The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-08-07 00:00:00

country

As we shall hereafter furnish some details of the peculiar
and admirable construction of the vessel, 'from an authentic
source, we shall not here dwell on this point, our immediate
object being to address ourselves particularly to the extra-
ordinary passenger comforts which she presents. Suffice it
to say, that she is of 1500 tons admeasurement, with engines
(of the best construction) by Messrs. Fawcett, Preston, and
Co., of 450 horse-power; that she is of a universally admitted
beautiful model, and constructed throughout,without regard to
trouble or expense, of the choicest materials, and on the most
improved principles,—to ensure swiftness with the greatest
strength and security. Mr. Wilson, the builder, has, indeed,
in this instance, further confirmed his title to the appellation
of one of the first builders in England ; for if we look at the
fine proportions of the Oriental, her fastenings, and her large
body, within an apparently small compass, we know of no
vessel that approaches her. She has a handsome figure-head,
and an emblematically carved stern, and looks beautiful on
the water. Oil going on board, the visitor is first struck by
the

DECK ACCOMMODATIONS.—These are most extensive, the
arrangements being such that, large as is the vessel, no space
has been lost, and no single department cramped or nnnfinpri

vv.,••••••••.1.•
The vessel is frigate built, with a spar deck. The Saloon,
with the sleeping rooms attached to it, (and which we shall
notice in their order) occupies the after part of the main
deck,—under the quarter deck. On each side of this deck
are commodious rooms, neatly panelled with intervening pi-
lasters, for the officers and men of the ship,—the starboard
side being laid out for the commander, officers, and blue-
jackets, and the larboard side for the engineers and their fire-
men. The officers' rooms are spacious and well fitted up,
and the whole are lighted by side windows as well as from the
deck. Half of the top-gallant forecastle is fitted up for the
sheep and pigs, so that, being at the extreme end of the ves-
sel, no disagreeable smell is perceptible by the passengers.
Her main deck, and its appurtenances (including the cook
houses, &c.), are, indeed, the most complete of any vessel we

have seen.
The SPAR DECK (or upper deck) affords a superb and un-
interrupted promenade, 200 feet in length. The gratings
occupy little more than the space of a large hatchway, be-
tween the mainmast and foremast ; and tarpaulins being
provided to place over them in bad weather, the passengers
have an opportunity of enjoying a dry walk at all times, on
the deck below, which is kept clear as much as possible of
central erections, for that purpose. The only building on
the spar deck is a neat structure close aft, fronted by a small
colonnade of lonic columns. Here there are two commodi-
ous smoking rooms, each with windows on three sides, com-
manding extensive views, and so arranged as not to interfere
with the helmsman, who is, in fact, boxed in, in a comfort-
able room in the centre, so that his attention cannot be dis-
tracted by intercourse with the passengers. The back part
of this room is appropriated to the keeping in readiness of
the signal flags. In connection with this deck, we may add
that there are four large quarter boats, also a life-boat over
the stern, built after the highly and deservedly approved prin-
ciple of the American life-boat.
The vessel is rigged in the usual way as a three-masted
schooner, or rather hermaphrodite, the foremast having yards
like those of a ship. Her spars and rigging, however, are
more than usually light even for a steam-ship, so that they
will present very slight obstruction to her going head to wind.
The lower rigging is of wire,—itself a good conductor of
lightning ; but, in addition to this, Snow Harris's con-
Ittao- Ito all e.-

