 stamps. Roes's Toilet Magazine,
is. 6d., or 20 stamps.

IQUID ROUGE, Is., Roi 18itainris:

REY HAIR. —248, Pigh Holborn, London.—
ALEX. ROSS'S HAIM DYE produces a perfect colour
Immediately it is used. It I .permanent, and perfectly na-
tural In effect. Prize 15. Ed. ; sent by post toP 54 stamps.

ADIES HAIR DYED, from 1 guinea; Gentle
ILA men's, from 10s. 6d.

DR. SCOTT'S LIVER AND BILIOUS
PILLS.—A NEVER FAILING REMEDY.—Pre-
'area without any mercurial ingredient, from the recipe of Dr.
,cott, of Bromley, Kent. will be found invaluable to all who
uffer from bilious and liver rtomplaints, inligesticn, wind.
+paging, giddiness, •lizzinetis of the eyes, &o. For habitual
ostiveness, as a family aperient medicine, and as a purifier
the blood, they are truly excellent; mild in their opera-
tion and grateful to the stomach, they create appe Cite, pro-
mote digestion, and strengthen the whole nervous system.
Sold by W. Lambert, 8, King William-street, Charing-cross.
London, and by most druggists, in boxes,ls. lid., and three
times the quantity in one, 2s. 9d. Be sure to ask for Dr.
Scott's Bilious and Liver Pills. The genuine are a square
green package. with " William Lambert." engraved on the
stamp.

