The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-05-03 00:00:00

A GLANCE AT THE AUSTRALIAN FLEET

IN THE PORT OF LIVERPOOL.
No. 11.

ENERGY, love of adventure, and necessity are severally
impelling thousands to Nugget-land. The eyes of all men
are directed to the wondrous country in which the gold-
yield outstrips fiction, and more than realizes the most
dazzling dreams of oriental story-teller. From England,
Germany, France, Canada, and the United States, the
emigration to Australia is almost illimitable. The lead-
ing New York paper of the 16th ultimo estimates the
American emigrants to California and Australia at four
thousand a month ; so that it would seem the gold-fields
are irresistibly attractive even to the denizen of the
" Model Republic." The Yankee exodus appears to be
favouring Australia more than the rival gold-land, and
the New York papers are industriously labouring to prove
that the rise of wages in California is in every instance
greater, and in some triple and quadruple, that paid for
the same species of labour in Australia. Novelty alone,
they assert, favours Australia. " Facts and figures lean
heavily on the side of California." They are forced to
admit, however, that it is a somewhat curious anomaly
that even from California itself the emigration to the new
gold regions has been very considerable. This they are
pleased to ascribe to the trite maxim—
" Distance lends enchantment to the view,
And robes the mountain in its azure hue."

But, in spite of the papers, the calculating Yankee cries,
" Ho ! for Australia."

And on our own shores it is still the cry. Liverpool,
the lending port in the world for Australian ships, feels
the pulsation of this mighty movement throbbing in her
streets and docks. Between the 14th and the 27th of
April eighteen vessels left this port for Australia ; in the
same period only eleven were despatched from London,
the total tonnage of which amounted to not more than
one-half of the Liverpool sailings. The total number of
vessels now preparing at our port for the various ports of
Australia is 50, and the total amount of registered tonnage'
is 28,560.

Vessels. Destination. Tons.
1 .... For Adelaide and Sydney 741
Sydney and Bombay 869
Hobart Town 613
3 .... Melbourne and Sydney
.
1 .... Port Philip 3OO
2 .... Geelong
2 .... Geelong and Melbourne 336
3 .... Adelaide
S .... Sydney 3,973
q 7 .... Melbourne 14,513

Four arrivals from the land of gold were reported on
Tuesday last. The Sir Robert Sale, from Geelong, which
sailed on the 25th of December, brought 13,836 ounces
of the precious metal ; the Clifton, which left Sydney on
the 11th of December, brought 27,507 ounces ; and the
John Taylor, from Port Philip, which sailed December
28, brought 11,847 ounces. We have here a total of
51,190 ounces, worth £212,800. In all probability the
passengors on board the several vessels have further sums
on hand.

Nautical men are considerably at variance as to what
class of vessels are the most eligible for emigrant ships.
Some contend that single.decked vessels of moderate size
are the best suited for long passages. This opinion seems
to be finding additional favour at present, and is becoming
quite a popular one. And, in accordance with thi! belief,
Messrs. Robson and Doke have placed the Alabama on
the " Standard" line of packets to Australia. This pretty
little vessel is a new ship of 900 tons burthen, the size
generally believed to be most convenient, and she is noW
being fitted out for the trade by her enterprising owners,
preparatory to her departure early this month. She is not
intended to carry more than 200 passengers, and thus the
rooms are rendered more spacious than they would other-
wise be.

The chief advantage gained in a ship of this size is that
there is only a single tier of berths ; and as there is only
one row of staterooms, each is separately lighted, instead
of, as in many cases, one light serving three or four de-
partments. There is likewise double the space at tablet
and on deck. The Alabama, which we have visited at
her berth in the Prince's dock, is an admirably ventilated
vessel, and the sanitary efficiency is such as would satisfy
the most rigid board of health. We have little doubt
that this fine little vessel will have her full complement of
passengers on the day of her departure, and that she will
make a good passage.
That handsome clipper-ship, the Miles Barton, belong',
ing to Mr. Beazley, one of Messrs. Miller and Thompson 'g
Golden Line of Australian packets, excited much ad'
miration as she lay in the river during the early part of
last week—her shipshape appearance and handsome pro-
portions appearing to much greater advantage than while
she remained in dock. On Thursday afternoon she took
her departure, with 382 passengers on board, so that she
was, as might have been anticipated from the high character
of the vessel and the line to which she belongs, full in ever!"
compartment. The passengers were of a very respectable
class indeed ; and a glance at any of the ships which leave
our port for Australia will immediately suggest the ides
that, if our Antipodal colony is at present the abode of
many regardless men, it must very soon become 1.1
noble country ; for it is without question being populated
by many of our very best citizens—poor men, who have
already furnished proof of patience and industry by savin,f,
from scanty earnings the sum necessary to convey tuft;
to the land of their adoption, and others possessing ‘"
spirit and energy required by the founders of a new
country. These thoughts could not fail to suggest theme
selves to the person who witneeeed the departure Of t'
good ship Miles Barton, with her happy-looking can"
plement of passengers, all of whom bade farewell to the
Mersey with, apparently, the greatest cheerfulness.
With the winds that have since prevailed, she has nn
doubt made a good run down the Channel. The Miles
Barton will be succeeded by the Star of the East—that
splendid new clipper-ship, which combines, with many
other advantages, the fact that she is a single-decked
ship,—deemed a matter of no small moment by son'

