The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-06-21 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF THE WATERLOO, OF 120 GUNS,
Al' CHATHAM.

At a very early hour on Tuesday there was a great influx of
people at Chatham; and as the morning advanced steam-
packets crowded in every part; gentlemen's yachts, filled with
elegant parties of both sexes, were seen coming up the Med-
way, from London, Southend, and other places. I'here were
four steam packets from London—namely the Sovereign, the
Royal Adel-aide, the Hawk, and the Swif'tsure, and the Kent
steamer, from Gravesend, with inhabitants and visitants of that
place. The men-of-war lying in that part of the Medway, and
all the yachts, were decorated with a profusion of flags • an im-
mense number of boats had collected; the shore, as well as the
dock-yard itself, was thronged with spectators; and as the hour
appointed for the launch to take place ( one o'clock,) approached,
the scene was one of an animated and interesting kind.
The process adopted upon this occasion, and which we were
informed was an improvement upon that heretofore used, of
launching the vessel, was most admirable for its simplicity and
its certainty of effectual operation.
The Waterloo was built on Sir Robert Sepping's plan of the
round stern, and many improvements of other kinds in naval
architecture have been adopted in her construction. She is
pierced for 120 guns, the largest number carried by our first-
rate men of war, of which class of ships she is considered the
most perfect that has yet been built.
Sir James Gordon, the superintendent of the Dock-yard, had
caused excellent arrangements to be made for the accommoda-
tion of the public, and too much praise cannot be given to the
subordinates of the establishment for the civility which they
showed towards people of all ranks.
At two minutes past one o'clock the props which supported
the vessel, commonly called the dog shores, were knocked away,
and the ceremony of " christening" having been performed by
Adam Gordon, Esq., a magistrate of Deptford, in the absence
of Miss Beresford, aughter of the Admiral of that name, who
arrived too late, this magnificent structure was consigned to her
proper element amidst creafenin.,g cheers from the multitude as-
sembled within the yard, echoed most heartily by those on the
water. She glided 'slowly, but majestically, from her building
place, and it is gratifying to state that no accident of any conse-
quence occurred. She was swung round, and in a few minutes
was safely moored alongside the Southampton frigate, lying in
ordinary.
After the launch, a review and sham fight, a sort of mimic
representation of the Battle of Waterloo, took place on Chat-
ham Heights. The troops on the ground were composed of
detachments of the Rifle Brigade, the Provisional Battalion,
the 21st, the 50th, and the 95th Regiments; the whole under
the command of Sir Leonard Greenwell, the Commandant of
the Garrison.

This spectacle was attended by immense crowds, who appeared
to enjoy the scene highly. The appearance and discipline of
the troops called out upon this occasion were such as to excite
general admiration. The Rifle Brigade, perhaps, deserves par-
ticular mention. The perfect manner in which, in every-respect,
they appeared and performed the duty assigned to them upon
the ground was really admirable. The
.ground was well kept
by a large detachment of the Royal Marines.
In the evening a grand display of fire-works took place on
Chatham Lines, and several balls and other amusements were
given at various inns in and about the town. The day was one
of general hilarity.