The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-09-02 00:00:00

SHIPPING MISCELLANEA,

NAVIGATION OF CANALS BY STEAM.—An iron steam-
barge of 47 tons burthen, 9 feet beam, and a depth of
5 feet, has recently been constructed by Captain G. F.
Morris, R.N., assisted by Mr. T. E. Blacknell, and Mr.
Jones, the patentee of the Cambrian engines, at Bristol,
for the purpose of canal navigation. She is worked by a
propeller, which is directly opposite in principle to those
at present in vogue. With the ordinary screw, the water
is drawn through the central portion, and driven outwards
with great velocity, at right angles, by the centrifugal
action of the blades, consuming about twenty-five per
cent. of the total power in destroying the effective action
of the screw blades upon the water. In Griffiths's patent,
on the contrary, the sphere of about one-third the total
diameter causes the water to come in the right direction
on the widest and most effective portion of the blades,
where they lay hold of it, and drive it away in a direct
line with the vessel's course, by which means ail commo-
tion of the water is prevented ; an invaluable result for
canal navigation. Some little idea of the speed of this
boat may be gleaned from her trial on the Kennet and
Avon Canal, and on the Thames. She towed a btrgefrom
Bristol to Bath in 2h. 45m. The usual time occupied by
horses being from 9to 12 hours. A trial of her speed,
without towing, was made with the Blue Bell, with which
boat she kept side by side from Westminster to London
Bridge. She produces no commotion in the water to
destroy the banks of a canal, attains an average speed of
three times that attained by horses, and can be worked
more economically. Indeed the application of steam to
canal traffic is the only hope to redeem the millions
sterling that have been lost by the establishment of rail-
way, communication. •

THE SAILS OF THE YACHT AMERlCA.—Captain H.
J. Matson; R.N., has written a lengthy letter to the
Times, in which he states it as his opinion that the Ame-
rica was more indebted to the " sit" of her sails for the
victory of the 23d instant, than to any peculiarity in her
construction. In allusion to her mainsail (of course a
fore and aft sail) he says, " I have no hesitation in saying
t hat such a sail has never yet been made in England ; at
least, during a very long experience I have never seen
one. Look at the sails of our yachts, particularly the
mainsails of the cutters. On a wind, while the boom is
carried at an angle of 10 or 12 degrees with the keel, the
gaff is over to an angle of 30 or upwards. To insure the
upper part of the sail standing the boom is so much hauled
over as to make the lower part a backsail, doing more
harm than good. A very small proportior, therefore, of
the canvass is at the best angle with the wind for propel-
ling the vessel to windward." The mainsail of the Ame-
rica, when she is close hauled, is described to be as flat as
a " board," and though she may lay closer to the wind
with a pail so cut, it is questionable whet

'ler she will sail
faster than she would had a littio holly been allowed.
NEW WEST INviA MAIL STEAMER.—Messrs. Patter-
son and Co., of Bristol, are now completing a new steamer
for the West Indian Merchant Company. In length she
is only about five feet short of that "leviathan of the
deep," the Great Britain, and is about 3000 tons new
measurement. She will be propelled by a pair of .solid
lever engines of 750 horse power, made by Messrs. Caird
and Co., of Greenock. She was modelled by Mr. W.
Paterson; and is expected to prove remarkably fast. Her
wheels are of immense diameter.

