The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-21 00:00:00

THE OCTAVIA STEAMSIIIP,

One of the most important screw trials which have
taken place for some time in her Majesty's navy
took place at Portsmouth yesterday, being the offi-
cial trial of the Octavio, 51, screw. The ship was
built some years since at Pembroke, from the de-
signs of Sir William Symonds, the then Surveyor
of the Navy, as a sailing frigate, but has never yet
been placed in commission. In 1860 she was placed
in dock at Portsmouth for conversion to a screw
frigate, and was taken out of dock on completion of
her conversion in the early part of this year. Her
alterations of form consequent on conversion were
cutting in two parts and lengthening amidships,
and an alteration to her stern to adapt it for the
propeller. The bow was untouched, and it there-
fore retains its original bluff form, which was one
of the most marked characteristics of the ships de-
signed
by Sir William. The importance att Ached
to her official trial yesterday was owing to the fact
of her being the first completed of three vessels the
machinery of which had been made with a view to
special results, in accordance with orders from the
Admiralty to that effect. The machinery of these
vessels—tb e Constance, Arethusa, and Octavia—was
contracted for by the firms of Messrs. Penn and Son,
Randolph and Elder, and Maudslay, Sons, and
Field, who competed to produce each a pair of en-
gines, without limit to cost of manufacture or of
design, that should be, as far as they could produce
them, economical in their working, each to be of
500-horse power, nominal. The Octavia's engines
have been designed, and their principle patented,
by Mr. Sells, chief draughtsman to Messrs. Mauds-
lay, Sons, and Field, and consist of three cylinders
with surface condensers, the latter having upwards
of 11 miles length of pipes, and two air-pumps. The
cylinders are 66in. in diameter, with a 3ft. 6in.
stroke. The three cranks, in lieu of the usual two,
impart a more equable motion to the shaft by di-
viding the circle of its revolutions into three equal
parts instead of two, as heretofore. The cylinders
are surrounded by " water-jackets," and are thus
completely encased in steam, being the first screw
engines that have bean so fitted in her Majesty's
navy, although the same principle was applied sus-
cessfully to a paddle-steamer many years ago. The
boilers are tubular, and as nearly as possible two-
thirds the size of others of the same power of engine
in other ships. From trials already made it has
been satisfactorily proved that the consumption of
coal in working the Octavia's engines will not ex-
ceed one-half that consumed in ordinary instances.
The boilers are fitted with Mr. Field's patent super-
heating apparatus, which yesterday worked exceed-
ingly well, giving a temperature at the engine of
320 deg. It is cased on one side with a water space
into which the feed water is pumped before passing
into the boiler for the purpose of raising its tem-
perature. The steam, after passing through the
engines, is thrown by the air-pumps into a tank in
the formof distilled water, in which state it re-enters
the boilers by a pipe from the tank. The length of
the engine-room is 27ft. 6in., and that of the stock-
hole only 26 feet, one boiler only being on
each side. This great economy of boiler space
enables the ship to carry a greater quantity of
fuel, and yet it must be remembered that the
ship yesterday eras doing work with these two
boilers equal to what she would have done with
double her present boiler power had she been
fitted in the ordinary way. The ship's steam
and vacuum gauges were the patent of S. Smith,
of Nottingham. The performance of the machinery
throughout the trial was most satisfactory, and was
really surprising even to those accustomed to the
working of marine engines, from its extraordinary
equability and smoothness of movement. The ship
left Portsmouth harbour soon after 10 a.m. in charge
of Mr. Jones, Government pilot, and commanded
by Capt. H. Broadhead, the noting of the perform-
ance of machinery, &c., being under the supervision
of Mr. G. Murdoch, inspector of machinery afloat,
and Mr. Miller, second chief of the Steam Factory
Department. Tho morning was bright and fine,
but with a breeze of wind of quite the force of 4
from west. 'I he following are the results of the six
runs made at the mile with full power
First Run—Time, 4 min. 29 soc.; speed in knots,
3 13.383 ; pressure of steam, 20Ib. ; revolution of engines, 68.
• , Second Run—Time, 5 min. 30 sec. ; speed in knots,

TILE EMPEROR OF THE FRE?v Cll.

