The New York herald., 1845-08-31
Departure 0f the Steamer Great Britain|~
Great COncourse of SpectntOrs.


yesterday afternoon. She had ffty-three cabin pas
sengers, large mail, and twelve hundred bales o.
cotton, and packages of other articles, as cargo
About IL o'clock persons began TO gather on the
wharf at the foot of Clinton street. for the purpose of
Witnessing the departure. Although il was known
that she haul off till three O'Clock. ver
such was the anxiety 10 get a view of her, that by
two o'clock the wharf was covered with persons
Men, women, and children-Irishmen, negroes,
loaers, young ladies' and old ladies', all were there
The sides of the wharf were lined with fruit stands
ice-cream stands, stands for segars oysters. root
BEER and in fact for all the edibles and driukabes
that are usually sold in the Streets for the benefit o.
those who forget 10 eat their meals at home. The
scene around and along the piers was most animated
not only was the wharf covered but the rigging o.
all the ships lying near, and the tops of the houses
and stores for several squares around were filed with
eager gazers. Two or three laughable scenes oc.
CURED at the wharf. A tall strapping Yankee, with
an umbrella In his hand, came busting along, and
was dartIng up the stairs, when he was stopped by
one of the ship-keepers with Passenger Sir!" "No'
said the Yankee, but I've jest come all the way
from Yarmouth, and want TO see what sort Of a
ship you Britishers can buid-I want 10 90 on
board = NO." said the keeper, "we don't admi,
any body" "Well," said the Yankee, .Pn 90
home,to Yarmouth and tell all the folks that you
Brtishers afraid show your ships !" and off he
started in high dudgeon.
AT halfpast two, preparations were made for haul
ing round TO the end of the wharf. An Irish woman
who had been on board TO bid some friend farewell
thinking that the ship was going TO sail without let
ing her Off started for the gangway and got on &c
| a.
ing up the stairs. and with them the poor woman
LordJ isus, cried she, an' ye goin to carry me
of WI 'ye An what II Patrick my darlln' husband
and me five littlc chider say when they know Pm
gone O do let me of-O do let me off; I'D rather
stay in Amerky one year than live forty in the Ould
Country" This last sentence so excited the paro-
nc enthusiasm Of some young fellows, thar holding
out their arms they received The woman, who Jump
I'd from the stairs, happy 10 think she had escaped
being carried back 10 the Ould Country"
The ship hauled round 10 the end Of the wharf
md preparations were commenced for her departure
The passengers We're getting on board--Ihe steam
was issuing from the plpe--the Captain was order
ing his crew-the carrier from The Herald office had
us left on board the copies OF that paper 10 be sent
all Europe-and at half past three the last haw-
ser was cast of, and the Great Britain was loose
again upon her element Slowly and maiestjcallv
she sailed the middle of the river, when the BOOM
ing cannon from her side spoke loud and echong
farewell TO America. This was replied TO by the
hearty cheers OF about five thousand witnesses -
d
from her six masts the flags OF the principal ma
tlons of the earth, the and stripes of our
own country, and on another these blended with
the cross of st. George She was soon Joined by
several steamboats, loaded with passengers and made
her way slowly down the river. We took our sta
ton on board the good steamer Telegraph, with
upwards Of 500 others. Knowing Capt Ryer's en-r-
gy and enterprise, well the capabilities OF his
vessel.
Several boats were announced to accompany the
Great Britain along the Bay. The consequence
was, that No Pier on the North river was crowd
I'd with persons, anxious to obtain a passage on
board or the other Of the boats, from twelve o.
clock, 1t having been announced that two o'clock
was the last moment OF starting AT about a
quarter before two, the Mutual Safety came along
SIDE This was succeeded by the Delaware and K
L, Stevens, followed by the Telegraph, Capt. Ryer
AT about three O'Clock, the Rar.tan and Virginia
steamers passed IN the stream, heaving ahead. This
was the signal Tor preparation Shortly after the
Delaware and Telegraph cast otf-the former bore
down the East rlver while the latter lowered about
the Battery towards Long Island shore, for the pur
pose OF giving those on board an opportunity Of wit
Messing the great Levlathan of the deep take her de.
parture for the land of her creation.
| The Battery at this time was crowded with spec
taors as were all the vessels bordering on the East
river. Every spot on the Long Island shore was
crowded TO excess; the hel ehis were one mass OF
heads-maes, females, old and young. The river
was crowded with vessels ofevery description from
the small fishing boattoths majestic steamer withou
number, The different ferry boats on the bay we've
crowded 10 excess, to view the departure of the
Great Britain, and many crossed and recrossed iol
the purpose OF witnessing the sight AT this time
The steamboats, Telegraph, Delaware, r. L. Stevens
| Mutual Safety, John Fitch, Wave, Virginia, and
one or two others, were under way. AT this
| moment the Great Britain was observed TO ap.
proach She kept close IN the shore The quar-
| ter deck OF the North Carolina was crowded
| with spectators; among them bonnets prevailed to
| a considerable extent As the Great Britain ap-
| preached, she saluted something with two guns );
| Iraia d.d ~.
She kept on her course down the bay, accompanied
by the different steamers, IN such close proximity
| IN many instances, as 10 make 1t rather uncom-
Portable 10 the feelings Of those on board some Of
The steamers. They kept thus down to Staten
Island al the rate Of about five knots an hour the
Virginia leading the way, closely followed by the
loha Fitch. the Telegraph, and the Delaware.
When OFT the telegraph station on Staten Island, a
| salute was fired Here the Great Britain came up
with the St Patrick packet, which she soon left be-
hind, as did the other steamers. The heights Of
| Staten Island were crowded with spectators to wit
| ness the sight. They kept their course to the
| other side of Coney Island, where most of the
steam packets lacked round, and bore away back
again Tor New York Capt Ryer, of the Telegraph,
wished 10 ascertain the desire OF his passengers
whether to proceed further; some few wished IL,
but the majority was for turning back; and turn
back he did accordingly, leaving the Great Britain
bearing her course 5. 5. f. accompanied by the
Delaware and John Fitch The Telegraph reached
her destination, at pier No. l, the North River,
pleasant and exciting trips ever experienced in this
bay.
Dinner TO CAPTAIN HosKEN.-A number of our
citizens, merchants, underwriters, and Others gave
dinner, on Friday evening, at the As,or House, to
Capt. Hosken of the Great Britain, Chief Justice
Jones presided, assisted by James d. p Ogden -
| The following were the regular toasts:-
Tine merchants OF Bristol the first TO risk their
wealth IN Transatlantic Steam Navigation-the thanks
| OF both nations are justly their due.
| , The President of the United States
| s. The Queen OF Great Britain and Ireland
! J. Captain Hosken-whose skill and Department have
secured the confidence OF the public with deserved
popularity may the his success CORRESPOND
with the magnitude OF his command
| D The memories OF Watt and tliton-- in the "Creat
britain we witness the gfandes triumph Of their art
ana tne pfouoest monument OF their genius
The pacific influence of steam. II makes all nations
neghnors-and neshbors should never quarrel.