The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-02-28 00:00:00

THE " PnESIDENT" STEAM-SHIP

This vessel, the largest of " the steam fleet" of England
(if we may be allowed to coin a new expression out of the
" metal" of our country), arrived here, as our readers have
already been informed, a few days ago;and is now at anchor
in the Sloyne, awaiting the reception of her engines, and her
general fittings, as a first class transatlantic steam-ship.
We have befoze notified " The British Queen," " The
Liverpool," and last, though not least, the sturdy, the in-
flexible, the gallant " Royal William," a compamtively
small boat,; which showed her ocean powers to such advan-
tage, that she is still looked to as a first-rate model as a sea-
going steamer.

We have ever taken a peculiar interest in the commercial
prosperity of " the good old town ;" and we believe that we
speak the general sentiments of the public when we state
that in point of maritime enterprise our town has never been
excelled. During a long course of years, Bristol took'the iead
in ocean steam navigation, from thewestern coast of England.
Liverpool was then a comparatively insignificant port. Br
the enterprise of her merchants, who adventured their capi-
tal to every quarter of the world, and more particularly to
Africa, to both of the Indies, and to South Anierica, she became,
from a mere fishing village, in a very few years, the second.
port in the British empire. London be.ing the seat of govern-
ment, and consequently the nucleus of foreign commerce and
exchange, was, and still is. to a slight degree pre-eminent ;
otherwise Liverpool would be the first in the world in com-
mercial importance, so far as regards the value of import and
export cargoes :—in the consequent duties of customs and
excise she is now nearly equal to her southern metropolitan
contemporary. In steam navigation, it must be admitted,
that the Bristol people have made a decided " hit" in " The
Great Western." They took the right plan, that of bringing
out a vessel of large and sufficient tonnage, bearings, and
accommodation to secure safety and comfort to passengers,
and, at the same time to ensure, in ordinary winds, a speedier
voyage to the transatlantic passenger than could be expected
by the first-rate sailing -vessels, splendid as are their size and
equipments. _ _ _

As we have alluded to other ports in our " tight little
island," besides our own of the Mersey, we feel peculiar
pleasure in stating, that "The President" furnishes an ex-
emplification of the feeling that now happily pervades the
whole of the British community. The generous rivalry of
Bristol. in ocean steam navigation, is hailed in our own port .
and the competition of London, and of London capital,
here equally looked upon as a dethonstration of that mutual
feeling of enterprise which characterises our country. We
feel assured that such is the disposition fair " fair play," and
particularly in maratime enterprise,—that every county in
the United Kingdom, having a sea-coast, will forward, with-
out the slightest feeling of jealousy, whatever may be pro-
duced, whether in the "ploughing" of the earth or the sea,
that may be condusive to the increased happiness and comibrt
of mankind.

The writer of this, it may appear, has wandered into a long
preamble in introducing a necessarily brief account of the
steam-ship " President." It may be stated, however, in ex-
tenuation of the offence, that though not built in Liverpool,
the " President" will hail from this port, and that our M -
tro poli tan friends who happen to be of the company of pro-
prietors, have wisely advised that she should here be provided
with engines, the experience of the makers being second to
none.

The " President," under the command of Captain Kean,
and now lying in the Sloyne, is the largest steam-ship ever
yet built for ocean or other navigation. She is of exceed-
ingly beautiful model; built of the best materials that Eng-
land and England's wealth can supply, and is in every respect
a noble vessel. She is now, (her engines not being yet on
board), what is, in nautical term, called "light ;" and loonies
very large. Her proportions are, however, such that nut for
the comparative size of the Queen's mail ships near her, she
is so compact that she does not appear at even a short dis-
tance to be larger than the " Liverpool." A nearer approach,
however, undeceives the beholder, and a visit on board realizes
to its fullest extent, the conception of " a wooden world."
Through the politeness of Captain Kean, our "nautical"
reporter had yesterday an apportunity of inspecting " The
President" throughout. He was accompanied by Mr.
French, the intelligent carpenter of the ship, who was. em.;
ployed in building, and who could consequently appreciate
the pains and expenditure bestowed in the construction of
the ship, and the peculiar improvements and advantages
introduced,