Cuitious CoLmstoN.—On her last homeward voyage,
the steam ;.ship Madrid, going at a rate of ten knots, ran
into an enormous whale, inflicting on him so severe a
blow that he rose to a height of about 50feet from the water.
The ship Australia, Capt. Wheeler, belonging to Messrs.
Brooke and Worthington, of this port, arrived from Que-
bec on Thursday afternoon, making the passage in seven-
teen days with a heavy cargo.
A fine schooner, belonging to Messrs. S. and L. Lloyd,
timber -.merchants of this town, was launched on Wednes-
day, 'from the canal building-yard of Messrs. John Noble,
immediately in the rear of the Borough Gaol.
The steam-boat St. Columb, with the Holyhead morn-
ing mail, on Tuesday, bloke her main shaft shortly after
leaving Kingstown Harbour, but the Llewellyn came to
her relief, and conveyed the mail and passengers to Kings-
town at lialf-past six o'clock, p.m.
THREE CHALLENGES TO THE AMERIEA,—The success
of the American clipper at Cowes has excited considerable
emulation in the breasts of our shipbuilders, who point out
the fact that the successful yacht has been built, expressly
for racing, whilst all the English yachts of large tonnage
have, for the most part,' been constructed to combine fast
sailing qualities with the accommodations necessary for
the coinfort and convenience for a long voyage of ,their
owners and their families. The result was only such,
therefore, as might have been expected. It appears, how-
eier, very likely that the American's triumph will be.short-
lived, for no less than three yacht builders have offered to
construct vessels to run against her, and one of these is
Mr. Charles Mare, of Blackwell, who has offered to build,
within ten weeks, a yacht which shall sail against the
America for £soo.—[No sooner was the Exhibition an-
nounced in America, than a public subscription was started
to build a yacht that was to " beat all creation." Thou-
sands are now ready to aid the builder of one here. The
example is before us.—Earr.L. S.]

OVERCROWDING STEAMBOATS.—The new act to con-
solidate and amend the laws relating to steam navigation,
and to the boats and lights to be carried by sea-going ves-
sels, has been printed. There are several clauses to pre-
vent the overcrowding of steamboats. Steam-vessels are
to be surveyed twice a year, and declarations sent to the
Board of Trade, and a certificate of the vessel and of the
nnmber of passengers to be carried is to be granted and
exhibited in a conspicuous part of the vessel. It is enacted
by the 12th section " that if the owner or master, or other
person in charge of a vessel, receive on board more than the
number st tted in the certificate, they sba'l forftit and pay
a sum not exceeding £2O, and also £5 for every passenger
over and !above the number specified." Persons forcing
their way on board when a vessel is full, and refusing to
quit after having the fare tendered, if the same had been
paid, are to be liable to a penalty of 40s. Also, if any
person shall travel a greater distance than he has paid his
fare for, with intent to avoid the payment, or shall refuse
to quit the vessel, such person is liable to a penalty of 55.,
in addition to the fare payable by him. Further it is pro-
vided that every person who, having committed any of the
offences mentioned, refuses on application or the master
of the vessel or other person in the employ of the owner
thereof to give his name or address, shall forfeit and pay
to the owner a sum not exceeding £2O. This act will come
into operation on the 31st of December next.
THE ROYAL ST. GEORGE YACHT CLUB are about to
offer a prize exceeding £lOO, to be contended for by''
yachts of all nations, of every size and rig, without limi-
tation of any kind, provided the " America" is amongst
the competitors. The noble commodoreof the St. George's
Club (the Marquis Conyngham) has undertaken to make
the necessary communication to Commodore Stevens, and
has promised on the part of the yachting clubs here an
Irish welcome to the sons of the west should they be in-
duced to sport the " stars and stripes" in these waters.—
Dublin paper. '
Tux GREAT YACHT RACE.—The great yacht match
between the America and the Titania came off at Cowes
on Friday, and, though the result is somewhat humiliating,
we quote at length the particulars of the contest, hoping
ere long to be able to record a contest in which the Ame-
rica will meet her match. When the vessels took their
station off the Nab Light, at the extreme eastern point
of the Isle of Wight, the wind was blowing a strong
breeze from the NNW. At a quarter past eleven o'clock
the signal gun was fired from the commodore's vessel,
and the America soon spread her canvas and proceeded to
her destination, taking the lead, but had scarcely got more
than three times her length of the Titania, when her op-
ponent, through having her square topsail quickly set,
drew a little upon the America, but no sooner bad " the
Yankee" got her fore and aft square sails set, than 'she
ran like lightning before the wind. She carried no fore-
topsail on the present occasion. She continued to run

