The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-09-29 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF "THE SURAT."

On Thursday, there was launched from the building-
yard of Messrs. '1 homas Vernon and Son a fine iron
sailing and steam vessel, called the Surat, the property of
the Bombay Steam Navigation Company, and the first of
a series of similar ships to be built for them, to navigate,
—chiefly, we believe, with passengers,—the Seabord and
large rivers of India, for which they will be admirably
adapted.
_ _ _

The following are the dimensions of the ship :-
1 ength of keel.
Length between perpendiculars
Beam
Depth of h01d..........
Tonnage

She will- be provided with engines, driving paddle-
wheels, on the oscillating principle, bui:t by the celebrated
and long-established bow,e of Messrs. Bolton and Watt,
lio have a large establishment in Birmingham, and
another in London. These may be considers das auxiliary
only to her sails, the two together giving but 60 horse
power.

The Surat is in form and appearance one of the most
beautiful, if not indeed the most beautiful, light, fairy-
looking craft we have ever seen launched at our port, and
when completed may challenge comparison in neatness
and rakish effect with any steamer yet turned out. She
was constructed from a model by John Grantham, Esq..
C. E.. and resembles a good deal " The Fenella." (also
modelled by that gentleman) launched a few months ago,
but in our opinion exhibiting considerable improvements
for certain purposes on the form of that also fine vessel,
especially as reeards fullness of bottom—giving greater
canacity on a light draft of water, and greater stability
nder sail. Her extremities are very fine, particularly
her long bow, than which we know of. none more elegant
and graceful. The bold line of beauty and grace which
the cut water prevents terminates above in a very hand.
some figure of a Hindoo Princess. The trail-boards are
chastely decorated with gilded carved work and over
them, and further aft, and within a foliated scroll
work is the name of the vessel also gilded. The
stern is carved in, corresponding taste, and in lieu
of quarter galleries she has neat carved quarter badges.
—with the lyre &c., as a centre-piece to each,—which
are more light, and, we think, more appropriate, in a yes
sel of moderate tonnage. There are nine p,ri windows to
the after cabins on each side, with each a bull's-eye in the
middle; also several stern lights, and a row of small
square lights on each side forward for the five cabin.
Ste will be lightly rigged as a thee-masted schooner,
with fore and main topsail, &e. The calculated depth of
water she will draw, with her engines, machinery, &e., on
board, is abou 3 feet 1 inch only. She ties a very long
raised quarter-deck, extending over nearly three-fourth-
of her length, for the purpose of giving additional cabin
room and height.

We nerd scarcely say, that in fidelity of construction
and excellence of material, the Surat is all that cal be
wished. She is clencher-huilt threughout, with the excep-
tion of the two ton streaks ; and the straight and smooth
jointing of the plates, together with the general finish, in so
obdurate a material, was a theme of admiration amongst
many nautical men who examin.d her. It is a remark-
able fact, as showing the rapidity with which Messrs.
Vernon have constructed this ship, that she was built on
the same spot in the yard from which the Fenalla was
launched on the 21st of June, and she bas consequently
been "erected" in three months.
All being in readiness for the launch, she was let go
about half-past twelve o'clock. and glided slowly, steadily,
and beautifully into the bosom of the Mersey. amidst the
acclamations of hundreds on shore and on board. It is
enough to say that the launch was easy and magnificent,
and that when she became fairly afloat, she presented a
beautiful and light appearance, drawing a remarkably
small depth of water—about, we believe, 2 feet 7 inches.
Her name was spiritedly given by Miss M`Nicholl.
daughter of the late Rev. Dr. M'Nicholl, and sister of
Dr. Milslicholl, of this town. The v. sse'. was taken in
tow, and, in a few mit.u'es after the daggers were struck
down, pasted down the river close to the yard at great
speed, showing that she will in all probability turn out to
be very fast. under her own means of propulsion.
The friends of Mrssrs. Vernon afterwards part-ok of
slight refreshment in or e of the office., when a few of the
t.,asts, usual on such occasions, were heartily drunk. Mr.
Hamilton, a partner in the house of Messrs. Bolton and
Watt. was present, and afforded some interesting infor-
mation relative to their increasing husiness in engine
building, and esnecially i marine engines. Tr. ev had now
about seventy pair of engines on the stork=, and had, for
the last few years, been doing much work for the Govern-
ment. After an agreeable conversation of about an hour,
the little party took leave of each other.

