The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-09-09 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY AT BALMORAL.

The royal party are now living in entire seclusion and
quiet—a change, doubtless, acceptable after the harassing
formalities of an unusually splendid court and the gaieties
of a prolonged season.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert attended divine service
on Sunday last at the parish church of Cratilie. The
service was performed by the Rev. Mr. Anderson. The
ladies and gentlemen of the suite were in attendance. Her
Majesty and the Prince visited the Duchess of Kent at
Abergeldie. On Monday her Majesty and Prince Albert,
accompanied by Prince Alfred, drove to the Balloch Bhuie.
EDlNBURGH.—Estimates have been ordered to be pre-
pared by the Queen's tradesmen for fitting up the draw-
ing rooms in Holyrood Palace, before her Majesty's return
from the north. It is inferred from this that it is her
Majesty's intention to hold a levee, of which rumours have
been in circulation during the last few weeks ; or at least
that the royal party may be expected to remain for a few
days in Holyrood Palace before returning to England.

STEAM TO THE MEDITERRANEAN.-TRIAL
OF THE NEW SCREW STEAMER "FRANK-
FORT."

Any one who has taken the slightest interest in the
progress of steam navigation must be struck with the
wonderful improvement which has been developed, during
the last two or three years, in that particular branch of
science. About a dozen years ago it was thought that a
surprising speed had been attained when steamers cculd
really be made to go ten knots within the hour, provided
there was smooth water ; while nowadays we have trading
steamers—certainly "crack" boats—that can run sixteen
and even eighteen miles within the same period ; and
ocean-going mail packets that have accomplished the
voyage from New York to Liverpool under ten days, or
an average speed of about thirteen knots every hour, for
a distance of 3,000 miles across the broad Atlantic, These
remarks will apply even more particularly to the case of
screw steamers, in the construction of which new features
are being continually brought forward. The capabilities of
the Archimedes. almost the first-built screw boat of any no-
toriety, was the means of awakening attention to this mode
of propulsion ; and, followed by the temporary success of
the Great Britain, gained for it considerable favor. But the
untimely mishap to the latter vessel, and her consequent
stoppage for some time, although owing to a reason totally
distinct from the principle involved, threw, for a period at
least, rather a damper on the cause. Subsequently, how-
ever, the better success of the City of Glasgow and the
pioneers of the Mediterranean trade made it again very
popular, until, from the recent achievements of the City
of Manchester in a short run with the Cunard steamer
Niagara, of the Albatross, the European, the Adonis, the
Arno, and many others, it has come to be looked upon
by some as the greatest perfection at which the art of na-
vigation has arrived. Of course to obtain such satisfactory
results, numerous expedients have been had recourse to,
in regard to the number of blades attached to the screw,
the mode of connecting the power of the machinery with
the screw-shaft, and the more effective " pitching" of the
screw itself. The latest novelty, however, is that in which
the propeller is placed entirely aft the vessel, even astern
of the rudder, as in the case of the " Frankfort," the arri-
val of which was noticed a week or two ago in this paper,
and a description of the ship attached.
On Thursday last the Frankfort proceeded on her trial
trip, and in pursuance of invitations issued by Mr. Fredk.
Chapple, her owner, a very large and highly respectable
company, assembled on hoard to witness this test of her
steaming qualities, consisting chiefly of merchants from
this town and Manchester, a number of practical gentle-
men, and others connected with the shipping interest.
The affair was also graced by the presence of several
ladies. The Frankfort was moored in the river, just
off the landing-stage, from which the party were con-
veyed on board in a tug-boat, thus affording them
an excellent opportunity of viewing the symmetry of
her hull, and the general beauty of her appearance.
Various criticisms were passed on her new style, but there
seemed to be a general opinion in favour of the brig rig,
" man-o'-war fashion." About a quarter-past one o'clock,
the anchor was weighed, and the usual preparations made
for "a start." On the engines being set in motion, the
the total absence of vibration was the subject of
general remark, and throughout the whole trial they
worked with a smoothness and regularity perfectly
marvellous. We may here remark, as preliminary, that
the burthen of the Frankfort is 700 tons, and her engine
power 100 horses, the comparative smallness of which is
made up for by the improved application of the screw.
Her machinery acts directly on the screw shaft; and the
cylinders (which, of course, are reversed) are 40 inches in
diameter, while the length of stroke is 2 feet 10 inches.
The boilers are tubular, and calculated for engines of
larger power, which will always ensure a sufficient
generation of steam. The screw, or " propeller," is 12}
feet in diameter, and has the extraordinary " pitch" of
26 feet. The average number of revolutions attained
during the trial, was 48 per minute, but it occasionally
rose to 49 and 50. The average speed gained, after alto v-
ine, for adverse currents, winds, &c., was calculated at a
little over ten knots per hour, but with favourable winds—
on account of her peculiar rig—it is confidently expected
