The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-07-24 00:00:00

TRIP TO THE MENAI BRIDGE.

The voyage to the Menai Straits, for the purpose of in-
specting the magnificent chain bridge which connects the
Isle of Anglesey with North Wales, was considered one of
the most important attractions. It was generally understood
throughout the town, that the marshal and his suite were to
start on this expedition at eight o'clock yesterday (Sunday)
morning. This, however, like several other arrangements
which had been determinately fixed, was set aside by the
marshal himself. He particularly desired, it seems, to get
away from Liverpool by one of the early afternoon trains;
he therefore determined upon leaving Liverpool for the visit
to Wales, at midnight on Saturday, so that he might get
back in due time the. next day. Her Majesty's steamer
Avon, commanded by Lieutenant Townley, H. N., was ac-
cordingly prepared for the trip.
Immediately after the soiree,
.the marshal and his suite
proceeded in three coaches to the George's Pier-head, where
the Avon was lying. Several of the hands were placed on
the pier-head with lanterns, and the gangways were manned
with seamen, who also held lights. Captains Chappell and
Townley stood on the deck, and received the guests as they
severally came on board. An ample store of provisions, with
a complete host of waiters, were sent to the vessel by Mr.
Lynn. The collation, which was contained in several ham-
pers, .lonsiseed of the most choice and delicate viands,
liquors, and %vines, and the servants were the elite of his
establishment.

The steamer was put in motion about one o'clock, and,
while she glided down the river, the marshal and the greater
portion of his train remained on deck, watching the ever-
changing lights which spangled the town. and cast number-
less bright and beautiful scintillations along the rippling
water. Many of the strangers paced the deck for some time

smoking cigars, and conversing in joyful anticipation of the
pleasure of the trip.
The voyage, after all, so far as the passages to and from
the straits were concerned, was disagreeable enough. It was
feared by the nautical individuals on board, that the weather
would scarcely be such as would suit the stomachs of some
of the fair-weatber gentlemen of the party, though a certain
difference of opinion did obtain on the subject. One or two
maintained that the wind had lulled, and that the sea would
be perfectly smooth and calm. - They were, however, mis-
taken. The moment the vessel rounded the Rock, she met
with a strong head-wind, and a heavy, disagreeable swell,
which caused her so to pitch and roll, that most of the pas-
sengers were fain to betake themselves to their berths. Much
to the vexation of all parties, the weather became mole and
more disagreeable, the wind increasing in violence, till a
ditty, rough sea kept the steamer shaking up and down in
ell directions, and more than one wished, with the poor
schoolmaster, that, if Britannia did in very truth rule the
waves, she would have the humanity to rule them straighter.
All those who were not seasoned, and even some who were,
began to be awfully afflicted with sea-sickness. This malady
increased so much, that, towards morning, the lamentations
began to be very dire indeed. The only persons exempt, if
we except Capt. Townley and his crew, were Marshal Soult,
the Marquis of Dalmatia (his son), and,Admiral Napier.
With the latter, of course, these tossings are things of cus-
tom; but Marshal Soult told one of his friends, that neither
he nor his son were ever sea-sick, or sick in any way : they
had no conception of. the feeling. Certain it is, that the
marshal showed no indication of the malady; and the Mar-
quis of Dalmatia smoked cigars, both out and home, with the
most perfect nonchalance.
Towards morning many of the suite began to wish they
had never undertaken the enterprise; and this regret was in-
creased when it was discovered, that, in consequence of the
state of the tide, the hour of starting having been an incon-
venient one, the entrance to the sound did not contain suffi-
cient water to enable the boat to pass over in safety, and that
the enjoyment of smooth water, now most anxiously desired,
would be postiaanecl for sonic hours. '!'he Avon arrived off
Puffin Island
.iretween five and six o'clock, having been
brought to thispoint in four hours and a half. Captain Town-
ley was disappointed in his expectations of finding a pilot off
Penman, and he, therefore, thought it must prudent, in the
then state of the wind and tide, to wait for the flood. In the
midst of a very heavy sea, the vessel was allowed to drift, oc-
casionally steaming backwards and forwards, for the purpose
of keeping her within a proper distance of her port of destina-
tion. .The continued pitching and rolling, however, was
most arm)) ing to the poor landsineri, especially with smooth
water in view. Several of, the gentry now began to make
their appearance on deck, with pale faces and " lack-lustre
eyes," and very few of them seemed in the, least to relish the
situation in which they were placed. The fresh, cold, morn-
ing breeze, and the sight of the situ rising over the distant ex-
panse of heaving billows, brought the colour to a few cheeks,
and seemed to powerfully revivify such as had suffered least.
Captain Townley turned the head of his vessel towards the
dangerous passage leading into the strait one hour flood, and
brought the vessel through without the assistance of a pilot.
The passage through the sound between Puffin Island and
Anglesey, always one requiring the utmost caution, is now
doubly dangerous and tedious, from the wrecks of two vessels
which lie in mid-channel. In the first place, there is the mast
of the sloop, which, at the time when the Avon passed, stood
several feet out of the water; and, farther in, at a still more
difficult point, the wreck of a vessel was seen rising above the
boiling waves. The steamer, however, was brought through
in gallant style, without the slightest approach to danger,
though not without great care and watchfulness. Arrived off
Beaumaris, it was again found impossible to procure a pilot.
A boatman, accustomed to the strait, was, however, taken on
board, and, with his assistance and directions, the steamer
was taken to within five or six bandied yards of the bridge
where she cast anchor

