The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-03-31 00:00:00

abulary

ily, came on Friday night to can
instantly apprehended. One of -them had a gun, cha
. .

with six inches Ot powder and shot, and on his peigon'a Ribbon
warrant, or letter of authority, declaring that it had been deter-
mined upon to shoot Robert Archdall, Esq., and that his death
warrant had been signed, but of which fact he should first get

notice ! An investig-atiori was held, and the scoundrels con.
miffed to prison on Sunday. Mr. Archdall is one of the very
last, we should suppose, that even the wicked and misguided
would select on whom to visit their Satanic sentence of death.
His father, the late Charles Archdall, Esq., was much beloved
as agent over the Archdall estates, and his son walked worthy
of his father.

Yesterday, about two o'clock, a man, named James Kehoe, was
killed, at No. 5 Transit Shed, by a bale of cotton falling upon him.

LAUNCH OF TWO FINE IRON STEAM-SHIPS.
On Saturday. last, two launches took place which excited
much interest in those concerned in the shipping of this port,
as well as in hundreds who were anxious to witness a sight
which, when the vessels are, as in this case, large, is generally
not only beautiful, but sublime. The building-yards from which
these ships were launched were contiguous, and this circum-
stance tended to increase the great concourse of spectators,
many of whom expected to witness both the " sights," and,
from the arrangements made, were not disappointed. The wea-
ther was occasionally showery, but on the whole favourable.

"T H E

D I A M O N D."

The first vessel launched was "The Diamond," from the
yard of Messrs. P. Cato and Co., south end of the Brunswick
Dock, and the second of two fine iron steamers built by them
for the City of Dublin Company, to run between Dublin and
London. As she is the sister-ship of "The Emerald," (and from
the same moulds,) which we described after her launching in
January, we need here only state that she is about 145 feet in
length over all, 21 feet in beam, 14 in depth of hold, and of
about 300 tons burthen. She is to be propelled (in addition to
sails) by the screw, with engines of CO-horse power on the direct
action principle. The model (as of the Emerald) was furnished
by Mr. John Grantham, C.E., and is considered by nautical•
men to be peculiarly well adapted for the double object of con-
siderable stowage and rapidity of propulsion—a desideratum
hitherto deemed a difficult achievement, but which this gentle-
man, who has long devoted his attention to the subject, is ad-
mitted to have to a great extent conquered. The vessel is lap-
ointed, or "clencher-built," in her upper-works, as well as be-
low the water-line, a plan which, in vessels of her comparatively
small burthen, is more expensive than the flush joint, but, in
our opinion, as well as in that of others better versed in such
matters—though the writer of this arrogates to himself some
knowledge of ship-craft—is not only stronger, but quite as
pleasing to the eye, if the workmanship be equal to that in
question. The Diamond is built in the most faithful manner
in every point, and does equal credit to the spirited owners in
the outlay, and to Mr. Cato and those under him. _

The Drainond was built higher up_
the yard than the Emerald,
and in the same line (at a right angle) with the river. She had,
therefore, to travel a long way—perhaps a hundred yards or
upwards—before she touched the water, and the launch was
thus the more interesting. She was " let go" from the spot
where she was built about half-past eleven o'clock, and though
she at first " hung fire"—no jackscrews being employed—a
slight effort of the workmen, to overcome the via inp•the, soon
started her, and away she went, with rapidly increasing motion,
until, attaining an almost railway speed, she proudly floated in
her destined element, apparently as lightly and gladly as a
wing-worn sea-bird. This was one of the longest launches we
have witnessed here, and the effect on the assembled multitude
was, at first, that of inexpressible surprise, which soon found
vent in shouts of admiration. Like her sister-ship, before-
named, she has a handsome figure-head, with corresponding de-
corations abaft, and will be rigged, under the superintendence
of Capt. Sarsfield, the marine manager of the proprietors, as a
smart three-masted schooner. After the launch, several of Mr.
Cato's friends partook of his hospitality, and the usual compli-
mentary and well-deserved toasts of " the owners," " the archi-
tect," " the builders," &c., were enthusiastically drunk.

"THE.ANTELOPE."

This vessel was launched in a few minutes after the other,
and many, of those present at the first launch also witnessed

this. In dimensions the Antelope is about 168 feet in length of
keel, 190 feet over all, 26 feet in beam, 16 in depth of hold; and
she admeasures about 590 tons. Her model, by Mr. Grantham,
is fine, and, though sharp at the extremities, of such rotundity
and swell in the body, without "a lump" in any part, that she
promises to carry and to sail well. We do not remember hav-
ing seen a finer or better-amalgamated bottom for the purposes
for which the vessel is intended, and in her upper works she is
all that can be desired by the most fastidious in naval architec-
ture. She is the property of Messrs. M`Tear and Co., who have
spared no expense in her construction, and the builders, Messrs.
Hodgson and Son, have done ample justice to her in every
respect. This vessel will have, in addition to sails, auxiliary
propelling steam-power by two engines of 50-horse each, turn-
ing a screw of 12 feet diameter, on the direct action principle
patented by Mr. Grantham. The engines (as those of the other
vessel launched on the sari, I day) are made by Messrs. Fawcett,
Preston, and Co who have long established their fame as ma-
rine engine-builders; and it is fully expected that she will be a
very fast vessel, capable, at the same time of carrying a large
cargo, and of most comfortably accommodating a considerable
number of passengers. She is the first of an intended line of
vessels of the same class, to run between this port and Rio de
Janeiro, and more intimately to con-nect—ffiis country and the
Brazils in bonds of amity and commerce, the present passage,
by sailing vessels alone, being generally long and tedious.

-The Antelope has a 'finebr-diesigned billel-heaci;iiTappro-
priate decorations, executed by our townsman, Mr. Robertson,
who on this, as on former occasions, has shown much classical

taste and originality. The trail-boards, gilded on a white
ground, represent, in relief, the antelope pursued by the tiger,
and the foliated ornaments around are rich and chaste, giving
the vessel a peculiarly. light and " go-ahead" appearance. The
--" -f d r

-tarter-galleries are of a corresponding design, and enriches,
with quivers, bows, and other emblems of the chase ; and the
stern carving also assimilates—the whole having a peculiarly
new and elegant appearance.
The concourse of spectators to witness the launch was very
great, especially of the elite, who had received tickets, admitting
them to be partakers of an entertainment to follow the launch.
A very spacious platform was erected for the ladies and gentle-
men alongside of the vessel. and another at her bow for those

who were immediately interested in the "christening."—
At about twenty minutes before noon, the daggers were struck
down and the ponderous and magnificent ship instantly glided
rapidly down the ways. Her name was given by Miss Jevons.
The sight was beautiful; but in getting into the water, she took
a lurch to larboard, which alarmed the spectators for the safety
of many who were on the deck. This was caused, we believe,
partly by the tide, which was still running up and catching her
stern, and partly by the giving way of some of the packing of the
cradle on that side of the bow. No one was, however, thrown from
the deck, nor did any accident fatal to life or limb take place;
and after a few oscillations, the vessel, in the broad stream of
the river, recovered her equilibrium, and floated with the light-
ness and stability of a duck. The shouts from the shore and
from on board were rapturous and prolonged ; and in a short
time afterwards the vessel passed the same spot, in tow of a
steamer, and looked nobly. We learn that in place of drawing
so much water as was expected, she, in fact, drew two inches
less than was calculated, thus showing a superior degree of
buoyancy.