The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-01 00:00:00

TIIE LAU.NCII 01 THE BLACK PRINCE.

GLASGOW, FEB. 27.
Another most important addition to our infant
Iron Navy was made to-day at Glasgow by the
launch of the magnificent armour-cased frigate
Black Prince, which was safely sent afloat in the
Clyde from Messrs. Napier's yard at Govan. The
construction of this noble vessel gives still further
proofs, if proofs were needed now, of the almost
boundless manufacturing resources of this country,
and of the rapidity with which, even within this
year, we might, if the Admiralty were so minded,
overtake the great lead which the French have got
of us in frigates of this construction. Just one
year and two days have elapsed since the first
plates for the inner keel of the Black Prince were
laid, and the vessel is now afloat in the Clyde, her
first row of armour plates already belted round
her, and in such a state of forwardness that three
or four months will see her departing on her first
cruise. Certainly, in no other country in the
world could such an engineering feat be achieved
in so short a time; and, probably, in no other part
of England save on the Clyde, could it have been
accomplished at all. The facilities which iron
shipbuilders on the Clyde enjoy in the immense
supplies of coal and iron on the spot give them
such advantages as few builders in other parts of
the kingdom can contend against. Messrs. Na-
pier's yard alone could complete three vessels like
the Black Prince in a year; and though, that is,
perhaps, one of the finest yards in the kindom, it
is not the only one on the Clyde equal to the rapid
manufacture of these stupendous frigates. The
launch excited the most intense interest in Glas-
gow. The weather, unfortunately—as is not un-
usual on these festive occasions—was, on the whole,
unfavourable ; and, in fact, " not to put too fine
a point-upon it," it blew and rained with chilling
vehemence all through the day. Among Londoners
the launch of all the iron frigates ever built would
not have drawn a thousand people together in such
weather ; but, strange to say, in Glasgow it ap-
peared to make no manner of difference to the
crowds that flocked to witness the ceremony. Most
of the public buildings and warehouses had flags up.
All the ships in the river were decked with them
from stem to stern, and though the rain was heavy
yet the wind was high, and the bunting was kept
spread abroad with as festive an effect as it was
possible to produce under such extremely adverse
circumstances. Both banks of the Clyde were
literally thronged with as immense concourse of
spectators. More than two hours before the time
fixed for launching each side of the stream seemed
a huge bank of people all roofed in with umbrellas,
like a pile of colossal fungi sprung from the very
dampness. Even the first day of the attempted
launch of the Great Eastern did not command so

large an attendance ; every one seemed to have a
personal' interest in what was about to take place,
and to feel proud of the completion of this noble
vessel and the additional renown it would bring to
Clyde ships and shipbuilders. The launch, Afacto,
was of course like every other. There was the same
hurrying and hammering—the same high-strained
excitement (which even the rain could not even
damp) ; the same premature cheers when the ship
was as motionless as Stonehenge, and the same last
visitors, and rushing to and fro of workmen with
planks and mallets. At length the last supports
were knocked away, and the Black Prince rested
on her launching ways. A granddaughter of Mr.
Napier, Miss Lizzie Napier, had the honour of nam-
ing the vessel, and as the wine flowed down its'mas-
sive sides the hydraulic presses vent to work and
the launch began. As usual, every one for the
twentieth time shouted " She's off!" but the motion
at first was so imperceptible that it was some minutes
before even those close under the bows could per-
Ceive that she stirred ; slowly she gained her way,
and gliding down with a smooth stately motion
was at last in the Clyde, the finest piece of work-
manship that ever floated there.
Like all fine and well proportioned vessels, the
Black Prince at the first glance, and bearing in
mind her immense tonnage, seems comparatively a
small vessel. But a ship of about one-half her
linear dimensions, or in other words, not more than
one-eighth of her actual measurement, would ap-
pear large, yet still be admired for her exquisitely
fine lines and yacht-like appearance. Her bows and
forefoot are as fine as those of a Cunard packet. Her
extreme length is 419 ft. ; breadth, 58 ; depth, 411- ;
and tonnage 6,173. The tonnage of the Warrior is
6,177. Her load draught when ready for sea will be
26ft. aft and 25ft forward, at which depth her dis-
placement will be nearly 9,000 tons. The Black
Prince in every single detail is a second edition of
the 'Warrior. She has no external keel, but an inner
kind of girder, which acts as a keelson. To this are
bolted the ribs, massive wrought iron T-shaped
beams an inch thick, and made in joints sft. long
by 2 deep up to sft. below the water-line, where
their depth is diminished so as to form a ledge on
which the armour plates rest. These immense ribs,
except where the portholes intervene, are only 22
inches
apart. Along the whole length of the ship
from stem to stern are five immensely strong box
girders, from which are bolted diagonal bands of
iron, tying every rib and girder together with the
solidity of one piece. The orlop deck is
.of wood,
iron,
cased 24ft. above the keel. The main deck is of ~_e
cased with wood, and Oft. above the o r .
upper deck is also of wrought iron, cased withdecks are
wood,ih
and Oft. Gin. above the main. All these ,
carried on wrought iron beams of the most massive
kind, and the " sin" of the out
isie which covers all
thick under the
is likewise of wrought iron 11
bottom to nearly 1 inch thick up to the spar deck.
Outside all, for a length of 2201 t. along the broad-
side, and extending Mt. below the water line comes
the lining of 22 inches of teak and the armour-plates
of 4' inches of iron. The engines, like those of the
`Warrior, are to he by Pcnn and Sons, and of 1,200
nominal horsepower. In fact, the method of con-
struction of the Black Prince is almost precisely
similar in detail with that of the Warrior,
which has been so recently described in these
columns. Both are probably the strongest iron
structures that have ever been put together ;
both are equally protected, and in both the same
provision is made, by means of many water-
tight compartments, to guard against danger
from the stern or stern being perforated by shot.
The Black Prince and Warrior are, in fact, sister
ships, of the same plan, form, size, tonnage, and
Power. The only difference between the two vessels
will be in the matter of thelr armaments. The