The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-07-21 00:00:00

FROM COVE TO DUBLIN

We sailed from Passageat atTuaTter past five o'clock on
the evening of Saturday, and steered down in fine style past
Cove and out again to sea, bound for Dublin. The weather
was fine at the time, but rather hazy. Several of our passengers
had left us at Cork and gone over land by coach to Dublin,
where a few of them afterwards joined us. We had an
accession of others, hewever, belonging to Cork and its
neighbourhood. Amongst those were some gentlemen who
came down to Cove in a beautiful cutter yacht, the Vampire,
including Mr. James Roberts, brother of the commander of
the steam-ship British Queen, a gentleman who is one of
the most extensive farmers in the South of Ireland.
The distance by sea to Dublin is estimated at about
about 190 to 200 miles. We made probably the larger
course, keeping outside the banks and shoals that extend
along this part of the coast until we got pretty well to the
northward. The night was rather stormy, with a heavy sea
running, and we were considerably detained by the necessity
of " heaving to," or rather " stopping the ship," to heave
the lead,—our course being determinable in the night, in a
great degree, by the depth of water. The haze was also
thick during the night. In the morning the weather became
moderate, and we were off the coast of Wicklow. The en-
gines worked well throughout, giving at times 15 strokes a
minute—the vessel going about eleven knots an hour.
As we ran on we neared the sugar loaf hills, and afterwards
kept closer to the shore. The views of the coast were inte-
resting, this county being one of the best wooded in Ire-
land. We saw the two white] lighthouses, and the fort
on the point south of Wicklow bay, about nine o'clock, and
soon afterwards the town itselfowith several vessels sailing
along near it. In the back ground the're are, besides moun-
tains nearly covered with trees, others rocky and craggy, with
scanty verdure in the interstices—doubtless the favourite
haunts of grouse and other game. Soon afterwards we saw
the hill of Houth, at the mouth of Dublin bay, and
beyond it Lamby island, and " Ireland's Eye." The coast,
as we dashed along, presented new and interesting features ;
but as it is generally known, I shall not trouble your readers
with particulars. After passing the fishing village of Bray,
between this and Kingstown, the shore is rocky, and on an
island, forming a point, stands a marten() town and other
buildings. Behind, on a rocky hill, there is a church, the
spire of which, rising over the eminence, forms a conspicuous
object. When off Kingstown, the " Royal William" steam-
ship, of your port, came out and hailed us. She afterwards
went up to Dublin, and doubtless announced our arrival.
We also passed the " Mountaineer" steamer, outward bound.
The harbour of Kingstown is so well known that little
need be here said respecting it. It is a large sheet of clear
deep water, enclosed, as it were, from the sea by a wall or
breakwater, with quays, &c. going round it nearly in a circle,
a narrow entrance being left on the east only. The anchorage
is good. The town, in which there are several large public
buildings, lies on the west ; and there is a railway to Dublin,
along the west side of the bay of that city. We reached the
anchorage at twelve o'clock, after a passage from Cork of
eighteen hours. We had no sooner cast anchor than boats
innumerable came alongside, filled with passengers to view
the ship. They were admitted during the whole day, to the
number of many thousands, of ladies and gentlemen and
tradespeople, nearly all of whom came down from Dublin,
with the steam-boats or by the railway. The ship was like a
fair the whole day. Anchored at a short distance from us
lay H.M.S. Inconstant, one of the first and fastest frigates in
the navy—a truly beautiful vessel. The public were admit-
ted to see her ; and her officers, with a party of ladies, came
on board of the President, at the invitation of Capt. Fayrer,
and were highly gratified. The noise of the boatmen along-
side, and their battles to obtain and land passengers, formed
an amusing scene. There were also here, a beautiful gun-
brig, of 16 guns, belonging to the navy, and several fine
revenue cutters. At the quays were several large government
steam-ships, and the harbour was covered with handsome
yachts and pleasure boats, sailing about. About four hours
after our arrival, the yacht Vampire, before noticed, and
which had sailed along with us from Cork, came into the
harbour in gallant style, having made an excellent run.
Many of our passengers landed and proceeded to Dublin
or its vicinity for the day. Several of these dined at King-
stown, and nearly all returned by seven or eight in the even-
ing, and after refreshments, returned to their respective
sleeping places.
It was determined to proceed towards Liverpool by about
three o'clock in the morning, and the announcement induced
many of the passengers to withdraw from the festive board
earlier than they otherwise would have done.
About eleven o'clock however, an alarm was heard which
induced those who heard it to rush to the deck. The cry
was—" there is a man overboard ! " Mr. Duncan, the third
officer in command, and whose gallant conduct you had occa-
sion to notice when he belonged to the Liverpool steam-ship,
was at the time retiring to his berth, after a previously sleep-
less night passed with his brother officers on coming up
from Cork, and heard a plunge in the water near the bow of
the ship. He had his boots and part of his dress off, and
ran up to the spar deck to ascertain what accident had oc-
curred. By the faint light he perceived two individuals
struggling in the water, and in imminent danger. He imme-
diately leaped overboard from a height that presented fearful
odds against an ordinary swimmer, and after great exertions,
and a narrow escape, succeeded in saving the lives of both—
a man and a 19y. The moan's name we afterwards learned,
was Charles Waldener. He is the second cook of the ship,
had gone on shore, and come off to the ship in a small boat
or punt, guided by a lad named Atkinson. In approaching
the vessel, the boat by some means, not precisely ascer-
tained, was upset, and the parties precipitated into the
water. A considerable, and to those who witnessed it, an
anxious time elapsed before Mr. Duncan, after a necessarily
deep submersion could effect his object. The boy, grasping
at the first object in his sense of danger, seized him by the
throat, and he had some difficulty to disentangle himself.
He, however, finally succeeded in rescuing both the men in
a great state of exhaustion. I need scarcely add that Mr.
Duncan was welcomed on board by every one with the most
heartfelt feelings of respect, and congratulations on his own
escape ; which, however, with that modesty which belongs
to true and courageous men, he endeavoured to avert by dis-
claiming all merit, and merely expressing a hope that if he
were in similar danger some one might be at hand to aidhim.
He changed his dress and appeared as if nothing bad happened.
HOME VOYAGE FROM DUBLIN TO LIVERPOOL.
We are now dashing along homewards—with Holyhead
not far distant. We started from Kingstown at three
o'clock, but as we had to wait outside to secure the anchor,
the proper hour to be stated is a quarter past three, The
engines worked speedier than before, making 16 revolutions
a minute, so that the ship could not be making less than 11
or 12 knots an hour. We had also set our sails forward—
namely, foresail, top-gallant sail, and jibs, but they did not
do her much good, the speed from the steam being so great
that they frequently lifted. In four hours three quarters we
reached clear of Holyhead, the vessel having accomplished 57
miles in that short period. We passed several vessels, each
under a heavy press of sail. The bold rocky shore of
Anglesea, with its small islands, bays, and scanty np-
land verdure, afforded some romantic views, varying from
what they appeared when we passed them outward bound.
We sailed between the main land and the Skerries. At nine
o'clock we were off Amlwch, and immediately afterwards
passed close to the Middle Mawn. Having run down the
east of Anglesea, we came in view of Penguin Island, and the
shores on each side the Menai Straits. At a quarter past
ten o'clock we were off the Ormshead. The speed of the
engine was now frequently upwards of sixteen revolutions
per minute, and the ship was found to run frequently four-
teen knots, by the long'line. We met the Merlin govern-
ment mail-boat, Captain Townley, bound to Dublin. The
swiftness with which the vessels passed each other was sur-
prising. Captain Fayrer, and other gentlemen, exchanged
civilities with Captain Townley, and the band played
" Hearts of Oak,' but the roar of our paddle-wheels, which
dashed the sea into a sheet of foam on each side, probably
prevented the band from being heard on board the mail-
boat, We now overhauled two large ships running up chan-
nel, with studding sails set below and aloft.
While running along by the Victoria Channel, a meeting
of the gentlemen on board was held in the saloon, for the
purpose of presenting to Mr. Duncan a testimonial of their
respect for his gallant conduct on the previous night, in
Kingstown harbour, or rather to prepare for the purchase of a
piece of plate to be presented to him, the immediate object
being that he might learn how his devotion to the cause of
humanity—the brightest characteristic of the genuine British
sailor—was appreciated by all on board, many of whom
might not have another opportunity of meeting him. A
handsome subscription was immediately entered into for the
purchase of a snuff-box, which is to bear the following

