The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-09-20 00:00:00

THE BRITISH AMERICAN SHIP UNITED
KINGDOM.

We yesterday visited a new and splendid ship of large ton-
nage, just arrived from Quebec, and now lying in the middle
of the river opposite to Birkenhead. The size and appear-
ance of this vessel have excited much interest and curiosity
amongst those who interest themselves in the progress of
naval architecture.

The United Kingdom was built at Quebec, for, and under
the superintendence of, John Munn, Esq., a gentleman of
much taste and talent in the art of ship-building, and of great
enterprize in transatlantic navigation,—the present being the
third ship of extraordinary dimensions, which he has put
afloat within the present year. The vessel under notice ar-
rived at this port on Tuesday last, and is so contracted, that
the power of steam may be combined with that of sails for
her propulsion. She has already proved herself an admira-
ble sailer, having accomplished the passage in twenty-eight
days, notwithstanding the loss of her foretopmast in a squall,
and the rigging of ar.other being, owing to the sea-way and
the weight of the spar, a labour of several days.
The length of the United Kingdom is, from stem to stern
taffrail, two hundred and fourteen feet. Her beam is thirty-
six feet. She admeasures twelve hundred and sixty-eight
tons ; but, though a fine bottom, being rather deeply laden
with timber, (and a deck load of deals on edge,) she has, we
are informed, brought home about two thousand tons of
timber. Her bottom is of American oak, and elm ; her
timbers and upper works of choice materials, and the
workmanship throughout of the greatest fidelity. She
has a flush deck, (with a small top-gallant forecastle) and
seen from either extremity, presents a longitudinal area,
resembling a spacious street. Her bulwarks are neatly em-
panelled with raised mouldings, and she is pierced for fifteen
guns on each side. Being painted below these parts with a
broad white streak, and imitation ports, she has the appear-
ance of a frigate. Her masts do not at a distance appear to
be taunt, but are nevertheless tremendous sticks, and her
yards are unusually square. Her foremast and mainmast
are each 7 feet nine inches in girth, her main yard 19 inches
in the slings, and her top-gallant yards 45 feet in length.
She can spread when all is set, about 9900 yards of canvas.
She is fitted with spencers of a large size. Her draft of
water, now that she is rather deeply laden, is 19 feet 6 inches
abaft, and a little short of 19 feet forward,—making. were
she on an even keel, about 19 feet. Was she a foot or two
lighter, she would look much more bulky, and sail, doubtless,
much faster.

The United Kingdom'is commanded by Captain Alexander
M`Cale, and her crew including those in command, on this
her voyage consisted of 38 individuals. Her cabins remain
to be finished in this country, under the inspection of Duncan
Gibb, Esq., to whom the vessel is consigned. We have been
informed that should she not be purchased, she will be fitted
up with powerful engines by her present proprietor ; but of
this we are not authentically informed. She appears to be
well adapted either foz a sailing vessel, or for (as before
stated) a combination of the propulsive power of sails and
steam.

The United Kingdon has brought home some of the largest
American timber that was ever imported. She has pine
timber on board from 29 to 30 inches in the square, and oak
of 28 inches.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]
TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
30, Hawke-street, Liverpool, and
4, Cloak-lane, London,
18th September, 1839.
Sir,—Having observed a Paragraph in the Liverpool
Courier of this day, signed " A Shopkeeper," intending to
prejudice the Sale of " ROBSON'S COMMERCIAL DIREC-
TORY OF LIVERPOOL, &C." now in course of delivery, 'I
felt myself called upon to wait upon the Editor, to demand
the name of the Author, who very readily gave the required
information, stating, that the AUTHOR thereof was Mr.
MAWDSLEY, THE PROPRIETOR OF " GORE'S DIREC-
TORY" and " ADVERTISER." I shall make no comment
on this conduct, but have to request and caution the Editors
of all public Journals not to insert the same, as I shall, in
justice to myself and partner, bring actions against all parties
so offending.

I am, Sir, for Partner and Self,
Your obedient Servant,
WILLIAM ROBSON.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]
TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—An advertisement was tendered at my shop this
evening, by Mr. Robson, the proprietor of the Directory re-
cently published. In my absence, the foreman refused its
insertion' on the (ground of its inaccuracy. It charged me
with writing a letter which appeared in the Courier of this
day, signed " A Shop-keeper,' and containing certain criti-
cisms on Mr. Robson's work. I did not write the critique
in question, nor was it done at my request, although I was
informed by the author (who is an indifferent party) that
such a letter would appear. Should Mr. Robson have sent
you a similar advertisement, you will oblige me by inserting
this letter. I am, sir,
Your obedient servant,
JAS. MAWDSLEY.

Castle-street, September 18th, 1839.
P.S.—Since writing the above I have received the follow-
ing letter :

7, Exchange-street East, 18th Sept. 1839,
10 P. M.

My dear Sir,—

Having heard that a letter which appears in this
day's Courier, signed " A Shopkeeper," has been attributed
to you, and that some threat of an action has been held out
by the Editor of " Robson's Directory," to which that letter
alludes' I think it right to state at once, and without hesi-
tation, that the book having been shown to me as a curiosity,
and finding that (what I fully expected,) my own among
other names, was left out, I wrote the letter in question,
which I believe to be a fair and honest critique, upon a work
in which every inhabitant of Liverpool is interested.
I am, my dear Sir,
Yours, very truly,
M. M. G. DOWLING,

Mr. James Maw•dsley.
Castle-street.