THE LIVERPOOL FXII I RITION OF WORKS OF
MODERN ART.

NOTICE THIRD.
In Room No. 1, Mr. E. A. Goodall has an excellent
Interior. No. 14, w,)ich is described in the catalogue as
" The Chapel of Si. Erasmus " The EAt and shade
of the picture are very good ; and although it has no
gaudy prrtensions, no great architectural r fort to di-play,
it cannot fail to please as a perfect porttairure ot the sub-
j 'cr. TI e painting and effect of the fl'toring are exeelle-t.
lie same artist has another picture in this room, No. 27.
a " ,*oulh Porch of the Cathedral of rhartreg," more
fu'l of sutject and d till, but not ao elaborately wrought
out. although an excellent picture of 44
No. 26. A Shorty River—Summer. by F. ft. Lee, ;s an

Wo . . from porno of nor c•••ii-
temporaries. that it hay vprilt the effect of several neigh-
bouring pictures hy its greenness. It is a racy and sweet
a nting never lieless, arid b,tter deserving of purchase by
dIIV loverot zentt n- art than many now marked 2s" sold.°
76 is a w-11-pairved pnr, rait by H. W. Pi •kersgi'l, R A
;: No, 85, Portrait of John Cropper, E,y., by Philip
Westcor'.
iv.. 100, Thunder Storm, and 106, On the Thames—
M0,,t2 Rising, hy E. Nl' Mims, sen.. are beautiful pictures.
We have alrea,lv referred to the merit of this artist.
No. 1111. Amiens from lhe Old Bridge over the Somme
—Ev,ming —Twilight, by W.G. Llerdman, is a fine paint-
ing, well trewert.

121, W. P. Frith, •A RA. A beautiful fancy piece, as
is 137. A Lady in a Venetian Dress, by the same ariwt.
129. Alex. Johnston's Rf gent 114urray and Queen
Mary. is not worthy of the artist.
133. View down loch Kalrine. with Ben Venue—
Scene over Glen's Island, West Hshlands, by Copley
Fi htma, is a or, ty little picture. The misty distance is
very fine.

145. Rrandford Mill Stream, Kent—Mining, by A.
W. William•. i. a pleasing efrnt. The morning rff ct—
halt 'noon, half dawn--:s cleverly given, and the repose of
the whole scene pertect.
169, The Pandy Mille. Den' ighxhire. J. B. Pine, is a
clever picture in ,ne peculiar man .er of this an ist.
No. 170, A Scene on the Wharf, by J. Stark, is also
c'e,er. _ _

212, A Peep into Futurity. by FL M. Anthony, is a
very vod picture, full of talent. The landsr.pe is hold,
and -trtking. ni,ddicgton's two pietnr,s. n-ar it-219.
Entrance to a Villoge. and 211. A Gr?en Lone—Scene in
Kent. are a'so fine a. eei...p.,9 of the pa o'er. _ _ _

216. in this room. A Virgin and Child, by Mrs. J.
Rw,erson. iq a gyre. et subject.
No. 15. Porlrail of Dr. llinTratt, by W. Trantsehold,
is the perfection of pont' t painting. and an exeellent
bk. n.ss. No 695. The Muses MuTralt, and 696. Mr.
Alusprall, are t (pally good pictures, and we doubt not
exf•et'ent _ _

690, Fruit, Mks Mntrie, is decidedly one of the gems
of ins style of stihker in the exhibition. The b.sket is
worthy of Landseer's elaboration; and the strawberries
are excellent.

No. 699, Flowers, from the same pencil, is equally
good.
No. 723. Emba. kolion of P. R. H. Prince Albert on
boardi he Fairy, by F. Lloyds, whom our to vu-met, ate
aequ.tintett with as the v.,ry clever scene pa.nter of the
Theatre Royal, Livertio. 1, is a very merit, t ffort, and
conve,s well the picturesque character of the scene. Of
course we cannot expect an elaborate Wet ore of such a
slhject, so recently witnessed. from the artist. T is ef-
fort, however. is highly metitotious.
71x5. But/ of Nonlek, by Mt-s Charlotte Naysmith, is a
pleasing landsrai,e, i.a her hi Lilt tyle. 724. by the same
clever artiste. is A Vint, from Stirling CaatleJ•in a more
sombre but not le ,s pleasieg vein.