INSCRIPTION

" Presented by the Directors of the British and American
'Steam Navigation Company, and the Captain and Officers of
the President (Captain Fayrer, R:NO, and their Friends on
board of that vessel, to Mr. Duncan, as a mark of their ap-
probation of his gallant and meretorious conduct, in jumping
overboard, and saving two men from a watery grave, in
Kingstown Harbour, on the 19th July, 1840."
The compliment thus conveyed was communicated to Mr.
Duncan by one of the directors in handsome terms, and he
returned thanks in terms the most unassuming.
When your readers are reminded that Mr. Duncan is the
same gentleman who, during the last voyage of the Liverpool
from New York, with the carpenter of the ship, gallantly
leaped overboard, and saved the life of a man who had fallen
from the vessel during a stormy sea, and could not long have
survived, nothing need, I think, be added to induce the pub-
lic to come forward, and add to the value of the testimonial
which is about to be presented to him. Such men are wor-
thy of the civic crown.
The,Dee now opened out, and in:the intermissions between
some slight showers, when the sun partially looked out, the
Cheshire and Lancashire shores were both distinguishable,
with the various objects which, as it were, belong to home."
The smoke of the town was also visible, and the white houses
of Waterloo. After seeing for some days the high lands of
Ireland, these coasts looked somewhat diminutive, but were
nevertheless welcome to most of those on hoard. When all
the sails of the vessel were taken in she lost only half a knot
an hour, as she continued to make good 131 miles an hour.
We passed the N. W; Light Ship (15 miles from the towr)
in 81 hours after leaving the Kish,
We came round the Victoria Channel, there not being suf-
ficient water in the other. By this, however, we had to run
a distance of four or five miles fuither. The vessel stood up
from Formby at about 13 knots an hour. A sumptuous re-
past was then partaken of by about forty gentlemen, while
the band played appropriate airs. When near the Formby
Light Ship she accomplished 15 knots by the line.
In passing several ships, British and American, the Presi-
dent was loudly cheered, and the compliment was returned.
We were opposite the Rock Light House at five minutes
past one, so that we had made the voyage to that point in
eight minutes under the ten hours. We fired several guns
as we passed up the river. Crowds of spectators stood on
every quay, from the Clarence dock to the Potteries, and
could not have failed to be gratified by the noble appearance
and performance of the ship. At half-past one precisely she
was opposite the Baths on George's pier, a little beyond the
starting point, so that she completed the voyage from Kings-
town, with new engines, and under some other disadvantages,
in precisely ten hours, or at the average rate of twelve nauti-
cal miles an hour, the distance being forty leagues.
The vessel passed rapidly up to her anchorage at the
Sloyne, and the gentlemen on board were landed by two
river steam-boats that came alongside for the purpose.
Thus concluded a trip, I will venture to say, Mr. Editor,
hitherto unparalleled in the annals of steam navigation, both
as regards the size and splendid accommodations of the ves-
sel by which it was accomplished, the excellent arrangements
for the comfort and enjoyment of every one on board, and,