Public opinion in England is too well acquainted
with the propensity of French Imperialism to
sudden transformations and theatrical surprises, to
make a financial collapse which was inevitable for
a political conversion which is impossible. The
Ethiopian has not yet changed his skin, and the
Empire is not yet Peace. Every form of govern-
ment, like every human institution, has qualities
which count for its being, and for whatever
chances of duration it possesses; but there is
always a leaning on one side or the other, and in
the absence of any resisting force, whichever way
the fabric leans it will sooner or later fall. The
leaning of French Imperialism is certainly not
on the side of peace, liberty, or economy. These
are the characteristics of a limited and re-
sponsible government, in which the civil element
prevails, and under which men say the
thing they will ; not of a government all the
forces of which are practically centred in one
man's sovereign caprice, and which has six hundred
thousand bayonets to keep from rusting. It is amus-
ing and edifying enough to see an all but omnipotent
ruler making his people a partner in his difficulties,
and generously giving them full leave to pay his
debts. The reclaimed prodigal is not too nicely
judged; only in the present case it is the family
that has eaten the husks, while the prodigal has
been devouring any number of fatted calves. A new
loan is only a calf the more added to that consider-
able consumption of cattle. The commercial and
mercantile world, then, is willing to take the recent
penitential litanies in Franco for what they are
worth, and, as in charity bound, to hope all things
and believe all things, and to expect nothing but
a loan. Wh&t new spirit M. Fould's Menzoire,
and the return to office of a discarded Minister
" through a triumphal arch," may infuse into the
deliberations of the Senate and the debates of the
Corps Legislatif, is an interesting problem. It
may be that the friendly openness of M. Fould
and the generous humility of his master may have
so disarmed the independent criticism of the
Chambers that even hostile voices will join the
chorus of gratitude for favours to come, and a
Budget in which " the Unforeseen" will form the
largest chapter will be voted with accla-
mation, if not with tears of trustful devotion.
The members of the Imperial Chambers are
men of feeling as well as men of figures, and as
cold lookers on we are disposed to tremble for the
rigour of their consciences in the face of such an
affecting appeal to the tenderness of their hearts.
It may be well to beware of exaggerating the in-
fluence of the financial situation, as disclosed by M.
Fould, upon the future course of the Empire. The
new Minister of Finance, beyond all question, is a
man of peace, of business, and of moderation, and
we are loth to apprehend that as soon as he has
completed the operation he is called in for his occu-
pation will be gone. But t- "ghten the patient
is not to cure a disease so deepseated as the finan-
cial disorder of the Empire; and here we have a
patient who is probably not half so frightened as
he looks. The shameless spendthrift becomes the
unblushing insolvent, and the heir to large estates
will sell his very soul to any lawyer who will find
him in pocket money when he has made havoc of
all his " expectations." It is obvious that M. Fould
, must make a solitude of the Imperial palaces and
purlieux before he can cut or cauterize away the
rank disease thathas preyed on the vitals of France
for the last ten years. Perhaps he will be content
to have facilitated by his Memorial and his mea-
sures an indispensable transaction, and adminis-
tered some passing relief to the public mind in a
difficult and dangerous season.
How, then, will the political situation of the Em-
pire at home and abroad be effected by this confes-
sion of sins followed by the customary form of ab-
solution ? At home it may be imagined that the
prestige of the Government will suffer ; the silent
and invisible censorship of opinion will be-
come more and more vigilant and searching ;
public speech will wax bolder and bolder; and
the empire will cease to be considered
ay evil.
To eereil.
n
by the timorous and selfish classesa
of
h.
our
nerg
To argue thus is to know very little
sbwo uaryss
bi ny the
dme
raisosg, otro oafl
lt the
iGe
so voenrdn ma
lel npt a
sws
ihoine
sh,
or of the magnificent resources of the land, E
Emperor
must and the labour of France. The
must and will find means of suppressing Socialistic
theories by converting them into realities at the
cost of the State. Ho must and will find bread
and pay, and shows, for the population that subsists
on public works. He must
piercing o o n pulling
strategic
s
building up streets,and
through the cities. He must be a second Provi-
dence, against whom neither the inclemency of the
seasons nor the visitation of nature, neither drought
nor dearth nor inundations can prevail. Imperialism
must live and move and have its being in a vast
army trained and taught to worship the hereditary
saintship of Napoleon, and to regard all Europe as
its camp of glory. To suppose a sincere reduction
of the French army under the Empire is to suppose
that it is not the one great object of the Emperor of
the French to keep his throne.
Without seeking to disparage, therefore, the good
intentions of M. Fould, it may be prudent to hold
our congratulations in reserve. But there is yet
another consideration which appears to impose re-
straint upon our hopes, and that is the foreign
policy of the Empire. the
It is pleasant to anticipate a time whent re
foreign policy of the Empire will not be of a
"Buut
to excite the attentive anxiety of EuroP
tehstisimuantersesof
unrest wnheieighhbswouerllisngt.h thearmaments
a Napoleonic tradition ; it is t
F uld's raemoria
leonism. The kubstance of o
Powers i
not ande.
simply the
he essence of Napo