that this will be increased by at least one-third. The
Frankfort was abreast the Rock Light at 1 hour 40 min.,
by which time she was fairly under weieh and in clear
water. The tide was then at " young flood," and the
wind blowing from N.N.W., but in the face of the op-
posing wind and current she reached the Bell Buoy at
2h. 55m., which she rounded, and then steered for the
North-west Lightship, which she also rounded in twenty-
five minutes from the Bell Buoy. On clearing the
Victoria Channel, the square and topsails were set, but
more with the view of making " a show of canvas" than
for any practical effect. At three o'clock the company
sat down to a sumptuous repast, served under the super-
intendence of Mr, Meade, of the Liverpool Exchange
Club, who displayed his usual good taste in providing the
" creature comforts." The edibles were placed on two
long temporary tables, " rigged out" on the quarter-
deck, and the arrangements were all that could be de-
sired. The weather was most propitious, and the scene
a brilliant and fascinating one. Mr. Chapple pre-
sided, and, after the usual loyal toasts, proposed "The
German merchants of Manchester," to whose exertions
he mainly attributed the extension of the trade between
this port and the Mediterranean. The toast was acknow-
ledged by Mr. Mylius (one of the gentlemen referred to)
in feeling terms, and in reply he proposed the health of
Mr. Chapple, wishing him success in his present
undertaking, which was received with loud cheers.
Mr. Chapple briefly replied, remarking that he had great
faith in tile due fulfilment of good wishes. Mr.
Forwood in a terse speech proposed " the Town and
Trade of Liverpool," saying, that as one of the sons of the
" good old town" he felt a pride in the fact that, by the
investment of a very large amount of capital, the Liver-
pool shipowners were taking a leading part in promoting
the advancement of " screw" navigation. The chairman
then spoke in high terms of the satisfaction he felt at the
manner in which, by the great efforts of their skill, Messrs.
Reid and Wood, the builders; Messrs. J. and G. Thom-
son, the machinists ; and Mr. John Beattie, the patentee
of the screw, had " turned out" the Frankfort, and in
doing so paid a well-merited compliment to the talents of
Mr. John Wood, of Port Glasgow, whom he ranked as
" one of the first, if not the very first, of modellers—not
only in the United Kingdom, but the whole world." Mr.
Spence in a very eloquent speech proposed " suc-
cess to the Frankfort," and in doing so noticed the pro-
gress of Liverpool, which contrasted favourably with that
of Rome, once mistress of the known world, but now
sunk in degradation. Would that we could send to the
yellow waves of the Tiber, not only British vessels
of wood and iron, but with them British men of sense and
enterprise, who could there introduce the benefits of
social progress and civilisation. In his youth he had
been not a little frightened by a song about the terrors of
the " Bay of Biscay"—(laughter); but in such a vessel as
the Frankfort, he could ventnre to risk himself even in
the Frozen Ocean, without any fear for his safety. He
trusted that soon hundreds would be induced to visit the
classic shores of the Mediterranean in such ships as her,
where they might not only enjoy pleasure, but also derive
much profitable instruction. The Chairman then pro-
posed the health of Captain Corbett, to which that gen-
tleman responded in suitable language. The several
speeches were interspersed with popular glees, and the
principal toasts were marked by the discharges of cannon.
A variety of music was performed by an excellent brass
band, led by a clever little gentleman, rejoicing in the
euphonious appellation of Mr. Wielopolski Phillips,
which considerably added to the pleasures of the day.
The Frankfort passed the Bell Buoy, on the return
home, at 4h. 55m., and reached the Rock Light at 6h.
10m., a distance of about twelve miles, in an hour and a
quarter, inclusive of a delay, from stoppage, of nearly
20 minutes to put a gentleman on board the Glasgow
steamer. On reaching Liverpool the party were re-con.
veyed to the Landing-stage by a steam-tug, every one
highly delighted with the day's excursion.
The Frankfort is a sister ship to the Arno (the rapid
runs of which we have frequently recorded), and like her
has painted ports, giving her hull a light ship-like appear-
ance, something similar to a man-of-war gun-brig. She
leaves this port on her first voyage to Italy and Sicily on
the 15th instant, and will go out with every prestige of
success under the command of a gentleman like Captain
Corbett, whose previous very regular passages, in the
Osmanli, have fully established his nautical reputation.
We sincerely wish her enterprising owner may meet with
the good fortune he has a right to expect under such
favourable auspices.

TH E MAGICAL DANCING FIGURES.—These very
amusing and (to the uninitiated) surprising little figures
continue to attract numerous visitors to Mr. Colles's
apartments in Bold-street, and few witness their perform-
ances who can resist the temptation of becoming the pos-
sessor of one or more of them ; indeed we know of nothing
likely to afford more amusement round the winter fire-
side than some of the astonishing and mirth-inspiring
illusions which Mr. Colles disposes of, and a little money
laid out in this manner will afford food for laughter and
innocent enjoyment for years to come ; those who have
not yet paid Mr. C. a visit should lose no time in doing so ;
no charge is made for viewing his figures, changeable
cards, &c., &c. His address will be found in Ile adver-
tiaemtut in another part of our paper,