The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-02-13 00:00:00

THE NEW YORK PACKET-SHIP

"YORKSHIRE."

On Saturday we were politely shown through this new
ship, and were much pleased with her beauty of model,
her splendid accpmmoJations for passengers, and her ge-
neral appointments. She will form a valuable addition to
what is called the Old Line of Transatlantic Packet-
ships. She was built by Mr. W. H. Webb, of New York,
the celebrated builder of the Montezuma, (which she re-
sembles in many respects,) and of other fine ships that
have earned " golden opinions" by the rapidity and regu-
larity of their trips. Her length is 170 feet ; her beam
364- feet; her depth of hold 21i feet; and she admeasures
about 1,050 tons. She is finished exteriorly with great
neatness and nicety, both in her wood and metal work ;
and has a bottom like that of a crack pilot-boat. The
stancheons amidships, between decks, are also secured by
knees, and she has bilge and side kelsons of white oak
running her entire length. She has a neat scroll head,
with floriated ornaments raised and gilded on a white
ground. Her stern is handsomely carved, with the arms
of our city of York, in an heraldic shield, as a centre piece,
supported on one side by the Lion of England, and on the
other, in amicable proximity, by the Eagle of America.
The foreground is filled up with emblems of agriculture
and commerce, and the whole enclosed with floriated an-
tique ornaments, the prominent objects gilded on a white
ground. The quarter deck is enclosed (under the poop,)
with an outer, or " monkey rail," being a continuation of
the topgallant rail of the main deck. This hides the lower
dead-eyes of the main and mizen rigging, which might
otherwise appear clumsy and unsightly ; and, moreover,
preserves the continuous sheer of the vessel in a manner
pleasing to the eye. The ship is beautifully yet snugly
riggged. Her masts and spars are of larger diameter than
those of the usual run of vessels of her size. Event the
top gallant backstays are as strong as the topmast back-
stays of most vessels but slightly below her tonnage. In
this respect a wise discretion has been employed, for there
can be no question but the main strain of a press of can-
vass lies on these stays. She is rigged, in fact, like a
frigate, and, without danger of carrying away a stick, may
carry on in ag le "till all is blue." Her dead-eyes,
though of large size, are of lignum-vitae, the upper ones
varnished. Great part of the running rigging leads to the
poop deck, and as the gearing of the patent windlass is
carried up to the top-gallant foreoastle, the main deck,
which is well sheltered between them, is left comparatively
clear for the recreation of the steerage passengers.
The poop or quarter-deck affords an uninterrupted pro-
menade for the cabin guests, of about 80 feet in length,
and is fitted with seats and other conveniences. Abaft is
a smoking and reading room, raised above the poop, cover-
ing the two after staircases leading to the main cabin ; and
behind this is the steering room, the new patent apparatus,
in which is ingenious, simple, and effective,—enabling, in-
deed, a boy to steer the ship even in rough weather. We
cannot well describe this without a diagram ; but may
simply state, that a quadrant of a cogged iron wheel is
fixed on the rudder head, projecting sternways. Jn the
centre of the upright steering wheel, close to this, is fixed,
in the same position, a flat round plate, upon which a ridge
of double screw is formed in projection, each turn curving
from the outer edge of the plate towards the centre in
reverse position. These ridges of screw fall between three
of the cogs in the horizontal quadrant, fitting them to a
nicety,—so that on turning the wheel in the usual way the
rudder is thrown from side to side as requited, and the
screws acting as inclined planes, produce a strong and
equal mechanical power. Two cogs of the quadrant must
be broken before this purchase can be rendered unavailable.
The steerage is roomy, and is well lighted and aired by
circular side perforations and patent ventillators, which
last, indeed, supply a constant and wholesome current
through the whole ship.
The main cabin is an elegant apartment, though not so
fanciful or diversified as the saloons of some of the line-
ships—richness combined with comfort having been more
studied than gaudiness or elaboration of tinsy ornament.
It is about 60 feet in length, the entire length of cabin (in-
cluding the ladies', which opens into it by two doors and
a central large panel, which may be lowered like a window
sash when required) being about 80 feet. It is between
eight and nine feet in height, and well lighted by two deck
windows and four in the stern. The sides are formed of
large single perpendicular panels, representing a succession
of doors. The panels are of fine feathered St. Domingo
mahogany, and the styles of the same material, but of a
still more wavy and mottled grain, and the whole is
French-polished. Between the styles there are pilasters
representing white porcelain, with verd antique marble, or
porphyry bases, and neat capitals, the ornaments gilded
on a white ground. These last support a suitable cornice,
also gilded on white, and the roof is French white to cor-
respond. The stern windows are single plates of
stained glass, with the Arms of England and America
—the Eagle, an Indian bowman, an Eagle sailing
the ocean in the shell of the Nautilus, &c., &c.
A mahogany table runs down the centre with suitable
fixed seats, having backs tbat may be shifted to either
side. The state-rooms diverge from each side, commu-
nicating with the cabin by a passage to each two, at the
end of which are interior doors, so that none of the rooms
can be overlooked from without. These rooms are nine
feet square, and fitted up with every regard to cleanliness
and comfort. The ladies' cabin is in the same style of
neatness. In each cabin there are two massive rosewood
sofas, ornamented on the arms with the harp veneered in
satin wood. The ladies' apartment is, also, cheerfully
lighted, and has a separate staircase, or companion-way,
to deck above, which, we learn, was suggested and con-
structed under the superintendence of the captain.
The Yorkshire has already proved herself a fast vessel—
she having occasionally made good, on her first voyage,
114 knots an hour. She is, moreover, an admirable sea-
beat. She is commanded by Captain D. G. Bailey, for-
merly of the Orpheus, and also of the South America ; an
experienced and able seaman, and at the conviv'al board
an intelligent and amusing companion. We have had
but a short acquaintance with Captain Bailey, but even
from what we have seen and learned of him, we should
say that he is the very man to make all around him com-
fortable and happy, and, when sterner duties do not de-
mand his services elsewhere, to wile away the tedious
hours that are inseparable from a transatlantic voyage by
his droll "yarns" and salies of wit and adventure. We
should add that the natives of Yorkshire in New York.
have, in gratitude for the compliment conveyed by her
name, presented the ship with her flags, and a splendid
fit-out in cutlery,china, &c.