The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-11-10 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF THE SERAPHINA.

On Tuesday morning last, the Seraphina, an admirably
modelled clipper craft, that has recently been completed,
was launched from the building yard of Mr. Thomas Hoy-
den, in Baffin-street.
The Seraphina is, we may say without hesitation, one
of the sharpest vessels ever built in this port; and having
long been the subject of conversation and admiration
amongst the leading nautical men, her launch excited the
greatest attention.
In model she is deemed faultless. She has fine lines—
a clean entrance, and an admirably long and uninterrupted
run, with, considering her beam. a flatness of flooring
that will render her sufficiently stiff to carry a heavy press
of canvas. Her side is round es an apple, and carrying
her beam aloft well aft, she has a roomy deck and poop.
A beautifully-carved figure-head adorns the stem and
the trail-boards, head boards, and stern are decorated
with richly-relieved foliage work, surrounding, on the
latter, the Brazilian arms. From the water line to the
gunwall, she is painted royal blue, which is divided at the
bends by a burnished gold stripe. She will be rigged, we
learn, as a " jackass" ship, so that she will carry. in addi-
tion to the usual canvas of a barque, squaretopsails on her
mizen mast.
Shortly before eleven o'clock, the orders having been
given, the daggers were removed, and the Seraphina, after
receiving her title from Miss Cotesworth, moved slowly
but steadily to the unruffled bosom of the Mersey. while
Jolliffe's band, which was in attendance, played "Off she
goes."
By many it was expected from her peculiar sharpness
she would be liable to roll, but on reaching the water she
presented a stately steadiness that drew forth the renewed
ejaculations of the assembled multitude. And we cannot
withhold expressing a wish that the expectations of her
enterprising owners, Messrs. Cotesworth, Wynne, and
Lyne, may be fully verified—that she may surpass her
competitors, the Swordfish and Columbus, the fastest
vessels afloat.
The Seraphina is most faithfully put together—her tim-
bers and planking being all of the choicest kinds, and her
bohing is wholly of copper. She is 118 feet long, has a
breadth of beam of 274 feet, and her depth of hold is about
17 feet. Her tonnage, by old measurement, is 331 tons,
and by new, 299. She is intended to form one of a rapid
sailing line of packets between this port and the Brazils,
and she will be placed under the command of Captain
Taylor, late of the Priscilla.
After the launching, the company, upwards of 200, ad-
journed to the model room, where a sumptuous repast had
been spread, under the superintendence of Mr. Towers, of
the Angel Hotet. Amongst those assembled were Charles
Cotesworth, Esq., and lady ; Miss Cotesworth and party ;
Robert Wynn, Esq., and party; J. Bramley-Moore,
Esq. ; Capt. Bell, R.N., and party ; J. E. Naylor, Esq. ;
Wm. Armstrong, Esq., and lady ; Wm. Imries. Esq., and
lady ; J. M. Bragu, Esq., Vice-Consul for Brazil, and
lady; J. Pennington, Esq.; Mrs. Miller, Chas. Miller,
Esq., and party • James Ryder, Esq., lady, and Miss
Ryder ; Thomas Mellor, Esq. ; Carruthers Johnstone, of
Pernambuco; Augustus S. Corbett, Esq., and lady ;
Andrew Comber, Esq., and family, of Bahia ; Miss Com-
ber, Sandon-terraee •, Robert Singlehurst, Esq. ; James
Duncan, Esq., and Miss Duncan; J. P. Logan, Esq. ;
Captain Taylor and party ; '1 homes Royden, Esq., and
family, &c., &c. Mr. Cotesworth occupied the chair,
and Mr. Wynne the vice-chair; and they were supported
on the right at the heads of the several tables by Mr.
Royden, Capt. Taylor, and Mr. Lyne, and on the left by
J. B. Moore, Esq., J. Ryder, Esq., and —Johnson, Esq.,
son of one of the owners. After the cloth had been re-
moved, and the health of the Queen drunk with the usual
loyalty,
The CHAIRMAN gave the health of the ladies. He gave
it thus early, he said, because however successful our
trade, without the ladies to enjoy it with us, and without
their sympathy when we were unsuccessful, there could be
no happiness. He coupled the toast with the name of the
lady of Mr. J. Bramley-Moore, after whom the vessel was
named.

