The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-06-02 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF TWO IRON STEAM-SHIPS.

The confidence entertained in the good properties of iron
vessels, and particularly their advantage in combining strength
with that light draught of water requisite in some branches
of trade, in peculiar localities, is becoming daily more and
more confirmed, by the success, both at home and abroad,
of the ships, built of that material, and the improvements
in their construction, which experience enables the builders
to introduce. It is not, therefore, improbable, but in twenty
years hence, or perhaps within a shorter period, one half of
our mercantile marine may be of iron, copper, or some com-
position of various metals that may be wrought by hammer,
or cast in pieces, and afterwards jointed, to any given mould
or model.

Be this as it may, the construction of " steam" vessels
of strong sheet iron is evidently much on the increase, par-
ticularly here and at Glasgow, the two ports that were the
first, we believe, in this country, and are still the most suc-
cessful (being put to their " metal") in directing their energies
to steam navigation. The " iron fleet" of England is conse-
quently receiving rapid accessions ; and not contented with
turning out one vessel at a time, our townsman, Mr.
John Laird, have several on the stocks at once, and, on
Saturday morning, launched two from his yard at North
Birkenhead, by the same tide ! The time appointed (the
tide being early) was about nine o'clock, and by that hour a
large concourse of persons, including many ladies and gen-
tlemen from the neighbourhood, and not a few from this side
of the water were in attendance. Both the vessels were
decorated with flags, and some parties, besides the workmen,
preferred going on board and being launched with them.
The first one launched was her Majesty's Steam-vessel
Dover, to be placed on the station between Dover and
Calais, or Ostend. The following are her dimensions and
capacity :
Length (per measurement)..
Breadth, or beam d 0...
Will admeasure about
The Dover is the first iron vessel belonging to the Ad-
miralty, and on her success will, no doubt, greatly depend
the future adoption of vessels of her build by the govern-
ment. She is of a remarkably fine model, having a degree
of rotundity in her sides, with ample hearing, and a fineness
in her lines, fore and aft, which will, in , all probability,
ensure her a degree of speed and safety not yet attained by
any steam-vessel of her size. A few minutes after nine the
word was given, and she rushed into her destined element in
gallant style, amidst the hearty cheers of the spectators, fol-
lowed by a salute fired from cannon on the quay adjoining
the yard.
The second vessel launched was the Phlegethon :
Length (for measurement
Breadth
Capacity, upwards of
She is intended for sea and river service, on, we believe, a
foreign station, and will carry two long guns, one at the bow
and one at the stern, to work within a circle. This vessel is
also of a fine model, with ample bearings, so that she may
carry sail when required, either with the steam or without it,
as her paddle-wheels, on a new principle, by Mr. Forrester,
may, when required, be thrown out of gear. She is hand-
somely, and we may add, rakishly. rigged as a two-masted
schooner, and will; we doubt not, prove to be a clipper.
She was launched about half-past nine o'clock, and the
sight was one of the most gratifying we ever beheld. She
had a considerable distance to run down the ways before her
forefoot reached the water—which she took like a swan
breasting its native lake. We need scarcely say that the
welkin again rang with the acclamations of the spectators,
wholined the yard and the neighbouring shores, and which were
returned with equal enthusiusm by those who stood on her
decks. When afloat, the impression she conveyed from her
ledgth arid sharpness, was that of a very fast and mischiev-
ous looking craft. She has a fine flush deck, and her paddle-
boxes do not rise to an unseemly height over her gunwale.
We believe this is the first instance of two iron vessels
being launched from the same slip by the same tide, nor do
we recollect a case occurring in Liverpool of two wooden
vesssels of so large size being launched in one tide.
Both vessels exhibit many improvements in their construe=
tioti, not tried in any iron vessel previously built ; and which
render them two of the strongest iron vessels afloat. They
are now receiving their machinery,—the Dover, from Messrs.
Fawcett, Preston & Co., and the Phlegethon from Messrs.
Forrester & Co.'s establishment. 'Both, it is expected will
be ready in the course of the present month.
The opinion in favour of iron steam-vessels appears to be
gaining ground in our southern as well as our northern ports,
it we may judge from an article in the United Service Jour-
nal for May, written by that most talented and well known
naval architect, Mr. Creuse. In that article he gives a full
description of the armed steamer Nemesis, and expresses
his conviction that iron ships may be built of large size, and
generally that they possess many advantages over wood ves-
sels.

... 110 feet

As an instance of the superiority of vessels constructed on
the principle of safety introduced some time ago by Mr.
Laird, namely, that of dividing iron vessels into several
water-tight compartments by iron bulk-heads,—we may ad-
duce the following fact :
The wood steamer—Vulture, while running in the night
about nine knots au hour, on her first continental voyage
this year (as stated in our last), struck on a rock on the
island Oesel, and had a hole driven into her bow. The water
she took in rushed to the stern, which sunk many feet on
the retiring of the tide, the vessel still sticking on the rock,
so that she became a wreck. The passengers with difficulty

escaped. The iron steam-ship—Nemesis, while running at
the same speed, also struck, and had her bow injured in a
precisely similar manner, but the first opposing iron bulk-head
prevented her from filling, and she was got off and afterwards
steamed 230 miles on her voyage. The whole cost of her
repair was only from £23. to £30.!
Mr. Laird is now building three iron steam-vessels to
compose the new expedition about to be sent by government
up the river Niger, under the command of Captain Trotter.

BIRKENHEAD AFFAIRS.

ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS UNDER THE DIRKENHEAD

IMPROVEMENT ACT FOR THE ENSUING YEAR.

