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

TRIAL TRIP OF THE " GUADALUPE.'

On Tuesday last, the Guadalupe made a trip some miles to
sea, with a view to ascertain the capabilities of the vessel,
and the power of her large guns. She weighed anchor from
the Sloyne shortly before twelve o'clock, and having received
on board several nautical gentlemen and others off Birken-
head, proceeded down the river against au upcoming tide—
the engines working so smoothly as scarcely to cause per-
ceptible vibration in any part of the ship. There was a brisk
breeze from the W.S.W., and being put also under her fore-
and-aft sails and topsail, she dashed along in gallant style,
taking the Victoria Channel, and making good when off
Formby about 101 knots, though she could by no means be
considered light, as she had on board several days' coals, a
large quantity of duplicate machinery, provisions, water, and
other stores, preparatory to her final departure from this
country. She passed a number of large vessels inward
bound, under full sail,—each in itself forming a beautiful
and, we may say, sublime object; and though the day was
somewhat cloudy, delightful glimpses were obtained of the
Lancashire, Cheshire, and Welsh coasts, on the latter of
which the fields and enclosures (in Flintshire) bore the ap-
pearance of a coloured map. The subsequent scenery, both
land and,marine, was throughout the trip varied and inte-
resting, there being numerous vessels studding the wide ex-
panse of water, some steering portward with a free wind,
and others beating down the channel; while the picturesque
shores to the south-west, terminating in bold headlands, and
backed by cloud-capped mountains softened in the haze of
distance, ever presented new and attractive features. After
making a considerable offing to the westward, and the ship
began to feel the effects of the freshening breeze and the
gently rising sea, we were reminded of a passage in a former
nautical sketch by the writer of this, as conveying the general
feeling of those on board, and which we therefore venture to
quote :—" To those who have before been at sea, there is
something peculiarly and almost indescribably delightful in
treading the deck, when the shallows and difficulties of a
harbour egress are overcome, and the stately ship—a floating
home for her gallant crew—impelled by sail or steam, or a
combination of both, first bounds, in the glory of freedom,
over the blue billows of the outward sea, and proudly bathes
her sides in the foaming surge disparted from the prow.
When—carrying with her the means and materials of her
own propulsion for thousands of miles—she thus impetuous
dashes on her course, as if scorning the saucy waves that
occasionally break in gentle showers of spray over her deck ;
when, snorting like the joyful colt just let loose upon his fa-
vourite sward, she careers in the pride of her strength over
the unfathomed fields of the boundless ocean, and yields
herself to the grateful guidance of the skilful steersman,—
the enthusiast, who beholds her huge and reckless bulk—her
lofty masts--her full distended sails, all trim and staunch—
her engines, propelled by a wondrous power,—confesses that
' she walks the waters like a thing of life,' and enjoys a
blameless gratification in the reflection that, fitted as she is
to visit the remotest shores in the habitable globe—to sup-
ply mutual wealth and mutual wants, and thereby promote
the interests of humanity,—she presents an animated and,
though indeed a perishable, a sublime and renewable monu-
ment of the dominion and triumph of the world of mind over
the world of matter ! "

Thus proudly did the Guadalupe hold her course over the
" multitudinous waves ;" and even in a considerable seaway
her motion was most easy and agreeable—albeit, gentle as it
was, it slightly affected a few of those on board, who were
" all unused to the moving mood," with that dire discomfort
to landsmen, " watery sickness"—which, however, was but of
transient duration. She showed sufficient bearing to carry
an ample spread of sail, even when close hauled, and with
both her guns run out to leeward at the same time ; and was
totally devoid of the unpleasant lurch to windward that ge-
nerally accompanies great stability.
After passing the outer light-ship, and making a consi-
derable run to the W.N.W., the guns (68-pounders) were
tried, first with blank cartridge, and afterwards with round
shot. They made a tremendous report, " the shot booming
along the deep," and whistling long and fearfully in the air,
ere they fell, so far from the vessel that from the spot where
they struck the water rose in a white column, resembling a
istant disrupted water-spout. Several of them, fired off
nearly on a level, made two or three distinct skips, tearing
up the water with amazing force, before they finally dropped,
and astonishing, doubtless, the fish in their fearful track !
The general distance at which they fell appeared to be
about one-and-a-half to two miles. The shock, or vi-
bration, from the firing of these tremendous pieces of
ordnance was acknowledzed by all to be less than usual,
and excepting on the lower deck, immediately under
them, was scarcely perceptible. Some nautical gentlemen
went into the cabin below the after gun, and, giving the sig-
nal, attentively watched the effect, and were fully satisfied on
this point. Three of the ladies on board during the trip
claimed the honour of firing the first three guns, and did
their "duty" with great coolness—the concussion passing
sans deranyer leer cheveux. These guns are fired by means
of locks. They are of the same form as those used on board
of her Majesty's steam-frigates, and precisely similar to those
that recently did such execution on the coast of Syria.
There were sixteen men, including a captain, to each gun,
and, notwithstanding their great weight, (65 cwt.,) they were
promptly loaded, and run out on their sliding carriages,
which were found to work most satisfactorily.

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This is a most gratifying fact when it is considered
h
not
only is the vessel's hull and bulwarks entirely of iron,
one of the heavy guns is necessarily at a short dis-
tance from the binnacle. This instance alone fully establishes
accuracy of the principle so happily discovered by the
ed professor, and is of the greatest importance as re-
the future progress of steam navigation.
oounnisso
one occasion the steam was entirely stopped, and the
vesseleete,
placed solely under sail upon a wind. Though the
paddle
floats operated as strong stopwaters, she made consi-
derable way, and, were the wheels disconnected, which they
are calculated to be by the construction of the cranks, she
would, no doubt, sail very fast with a brisk breeze.
After proceeding about 30 miles from port, the word was
given " about ship ;" her head was soon put to the S.E.,
and under full steam and sail, including the top-gallant sail,
she spanking away merrily homeward. Taking the average
of her speed, she made in this trip fully 10 knots under steam
alone ; and under both steam and canvas, from 11 to 12
knots, as the wind lulled or freshened—at one time even
making full 12 by the log. Considering the great size, and the
displacement of the vessel, (about 900 tons,) and her circum-
scribed steam power, her speed considerably surpassed the
most sanguine expectations of her commander, and the other
nautical men on board. The passage homeward was, if pos-
sible, even more agreeable than that outward, and she ran up
the river at a rapid rate, under steam alone, against a t•trang
down-going tide. When opposite Monk's Ferry, the party
on board transhipped themselves to the Birkenhead steam-
boat, which came alongside to receive them, and were safely
landed—all highly delighted with the excursion, and the
kindness and urbanity of the commander of the gallant
team-frigate " Guadalupe."