The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-07-15 00:00:00

THE NEW MARKET, BIRKENHEAD.

This large and commodious building was opened on
Saturday for regular traffic, and, in architectural neatness
throughout, and in interior lightness, elegance, and adap-
tation for the purposes for which it was designed, sur-
passes everything of the kind we have yet seen. The
walls are of substantial brickwork, (executed by Messrs.
J. and W. Walker,) relieved by projections forming com-
partments without and within, and also by two rows of
large semi-circular windows all round. The whole is
surrounded by a handsome iron railing some feet from
the walls, and inclosing an excavation between. The
interior, or area inclosed, is 430 feet long, by 131 feet
broad,—being not much short of that of our St. John's
Market, which is 555 feet by 135 exteriorly. There are
ridges to the roof, with triangular pediments at the
ends; and down the entire apex of each ridge, or span,
(which is elevated in open work for ventilation,) there is
a continuous skylight, glazed with good material; so
that, with the side windows, and six large arched en-
trances, the interior is as light as day. The roof-framing
is entirely composed of wrought-iron flat bars, the whole
steadied and secured (by rods, &c.) on the tension prin-
ciple. This, in lieu of carpentry, has a much more light
and elegant appearance, resembling network. The roof-
ing is also of iron, lined with boards mouldrd at the joints
and smoothly painted; so that the accumulation of dust,
and its continual falling, as in rough, massive, open roofs
of timber, is almost wholly obviated. The whole of this
covt-ring is supported by (in addition to the walls) four
rows of handsome, light cast-iron columns, in ali 46 in
number, and 25 feet in height. The floor of the market,
which is well flagged, is supported over the vaults below
by 115 cast-iron columns.

There are 44 shops, all ranged at the sides only, and
each having an interior communication with a vault be-
neath it. There is also a large vault or cellar for general
purposes, 430 feet in length by 106 in width. The shops
are thus appropriated ;-22 for butchers, 8 for fish-
mongers, 6 for the sale of poultry and game, and 8 for
salted and other provisions, cheese, &c. The fronts of
the shops are of iron ; the top work, over the doors and
sale tables perforated fOr ventilation. The roofs are-of
waved sheet iron forming a segment or gentle arch. They
are all, in keeping with the interior of the walls, painted
in a light stone colour. There is a bar of polished iron
with moveable hooks across the front opening of each,
for the exhibition of articles requiring hanging up, and
another bar in the interior forming a semi-circle for the
same purpose. The interior walls are lined below the
wall-hooks with white porcelain or square Dutch tiles
which have a cool and pleasing appearance, and may be
easily kept perfectly clean.
There are three wide avenues from end to end of the
market, and along their sides one row of horticultural
stands, one row of what are called country people's tables,
for agricultural and dairy produce, and one row of sham-
bles.

There are three rows of gas lamps, 92 in all, the glass
of an inverted bell shape, surmounting handsome fluted
iron columns of about 81 feet high. The cross bar at the
top, forming a cross, is lettered in the metal " Birken-
head Market." These lamps are ornamental during the
day, and when lighted, brilliantly illuminate the interior,
and are all visible at once. The building is fire-proot
throughout, and was constructed at a cost of £23,000, by
Messrs. Fox, Henderson, and Co., of Birmingham.
There are two handsome fountains in the middle avenue,
opposite the side entrances.

The whole of the shops are already taken, but on this
first occasion a few of them were yet unfurnished. The
supply of butchers' meat, fowls, and provisions of the more
substantial kind was good, and the encouragement
given to many of the venders was such that th-y had to
send for fresh stock throughout the day.

