The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-12 00:00:00

THE "P. AND 0." FLEET.

' The latest addition to the splendid fleet of steam-
ships owned by the Peninsular and Oriental Com-
patiy—viz., the Travancore, a vessel built and
engined by Mr. J. Key, of Kirkcaldy—was taken out
for a trial on Wednesday. She left the Southampton
Docks at 11 30 a.m., proceeding direct to Stokes
Bay, where one run was made on the measured mile,
and then steamed round the Isle of Wight, returning
into Southampton water at 6 o'clock, and the Lon-
don portion of the visitors left by the 7 15 p.m
train. The Travancore is a screw steamer of
400-horse power nominal (indicated power during
the run, 1,405) ; her gross tonnage being 1,899 i,
and registered ditto, 1,185 ; length, 281 ft. 6in. ;
breadth of beam, 35ft. sin.; and .depth of hold,
27ft. Bin. Her true mean speed when on the
measured mile, with a strong southerly wind blow-
ing, was 12.245 knots; steam, 241 b; vacuum, 22in. ;
revolutions of engines, 59. She had 751 tons weight
of coals, water, and stores on board, and her draught
was 16ft. 6in. forward and 18ft. 2in. aft., the mean
being 17ft. 4in. There was a large party of ladies
and gentlemen on board, including. Capt Cuming,
R.N., Admiralty Superintendent at Southampton ;
Mr. F. T. Scudamore, one of the secretaries of the
Post-office ; Mr. Chetwynd, accountant-general of
the'Post-office ; Mr. W. Page, Mr. E. Yates, Mr.
Bidwell, Mr. Boucher, and Mr. Joyce, of the Post-
office; Mr. Willis, Mr. Cockraft, and Mr. Adders an,
of the Admiralty; Colonel Macpherson, late Acting
Governor of the Straits Settlements ; Mr. Campbell,
secretary of the African Steampacket Company ;
Mr. T. M. Mackay, of Leadeahall-street ; Mr. Key,
builder of the ship; Mr. Hadlow (the recently-elected
chairman), Mr. Thornton, C. 8., Mr. L'Estrange,
Mr. James Allan, and Mr. Henry Bayly, directors
of the Peninsular and Oriental Company ; Captain
Bain, Mr. A. M. Bethune, Captain Black, Mr. A.
Lamb, Captain Engledue, and other officials of the
company. During the run home the party on board
partook of a sumptuous dejeaner, under the presi-
dency of Mr. Hadow, who availed himself of the
opportunity to propose the health of the builder of
the Travancore, and expressed the satisfaction which
the performances of the vessel had given to the direc-
tors and others. The toast having been responded
to by. Mr. Key, Mr. Frank Scudamore proposed
" Success to the Peninsular and Oriental Company,"
which, he said, really meant success to the com-
mercial and maritime interests of the nation, for
anything which would injure so important an arm
of the great postal service of England must exercise
a corresponding influence injurious and detrimental
to the whole commerce of the country. The Tra-
vancore, which is commanded by Captain It. Meth-
ven, one of the oldest officers in the service, leaves
to-morrow with the outward India, China, and
Australian mails, and on her return from this voy-
age she will be despatched to the other side of the
Isthmus of Suez for service on those stations. Two
Lap screw steamers, of 3,000 tons and 600 horse
power each, are now in progress for the company--
viz., the Magdala, constructing by Messrs. W.
Denny Brothers, at Dumbarton ; and the Llin-
dostan, by Messrs. Day and Co., at Southampton.
The Magdala is expected to be ready for sea its
'about six months, and the iiindostwa in about 13
months.