The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-14 00:00:00

SIR JOIIN PAKINGTON ON CHINA.

WORCESTER, THURSDAY.
The annual meeting of the Worcestershire Agri-
cultural Society was held yesterday, and, after a
morning occupied in the inspection of stock, award
of premiums, &e., a party of about 100 noblemen
and gentlemen set down to dinner at the Guildhall
Assembly-room, under the presidency of Sir E. A.
H. Leehmere, Bart., the Hon. F. Lygon occupying
the vice chair. Among others present were Lord
Ward, Earl Beauchamp, Viscount Elmley. M.P.,
Right Hon. Sir J. Pakington, Bart., M.P.; Sir
T. E. Winuington, Bart., M.P.; Mr. F. W.
Knight, M.P. ; and Mr. Holland, M.P.
After the usual toasts followed that of tho "Army
and Navy."

Earl hEAUCITAMP briefly responded on behalf of
the army, which service, he said, he felt proud of
being thus honoured.

Sir J. PAKINOTON being called upon to respond
on behalf of the navy, said that while he had the
honour of being at the head of the navy he had
used his best endeavours to strengthen that great
arm of the public service. (Cheers.) He did not
consider that he should be justified on that occa-
sion in making any references to party politics, but
he believed there was no set of politicians in England
that did not feel that the prosperity of the Britidi
navy was essential to the prosperity of the country.
(Hear, hear.) It was, therefore, the duty of all
parties and of all Governments to take care that
that great arm of our strength should not be
weakened or impaired. As reference had been
made by the chairman to the unfortunate affair at
the mouth of the Peiho, he (Sir J. Pakington)
thought it impossible that he could, in acknow-
ledging the toast, pass it over altogether. They
would recollect that the policy of England with
respect to China became not long ago the subject of
a great party struggle; but he hoped that would
not be the case now. Whatever might have been
the cause of the grat and unfortunate disaster-;-;
for it would be folly to deny that it was a great
disaster—whether or not mistakes had been com-
mitted, and if so, by whom—however that might be,
he hoped the British public would consider these
as matters of comparatively no importance ; and he
hoped that instead of our policy with respect to
Chint'beinzi as had been heretofore, the subject of
party struggles, all parties and the. great mass of
_
the British public would bt of opinion that any de-
feat of British arms was a thing that must be re-
dressed. (Cheers.) 'We could not afford to have our
prestige impaired nor our honour doubted, and he
believed that the general feeling of the public would
be that this unfortunate reverse must in some way
or other be redressed. Before he sat down he de-
sired to do justice to those brave men who fought
at the Peiho. Many of them were per?onally
known to him, and he was proud to be able to call
Admiral Hope his friend. lie had had the honour
of appointing him to the command iu the Chinese
Seas, and he had selected him solely because he was
well known as .a man of great ability, and an officer
of great experience and skill. It was unnecessary for
him to add that he was also a man of the most un-
doubted bravery. (Cheers.) He (Admiral Hope) had
been doubly unfortunate in that engagement of the
Peiho in suffering what to a British officer was the
most painful of all things, defeat, and also in being
himself personally wounded. He (Sir J. Paking-
ton) had had the pleasure of receiving several letters
from Admiral Hope since the affair, and was happy
to say that the gallant officer was just recoverine,
from his wounds ; and he hoped he weal be able
to prove hereafter to the world that he was what
every man in the British navy knew him to be—a
distinguished ornament to the service. (Cheers.)
The right lion. baronet, in conclusion, thanked the
meeting for the way in which they had connected

his name with the toast which had just been ho
noured .by them.

Mr. CURTLER having proposed " The County
Members,'
Viscount ELMLEY replied.
Several other toasts and speeches followed.