PROVIDENCE ROW NIGHT REFUGE,
FOR
HOMELESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN,
14A, Providence-row, Finsbury, E.C.
Sixty Thousand Nights' Lodgings, with Suppers and
Breakfasts, have been given in this Institution to the
destitute, who otherwise would have had to pass the
nights in the bleak streets or under railway arches.
At present nearly 500 Nights' Lodgings, with Suppers and
Breakfasts, aro given gratuitously every week. The poor
from all parts aro admitted, the only condition being that
they are homeless and starving. The Manager, &c.,
receives no remuneration whatever. Notwithstand-
ing the provision made by the Poor Houses, each
night numbers of young women, children, and orphans
are, for want accommodation, refusedadmittance, and have
to spend night after night in the cold, wet, and sleet. To
meet this evil, and to provide more ample accommoda-
tion, £2,000 has been raised, but to accomplish the
work a sum of at least £l,OOO more will be required.
Besides providing shelter for the homeless, this year it
is proposed, as far as the donations obtained for the pur-
pose will allow, to give bread and coals to poor families
in want. Will you, in your charity, help to carry on and
accomplish what has been begun ? Will you help to give
shelter to the really homeless, and food to the really
starving ? The smallest donation will be most welcome,
and, night and morning, the prayers of the destitute will
be offered in your behalf.
SUBSCRIPTIONS are earnestly requested, and will be
gratefully received by the Rev. D. GILBERT, D.D., No. 22,
Finsbury-circus. E.C.
DONORS AND SUBSCRIBERS TO THE REFUGE.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES, K.G.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, K.G.
His Royal Highness the Duke D'Aumale.
His Excellency the Count D'Apponyi.
The Earl of Abergavenny. Messrs. Dimsdale, Drewett,
The Earl of Desart. Fowler, and Barnard.
The Earl of Denbigh. Messrs. Hanbury and Lloyds.
Tho Earl Grey. K.G. Messrs. Prescott, Grote, Cave
The Earl of ilarewood. and Co.
The Earl of Eglinton. London Assurance Corpora-
The Earl of Kenmore. tion.
The Earl of Durham. Royal Exchange Insurance
The Countess of Albemarle. Company.
The Lady Ellen Browne. Sun Fire Office.
The Lady Camino. E. For- R. W. Barclay, Esq.
tescue. J. Bethel], Esq.
The Viscount Gage. Mrs. Barnewall.
Field-Marshal Lord Gough, Miss Burton.
K.P. Mrs. Curling.
The Lord Dormer. J. Henry Challis, Esq.
The Lord Petro. Dr. Carvalho.
The Lord Leigh. R. Crawford, Esq., M.P.
The Lord Chelmsford. H. Cazenne, Esq.
The Lord Cranworth. Mrs. Chesterton.
Baron de Rothschild, M.P. A. H. Campbell, Esq.
Tbt).Hon. C. Langdale. Miss Douglas.
The Hon. W. Browne. Messrs. Durant & Co.
The Hon. 11. G. Campbell. Messrs. Dawson & Sons.
Sir Charles Price, Bart. Miss Dobson
Sir Robert Gerard, Bart. Cursetjee Furdonjee, Esq.
Sir Pyers Mostyn, Bart. Miss Franklin
Hon. Rustomjee Jamsetjee Dr. Gull.
J eejeebhoy C. Gould, Esq.
The Governors of the Dud; H. E. Gurney, Esq.
of England. Messrs. Hills & Underwood.
The Worshipful Company of Capt. Hogg.
Artuourers and Braziers. Miss Kaye.
The Worshipful Company of J. Kynaston, Esq.
Tallow Chandlers. J. Knight, Esq.
The Worshipful Company of L. Lloyd, Esq.
Drapers. J. Lewis Mieville, Esq.
The Worshipful Company of Miss 31‘111ahon.
Grocers. C. Manning, Esq.
The Worshipful Company of Miss Martin
Saddlers. Breton Martinez, Eoq.
The Worshipful Company of Messrs. Ponsfoa. and Sou-
Salters. thall.
Tho Worshipful Company of F. X. Pereira, Esq.
Merchant Tailors. Mrs. 2almer.
The Directors of the Bank of H. W. Prescott, Esq.
Australia. F. Philips, Esq.
The Directors of the Bank of
M. N 11. E. Prowett, Esq.
Australasia. M. R. Do Quadros, Esq.
The Directors of the Colo- G. A. She°, Esq.
nial Bank. H. Riddell, Esq.
The Directors of the National T. Riddell Esq.
Bank of Ireland. Messrs. Ralli Bros.
The Directors of the Provin- Messrs. De la Rue and Co.
cial Bank of Ireland. Miss Rombold.
Tho Directors of tho Char- Mrs. Simpson.
tered Mercantile Bank of Mrs. Scott.
India, London, and China. Mrs. Southby.
The Directors of the Impo- Messrs. Tucker and New.
rial Ottoman Bank. F. Ward, Esq.
The Directors of the London G. Basil Wcod, Esq.
and County Bank. Miss Young.
The Directors of the Union J. Young, Esq.
Bank. Messrs. Zuluta an 4 Co.
/dearth Coutto and 4.0 se. (tc

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT RAILWAY
COMPANY.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that no FURTHER
SUMS can be received as payment. in full in anticipation of
CALLS in respect of the scrip Certificates of this Company
a,ter SATINWAY, the 14th April next, until further
notice.

DEVON, Chairman.
6, Westminster-chambers, Victoria-street, S.W.

THE CREDIT FONCIER AND A.IOBILIER
OF ENGLAND (I imitod),
J, IS II REBY IV that :he ORDINARY
G ENE ItAL ME r.T• Gof this Company will be held at the
London TAVC n, Bishop.gate-street, Lon.ion, on WE D N ES-
D Y. the 25th of April, at 'twelve o'clock noon precisely,
tor the purpose of receiving the ',tree era and Auditor's Re-
port and Balance-s+eet, and for declaring a Dividend.
The Transfer Books of the Co:iipan will be Closed from
4 p.m. on Wednesday, the 15th Al ril, until 10 a.m.. on Friday,
the 27th April
By order of the Court of Directors,
ALFRED LDWE, Secretary.
17 and 18, Cornhill, London, March 21, 1566.

