The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-11-27 00:00:00

" THE PRESIDENT" STEAM-SHIP.

We have yet no intelligence of this fine and anxiously
looked-for Vessel, and some uneasiness prevails in the public
mind as to her safety, aggravated in no small degree by vague
rumours and surmises, built, in our humble opinion, on very
fanciful or untenable ground!. Admitting that she sailed on
her appointed day (the 2d instant), there is no need of alarm
at her non-arrival, inasmuch as, from all accounts received
by the unusually few vessels that have recently reached this
country from the westward, very strong easterly gales have
prevailed throughout a large breadth of the eastern portion
of the Atlantic for some time past. As the fast-sailing line-
ship Oxford, which was to sail on the same day as the Presi-
dent, has not made her appearance, though some days beyond
her usual time, the strong probability is that similar gales have
blown on and near the American shore. It is not, therefore, un-
likely that the President, beingunable to make her accustomed
headway against wind and sea, may have run short of coals for
the entire voyage, and had consequently put into some port in
the Azores Islands to replenish her fuel. The Liverpool was
under a similar necessity on one occasion, and put into Fayal,
where the passengers and officers (as we remember to have
noticed on her arrival here) were most hospitably entertained
by the governor, the American consul, and others of the in-
habitants of the island. On that occasion, the Liverpool
(including her detention) was 27 days from, port to port.
The President as yet has been but 25 days out. It should be
remembered, too, that the British Queen, was on one voyage
last winter 23 days at sea, she having sailed on the 2d of De-
cember—and arrived on Christmas Day. The President,
we should also say, is a very strong large vessel, and
most excellent sea boat, capable of weathering the sever-
, est gales when she has sea room. The probability
from all that we can ourselves conjecture or learn as the
opinion of nautical men, that she has either been de-
layed in procuring additional coal, or that she is coming
homewards under sail, (of which she can spread a great
breadth for a steamer), and that she is retarded by contrary
winds. Persons who are more busy than wise in instituting
comparisons to magnify the uncalled-for alarm of those who
appreheudedsome casualty having happened to the President,
instance, amongst other matters, the arrival of Mary Queen
of Scots yesterday, from Paraiba, in thirty-one days. The
passage is certainly a good one from that port ' • but it should
be taken into account, (as practical men will do) that a lead-
ing, or at least a beam wind to that vessel steering from the
south, would operate very differently on vessels coming di-
rect from the west,—to which, in fact, an east wind would be
dead a-head. It will be remembered ;that, about ten days
ago, the barometer fell much and rapidly here, and
though this locality was not visited by any very severe or,
at least, prolonged storms, dreadful gales from the eastward
were experienced in the South of England. That these ex.
tended to the Atlantic there can be little question; and the
general boisterous state of the weather at sea is also confirmed
by the return the day before yesterday to this port of the brig
Brilliant, bound for Barbadoes, after being 21 days out, and
having lost her boats, bulwarks, &c., in a severe gale. We
have, however, we repeat, no fear but the President would
weather that storm if she encountered it.::

We quote from the- hiorningv Herald of yesterday the
following communication from the correspondent of that
paper in Bristol, for the purpose of remarking upon it, as
it has given addtional uneasiness to many parties whose
fears for the President had been excited by previous rumours :
WRECK OF ANOTHER LARGE STEAM-BOAT.
Information of a most painful; hatacter, and which has
awakened fears to which I scarcely dare to allude, was brought
here last evening by a gentleman of high mercantile respecta-
bility in this city, who arrived from the coast by last night's
coach. He states that he was informed by Captain Lock,
of Ilfracombe, that on Wednesday last, as he and others
were standing on the Lanthorn. hill, (the eminence at Ilfra-
combe from which watches are usually kept by those engaged
in maritime pursuits,) he saw a steam-packet of a very large
description beating up channel under stress of weather. In a
short time a heavy squall came on—the same in which several
vessels were damaged, and the brig Grecian lost ; and upon
looking out again as soon as it wore off he looked in every
direction but could see no trace of the steamer. Since that
some fragments of wreck, apparently belonging to a large
vessel, have been washed on shore, among which is a door of
a state-room berth of a superior description. It is of hand-
some polished mahogany, with gilt mouldings, and is labelled
with a number " 28." I have made every inquiry, and find
that this does not answer the description of the doors on
board the City of Bristol: .they were of mahogany, but had
no gilt moulding, and none of the state-room berths were
labelled with so high a number as 28. The Swansea packet
of last night brings similar information as having transpired
in that town, and it is reported here that one of the tug-
boats belonging to this port has likewise seen large fragments
of wreck. Fears are entertained by some persons here that
the steam-boat seen by Captain Lock might be the American
steam-ship President, now so long overdue ; but it is fair to
say, that others well versed in nautical affairs consider this
unlikely. They say a vessel making St. George's Channel
would not be likely to be seen off Ilfracombe, while the first
reply that she might be forced there by stress of weather. I
trust to God that the first supposition may prove incorrect,
although it seems pretty certain (supposing Captain Lock to
be a veracious man, as I am told he is, in every sense) that
some large vessel, and one which there is every reason to be-
lieve does not belong to this port, has foundered. I have
just seen a gentleman, who says he has seen the President,
and she has not mahogany doors. The north mail is not in.
I send the intelligence as it reaches me.
We have to state, in reference to this communication, that
the whole of the cabins of the President (in which the writer
of this paragraph has sailed) are entirely fitted up in the
Tudor style of Gothic, painted in oak, and that she has on
board no doors whatever of mahogany, with or without gilt
mouldings. In conclusion, we can but repeat our confidence
in the good qualities of the President, and shall patiently
await her arrival, trusting she will soon make her appearance,
and " all well." Should she arrive by this day's tide, we
shall hold ourselves in readiness to supply as much informa-
tion relative to bar voyage, &c., in our second edition, as
our time and limits will allow.