The two boats belonging to the Avon were hoisted out and
manned, and Captain Chappell took charge of one and Ad-
miral Napier of the other. In the former, Marshal Soult,
the Marquis of Dalmatia, Colonel Napier, and two other
gentlemen embarked; and in the second the remainder of
the suite. They were rowed along the banks till within a
short distance of the bridge, that stupendous work, which
may rank amongst the greatest of the wonders that have
been wrought by human ingenuity and perseverance. The
Menai Bridge, however, with the harbour, the straits, and
the communities adjacent, with every thing appertaining unto
them, have employed the pens of so many authors that we
feel any further description of them here would be out of
place ; nor have we at this late hour, and in the present
squeamish state of both stomach and fancy, any inclination
to indulge in pictorial display. Suffice it to say, that the
marshal and his friends viewed every portion of the im-
mense and novel fabric with delight and admiration. We
observed, that, not only in this case, but during the whole
voyage, Colonel Napier, the celebrated historian of the
Peninsular War, evinced the most eager curiosity, and he
scarcely seemed satisfied while anything remained unex-
plained, or imperfectly understood. Marshal Stoat, though
he was evidently much interested, appeared to be suffering
from fatigue, and occasionally he seemed only to yield him-
self to the wishes of those around him. The Marquis of Dal-
matia entered with keen and ardent interest into every in-
quiry and inspection.
The survey of the bridge having been completed, the im-
patience of the marshal led him to urge an immediate return
to the vessel. Accordingly, the party wended their way to
the boats, which lay far down in the tide below, and they
were quickly rowed to the steamer, which now had the tri-
coloured flag floating at her main, mounted by the English
pennant. Here 'an elegant and sumptuous dejeuner a la
fourchetle had been spread during the absence of the party.
The appetites of the guests had been sharpened, not less,
perhaps, by the recent depletion, than by the keen mountain
air which they had inhaled. Accordingly, they did ample
justice to the viands set before them, and while they were
breakfasting the vessel was got under weigh. The gusto
with which the meats were disposed of, and, afterwards,
the fragments of fowls, tongues, beef, ham, &c. &c.,
showed that the repast had been a delightful 0,.e both to ap-
petittand palate. But, alas! "all that's bright must fade,"
and all sublunary joys are of short duration. The steamer
got out of smooth water, and she began again "to play at
pitch and toss," regardless both of the day and the rank of
the voyagers whom she carried. The faces of several began
again to look pale, and the sumptuous meats which had been
swallowed but why pursue such a picture ? Suffice it
to say, that the waves were still iu a state of unsubdued wild-
ness, though the swell was not quite so high; and that many
were compelled to betake theinselve to their berths, while
others paced the deck in a state not the most agreeable. As
the steamer neared the New Channel, the water became more
smooth, and most of the company partially recovered. Again,
a most elegant repast had been spread, and we may takethis
opportunity of bestowing our tribute of praise on Mr. Lynn,
for the luxurious and ample provision which he had made,
and for the excellent and judicious arrangements made by his
servants. The stewards of the Avon also exerted themselves
to the utmost, and the result was the utmost perfectitude of
arrangement in the department. The guests had again re-
covered their appetites most marvelously, and they did due
honour to the good things provided. The gallant marshal
poured a little wine into a glass, and proposed the health of
Captain Chappell. One of the party offered him shme water.
He said, "No : as I have taken the wine merely that 1 may
drink the health of the captain, I will not do it half and half;
I will not reduce it by putting water to it. I will take it as it
is." Captain Chappell was indefatigable in his attentions to
the friends of the ambassador. The nautical skill, and great
attention and urbanity of Lieut. Townley entitle him to the
highest commendation, and, we have reason to believe, they
were highly appreciated by the illustrious guests. Previously
to the disembarkation of the Marshal and his suite, the Mar-
quis of Dalmatia presented to Lieut. Townley, the com-
mander of the Avon, a letter written by his father (the Duke
of Dalmatia), expressive of the high gratification which he
had experienced in the course of the trip, and particularly
complimentary to the gallant commander, whose politeness
be acknowledged in glowing terms.
The view, as the steamer neared the 'river, was beautiful
and animating in the extreme. Crowds of vessels, of all
descriptions and all nations, were putting out of port; some
of them towed by steamers, and others trusting to the un-
aided power of the wind. the sight was magnificent, and
the guests gazed upon it with delighted eagerness. Several
vessels, knowing that the Avon had taken the marshal and
his train on this voyage, recognised her as she passed, and
the crew greeted his excellency with loud cheers, which he
acknowledged by taking off his hat. Arrived opposite the
steps near the Prince's Pier, the steamer Redwing was hailed,
and the company were transferred to her to be conveyed to
the landing-stage, as the Avon was too large to go close in
shore. Marshal. Soult and his friends shook bands with
Lieut. Townley as he and they left him, and expressed them-
selves gratified with his kindness and urbanity. Captain
Chappell embarked with the company in the Redwing, where
they were received by Lieut. Tudor. As the Redwing passed
the Urgent, the rigging of the latter was quicklev manned
with the seamen, who gave three hearty cheers. As the dis-
tinguished strangers passed accross the landing-stage, where
they were received by the Mayor, who bad been waiting since
two o'clock, similar demonstrations proceeded from the
crowd. His worship had carriages in attendance, in which
the train took their departure from the Pier, amid loud cheers
from thousands of individuals who were there assembled.