The annual election of commissioners for Birkenhead will
take place this day. The act under which they are elected is
similar to that of the common council elections of this town,—
namely, that one-third of the whole number (in this case 21)
go out every year, Two others of the commissioners, Mr.
Coson and Mr. A. A. Dobbs, having retired, the full number
to be chosen is therefore nine. The following are the can-
didates :
CONSERVATIVES.—Messrs. James Ball, David Appleton,
James Smith, Thomas Walley, Thomas Gilbertson, Robert
Singlehurst, William Jackson, Thomas Davison, (in place of
Arthur Acheson Dobbs, for two years,) and Richard Fry, (in
place of John Crowe Coxon, for one year).
"LinEam.s."—Messrs. Edw. Broadrip, Wm. Cole, Wm.
Fry, John llowe Green, Thomas Hanson, Wm. Horner,
William Laycock, Joseph Robinson Pim, and Richard Wil-
liams Prichard.

Much interest is excited in the township in regard to the
result of this election, the principal question being the run-
ning of a tram-road rough and across the public streets
kora the Chester and Birkenhead Railway to the ferry.
The Railway Company have applied to go over all." The
conservative party are opposed to so serious. danger-
ous, and inconvenient an obstruction, as the communication
could be made by tunnel; the liberal party are in its favour,
for reasons best known to themselves.

Great exertiOnsiiaYe;ll—reaTlyTeen—made on both sides,—
each party having, as it were, resolved to gain their point.
Two public meetings have been held on the subject, and at
both the company were defeated in their desire to obtain
the general concurrence of the public. Thus discomfited they
have withdrawn, for the present, their application to parlia-
ment ; but should they succeed this day in gaining a majority
through the election, it is apprehended by the conservatives
that they will renew their proposition. It is thought advisa-
ble, therefore, to restrain by a more decided expression of
public feeling than has yet been manifested ; and as the
conservatives are, on this question, on the popular side, no
doubt is entertained of their success at the
The qualification for a commissioneris a rating of £35 a
year, and an instance of the dishonourable manner in which
the " liberal" party have deprived one gentleman of his vote
should be recorded. Mr. Sedden, shipbuilder, has been an
old inhabitant of Birkenhead, where he has always paid high
rates. Some short time ago he gave up his building-yard on
that side the water, and took one in Liverpool. He still,
however retained his house, for which he pays £4O a-year,
and if he had been fairly treated he would, according to the
average of assessments in the township, have been rated at
at least £37. He was, however, assessed at only £32, and is
therefore declared to be ineligible !
The election commenms at ten o'clock, and closes at four.
Should the result be known in time we shall supply it in
our second edition this afternoon.

THEATRE-ROYAL.—" Jack Sheppard" was produced,
with decided success, last night. The cast was very strong
but we must postpone all comment till our next number. The
acting was admirable, and we would recommend the public
to lose no time in seeing it. The other pieces went off re-
markably well.
SUICIDE OF A.LETTER-CARRIER.—We have this moment
(midnight), while on the eve of going to press, learned that
the well-known and active letter-carrier, named Fazakerley,
has a short time since, put a termination to his existence.
It appeared that he 11;1 yesterday evening been apprehended
on suspicion of having appropriated or made away with a £2O
note ; but no examination as to the fact had taken place.
On being brought into the Bridewell he requested
to be put into the room separate from the other prisoners,
and this request was complied with. About eleven o'clock the
person visiting the room, found that he had committed
suicide by strangling himself with a piece of cord which he
had about him. His wife was also apprehended on suspicion
of being concerned, and at the time of our writing is not
made aware of her bereavement.

VrTSIIPS,
.2 (
" , Air:4.l,, trk:it, la
is
6. ..."' ~. 1 1;-1--st1/411..., gig if
2" '
1,.. • i
Ait.??.:. --a
ead Z f4k4s. s 44.
- .
~.i.:,,Ajp_•._ • v
N 64

COCKERMOUTH ELECTION. -THE NOMINA-
TION ON SATURDAY.

(From our own Correspondent.)
The proceedings at the hustings this day occupied near
four hours. Mr. Wood, the bailiff of the borough, and re-
turning officer, having gone through the necessary forms,
Mr. Horsman was proposed by Mr. Clift, of Cockermouth,
in a short address ; and Mr. Hodgson, of the same place,
was his seconder : he also was very brief.
Mr. Birkett, draper, pioposed General Wyndham ; and
Mr. Joseph Hodgson, (brother to Mr. Horsmau's seconder,)
seconded his nomination.

A Cockermouth chartist named Geldert, next attempted
to address the meeting, but was refused a hearing until the
two candidates had spoken.
Mr. Horsman spoke at great length, dwelt mainly on the
General's unfitness for the office to which he aspired, but
was very guarded about naming the ministry he had joined.
General Wyndham spoke at considerable length, and %%Ali
tolerably good effect, occasionally making some excellent
hits at the Scotchtnan.

Mr. Hansom, a chartist leader from Carlisle, afterwards
spoke at great length, and denounced in strong terms the
conduct of the Whigs, and that of Mr. Horsman in particu-
lar, whom he designated a " needy Scotch adventurer."
This led to a long wordy war between Mr. Horsman and
the Chartist deputation from Carlisle. who had attended for
the purpose of aiding their friends in Cockermouth against
the new lord of the Treasury. After having called each
other divers hard names, the matter was brought to a close.
The town was very quiet and all went off peaceably. The
show of hands was as nearly equal as possible, but it was
given in favour of Horsman.