The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-16 00:00:00

.A.NOTIIER ACCOUNT.

The huge form of the Leviathan, seated as of
yore firmly on her cradles, still closes the mono-
tonous vista which the dismal swamp of the Isle of
Dogs offers to the eye of the traveller from Lime-
house, journeying eastward in search of the long-
expected, but not yet achieved, launch. It was
generally reported that yesterday was to be the
eventful day, but the public had had so many pre-
vious disappointments that nobody came, so that
the yard was left almost entirely to Mr. Brunel and
his assistants. More hydraulic presses were set to
work, heavier chains were applied, but, as in the
case of former efforts, the hydraulic presses burst,
and the great chain, although heavy links of two
and a quarter inches in thickness, snapped asunder
as if they were so many pack threads. At high
water there was nearly four feet water about the
vessel's keel, but as that unfortunately happened at
the dinner hour, the rams were -all suddenly de
serted, and the works were suspended until the
great business of life had been satisfactorily dis-
posed of by the workmen. It struck us that in these
short days, and when the moments of high water
are so precious, that it would have been better to
have a fresh gang for the dinner time, or else that
some attempt should be made to induce the men at
the pumps to postpone the prandial hour until later
in the day. They have had plenty of idle time dur-
ing the last six weeks, and might put themselves a
little out of the ordinary routine iu a case of such
emergency. What power will now be found suffi-
cient to move the huge mass it would be difficult to
say, although there are plenty of suggestions from
" practical men," that is to say, gentlemen en-
gaged in the fabrication of the different varieties of
hauling apparatus. We believe that the intention
is to repeat the usual efforts with greater energy
to-day, and much is expected from the fact that the
great anchors have now got secure holding ground
on the opposite side of the river, being placed in
such a position as makes it almost physically im-
possible they should give way. It was stated that
yesterday's proceedings were mainly experimental,
preparatory to more decisive demonstrations to-day,
that the damage that had occurred could be easily
repaired during the night, and that, on the whole,
the result was everything that could have been ex-
pected. Amongst the most recent visitors to the
launch has been Mr. Robert Stephenson, and it is
only justice to Mr. Brunel, exposed as he is and
has been for the last week to much adverse criticism,
to state that all the launching arrangements met
with the unqualified approval of that most eminent
engineer.
A statement which has been made public respect-
madeing the
a appears
sleep
pyp ei r supe
ors
he
impression
oatngh
geoe
aatuthendee a
as tbol
niactimmoiwunnlcilti,.cNhyaThshaiest
two items of expense are, of course, labour and
material, and for the former 9001. weekly has been
paid for the last six weeks, while the timber and
149 n used will, when their present work is done, be

talion„. under the command of Captains Longdea
on the following
daanyd. Miodndlethtoon2.
d.TNheoyvewmerbeerinoca;p
Longden was to
proceed w;'-'
_„- „ • • ,-reserve battery) to Luck-
1101V they were to be taken by rail about 45 mile 9.
The following extract is from Sewan, the Ist No-
vember :—" The Naval Brigade (from Buxar) under
Capt. Sotheby, of her Majesty's ship Pearl; arrived
here this morning, composed of about 140 marines
and seamen, and four 12-pounder howitzers-100.
more men are expected."

Yesterday a large party of convalescent non-coma
missioned officers and men belonging to the 59th
Regiment, who have recently arrived -at the invalid
depot, Chatham, from Hong Kong, left St. Mary's
Barracks, under the command of Lbut. L. kr_
Butler, 7th Fusileers, and proceeded to Cork for
the purpose of joining the depot of their regiment,
the whole of them having been pronounced fit for
further service.