Before noticing the interior of the vessel, we may state
that her appearance on the water is magnificent, not only
from her bulk, but from her fine proportions and her rigging.
She is painted in man-of-war style, with gun ports, and is
handsomely rigged as a three-masted schooner, with a fore-
mast, foretopmast, and topgallantmast, approximating to
those of a ship. Her bow is fine, and at the extremity of
her head-rails will be placed, when completed, as a figure-
head, a bust of Washington, the hero of American inde-
pendence. Her stern is projective ; beautifully formed to
turn off a heavy sea; ornamented aloft with the arms of Eng-
land and America, quartered in an heraldic shield, supported
by " the Lion of England," and " the Eagle of America."
The paddle-boxes of the " President" are comparatively very
slightly raised above her bulwarks ; and her general appear-
ance is, when her side is viewed, that of a first-class frigate
of extraordinary size, her light rigging giving her at the same
time a most rakish and mischievous appearance.
We now supply from the most authentic source the several
dimensions and capacity of this great steam Leviathan :
Ft. In.
273 0
41 0
72 4
30 0
S 6
7 S

Length over all, from tafFrail to figure head .....
Beam within the paddle-boxes
Breadth from outside of paddle-boxes
Depth of hold
Height between the main and spar deck
Height between lower and main deck (both flush)
Tonnage (supposed), 2500'.

N • •
Those who are versed in maritime affairs will readily con-
ceive from these dimensions that we were warranted in stating
that " The President" is in reality " a wooden world." She
is, indeed, more—she is a world not only of wood but of
iron, copper, and other materials, constituting the ne plur
ultra of strength in naval architecture.

The " President" was built at Limebouse, London, by
Messrs. Curling and Carter, the latter gentleman superin-
tending her construction throughout. Between decks and in
her holds she presents a perfect picture of strength ; and we
cannot more highly compliment our Metropolitan friends and
contemporaries in Transatlantic Steam Navigation, than by
stating that they seem in materials,. in fastenings, and in put-
ting together, to have taken a leaf out of the book of our
townsmen Messrs. Wilson and Co., whose vessels both in
point of strength and sailing have hitherto borne the bell.
Every available modern improvement has been taken ad-
vantage of in the construction of "The President." In ad-
dition to a remarkably strong frame, solid to the bilge, she
is diagonally fastened fore and aft with ironi and wood, in a
manner that would seem to defy the rudest assaults of the
ocean wave. We have not time to enter into details. Suf-
fice it to say, that the materials of "The President" through-
out are of the best quality, and that the utmost science, in a
scientific age, has been exerted to work them up to the best
advantage.
The engines for this vessel will, we learn, be of about GOO
horse power. They are already built, by our townsmen
Messrs. Fawcett and Co., and present a splendid specimen
of the ingenuity and enterprise of the age. These we shall
take au early opportunity of noticing.
" The President" will present peculiar advantages for
passengers. Her spar-deck will afford a long and delightfuj
promenade in fine weather, and during rain or storms a dry
and sheltered walk may be enjoyed below.
The cabins are not yet fitted up. The principal or stern
saloon will be eighty-seren feet in length ' • its breadth (in-
cluding the small state-rooms on each side) forty-one feet.
No expense has been spared to render " the President" a
crack ship. In strength of materials and fidelity of work-
manship she is fully equal to any of her Majesty's ships of
war ; and she is fitted up with all the modern improvements
in pumps, tanks, &e. She is also divided into sections, so
that the springing of a leak (should such take place) would
be attended with comparatively. trifling danger. It is
calculated that " The President" will carry 1000 tons of
goods beyond her compliment of coals, luggage, and materials
for a trans-Atlantic voyage. Her steering tackle is of a
novel and improved construction; and such was required ;
for, from her length and size, she may he deemed a floating
island.

