The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-05 00:00:00

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PRICE 4D. STAMPED, 5D

of the ship, and those gentlemen of the port who
have been zealously engaged in the undertaking.

The great ship left Holyhead at 12.30 on Wed-
nesday, and came down channel under easy steam,
keeping in sight of the Welsh coast. There was a
hard wind blowing S.S.W., with a boisterous sea
and a heavy ground swell, in consequence of which,
during the whole of the Night, and up to noon the
next day, the ship rolled heavily, it is supposed
with an angle of about seven degrees on either side.
The squaresails were shaken out, with the intention
of steadying her, but they were of no avail, and
were therefore again reefed. The fore and aft can-
vas was set from the time the ship left Holyhead
till
her arrival at the back of the Isle of Wight.
This was an excellent trial for the ship, and she be-
haved admirably throughout the passage, not a single
rope having given way. She did not put out her
power until reaching the Lizard, about noon yes-
terday, when both her engines were at work, and she
was under fore and aft canvas. From the Lizard
to Portland Bill she averaged a speed of 131 knots
per hour ; whilst in a two hours' run between Eddy-
stone and the Start the speed attained was nearly
16 knots per hour, as tested by several logs. She
arrived off St. Katherine's at 11 o'clock last night,
but the weather, which had previously been very
clear, then set in thick and hazy, so that it was con-
sidered advisable to keep her off the land. She
accordingly steamed slowly out to the westward,
and kept off and on during the night, and at seven
o'clock this morning St. Katherine's was again
sighted. She was then hove-to fora short time,
and as the weather was still thick it was deemed
advisable to go round the island to the eastward,
instead of passing through the Needles passage.
This was accordingly done, and at half-past nine
the vessel was duly reported here from Portsmoutkl
as being in sight. This was the first intimation of
her whereabouts that had reached Southampton
since last evening, when it was stated that she
passed Plymouth at 4.30.

All was now bustle and excitement. The wind
was blowing strong from the south-south-east, they
rain poured down in torrents, and objects could
scarcely be discerned at the distance of four or five
miles. Yachts and steam-boats with visitors on
board hurried down to the spot where the moorings
were placed ; on land, flags were hoisted on the
principal buildings; the church bells were rung,
and a salute was fired from the Platform Battery.
The steam-tug Phoenix was specially engaged for
the conveyance of Mr. Campbell (chairman of the
directors), Mr. J. R. Stebbings (president of the
Chamber of Commerce), and Mr. Hedger (dock
master), whose duty it was to superintend the moor-
ing
of the.ship. Just before the tug reached the
spot where the moorings were placed the Great
Eastern hove in sight, coming round to the west-
ward of the Brambles. Owing to the hazy state of
the weather the ship when first observed presented
a very remarkable appearance, and loomed very
large; and as She presented her broadside to view
over a point of land she had the appearance of a
whole fleet of ships cruising in company.
Onward 'she came at a good speed, her screw
engines only working, until she was off Calshott
Castle, when all eyes were turned towards her, to
see how she would act whilst rounding the Spit, it
being a very sharp turn. Her paddle engines were
then reversed and her helm put hard down ; with a
beautiful sweep, answering her helm as quickly as
a boat of 100 tons, she came round, and was in an
instant "stem on" in a line with her moorings.
Her paddle engines were again stopped, and her
screw was worked at a diminished rate of speed
until within about 200 yards distant from the
moorings, when, finding she had too much way on
her, the paddles were against reversed, and in a
short time the ship's bow was stationary over the
swivel to which she was to ride.