10.909 ; c ressure of steam, 2011 b.; revolution of engines, 70
Third Run—Time, 4 min. 24 sec. ; speed in knots,
13.636 ; pressure of steam, 201 b. ; revolutions of engines, 70.
Fourth Run—Time, 5 min. 32 sec. ; speed in knots,
10.843 ; pressure of steam, 2010. ; revolutions of engines, 70.
Fifth Run—Time, 4 min. 23 sec. ; speed in knots
13'683 ; pressure of steam, 201 b. ; revolutions of engines, 70.
Sixt'i Run—Time, 5 min. 29 see. j speed in knots,
10.942 ; pressure of steam, 201 b. ; revolutions of engines, 71
The vacuum was the same in ail the runs-2811b.
Four runs were next made at halt power (one boiler), with
the following results :
First Run—Time, 5 min. 11 sec. ; speed in knots,
11.575 ; revolutions of engines, 56.
Second Run—Time, 6 min. 29 sec. ; speed in knots,
9254; revolutions of engines, 56.
Third Run—Time, 5 min. 31 sec. ; speed in knots,
10.256 ; revolutions of engines, 54.
Fourth Run—Time, 6 min. 37 sec. ; speed in knots,
9.068 ; revolutions of engines, 50.
The mean of the six rune (full power) was 12.255 knots,
and the mean of the four (half power) was as nearly as
possible 10 knots. The temperature of both engine-room
and stokehole was of an unusually cool character, as the
following figures will prove :
At 1130 a.m.—Engines working up to full power. Engine
room platform, 51 deg.; stokehole—centre, 68 ; forward,
55 ; aft, 58±.
At 1 p.m.—Engine room, 55 deg. ; stokehole—centre, SO ;
forward, 65 ; aft, 6S.
At 2 p.m.—Engine room, 54 deg. ; stokehole—centre, SO ;
forward, 65; aft, 69.
At 2.30 p.m., at half power.—Engine room, 54 deg.;
stokehole—centre, 75 ; forward, 62 ; aft, 64.
The trial may be looked upon as most satisfactory.
To ascertain, however, the full value of the improve-
ments, the Octavia, as soon as ready for a cruise,
should be temporarily put into commission and sent
to Lisbon and back, the consumption of fuel, speed
attained, and other important items being carefully
taken account of during the voyage.

