The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-18 00:00:00

TBE

Since the first failure vague rumours have al-
ways been flying about that this maritime town-
ship was to be launched in a private and off-hand
manner.. Within the last few days these reports
have assumed such a circumstantial consistency,
and named not only the day but even the hour at
which the operation was to be commenced, that the
suspicions of the most incredulous were gradually
overcome. Yesterday was the day thus arbitrarily
fixed, and yesterday accordingly witnessed the die-
tppointment of many hundreds and even thousands
of the would-be sightseers. From a very early hour
in the morning (many hours earlier, indeed, than
it was possible to have launched any vessel at all)
the visitors began to arrive at the yard from all -
quarters. The horrid ditchy tracts round Poplar
and Limehouse seemed animated, and even the 1818
of Dogs wore a cheerful aspect under the unusual -
influx of vehicles and pedestrians. The lively and
intelligent natives of the districts we have men-
tioned, however, seemed by no means to have fallen
victims to the general hoax, and were as a matter
of course, in a proper frame of mind to enjoy the
disappointment of those who had. Each fresh om-
nibus and cab load of eager spectators e
therfore
was hailed with derisive cheers, and cries of then
The
Leve Athon ain't a-going," which, though rather
obscurely expressed, none were at a loss to under-
stand meant that there was to be no launch that
day • and such they found was literally the fact;
The 'doors of the yard were kept rigidly closed, an°,
as admittance was refused to all and the men hat!
mest positive orders not to take in cards, the getrusk of visitors was effectually excluded. There
after vain efforts to oppose the Cerberus at the gate,
betook themselves to neighbouring points of gels;
Lion which commanded a view of the yard, and
there remained with a patience worthy of a better
cause. The river steamboats, of course, were laden
to the water's edge with reckless cockneys (for
steamboat companies had actually advertised thei
launch as positively fixed for yesterday), and el
along the Deptford shore was crowded with a con'
course of fog and mud-enduring spectators.
Now, it is not in our power to inform our readera
when the launch, or the next attempt at it, will
really take place, but we can ateleast tell what per-
haps may save the public such a fruitless journey to
Millwall as that of yesterday. Our readers, them
i
may implicitly depend upon it that the time file'
for the launch will be kept a strict and most Pro-
found secret—that no persons, no matter 117".
their influence or even connection with the CO"el
pany may be, will be admitted to the yard on that
occasion, and that the first which the general Pub-
lic is likely to hear of it at all is that the vessel 19
at last afloat, or that another attempt has been
made to move her without success. It is no 8%1;
aeration to say that every possible isrecautinn
being taken to keep' the time which will be aPci
ointed for this next attempt a real secret, alit
even the workmen employed in the yard will noer
know when it is to take place till they actually be
gin to push the gigantic vessel down the " war' A
Any of our readers who were present at the gr__
attempt on the 2d of this month will see the 1011,
rative necessity for this sect esy being observe ;
On that occasion the yard was thronged with ViSi
tors, who were constantly getting into danger env
always getting into the way. It was then aseeo
tamed, when too late, that beyond a doubt a grans
error had been committed in admitting any Perteh
at all, while, in consequence of the publicity ivuia
t!te event had obtained, the river was so throng"
with steamers crowded down to the water's 4dge;
and halting right in the track which the vessel stal!,
have taken had she slipped off the ways, that 1.
would have been nothing short of downright 1331110,,
slaughter to launch her under such circumstancer
To get rid of all these difficulties, and most ete
cially the last named, it has been decided, aqe
have said, to keep the whole matter secret in 1'
strictest sense of the term. Let our readerAtfo
therefore, be on their guard, and turn a deaf ear t.
announcements or rumours of the launch, noerataho
ter from what quarter they may come. et-'1
preparations making for the next attempt are real,_
and the matter now rests with Mr. Brunel. real
rectly he perceives that the time and tide have
come, the effort to move the ship will be made al
single hour's notice. We may mention, however,_6
that it will not be long delayed, for it cannot 13,
yield still more under the tremendous weight
yielded, and
that every week she
which bears upon them, and
cmoanycealed that the launching ways have
i
t:,e difficulty of moving her at all.
remains in her present position greatly ncrease
During the whole of yesterday the workmen were
employed in getting the cables and tackle which i 0
to haul her down towards the river in working
order, so as to have everything ready at a moment °
notice. Beyond these movements, and that 011
artists from the firm of Cundall, Howlett, an
Downes, of Bond-street, were employed in corePle"
ing the beautiful series of photographic and stay,„:
scopic views of the hull and interiors of the engin:;
roams, nothing was doing or done to recomPellto
the curiosity of the hundreds who stood gazing ill
the yard all day.