Mr. MOORE replied.
The VICE-CHAIRMAN then gave " The Town and
Trade of Liverpool," connecting with it the Chairman of
the Dock Committee, which was most enthusiastically
drunk.
Mr. MOORS, in reply, said that the town and trade of
Liverpool was a subject in which he was at home. It had
been, and ever should be, his desire to promote the exten-
sion of the town and trade of Liverpool, and he hoped not
only the docks now in progress, but many more, would be
required. He would state an interesting fact. When all
the gigantic undertakings which had now been embarked
in by the Dock Committee—when the whole of the works
were completed which are now in progress and in con-
templation, we would then find ourselves in the same re-
lative position, as to acreage and tonnage, as we were in
1816 ; therefore, assuming that the tonnage remained
stationary, we should, when those works were completed,
still require further accommodation. He hoped the mag-
nificent vessel launched that day would only be a precursor
of others of the same class (sharp built), which, he was sorry
to say, had been too little cultivated by the ship-builders
of Liverpool. As Mr. Royden had remarked, "He had
never had a chance of building a flyer before." re con
eluded by proposing the health of Don Pedro the Second,
Emperor of Brazil.
MR. BRAGA, the Brazilian vice-consul at this port, in a
neat speech returned thanks. Those who were interested
in the Brazil trade, and knew something of Brazilian po-
litics, would agree with him that there was great credit
due to the Emperor of the Brazils, inasmuch as, unlike
other South American governors, he had been able to pre-
serve peace and order in the country ; and where peace
and order were, there the enterprise of the merchant was
promoted and the industry of the manufacturer met with
its reward. He was happy to see that the trade between
England and the Brazils was likely to be increased—thanks
to the wisdom of her Britannic Majesty's government,
who had thought proper to abolish certain monopolies and
restrictions which had hitherto cramped and impeded it.
" Success to the Seraphina" was then drunk with three
times three.
Mr. JOHNSTON, son of one of the owners returned
thanks.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the health of Mr. Roy-
den, the builder, said that thirty or forty years back the
wooden walls of old England were highly prized, and
men were rewarded who built fine ships; indeed, the im-
prover of naval architecture was considered a benefactor
to his country. He thought the same thing ought to be
done now ; and he could not do less than state, that in
this vessel Mr. Royden had, he thought, hit the happy
medium, applying strength where strength was required ;
and lightness where that qualification wus requisite.
After passing a high eulogium upon Mr. J. Jones, the
yard foreman, the toast was drunk with three times there,
and Kentish fire.
Mr. ROYDEN said it was the happiest day of his life,
and he hoped that the owner would be satisfied with the
new vessel's performance; and, as he had an opportu•
nity, he would thank the owners for allowing him to
build such a vessel. He had been in business forty years,
and it was the first time he had had an opportunity of
building a clipper.
The VICE-CHAIRMAN acknowledged the honour; and
the health of Miss Cotesworth, the sponsor of the vessel,
was drunk amid loud cheering.
The CHAIRMAN, on behalf of his daught2r, returned
thanks; taking occasion to remark that the shipowners
should endeavour, by every means in their power, to raise
the character of the men whom they employ. A ship
should have the same comfort and accommodation for the
sailors as if they were at home.
Mr. COMBER proposed the health of Captain Taylor,
who returned thanks.
The last toast was, " The Merchants in the Brazil
trade," after which the company separated highly pleased
with the enjoyments of the occasion.
The band played merrily during the repast.

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
ADJOURNED PROCEEDINGS.

On Tuesday the elections for Scotland and South Tox
teth wards took place. At the close of the poll the fol
lowing were the results. In

SCOTLAND WARD
Mr. James Holme (c).
Mr. William Thornhill (ri.)

Majority for Mr. Heinle..

After the poll had closed, the Chairman of the Com-
mittee for conducting Mr. Holme's election announced
to the assemblage that that gentleman bad been elected
by a majority of eight votes. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. JAMES HOLME then appeared, amongst the most
deafening plaudits. He said that a few days ago he had
addressed them as a candidate, but he had now the grati-
fication of addressing them as their representative, by a
majority of eight over his old and respected friend.
There were many measures for the improvement of the
town to be brought before the Council, and each that was
conducive to their wants should have his fervent support,
and he fancied he was able, practically, to give them an
attention that would quite equal to that bestowed upon
them by their previous representative. He confessed an
ignorance of the sanatory condition of the ward, but the
canvass of it had shown him the neglected state of it. It
had shown him into streets, at the north end of the ward,
that were disgraceful to a body, powerful and influential
as the Corporation of Liverpool, but he trusted that at the
close of the ensuing three years (being unable, from fa-
tigue during the day, to detail fully his professions) his
conduct would be such, should he be spared his health
and strength, as would enable him again to meet their
approbation on a similar occasion. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. BENNETT, the Conservative member for St. Anne's
Ward, having been seen at the window, was then loudly
called for. He briefly, but pithily, addressed the bur-
gesses, congratulating them on the representative they
had chosen—a man who had every desire to improve
the moral and social condition of the town—(cheers) ;
and he trusted, by the efforts of such men, ere the three
years had expired, we should find wide and roomy streets
running north and south, east and west, cutting through
those pestilential districts now in existence. (Hear.)
The habitations of the working classes, too, should be
under the surveillance of the town, and the comfort of
the inhabitants should be as much studied as the rate of
interest to be derived by the builder (cheers). Touching
on the water and other popular questions, he concluded
amidst loud applause.