The Sun.
London, England, 1826-07-25 00:00:00

UNITED KINGDOM.

The United Kingdom, without question, outstrips and
surpasses any thing of the kind ever seen. in the extent
of her dimensions, the power of her machinery, the -ele-
gance of her structure, and the splendour of her arrange..
meats, she is without comparison, and will figure in the
waters like a mighty leviathan, without a rival.
This stupendous vessel measures on deck 175 feet long,
by 4 feet 6 inches wide--her paddles are above 20 feet in
diameter, and she has two engines of 100-horse power
each; she is frigate built, and has a spar-deck above the
main-deck, which has a large open area in the centre, sur-
rounded by iron balustrades. You descend to the main-
deck by a flight of steps on either side and find the bot-
tom of this commodious area environed by a range of ele-
gent sleeping apartments, containing ample room, and
&c. and peculiarly
every requisite for dressing, adapted for
q
summer travelling.
From this is, the entrance to the saloon, which is Si
.tuated under the
merit, whose dazzling splendour rivals the ideas we are
' wont to form of the domes of eastern luxury, it is sup-
ported on each side by Corinthian pillars of highly polish-
miter-deck, and is a spacious apart-
ed satin-wood, and in the middle by a range of brass pil-
lars of the tiaine, order; it measures {0 feet long, and 36.

broad. Ten beautiful mirrors, ranged on all sides, shed
on the surrounding objects, like the dancing light of an i
eternal sun-beam, their glittering and reflective rays.—
Three ranges of tables, extending lengthways, afford suf-
ficient accommodation for 130 persons to dine at once.
Handsome sofas and chairs, of a very fashionable pattern,
while the most useful, are not the least ornamental part of
the furniture of the saloon.

The saloon is hung with crimson damask curtains; and
besides the sky-light, it is lighted from the stern, and
six other windows, three on each side; it has also win-
dows which look out on the main deck, making in all 16
in number. •

Immediately below this apartment is a spacious sleep-
ing-room for gentlemen; it is curtained with blue damass,
and fitted up with much taste. As before observed, the
light is admitted by an oval aperture at the top; around
the sides of which are ranged plate-glass reflectors, which
give a thousand magic localities to surrounding objects :
and what at present seems to excite the particular atten-
tion of visitors, is a large glass globe containing gold-eci-
loured fishes, resting on the plate-glass at the top, and
vases of roses placed around its edge, which become re-
presented to the spectators below like a, miniature sea of
transparent brightness, bespangled by a thousand little
shining inhabitants, flitting through its waters, and which
seem to flow through an endless paradise of flowers... 7
A flight of steps, guarded by, brass balustrades, at one
end of the room, leads to the 'saloon, and at the other
end an ascent of eight steps communicates with the
main-deck.

Prom the main-deck a flight of steps of easy descent
conducts to the ladies' apartment, which is most superbly
and tastefully arranged, and affords every convenience
which luxury could invent, or the most luxurious require.
It is curtained with crimson damask; and the chairs as
well as the sofas which surround it, are covered with the
same material. It is supported on each side by lonic pil-
lars, and is furnished with two large plate glass mirrors,
rich Brussels carpets, &c. so that the whole apartment,
from the elegance of its ornaments, and the richnesS of
the gilding, its convenience and seclusion, seems more to
resemble some fabled bower, pictured by the fairy fingers
of romance, than the cabin of a steam-boat. And one

thing more must be observed respecting it, namely, its
being placed so near the centre of the vessel, that the
motion at sea will be scarcely perceptible.
There is also a fore sleeping cabin, comprising six
apartments of different sizes, containing from 2 to 10 beds
each, for the convenience of families; also a small steerage
fitted up with 11 beds and bedding'nearly as good as the
rest. The total number of beds in the vessel is 170.

The kitchen also displays considerable ingenuity in the
construction mid arrangement of its various conveniences,
and we are informed it is to be placed under the direction
of two French cooks. Surely, " the pride of luxury can
no tiuther go."
The builders are, Messrs. Robert Steele and Son, of
this town; the engines are the work of David Napier,
Esq. of Glasgow, whose ability and success in the con-
struction of steam machinery are well knOwn ; and the
furniture and decorative parts of the interior have been
finished by Mr. Cameron, cabinet-maker, of this place,
from drawings by Mr. James Bannister, of Liverpool. In
a few days, we understand, the United Kingdom will be
ready for sea, when she will proceed round-the North of
Scotland, under the command of Captain James Oman,
late of the illqiestie.
When we consider, for a moment, the vast difference
between the vessel we have now described, and the little
eockboat, coMparatively, which, under the name of the

Comet, first revolved .its wheels adventurously on the
Clyde, and VMS the parent of the numerous European
family of steam-packets, we feel no small pride in wit-
nessing the rapid appp►voach to perfection, to which Bri-
tish capital and skill have conducted this invaluable im-
provement.
-" As to the question of costs," as the lawyers would
say, we are unable to answer it from authority ; but if
the general opinion is to be trusted, the first movements
of the paddle wheels of the United Kingdom will carry
along with them a literally floating capital, of little short of
40,000L—Greenock Advertiser.