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

The weekly meeting of the Committee was held yesterday,
in the Offices, Revenue-buildings. Mr. Leathom took the
chair.

The Sub-committee of Works reported that they had taken
into consideration the question of graving blocks being placed
in Gebrge's Basin. They had examined the dock-masters
and harbour-masters, and on their evidence unanimously re-
solved to recommend the committee to place graving blocks
on the north and west side of Prince's Basin, instead of
George's Basin. The recommendation was adopted.
The proposed lengthening of the shed on the quay of
Queen's Dock was agreed to.
Posts and chains were ordered to be placed at the back of
the North Master's House, in the position suggested by that
officer.

;;;;The North Harbour Master was authorised to engage a boy
at seven shillings a week wages, to attend his office during
the time he is engaged in going the round of the docks.
The SOLICITOR reported that he had considered the pro-
position to levy certain fines upon the dock gatemen and
other servants of the trust for neglect of duty ; and was of
opinion, that, in order to fix the amount of the penalties pro-
vision must first be made by bye-laws according to the dock
acts. A long discussion took place, at the end of which it
was resolved the subject be referred back to the committee.
The Sub-committee of Works recommended that the gate-
men at each dock be numbered according to seniority, upon
their hats, and that the corresponding numbers be fixed up
in the dock master's offices.

Mr. Thistleton was appointed to take charge of the stages
on Brunswick Dock quay, and to report upon their efficiency
from time to time.

The receipt of dock dues at the port of Runcorn, from the
23d October to the 24th November were reported to have
been £lll Is Id.

The MARINE SURVEYOR reported that at day-break in
the morning of the 20th instant, the sloop Lord Edward,
from Flint to Holyhead, laden with coals, was wrecked off
the Point of Ayr. The life-boat at that station, on perceiving
her distress, proceeded to her assistance, and succeeded in
rescuing the crew, consisting of three individuals.
The MARINE SURVEYOR said that he had carefully exa-
mined the model of a safety-beacon, submitted by Captain
Bullock, and was of opinion that if one was placed on the
sandbanks, at the rn entrance to the river, it would not be
attended with such results in the preservation of life as
seemed to be imagined. He had often traversed the sand-
banks, and found that they were intersected with deep gullets,
so that if a wreck took place upon the bank, the parties would
not be able to attain the beacon. There must also be taken
into account the risk of vessels mistaking the beacon for
some of the landmarks; these considerations altogether fully
counterbalanced any benefit that might accrue from the
adoption of the beacon.—Some conversation followed be-
tween the CHAIRMAN, Mr. CHAPMAN, and Mr. BORSFALL,
which ended in the report of the marine surveyor being con-
firmed.

A letter from Mr. William Laird, with three models of
zinc roofing, was referred to the sub-committee of works.
The sub-committee of finance recommended the payment
of two sums due on bond, amounting to about £5OOO.—
Agreed to.

Some conversation took place concerning the state of the
steam-ship graving dock. The matter was ultimately referred
to the sub-committee of works to report thereon.
The committee then adjourned.