The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-12-02 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF TWO EAST INDIAMEN AT
WORKINGTON.

On Monday we had the satisfaction of witnessing a sight
without precedent in the annals of Cumberland ship-
building, and not likely soon to be repeated—the launch
of two first-class East Indiamen, one of which may be
pronounced " unrivalled," without detracting in the
slightest degree from the many splendid specimens of na-
val architecture which it has been our lot to notice during
the last few years. The first was from the yard of Mr.
Lamport, and was named the Cambahl, by Mrs. Alleyne,
the captain's lady; she is a very strong-built ship, stand-
ing 13 years upon the first letter, coppered and copper-
fastened, registering 536 tons new, and 528 old measure-
ment; her length is 150 feet, breadth 28 feet, and depth
19 feet ; she has been built to the order of John Aitkin,
Esq., of Liverpool, a native of Workington, and is to be
commanded by. Captain Alleyne.
The other vessel, christened the Sea Horse by Miss
Peile, at the yard of Messrs. W. Peile, Scott, and Co.,
was the prime object of attraction, the " observed of all '
observers." About two years ago we reported the launch
of a ship of 800 tons by the same builders, named Owen
Potter, which was then the largest built in the county.
That vessel was commenced upon speculation, but the
attention of Messrs. Potter, Brothers, of Liverpool, being
directed to her capabilities for the East India trade, a
purchase was soon effected. The Owen Potter did not
belie the commendatory notice which we then bestowed.
She competed successfully with the first ships in the
Calcutta trade, sailed by Messrs. Greed, of London,
Smiths of Newcastle, and Brocklebank of Liverpool, and
so satisfied were the owners with their purchase that
without further delay they contracted with Messrs. Peile,
Scott, and Co. (who have in the interim launched a ship
of 840 tons for Mr. Bushby) for another vessel of larger
capacity, the subject of our present notice. The Sea
Horse registers 900 tons, length 180 feet, breadth 321,
and depth 21} ; she was constructed betwixt John's pier
and the old jetty, under a shed, upon the principle which
is approved and acted upon at the governments yards, by
which the timbers are preserved from the deleterious
effects of the weather; she is fastened throughout with
copper bolts, and stands A 1 at Lloyd's for 15 years, from
the Ist of January next, being thus not only the largest
ship built in the county, but enjoying a classification to
which a Cumberland. built vessel was never before entitled,
and placing Mr. Jonathan Fell in the proud position of
having launched three times consecutively the largest
vessel in the county, besides the highest classification
ever attained at Lloyd's. The bow is ornamented with a
life-like figure—a horse, of course, by Booker, of Mary.
port. We have had the opportunity in inspecting this
fine vessel during her construction, and can testify that,
as a specimen of what a British built merchantman ought
to be ; she will bear favourable Comparison with any that
have been launched elsewhere, either into the Thames or
the Tyne ; she is built entirely of English oak, green.
heart, and East India teak, and it is almost superfluous
to add that for model, workmanship, and material, a finer
ship was never put together. Mahogany, which for a
year or two after the reduction of the duty was much
used in shipbuilding, has latterly fallen into discredit with
the surveyors, and, except for ornamental fittings, has been
altogether discarded in the construction of the Sea Horse.
Upon looking at this noble specimen of marine archi-
tecture while upon the stocks, waiting for a few combined
strokes from the shipbuilders' hammers, to send her
gliding into the gut, her size was concealed by the capa-
cious shed under which she was put together; but when
the venturous observer ascended to the poop, which con-
tains an ample cuddy besides eight spacious private cabins
fitted in the most approved style for the comfort and con-
venience of passengers, and from thence surveyed the ex-
tended deck, glancing his eye downwards upon another
ship, of 350 tons, building alongside for John Anderson,
Esq., of Whitehaven, which looked like a herring-boat in
comparison with the gigantic Sea Horse, the capacity of
the latter became really apparent. The launch into the
gut was beautiful, by the aid of modern science ; a dimi-
nutive steam-tug, like a nut-shell, being in attendance,
she was speedily berthed at the Custom House quay,
where her masts and rigging will be shipped ; the whole
of her ropes being furnished from Messrs. Peile, Scott,
and Co.'s manufactory at Harrington, and her sails from
the loft of Messrs. Bell and Fell. Her value, when ready
for sea, cannot be far short of £lB,OOO ; she is to be com-
manded by Captain Banks, who gained for himself an
honourable name while in command of the Owen Potter.
On Monday evening a party, consisting of about forty
gentlemen, owners, builders, and their friends, sat down
to a sumptuous dinner at the Green Dragon Hotel. The
repast comprised the most delicate viands, served in ad-
mirable style, and succeeded by the choicest wines, for
which the Green Dragon has for generations been famous.
The chair was ably filled by James Potter, Esq., of Li-
verpool, and the vice-chair by J. Williamson, Esq,, of
Manchester, both owners of the vessel. The following
were also present, viz. : Allan Potter, Esq., Liverpool
J. King, Esq., Bombay; R. Crawfield, Esq., Liverpool ;
Taylor, Esq., and Hobson, Esq., Windermere;
Wm. Cannon, Esq., Liverpool; Pinney, Esq., Lloyds'
Surveyor ; Capt. Groom, Liverpool ; John Anderson,
Esq., Whitehaven ; Capt. Banks, commander of the Sea
Horse ; F. Pittman, Esq., collector of customs ; George 1
Armstrong, Esq., solicitor ; also Messrs. Hoodless, Gray-
son, Scott, Halliday, Mordaunt, Peat, Thompson, Fell,
Atkinson, Fletcher, and others.

