The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-29 00:00:00

THE GREAT EASTERN IN A STORM.

We copy from the .New York Tribune the sab-
joined account of a series of disasters which befel
the Great Eastern during a violent gale on the sth
inst. :—At four o'clock in the morning a strong
southerly gale sprung up, which increased in seve-
rity until nine o'clock, when it became almost a
hurricane. A great deal of rain fell, and the sea
was uncommonly high. The ship now began to
roll in a manner which none of the officers had ever
anticipated. So confident had everybody been as
regarded her steadiness under any circumstances
that the ordinary"precautions of securing furniture
and other movable articles had not been taken.
The large tables in the saloons, which had not been
screwed down, were all overturned, and piled,
together with chairs and lounges, in a broken heap.
Some of the sofas started with their occupants on
little sliding voyages about the cabins, and one pas-
senger, careless of his balance, was thrown some
distance with such violence as to break away part of
the banister of a staircase against which he fell.
Several breakfasts and lunches were wrecked in the
ordinary course of things, but the table-guards pre-
vented any general devastation in this respect.
Oa the whole, the passengers did not suffer much
discomfort, for, with all the rolling, the motion
was so gradual, and free from sudden
shocks, that no person found difficulty in accommo-
dating himself to it. Early in the afternoon, one
of the heavy chain gangs which held the gaff of
the foremast in its place broke in two, leaving the
huge spar almost wholly unsupported on one side.
This chain, like others which afterwards parted,
was supposed to have been ill adjusted, and also to
have rusted to such a degree as to render it unequal
to the great strain now imposed upon it. The gaff,
a timber of some 18 cwt., began to sway back and
forth with each lurch of the ship, and presently
flew through the air at full swing, a long chain
which hung from its end like a whiplash, snapping
through the rigging at the same time, and causing
considerable damage. It not only cut in and out
remorselessly among the ropes, but also endangered
one of the tall smoke funnels, against which it was
flung with immense force each minute. Several of
the skylights of the grand saloon were broken in
by the fragments of the rigging which fell upon
them. It was thought necessary to ask ladies to
withdraw from the saloon, lest they should suffer
inconvenience in case of the smoke funnel (which
passes through it) being torn away. In the course
of an hour the gaff was secured and lowered, the
furniture below having meanwhile been set to rights
and properly fastened down. To prevent, if possi-
ble any further misadventures with the masts, it
was decided to lower the five remaining gaffs, In
order to accomplish this the more readily, the vessel
was turned from her course, and brought head to
wind. The cessation of motion was instantaneous,
and the quiet of the four preceding days was at
once restored. But before much had been done
towards getting down the spars it was attempted
to resume the direct course at half-speed. The re-
sult was unlucky. The ship was met and struck
by a heavy sea, the shock of which knocked one of
the main gaffs out of its jaw or socket, and left it
dangling precariously by chains. This, with
rather more difficulty than the other, was in
turn secured, and the ship was again put off
its course, with the same success as before.
But the accidents of the day were not ended.
Just as one of the remaining gaffs began
to be lowered it broke loose, and fell from its
place to the deck, splintering a companion-way end
breaking the glass of three or four dining saloon
skylights, to the particular consternation of the
passengers, who were dining at the time. Another
and more serious casualty occurred. A boatswain's
mate got entangled in a tackle, and suffered a
serious fracture of the leg—so serious that his re.
covery, it was found, would depend upon a long
interval of rest. This storm was quite sufficient to
test the real powers of the Great Eastern. To any
other ship afloat it would doubtless have been a
disastrous experience. The Great Eastern escaped
without the slightest injury, save the unimportant
ones before mentioned, which were due to entire
exceptional circumstances. On examination after
the gale had subsided, it was found that no per-
ceptible strain or displacement could be detected,
even in the most delicate works. The engines
operated admirably throughout. It was also dis-
tinctly settled that no advantage could be gained
from the us© of her sails, beyond the negative use
of steadying the ship under certain conditions."

711 E PUBLIC PARKS OF LONDON.

The following excellent letter is taken from the Morning
Post of Monday :

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING POST.

Sir,—Lord Robert Cecil, in the House of Commons on
Friday night, inquired whether the lease of that portion of
the Regent's-park let to the Toxophilite Society would be
renewed, for the parks of London were not too large, and
the public ought to have the benefit of the piece of land.
Attention thus called to the Regent's -park, I avail my-
self of it to bring before your readers the importance and
great desirability of making a park, or public walk, with
seats placed at suitable distances and tastefully planted
with shrubs, from the North-gate of Primrose-hill to
Hamstead-heath.