tarians and lovers of comfort.
The passengers who had been detained in port in con-
sequence of the accident to the Ebbs Brahe, sailed on
Wednesday last, in the Asia and Albinus, two vessels-
belonging to the same owners, Messrs. De Wolf and Co.
They expressed themselves perfectly satisfied with the
arrangement.
We mentioned last week that that leviathan steamship'
the Great Britain, was undergoing important and exten-
sive alterations, for the purpose of developing more fully
her excellent sailing and steaming qualities. We believe
that, in place of four masts, as heretofore, she will 001 Y
have three, rigged as a full-rigged ship ; and, instead of her
two iron masts, she is having immense wooden ones sub-
stituted. Instead of the three-bladed screw, she is
to be fitted with a new patent one (Griffith's). The
vessel is at present in the Sandon Graving Dock ; and'
although there is no admission on board during the
alterations, a good view of her fine model and noble pro-
portions may be obtained by a visit. She is to sail again
for Australia in June.

Shipbuilding proceeds with great spirit ; and in a fey
days we hope to see in our port the first iron ship built at
Greenock—the Martaban, which has been chartered by
an eminent firm in this town, Messrs. Millers and
Thompson, to form one of their " Golden" line of packets
to the Australian colonies, and which will take the berth
at Liverpool in a few days. This magnificent iron clipper'
ship was launched on Monday week, from Messrs. John
Scott and Sons' building yard, Greenock ; Miss Camp'
bell, daughter of one of the owners, most gracefully
naming her the " Martaban," as she floated into the
waters of the Clyde. She will ultimately take her place
in the East India trade, for which she was originally de-
signed. She sails under the command of Capt. Robert
M‘Kirdy. " The name of the builders," says the
Greenock Advertiser, " is a sufficient guarantee that she
will not be surpassed, for quality of material or excellence
of workmanship, by any vessel afloat." She is one of
I the strongest iron ships ever built, and her model, which
was much admired on the slips, combines the advantages
of good capacity with great sailing powers ; and, under
the charge of a commander who is both able and energetic,
it is confidently anticipated that she will give a good ac-
count of herself, and maintain the well-earned reputation
of her builders and of the Golden Line. In noticing the
advent into our local fleet of a new vessel like this, we
may remark that the demand for new vessels, caused by
the progressive trade with the United States, and the
enormous drain to Australia, is beyond the expectations
of even the most sanauine builders and owners. The
necessity for fast sailing qualities, combined with large
capacity, has, on the one hand, induced the construction of
a fleet of vessels modelled upon the most improved prin-
ciples for ensuring speed, and of greatly increased ton-
nage ; on the other hand, the competition between
Liverpool and London and other emigration ports, has
hithertob gllt iunnt
ko
nuoswe
na.p p lTi ahnec
emigrante for
convenience nrveeanp ies n
thee e and
advantage
comfort..of
this rivalry in two ways. In the first place, he is better
accommodated and attended to than before; and, secondly,
he has not so much money to pay as was asked previously
for worse accommodation and far less comfort. To ren-
der voyages pleasant and healthful, especially in regard to
third class accommodation, much unquestionably remains
to be done ; but daily improvements are suggesting them-
selves, and each new vessel that quits our port is better
than her predecessor in some respect.
We learn that the number of emigrants who have left
this port for Australia and America during the past
month have exceeded those who have taken their depar-
ture hence in the corresponding month of any preceding
year. The government emigration returns show that, in
the month ending Saturday last, no less than between
27,000 and 28,000 emigrants left the Mersey for the land
of the stranger. By far the greater proportion of these
have been shipped for America. The latest advices from
Australia are, however, so cheering that a considerable
increase in the emigration to the golden land may be ex-
pected. The Banker's Daughter, to which we drew at-
tention in our last article, went into the river yesterday
with 400 emigrants from the Government Emigration
Depot, at Birkenhead ; and she will be followed during
the month by three large ships with passengers from the
same place. The Ann Holzberg, of the " Fox" line,

about 'to depart, has been a source of some attraction,
and is especially noteworthy for the smartness of her
appearance. The Indian Queen, sister-ship to the Marc"
Polo, is filling quickly, and will take her departure in 9
day or two with at least 350 passengers.

SOME years ago the " Literary Gazette" ceased to be
Mr. Jerdan's property ; and it is now edited and partl9
owned by Mr. Reeve, of the firm of Reeve and Benhaal
the scientific publishers. Among its chief contributor,
is a young Scotsman, Mr. James Macaulay.
HOLLOWAY'S OINTMENT AND PILLS.—A CURE OF B'l'D
LEGS AFTER FORTY-THREE YEARS' SUFFERING.-4,1,,5
tract of a letter from Mr. Galpin, of Weymouth, (la".
May 15, 1851.—" To Professor Holloway.—Sir,—lT? grad
titude to you, and for the benefit of the community' a
wish to publish the wonderful cure m wife has obtaiat
by your Ointment and Pills. For forty-three Years se
had endured the most excruciating pains from bad le f,!
during which period every remedy had been tried which
medical men advised, but without effect ; ultimately she
~ve
tried your Pills and Ointment, which in six weeks
restored her to health, and her legs are now thorouigu"
cured and free front pain."