THE IMPERIAL MERCANTILE CREDIT
ASSOCIATION (Limited%

Capital subscribed. £5,000,000.
Paid up, .1500,000,• Best, £75,000.
BOARD OF 'DIRECTORS.
CHAIRMAN —JOHN CHAPMAN, ESQ , Director of the
union Bank of London.
Xenophon Balli, Esq. _
E. J. Colemaa,
Mr. Aid* rman Dakin, DirectOr of the Bank of London.
James Dickson, Ecq . Director of the Imperial Rank.
P. D. Hadow, Esq., Deputyrhairman of the Peninsular and
Oriental Steam Navi,:ation. Company.
J. 0. Hanson, Esq., Director of the National Provincial Bank
of England.
G. F. Holroyd, EqL., Director of the London, Chatham, and
Dover Railway.
T. G. Bomere,
Captain J. Gilbert Johnston,znirector of the South-Western
ailway.
G. G. Macpherson, Esq., Cliairrean of the Agra and Master-
ntan's Rank.
W. schoiefield g.P.,,l4rector of the Union Bank.
Sir S. D. Scott, Esq., DIScAr of the National Provincial
Oink of Englaod.

Joseph Thornton, Req.
Alfr, d Wilson, Esq., Director of the Bank of London.
M. Zarifi, Esq.

MANAGERS.
Henry J. Ihiker, Esq., and T. Fraser Sandeman, Esq.
BANKERS.
The ITninn Bank of Loudon.
The Bank of London.
The Agra and Masterman's Bank (Limited).

This Association makes ADVANCES upon approved Mer-
cantile and other Securities, and REG tI VES MONEY ON
DEPOSIT at interest for short or low: periods. _ ' _
DEPOSITORS for periods of not less than Three Years
may procure, on application at the Offices, Iftbentures of the
Assoct.tion, bearing interest at 6 per cent, per annum, pay-
able quarterly by Coupon " to bearer" attached.
W. C. WIN TERP.OTTOM, Secretary.
27, Lombard-street, London, E.C.

DR. CULVERWELL'S GRAND TURKISH
BATHS,
3. Great Marlborough-street, 3 doors from Poland-street,
Ladies every Monday. •
dentlemenall•pther days, 2s. each ; 15. One Guinea.
. Also opposite the Post-office, 19, St. Martin's-le-Grand.

IMER. . HOWARD, SURGEON-DENTIST, 52,
fleet-ctreet,bas introduced an entirely new etescrtp-
ti, nof ARTIFICIAL --FEET fl xed without springs. wires,
or ligatures. Th ey *so- pert ectly rez emb ie the .natural teeth
as not to be distinguished fro n the originals by the closest
observer;; they will never change colour or decay, and will
be found' superior fro, any teeth ever before, used. ,This
method does not reqttire the extraction of roots, or any pain-
ful operation, and will support and preserve teeth that are
loose, and is guaranteed to restore articulation and mastica-
tion. Decayed teeth ittopped and rendered sound and useful
in mastication. .
52. Fleet-street. At home from 10 till 5.

HYAM and-CO.'s -ATTIRE for GENTLEMEN,
86 anil-67 Oxford-street, W.
Gentlemen-abtint thipurchase their clothing for the season
are requested to.bcer inmind the followingrecommendatlons
of 11YA.31 undl3o.!S Attire for Gentlemen
1. Novelty, Beanty, and Excellence of Fent%
•
2. Perfect Adpistment of Fit.
3. Beporaing and lashionable Design.
4. Ornatnetitit.and general Finish. •

I
TYAM and CO 's ATTIRE for GENTLEMEN,
„
-1.4 436 Wad Pi-Oxford. street, W.
Hyam and Co.;'s 14;pring Overcoats .. .. 21p,Aco 425.
Hyam and Cd.'aSpring Suits Cs. to 70s.
Hyarn.atid Co:'s-,s,pring bilk-faced Capes 2511..t0`155.
Hyam.and Co.'s Spring Jackets
Hyam and Co.'s. Storing Dress Coats
Hyam and Co.'s Spring Frock Coats
Hyam-atd Co '0 Storing* Vests 6a. to 14s.
Hyam and Co.'s Spring Trousers l4s. to 255.

