The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-15 00:00:00

STEAM COMMUNiCATION WITH

-- --
FRANCE.
[We quote the following interesting account of the pro-
gress of Steam Navigation from the Morning Herald. We
wish that a vessel similar to the Ondine, with a screw pro-
peller, had been among the daring competitors.—En. Sun.]
Great competition at present exists between the ports of
Dover and Folkestone as:to rapidity of communication with
the French coast.

The South-Eastern Railway Company having made Folke-
stone a principal station, aril improved its harbour, several
tine iron steamers were built and regularly connected with
it; namely, the Princess Alice, the Princess Mary, the
Princess Maude, and the Queen of the Belgians, which last
vessel was launched only a few months ago. Each of these,
in the order stated, was an improvement upon the former
one, and was considered the fastest steamer in the world,
until at length the Dover people, determined not to be out-
done, induced the General Steam Navigation Company to
send down the Magician, also an iron steamer, to ply between
that port and Boulogne. The Magician has since proved her-
self equal in speed to the best of the Folkestone boats.
Another iron steamer has lately been launched, named the,
Ondine, to run on alternate days betwixt Dover and Bou-
logne, with the Magician ; and a very lively interest has been
created along both coasts as to %vhether the palm of speed
belonged to the Dover or the Folkestone boats.
• On the 2d instant, the Online, in going from Dover to
Boulogne for the Indian mail, on account of the .11lioning
Herald, accomplished the run, thirty miles, in one hour and
fifty-one minutes, the quickest passage, we believe, ever
made. The inhabitants of Dover, Folkestone, and Boulogne
were on the qui sire, as it was known that a trial would take
place betwixt the Ondine and the Queen of the Belgians,
which was waiting at Boulogne for the Indian mail on ac-
count of the Times.

On that occasion the Queen of the Belgians performed the
distance in one hour and fitly-three minutes, beating th•
Ondine by sixteen minutes; but the cause of this apparent
superiority was an accident to the Ondine's machinery, one
of the slides having given way. But as on the previous day
the Ondine had made the voyage in two minutes less time—
namely, in one hour and fifty-one minutes, it was resolved
by the owners that as soon as her machinery was repaired,
another trial of speed should take place on the first oppor-
tunity.

Everything having been set to rights on board the Ondine,
by the 13th instant, she proceeded on that day from Dover
to Boulogne, to try her qualities with the Princess Maude,
which vessel has hitherto had the reputation of being the
fastest boat on the station.
The following account of the interesting trial has been
transmitted to us by eye-witnesses.
(rno3t A CORRESPONDENT.)
" The Ondine was put into the Roads this morning, and
went over to Boulogne to meet the Princess Mande, and met
her accordingly about half an hour after she had left Bou•
logne. The weather was thick at the time, the wind blow-
ing fresh ; she was, however, made out, the Ondine being to
the windward of her. The Ondine bore down and hoisted
her red flag of defiance. the took her station about a cable.
length behind the Maude. Some few minutes elspsed before
it could be told which of the vessels would prove the victor.
The Maude had her staysail and foresail set. The Ondine soon
set two sails also. In ien minutes the competitors were pad-
dle-box and paddle-box, and in twenty minutes the Ondine
was so far ahead that she actually put the Maude into her
wake. The Ondine proceeded on to Folkestone, and when
within about a cable's length of that harbour she hove to in
sight of all the Folkestone people, who had apparently as-
sembled to witness the issue. In eight or ten minutes the
Maude passed close to the Ondine's stern, and went into
the harbour. Knowing that she had to land her passengers
and return to Boulogne, the Outline waited, standing off
and on, till she backed out ; and when she had got her
head right fot' Boulogne, and considerably ahead of the
Ondine, the latter once more started after her, when a most
interesting struggle took place. The Ondine, however,
was soon again paddle-box and paddle box with her op-
ponent ; the sea was very rough, and, apparently, the
Maude at times shipped a great deal of water ; the On-
dine threw it off both sides of her paddle-boxes. When
sufficiently ahead of the Maude, so as to run no risk, the
Ondine crossd her bows and went round her ! thus demon-
strating, a second time, the great superiority in speed of
the Ondine over the Princess Maude. Both the City
of London and Magician, in crossing to and from Bou-
logne and Dover, saw the trial, and bore to each place the
news of the Ondine having gone twice rotund the Maude in
so short a distance. It is the general opinion that the Prin-
cess Maude is superior to the Queen of the Belgians ; anal
nautical men, who witnessed the sight, declare that it was
worth a Queen's ransom to witness these two fleet coursers
of the deep flying through the waves—sometimes over, some-
times under—at the rate of 17 and MI miles per hour ! . '

(FROM ANOTHER CORMiSPONDEN:F.)
" I have only a few minutes to spare, but I employ them
in giving you an account of an interesting trial of the qualities
been put in good order,
sohrethleeflOttdisinie,l.accH(eDr
oevnegrir thiiisal.niio'grning, with the intention
of having a fair trial with the Princess Maude (the Queen
of the Belgians being laid up at Folkestone), and, proceeding
towards the French coast, the Outline met the Maude
coming fiom Boulogne, and not far distant from that port,
On nearing her the Ondine put about and waited until the
Mande was in a line with her, starting with scrupulous
fairness. It was soon seen that the Outline was g • g
ahead ; and in a run of 1 hour and 21 minutes bat-ohne-r
seven minutes ; this was with a brisk gale, and the wind on
the larboard quarter, two sails being set on board of each
vessel. It was known on board the Ondinetliat the Princess
Maude would return to Boulogne; so t‘l‘eith Outline waited off
and
again
started
Irvaiiilrdlyon the starboard bar ;
gale and heavy sea ;
same Folkestone,
brisk
her against the
but the Ondine being to windward of the Maude, tile latter
had the advantage of shelter, to a
.certain extent, by being
the fernier's lee; end for a time, tutorseqce, the
she
ediiinaea didgai notnett
enoughsecn to have much supety ; but when
pletelyheadwayttttees to()f ltehaevewtihned italnattlidseeacotmh -
exposed to the
Ondine's advantage beeame nearly as apparent as of her
and in three-quarters of an hour from starting astern of her
opponent the (Wine crossed the 11Iatide's bow and returned
to Dover; thus settling the question both of speed and sea•
going qualities When running head to wind I never saw
anything so animating, nor, t mind, so strikingly full of
interest the Princess Maude myhs
.times ciom-
pletely covered with broken wate'rlo9ings appearance, converted into clouds of sPtrel onrsssumigo'kaela's ti(t)
dashed against the funneL The Ondine had her share ref
spray, and some of the persons on board got completely wet
through; yet, what wonder when the speed and the weather
are taken into account." -
This splendid little vessel, the Outline, was built and fitted
with machinery by Messrs. Miller, Ravenliill, and Co., of
Blackwall; and her superiority has been fairly proved, as
our correspondent remarks, both as to speed and sea-going
qualities. And it must not be forgotten that the experiment
has been made with a vessel from the experienced hands of
Messrs. Ditehbura and Mare, of Blackwell, who, no question,