The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-02 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Madrid Gazette of the 27th contains royal
decrees which relieves Admiral Armero from the ad
interim, administration of the marine department,
and M. Bermudez de Castro from the post of civil
governor of Madrid. It also announces that the
President of the Council has sent a circular to the
governor of provinces directing them to complete the
various statistical returns ordered some time ago.
The Espana says that Admiral Armero was very
anxious that instead of himself either M. Mon
or M. Martinez de la Rosa should be President of
the Council, but that the Queen begged him to
retain the post. At Leganes twelve persons, im-
prisoned by the late government for political causes,
had been set at liberty. The building of ships for
commerce is being carried on somewhat actively in
the province of Biscay ; and five large ones are now
waiting to be set afloat. A splendid frigate, built
in the same province, was recently launched.

The Nord announces in its evening edition that
all the Ministers of the Belgian Cabinet had in the
course of the day tendered their resignations to
the King.

LAUNCH OF THE GREAT EASTERN
STEAMER.

We have authority from the Board of Directors of the
Eastern Steam Navigation Company, to announce that
the launch of the great leviathan steam chip, the Great
Eastern, will take place to-morrow, the 3d inst. This
decision, it appears, was not come to till Saturday morn-
ing, the preparations for the launch having so far ad-
vanced as to enable Mr. Brunel, the engineer, who has
been assiduously engaged on the spot some days, to de-
finitely fix upon the time. It is needless to state that
every possible precaution has been adopted to secure
the safe transit of the monster into its future element.
The most difficult, and if it may be called hazardous
part of the work, has been finished some time. The
ways along which the vessel will travel have been satis-
factorily tested, and on Saturday the directors had the
long looked-for pleasure of witnessing the ship firmly
secured in her cradles, and most of the shores and props
removed. Her appearance from the river as she now sits
without any apparent support, excites almost a feeling of
wonderment to the general spectator.
. The tide to-morrow afternoon will flow until nearly
half-past 2 o'clock. This with the following morning tide,
3 o'clock a.m., will be the highest of the spring tides, so
that in the event of any check or failure in the arrange-
ment of lowering the ship to-morrow afternoon, which
appears by the extraordinary care taken very imp C 3•
bable, the next tide will be available.
The operation of lowering Ler down the ways will
commence at Il o'clock in the forenoon. Mr. Brunel, the
engineer, and Captain Harrison, who is appointed to the
command of the Great Eastern, will have the entire
direction of the arrangements, and, if it all goes well,
this extraordinary and stupendous work of marine ar-
chitecture win bo afloat about two o'clock, but whether
the usual customary christenings of the ship take place
before or after, it at all, is yet to be learned. It is de-
cided that she shall have no flag until she is really and
fairly afloat, and then, we suppose, all the usual honours
on such occasions will be observed.
It was stated in the course of Saturday that the
Prince Consort, with the Prince of Wales and Prince
Alfred, would attend the floating of the ship in one of
the royal steam yachts front Deptford, and the prepara-
tions for their reception were begun in the dockyard.
The directors have issued tickets to the ellareholders of
the company, and a large circle of the distinguished arad
scientific world, and doubtless the gathering will be one
of the largest ever witnessed on the water. The arrange-
ments en the water, as far as the public are concerned,
are confided to Captain Janice, the harbour-master, and
M. Superintendent Evans, of the Thames Police. Tae
navigation, as far as practicable, will be kept clear and
uninterrupted, and it is highly necessary for those who
have charge of boats and steamers, to act strictly in
accordance with the regulations and directions of the
harbour-master. It may also be useful to the general
public to know that there is very itch apace on the Mill.
wall side of the river (except in the yard where the ship
stands) to view the ceremony. On the opposite side,
however, on the Deptford and Greenwich shore, directly
facing the yard, an uninterrupted sight of the launch
may be obtained, and there, doubtless, the largest con-
course will be assembled. Indeed, the inhabitants have
already anticipated the event, and are making suitable
arrangemen tai

ThETGreat Eastern, when floated, is expected to draw
between 16 and 17 feet of water. It is arranged that
she will he mo,red below the Government transport
buoys off Deptford Dockyard, where she will be fitted
out for sea. Her trial trip will take placo early in the
ensuing year. She has been nearly four years in the
course of constmztion.