f_TYAM and CO.'s SELECT DEPARTMENTS..
-LA- No. I. G--ntienien's Clothing tor immediate wear.
„ '2. Bespoke Or Order Department.
v„,•3.-; yore And Youth 3' Distinct Department.
-4MFl.tsi-fltsiser Watery. an& Outfit Department
11Y-AMand„k'o., etand 67, Oxford-street W.
Provincial Eitablitfinnents at Birmingham, Leeds, and
Dewsbury. , •

TO DtBTORS IN DIFFICULTIES.-Mr. S.
T. COOPER, Public Accountant, arranges Compod-
tions with Creditors, advises persons in troub!e how to
arrange their affairs, or to pass through the Court of Bank-
ruptcy, and prcparts all forms of accounts, public or private.
Twenty years of experience. Consultations gratis.—Offices,
10, Basinghall-street, opposite the Cuurt of Bankruptcy.
French, German, and Italian spoken.

TEETH AND PAINLESS DENTISTRY.—
The fear of pain and dread of ope: ation inherent to all
deur very many to whom ARTIFICIAL TEETH are of
vital importance from availing themselves of the services of
a dentist. In a practice founded in 1830, and now ex ending
over greater part of the kingdom, an experience unequalled
has been obtained, enabling us to offer even the most sensi-
tive sufferer a bystem of dentistry perfect in its absolute
freedom from pain, a specialite Lertaining only to our prac-
tice, and for which her Majesty has granted her royal letters
patent. This system embraces the non-interference with all
stumps, however decayed, the support n,c,, instead of extrac-
tion of loose teeth until they become firm and useful in mas-
tication, and the utter absence of all and every operation, so
that the most nervous person can be supplied without fear of
pain or inconvenience. These teeth are cheaper, more dur-
able, na,ural, and comfortable than any yet produced.
Consultation tree. Teeth from 58. bets from 5 to 25 gs.,
warranted.
--•- -

For the efficacy, utility, and success of this systcm, vide
Lancet."

Messrs. LEWIN and SIMEON MOSELY and SONS,
30, Berners-street, Oxford-street, and 448, Strand,
Opposite Charing-cross Railway Station.
Daily attendance at 13, Whitefriargate, ; 10, Norfolk-
street, Sheffield ; 4, East-parade, Leeds ; 14, St. Nicholas-
street, Searbro' ; and 33, Coney-street, York
Established 1830. No connection with any one of the same
name.

Change of Temper in the American Congress.

It is a fact, and a pleasing one, to every intelli-
gent mind in the country, that since the PRESIDENT'S
" extraordinary speech" there has been a decided
improvement in the temper of the members of both
Houses of Congress, as manifested in their delibe-
rations upon the great issues of the day. Whether
because they have seen their own grave faults re-
flected in the conduct of another, and discovered
there was something due from themselves to their
high offices, if they would have their dignity upheld
in the eyes of the people, it does not come within
our province at present to inquire. Suffice it to say,
there has been a change, and for the better, and we,
in common with all who sincerely wish the country
well, must hail it as a favourable omen. The pre-
sent time is big with the future ; the great events
which are transpiring in America are of that serious
character which makes all attempts at facetix pecu-
liarly repulsive ; and whoever so far forgets him-
self through passion—no matter what causes may
have given rise to it—as to indulge in language
which has become too common to American politi-
cians, and degraded them in the estimation of the
statesmen of Europe, is justly deserving the uni-
versal condemnation of the country. If Americans
have drifted to that stage of Republicanism where
there is no longer felt any respect for office it is .
unfortunate, and the sooner office-holders can de-
mean themselves in such manner as to regain that
respect the better ; but the experience of the past
four years plainly shows that they still retain an
honest admiration and regard for the welfare of the
nation ; and there are few indeed who think the
trials of the day are fit.subjects for stump logic or
the display of lingual accomplishments. We can-
not affect to be indifferent over the prospect—the
differences which have sprung up between the
leaders of the party that was united through-
out the war in defence of the Union, however ac-
ceptable they may be to those who have been
persistently hostile to the Government, are the
source of the deepest regret to us; but if there
must be a division, we trust it will be after all the
arguments of reason, uninfluenced by those of
passion, have been exhausted. If the point has
been reached where there must be a divergence
—a separation of those who have been travel-
ling the same road so harmoniously, and who
now only disagree as to the route to be taken to
reach the same end—the perpetuity of the Union—
it is to bn hoped. nothing will be done at the parting
unbecoming the exalted dignity of the cause they
have each sought to promote. The present attitude
of Congress is encouraging to every one desirous of
seeing the prosperity of America. May we not
expect there is an end to all appeals'to prejudice,
and that public men of all parties will hereafter en-
deavour to address themselves to the intelligence of
the people ?