ductors have been a, ner, the spars, and carried down
to the sheathing copper ; thus (without " inviting" lightning
to the ship) effectually protecting human life, should she be
struck by the electric fluid.
Having now noticed the principal deck accommodations
and fittings, we proceed to the cabins, and in order to reserve
those abaft, which are necessarily the most splendid, as a
Lon bouche at the•close, we invite visitors to an inspection,
in the first instance, of those in the fore part of the ship.
THE PRINCIPAL FORE CABIN is very superior for first-
class passengers. The whole is beautifully painted in satin
wood. There is a private state-room attached, also a berth
for the surgeon, and another for the Admiralty Agent. Fur-
ther forward, with a separate entrance, is a mess-room for
the officers, quite independent of the passengers' cabin,—
thus excluding the officers from the passenger accommoda-
tion. There is also a very superior second glass cabin,
making up twenty-four beds. Trusting that the visitor will
forego the gratification of his curiosity as regards the Saloon,
we now descend to
THE LOWER AFTER CABINS.—These cabins, which are
under the Saloon, are quite unique, and different in design
from anything yet afloat. Air and light are copiously ad-
mitted, commodious rooms are secured, and the dormitories
or berths are amidships, so that the rolling, if any, will
scarcely be perceptible, and the rush of the water against the
vessel's side, will not, as in the usual plan, he heard close to
the ear. A wide well-lighted passage or lobby across the
ship, terminating in a staircase, on the larboard side, leads
from the saloon, and also from the main deck, to these
apartments, as well as a staircase, near the stern. A
double range of sleeping -rooms occupies the middle.
The space between them and the vessel's side, and which
is of considerable area, is formed on one side into a
Tea Room, and on the other into an equally spacious
Lounging Room, with a central . communicating passage
between the two. These rooms are amply lighted, by
large port windows in the sides of the ship. A range of
broad sofas are fixed along their whole length, against the
vessel's sides, forming truly agreeable " lounging" places.
All these apartments are finely empanelled, and painted in
satin-wood; and the top framework of each sleeping-room
door is fitted with a green Venetian blind. Over the cor-
nicing is an open railing or balustrade for the free ingress
and egress of air.
Adjoining the tea-room there is a Ladies' Retiring Room,
handsomely fitted up, the upper panel in each compartment,
between the pilasters, being a mirror. This room is lighted
by two windows from the side, and leading from it, in the
middle of the ship, are two spacious bed-rooms.
The purser's store room, further aft, is a curiosity ; and
the wine-cellar below contains space for upwards of four
,hundred dozen of wine, separately packed.
Of the ventilation we cannot speak too highly. The vessel
is, in fact, aired throughout on scientific principles; every
state-room has a separate self-acting ventilating pipe, which
cannot be interfered with ; and every lower birth has two
pipes to carry the air up to the cabin ceiling, to be thence
conveyed into the atmosphere by large ventilating pipes,
between the stern timbers. It may be added, with reference
to the sleeping-rooms, that, in order to secure cleanliness,
the bottoms of all the beds are formed of strips of wrought
iron. We now permit our kind visitors to peep into
THE SALOON.—This is a most splendid apartment, 70 feet
by 21 feet in width ' "kes t' -

. Its appearance stn., .ne be-
holder, on his entrance, as being classically beautiful, without
being gaudy. The style is Grecian. On each side there are
thirteen lonic columns, supporting the beams of the roof,
which are ornamented with plain mouldings. These columns,
which are in due proportion, with bases and capitals complete,
arc fluted in the upper half, and are painted and polished so
as to resemble the finest porcelain. Between these, the walls
of the romp are panelled in papier macke; of a bright
straw colour—one panel only from top to bottom in each
compartment, each simply but beautifully ornamented with
a light filagree scroll all round. The styles, and the
backing of the columns are painted in imitation of rosewood,
and the framing of the doors in satin wood, finely polished.
Mr. Goore has great merit in this respect, as well as in the
general painting and decoration of the ship. At the fore end
of the saloon, the columns and panelling are continued in
corresponding style. In the middle stands a handsome rose-
wood sideboard, topped with marble, and so edged with the
same material as to prevent articles placed upon it from
rolling off. On each side of it are handsome bookcases to
correspond ; and at the back is a large mirror, six feet eight
inches in length, by four feet four in depth, within a slender
gilt frame. This glass produces a fine effect. Four maho-
gany tables, forming two rows, run longitudinally along the
room, with sofa seats. These will accommodate one hun-
dred and twenty persons at dinner. The arrangement over
the tables for glasses, decanters, &c., is quite original.
Two mahogany turned pillars rise from near the ends of each
table to the roof, and on these are fixed several mahogany
shelves, within an inch or two of each other, and decreasing
in size as they overtop each other pyramidically. These
shelves, except the lower one in each range, are perforated
in holes and grooves, to admit of decanters, &c. in the top
shelves, and at the lower or outward edge, a little above the
level of the heads of the guests when seated, of wine-
glasses ; so that the whole of the tables may be kept free
from glasses or decanters during an entertainment (to the
salvation of both wine and crystal), while the company may
see and converse with each other without interruption. The
only gilding to be seen in this truly splendid apartment, is
that of the slight frame of the mirror, before noticed ; and
the whole verifies the fact, that architectural, like feminine
beauty, is " when unadorned adorned the most."
Amongst what is conducive to safety, health, and comfort
on board, we may enumerate the following items :—Vaucher's
patent pumps, (four in number), capable of throwing out 200
gallons of water per minute, so as to master a leak even were
it to the extent of the opening of a butt. Two shower-baths,
(in the quarter galleries), and a hot, tepid, and cold bath also
adjoining the cabins.
Seven iron beds for invalids, so hung on centres, as to
swing with the motion of the vessel, and thus secure rest and
ease to the invalid.