on one jibe and then on the other, running before the wind,
and still gaining ahead of the Titania. After a run of
about two hours, a serious accident occurred to the
America, for the "jaws" of the gaff gave way, and they
were compelled to lower her mainsail, which was lashed
and set again, a delay being caused thereby of three or four
minutes, and losing in distance at least hal: a mile. This
untoward event had not been long repaired, and the main-
sail set,' when it slipped out of the grip again, in conse-
quence of the heavy wind that was blowing at the time.
This caused a further delay, and the mainsail was then
,kept down for some time until an opportunity was afforded
for her to jibe on the opposite side. The Titania now
kept making sail, having her squaresail, gafftopsail, and
mainsail all set, and appeared to be very well handled,
but evidently had no power to overhaul her American
rival. The America had not long got up her mainsail for
the third time, when the signal was hoisted on board the
steamer that the required distance had been run, and at
the same time notice was given to return. The America
then luffed, and rounded the steamer on the larboard
hand, which was done as follows : h. m. s.
America......
Titania
On rounding the steamer, the America received the con-
gratulations of the numerous company on board, and on
the first tack she reached in towards the Hore light-ship,
about 15 miles south-east of the Nab Light, then stood
towards the westward, and continued tacking towards the
shore. She then fetched by a long reach to the Prin-
cess's Shoals, off Bembridge. From this point she then
reached, went round the Nab Light bearing S.W., and
thus concluded the course. America, 5 hours 30 minutes
15 seconds ; Titania, 6 hours 22 minutes 15 seconds.
During the greater part of the return, the Titania was
bull down, and on the America reaching the Nab she was
at least eight miles astern. Very shortly after passing the
Nab, the gaff slipped out from the mainsail for the third
time ; but the America kept on her course to Cowes, which
she reached at 20 minutes beforeeight o'clock. The run out,
it will be seen, occupied nearly three hours, and it was be-
lieved by some that the distance of the course was nearer 30
than 20 miles. The Morning Herald says: Theonly thing to
be deplored is, that knowing the Americans were building a
yacht to race with our squadrons, our yachtsmen and yacht-
builders had not sufficient national spirit to lay down a new
vessel tocompete with her. It appears, however, very likely
that the America's triumph will be short-lived, for we un-
derstand that no less than three yacht-builders have offered
to construct vessels to run against her, and one of these
is Mr. Charles Mare, of Blackwell, the builder of the
Mystery, Belvedere, and the justly-celebrated Mosquito ;
this gentleman, it is said, has offered to build within ten
weeks a yacht which will sail against the America for X5OO.
We feel assured that if either Waterman, of Mare and
Co.'s firm ; Pasco, of Miller and Ravenhill's firm, in the
Thames ; or White or Betsey, of Cowes; or Wanhill, of
Poole, were offered the opportunity of building a yacht for
racing purposes only, the Yankee would run a great risk
of doffing her borrowed plumes before she re-crossed the
Atlantic.—The Exeter Gazette says, that the builders of
the American yacht are two natives of Dartmouth, who
emigrated to the United States many years ago, and got
employment in one of the dockyards. If this is correct,
"Brother. Jonathan" need not vaunt too much of his
superior skill in yacht-building.
THE MERCANTILE MARINE AMENDMENT ACT.—By
the Mercantile Marine Amendment Act, just passed, the
advance-notes to seamen may be issued on signing the
agreement, instead of, as heretofore, four hours after. All
colonial ships arriving to discharge cargo in any port in
the United Kingdom, their crews must be discharged and
engaged before the shipping master; but such vessels as
merely touch at our ports do not become subject to that
law ; and all ships making short voyages may have what
is called a running agreement, but no such agreement is
to extend beyond the 30th of June or 31st of December
each year. Coasting vessels are not obliged to keep the
official log, and if under 80 tons are exempt from carry-
ing agreement. Misconduct of pilots, endangering life
or limb, to be deemed guilty of misdemeanour. The law
seems very justly stringent upon the desertion of a sea-
man after signing articles ; and the justice before whom
he is convicted has a power of deducting from the amount
£3 of his wages for the expenses; also, if a master or
mate is convicted of felony, or sentenced summarily or
otherwise for drunkenness or tyranny, the Board of Trade
may cancel or suspend his certificate, whether of com-
petency or service. After Ist September, the shipping
master is the person to whom masters of foreign going
ships must produce the certificate and agreement (and
not to tl.e collector and comptroller), and he is to give a
certificate of their production to satisfy the officers of
customs.