The agents of the "President" at this port, are—Mr. Pim,
of the St. George's Steam-Packet Company, and Mr. Laird,
of North Birkenhead, the celebrated builder of iron ships.
We have heard it stated (but we cannot vouch for the au-
__

thenticity of the report), that the " President" will, when
equipped, be placed under the command of Captain Payrer,
late of the " Liverpool," and that Captain Kean, who does
not profess to have the same experience in ocean steam navi-
gation, will act as second Captain. We shall be much grati-
fied to find that one or other, or rather both of these gentlemen
are appointed to the charge of " The President." That charge
is sufficient in its magnitude and anxiety to occupy the full
attention of two chief and first-rate officers. Captain Kean
is an experienced and, (the highest compliment we can
pay) an " able seaman." He is, moreover, a gentleman
of pleasing manners and deportment. We can scarcely say
more of Captain Fayrer ; but we cannot avoid reminding our
readers that his long service at sea, in the British navy (me-
mentos of which he bears in honourable wounds) and in our
mercantile marine, and, above all, his peculiar experience in
ocean steam navigation, have, together with his urbanity
of manners, rendered him a favourite on both sides the At-
lantic and that his accessionto the command of " The
President" will be hailed with pleasure and satisfaction by
all who interest themselves in the friendly intercourse be-
tween this country and the United States of America.
We regret that we must postpone any further notice of
" The President" until a future occasion. What we have
already stated will, we doubt not, be fully borne out by those
who will visit her when she is in dock to receive her engines.
As the President lies c3ntiguous to Rock Ferry, the pas-
s ongers on the boats belonging to that Company, have an
opportunity, in passing to and fro, of seeing that magnificent
vessel.

BACHELORS' BALL.—The BachelorS' Ball was held last
night,
moste ob in the Wellington-rooms, Mount-pleasant. As we
announced
p
Tuesday,it was a fancy dress ball, and one of
charactera too. • About 480 were present.
rp
attendance. The company hegan to
ier magnificents nd
w a
arrive about nine o'clock, and soon afterwards dancing com-
menced, and continued till art early hour this morning. The
rooms were most elegantly decorated for the occasion.
ACCIDENT.—As Lieut.-Colonel Neilson was riding down
Brunswick-street, yesterday, he was thrown from his horse,
and we regret to add has fractured his leg ; we have not
learned the particulars, but we have heard that it was owing
to a female crossing, the street suddenly, aad on the horse
being instantly checked, it reared and fell backwards.
AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH.—On Wednesday evening
last, as Thomas Freme, Esq., father of W. P. Freme, Esq.,
of the Common Council, was in attendance at the vestry of
the Baptist Chapel in Byrom-street, at a meeting held for
discussing some business connected with the congregation,
he complained that he felt very unwell, and ordered a car to
be sent for. While pacing the vestry, waiting for the car,
he suddenly dropped down, and instantly expired. We be-
lieve the cause of his death was ossification of the heart.
How true is it that " in the midst of life we are in death !"
THE OLD ENGLAND.—We perceive that the proprietors
of this truly excellent Conservative journal have announced
their intention to present their readers, to-morrow, with a
beautiful portrait of Prince Albert, admirably adapted for
framing. This portarit is said to be the best likeness of his
Royal Highness yet published. As few of the portraits
which have hitherto appeared are worth placing in a frame,
we have no doubt that. many of our readers will avail them-
selves of the present opportunity for obtaining so valuable a
representation of her Majesty's chosen partner.
GREAT WATERLOO COURSING MEETING.—The coursing
at Altcar is fixed for Wednesday and Thursday next. No
less than £BOO will be contended for.
THE CATHOLIC CHARITY BALL.—The annual ball in aid
of the funds of the Female Orphan House, and other Catho-
lic charities, in this town, took place on Monday evening, in
the Town-hall, and was attended by a numerous and fashion-
able company.

LICENSED VICTUALLERS.—The annual ball of this so-
ciety, the proceeds of which will be applied towards the in-
crease of the fund for providing a school for the children and
an asylum for the decayed members of the trade, will take
place on Tuesday next.—See Adv.
By the substitution of the word persons for pogsengers, in
most of the published accounts as to the number of lives
saved from the William Iluskisson steamer, by the Hudders-
field, the number has been stated at less than was really the
case. There were 93 passengers and 21 of the crew, making
a total of 114 lives.
DIOCESAN CHURCH BUILDING SOCIETY.—The annual,
meeting of this society will be held this morning, (Friday,)
in the Blue Coat School. The senior Rector of Liverpool,
Rsv. Jonathan Brooks, will occupy the chair.