THE SEA NYMPH, IRON STEAM-SHIP

'We had an opportunity, a few days ago, of visiting, for
the first time, this fine new vessel, the property of the
North-west of Ireland Union Steam-ship Company. She
has now fairly taken her place on the line between this
port and Londonderry ; and, we venture to say, whether
as regards her proved capacities as a sea-boat, or her ac-
commodations for passengers, will be found to be a great
accession to the previous conveyances for voyagers to that
interesting northern part of the sister island.
The Sea Nymph is a remarkably finely modelled ship,
somewhat resembling the celebrated Sea King in her lines,
and, like her, having a peculiarly fine wedgy entrance and
a clear run, with but little rise of floor. In her great
length and sleek appearance she is quite unique, and has
all the appearance of a regular " clipper," which she in
reality is, having already accomplished the voyage (her
last) from Londonderry to Liverpool, a distance of 240
miles, in ISt hours, including stoppages of, in all, about
half an hour. Her figure bead is a statue of a sea nymph,
in white, and, below, there is a triton on each side, as
supporters. Over these last, on the trail board, there is
a gilded shaft on which is festooned a blue sash, or broad
ribband, with the name of the vessel—a very tasteful,
chaste, and novel piece of decoration. These are all
touched with gold. The stern and quarter gallery carving
is in unison, with sea nymphs and other nautical figures
and emblems, in bronze, arid also touched with gold.
The following are the dimensions of the vessel _

Length of keel and fore rake ....
Breadth, or beam .. .• ..
Breadth, including paddle-houses
Depth of hold
Tonnage, builders' measurement
Tonnage, registered

Feet. Inches
180 0
28 0
48 0
16 6

Engines
She is clinker-butt to 7 feet mark, carrel-built aloft,
and "extra" strong throughout, her garbord streak being
*ths of an inch thick, and bottom and bilges iths, dimi-
nishing to inch—reduced, of course, fore and aft, in the
usual proportions. She was built (as were the engines)
by Messrs. Caird and Co., of Greenock. The weight of
iron in her bull is about 300 tons; and the weight of the
machinery, water, and boilers, together with her usual
complement of coals, is'equal to about 300 tons more.
She is of the same materials up to the gunnel, fore and
aft, including the stern frame and the stancheons and
bulwarks on the main deck.

The engines are propelled by two malleable iron side
levers-7a modern and approved plan. The diameter of

each cylinder is 68 incbes,and the stroke the same, 5 feet
8 inches. The levers are the heaviest of the kind that
have yet been made; and it may be stated generally, that
the whole of the machinery is of the best construction and
finish. There are four iron kelsons, of 22 inches by 18,
running fore and aft, and rivetted to the floor. The boi-
lers are on the tubular principle, with the tubes of brass,
and by these the steam is rapidly and continuously gene-
rated. There is also a small engine for feeding the boilers.
The accommodations, both above and below, are of the
first order for a vessel of the size.

The main cabin is an elegant cheerful apartment, fitted
up in the old English style, and forming a semi-circle in
the sofa seats, at the stern end, which is wider than the
part forward, where state rooms are taken off at each side
after the plan of most of the Glasgow boats. The t
tions are neat, and rich, without being gaudy. The sides
are relieved by pilasters, with foliated gilt capitals in alto,
and panelling between, the whole finished with gilded
cornicing. The ground-work is veneered oak, and in the
centre of each of the panels, in the body of the room, are
oil paintings on shields, enclosed within gilded frames of
scroll-work, also boldly raised on a crimson ground.
These paintings are in lively colours, and convey classical

ecora-

representations of the empire of Neptune and liis retinue
of sea-nymphs, tritons, &c., careering over the waves on
the backs of dolphins, sea-horses, and the like ; the ocean
in its several aspects from storms to calms, the deities
(not excepting Cupid) and nymphs of the deep and the
shore are well represented. The immediate and the dis-
tant land in these several views is finely depicted. The

fine paintings in oil, forming the panels ; and these are
eight views of picturesque scenery in Ireland. The state-
rooms, or dormitories on each side,—one for gentlemen,
and the other for ladies—are roomy and elegantly fitted
up to accommodate in all 24 persons, with berths or sofa-
beds. The painting and decorations of these are all that
can be desired, and the ventilation has been especially
attended to.

There is a commodious ladies' cabin, lighted by a large
circular deck light, and two side windows, and finished
in an elegant and delicate Grecian style of panelling,
with wide sofas and bed places for 10 individuals. Oppo-
site this, on the other side of the ship, we observed a com-
modious family-cabin, replete with every convenience,
and most cheerfully lighted.
The subsidiary apartments—the steward's pantry. &c.,
—are well planned and convenient, and the vessel may
take her place amongst those produced by modern enter.
prise that, though not built here do honour to our port.
She is c)mmanded by Captain Forest, of whom we shall
not say more, and cannot say less than that he is an active
and experienced seaman, and as agreeable and intelligent
companion.