Everything was in readiness to moor the great
ship, but some anxiety was felt in case an accident
might occur, owing to the great weight of the ma-
terials used. A dockyard lighter or " lump" was on
the spot, and the bridle chains, which had been pre-
viously picked up, hung over its bows. There were
about 20 men in the lighter, who were under the
control of Mr. Hedger, whose activity and promp-
titude during the whole of the proceedings were
most remarkable. A hawser was first taken from
the great ship and made fast to the lighter. Whilst
in this position she immediately swung round to
the side, and before the moorings could be com-
pleted she lay right across the stream. The princi-
pal work now to be done was to haul the ship's
mooring chain through the hawse holes and shackle
them on to the bridle chains. The ship's mooring
chains were not passed through the port and star-
board hawse holes, but directly through the stern
of the ship—one hole being about a yard and a half
below the other. Several steamers were now around
the ship, as well as her Majesty's gunboat which
is in attendance upon the frigate Dauntless, and
as soon as the lower mooring chain was shackled,
which process occupied nearly half an hour, three
hearty cheers were given by the visitors, which
were immediately returned by the crew. The same
process was repeated with the second mooring chain,
and thus, without the assistance of a single hand
from the ship, the arduous task was completed, and
the great ship rode lightly to her moorings, dwarf-
ing every object by her immense size, and calling
forth the admiration of all by the symmetry of her
proportions.
Mr. Campbell, accompanied by Mr. J. R. Steb-
bings and Mr. Hedger, then went on board the ship,
and congratulated the captain and the directors,
receiving a similar compliment from them in return.
Soon after the ship was moored, the steamer
Avon, with the homeward Brazil and River Plate
mails, hove in sight, the ship at the time swinging
across the stream ; and although it was quite low
water, and there was a distance of upwards of 1,200
feet from the vessel's bow to the five fathom line,
the Avon was steered about 150 yards from the ship,
at her stern, although drawing upwards of 20 feet
water, thus proving that the position of the great
ship does not in any way impede the navigation of
the river. The steamer Indus, with the outward
East India mails, also passed the ship whilst she
was across the tide.
The number of men now on board the Great
Eastern is 373, her full complement being 450, but
whilst the vessel remains at Southampton the num-
ber of hands on board will be reduced to 100.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
COWES, Nov. 4.

A-sharp look•out was kept this morning for the
great ship, it bein,glelegraphed last night that she
would come into the Needles at 7 o'clock this morn-
ing. Up to near 10 a.m. nothing could either be
seen or heard of her, but soon after 10 she made
her appearance from the eastward, and very soon
ran into Cowes Roadstead, steaming close into the
entrance of Cowes harbour. When close off the
R.Y.S. Castle she blew off her steam and dipped
her flag. After remaining there a short time, with
her head to the westward, she went a-head, and
must have been as easily handled as if she had been
only half the size she is. She was turned with her
head to the north-east, and steamed away to the
entrance of Southampton River, and was soon at
her moorings, which are just inside of Calshot
Castle. She can be very distinctly seen from
Cowes. She will not be open to the public until
Monday.

Loss OF ANOTHER LIVERPOOL STEAMER.—ln-
telligence reached Li%erpool yesterday of the total loss of
the screw steamer Italian, Capt. Harrison, in the China
Seas. She was wrecked on the 22d September on the
Purger Rocks, in the Straits of Mamoe.
A HANDSOME GIFT.—On Wednesday a new
church at Haley-hill, near Halifax, was consecrated by the
Bishop of Ripon. It has been built entirely at the expense
of Mr. E. Akroyd, an extensive worsted manufacturer, and
formerly the member of Parliament for Huddersfield. Mr.
Akroyd has also endowed the church. The sacred edifice
affords accommodation for about 800 persons, and it has
been built in a styleof greatmagnilicence, under the super-
intendence of Mr. George Gilbert Scott, architect, of Loa-
don, and at a cost of upwards of £30,000. The architecture
is of the early Gothic period. The walls are decorated
with texts of Scripture; the capitals of the columns are
encircled with the most elaborate specimens of the sculp-
tor's art ; while the heads of fathers and confessors of to
Church are carved in medallions on the walls of the nave.
the reredos, behind the altar, is composed of every variety
of alabaster and marble, and is surmounted by canopied
niches, which contain the three Marys, Nicodemus, St.
John, and Joseph of Arimathea ; while in the centre one
is a largo cross of marble mosaic• The pulpit, which is of
the same material and character as the reredos, is octagonal
In form, and is placed against the pier of the hancel arch ;
the lectern is of polished brass in the form of a spread
eagle. All the seats in the church are of English oak;
they aro open, and are free to all. Every window is filled
with stained glass ; and the cost of the windows—the whole
of which have been presented by members of Mr.
Akroyd's family and others—must have been some thou-
sands of pounds, in addition to the sum already men-
tioned as having been expended on the building itself.
The sermon at tbg eensecratiou SerYio preaehed by the
Bishop of Durham, and the; e are to be other special services
eaph ey.eikinglotitbe week. Among the preachers announced
are the tishop of Oxford and the Dean of Chichester. After
the consecration about 500 ladies and gentlemen paTtopk of
puncheon, provided by Mr. and Mrs. 4.kverk and a tea
larty was given in the evening..