above all, the triumph of science which the result has so
fully established. The President is a ship of immense length
and immense tonnage.. It could not be doubted that she
would afford sufficient space for the " exercise" of those on
board; but some doubt had arisen even in the minds of prac-
tical men whether she would not prove unwieldy, and difficult
to work at sea, or even in smooth water. These doubts must
be entirely dissipated by the first performance of this noble ves-
sel. She is steered with the comparative ease of a yacht, even
in a heavy sea-way, and may be worked through narrow and
intricate channels with equal ease. A. more easy or finer
sea-boat it is impossible to conceive. There is no labouring,
no pitching and rolling to cause uneasiness. All is steady,
dry. and comfortable, and in point of space, convenience,
and ventilation, she cannot be surpassed.
Before concluding, I am bound in justice to notice the
peculiar kindness and attention shewn by the directors and.
the captain and officers to every one on board. Nothing
could be better calculated to elicit a general feeling of satis-;
faction, and, I may add, of friendship. It was, in fact, a
delightful amalgamation of parties, many of whom were be-
fore unknown to each other. There were on board gentle-!
men of various countries, and particularly of England and
the United States, and apart from the conviviality of the
occasion, there was exhibited a degree of intelligence and
amity that can scarcely fail to conduce to new and favour-
able results for both countries.

In the " provisionary" department no expense or care
seemed to be spared. Mr. Hough. who provided the viands
and liqueurs, gave the utmost satisfaction : every thing was
excellent and abundant. Mr. Hemans and his assistants,
Mr. Myers and others, as stewards, were unremitting in
their attention to the guests, and there was not a want left
unsupplied. No hotel could be better appointed. The whole
establishment will, notwithstanding, be considerably aug
mented on the vessel's proceeding to America with her com-
plement of passengers, and there can exist no doubt but she
will prove herself in all points a " crack ship."
I may state, in conclusion, that the after cabin and saloon
were designed and executed by Mr. Simpson, of London ;
the fore cabin by Messrs. Humble and Milcrest in the joiner
work, and the painting of this and other parts of the vessel
by Mr. White, of our own town. The house on deck for a
dining-room for the fore-cabin passengers was built by
Messrs. T. and D. Service, and the plumber's work by Mr.
M`Nicol and Mr. M`Fee. The figure-head is the work of
Mr. Archibald Robertson. There are on board 6 engineers,
and a large number of firemen.

The following tribute on the merits of the President is
written by a young lady, known to one of her gallant officers,
and one of whose productions we recently inserted, and
which was read on board on the trial trip :

ON A VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT.
What flag soars so high and so proudly in air,
What vessel so nobly doth stand ?
See the President's name in bright letters appears,
The wonder and pride of our land.
Full many a treasure she'll bear o'er the deep,
And hearts that are valiant and true,
Oh ne'er may lov'4.friend have occasion to weep
The wreck of such vessel and crew
So noble her structure, as if to defy
The fury of ocean or wind ;
The best that the forest and earth can supply
Are all in her service combined.
Our forefathers dream'd not, as under the shade
Of their oak they so peacefully slept,
That ere its lov'd branches and saplings should fade,
Their sire the broad ocean had swept.
Full many a valley is robbed of its pride—
The ivy laments its fond stay—
The earth has its long hidden treasures supplied,
And fair winds shall waft her away.
And joyous and light be the hearts she shall bear,
Their voyage a flowery spring
In life's recollection, undimm'd by a tear,
And glide on the noiseless wing.
May Friendship in bonds ever sacred and true,
With Love smiling bright at her side,
And Hope's beaming glance ever sparkle anew,
In the President ever preside.