The Northumberland.

The attempt soon to be made to lift and launch
this noble vessel will probably be one of the most
difficult, and even most hazardous, applications of
great mechanical forces ever ventured on since the
memorable days when the Great Eastern was thrust
inch by inch into the river. There was, however,
even less risk in the launch of the leviathan vessel
than is incurred in the attempt to move the North-
umberland, which now occupies almost the very
ground from which the great ship was got afloat.
The Great Eastern moved very slowly, it is true,
but as she always did move when force was applied
it became a mere question of the amount of hydraulic
power to be employed to know to an hour the time
when she would be afloat. In the case of the North-
umberland, however, it is unfortunately very diffe-
rent. She has stuck fast upon her launching-ways,
and has hitherto defied all efforts to move her, and
this with a vessel of such enormous weight (nearly
9,000 tons) has becomea most serious difficulty and
even danger. It will be recollected that in our ac-
count of the attempted launch, it was stated that
the vessel started well, and for the first 100 ft. ran
smoothly. After that, however, she gradually slack-
ened in her speed, and at last, amid a rush of smoke
which flew up from the friction between her cradles
and the launching-ways, came to a dead standstill,
having only gone 170 ft. This distance left her stern
some 12ft. beyond the ways, and in 24ft. water at
high spring tides. Most fortunately, Mr. Lungley,
the general manager of the Millwall Works, had
1
41114 =tip
and t 'tl

lese, under

to shock of her almost sudden

stoppage, held her firm, and probably nothing but
this good workmanship saved her from turning over.
and at once becoming a wreck. She held straight
and as upright as if she had never moved, and all
the strength of the dockyard was at once em-
ployed to keep her so.by shoring her up on all sides
with powerful timber struts. On the following
Sunday there was 241 t. water under her stern,
and some 2ft. under her bows, and 10 or 12 steam-

tugs were employed, hawsers got out and rigged to
capstans on the other side of the river, and every
effort made to start her, but in vain. No one, how-

ever, who saw; this effort was in the least surprised
at its negative result. The power of the capstans
and hawsers over such a mass was but small, and

as fot the steamtugs no two of them were ever pull-

ing together. Since then—that, is, during the last

fortnight—a most careful survely has been made of
the ship and of the ways beneath her, and divers
have even been down to examine that part of the