LiTEVA :CURE. I was evidently known to his Imperial Master many
-4 weeks since, and the calculations upon which it
Illaidenthorpe ; or, Interesting Events about the ' based cannot but have been long familiar to that
Year 1826. By Jeremiah Briefless, Esq., of the mysterious mind. Yet there is reason to believe
Outer Temp e. 2 vols. Bentley. that, after holding out all manner of half-hopes to
It would not be difficult to believe that this sin- 1 half a dozen nationalities, the arbiter of Europe,
gular work was written at the period it refers to, having the fear of M. Fould before his eyes, had
for it partakes much more of the character of the silently premeditated another Villafranca disan-
novels of that day than of fictions of our own time. point before M. Ratazzi arrived in Paris. Here
The style belongs to that class which is most indeed arises a serious reflection. The empire at
favourably represented by De Vere and other con- present is assuredly not rich enough to pay for its
temporary productions ; the conversation is in the own glory, and there is only one country in the
stilted and extravagant tone then fashionable in world that could repay on the spot the cost of a
literature ; and the incidents such as are hardly victorious campaign ; and that is precisely the coun-
likely to happen in the present day. There is no try which is the least favourable object of aggres-
lack of adventure, the hero meeting with a sufficient sion. A financial crisis is no specific against war;
number of accidents in the course of his chivalrous and the might of evil dreams arising from domestic
exploits to end the lives of several ordinary mortals. difficulties is apt to drive crowned heads into the
He is a barrister by profession, of the name field. Now, without actually rushing into war,
of Bohun, and is represented as a per- cannot some active employment be found for a rest-
feet admirable Crichton, being gifted in a rare less army ? Occupation and moral influence are all
degree with abilities of various kinds, and that the soldiers of a Liberator ask from their
accomplished in many different ways. He is also brethren of the Latin race. If report speaks truly,
remarkable for courage and presence of mind, and it is to some arrangement of this kind that M.
possesses the marvellous faculty peculiar to heroes Ratazzi has lent an ear. France would thus corn.
of that date, of always appearing at the moment he bine the advantages of peace and war, and Italy
is wanted. He springs up like Harlequin at the would fill up the measure of her obligations by
most unexpected moments, whether in a German serving as the wash-pot of the empire. We shall
watering place passing for a German, at a Prince's see what the Italians have to say to this part of the
country seat in the guise and with the language of new Imperial prograutme.—Daily News.
an American, at an English fashionable fete trans-
formed by a pair of blue spectacles, or in many
other surprising forms. With all these appari-
tions he is nevertheless devoted to his pro-
fession, and makes a large income at the
bar. Unfortunately he generally meets with seri-
ous disasters in the pursuance of his heroic
adventures, and after being disabled many
times throughout the book is finally married with
a green shade over his eyes. No such accidents,
however, can effect the devotion of the heroine,
Lady Susan, whose miserable position naturally
makes her the more readily appreciate the merits
of her incomparable chevalier. She is the daughter
of a penniless Earl, a frequenter of the gaming
table, and has been brought up by a prim old
aunt, in a retired part of Yorkshire. The story
plunges in medias res at once, for the very
first chapter is entitled " The Rescue," and
introduces us to Lady Susan and her aunt
returning home from a visit, along a very perilous
road, at nightfall, when a combination of extraordi-
nary accidents befal them. A terrible thunder-
storm comes on just as they are slowly mounting a
dangerous path overhanging a precipice, and two
highway rabbers seize this very inconvenient
moment to attack them. Of course the ladies are
panic-stricken, when Bohun appears upon the
scene and extricates them from all their difficulties,
though getting severely wounded, and having
previously been concerned in a similar affray,
he is quite disabled and laid up in Lady Susan's
house, the object of her anxious care. Here the
kitchenmaid, a relative of one of the robbers, tries
to poison him, but the cunning of the lawyer out-
wits her. Under these exciting circumstances, and
being freed from the surveillance of the aunt, who
is ill from frrght, it is not surprising that an at-
tachment springs up between the hero and the lady
he has rescued. The correct Lady Susan does
not scruple to engage herself without her
aunt's knowledge, and indeed meets the gentle.
man quite half way. However, owing to some
complications of Bohun's affairs they have some
years of anxiety and patience to endure, in the
course of which each side meets with remarkable
adventures. All is at length happily settled and
the parties are able to indulge the good appetites
which we are so often told they possess, at a sump-
tuous wedding breakfast. The minuteness with
which many little incidents are told verges on the
ridiculous, but there is certainly enough incident to
supply two or three ordinary novels, and those who
would like for a cha,:ge to go back to the scenes,
incidents, and style of conduct of forty years ago,
may find amusement hr the annals of " Maiden
thorpe."

TILE ROY AL HUMANE SOCIETY.

A meeting of this society took place yesterday at
he offices of the institution, Trafalgar-square, Mr.

T. E. Baker, the treasurer, in the chair. Mr. Lamb-
ton Young, secretary, submitted 15 cases for con-
sideration of the committee, in which persons had

