The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-07 00:00:00

SAILING OF THE GREAT EASTERN.
(THIS DAY.)

The disappointment of yesterday seemed to have
little or any effect in diminishing the thousands
who had determined to witness t'ne departure of
the most magnificent specimen of nfAval architecture
in the world from the position she so long has
occupied in the river, off Deptford. Soon after day-
break immense numbers of people began to assemble,
and every train that arrived from London, either at
Greenwich or Blackwall, during the early part of
the morning, augmented the e Atendanee. From
six o'clock until the hoar fixed for the
starting of the noble vessel small steamers, freighted
almost to danger with hundreds of persons, arrived
from all parts of the river, rsnd produced a,scene of
the most animated description.
At one time it was rumoured that the departure
of the ship had been again postponed ; but the
blue peter, which was flying at the fore of the Great
Eastern, intimated that such was not the fact ; and
all doubt was very shortly settled by the arrival of
four Government steam-tugs from Woolwich, which
were immediately made fast to the fore and after
part of the ship.
At 35 minutes to 7, the Great Eastern let go
her moorings, amidst the cheers of the assembled
thousands.

The steam in her boilers was fully up, and both
the paddle and screw engines were occasionally
working.
Captain Harrison was upon the paddle-box, with
Mr. Wm. Atkinson, the river pilot, who will have
charge of the ship as far as the Nore. Mr. Spence,
another Thames pilot, was in the bows of the vessel.
As she passed Greenwich the enthusiasm of the

people increased, and the scene was altogether one
one of singular interest and great beauty,
and it must have produced a thrill of pleasure and
pride in the hearts of those who have had confi-
dence in the ship from the beginning to witness the
remarkably easy manner in which she quitted the
position she has occupied in the river for so many
months past.
The difficult navigation of this part of the river
was successfully overcome, but at Blackwall Point,
opposite the Gun Shoal, the wind and the set of the
tide together drove her bows too much in shore,
and it required the united power of five steamers to
pull the ship's head round into mid-channel. This
was happily accomplished after some delay, during
which the greatest anxiety was felt for' the safety
of the ship.
At a quarter to 9 o'clock the ship passed Black-
wall Pier, upon which and 'in Mr. Levegrove's
adjoining tavern thousands of spectators had as-
sembled.
The winding of the river between this point and
Woolwich were navigated with the greatest caution,
and at 9.15 a.m. the Great Eastern, with both
paddle and screw engines at work, steamed past the
Royal Dockyard, where another ovation from the
spectators therein assembled greeted her progress.
The river was covered with craft of all kinds.
The Merry Andrew and Widgeon, Government tug-
boats, were among the steamers afloat each with
large parties on board.
The ship having passed Woolwich, no further
apprehension of difficulty in the river is felt, and it
is expected she will anchor at the Nore early this
afternoon.
The deck was well filled with passengers, and
among those on board were Mr. R. R. Campbell,
chairman of the company ; Air. Jackson, M.P., and
Mr. J. E. Yates, secretary of the company.
Mrs. Harrison, wife of the commander of the
ship (who intends crossing to America with her
husband), and Mrs. Herbert Ingram were among
the ladi.-!s on board.