The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-08-21

gines works one crank 81 the two cranks
are placed a! right angles; but the chain
is the extraordinary thing: there are
grooves on the wheel-at the end Of each
link ofthis huge chain there are teeth
projecting into these grooves, SO that as
the wheel revolves, the chain is COMPEL
ed to revolve with it. At the bottom OIL
the vessel, Immediately below the great
wheel, lies little wheel or pinion
having grows cut in its circumference
Of the same size, and at the same
distance from each other though
much less in number than those
of:he large wheel. The same chain
passes round both wheels, and while tn e
large wheel revolves by the power of the
engines once, the small one revolves as
much ohener as it is smaller. The small
wheel has for its axis the axis Of the
Archimedes screw, which is attached to
the after end of the axis, and protrudes
through an aperture in the stern into the
water.
Under the whole space ofthe engines,
up TO the top, the angle irons are doubled
the upper main and saloon decks are
oil wood, two cargo decks are Of IRON
The officers and seamen are all accom-
modated on two decks under the forecas-
tie.
From the ships bottom to the upper
deck runs on either side, for the whole
length of the engines and boiler space, a
strong iron partition, forming below the
coal bunkers; and above, the servants
accommodations on one side, engineers
cabins and stokers' accommodations on
the other, beside twenty six water clos
cts.
She has six masts, fitted with iron
rigging, adopted in consequence of its
offering two thirds less resistance than
hemp-a great point going head to wind.
The plain sails of a fifty two gun frigate,
that is, without counting royals, stay
sails and steering sails, number some
thing short of 5000 yards Of canvass, land
the plain sails of the Great Britain a.
mount to 1913 yards. She carries four
large life boats OF iron and two boats of
wood in the davits, and one large life
boat on deck; they are built &C.
cordiug to patent taken out by Mr.
Guppy, and are capable of carrying 400 |
people. A short time ago her life boats
were tested One of them was lowered |
in the water, the valves in the bottom be-
ng so arranged as to give free ingress
and egress to the water. To fill her
more rapidly number of sailors were
sent into her with buckets, and she was
soon filled up to that hight at which the
water flowed out as fast as it was bailed
n. About thirty men were then sent
INTO her TO stand on the thwans, when I
rom the hight she still foated out of the
water,i was evident that she could when
ull of water, sustain from fifty to
sixty persons without the possibility of
her sinking.
The Great Britain has &c state rooms
With one bed each, and ll3 with two so
ha; in addition to her crew, officers, fire.
men. &c, she can accommodate 252
each of whom can be provi-
led with single bed, and that without
making up single sofa, or any other
e temporary convenience.
The walls of the after or principal
promenade saloon are painted in delicate
nts, and along the sides are several
liked chairs Of oak. A row of well pro-
,ortioned pillars, which range down the
centre of the promenade, serve the doub-
e purpose of ornament to the room and
support to the deck. In this saloon, on Ell
her side, is range of exceedingly com,
ortable state rooms and sleeping berths.
About twelve of these on each side of
he deck will be reserved for ladies', as
hey are made to communicate with two
:ommodious ladies' boudoirs, or private
lifting rooms, measuring II feet by ID.
The frame work of the staircases, COM
from this saloon with the
Ieck,is of iron. The stairs are far more
vide and commodious than is generally
net with on ship board. From this prom
made you descend into the main or din
ng saloon which is SO Il 6 inches long,
" 30 feet wide. Down the centre are
welve principal columns of white and
,old, with ornamental capitals Of great
beauty. Twelve similar columns also
ange down the walls on either side.
Between these latter and the entrances
o the sleeping berths are, on each side
If the deck, eight pilasters, in the Ara
'esque style, (of which character the sa>
Don generally partakes beautifully
painted with oriental birds and flowers.
On either side are seven doors. which
open into as many passages, each of
which communicate with four bed rooms.
The archways of the several doors are
astelully carved and gilded, and are
with neat medallion heads.
Some looking glasses are so arranged
Is to reflect the saloon lengthwise at two
opposite sides, from which a very pleas. t
Ill l..I IL ri