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. 'Thomas 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,
—chit fly, 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
Length of keel
Length between perpendiculars .. 155 „
Beam ..
Depth of hold SI „
Tonnage
• _

She will be provided with engines, driving paddle-
wheels, on the oscillating principle, built by the celebrated
and long-established house of Messrs. Bolton and Watt,
who have a large establishment in Birmingham, and
another in London. These may be considered as 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 retards fullness of bottom—giving greater
capacity 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 hold line of beauty and grace which
the cut water presents 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 port 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 cabins.
She will be lightly rigged as a three-masted schooner,
with fore and main topsail, &c. The calculated depth of
water she will draw, with her engines, machinery, &c., on
board, is abon' 3 feet 1 inch only. She has a very long
raised quarter-deck, extending over nearly three-toughs
of her length, for the purpose of giving additional cabin
room and height,
We need scarcely say, that in fidelity of construction
and excellence of material, the Surat is all that can be
wished. She is clencher-huilt throughout, with the excep-
tion of the two top 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 examined 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 2lst of June, and she has 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. M`Nicholl, of this town. The vessel was taken in
tow, and, in a few minutes after the daggers were struck
down, payed 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 Messrs. Vernon afterwards partook of
slight refreshment in oce of the offices, when a few of the
toasts, 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 business in engine
building, and especially is marine engines. They had now
about seventy pair of engines on the stock., 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.