It is now or never, for buildings in a very few months
will spring up, and that which can at present be done fer
an outlay comparatively so insignificant that the money
might almost be raised by subscription, will be in a little
time impossible.
I feel very strongly the great advantages to be gained by
the purchase of this land for ever to the people, and t t
this very time last year I brought the same before Lord
Palmereton. In my note to his lordship I said:--"Hamp-
stead-heath is probably now not more in the country than
Kensington-gardens were 30 years ago. The proposed plan
makes a splendid finish to the Regent's••park, and will re-
lieve the frequently too crowded and now not sufficiently
airy Hyde-park. At present no buildings of any import-
ance interfere, and under the authority of an act of Parlia-
ment that land could be purchased, which in a short time
will be too much built upon to be obtained."
"The outlay may be little or much, and will entirely de-
pend upon the width of the park."
This park, or public walk, would cross the Adelaide-road
and run through t ,e fields to Lower Hampstead-heath, and
if preferred and found practicable, it might be made to Old
Hampstead Church ; the whole distance, about 11 miles,
and the length of the walks and plantations at Hampstead
might be increased without limit, and be in accordance with
the requirements and wishes of the people,
Napoleon 111. has gained for himself even the commen-
dations of his enemies, by giving to Paris a park designed
with consummate taste, and no great European city has one
mere beautiful or more extensive. In this park of the Pari-
sians there are people in private carriages, people in cabs,
people on horseback, and people walking; there is room for
everybody, and everybody is pleased. I amdisposed to think,
by judicious arrangement, and with certain restrictions, the
same plan might be adopted in the Regent's-park—the en-
trance to be at Poi tland-place, through the centre of the
park, and round the foot of Primrose-hill to Hampstead.
The equestrians need not interfere with the pedestrians, nor
need the person taking an airing in a humble cab give
annoyance to the occupant of the grandest carriage ; and
the beauty and gaiety of the scene may be, in London as in
Paris, much increased by this general assemblage, 'whilst
the natural advantages of the situation are all in favour of
this metropolis. _

Many noblemen and gentlemen possess parks of their
own larger than the Regent's -park, with the proposed addi-
tion, and by allowing their neighbours and others to walk
in them they add to their own pleasure, increase the pic-
turesque beauty of their property, and confer happiness
upon all. Let also the tens of thousands of the sons of toil
in London have one park they can call their own, and
through which, surrounded by agreeable associations, and
without expense, they can reach the country. Hampstead-
heath is not only the most airy, but, for the masses, the
nearest and most favourite spot out of London.
It is from no fault of the people that this great city is be-
coming larger and larger, interfering with the social inter-
course and comfort of the inhabitants, the Legislature look-
ing despairingly on, and not unfrequently aggravating in-
stead of diminishing the evil.
Regent's-street and Regent's-park are so called to per-
petuate the memory of one who exerted his whole power and
influence to create them ; but time and events pass rapidly
on, and already not a few of the present generation among
the less educated classes are ignorant of this, and I would
suggest that the name of the latter should be changed to
Park George IV.
It is reasonable to suppose that this extension of the Re-
gent's-park, being in itself excellent, has occurred to many.
I venture to ask for the insertion of this letter, because it is
now brought forward solely for the general good, and be-
cause it is not yet too late. Even the discussion of the sub-
ject may be productive of results for which Londoners yet
unborn will be grateful.—l am, &c,,

WM. RAY SMEE.
2, St. Edmund's -terrace, North-gate,
Regent's-park, May 24.
Subjoined is Lord Palnierston's reply, and no farther
notice has been taken :

"Downing-street, May 23, 1860.
" Sir,—Lord Palmerston desires me to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 21st inst., enclosing a plan for
a public park between Primrose-hill and Hampstead.
" Lord Palmerston has caused your letter to be forwarded
to the Board of Works, but be directs Inc to inform you that
the formation of such a park would devolve upon the Metro-
politan Board of Works.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
"c. J. BARRINGTON.
" William Ray Smee, Esq."

MR. COBD EN. --Arrangements have been made
for presenting Mr. Cobden with the freedom of the City of
London, at a Court of Common Council, to be held at
Guildhall, on Thursday week. Previous to the ceremony,
the hon. gentleman w':11 be admitted to the freedom of the
Fishnien&ers' Company.