Her Majesty's steam transport Rhadamanthug,
Master Commander Frederick R. Sturdee' was yes-
terday inspected in Woolwich basin, when the ship's
company wasp ,id off in good order. Master F. R.
Sturdeewillrehoist his pennant to-day, having been
appointed tothe same sh;p under a new commission.
After undergoing some nec;.-ssary repairs, she will
embark boilers and steam gear for the screw steam
frigate Orlando, and machinery for the Revenge,
building at Pembroke.
The screw steam sloop Lyra, Commander Old-
field, sailed yesterday from Greonhithe (having ad-
justed compasses), for the West, on her voyage to
the coast of Africa, to join the squadron.
Her Majesty's steam troopship Vulcan, 6, Com-
mander John Seceoinhe,--ertiveu at -Portbmouth
yesterday from Queenstown (whi..ll she c.nlj left on
the 13th at 2 p.m.) at 11 a.m., wi'h the Lime-
rick Regiment of Militia, comprising Lieutenant-
Colonel Dixon, Major Sir R. Do Burgh, Cap-
tains T. Walmutt, G. Massey, J. Howley, 11. Fur-
nell, A. Lloyd, and W. Browning ; Lieuts. C.
O'Connor, G. Finch, J. Power, B. Sheeley, J.
O'Leary, and W. O'Shea ; Ensigns F. Hunt, C.
Curtis, B. Croker, C. Power, R. Hunt, Captain
and Adjutant R. B. Lowe, Surgeon Q. T. Wilkin-
son, Assistant-Surgeon P. Enright, Quartermaster
F. Powell, Paymaster Vanderkiste, two officers'
wives, three officers' children, two ditto servants,
854 rank and file, 83 women, 118 children, and 5
horses. They will proceed this morning by railway
to the camp at Aldershot.
The steam storeship Dee arrived at Portsmouth
yesterday from Plymouth with the gunsloop
Cygnet, 8, in tow, intended as a Coastguard berth-
ing hulk.

'the Perseverance steam troopship was takenltut
of dock yesterday at Portsmouth, after refit, and
placed in the basin.

- The European and American Steam Navigation
Company's steamship Argo, Capt. Benson, received
her troops alongside Portsmouth Dockyard jetty
yesterday afternoon, comprising 28 officers, and
775 men, being an increase of 25 men over the
numbers published. The following are the officers
who go out with the troops :...68th Light Infantry:
Lieut.-Colonel Blunt, Majors Morant and Savage,
Captains Fitzgerald, White, Light, and Shuttle-
worth ; Lieuts. Stuart, Sanderson, Blocd, Grace,
and Marshall ; Ensigns Noble, Cavendish, Tew,
Turner, Vicary, and Assist.-Surgeon Corbett ;
Ensign R. Whitting, of the Bth ; Ensign W..pet-
son of the 10th ; Ensign Fitz raid, 24th ; Lieut.
E. Mather, 34th ; Ensign R. J. Bell, 37th ; Ensign
W. K. Murray, 60th Rifles, 3d battalion ; Ensign
S. W. Bent, 66th; Lieut. W. B. Utquhart, 75th,
commanding detachment from Colchester ; and a
Staff Assistant-Surgeon from Chatham. Major-
General the Hon. Sir James Yorke Scarlett, the
commander-in-chief of the South-West District,
with Col. Wright, inspected the ship and her troop
accommodation yesterday, and were much pleased
with her admirable accommodations and arrange-
ments. She will drop oat to Spithead this day,
and leave for India probably to-morrow morning.
The Cuckoo, 3, paddlewheel steamer, Commander
A. G. E. Murray, which recently met with the
accident at Chatham, still remains attached to the
Arctic ship Resolute, where she has been regularly
surveyed in order to ascertain whether the injuries
she received will prevent her being any longer used
in active service. The result of the survey has
been that she is now being stripped and her stot es
removed into Chatham Dockyard, previously to the
steamer being put out of commission and attached
to the reserve of steam-ships in ordinary.
Shipwrights have been engaged to break up the
Bacchanteand Unite, old 42-gun frigates, at Chat-
ham Dockyard.

Tho following appointments wore made yester.
day at the Admiralty :
Lieutenant—Philip H. Colomb to be flag-lieutenant to
Sir Thomas PAsle-y at DavonpOrt.
Mate—S. N. Cooke to the Impregnable, for disposal.