stern which projects beyondthe ways. The result of
every inspection showed that the ship has not strained
in the remotest appreciable degree ; the ways were
stated only to have depressed as little as 1-Bth of an
inch, while no obstacle of accumulated mud or gravel
was in her way astern..lt was then also ascertained
that she hung by her cradle forward, and partly by
that astern, but that both, as we have said, were as
firm and compact, and still held the ship as perpen-
dicular, as before she moved from the stocks. tinier
these circumstances it was determined, after consul-
taticin between Sir J. Hay, Mr. Lungley, and the
.most experienced Admiralty, and private yard offi-
cialS, to attempt getting her off by floating the stern
and 'applying such poWerf ul. hydraulic pressure to
the tows as would give. her a good start, and then
trust to her own iropetus.to make the best of her
way into deep water. Spice that decision has been
come to, the- works necessary to secure the success
of such a stupendous operation have been going on
day:and night at Millwall; Everything has been
done under the advice of the best nautical authori-
ties; and almost everything has been personally
kMr. Lurigley.and Sir John Hay. In
therirst place, to prevent the ,ship launching her-
self:: Unexpectedly during some exceptional high
tide, she has been shored and wedged in in such
a manner that any downward movement on the
ways seems impossible. In addition to this, however,
two enormous chain cables have been taken through
the hawse holes and made fast to anchors buried in
the ground, while the ship's own capstans have been
used to draw these massive links of iron as taut as
harpstrings. This is to retain her till the last mo-
ment, when all is ready to heave her off. The ar-
rangements for floating, however, are farmore com-
plex. Every part of her keel, from her bows to well
astern, has been wedged up in the most massive man-
ner, so as not only to secure and ease the weight up,
but take some of her enormous pressure off the for-
ward cradle. In addition to this, 12 large wooden
pontoons, or " camels," as they are called, have been
constructed. Each of these is 30ft. by 9ft. broad
and 9ft. deep, and each is perfectly caulked and
water tight, like a little wedge shaped, unpainted
wooden vessel. They are all so carefully made from
moulds as to fit like a glove close to the bottom of the
ship, on each side of which six were chained toge-
ther yesterday, two and two on either side, cross
chains under the keel connecting all. The floating
power of these is equal in all to about 400 tons.
Yesterday also men were employed all day in lock-
ing tiers of empty puncheons under the sterns.
Nearly 400 were so coupled up, and these will give
a lifting force of about 100 tons. The chief reason
for employing these puncheons is that they, from
their narrowness, can be got into places between the
ship's side and the dock where no other means to
assist flotation can well be used. At dead low water
last night eight lighters were moored by chains stem
on—four under each side of the Northumberland's
stern. Each of these, if fastened broadside on, would
have a lifting power of 100 tons or so. But the
length of the vessel open to the river was not suffi-
cient to admit of their being thus arranged. They
have therefore been chained in twos, with their bows
turned under the stern, and counter balancing
weights of iron ballast are placed in the sterns of
each to prevent their being pulled bows under as
the tide rises and finds them secured to the gigantic
hull which they are to assist in floating. These
counterbalancing weights, however, of course, take
off immensely from the lighters' buoyancy, so that
instead of each lighter being able as it floated to lift
100 tons, it is calculated that the efforts of all will
not amountto much more than 400 tons. The total
floating power, therefore, including pontoons, bar-
rels, and lighters, will be rather short of 1,000 tons.
This, however, with a spring tide, when the ship is
almost afloat already, is thought quite sufficient for
the purpose of getting her off. In the centre of the
river a dredging machine will be moored, with a
steam capstan on board, and this, with hawsers,
can, it is estimated, exercise a strain of 100 tons ;
and powerful purchases will also be applied on both
sides of the ship from Millwall yard itself. Under
the bows of the Northumberland three powerful hy-
draulic rams have been placed. Two of these, equal
together to a pressure of 1,200 tons, are fixed one
against each cradle, and both arc most securely sup-
ported with immense timber backings down to the
launching ways. The third, similarly held by au
immense frame of timber, is of nearly 1,000 tons
power. This, however, is fixed in the centre, and
upright, so that it can work from the ground up be-
neath the bows of the vessel, which it will, to the
full extent of its immense pressure, partly lift and
ease off the ways forward.
The modus operandi of this curious half launching,
half lifting, half pushing process will be as follows :
when near high water the steam capstans and all the
hawsers attached to the crabs and windlasses will be
drawn to their utmost tightness, and at high water,
as soon as .there are even the slightest symptoms of
liveliness upon the
.immense hull, the three rams
will be set to work simultaneously, the centre to
lift, and those on each side to push her off. If she
goes, the men on board the lighters will stand ready
with axes to cut away all their fastenings to her—
an operation which must be quickly done, for the
Northumberland is certain otherwise to pull them
under her stern and then under water like light-
ning. The great danger of the attempt is that the
vessel ray only rift o little as to be just influenced