risked their own lives in rescuing others. The fol-
lowing was referred to the next general court for
the award of the silver medallion of the society :
Mr. W. Ramsay, clerk, for saving Jemima Ray,
who accidentally fell into the River Tay, at Spring-•
land, near Perth, on the sth of October. The bronze
medallion was awarded to the following :—To John
Dunn, ablebodied seaman on board her Majesty's
ship Mutine, for assisting to save James Fleming,
an ablebodied seaman of the same vessel, who was
knocked off the bowsprit at sea, in lat. 8.40 N., long.
94'10 W., on the 24th of June ; to Miss E. H.
Chubb and Margaret Cubbon, for saving Eleanor
Cowley and trying to save Christian Cowley and
Ann Kewley, who went beyond their depth while
bathing in the sea at Ouchan, Isle of Man, on July
16th ; to William H. Francis, ablebodied seaman of
her Majesty's ship Diadem, for saving William
Murphy, a boy, who fell into the sea at Halifax on
the 6th of September ; to Henry R. Cooke, for
saving a boy, aged 12, who was carried away by
the sea beyond his depth while bathing at Margate
on the 19th of September ; and to John Council,
hatter, for saving Samuel Dutton, who accidentally
fell into a pond at Denton, near Manchester, on the
2d of October. The claim of William F. Murrough,
for saving Annie Paterson, who fell into the sea at
Passage West, county of Cork, on the 29th of Sep-
tember, was referred for further particulars. Thanks
on parchment were given to the following :—To
William M. Taylor, for saving a boy who acci-
dentally fell into the Surrey Canal, Camberwell, on
the sth of October ; and to Thomas Sharer, ship-
broker, for saving William Windus, a little boy,
nine years of age, who fell into the Regent's Canal,
Caledonian-road, on the 13th of October. Pecu-
niary rewards of various amounts were given to the
following :—To William Prime, labourer, for trying
to save William J. Francis, who accidentally fell
into the Regent's Canal, Mile end, on the 19th of ?
August; to Dennis Collins, a publican, for receiving
at his house and assisting to recover Mrs. Rosen-
burg, who attempted to commit suicide by jumping
into the Grand Surrey Canal, Old Kent-road, on the
26th of September; to William Little, wood-turner,
for rescuing Caroline Horman, who attempted sui-
cide by jumping into the New River at Highbiary
on the 7th of October ; to Thomas Vaughan, barge-
builder, for saving Charles Sinclair, who fell into
the Regent's Canal Basin, City-road; to
William Barson, servant, for saving Sarah and
Henry Russell, who fell into the New River at
Highbury on the 19th of October; and to James
Hurley, labourer, and Henry J. Godfrey, water-
man, for saving Julia Hunt, who fell into the river
Thames at Hungerford on the 20th of October.
Mr. Williams, the superintendent of the society,
reported that, notwithstanding the severe weather
of the last few days, there were still several bathers
in the Serpentine every morning, although on Mon-
day the frost was so intense that upon coming out
of the water they were unable to comb out their
hair. On Tuesday and yesterday a large number of
sliders and skaters visited the water in St. James's
Park, the Long Water, and the Round Pond, but
no accidents of a serious nature occurred. In St.
James's Park, on Tuesday, the number of skaters
and sliders was 1,500, and durin g the day 22 men

and boys were immersed-9 of them at one time—
but were rescued by the society's boatmen without
any other injury than a severe ducking ; on the
Long Water the number was 150, and on the Round
Pond 200. Some other business of a mere formal
nature having been disposed of, thanks were voted
to the chairman, and the Court adjourned.

TBIS DAY'S MARKETS.

CORN EXCHANGE.

IM?ERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES. Wheat, 693 10d;
barley, 37s 6d ; oats, 22s 7d ; rye, 37s 7d ; beans, 42s
6d ; and peas, 47s sd.
THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES. Wheat, 58s 2d ;
barley, 37s 2d ; oats, 22s 2d ; rye, 36s 9d ; beans, 42s 2d ;
peas, 44s 6d.
ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.—Wheat, 107,419 ;
barley, 110,978 ; oats, 13,500 ; rye, 78 ; beans, 4,656 ; peas,
2,379 quarters.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKEL
To-day's market was seasonably well supplied with
beasts, more than a moiety of which was composed of arri-
vals from Tonning. All broods moved off slowly ; never-
theless, Monday's prices were supported, a few very supe-
rior Scots realised 5s 2d per 81bs. Although the supply of
sheep was rather limited, the mutton trade was in a slug-
gish state, at previous currencies. The best old Downs
sold at 5s Sd per Sibs. Calves were in short supply, and
good request at an improvement in value of 2d per 81bs.
The top quotation was 5s 4d per Sibs. Pigs wore a slow
inquiry, and mulch cows were very dull.

Per Sib. to sink the offal.
s. d. s. d. , s. d. s. d
Crso. & inf. beasts 2 10 3 2 IPrimecrs-wool do. 4 6 5 2
Second quality do. 3 4 4 0 Pme.S'thdowndo.s 4 5 8
Primo large oxen 4 2 4 8 Largo orse. calves 4 4 4 10
Primo Scots, &c. 4 10 5 2 Prime small do 5 0 5 4
Crse. & inf. sheep 3 2 3 6 Large hogs 3 10 4 4
Second quality 410. 38 4 4 Small porkers 4 64 10
Lambs, Os Od to Os Od.

Suckling calves, 21s to 325; and quarter-old storo pigs,
22s to 30s.

--- -TOTAL SUPPLY. FOREIGN SUPPLY.
Beasts
Sheep and lambs.... 6,160 Sheep .. B2O
Calves
rigs 412, Pigs ....-0.. ...