The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-22 00:00:00

THE GREAT BRITAIN.

The experiment of building of iron a ship of 3,500
tons, and of adapting a steam-power of 1,000 horses by
an entirely new arrangement of machinery, to propel
her by means of that novel instrument which is called a
screw (but which our readers will better understand by
considering it as approximating in form to a windmill
with its arms), the whole involving, as we are informed,
an outlay of 160,0001., was so bold and original, that,
while we admire the courage that ventured to undertake
it, we mo,t heartily congratulate hvr owners, captain,
and constructor, on the complete success which has at-
tended her voyage. On her rounding-to off the Co-
burg Dock on Monday morning, we observed that a
portion of the screw, probably rather more than
one foot in height appeared above the water ;
this, we are informed, was occasioned by the
great weight of the cargo in the fore hold, which, as
the coal became consumed, brought her down by the
head, and put her considerably out of trim. To this,
and to the bad quality of the American coal supplied to
her, may be attributed much of the increased length of
her voyage, and both of these cruses will, we under-
stand, be remedied in future by omitting to bring such
heavy cargoes, and by providing the coal of this country.
On gaining her deck, and conversing with some of the
officers and crew, we were told that in some very heavy
head winds and high seas she had encountered, especially
on the outward voyage, she had behaved particularly
well, rollinc, rather deep, easily, and without any strain-
ing or jerking ; scarcely pitching at all, end taking
no water on deck. To our eyes, the deck and rigg-
ing (except the main-topmast, which had been car-
ried away in a gale), the airy promenade decks, and the
splendid saloon, with its thirty-four Sienna marble
columns, appeared just in the same state as when we bid
her adieu on her leaving the Mersey. We examined
the carpentry work, but could not find any symptom
of working ; and, in answer to our inquiries, were
assured that the absence of the usual tremulous
motion, creaking of bulkheads, or, in fact, any yield-
ing whatever, excited the astonishment of several naval
and other passengers accustomed to these voyages. We
next visited the spacious and elegant " engine-room," so
unlike similar apartments in any other vessel we have ever
seen. The chief engineer appears to be a very steady, cool,
thoughtful man, expressing the most perfect confidence
in the accurate working of the massive machinery
under his command, which he said had worked the en-
tire outward voyage to " soundings," without being
once stopped, and, after working in a similar manner,
without a pause, back to England, required literally no
repair. The novel mode of turning the screw shaft
with three times the velocity of the engines, by means
of four substantial pitched link chains, appears to have
been quite successful, as they have not yet lengthened by
the wear, and work even more queitly than at first. The
" screw" also has stood the voyage well, and looks as
it did when we inspected it in the Graving Dock.
It is said, however, to have scarcely sufficient surface
—a defect which will be remedied in the one which
is now being constructed for her at Bristol. Mr.
Guppy is introducing several improvements, founded on
observations made in this and other vessels. In short,
the problem of propelling by means of the screw on
ocean voyages, may be considered as most satisfactorily
decided in the affirmative, and we heartily congratulate
the owners of this gigantic ship on the success of their
speculation. We understand that a large number of pas-
sengers have already engaged berths, and that on the ad-
vertised day the Great Britain will leave the Mersey for
New York, when we hope again to accompany her to the
light ship.—Liverpool Mercury.

THE LATE STORM NEAR ROUEN.
At the last sitting of the Academy of Sciences, at
Paris, a most important communication was made by M.
Pouillet on the storm near Rouen, of the 19th ult. Our
readers are aware, that the owners of the property
destroyed on that occasion have brought an action for
indemnity against the insurance companies, assigning
as the ground of action that the destruction was the
result of electricity, and that they are, therefore, in-
titled to recover. According to the clause in their poli-
cies which provides compensation by loss from lightning
(le feu de ciel), several reports declaring that elec-
tricity was present in the storm of the 19th, and that
the buildings were thrown down not by the mere
force of the blast of wind, but really by an elec-
trical current, and even going so far as to assert that
fire was visible, have been received by the Academy.
The insurance companies, on their side, have not been
idle. They have had recourse to M. Pouillet as one of
the most eminent men to whom on such a subject it was
possible to apply, and that gentleman, at their request,
has instituted an inquiry and made investigations on the
spot, the result of which is the communication now made
to the Academy. M. Pouillet says it is with great regret
he is compelled to declare that electricity had nothing
to do with the calamity in question. lie states this with
an appearance of sincerity that cannot be doubted, and
his character stands too high fur it to be supposed that
as the paid agent of the insurance companies he would
make any but a conscientious report. High as the repu •
tation of M. Pouillet stands, however, and great as may
be the influence of his opinion when weighed by a tribu-
nal, as a scientific communication it is only one opinion
apinst several given by gentlemen who, although they
are not so eminent in scierre as M. Pouillet, had the
same opportunities as himself of inquiring into facts. It
is possible that the tribunal before which the claims of
I the insurers will be brought, will appoint a scientific
commission to report on the subject.. It is only, in fact,