The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-01


Steam Ship Great Western" just arrived
at New York from Bristol, will be read With
interest. After the very successful expert
ments made by this vessel and the +" Sirius, "
the former having crossed the Atlantic in
fifteen and the latter in eighteen days, a
doubt can no longer exist as to the practi-
cability aud safety Of regular commnni-
cation by steam, between the new and the
old world
From the London S,m.
THE GREAT WESTERN STEAM SHIP.
! On Saturday the first experimental ex-
cursion of this magnificent vessel was made
on the river with the most complete success.
The engineers were engaged during the
whole OF the week in getting ready her sts-
pendous machinery and paddle wheels, and
the fires were lighted and the steam got up
on Thursday and Friday while the vessel
was at her inoorings. The working of the
engines and the revolutions of the wheels
having more than answered the expecta-
tions of the owners, on Saturday morning
at eleven o'clock, she got under weigh, and
started from Blackwell on her first steam
tnp.-The greatest interest was excited on
the river and the shores on both sides
were crowded with spectators, who, when
the wheels got fairly into motion, cheered
loudly. Our readers have only to fancy n
large man-of-war of so guns, without her
usual warlike appearances, moved by the
power of steam, and they will form some
idea of the size of the Great Western"
the largest vessel propelled by steam, which
has yet made her appearance on the waters
of Europe, her registered admeasureme
being GOA tons length, 234 feet; breadth
/ from out to out of the paddle boxes, IS feet,
and with engines and machinery of 45O
horse power. She began to steer rather
wildly at first, but the river pilot, Mr.. Grun-
! dy, ain able man, soon found out that the
steersinan was insufficient, aud another man
being placed at. the wheel, she answered
her helm as well as any steam ship in her
maiesty's service, and soon began to cut
through the water at spanking rate. All
that could be wished either by her engin-
eers or by the directors, was fully accom-
plshed. She was accompanied by the
Comet, afayorite Gravesend steamer, which
was Oh her way down at the same time.
The Comet, which appeared mere pig
my as compared with the Great Western,
has been always considered very fast 60
ing vessel, but, Notwithstanding all the dis
advantages attendant on the first trial of
new machinery aud engines, the Great
! Western beat the Comet although the lat
ter vessel was obliged to cheat Ito use a riv-
er phrase) by getting in shore, which the
Great Western was unable to do, owing to
her large draught of water, and also by sba-
wing the points. The Comet not only did
not gain upon the Great Western, but as
she ran down from Blackwell to Gravesend
the latter had increased her distance about
half mile.--This is no bad criterion of
the speed of the ship which is about to make
the bold experiment of steaming across the
Atlantic Ocean. On her arrival off Graves
end, the town quay, terrace hill, and every
spot commanding view of the river, was
crowded with people, who received the
Great Western with loud cheers as she
passed this favorite watering place. The
engines made I9 strokes per minute, which
is equal to more than IL miles per hour.
The steam ship went sometimes IL knots,
and generally Ii l-2 knots per hour, which
is equal TO ii statute miles. The Great
Western proceeded 3 miles below Graves
end, and here an opportunity was afforded
Of asceralnining how she could be turned
round. The order being given to turn her,
and direct her head towards London, it was
accomplished without difficulty, and the pi-
lot expressed his satisfaction in,warm terms,
and said there was not long steamer on
,ha ~ Ent-
ter. The Great Western reached her moor
ings at Blackwell shortly before four o clock,
and her temperance was hailed by the as
senibled multitudes in the same manner as
her departure. A number Of engineers,
ship builders, and scientific persons accom-
panied the Great Western on her trial, and
all expressed their perfect satisfaction at
the result.
On her arrival at Blackwell she was vis-
tied by great number of noblemen and
gentlemen, and among the first who stepp-
ed on board to ascertain the success of the
experimental trip was Lord Sandon, Nj. =.
for Liverpool, who went over the vessel,
and expressed himself highly pleased at the
splendid decorations of the saloon, the beau
tiful compartment paintings by E. L. Paris,
X. A., and the engines and machinery of
the ship. The visitors soon began to arrive
in large numbers, that clerk who was de- /,
puted to insert their names in book, (which
already contains the names of half the
Lords and Commoners in Parliament, as
we'll as all The principal merchants) gave up
the task, and inserted "the people began
to flock to the vessel ia shoals, and four
men, with as many books, would be unable
to take down their names and addresses"
The Great Western, as far as the ornamen-
tai decorations of her cabins and berihs are
concerned, is still unfinished, mud there are
more than 200 artihcers on board compile
liing the work, who had some difficulty in
nnr,,;no ,I,e;r Iahnrs in cone.ouanco =. a ,bo