The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-08-31 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF THE ENDYMION EASTINDIAMAN.

I A very fine ship, called the Endymion,was on Saturday,
at noon, launched from the building-yard of Messrs. P.
Chaloner and Sons, Baffin-street, amidst an immense
concourse of delighted spectators. She was -built to the
order of Mr. Cotesworth, of the firm of Messrs. Cotes-
worth, Wynne, and Lyne, and is intended for the trade
between this port and Calcutta. Her diMensions are—
length of keel; 118 feet ; length over all, about 135 feet ;
beam, 29 feet 10 inches (moulded) depth of hold,
19 feet 10 inches; and burthen, 618 51-94ths tons. In
model this vessel is all that can be desired in a merchant
ship—as she will stow a heavy cargo, and the cleanness
of her extremities and fine length of flooring will, we
doubt not, cause her to sail well, and prove a fine and
safe sea boat. Her frame is entirely of the best English
oak, and her-planking consists of a good deal of African
oak and of tick-wood, with American elm in the garbord
streaks. She is well tied with iron knees, and is altogether
a most faithful specimen of naval architecture, She has a
handsome figure-head of Eudymion, with an ornamented
splash-board bearing her name; and her-stern is corres-
pondingly decorated.
The launch was very beautiful : the vessel, on being
released from durance, starting at once, and gliding ma-
jestically into the water, amidst the loudest cheers. She
floated very lightly and steadily, and loomed lofty and
bulky when. afloat:. Her name was given in a calm and
spirited style by Miss Maria Cotesworth.
Shortly after the launch, seventy or-eighty ladies and
gentlemen: sat down to a superb collation and wines in the
mould room, which was entirely covered with national
flags. The entertainment was provided by Mr. Ellis
Wilde, of the American Hotel, and was in every respect
most creditable to him as a purveyor of the good things
of this world. Mr. Cotesworth ably occupied the chair,
and Mr. Chaloner the vice-chair. After the repast, the
healths of the respective branches of the royal family were
given and enthusiastically received—that of her Majesty
as the " Sailor Queen,' "—and these were followed by
many others appropriate to the occasion. which were ably
responded to; but we have not space for more than a
sketch.

On the health of the builders. being proposed, Mr.
Cotesworth spoke of them in, terms of encomium as
builders, and remarked that this country was greatly
indebted to them for their attainments as naval architects.
Their vessels not only carried their cargoes well, but made
rapid passages. Long might they live to build such noble
vessels as they had that day seen launched. The toast, as
were all that followed, was received with three times
three.

Mr. CHALONER replied for ihiinself and sons. He
hoped the owners might long live to give additional orders
for ships, and that ere long they would order another
vessel to be put on the same stocks. His friend Mr.
William Rathbone was not in the right when he said in
public that ships could be built cheaper in the outports
than here, and that this arose from the high rate of the
carpenters' wages. He (Mr. C.) did not think ss. a day
too much for that useful class of workmen. There were
1600 of them in the port;: but 400 of these were not em-
ployed more than four days in the week, and they were,
moreover, liable to frequent losses of tools when working
on board of vessels in the river, and in the docks and
graving docks. Mr. Rathbone had made a mistake, and
he ought publicly to acknowledge it. At a subsequent
period he remarked that merchants ought not to go to the
outports for their ships, for when such ships came here they
sometimes wanted tinkering,—(a laugh)—or had their
cabins to be fitted up, so that they generally cost 30s. to 40s.
more per ton. He proposed the health of the young lady
who had christened the Endymion. (Cheers.)
Mr.CHALONER, in proposing the health of Mr. Simpson,
forwhomhehad built six vessels, said, it was a pleasing fact,
during the twelve or fourteen years some of those ships
had been in active service they had required no repairs
whatever—nothing beyond coppering. Mr. Simpson was
a gentleman who did not go round about the outports
seeking to get his vessels at the rate nominally of a pound
a ton cheaper than in Liverpool. He was of opinion that
all ships hailing from Liverpool should be built in Liver-
pool; and that the ships built in Liverpool were, in the
long run, that is to say in twelve or fourteen years,
cheaper than the ships of Sunderland or Newcastle, or
any other port, by at least 30s. per ton. -
Mr. WYNNE (the Chairman) was entirely of Mr.
Chaloner's opinion, that Liverpool is the best and
cheapest market, in the long run, for shipbuilding.
Amongst the other toasts were—" The Owners of the
Ship"—"Success to the Endynaion"—" Captain harden,"
who is to command her—" Mr. Wynne"—" Mr. 'l'.
Bland," and "The Press." Mr. Martin, of the Mail,
in reply to the last, said, that he took the toast to
apply to the press generally, and was proud of the
compliment taken in that light ; for though the brethren
of the press differed in their opinions, it was by those dif-
ferences that the truth was elicited. Great capital was
employed in the press, and much talent at work upon it.
In its name he returned thanks.—After enjoying them-
selves in a social manner for about two hours, the com-
pany broke up, highly delighted by the sight they had
witnessed, and the hospitable reception they had met
with.