Messrs. Peile, Scott, and Co. have already prepared a
keel twelve feet longer than the keel of the Sea Horse,
which will be forthwith proceeded with under th• shelter
of the same capacious shed.—Carlisle Patriot.

MR, DISRAELL—The Daily Express of Thursday
states that it is the intention of Mr. Disraeli to oppose
the government scheme for screwing the amount of the
famine loans out of the broken-down landholders of
Ireland.

UNIVERSITY COMMISSION.--The labours of the Oxford
University Commission are rapidly drawing to a con-
clusion. The report is understood to be in a state of
forwardness, and will be ready in time, it is believed, to
enable Ministers to propose some measures of University
Reform early in the ensuing session, should they feel
prepared in other respects to venture upon such an
ex pedient.— Oxford Journal.
The Rev. Robert Bickersteth, the new rector of St.
Giles'-in-the-Fields, London, is the son of the Rev.
John Bickersteth, rector of Sapcote. Leicestershire. His
grandfather, Dr. Bickersteth, of Kirkby Lonsdale, had
four sons, namely,—John, as above; the Rev. Edward,
late rector of Watton, Herts • Dr. Bickersteth, of Liver-
pool • and Lord Langdale.—lVestmorland Gazette.
The Coventry Herald gives the following description of
a design for lighting St. Michael's Church, in that city,
which appears to have beau more than usually successful
in escaping the disfigurements gas-lights have usually
been to ecclesiastical edifices :—" The standards are con-
structed upon a base, with suitable mouldings, surmounted
by the twisted column so much used in perpendicular
metal work. Fron, this arises four metal tubes, for con-
veying the gas, bound by a crown of trefoils; the tubes
are ornamented by branches of ivy leaves, and terminated
by a circlets of deur de-lis, containing a triple light sym-
bolical of the Trinity. The combined flames present a
leafy appearance, in unison with the floral character of
the decoration. The chancel will have a chandelier, com-
posed similarly of tubes, conveying the gas; but in this
instance with vine instead of ivy leaves for the ornamenta-
tion. The total number of lights in the church pill be
about two hundred and eighty, and judging of the effect
from those already placed,. the work, when completed,
will produce an effect perfectly uncommon."