The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-06-03

The General Printing Office capable Of doing all sorts
descriptions open at the Herald lildng entrance
from Nassau s.reet-Joseph Elliott. Printer
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Ocean Steam OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Queen dc.
1t is now four years since the Atlantic was first
traversed by steamers In this period of time three
diferen, lines have been started, one from London
one from Bristol, and one from Liverpool. In this
weleave out the West Indian line. The London
line has been suspended-the Bristol line still hangs
on-and the Liverpool line from Boston does not
seem to get along very swimingly. The Acadia
steamer sailed from Boston on Wednesday, with 81
passengers-and yesterday tbs Havre packet Niche
las sailed from this city with 80. This fact is
sample of their present condition.
The struggle between the steamers and the sailing
packets has been great AT first the steamers created
agrea deal OF enthusiasm, and increased the intel
lectual intercourse with Europe much, that proba-
bly, the average number of cabin passengers has dou
bleI since 1886 But the whole of this business Is
yet in It's commencement. There may be ups and
downs in its progress-somctimes steamers will be
popular-sometimcs sails-but sooner or later steam
must prevail all over the world. At the present mo-
ment steam seems to have lost little OF It's pofua-
rity-but this has arisen from accidental causes.
The melancholy loss Of the President steamer
and the discomfort in making passage in the Gu
nard line, have tended materially to impair the bu-
slness of the steam lines. From the construction
and proportions of the Cunard steamers, they are
generally wet and dsagreeabe, except in very fine
weather The only steamers, indeed that have given
comfort to the passengers, combined with the speed
Of steam, are the Great Western and the British
Queen-yet these two fine vessels have suffered
from the varying influences produced by the
bad luck OF their contemporaries. The most
successful has undoubtedly been the Western,
and the next has been the Queen. The mis-
fortunes OF the Queen have arisen from the mis-
fortunes of the Company that first set her aoat. She
has never had fair trial She is very comfort
able and capital ship-and has highly popular
and capable commander in Captain Keane, and
there is every appearance that, with liberal and
generous policy on the part of the Belgian govern
ment, she may open and establish entirely new
avenue of travel trade and communication with the
centre OF Europe In consequence OF some squabbles
III the Belgia House of Deputies, and the neglect
OF not announcing her day of sailing through the
public prints of Paris, she only took 10 or SO passen
gers in her last voyage. With proper and publicity
on the part of her managers, she might have COM
menced her season in the month of April, with full
complement OF passengers from the continent. She
has now to work her way slowly but surely into the
public favor, and must expect only by degrees to
encounter successfully the rivalry the energy the
system with which the London, Liverpool, and
Havre sailing packets managed But there is
no doubt Oft the ultimate of this Belgian line
If the enterprise be pursued with energy and ca
pacity.
On Tuesday next the Queen sails for Southamp-
ton and Antwerp. She has already list of nearly
30 passengers and the probability is that it will be
increased rapidly during the few days that remain
Her arrangements not sufficiently known.
Great inquiry is made, perceive, respecting her
arrangements for forwarding letters, intended for
England and several of the provincial journals are
IL doubts If she takes any for England at all We
have ascertained that letters can be sent to any part
OF England, the same if by an English steamer.
All English letters sent ashore at Southampton
and passengers, too, can be put ashore with every
degree OF ease and despatch. In Short every ar
rangement has been made to conduct this line on
the most energetic and efficient footing.
Thus stands the great experiment of ocean steam
navigation in the fourth year of its existence. The
enterprze has not equalled the expectations of its
projectors in respect 10 profit-but in every other
particular it has been most triumphant 1t has nearly
doubled the travel between the two continents-and
absolutely increased the business and profit of the
sailing packets, by increasing the rapid communica
ton of mind and mind between the two worlds
Steam navigation has only to so ahead for few
years, and it will effect REVOLUTIONARY pay well
the projectors that carry it through. The great
has been in multiplying the points of departure
and arrival. New York and Liverpool for England
New York and Antwerp for the continent, are the
most eligible and convenient points of exit and en-
trance, at which concentrate all news, all intel-
gence, and all travel.