Two ice-houses, a carpenter's workshop, a boatswain's
store-room, and a very excellent cabouse, with ventilators
from the floats when in action.

It may be added, that the Steward's Pantry, which adjoins
the Saloon, is between it and the cook-house, so that, as there
is a continuous passage between them, the duties of both de-
partments may be carried on unperceived by the passengers
or crew. Another convenience is that the steward can pro-
cure hot fresh water at any time, night or day, when the
steam is up in the engine boilers.

But we must draw this notice (which does but imperfect
justice to the vessel) to a close. On looking generally at the
" Oriental" and her accommodations, we are impressed with
admiration of the effect produced, although we search in vain
for any of those meretricious embellishments, which first at-
tract the attention of the generality of observers, and often
lead them to merge the useful in the merely decorative.
There is no gilding, no elaborate carving, no pictorial de-
vices. All is plain, simple, and harmonious, but withal
beautiful, because chaste. Everything is appropriate to the
place and the occasion ; comfort is combined with elegance ;
and there is nothing unnecessary, whimsical, or perplexingly
sumptuous. The object of the whole arrangements appears
to have been to render all as firm, immovable, and substan-
tial as possible ; and the endeavour (which has doubtless
been attended with much study and anxiety) has assuredly
been highly successful.

We simtild be doing injustice did we close this inadequate
sketch without stating that the arrangements entirely ema-
nated from Mr. Shaw, the Company's marine manager, who,
in this instance in particular (as on former occasions), has
not only shown peculiar devotion to the improvement of
steam navigation in every point, but, by his excellent taste,
scientific acquirements, and unwearied exertions, has proved
himself well deserving of the confidence which has been so
long reposed in him.

yi!E £5O NoTE.--On Monday morning, the man named
William Chapman who was apprehended on Sunday week,
attempting to get a £5O Bank of England note changed un-
der suspicious circumstances, was again brought up at the
Borough Court, and it was stated that Sergeant Jackson, of
the police, had been over to Liverpool, and found that the
prisoner did live where he had stated, in Albion Mill Place,
Liverpool ; that he kept a house of ill fame there ; and that,
two or three days before the prisoner's apprehension, a rob-
bery had been committed in his house, and a £5O Bank of
England note was amongst the property stolen. Subse-
quently, a letter had been received from the Liverpool police,
stating that a gentleman named Lindsay, who resided at No.
16, Roscommon-street, had been robbed at a house in Albion
Mills Place, of a £5O Bank of England note, cut in two and
then pinned together (the exact description of this note,
which we purposely omitted giving last week) ; but that Mr.
Lindsay declined to come forward and prosecute. Under
these circumstances Mr. Maude directed that the prisoner
should be discharged, and that for the present the police
might retain possession of the note.—Manchester Guar,