An iron sailing schooner, of about 80 tons measure-
ment, was launched, on Saturday last, from Mr. Laird's
building-yard, Birkenhead, and, judging from her model,
is intended to combine speed with good carrying qualities.
Some weeks ago, we noticed the launch of an iron
steam-vessel, about 400 tons measurement, built by Mr.
Laird for the Russian government. She has since been
fitted with a pair of 50-horse engines, by Messrs. George
Forrester and Co., of this town, and on her trial trip to
Bangor proved that she possessed considerable speed,
having run from the Rock to Menai-bridge in 4 hours,
and thence to the Rock in hours ; giving her a speed
of 11 'or 12 knots psr hour. She sailed last week for
Odessa, calling at Plymouth, and, though loaded with
armament, coals, stores, &c., for the voyage, 12 inches
beyond her proper load draught, she made an average
speed of 8 to 9 knots to Plymouth against a strong head
wind and sea, and is alluded to in high terms by the Ply-
mouth papers. The Pruth is built on Mr. Laird's patent
plan of a rudder at each end, and is to be used as a gun-
boat and for towing. Her armament consists of four
36-pounders and four 12-pounders, which are so placed
that two guns can be fired at one time, on a line with the
keel, thus avoiding the necessity of exposing her broad-
side to the enemy's fire, and rendering her a very awk-
ward otiponent. Though the • British government have
refused for th-e present to sanction the use of iron vessels
for war purposes, it appears that foreign governments Wok
More to the practical advantages to be gained by adopting
vessels constructed of the same materials as the Nemesis,
whose good services in the shoal waters of the Chinese
rivers are elsewhere so well known.

The Hindostan made a splendid passage of five days and
two hours from Suez to Aden, light winds; eight days and
five hours from Men to Galle, light winds; and two days
and five hours from Galle to her anchorage in Madras
Roads.—Her average rate was nearly 11 knots from Suez
to Madras.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BUILDING OF YACHTS.—The
Marquis of Conyngham has directed Mr. White to lengthen
his beautiful yacht, the Constance, twelve feet by the bows.
She is to have an American stern ; and the sight that Mr.
White and other yacht-builders had of the America's
bottom while in dock on Thursday will, we have no doubt,
be turned to account. A gentleman who has a yacht up in
frame in Mr. Joseph White's yard has bad her drawn out
eight feet by the bows, and she is being Americanized.
Report says that Mr. Steers, the American builder, took
home orders for three yachts with him to New York.

PROPOSED LINE OF STEAM-SHIPS FROM NEW YORK
TO GALWAY.-By the U.S. mail steam-ship Pacific we
have accounts from New York, confirming the account
that funds were being subscribed in New York for the
foundation of a line of steam-ships to run from that port
to Galway. Upwards of 170,000 dollars (about £35,000)
had been already signed for, and assurances were given
for 250,000 dollars more than requisite, it was estimated,
to build the first ship ; and hopes were indulged that very
shortly the entire sum for the iiresent necessary, 800,000
dollars, would be in the hands of those promoting the en-
terprise. Public support appeared also to be gathering
round the adventure, and, on the 14th ult., at a meeting
of the,board of aldermen of New York, resolutions of a
very auspicious character in reference to the undertaking
were unanimously sanctioned, the bOaid view;ng the pro-
posed line as " calculated to promote the interests of com-
merce, facilitate emigration, and expedite communications
with Europe." It is intended by the promoters of the line
to petition Congress for a subsidy, in the shape of a mail
contract, the company pledging itself to enable mails by
the Galway mute to reach Holyhead twelve hours earlier
than In those similar mails dospatched direct by sea.