THEC &EA 7' EA 8 TER NI
The Great Eastern has perfosmed her voyage to
Holyhead in a manner which we arc informed is
considered highly satisfactory, and even to surpass
expectations
say
ionsof the most sanguine of her pro-
jectors.thexl
e m
we are informed, because, owing,
as it appears to us, to certain little items of mis-
management, which might easily have been avoided,
we are not presented with any clear or precise solu-
tion of the great experiment, but only with data
from which hypothetical results may be drawn.
It would be more satisfactory to us, and we suspect
to the public at large, who make no profession to
any technical engineering knowledge, to know what
the Great Ship can do by what she Las achieved,
rather than by inferences drawn -from her pertain'.
epee under drawbacks and difficulties. The Great
Eastern has gone from Portland to Holyhead with-
out giving the public any accurate means of know-
ing what is the speed she can attaiu by the aid of
her screw and her paddles, what speed she can
attain by her sails alone going before the-
wind, and what speed she can attain by
the united aid of wind, screw, and pad-
dies, with her square sails
.sc.t.
,There
.may he,
however, reasons with which we are not acquainted
which interfered with the completeness of the I
trial, and tantalising as the result is, we must ac-
cept it for what it is worth until we can obtain
fuller and more particular information. The
Great Eastern started from Portland on Saturday
afternoon, and steamed, at little more than half-
speed, to the Start Light, achieving nearly 13
knots an hour. This result, eminently satisfactory
as it is, is not to be treated as a maximum, for here
we must begin with the system of allowances and
deductions. The centre of gravity was below the
centre of motion. The vessel was in bad trim, for
she ought to have been eighteen inches more down
by the stern to enable the screw to exert its full
power—a defect which one would think might,
without much difficulty, have been avoided. Under
such circumstances this performance must be re-
garded as of great promise. From the Start to the
Eddystone Lighthouse, a distance of 25 knots, or
nearly 29 miles, the full force of the vessel was to
be tried, and the distance was accomplished .in an
hour and three-quarters, at the rate of about six-
teen miles and a half an hour. This is a remark-
able result. The vessel under easy steam, running
at little more than half speed, accomplishes nearly
fifteen miles an hour, and when pushed to her full
speed goes only sixteen miles and a half. But here
again an allowance has to be made which entirely
vitiates the calculation, for the escape valve got
jammed, and the fires had to be reduced and the
speed taken off in order to releaee it, so that all we
can conclude from the experiMent is, that the vessel
can go something more than sixteen and a half
miles an hour, though how much more we have at
present no data fur estimating. .The vessel
was afterwards tried with a strong breeze from
the north-east, but which being a side wind slid
not peimit of setting the square sails. The
result was a speed of fifteen knots an hour,
one knot and a half an hour of which was
due to the setting of the sails. The vessel was
also tried with the screw alone, which pro-
pelled her at the ,rate of nine knots an hour;
and with the paddles alone, which propelled her at
the rate of from seven and a-half to eight knots an
hour; so that it would appear that the sum of the
velocity severally yielded by the screw and the
paddle very nearly equals the velocity arising from
their joint action. Should this law be found to
held good on further experiment, a method would
seem to have been discovered of greatly accelerating
the speed of steamers by the adoption of two sepa-
rate and independent means of propulsion.
While chronicling the results established by this
trial we must not forget to mention that, vast as
the Great Eastern is, she is not exempt from the
influence of the waves. Even in the Channel she
showed considerable liveliness, and when exposed
with her beam on to the full swell of the Atlantic
she rolled in a manner evidently unexpected, and
gave fair promise of what she might be expected to
do with a heavy swell on her beam. The result of
the trial is considered highly satisfactory, and con-
fidence is expressed that the vessel will be able to
average ordinarily eighteen miles au hour, and in
fair weather upwards of twenty miles. Thus, with-
out disaster, and to the complete satisfinition of those
most interested in her success, the Great Eastern
has emerged from the British Channel, and, putting.
away childish things, has for a brit f space con-
fronted the heavy roll of the Atlantic.
We make no apology to our readers for the de-
tails which we have brought before them, for on
these details and their significance depend, in a
great measure, the political relations of this counts y
for the moment, and ultimately the destinies of the
whole human race. Without feeling disappoint-
ment, we must confess to an impression that the
results, so far as at, present known to us, do not ap-
pear to establish the wisdom of this enterprise, or
show that we have in the Great Ship the model of
future naval architecture. There seems, indeed, to
be a great similarity between the Great Eastern
and the Great Western Railway. Both were bold
innovations, both extorted admiration, but we ven-
ture to think that neither will find many imitators.
The Great Western Railway attained great speed,
but there seems no reason why a speed nearly, if not
quite, as great may not be attained by railways on
a smaller scale and of less expensive construc-
tion. Possibly the same may be found to be the
case with the Great Eastern. She is more than
four times the tonnage of the Persia, but the diffe-
rence of speed has not as yet been proved to be
very considerable. Unless the Great Eastern pre-
sents a more decided superiority to smaller vessels
than she at present seems:to do, she will hardly be
taken fora model. Her speed, we believe, is not,
on the most sanguine estimate, greater than that
which has already been obtained by several com-
mercial vessels, and certainly nothing like that at
tamed by her Majesty's yacht, the difference being
chiefly in the power to carry fuel enough to obtain
that speed during a long voyage. This is, no doubt,
of great importance, but may it not bo obtained at
an easier rate than is paid for it in the case of the
Great Eastern ? The advantages which the Great
Vhip presents must be paid for at a very high price.
The ship cost an immense sum of money in build-
ing, and cannot be worked except at a great ex-
pense, burning as she does at least two hundred and
seventy tons of coal a-day, and carrying an enor-
mous crew. There are very few harbours that she
can enter, and an unsuccessful voyage would visit
the proprietors with an enormous loss. The ques-
tion will arise among practical men whether almost
all the advantages of the Great Eastern may not be
obtained by vessels of a smaller size, especially as
we do not seem likely to secure that which has been
hitherto insisted on—the absence of motion and sea-
sickness. May it not turn out, after all, that this
wonderful and brilliant experiment is destined to
prove the wisdom of the more gradual and cautious
course of improvement which has in a period of
twenty years given us vessels like the Persia
rsiGearand
al
the Arabia in the place of the Sirius and the
Western ? Whether destined to be the future
G• 7.
alel of shipbuilders or no, we wish the t
Eastern the fullest success. It is impossible to re-
gard conceived s
-vit out th e highestasta scheme, c
he,
admirationand thethe
untiringta t
which
perseverance which has brought it to completion.
We confess, however, that it will be a great satis-
faction to us to learn that time machinery which
propels that splendid hull has worked without a
breakdown at full speed on her first voyage. We
are informed, and we hope it is true, that there is
every wish on the part of the directors to conform
to the requisitions made by the Board of Trade, and
we therefore trust that whenever the Great Eastern
shall leave these shores she will be able to offer her
passengers greater speed, safety, and comfort than
have ever been enjoyed on a sea voyage before.—
Times.

