The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-07-05 00:00:00

ENGI NES

Two engines, of 90 horse-po'tver each.. ISO horse-power.
Diameter of each cylinder . 52 inches.
Stroke 5 feet.

The Guadalupe is modelled on the most scientific prin-
ciples, to ensure the utmost :ipeed, combined with adequate
safety in a heavy sea. She i.s peculiarly fine at the extremi-
ties, with a slight inclination. to the " plough" bow, and a
long clean run. She has :J. handsome figure head, repre-
senting a female, and an el.lptic stern—the latter a pleasing
compromise between the square, and (to our eye) the some-
what unseemly round or semicircular. This form is well
calculated for the working of her large after gun. She sits
beautifully on the water, raid seen from any point presents a
specimen of perfect syrnn retry, her lines blending into each
other without the slightest approach to abruptness.
In the construction of the vessel the most approved prin.
ciples have been carried out, with many improvements
which experience has sriggested to the builder. The whole
frame is extra strong, al id the plating, all of which is double
rivetted, is of more than ordinary thickness. There are six
water-lights, iron bulkl leads athwart-ships, dividing the ves-
sel into seven distini h compartments ; also longitudinal
bulkheads or partitions, regularly framed and built as part of
the vessel, and extending from the fore part of the engines
to the after part of th a boilers, forming the coal boxes with a
space of five feet in •width, the adaptation of which in war-
fare we shall hereafter notice.. These bulkheads obviously
give the vessel great additional strength, and will secure
her not only from the result of accidents by concus-
sion or grounding,, that would be fatal to a wooden
vessel, but from th c possibility of destruction by fire. As
a proof, indeed, of the efficacy of water-lights bulkheads,
we may state that the Nemesis had a hole knocked in her
bottom at the t; acing of Amoy, yet performed important
service for four months subsequently without being laid up
for repairs. The Guadalupe has also longitudinal iron ties
running from end. to end on the beams, and covered by the
deck planking, a system of strengthening introduced some
time back in some vessels constructed by the same builder.
The whole vessel, indeed, whether examined in her ribs, her
plating, her iron. beams, her knees, and other fastenings, ap-
pears to be "as strong as iron can make her." She is
rakishly rigged as a brigantine, (with a standing square fore-
sail), and her general appearance—the paddle-boxes being
but little elevated—is that of a first-rate nobleman's yatcb.
Seen from a short distance she looks much smaller than she
really is, and the visiter on board is agreeably surprised to
find her so large and roomy—the desideratum of compact-
ness combined with sharpness of model, being fully attained.
That she will, when her trim is accurately ascertained, be a
very fast ship, no doubt can be entertained. She has ample
beam and bearings, which she carries above throughout
nearly her whole length, with no sponsoning ; and can
spread a great deal of canvass with a studding-sail breeze.
How she will " walk" when under both sail and steam may
therefore be conjectured.
The upper deck is flush, and is, perfectly straight (or with-
out sheer) from stem to stern. Being unobstructed except-
ing at considerable distaneecamidships by the companions,
hatches, and cabin lights, it forms a level area of great ex-
tent—affording ample room for the seamen to work the ves-
sel, and for the marines, when occasion requires, to do the
offensive. She is fitted with Pow and Fawcus's patent wind-
lass. The wheel is placed in front of the after-cabin skylight,
clear of interruption from the working of the stern gun. She
is fitted with Rapson's steering gear, as adopted in all her
Majesty's steam frigates.

The Guadalupe carries two huge pivot guns, one forward
and the other aft. They are 68-pounders, and are mounted
on sliding carriages of African oak, the under frame working
on circular rails of brass secured to the deck, so that they
may be pointed over the gunwale (which is low) in any direc-
tion from the bow and stern respectively, and the sides,
round about three-fourths of a circle. The topgallant rails
and cloths over the bulwarks (which last are plated with
iron, as well as the ship's sides) are so contrived as to be
readily removable on the eve of action, leaving these terrible
" bull-dogs " to open their mouths and discharge their con-
tents without carrying anything away. The bore of the
guns is 8 inches • their length 9 feet 6 inches ; and they are
calculated to throw shell as well as shot. Both guns and
carriages are on the principle used in her Majesty's steam
frigates, and, though plain in casting and of great .weight
(65 cwt. each, and including the carriages 5i to 6 tons), are
handsome pieces of artillery. When loaded (with 101bs. of
power), they will carry a shot a great distance (probably two
miles), and do tearful execution. On each side of the slides
is a cramp, which may be so regulated as to cause more or
less friction, and thus check the recoil. The complement of
officers and men for this ship is 120 ; and 16 men are re-
quired to work each gun.

The ENGINE-ROOM is admirably fitted up with galleries,
polished railings, &c. The engines were built by Messrs.
George Forrester and Co., of this town, who have been very
successful in producing excellent marine engines, and who
fitted the Nemesis, the Phlegethon, and other vessels, for
the East India Company. They are beautiful pieces of me-
chanism, finished and polished in a manner that gives them
the semblance of the finest clockwork. The pillars that
support them are of wrought iron turned. This is evidently
a great improvement on the usual system, as these pillars
are both lighter and stronger than if they were of cast iron.
The engines are also fitted with expansion valves, which are
of much advantage in working slow. There are three dis-
tinct boilers, one of which may be worked by itself, or two,
or the whole together ; there being stop-valves in each. The
paddle-wheels may also be thrown out of gear, by diseon
innecing cranks. On each side of the engine-room, which is
:v_eo.sthsopualdciosus and beautifully clean, the vessel has an inner
sutvii7oltetsiigoofralnongitudinal bulkhead of iron ; the spaces between
coai.ii;uatind the ribs and plating of her sides, form convenient
kers. These chambers, when filled with coals, will,
uPPose, prove a security to the engine from the
sinn, enemy, or a possible violent concussion by colli-

. -
greater tonnage
The fittings below deck, and the accommodations, are su-
perior to any we have seen even in vessels of war of much
planned them ;' and, we may hl
eyallowed to say, that the plan-
ning in , and are hi hl creditable to those who have
such
a steara-shiNwhere so much is required in the
various and classified depart cuts, is a matter of no
difficTH E ulty. We sshall couincencweproceed
aft, and forward little.
CAPTAIN'
some and cheerful! CABIN at the extreme stern, is a hand-
Jightec ,
long by twenty in width at the broadest part. It is up-
teakproached by a comtnodious the
of (like the other cabins)
apartment, about twenty feet
wood, with grated steps. The landing below, forms a
in oak, and hence is the vestibule or or lobby, paneled
trance to the magazine. The cabin at the further end is of
in f To, sofa'd round in sweep, and
semicirctliar Lot a continuous
Over the sofa are two rows
upholstered in black hair cloth.