_
THE ULAN N LI. SLAN DS TELEGRAPIL—This
telegraph is now going on in perfect working order, the re-
pairs of the cable between Jeney and Guernsey, which had
become damaged, having been completed on Monday morn-
inn. As soon as the line was found to be out of order Mr.
Preece, the company's engineer, set to work to discover the
cause, and two and a half miles of the cable were picked up.
The great flaw was discovered about three-quarters of a
mile out, in the thick shore end of tho original cable,
caused by abrasion on the rocks. A quarter of a mile fur-
; ther on two " kinks" were fouud, which must have oc-
curred during the laying down of the cable. In conse-
quence of these the outer wire got bent of its place, so as
to expose the gutta percha covering to friction, which
sooner or later must have resulted in the stoppage of com-
munication/ One mile and a half of the cable was carefully
examined and repaired, and with a milo of new and
stronger cable relaid, in conjunction with the heavy shore
•:nd laid down last spring. The new portion is the same
as that recently submerged in the Red Sea, and is stronger
than the original Jersey cable. Six hundred yards of new
extra thick cable have been added to the original, extend-
ing, it more than a mile into the sea. The course now taken
is considerably to the eastward of the former position, and
is now on sandy ground, avoiding the rocks between Pie-
wont and Paternosters.

tz)

NEWS

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..s, :;i:
Aattira!ty v. dcrs have been rceei(l4o-'417 -11%1'4
diiecting the launch of the line-otbgli :fiii:Y..::S7
-114
1
steamer Irresistible, 80,* to take platz:.../011-WitP 4-KS
inst., and not on the 20th, as originally oliy, re(4l S
The Sevei u, 51, now in the dock at—Chatlifim

~vented into a ..crew steamer, ia o:dered,
pletcd, to be taken into the basin at
Sheerness, in of that she may be fitted with her
machinery, \\ilieh is to .be of 600-horse power
(nominal). •
The Renard, 4, steam gun-Kesel, Commander J.
G. Goodenough, arrived at Shithead yesterday
morning from Sheerness.
The Amohioti, 36, screw, Capt. Thomas Cochrane,
sailed from Spithcad yesterday for the westward.
The Avon, paddle strainer, arrived at Portsmouth
yesterday frt in Devonport.
The Arrogant, 47, screw, Capt. W. Ednionstone,
has been placed in No. 7 dock at Portsmouth,
having spi wig a small leak in the vicinity of her
stern post.
The Royal SoveNign, 131, screw, steamed ort. of
Portsmouth harbour yesterday to test machinery,
in charge of Mr. Murdoch, inspeCtor of machinery
afloat. Everything worked in the most satisfac-
tory manner. At the conclusion of the trial the
Royal Sovereign returned to her harbour moor-

co

lugs.
The Mars, SO, screw, Cnpt. Strzuge, was again
under way for a short time yesterday at SpitClead
un.ler her clay.r. requ're3 so:n_! slight
re-
pairs to her machinery, Which, if carried out at
once, will detain her at Spit head for several days.
The paddlewheel steam-vessel Locust, 3, Lieut.
J. B. Field, from Queenstown, arrived at Plymouth
on Wednesday with supernumeraries for the loyal
Adelaide.
The screw steam corvette Clio, 21, Captain
Miller, at Plymouth, is 20 petty oflicers short of
he- complement. She will not leave fur a week, in
consequence of the appearance of small-pox among
her crew, who are placed in quarantine.
The gunboat Bouncer, Lieutenant. A. R. Owen,
was taken out of dock at Keyham, Plymouth, on
Wednesday.
_ _

Ills Netherlands Majesty's corvette, Admiral
Koopman, left Plymouth under steam on 'Wednes-
day for the East Indies. While preparing for sea
one of the men bad a narrow escape. The bunt of
the main top-gallant sail gave way, and he was
suddenly flung off from the main topgallant sail
yard. Providentially he fell 'across the braces,
about 12 feet below, and grasping them with his
hands firmly was saved from being dashed on the
deck.

An engine-fitter named Lunn, engaged on the
St. George, 91, in Hamoaze, Plymouth, uufoitu-
'ately lost his life on Tuesday last. While along-
side he 1.4_41 overboard, and having several chisels
about his person, he did not rise azain.
The screw stcane,hip Trafalgar, 91, Captain Fan-
shawe, hove in sight off Plymouth on Wednesday
morning at 5. When near the Seund she saluted
the flag of the Port-Admiral, which was acknow-
ledged by the Impregnable. She was ultimately
ordered into port.
The presentation of the testimonial to the Right
Hon. J. Wilson, late M.P. for Devonport, from the
workmen and artisans employed in Chatham Dock-
yard, as an acknowledgment of the efforts wade by
the right hon. gentleman to procure f,r the persons
em ploy ed at the Royal docks in ds the benefits of the
Civil Service Superannuation Bill, took place ycs-
terdny, the testimonial being presented by a depu-
tation of the workmen selected for that puepoie.
The testimonial consists or a massive silver ink-
stand, of elaborate workmanship, and bears the
following inscription :

" Presented to the Right Hon. James Wilson by 5a
workmen of her Majesty's Dockyard, Chatham, as a mark
of their deep gratitude and esteem for his great and success-
ful exertions to ameliorate their condition when aged and
infirm, by causing them to be placed within the provisions of
the Civil Serviw Snperannuution PAlL—October, 1559."
also the intention of the workmen in Chat-
ham Dockyard to present. a testimonial to Major-
General Sir F. Smith, M.P. for Chatham, and to
Mr. P. W. Marlin and Mr. Sergeant Kinglake, the
members for Rochester, for the exertions they us'td
to procure the extension of the provisions of the
bill to dock said workmen.

The two -Mortar-vessels NO3. 31 and 48, which
on their recent survey at Chatham were found to
have sustained severe injuries from the ravages of
the destructive marine worm, were yesterday
hauled up on No. 7 slip, where they will remain
during the whole of the winter, in order that the
frosts may destroy the insect. It is intended to send
out a large number of the mortar-vessels now lying
at Chatham to China during the approaching
spring •.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—T. Barnes, acting naval instruc-
tor, to the Britannia; henry E. Kitchen, as,istant-
paymaNter, in charge, to the Weber; and Charles
K. Harvey, assi,tant-paymastcr, to the Hastingd.

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